Earth to Bubai! Earth to Bubai! Wakey, wakey!

  Another cleanse activated. Bubai finally let out a breath, half-grateful for the interruption.

  Merlin’s beard. He almost fell for the beauty trap!

  Really can’t underestimate the way the game chipped away at his willpower.

  What a dangerous game.

  The danger didn’t just come from the pleasure of watering these flowers.

  Just as dangerous was the blood-roiling pheromones coming from that neighbor flexing his rock-hard abs!

  Honestly, Bubai wasn’t the type to just use and dispose.

  So, why did such twisted, corrupted thoughts suddenly surface in his mind?

  It was easy to play the blame game, but deep down, Bubai knew it was probably his own psyche that had gone rogue.

  It’s sad, but it’s hard not to get his shoes wet if he boarded the ship owned by the wrong bunch.

  And that charming, soft-boned pink rabbit in his hands only added another hole to his sinking boat.

  Without a doubt, the rock-hard little brother was screaming how good it would feel to just... let loose.

  He could almost hear the tempting whispers from the devil on his shoulder…

  “Just do it. Why hold back? You’ve crossed this line multiple times. What difference would doing it once more make?”

  Oh Merlin, the thought of it… the forbidden thrill… he really wanted to just flood that boat.

  But to avoid sinking his boat that he planned to sail for another ten thousand years, Bubai set the wet toy boat back down.

  Amitabha. Self-conquest is far better than the conquest of others.

  But just when Bubai backed out, the devil’s strong arm snaked around his shoulders.

  "Where are you going, Brother Mo? You haven’t finished yet."

  Failing to slide out of that iron grip with a force that was anything but casual, Bubai met the devil’s gaze and forced a polite smile.

  "Senior Brother Jia, my name’s been called. I’d hate for the elders to fault you for obstruction if I’m late…"

  But the devil did not buy his excuse for even a second.

  "Even if you’re a bit late, with my great-grandfather watching, you’ve got nothing to worry about."

  Bubai’s heart sunk to his stomach like a stone.

  Was that supposed to be reassuring? Because it sounded more like a threat!

  Sure, Bubai had elders behind his back, but when it came to sheer power and influence, the grand elder actually holds more weight than the rest.

  The weight wasn’t just due to status—no, but also strength!

  In any large sect like this, the grand elder was at least in the late stages of Golden Core, maybe even half step Nascent Soul!

  While Bubai couldn’t gauge the specific strength of Grand Elder Jia, those muscles alone looked enough to snap the old geezer Ma Pei and even the kind little Granny Shu like a toothpick.

  Of course, true showdowns between golden cores isn’t that simple.

  Who knows whose stronger until it really came down it.

  But Bubai at least knew that pulling the big flag to make tiger skin isn’t going to work here.

  Feeling no more resistance, Jia Shizi’s eyes smiled, maybe a bit dangerously.

  "Don’t worry, Brother Mo. You have an entire stick of incense’s worth of time! Plenty of time to finish. Here, let me give you a hand."

  When the devil manhandled the pink-haired head to seal the deal, Bubai groaned inwardly.

  This was bad, really bad.

  Even with his dew cleansing his mind, his instincts was being compromised every time he went deeper down the rabbit hole!

  Sure, he could hold it in, but the longer he resisted, the more it gnawed at his sanity!

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  There was only one way to end this.

  So, Bubai did the natural thing: running his cultivation method to capture this moment into memory...

  By chance, he met her untamed eyes.

  Eyes are the windows to the soul, and from those eyes… he can almost hear her cries.

  Pink rabbit: I. Dare. You.

  What does the fox say? Hehehe.

  Just like the windows, what happens next was a one-way process...

  There was unmistakable grudge spilling from those wide eyes, and...

  For a moment, Bubai even thought he saw it flash with an eerie purple glow, as if it was a camera burning his appearance into her memory for all of eternity.

  Bubai’s jaw tightened, feeling antsy all over.

  Oi, oi, did something troublesome get awakened due to the intake of his special, special protein?

  If there was… that would be trouble, big trouble, especially since grudges like these are the scariest.

  No wonder most nip the buds after the deed because once cause and effect took root, it was nearly impossible to weed out.

  Too bad that’s not an option here.

  Ugh. Bubai gazed up at the ceiling. What’s done is done.

  Good thing he had makeup on. Better yet, this isn’t even his real face!

  Mwahahaha! Even if, someday, she becomes some sick stalker out for vengeance, there’s no way she’ll be able to sniff him out, right? Right?!

  That strange sixth sense of his is tingling, and Bubai decided it was high time he booked it out of here.

  No, he’s not scared of some vague, nonsensical plot that was only be a far-fetched possibility.

  He just didn’t want to be late for his fight.

  This nasty antic already delayed him quite long enough. Stay longer, and he’ll really be late!

  Imagine losing everything over just a single tardy! Laughable—until it wasn’t.

