My Arch-Nemesis is the R-Rated Male Lead - Chapter 13

Zhou Li felt as if his Adam’s apple had really been bitten, his nerves tightening instantly. He poured himself a cup of tea, trying to suppress the strange sensation.

Lu Rong had been watching him, and her gaze immediately caught his lips, moistened by the tea.

[His mouth looks wet and soft… so kissable.]

Zhou Li nearly choked on his tea. Covering his lips, he coughed violently, a flush spreading over his jade-pale face, even the corners of his eyes turning damp and red.

Lu Rong stared at him, momentarily dazed.

At that moment, only one thought filled her mind—she wanted to kiss his wet lips until they were swollen.

“Lu Rong,” Zhou Li called to her, his voice hoarse.

Lost in her thoughts, she jolted when he spoke. Only when she lifted her gaze and met his eyes did she realize what she had just been thinking.

Her cheeks flushed at once. She shot to her feet. “I’ll go change the pot of tea!”

Zhou Li watched her slightly panicked retreat and thought, amused, that she did know how to be shy after all.

Lu Rong wasn’t actually shy—she had simply realized her thoughts had gone a bit too far. Before, she’d only fantasized about him for the sake of completing her mission.

But just now, she really seemed to have been swept up by lust.

There was no helping it. With a face as irresistible as Zhou Li’s, it would be a crime for a lustful girl like her not to feel tempted.

When Lu Rong returned carrying a pot of tea, someone called out, “Miss Lu!”

The familiar voice made her look over instinctively, and sure enough, she saw Mo Chou’s face.

But how did he know her surname was Lu?

Lu Rong hadn’t planned to respond to him, but when she saw Mo Jianlan walking in front of him, she suddenly realized they both shared the surname Mo and were probably from the same family.

In the brief moment she hesitated, Mo Chou had already run over enthusiastically. “Miss Lu, it must be fate that we meet again from afar!”

“A thousand miles between West Street and East Street?” Lu Rong asked.

Qiu Ling, hearing this, let out a snort of laughter and whispered to a curious Senior Brother Lin, “Rongrong’s admirer.”

Zhou Li’s gaze landed on the young man standing across from Lu Rong. The youth wore a brilliantly red robe, his long hair tied high, brimming with youthful confidence—and even his eyes sparkled when he looked at Lu Rong.

Admirer…

Did he like Lu Rong?

His hand brushed the Frostcrack Sword, and the face that had been flushed from coughing moments ago turned cold as frost once more.

Mo Chou didn’t mind Lu Rong’s counter-question and continued warmly, “I came because my elder brother said your group was staying here. If you’re lacking anything, just tell me.”

Lu Rong was lacking a few things, like an extra guest room, but she didn’t want to get entangled with Mo Chou, so she simply waved her hand. “I’m not lacking anything.”

She lifted the teapot and was about to leave when Mo Jianlan smiled and said, “Miss Lu, I didn’t know you were Uncle Lu’s daughter earlier. I’m afraid my hospitality was lacking.”

“It’s fine. My father told me not to trouble you all, so there’s no need to stand on ceremony.” Since the other party mentioned her father, Lu Rong couldn’t be rude.

“Miss Lu, if you’re too polite, it makes our two families seem distant. I’ve already instructed people to prepare a banquet for you all.” Mo Jianlan wore a gentle, proper smile as she looked at them.

Her gaze finally settled on Zhou Li.

Zhou Li looked back at her, not a trace of emotion showing in his eyes.

Under that oppressive stare, Mo Jianlan instinctively looked away while maintaining her smile. “I wonder if you would do me the honor?”

Lu Rong was just about to refuse when Qiu Ling quickly answered, “We’ll gladly accept.”

Lu Rong wanted to give her a light slap, Qiu Ling thrived on chaos, and if they were eating together, she would definitely sit at the same table as Mo Chou.

But she couldn’t very well refuse Mo Jianlan, the son of her father’s friend.

So the group moved from the main hall into a private room.

The six of them took seats around a round table. Zhou Li walked in last, unhurried, his eyelids drooping lazily, looking half-alive.

Lu Rong wanted to die on the spot. Mo Chou was far too enthusiastic, not hiding his affection for her at all.

It was embarrassing. She had no interest in eccentric teenage boys.

If she had known this kid was following a “fight-to-win-a-wife” script, she would’ve let Qiu Ling go instead.

Inside the room, she was invited to the main seat. Looking at Zhou Li slowly walking behind them, she didn’t know what he was doing, his expression seemed gloomy.

He looked a little unhappy.

Lu Rong didn’t care whether he was happy or not. She only wanted him to come over and sit beside her in a cold, domineering manner.

