Hidden beneath the layers of earth, Evan Chu listened to the sounds of bathing above, his heart a mix of excitement and longing. He couldn’t explain why he felt this way, but he couldn’t help wanting to sneak a look at the legendary Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion Master as she bathed.
Even though Evan was tempted, he managed to keep his impulses in check. The Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion Master’s strength was certainly terrifying, and he couldn’t afford to let her see his real face—otherwise, even if he escaped today, he’d be in endless trouble the next time they met.
After all, Evan was determined to revive Frostbane Sect, and that meant he’d have to show his face to the world. If someone recognized him now, it would bring endless complications. Before leaving, he resolved that he must first kill the messenger girl who’d gone to notify the Pavilion Master—she’d seen his true appearance.
Using the human-skin mask crafted by Rhea Yang, Evan disguised himself as another man. After making sure everything was ready, he listened carefully—the sound of water was still flowing above. He slowly emerged from the earth onto the surface.
Every move was made with utmost caution. Evan crept to the edge of the bath, and sure enough, a young woman was inside, bathing with obvious enjoyment.
But at this moment, Evan could only see her back. Her skin was as pale as snow, and just looking at her silhouette was enough to stir endless fantasies.
Evan didn’t move, simply standing behind her and quietly admiring the view. It was like appreciating a beautiful landscape—mesmerizing—or gazing at a masterpiece of art, impossible to look away.
It seemed the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion Master truly enjoyed soaking in the water. Evan had been standing there for ages, but she kept bathing leisurely, showing no sign of getting dressed.
Just as Evan was wondering if she was deliberately unpredictable, the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion Master suddenly spoke: "You’ve watched for so long—aren’t you moved?"
Evan was instantly startled. He hadn’t expected the Pavilion Master to have noticed him all along, yet she remained so calm and continued bathing as if nothing was wrong. Ordinary people could never be so composed.
“Why would I be moved? Pavilion Master, your beauty is like a lotus emerging from water—one can only feel awe. I’m shocked that you knew I was behind you but pretended not to notice,” Evan said helplessly.
He hadn’t made a single move, yet the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion Master had sensed him—the strength she possessed was truly extraordinary. Evan was already considering making a run for it.
But just then, the Pavilion Master did something completely unexpected, leaving Evan momentarily at a loss.
Suddenly, the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion Master stood up in the bath. Evan instantly saw her entire figure, and that wasn’t even the most shocking part—she slowly turned to face him head-on, showing not a hint of shyness.
At that moment, Evan saw that the Pavilion Master was just as stunning as he’d imagined—a peerless beauty, even surpassing Sima Jingyi and Lin Ruoxi.
Her curves were unbelievably voluptuous, and the most captivating places were covered in a fine layer of black hair, glistening with water droplets. The glimpses through those faintly visible gaps made it impossible to look away.
“Am I pretty?” the Pavilion Master suddenly asked, her words catching Evan off guard.
By rights, she should have been furious and tried to kill him, or at least screamed. But she seemed utterly unconcerned—definitely not normal.
“You’re gorgeous, like a fairy. But what I admire even more is your calm. Pavilion Master, how do you plan to deal with someone who’s seen your body?” Evan replied, staying composed—he was ready to use Earthshift at any moment.
“Heh, what do you think I’ll do to you?” The Pavilion Master smiled, her voice sweet as honey. If Evan hadn’t already known she was actually an old monster, he might have fallen for her on the spot.
“I wouldn’t know, Pavilion Master. You’re not planning to kill me, are you? I’ve already slain plenty of your disciples—and your sister, too,” Evan said.
At that, the Pavilion Master soared out of the bath, quickly dressed, and walked right up to Evan. "You’re bold, and your strength is impressive. If I said I’d let you leave Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion alive, would you believe me?"
“Not a chance. Pavilion Master, you’re not that kind. Are you stalling for time, or do you have another scheme? Just say it—I hate beating around the bush,” Evan replied.
“Are you feeling a dull pain in your chest right now? Try circulating your Stellar Power and see,” the Pavilion Master said.
Evan’s heart skipped a beat at her words. He hurriedly tried to stir his Chaos Dragon Force, and sure enough, his chest hurt. He hadn’t expected her to poison him—but he had no idea how she’d done it.
“Your poisoning technique is truly masterful, Pavilion Master. But I have no clue when you did it—I didn’t see you make any move. Could you at least tell me, so I’ll understand before I die?” Evan asked.
Evan didn’t really care about the poison’s effects—he had Shadow to protect him from any toxin.
“Heh, do you really not know why my sect is called Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion? All the Nine Great Sects know about our Heavenly Fragrance Poison—colorless and scentless. The moment you entered my room, you were poisoned. In half an hour, your Stellar Power will stop circulating and you’ll be a cripple. Regretting your choices yet?” the Pavilion Master laughed.
“So that’s why you’re so fearless—even let me see your body. Looks like I’ve really walked into a trap. So, Pavilion Master, how do you plan to kill me?” Evan asked.
“Of course, you’ll die slowly and painfully. Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion has plenty of methods—I haven’t had the chance to use them in ages. You should feel honored,” the Pavilion Master said with a smile.
“Evan, this woman is just like Sima Jingyi—she’s a natural Nine Yin Constitution. If you dual cultivate with her, your strength will definitely break through at least one major realm. This is a rare opportunity!” Luna’s voice suddenly rang out from the Frostbane Sword.
“Luna, you’re still joking at a time like this? Even if I wanted to, I don’t have the strength. There’s no way I could do that with her,” Evan replied helplessly in his heart.
“Heavenly Fragrance Poison may be powerful, but it’s useless against you. Your blood is dragon blood—the perfect antidote. Try circulating your Chaos Dragon Force again and see if your chest still hurts,” Luna said.
Following Luna’s advice, Evan circulated his Chaos Dragon Force once more, and sure enough, the pain vanished. He quickly said, “Even without the poison, I’m still powerless against her. I’d better just escape.”
“Don’t worry, I’m here for you. If it’ll help you grow stronger, I’ll lend you a hand. Just pretend to be poisoned, make her drop her guard, and I’ll use a secret art to subdue her. Then you can do as you wish,” Luna said.
“Seriously? She may look young, but she’s really an old monster—I’m not sure I can go through with this!” Evan said, troubled.
“She’s not even thirty—don’t worry about that. You just need her Nine Yin energy. When it’s done, escape immediately—don’t kill her. She’ll be useful to you,” Luna said.
Evan immediately reversed his meridians, making his face pale and his whole body look weak. “If you want to torture me, Pavilion Master, we’ll see if you’re up to the task,” he said, feigning helplessness.
With that, Evan darted to the side...