My Arch-Nemesis is the R-Rated Male Lead - Chapter 26

Lu Rong felt the palm Zhou Li was holding grow scorching hot.

Then she realized it wasn’t just his—hers was heating up too. The scenes running through her mind had gone far beyond what they should.

Without thinking, she tightened her legs.

Feeling awkward, she tried to shift her body away from Zhou Li’s, only to sense the person behind her draw a heavier breath.

It was as if she had brushed against something—just the faintest sound, yet it inexplicably set her ears burning.

Lu Rong thought bitterly that she must be the one in heat. How could she already be losing control after just two kisses?

At least Zhou Li had always been forced into it. She was the only one who had leaned in of her own accord.

Looks like she really shouldn’t read so many smutty novels. Lately, she was genuinely a little sexually frustrated.

“Lu Rong, focus.”

The images in her mind had vanished, yet Zhou Li felt no relief.

Her body was still fidgeting. Before, he had only thought her small. Now, pressed this close, he had a far clearer sense of the difference between her build and his own.

Her waist was so slender it seemed it couldn’t withstand even the slightest brutal thrust.

Zhou Li’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and for a moment, his thoughts were an utter mess.

So the sword, as if its wielder had wandered off in spirit, drifted unsteadily through midair before gliding off to the right.

Zhou Li came back to his senses more quickly. Seeing the sword about to crash into a tall tree, he immediately guided it upward, hauling it sharply higher.

Carried by inertia, Lu Rong instinctively tipped backward, bumping straight into his chest.

Zhou Li let out a muffled grunt this time, pressing his other palm to her shoulder and pushing her slightly forward. His voice was dry. “Stand steady.”

Lu Rong didn’t dare make a sound. From that single collision, she had already noticed his immediate reaction.

H-how could he be this sensitive?!

She pressed her lips together, jaw tense, mortified beyond words.

When the sword finally carried them down, Zhou Li promptly put some distance between them, his expression calm as he looked at Lu Rong’s flushed face.

Her gaze instinctively slid downward.

But his robes were too layered, too concealing, hiding any visible change.

Still, she was certain he was concealing a suddenly risen mountain.

No.

Two mountains.

“What are you looking at?” Zhou Li asked evenly, utterly unembarrassed. As if the one reacting so clearly hadn’t been him at all.

Lu Rong cleared her throat lightly and turned her gaze away. “I wasn’t looking at anything.”

She glanced around. “Where are we?”

“Butterfly Creek Valley of Wuhui Ravine.” Zhou Li was clearly familiar with the area.

Lu Rong’s eyes lit up. “The place with tons of butterflies? Take me to see them!”

“Fly there yourself.” Zhou Li pointed at her sword.

“But I really don’t know how to fly a sword.” Lu Rong looked at him with wide, pleading eyes, utterly helpless.

Zhou Li folded his arms and simply looked at her without saying a word. Lu Rong immediately bit her lip. “Then… you’ll teach me?”

“I remember you didn’t want me to teach you.” Zhou Li never forgot a grudge.

Knowing his nasty little streak, Lu Rong snorted. “Fine. Then I’ll just fall to my death.”

She stepped back onto the enlarged sword again. “I’m really going by myself?”

Zhou Li looked at her and gave a cool nod.

Lu Rong stared at him with bright, clear eyes, visibly torn. “I’m really, really going.”

Zhou Li was finally amused by her obvious desire for help paired with her refusal to lower her pride. The corner of his lips curved upward for the first time.

“Come here.”

Lu Rong immediately hopped down from her sword with a grin and walked up to him. “So—you’re going to teach me now?”

“No.”

Lu Rong hadn’t expected him to reject her outright after deliberately drawing her over.

“You!” she snapped, glaring at him in outrage. She spun around and stomped off in a huff, fuming to herself that she would rather fall to her death than ever beg Zhou Li again!

At that moment, Bing Lie swooped down beneath her feet, carrying her sharply up into the sky.

“Ahhh—!” Lu Rong screamed so hard her voice nearly vanished. Only when she felt herself being held steady did she realize she was standing on Bing Lie.

“Relax. Bing Lie won’t drop you.” Zhou Li’s voice sounded from nearby.

Lu Rong turned her head and saw Zhou Li standing on his own sword, robes fluttering as he rode the wind. For a brief moment, she thought he truly looked like an immortal on the verge of ascension.