Zhou Li noticed her staring intently at him.

He looked up at her in confusion, and her voice suddenly echoed in his ear:

[Hurry up and sit next to me domineeringly!]

She wanted him to sit with her?

But her voice had already vanished, and he couldn’t be certain. Still, he noticed Lu Rong staring at him eagerly.

Qiu Ling and Senior Brother Lin sat down, and Mo Jianlan took the seat beside Lu Rong, leaving only two places—one next to Lu Rong and one next to Mo Jianlan.

Mo Chou reached toward the chair beside Lu Rong, but a broad hand landed on it first. Startled, he looked at the person who beat him to it.

Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Li pulled the chair out and sat down with a cold, cutting air, as if Mo Chou weren’t even there.

Mo Chou’s words stuck in his throat.

Lu Rong, meanwhile, looked at Zhou Li with shining eyes, cheering wildly in her heart:

[I declare Zhou Li the coolest, most handsome, fiercest, and most capable man today!]

The declaration kept echoing in Zhou Li’s mind. He rubbed his brow, poured her a cup of tea, and pushed it toward her. “Drink.”

Try to calm your mind.

Lu Rong didn’t think much of it and took a sip. Mo Chou had already awkwardly sat down next to Mo Jianlan.

Mo Jianlan didn’t recognize the taciturn but extremely noticeable man before her, so she took the opportunity to ask curiously, “Miss Lu, who is this?”

“My senior brother, Senior Brother Zhou,” Lu Rong said briefly. She definitely didn’t dare to say that Zhou Li was Venerable Jian Wuwen of the Xuan Yang Sect. After all, anyone seeking a duel with him could turn this restaurant into rubble in minutes. And her father had no shortage of disciples.

“Could he be Venerable Jian Wuwen?” Mo Chou asked, unusually sensitive to the topic.

Lu Rong’s heart tightened. This Mo Chou could connect anything to Venerable Jian Wuwen.

Zhou Li didn’t even lift his head. “No.”

Mo Chou seemed relieved. “True. Venerable Jian Wuwen never shows himself. All those who seek a duel with him are simply sent flying, unable even to hear his voice.”

Lu Rong thought, Nonsense. Zhou Li clearly told you to get lost.

After that, Mo Chou turned to Lu Rong again. “Miss Lu, have you ever met Venerable Jian?”

Lu Rong smiled. “Yes, I have.”

Mo Chou asked eagerly, “What does Venerable Jian look like?” He was probably a crazed admirer of Zhou Li.

Lu Rong shot a sidelong glance at Zhou Li, thinking, Can he not ask something so mortifying?!

Qiu Ling, always skilled at timing, spoke up, “Young Master Mo, don’t ask her anymore. Everyone in the Xuan Yang Sect knows Rongrong hates Venerable Jian the most.”

“I don’t,” Lu Rong blurted out, then instinctively glanced at Zhou Li and cleared her throat. “That’s all nonsense! Don’t believe it!”

Who would ever admit they hated someone right to that person’s face?

Zhou Li’s lowered lashes revealed nothing, and Lu Rong felt a little uneasy.

Was he sad? Or angry?

Should she say she didn’t hate him? Wait—why did she even care whether he was angry?

Lu Rong looked away, deciding not to worry about Zhou Li’s mood. Mo Chou continued to ask, “Why does everyone think you hate Venerable Jian?”

Zhou Li looked up at her unintentionally, waiting for her response. He was also very curious about why she disliked him.

Driven to madness, Lu Rong snapped, “If you ask again, I’ll hate you right now!”

Mo Chou immediately shut his mouth. Lu Rong shot Qiu Ling a warning glance, while Qiu Ling stifled a laugh.

Lu Rong had been on edge throughout the entire meal, but by the time things wrapped up, she felt that at least nothing disastrous had happened.

Mo Chou leaned in again and asked, “Miss Lu, may I exchange jade tokens with you?”

Thinking of Mo Jianlan’s situation and hoping to uncover some clues, Lu Rong exchanged tokens with him.

As she put away her own jade token, she felt a chill run down the back of her neck, as if something were staring at her.

But behind her stood only Zhou Li—silent, expressionless, looking as if he wished he could write ‘Don’t come near me’ across his face.

“Venerable Jian, will you need to act tonight?” Senior Brother Lin asked eagerly.

Zhou Li merely tossed out, “One quarter past midnight,” then vanished.

Qiu Ling clicked her tongue. “He’s angry.”

Lu Rong smacked her hand. “That’s your fault! Why would you say I hate him right in front of him?!”

“Are you sure that’s why he’s angry?” Qiu Ling countered.

“Huh? Then, is it because he didn’t eat well?” Lu Rong asked.

