With their prisoner in tow, Zhou Changqing was escorted to the Miter Auction House by Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.
Upon arrival, they saw Ya Fei waiting anxiously at the entrance. The moment she spotted the trio, she ran over, her eyes immediately locking onto Zhou Changqing, who was covered in dust and blood.
"Changqing!"
Her face etched with worry, Ya Fei ignored everything else and rushed forward to support him from Xiao Zhan, asking urgently, "How are you? Are the injuries serious?"
"I'm fine, just minor injuries. Grandmaster Gu Ni already gave me a healing pill," Zhou Changqing replied weakly, leaning his weight against Ya Fei's soft shoulder and inhaling the faint fragrance emanating from her body.
Seeing this, Gu Ni and Xiao Zhan exchanged a glance before silently entering the auction house. Ya Fei, her attention entirely on Zhou Changqing, didn't even notice them leave.
"That's good. Come, let me help you to a room to rest."
Feeling the softness of her arm supporting him, Zhou Changqing allowed Ya Fei to guide him into the auction house and up to a guest room on the second floor.
After helping him sit on the bed, Ya Fei immediately began inspecting his injuries. Only after repeatedly confirming there were no severe external wounds did her tense heart finally relax.
"Sister Ya Fei, could you prepare some hot water for me? I need a bath; I'm filthy," Zhou Changqing said at the appropriate moment, seeing she had finished her inspection.
He was currently covered in wall dust and his face was smeared with grime, making him feel incredibly uncomfortable.
"Alright," Ya Fei nodded. "I'll go prepare it immediately. If you need anything, just call out; I'll have someone wait outside."
"Mn."
After Ya Fei left, Zhou Changqing sat cross-legged and circulated his Dou Qi to catalyze the residual healing properties of the pill in his body.
"Phew..."
A moment later, feeling his injuries improve slightly, Zhou Changqing opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air. He got off the bed, removed his upper garment, and then took off the completely destroyed outer layer of his inner armor, tossing it on the floor. He then looked down at the second set of inner armor he was wearing underneath.
This inner armor was now dim and lackluster, devoid of its metallic sheen, and its surface was covered in a dense web of tiny cracks.
"Luckily I prepared in advance. Otherwise, taking that hit would have cost me half my life, if not the whole thing."
Stroking the cracks on the armor, Zhou Changqing revealed a look of relief.
Ever since he developed his artifact refining technique, the cautious Zhou Changqing had been constantly thinking of ways to improve his survivability. Previously, he had worn a flexible inner armor of Common Grade, though no one had ever managed to attack it. Later, after developing Magic Core Armaments, he upgraded the Common Grade armor to a Magic Core Inner Armor.
Because he had thoroughly offended Cheru and knew a Da Dou Shi was eyeing him from the shadows, Zhou Changqing felt that an inner armor capable of handling only the energy flow of a top-tier Rank 2 Magic Core was no longer sufficient. Thus, he began researching an inner armor capable of withstanding the energy impact of a Rank 3 Magic Core.
Not long ago, he succeeded in forging an armor sturdy enough to embed a low-level Rank 3 Magic Core without shattering upon activation. The cost of this inner armor was astronomical—not only did it require a Rank 3 Magic Core, but it also needed three rare and precious materials. It had cost him a full third of the savings he had accumulated over the past year.
However, the effect was remarkable; it could condense a defensive film comparable to the Dou Qi Armor of a One-Star Da Dou Shi.
After forging this Rank 3 Magic Core Inner Armor, Zhou Changqing told no one. He silently wore it beneath his Rank 2 inner armor, keeping it a complete secret.
It was precisely because he activated this Rank 3 armor in the critical moment that he managed to block the majority of the masked Da Dou Shi's Dou Tech attack and survive.
However, that masked Da Dou Shi was clearly not a simple One-Star Da Dou Shi. Otherwise, the inner armor wouldn't have had its energy dispersed and its runic patterns shattered after a single hit, leaving it covered in cracks. The residual force of the attack had even penetrated the armor and shaken his internal organs, causing the dull ache he felt now.
Removing the now-useless Rank 3 inner armor as well, Zhou Changqing bared his upper body.
His physique was impeccable. Years of training and blacksmithing had given him perfectly proportioned pectoral and abdominal muscles with defined V-lines. His muscles weren't bulky but lean, giving him a look that wasn't overly burly yet radiated solid strength—a physique straight out of a manga.
Creak.
The door opened softly, and Ya Fei entered with two servants carrying a large wooden tub filled with hot water. Catching sight of Zhou Changqing's bare torso, a glint flashed in Ya Fei's eyes before she waved the servants away.
"Little Brother Changqing, the water is here. Hurry and wash up."
Zhou Changqing naturally noticed Ya Fei's gaze drifting to his upper body now and then, but he didn't mind. He was a man; showing some skin wasn't a big deal. He wasn't some maiden who needed to protect her purity.
"Mn, thank you, Sister Ya Fei."
Nodding in acknowledgment, Zhou Changqing turned to remove his trousers but stopped halfway. He turned back to look at Ya Fei, who was still standing there.
"Sister Ya Fei?"
"Hmm?" Ya Fei blinked her beautiful eyes, looking confused. Why are you calling me? Take them off.
"Cough, cough!"
Seeing her lack of reaction, Zhou Changqing coughed twice and said, "Sister Ya Fei, I'm going to take a bath now."
"Mn, go ahead and wash," Ya Fei replied, still not moving. Her expression seemed even more puzzled. You wash yours, why are you telling me?
Black lines appeared on Zhou Changqing's forehead. He said helplessly, "Sister Ya Fei, shouldn't you step out?"
"Oh~ so that's what it is. Giggle~ Little Brother Changqing is shy."
Ya Fei finally had a "sudden realization." She crossed her arms beneath her chest, pushing up her ample assets which trembled slightly with her laughter, and giggled charmingly.
"Sister Ya Fei, stop playing. I really need to wash; I feel uncomfortable all over."
Facing Ya Fei's teasing, Zhou Changqing could only urge her helplessly.
"You wash yours, what are you shy about? Are you afraid Big Sister will eat you?"
Instead of leaving, Ya Fei sashayed over to the edge of the tub and beckoned to Zhou Changqing with a slender hand. "Come here. You're injured and it's inconvenient for you to move. You probably can't clean yourself properly. Big Sister will make a sacrifice and help you."
"This is my first time bathing a man; no one else has ever had this treatment. Little Brother wouldn't be so cruel as to reject Big Sister's kindness, right?"
As she spoke, Ya Fei blinked her beautiful eyes again. Unlike her earlier feigned innocence, this wink was indescribably seductive, sending a numbing, electric sensation through his body that left him weak!
Zhou Changqing felt his mind explode with a buzz, leaving him momentarily blank.
By the time he came back to his senses, he was already in the tub. Beneath the water, he wore only a pair of white boxers.
Furthermore, a pair of soft, small hands were gliding over his back and chest, gently washing away the sweat and grime.
"Huh? How did I get in here? Where are my pants?! Sister Ya Fei..."
"Nice body, Little Brother Changqing~"
"Hey, hey, hey! Sister Ya Fei! What are you doing! I can wash that part myself!"
"Just lean back and leave the rest to Big Sister, okay?"
"Don't...!"
Zhou Changqing's handsome face flushed red as he refused repeatedly. In that moment, he looked exactly like a creature from his past life known as a Xiao Chunan...