“Follow behind me,” Zhou Li said, not noticing her stare as he moved forward. “Focus your mind and control the sword. Wherever you want to go, think in that direction. Don’t fixate on the sword beneath your feet. You’re the one commanding it.”

Lu Rong’s panic instantly settled. “Didn’t you say you weren’t going to teach me?”

“And you said you didn’t want me to teach you.”

Lu Rong: “???”

Wow. That grudge-holding instinct is strong.

This could probably be counted as even now, though somehow, it didn’t feel like things were quite settled that way.

“If you don’t hurry up, I’m leaving.” Zhou Li had already flown some distance ahead. He looked back at her, and beneath the sunlight, even his eyes seemed gentler.

For a moment, he felt like the Zhou Li of Luo City again.

Lu Rong liked this version of him. The one who didn’t keep people at arm’s length. Smiling happily, she urged her sword forward, laughter lingering at the corners of her eyes.

Zhou Li flew ahead to lead the way, with Lu Rong following behind. At first, she kept losing control of her direction. Bing Lie would automatically steady her course. After circling Xuan Yang Sect once, she finally got the hang of it, no more clumsy swerves, no more her and the sword fighting each other.

She then urged Bing Lie forward and flew right past Zhou Li, turning back with a radiant, triumphant smile. “I got it! Zhou Li, you’re really amazing!”

Zhou Li didn’t reply, only flying straight ahead. Lu Rong chased after him and caught sight of what looked like a hint of a smile on his profile.

She wanted another look—but Zhou Li had already turned away, leaving her with nothing but his back.

So… was he smiling to himself just now?

Lu Rong didn’t dwell on it. She chased after him and called out, “Zhou Li! Where are we going now?”

“Weren’t you the one who wanted to see the butterflies?” Zhou Li turned a corner and sped forward.

“Zhou Li, I’ve noticed you’ve gotten nicer!” Lu Rong hurried after him, her hair ribbon fluttering wildly in the wind, as if dancing along with her.

Zhou Li glanced sideways at her. Thinking of the bond that had once connected them, and later been severed, he couldn’t quite tell whether what she had said was sincere or not.

Lu Rong didn’t notice his gaze at all. She simply flew ahead, her skirt fluttering like drifting white clouds, her smiling voice carried on the wind. “Flying on a sword is really amazing!”

Zhou Li lowered his head slightly. In the end, he still couldn’t help letting out a soft laugh.

How could someone be this adorable?

Lu Rong flew straight into Butterfly Creek Valley, only to find not a single butterfly in sight. She turned back at Zhou Li, puzzled. “There aren’t any butterflies.”

Zhou Li casually plucked two leaves. A clear, lingering melody flowed from them, and before long, countless butterflies began to emerge from every direction—like multicolored petals swirling freely through the air.

Sunlight shimmered across the flowing stream. For a brief moment, Lu Rong felt as though she had wandered into some hidden fairy realm by mistake.

Her eyes brimmed with wonder. “So beautiful…”

She had once heard her father mention that Zhou Li kept many butterflies in Butterfly Creek Valley. This was her first time seeing them herself.

Without thinking, she extended her hand. Several butterflies fluttered down and settled lightly on her fingertips.

“All of the butterflies are poisonous,” Zhou Li said from the side, completely ruining the mood.

Lu Rong instinctively moved to pull her hand back—

Then she heard him add, “Not these ones.”

Lu Rong: “……”

He was messing with her again.

She shot him a sideways glance. “If I get poisoned, I’ll come to you for the antidote.”

Zhou Li didn’t say much. Leaning against the tree, he replied calmly, “Go have fun on your own.”

After that, he recalled Bing Lie and handed her sword back.

He turned away, found a comfortable spot to sit, and watched as Lu Rong rode her sword off to chase butterflies.

The scene felt… strange.

He had never spent time with her like this before—so simple, so unguarded.

“Master,” Bing Lie sprawled lazily across Zhou Li’s lap. “The way you and Lu Rong are right now, it’s kind of like a date.”

Zhou Li: “…Shut up.”

“Oh, and Master—you finally smiled.”

Bing Lie was immediately skewered on a nearby tree.

Bing Lie: “???”

