Chapter 43: Ma Xiaotao's Reward, Huo Yuhao's Confusion
Hearing her words, Ye Chen finally looked satisfied and released Ma Xiaotao.
He went to take a shower first, then returned to his room and waited.
...
It wasn't long before the hinges creaked softly.
The door swung open, and Ma Xiaotao stepped inside, carrying a fruit plate, her face tinged pink. She set the platter on the bedside table.
On it sat several perfectly washed peaches.
She, too, seemed to have recently bathed.
A tight black lace nightdress clung to her body, accentuating every elegant curve.
Under the warm yellow glow of the soul lamp, her damp red hair fell loosely over her shoulders, the ends glistening with tiny droplets of water.
The neckline's sheer mesh revealed a hint of porcelain skin along her collarbone and the outline of her fuller curves below.
The hem of her nightdress barely reached mid-thigh, her freshly bathed skin faintly flushed.
Her long, shapely legs were wrapped in thigh-high black stockings, the lace edges digging slightly into the soft flesh and leaving delicate indentations.
Ye Chen leaned back, openly admiring her every inch.
At this moment, Ma Xiaotao was both pure and powerful—part coy temptress, part domineering queen.
Her red eyes gleamed with an intoxicating mix of pride and shyness.
Truly… perfect.
"You done staring? How can you just look at someone like that?" she muttered, stamping her black-socked foot lightly against his chest, cheeks burning.
Her kick wasn't serious—her toes felt soft, almost teasing.
"Not done. My Xiao Tao is too beautiful. I could look forever and never get enough~"
He caught her ankle, his thumb brushing the arch of her foot. The delicate touch made her flinch, ticklish.
His eyes drifted downward—she was still wearing panties. Pity.
"Hmph, sweet talker. All men are the same…" she huffed, retracting her leg, but her lips curved upward in barely hidden satisfaction.
Turning shyly, Ma Xiaotao sat down beside him.
As she shifted, her skirt lifted slightly, revealing a sinfully perfect shape beneath her lace.
"Hmph… remember, this is only this once. Consider it a reward for your good behavior~" she said, lightly hooking a finger under his chin, eyes glinting as she leaned close.
Since things had gone this far, she might as well go along with it—just this once…
Yes. Just for now.
"Then I'll be in your care, Sister Xiao Tao~"
Ye Chen suddenly reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her close, inhaling deeply against her skin.
The scent of floral soap mixed with her natural sweetness filled his senses. Her damp hair brushed against his ear, tickling him.
Being a fire-attributed soul master, her body temperature quickly rose, heat radiating in waves. A faint steam seemed to shimmer around her hairline as her heart began to pound uncontrollably.
Ye Chen could clearly hear it—her heartbeat fast and wild, like a startled stallion.
...
...
...
Several hours later.
Ma Xiaotao stepped out of Ye Chen's room, her face glowing pink.
Her clothes were intact—on the surface, nothing seemed out of place—but faint red marks bloomed across her white collarbone like small flowers.
Her stockings were gone, likely discarded in Ye Chen's trash bin after being "ruined."
On her snowy thighs, two faint pink indentations from the lace garters remained… proof of something that had certainly been there not long ago.
...
...
Inside the room.
Crunch—
Ye Chen bit into a fresh peach, savoring the flavor. Sweet, tender, juicy.
"Mm… real peaches are amazing," he muttered contentedly.
Still, part of him sighed in mild frustration.
Spending time with Ma Xiaotao left him with no focus to practice his Resonance skill.
How could he cultivate when she was around?
Ten times faster training speed meant nothing—he had zero concentration.
Wang Dong, by contrast, was much more... calming. Perfect for practice. Beautiful, yes, but without distraction.
He glanced at the clock—it was already around dinner time.
"Hmm, who should I have dinner with tonight?"
After a moment's thought, he decided on Tang Ya.
He planned to build the Tang Sect into his foundation—eventually recruiting Jiang Nannan, Ma Xiaotao, Wang Dong, and others under its banner.
So nurturing Tang Sect's growth was crucial.
As for Jiang Nannan, there was no rush. That would come later.
Xu Sanshi, on the other hand, was a clingy annoyance—Ye Chen wasn't dealing with him anytime soon.
Ning Tian and Wu Feng were both adorable and surprisingly forward. Another meal or two, and he could probably… well, let's say "progress further."
Still, best to keep things steady; over-eager women intimidated him a little.
After a brief rest, Ye Chen freshened up and left the dorm.
Since this world had no modern communication tools, he couldn't just message someone—meeting had to happen face-to-face.
Luckily, fate was kind. Near the east gate of Shrek Academy, he spotted Tang Ya.
As always, she was at Huo Yuhao's stall—helping sell grilled fish while sneaking bites for herself.
He had to wonder how many fish she could eat in one sitting…
Noticing his gaze, Tang Ya looked up. Their eyes met instantly.
"Ye Chen, over here~!" she called, waving happily.
A flicker of delight crossed her face.
"Oh great… it's him again," muttered Huo Yuhao under his breath, his cheerful business mood instantly souring.
He had no idea why, but Ye Chen's mere presence made his chest tighten with irritation.
Every instinct told him that this guy would bring trouble.
And after everything with Wang Dong, that gut feeling only hardened.
Still, they had no personal conflict. They were classmates. He couldn't exactly act on a bad vibe.
He simply tried to keep his distance.
"Oh, right, Yuhao, I forgot to tell you," Tang Ya said brightly. "The Tang Sect has a new vice master—Ye Chen~"
"What!? He's the Tang Sect's vice master?" Huo Yuhao froze, dumbstruck.
Joining the Tang Sect, sure—that made sense. Ye Chen was talented.
But vice master?
Even Bei Bei was only the senior disciple. Why should a newcomer leap straight into leadership?
Tang Ya smiled unapologetically. "Ye Chen's not just strong—he's perfect for the Tang Sect. His strength and looks make him the best representative we could ask for. Giving him a title helps attract more members~"
To her, it was logical—a well-deserved honor.
If not for the rule that the Sect Master must possess the Blue Silver Grass spirit, she would've given Ye Chen that position too, without hesitation.
(END CHAPTER)
🔥 Get 30% off on my Patreon and enjoy early access to new chapters.
You can also purchase the next 100 chapters of the novel directly from my Patreon page.
⏰ Hurry up! The promotion ends on January 10, 2026.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/LightKira10