“Before we begin,” Tian Hao announced, striking a dramatic pose, “a true master cannot fully enjoy himself without first cleansing away the day’s… impurities.” He gestured towards the bathing area, adding with a theatrical sigh, “A bath, if you please. Something… invigorating. Perhaps infused with rare herbs and… celestial essences?”

Lian and Xia exchanged surprised glances before quickly regaining their composure. “Of course, Young Master,” Lian replied smoothly. “A bath it is. I have several herbal mixtures, gathered from the sacred peak, especially for such… cleansing rituals. Or perhaps a touch of something from the more mundane markets? I once bathed in a blend of moon orchids and morning dew. They say it enhances spiritual awareness. Or perhaps,” she added with a playful wink, “you prefer something… more personalized?”

“A bath? Seriously?” Lin Mei muttered, her voice a mix of disbelief and amusement as she imagined the scene unfolding.

As the attendants bustled about, preparing a fragrant bath infused with rare herbs and oils, Tian Hao shifted slightly, reaching into his sleeve. With careful precision, he retrieved a small, jade disc—his hearing enhancement tool. Up to this point, it had been on a passive-transmission mode.

Holding it between his fingers, he channeled a thread of Qi into the artifact. A faint pulse of energy coursed through it as the tool activated, its surface warming slightly against his skin. He slipped it into his ear, the snug fit almost imperceptible beneath his hair.

Almost instantly, the ambient noise sharpened. The gentle splashing of water, the rustling of silk, the soft murmur of courtesans speaking in hushed tones—all became crystal clear. Then, beyond the delicate ambiance of the suite, the muffled voices from the adjacent room grew distinct.

Tian Hao’s lips twitched in satisfaction as he caught snippets of conversation. The meeting had already begun. He forced himself to maintain his relaxed posture, even as his pulse quickened. This was it—the moment they had been waiting for.

“The smaller sects are… receptive,” one voice growled.

“Good,” another replied. “Once we have their loyalty, the Azure Mist, the Golden Feather, and the others will be isolated. Their power… neutralized.”

Lin Mei’s voice, sharp and focused, cut through the static. “Did you hear that? Courting smaller sects?”

Tian Hao stood frozen, his feigned confidence wavering as Lian and Xia stepped forward.

He was no stranger to flirtation, to indulgence—but this was something else. This was a battle of composure, of willpower, and he was outnumbered.

He forced a lopsided grin, attempting to feign nonchalance. "Ah... such dedicated attendants," he murmured, though even he could hear the slight waver in his voice. "Truly, the Silken Shadows Parlor leaves no detail unattended."

Their hands, soft and practiced, reached for the sash of his robes, their movements effortless, yet undeniably intimate. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry.

"Young Master, allow us to assist you," Lian murmured, her tone lilting with amusement as she deftly loosened the knot at his waist.

Xia, standing at his other side, let out a quiet chuckle. "There is no need for modesty here," she teased, her fingers brushing against his sleeve as she eased the fabric from his shoulders. "We are well-versed in tending to esteemed guests such as yourself."

Tian Hao barely resisted the urge to clutch his robes tighter, his mind racing for an escape. This wasn’t his first brush with temptation, but something about their deliberate movements and unwavering gazes made his heart pound with something dangerously close to panic.

He forced a laugh, though it came out a little too stiff. "Ah, well... it would be quite rude to deny such hospitality," he said, trying—and failing—to keep his voice steady.

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With a final, fluid motion, his outer robes slipped from his frame, leaving him standing in little more than his underlayers. The air, warm and fragrant, seemed suddenly too charged. He exhaled sharply, fighting the urge to glance away as they guided him towards the steaming bath.

As Lian and Xia reached for the final layer of his garments, Tian Hao's entire body stiffened. He had barely come to terms with them undoing his robes, but now—now they were stripping him completely.

"Young Master, there is no need for such shyness," Lian purred, her fingers working with practiced ease as she slid the last article of clothing from his shoulders.

Xia chuckled, tilting her head in clear amusement. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about," she teased, her voice dripping with playful mischief. "You have the presence of a warrior and the refinement of a scholar, Young Master. Few cultivators carry themselves with such poise and strength."