Its master’s thoughts were getting harder and harder to read.

Before long, Lu Rong flew back on her sword and called out to him, “Zhou Li, I’m heading back now. My dad said he needs me for something.”

Zhou Li didn’t reply. He merely looked at the beautiful butterfly resting in her hair and gave a small nod.

As thanks, Lu Rong pulled a freshly picked peach from her sleeve and tossed it to him. “Thanks for today!”

After saying that, Lu Rong flew off on her sword. Zhou Li watched the direction she disappeared in, the peach still in his hand. In the end, he couldn’t quite relax—and followed after her.

When Lu Rong landed at Wuji Pavilion, she spotted a man standing beside her father.

He had refined, handsome features and a gentle expression. When he looked at her, a warm, spring-like smile curved his lips—someone who seemed easy to get along with at first glance.

Who’s this?

Lu Rong landed, still puzzled, withdrew her sword, and walked over to her father. “Dad, what did you need me for?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted me to help find a senior brother to train you in swordsmanship?” her father said. “This is your Senior Brother Minhui.”

“Senior Brother Minhui?” Lu Rong didn’t quite remember him. Her father had far too many disciples.

“Rongrong, you don’t remember?” Minhui said with a smile, lowering his gaze to her. “When you were little, I helped train you with the sword. You used to cling to me and cry all the time.”

Remembering her younger self, who always burst into tears at the drop of a hat, Lu Rong smiled. “Hello, Senior Brother.”

“Aren’t you worried you won’t make it past Shiba Chong?” her father added. “When the time comes, have Senior Brother Minhui guide you.”

“Really?” Lu Rong brightened immediately. She knew her father wouldn’t just leave her to struggle on her own.

Minhui nodded reassuringly. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you get hurt, but you can’t expect me to do everything for you either.”

“Alright!” With a long-standing worry finally resolved, Lu Rong was in such high spirits that her joy practically shone.

She didn’t notice at all the dark, brooding gaze fixed on her.

She could smile like that at anyone.

Zhou Li turned and left.

The faint curve of his lips flattened once more, and the cold that had briefly softened in his eyes froze over again.

He vanished from where he stood and returned to Wuhui Tower, sitting there in silence.

Before long, his jade token lit up. Lacking any real interest, he opened it and saw a message from Lu Wen.

[Xuan Yang Sect Head: Li’er, for tomorrow’s sect competition—same as previous years? You and Elder Qiu overseeing it?]

[Zhou: Not this year.]

[Xuan Yang Sect Head: Hm?]

[Zhou: Going into seclusion.]

Lu Wen frowned at the message. Why would he suddenly enter seclusion?

[Xuan Yang Sect Head: Did something happen?]

[Zhou: Nothing.]

Lu Wen, puzzled, glanced at Lu Rong, who was shamelessly mooching at his residence while playing chess, and asked, “What’s going on with your Senior Brother Zhou?”

“Huh?” Lu Rong was busy thinking about how to win and looked momentarily blank. “Zhou Li?”

“Mm. He said he’s going into seclusion.”

“No idea. I went to see him today—everything seemed normal.” Aside from the fact that he smiled. Nothing else stood out.

Lu Wen looked at her, his expression odd. “Did you upset him again?”

Lu Rong shook her head, but a thought crept up on her anyway—Could Zhou Li’s ‘seclusion’ mean he’d gone into heat again?

After all, last time… they’d only kissed.

She hesitated over whether she should go take a look at Wuhui Tower. But then she remembered that night, the long tail coiling around her legs and waist, and the spot on her lower back he’d bumped into earlier that day.

Her heart trembled faintly.

If he really was in heat… wouldn’t she be cooked alive if she went over?

So Lu Rong chickened out and decided to pretend she didn’t know anything.

She played a few more rounds of chess absentmindedly before heading back.

After dinner, she curled up in the bath, soaking in hot water—yet somehow, she still felt a chill creeping in from all sides.

She felt that sensation again—as if someone were watching her.

She scanned her surroundings, but there was no one else in sight. Startled, she hurriedly called out, “Xue’er,” grabbed her sword, and hugged it tightly to her chest.

“Rongrong, what’s wrong?” Xue’er rushed in, worry written all over her face.

“Why do I feel like someone’s staring at me?” Lu Rong whispered.

