As the door closed behind Hua Ziyan, the Palace Master returned back to her desk leaning back to it and using it for support as she turned her gaze to the young man standing in front of her with a smile.

“Hmm, what is it that Disciple Wu wants to talk to me about? Is it another notice about something you already set in motion? Oh, my apologies for not greeting you earlier, your greetings were addressed to some Palace Master…”

She chuckled, her tone playful and light despite the seemingly thorny attitude.

“Hahaha, Palace Master must be joking. Besides, I came here to also thank you for the Grand Formation you have so generously sent”

“Hah, you keep calling me Palace Master… don’t you think that it is somewhat ironic?”

Lian Zhiqiu smiled, visibly pleased by his latter words but still continued the line of conversation in place as she pressed her hands flatly on the tabletop to the sides of her hips. Her beautiful and seductive figure beckoning his gaze which he did not oblige this time which greatly surprised her since his gaze was more than fiery when he looked at her before.

“Ironic? You are the Palace Master of this sect, are you not? Though I can call you otherwise if you prefer it, I have so far called you that since that is your title”

He smiled, placing his hands behind his back in a rather laid-back posture.

“For that to be the case I would have to be treated as such, which is not exactly true with you, is it?”

“Maybe, but then again I do so with your blessing”

“Blessing? That’s strange, I don’t recall giving it”

“But you did… not audibly of course, but the way you treated my antics and behavior thus far spoke plenty”

He chuckled, shrugging his shoulders with a lighthearted smile and looking into her eyes as she relented after a moment, turning her face away to the side.

She could not argue if he spoke so bluntly, as what he spoke was true. It was just never voiced so explicitly which took her by surprise.

His smile widened and he stepped to the other side, walking toward a window on the side of the room.

‘This cheeky brat… it seems nothing’s fazing him… plus he is dropping all pretenses now, and despite that he is more reserved in his gaze than ever despite…’

She looked at him again with a side-glance, when a realization hit her. The possibility she stumbled upon caused her to slightly freeze, and then stand up from the table, her pose losing that beckoning image, and yet her figure still preserving the sensual allure.

His gaze turned to her, and a glint appeared in his eyes that caught her reflection as she almost gasped from the way his gaze changed.

‘He truly…’

She looked at him as both of them were half-turned to each other.

“Hmm, I guess that’s enough games, don’t you think? We’ve had plenty of fun I must admit”

Wu Long made a pondering expression for a split moment and then turned to her with a chuckle.

“Games?”

Her heart skipped a beat as she looked at that expression on his handsome face. His gaze becoming piercing and fatally attractive to her.

“You still want to continue?” 𝑖𝘦.𝒸𝘰𝘮

He said as he made a single step toward her that caused her to step back and bump into the table, leaning back on it but this time not in a deliberately seductive way, instead doing so out of instinct to not fall.

“…Depending on what I stand to win if we do”

She took a moment to consider his words, and then looked him in the eyes as she replied.

“That is a fallacy, what you stand by continuing is to not win but to lose”

He shook his head with a light smile that was a little different this time, as it carried not amusement nor playfulness from before.

“And why is that, were we not doing that before”

“Because now there is no doubt”

His words caused her to very slightly widen her eyes. The upper eyelid almost imperceptibly trembling as it went up.

“…But how do I know I will not lose if I stop then?”

“If you stop there is no winning and no losing”

He made another step toward her but this time she stepped forward instead, once again leaving the support of the desk. Their eyes locked with sparks flying in between them.

“And what is there then?”

“Then there is only truth”

He crossed the distance between them with brisk, but not impatient, steady and confident steps, stopping right before her. Her eyes reflecting his figure did not move away or blink as her pupils dilated.

“Hah, can you handle it?”

“You can guess. Be my guest”

“That’s some confidence you got… Don’t you think there is a reason I have no man beside me despite my title and standing?”

“I do think there is a reason, but we both know it has nothing to do with this moment”

“But there-…”

As she opened her mouth to speak again his right hand went up and touched her chin, his thumb gently making contact with her plump lower lip and tracing it to the right as she made a slightly shaky exhale while her body stiffened, a shiver going down her spine.

“You know what I want, as do I, the remaining question is, do you know what you want?”

“I… I do”

“Then stop tiptoeing around it”

“You really have no intention of treating me like a Palace Master, do you?”

“Was it not apparent when we met?”

“Plenty, but I thought you’d at least keep the pretense”

“I did, until it lost any meaning”

“Haa~”

She sighed as her heart was beating at an elevated pace. She looked him in the eyes, her throat slightly dry as she gulped to soothe that feeling. There was little space between them at this point and she could feel his temperature, as well as see that he felt hers heating up.

“You won’t regret it?”

“I may have many regrets, but none of them ever involved seducing a woman”

“You’ve never met me”

“True, which is why you shouldn’t hesitate” 𝑖𝘦.𝘤𝑜𝘮

She looked at him with a questioning gaze as their bodies were almost in contact since both very slowly moved forward leaning toward each other.

“Because you’ve never met me either”

He explained with a smile that took her breath away, covering her lips with his in a kiss that was immediately answered.

.𝒎