Tian Hao barely swallowed down a yelp, his hands flying to cover himself, his face burning with mortification. 'Heavens above, why must this be part of the experience?!' His fingers clenched instinctively as he stood there, utterly exposed under their knowing gazes.

Lian’s lips curved as she gently took his wrist. "Young Master, you are here to relax," she reminded him, her tone equal parts soothing and amused. "The water is warm, waiting just for you."

Xia leaned in slightly, her golden eyes twinkling. "Or shall we assist you further?"

Tian Hao nearly tripped over himself as he scrambled toward the bath, stepping in with a haste that sent water sloshing over the edges.

The moment the heat enveloped him, he exhaled sharply, willing himself to focus on the sensation rather than the mortifying experience of moments before. He sank deeper, letting the fragrant herbs ease his tension—though nothing could quite soothe the lingering embarrassment tingling in his skin.

Behind him, Lian and Xia exchanged knowing glances before kneeling at the bath’s edge. "Now," Lian murmured, dipping a cloth into the water, "shall we begin?"

Xia knelt beside the bath, dipping a cloth into the water. She wrung it out with careful precision before trailing it over his shoulders, the sensation both soothing and unsettling. "Relax, Young Master," she murmured. "You are in our care now."

Tian Hao shut his eyes, willing himself to focus on the mission, on the whispers of the Iron Talons beyond these silk-drapped walls. Yet, the more he tried to center himself, the more the sensation of delicate hands and scented steam threatened to unravel his carefully maintained resolve.

The herbs worked quickly, their subtle energies seeping into his pores, but this time, something more stirred within him. A familiar warmth, an almost electric sensation, spread through his limbs, igniting the dormant pathways of his pleasure-based cultivation technique. His breath hitched as the shift in Qi intensified, his mind sharpening, his senses heightening with newfound clarity.

The sensation was intoxicating, balancing precariously between indulgence and enlightenment.

Every ripple of the water, every delicate movement of the courtesans at his side became startlingly vivid, each detail rich with a clarity he had never quite experienced before. His technique was working, weaving the pleasure he felt into his cultivation, refining his focus instead of dulling it.

Tian Hao exhaled slowly, letting the technique guide him, drawing from the sensory experience rather than being consumed by it.

The gentle press of fingers against his skin, the soothing scent of the herbal steam—each became a thread in the intricate weave of his cultivation, feeding into his awareness rather than distracting from it. This, he realized, was exactly how it was meant to be used.

A slow smile tugged at his lips as he settled deeper into the bath, his body now humming with energy. His mind cleared, his focus sharpening as he listened intently, filtering the indulgence into a source of strength.

His fingers drummed lightly against the edge of the bath. 'It’s not enough,' he thought, frustration flickering at the edges of his mind. 'We need more. A name, a location, something concrete.'

Still, he forced himself to remain patient. Information was like a slow-moving river—it had to be carefully navigated, not forced.

“The Shroud’s Thorn is ready,” a gruff voice said, and the hushed whispers of the Iron Talon disciples carried a menacing undertone that made Tian Hao shiver slightly. “Our… benefactor will be pleased.”

Lin Mei stiffened. “The Shroud’s Thorn… they’re planning to use it.”

Tian Hao, his mind racing, trying to buy more time, gestured towards Lian and Xia who stood near the tub, their gazes fixed upon him. “Perhaps now, beautiful companions,” he said, forcing a casual tone. “A massage? My muscles, they ache for your… expert touch.”

Lian and Xia exchanged glances. “Of course, Young Master,” Lian replied, her voice a soft murmur. “A massage would be beneficial especially after such a long day.”

Tian Hao felt his thoughts drift back to what he’d heard. The Iron Talon Sect was playing a dangerous game, and he was right in the middle of it, trying to find a way through without falling apart. Could they really counter something like this? He forced himself to stay still as the courtesans worked, trying to push the fear to the back of his mind.

“A massage?” Lin Mei’s voice echoed his surprise, though the exasperation had returned despite the seriousness of the situation. “Is he seriously asking for a massage now? We don’t have time for this!”

Jiuwei chuckled. “Patience. Our silkpants is merely… setting the stage.”