“???” Qiu Ling looked at her. “All you ever think about is food!”

In the end, Lu Rong still couldn’t figure out whether Zhou Li was truly angry. She sat with Qiu Ling playing Gomoku as they waited for a quarter past midnight.

Although she didn’t know what would happen, she was certain Zhou Li’s words held weight.

When the night watchman finished his round, it reached midnight; there was still a quarter of an hour before the time Zhou Li had mentioned.

Qiu Ling got up, walked to the window, opened it, and looked down.

East Street was utterly silent, without a trace of anything unusual. Lu Rong stood on the other side and looked down. “Looks like there’s nothing wrong.”

“Didn’t you ask Mo Chou about Mo Jianlan?”

After adding Mo Chou’s jade token, Lu Rong took the chance to ask about him. “Mo Jianlan isn’t married. He’s the legitimate son, but his mother died early. He wasn’t well-regarded at first, but later he turned the tables and became the head of the Mo family.”

“Turned the tables,” Qiu Ling repeated thoughtfully. “I’d say it was because of demonic power.”

As they were speaking, just as an incense stick finished burning, several dragging footsteps suddenly echoed through the silent night, accompanied by sharp laughter from all directions.

“They really came,” Lu Rong said in astonishment. Zhou Li’s timing was precise to the second.

Qiu Ling looked at the figures appearing on East Street. “I’ll go down and see what kind of demons they are. You stay inside!”

After Qiu Ling spoke and descended on her sword, Lu Rong grabbed her jade token, intending to send messages to Senior Brother Lin and Zhou Li.

She sent a message to Senior Brother Lin first, but when she tried to contact Zhou Li, she realized she didn’t have his jade inscription.

“I never added him.” Lu Rong wanted to smack herself.

Senior Brother Lin had already received the message and flew over to support Qiu Ling. Around the stone, a pool of spring water began to appear, reflecting the bright moon above—yet in its surface, there were two moons: one glowing white, the other blood-red.

More and more men gathered around the Yin-Yang Spring.

They seemed to be drawn by something. Once they approached the spring, they were swallowed, and the once-calm waters twisted and spun, forming a vortex.

Seeing Qiu Ling and Senior Brother Lin struggling, Lu Rong hurriedly used Bailidun to find Zhou Li.

But when she reached Zhou Li’s room, she felt a suffocating surge of killing intent. Before she could react, a jet of water burst through the window, the column like a massive python about to devour her.

Lu Rong had not expected Zhou Li’s room to already be under attack. She reached out to block, but Bing Lie shielded her first.

Zhou Li appeared out of nowhere and leapt out. The water python, stopped by the sword energy, let out a shrill roar, its face that of an effeminate man, yet its lower body was that of a snake.

It was a human-faced snake.

Seeing fear flicker in Zhou Li’s eyes, the human-faced serpent tried to flee, but Bing Lie gave it no chance. The sword shot forward, flashing through light and shadow, and the silent night filled with the creature’s agonized wails.

Zhou Li remained unmoved as his sword aura erupted with overwhelming force and slammed into the water python.

In an instant, the serpent was reduced to powder. Water droplets scattered everywhere, and Lu Rong tried to dodge—too late. A few drops landed on her head.

In less than a quarter hour, Zhou Li had eliminated the serpent affecting the Yin-Yang Spring. The men below woke, and after dismissing the barrier, he returned to the room. Seeing Lu Rong by the window with damp hair, he said, “It’s resolved for now. You can go back.”

With a wave, he restored the damaged room. Lu Rong came over as Zhou Li sat at the table, preparing to clean his sword.

A shadow fell beside him.

“Zhou Li.” Her voice stretched unnaturally. Zhou Li immediately sensed something wrong. When he looked up, her eyes were clearly under someone else’s control.

He caught the faint fragrance from the damp strand of hair at her temple. So, the human-faced serpent had charm magic as well.

The human-faced snake’s charm arts are meant to bewitch the mind. The more someone harbors a deep desire, the easier they are controlled.

He reached out and pressed between her brows to wake her, but his wrist was caught by her cool hand.

Lu Rong stared at him with unfocused eyes, lowering her head as she slowly leaned toward his face. Zhou Li couldn’t understand what she was trying to do.

Then she sat on his lap, her fingertips brushing his collar—exactly like the scene he had imagined before.

Panicking, Zhou Li grabbed her wrist, wanting to pull her away, but she had already lowered her head. Her warm breath slid from his chin to his Adam’s apple.

Her fingers hooked his collar. “I’m going to take off your clothes,” she whispered.

———————-

Author’s Note:

Zhou Li nearly crushed his jade token—his wife hadn’t even added him.