  Watching Bubai getting fully dressed in his tattered rags, the devil busy sent out another invitation.

  “Hahaha! Wonderful! Brother Mo, why not come back for another round after your match?”

  Bubai wiped the nonexistent sweat off his forehead. “Haha. Afraid I can’t. I’ll probably be... married to the arena soon.”

  Jia Shizi snapped the lid of his essence-collecting box shut and gave Bubai a smirk that made his skin crawl.

  “That’s right… Remember, if Brother Mo ever find yourself struggling, just say the word. I’d be more than happy to help you lighten the load anytime.”

  “Noted. Noted.” Bubai politely returned a fist salute to all four men. “Well then, until next time.”

  With the peacock in qipao tailing behind, Bubai scrambled out as fast as he could without showing any signs that he was outright fleeing.

  When the jade door clicked shut behind him, Bubai sighed in relief. He’d keep his head above water. For now.

  He then shared a glance with his partner fixing her crimson hair that caught the dim light like smoldering embers.

  “Xiao Hong, it’s been hard on you.”

  “Tsk. Save that set for somebody else. I’m not so weak that I need your worthless pity!”

  Well, didn’t hurt to try. Bubai shrugged and started down the spiraling staircase.

  Soon, they were back in the much emptier inner halls.

  Except for some stragglers, only the female tigresses from the Law Enforcement Hall were left stationed in here.

  Though they followed him with their eyes, none showed any intention of escorting him.

  After rounding about the long hall, they followed a grand staircase down to the coliseum’s public commons.

  This was the underground lounge for participants and their servants.

  Not everybody had a private box to chill in. Most joined the roaring audience above or waited here if they preferred a quieter haven.

  When Bubai stepped inside, he felt the spotlight land on him for mere moments before all the eyes waiting here went back to their chit-chatting as if nothing just happened.

  Unperturbed, Bubai moved through the lounge.

  Passing through the rows of interspersed seats, his ears picked up the snippets of conversations.

  Some were stretching and warming up…

  “You better make me satisfied by the time it’s my turn or I’ll sell you after I come back, you hear me?”

  “Mm! Mmph!”

  Some speculating…

  “Hey, what do you think the odds are of that Lian fella winning?”

  “Huh? Not much. Why? Are you optimistic about him?”

  “Yeah. I heard he is an illegitimate spawn from a flower girl at a tea house in the Ninth District…”

  “Nobody is sure who his father even is. Most children like these would never get the chance to walk out from their cradles, but…”

  “This guy survived till this point! He must have something special. I say there’s a pretty high chance he’ll win!”

  “Bleh. Who knows if those rumors are true. Those money-mongering folks always like weaving some outlandish background for these challengers to give them some oomph. The truth is, most of us are picked up from somewhere outside...”

  Others drowning in the vinegar sprinkled by a “winner” in life...

  "Man. How bad have the sect degenerated to let that shameless beggar keep that first seat.”

  “Yeah, what a waste! Must be nice to be under those dolls. I'd let them pin me down any day.”

  “Maybe we should go to Hei Hua Lou for a spin after to celebrate.”

  “Eh, it’s not cheap. It’s not like we can get free access like that jerk...”

  Bubai’s lips twitched.

  It can’t be... did that Rotten Ya really made his pick just to freeload off that guardian of Gemstone Paradise?

  Bubai didn’t have to wonder for long because just when he passed by a side room, the subject in question came out while buckling his belt.

  “Ugh, these dolls are more addicting than Cloud Dreaming pills. I just can’t enough! Hehe.”

  Rotten Ya patted his skinny belly as if he’d just enjoyed a hearty feast and even flashed Bubai his signature golden tooth grin when he walked past.

  Bubai tried his best to keep his lips from curling in distaste.

  So much for first seed.

  How to say? Why did he even expect anything better?

  This Rotten Ya really didn’t exceed the expectations Bubai had for this sect.

  After all, most disciples had their brain circuits growing somewhere below their belt.

  Reaching the end of the lounge, there sat a desk flanked by two guarded corridors leading off in opposite directions.

  Behind the desk, the elderly eunuch looked up and gave the guy who looked as if he’d just crawled out of a cave a once over before confirming, “Mo Bubai?”

  Getting a nod, his brush made a mark on a bamboo slip, then pointed toward the right corridor.

  “Go thataway. The gates will open for you once you’re through. Your companion can wait here.”

  Bubai glanced back at Miss Hong, who arrogantly blew her hanging crimson bangs out of her face.

  “Tsk. You better make it quick.”

  She then strutted off to the side to wait with arms crossed.

  Well, this was it.

  Bubai prepped himself and went down the dimly lit corridor leading to the execution ground.

  He couldn't help but feel a pang of anticipation for this next bout.

  The upcoming fight would not be a walk in the park, but at least this challenge might yield a bit more excitement than the last farce.

  With any luck, it would even play out to be the game he had been waiting for...

  “Death is like the wind... always by my side. Will it be by yours, my lucky challenger?”