Chapter 9
"Alright. You can leave now. Go back and sleep."
After the bath, Felix stood up, feeling completely relaxed. Without any reservation, he dressed in front of the landlady, who couldn't hide her irritation and attraction to him.
The woman's delicate body trembled slightly, and her charming face quickly revealed a look of deep, mournful resentment.
How could a man possess skin that even women would envy?
Though Felix was in the bathtub, the water was clear. Despite some steam, it did nothing to obstruct the unintentional glances of the woman.
A stark-naked man, even in the water, leaves little to the imagination. The part of him hidden under the water, like a white pillar, made her heart race for a long time.
Unknowingly, her back-scrubbing hand grew weaker, her cheeks flushed more intensely, and her entire body seemed to be overwhelmed by the steam, becoming extremely hot and limp.
It felt like a cat was clawing at her heart—messy, suffocating, and painfully intense.
Her strokes grew feebler, and her cheeks turned as red as the twilight sky. In the end, her gentle touch resembled a kitten's paw, softly scratching along Felix's strong and lean back. She couldn't help but inwardly curse herself for being so easily disturbed by a young man. She had faced far greater challenges before, but now she was like a spellbound fool, not only bathing a young man but also getting flustered by his tease.
She had toyed with numerous famous adventurers who pursued her, many of whom were tall, handsome, and extraordinary. Yet, she had always played them like pawns, never losing her composure like this, being led by the nose into a well-crafted trap.
But the thought of forcefully pushing back, leaving, or knocking out the handsome young man in the bathtub was also slightly unbearable. Even if she wouldn't admit it, deep down, she felt a thrill and enjoyment from this experience.
However, everything ended when Felix said, "Alright. You can leave now. Go back and sleep."
She didn't feel angry, only stifled, and a sorrow she had never felt before. It was as if she was a cast-off mistress, used and discarded. The feeling was not just a cat scratching at her heart anymore—it was a whole pack.
Biting her lip, her voluptuous figure quietly turned away, her lips pale and even bleeding slightly from the pressure.
She felt a twinge of hatred—hatred for Felix's cunning dismissal and more so for her own weakness, for being fooled by his charm, for the fluttering of her heart. If only she had left unceremoniously the moment he spoke, she would have retained her dignity.
Stepping out of the partition, the sorrow gradually faded, but the woman, once a high-ranking adventurer with a charming and voluptuous figure, felt a resurgence of her old boldness and pride.
She even felt an impulse now.
An impulse she had never felt before—terrifying and bold.
That was to turn back into that partition and overpower that mischievous boy who had stirred her heart so thoroughly.
Fuck! If you piss me off, I'll rape you!
The woman cursed under her breath, feeling much better now. Regardless, she had taken the fall today and accepted it. As a woman who had seen her fair share of romance, she recognized defeat. With a hint of irritating resentment, she pushed the door open and left Felix's room.
"Phew," Felix exhaled deeply, as if a weight had been lifted, once the woman left the room.
"That was close, almost couldn't hold back," he murmured, a playful smile spreading across his face. He draped a loose garment over himself, hands behind his head, gazing at the ceiling lost in thought.
If you're going to play, play with style.
Simply giving in to mutual attraction and doing everything right away seemed so bland. Like fine wine, women too should be savored.
But indeed, he had almost lost control. The soft, kitten-like strokes on his back, the breath as fragrant as orchids on his skin, and the rich scent of a mature woman. It all made Felix feel a fiery heat coursing through his body.
The night breeze was gentle, and the moon hung high in the sky.
The tavern's patrons, mostly townsfolk, had all gone home after their drinks. The mercenaries, deterred by the lodging fees, often chose to stay with local families. As bottom-tier adventurers, they weren't flush with cash.
The voluptuous beauty lay in her bed, fully clothed, but sleep eluded her.
Tossing and turning, she couldn't shake the image of the young man's pale, sturdy back in the misty steam, and the large, column-like shadow lurking beneath the water's surface.
After flipping over a few times, feeling a constriction and turmoil in her heart, she realized she was thirsty.
She got up, opened the window. The moon was high, and a gentle breeze blew, but it couldn't extinguish the flame stirring within her.
Cupping her full, prominent peaks, the resentment on her face deepened. She pinched the rosy tips lightly, but inadvertently let out a soft moan.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Her hands retreated as if electrified.
She tapped her face gently and whispered to herself, "Come on, can't you handle this much?"
"I won't let that brat underestimate me. Let's see who outplays whom," she said as if to encourage herself, reaching for the teapot to pour herself some hot water.
But there was no water left.
Perhaps because of the fire burning inside her, she felt extremely thirsty.
She opened her door, intending to go to the lobby for a teapot, but for some reason, she paused in front of Felix's door.
Felix too couldn't sleep, not just from restlessness, but also from thirst.
While his heart was satisfied, the fire ignited by the curvaceous, charming body was fueled even more by the lonely night.
Just as he was about to use Frost Power to cool his cock, he suddenly heard soft footsteps outside the door.
The sound of footsteps was so light and gentle, almost inaudible—a skill only the most adept assassins or thieves could master. Felix didn't need to guess; he knew it was the seductive landlady.
The footsteps approached slowly, then, for some reason, stopped right in front of his door.
Felix felt a surge of heat within him as he gazed at the slender, alluring silhouette reflected by the bright moonlight on the window. The heat he had just managed to suppress flared up intensely.
"Since you're here, come in," Felix said, his voice calm and steady.
The woman, hesitating outside the door, trembled at the sound of Felix's voice. Biting her lip, after a moment of struggle, she gently pushed the door open.
So be it, I'll accept my fate.
If he dares to toy with me again, I'll risk everything to end him.
With this thought, the charming figure extended her trembling hands and pushed open the door that Felix, from the depths of her heart, had provoked her to open.
This time, she wasn't disappointed.
Because when she opened the door, she didn't see what she had expected—the man coldly sitting at the edge of the bed, watching her like she was putting on a show.
Instead, she felt a warm embrace, and then she found herself lifted into the air.
The man, driven by desire, tossed her gently and skillfully onto the bed.
Before she could react, the man who rushed over like a wolf tore the long dress on her body into pieces of rags.
A wild beast.
A ravenous beast,
That's all she could feel—untamed wildness. She felt like a tiny boat in the vast sea, helplessly adrift, tossed by the waves.
NO. I am Velia. The woman known as the Shadow Fox,
A formidable figure, the finest thief among adventurers, the craftiest assassin.
A sudden burst of realization surged within her, and with newfound strength, she flipped over, pinning the charging Felix beneath her.
As if to avenge the humiliation she had endured, she rode atop Felix like a wild knight in full gallop.
"I am a knight," the woman gasped, grasping Felix's hands and pressing them against her full, soaring chest.
She galloped like a rider, murmuring as if in a whisper, "I am an accomplished knight."
Chapter 10
The morning sun roused Felix from his slumber. Upon opening his eyes, the first thing he saw wasn't the demure, alluring face of the woman beside him, but a dagger suspended over his throat.
Casually rolling to his side, Felix seemed utterly unconcerned about the blade that could sever his throat in the blink of an eye. He squinted slightly, watching the captivating woman lying naked beside him with a hint of amusement.
"So, had your fun and now you're thinking of silencing me?" Felix's lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smile.
He carelessly held his hand on the woman's full and towering chest, pinched her tender nipples, and then flicked his fingers.
The red nipples stood up quietly, and the creamy breasts rippled.
Really sensitive.
The woman's alluring face was flush with post-satisfaction languor, the morning light casting a soft glow on her, accentuating the remnants of last night's blush.
Velia, biting her red lips, looked at the man lying beside her, disregarding the dagger in her hand, nonchalantly playing with her proud peaks. For a moment, she wanted to slit the man's throat, but she ultimately sighed and withdrew the dagger poised at his neck.
She couldn't bear to do it.
"Snap!"
An icy look crossed the woman's face as she briskly slapped away Felix's hands from her chest, getting up coldly to leave.
But what she saw were shreds of fabric everywhere.
Her favorite pink ruffled satin gown had been torn to shreds by a desire-driven Felix the previous night. It was her most expensive and cherished dress, worth twenty-four gold coins—about six months of her tavern's revenue. This thought intensified the chill on Velia's face. As a retired adventurer, she hadn't saved much. After a few years running the tavern, she had managed to save just over a hundred gold coins, and purchasing this dress had taken a long deliberation.
This damned man, if he doesn't compensate her with something better, she would make sure he paid dearly.
With that thought, Velia, her curvaceous body bare, gathered the silk shreds from the floor. This silk, imported from the Eastern nations, was a luxury only the nobility could afford. Velia had nimble hands, skilled not only in killing but also in fine needlework.
The life of an adventurer wasn't as glamorous as depicted in third-rate knight novels. In Velia's not-too-long career, she had seen too much blood and death. As a high-level professional, she received substantial rewards for her tasks but faced equally high risks. She had to provide for fallen comrades' families and care for the orphans and widows they left behind. On her last mission, her squad undertook a high-paying task worth eight thousand gold coins—a sum that could ensure a comfortable life, secure influential connections, and secure a position as a captain of the guard in a small lord's town. After all, a small lord's annual taxes barely amounted to a hundred gold coins.
However, only two survived that mission. The other survivor had the idea to split the gold and retire somewhere. Velia ended him, the man who had pursued her for three years. She couldn't forget her captain's selfless act, shielding her from a dark mage's corrosive ray. By the time she decapitated the dark mage, only the captain's arm remained, corroded away.
Velia divided the eight thousand gold coins, along with their ashes, among her teammates' families, including the man she killed. The money ensured they lived well and provided excellent education for the children left behind. With the little wealth she saved over the years, she came to this obscure town and opened a small tavern.
The life of an adventurer is a cycle of curiosity, leaks, and weariness.
If possible, Velia hoped to meet a decent man with whom she could run her tavern until the end of her days.
Unfortunately, she met a bad man.
After collecting the fabric shreds, the woman turned and glared at Felix, who responded with an innocent smile, his eyes still exploring her shapely body. Noticing her gaze, he sniffed his fingers, which had been on her full peaks, displaying a reminiscent expression.
Velia scanned the room for something to cover her body.
She grabbed Felix's dark grey cloak lying on the table, casually draping it over herself, finally concealing the alluring view.
Wrapping the slightly small cloak tightly around her, Velia suddenly turned and flashed a bewitching smile at Felix before leaving the room with a swish.
The woman threw the sharp dagger in her hand.
The dagger grazed Felix's body and embedded itself in the wooden wall, startling Felix.
Pleased, the woman nodded, closed the door behind her, and walked out with a contented mood. The irritation of her favorite dress being torn to shreds by Felix vanished, along with the vexation of being teased the previous night. She felt incredibly relieved.
A gentle breeze blew.
In Felix's stunned gaze, a tuft of hair floated down beside where the dagger had flown past, right next to his... private area.
"You damned woman!" Felix's angry roar echoed from the room.
Meanwhile, the woman chuckled to herself, quickly darting into her room.