Xue’er glanced around the cramped bathroom. “There’s no one here. Rongrong, don’t scare yourself.”

“…Okay.” Lu Rong could only let it go. She leaned against the edge of the tub and asked quietly, “Xue’er… do you also have a heat period?”

Xue’er hadn’t expected the question. She nodded shyly.

“Have you reached it already?” Lu Rong realized that, by demon standards, Xue’er should already be grown.

Xue’er shook her head. “But it should be soon.”

Lu Rong hurriedly grabbed her hand, worry filling her eyes. “Does every demon have to go through this?”

“Rongrong, we demons aren’t like humans.” Xue’er looked at her seriously. “When we enter heat, if it isn’t relieved, it becomes extremely painful.”

Then she added softly, “When that time comes… if I go into heat, Rongrong, just tie me up.”

Lu Rong didn’t know how to respond.

Tying her up wouldn’t make the pain disappear.

Could tying someone up once really solve it forever? Just like how she’d helped Zhou Li through it twice, the third time, he still had to endure pain with no way to ease it.

And Zhou Li’s heat…had been brought on by her.

The more Lu Rong thought about it, the worse she felt.

“Xue’er… if a demon’s heat is triggered early by someone else, and it isn’t relieved—what happens?”

“They go crazy, I guess?”

Lu Rong shuddered. “What kind of crazy?”

“Some demons are extremely devoted,” Xue’er said seriously. “They’ll only go into heat for the one they’ve chosen. Once it starts, if they aren’t satisfied, it won’t stop until they are. If it goes on too long without relief, they’ll either hurt themselves… or imprison their partner.”

Lu Rong: “……”

That was terrifying.

She shrank slightly. “So… what counts as being ‘satisfied’?”

“I don’t really know either,” Xue’er admitted. “I only know that some demons’ heat periods can last an entire month without stopping.”

Lu Rong: “?”

Are demons really that intense?

She thought of Zhou Li. Two months didn’t even seem impossible for him.

She hesitated between being completely done for…and him completely losing his mind and locking her up.

In the end, she chose to bury her head in the sand.

After all, this was the Xuan Yang Sect. No matter how unhinged Zhou Li might be, he wouldn’t actually do something like that… right?

“Rongrong, why are you suddenly so curious about this stuff? Are you planning to draw something again?”

“Yes.” Lu Rong was so unsettled that even while bathing, her back felt chilled.

“It’s fine,” Xue’er said. “There’s probably only me like this in the entire Xuan Yang Sect.”

Lu Rong let out a dry little laugh, thinking to herself, You’re just a small one. There’s a truly terrifying big one hiding in Wuhui Tower.

She finished bathing in a hurry, bundled herself up, and went back to her room, dragging Xue’er along to sleep with her.

The two lay on the bed together. Lu Rong held Xue’er close and whispered, “You really didn’t feel anyone watching us?”

Xue’er truly hadn’t sensed anything. “No. Rongrong, read fewer supernatural storybooks.”

She patted Lu Rong’s back lightly.

And instantly, Lu Rong thought of the night before last, the weight of Zhou Li’s palm pressing against her back, as if he wanted to press her straight into his bones.

It was deep into the night. Her mind automatically started its late-night screening again.

She squeezed her eyes shut, telling herself to stop thinking about it. Maybe she was just too tired today, and with Xue’er beside her, she slowly relaxed.

She fell asleep before long.

But after spending the entire day thinking about Zhou Li’s heat, it was only natural that she dreamed of it that night.

She dreamed that Zhou Li had lost control. He used iron chains to lock her onto his large bed, grabbed her waist, lowered his head, and kissed her fiercely. He tore her clothes apart, using all his strength, as if he wanted to split her apart.

She struggled, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break free. Only the chains binding her wrists clanged sharply.

She wanted Zhou Li to let her go, but all her words were blocked between their lips and teeth.

She forced herself to breathe, her body swaying a few times, and then she heard Xue’er’s anxious voice.

“Rongrong?”

Lu Rong opened her eyes in a daze. When she saw Xue’er’s face, she let out a confused sound.

“Rongrong, did you have a nightmare?”

Her mind cleared instantly. She hadn’t had a nightmare—she… she had a spring dream.

She yanked the blanket over her face, thinking that it was over.

She was actually even more sexually restless than Zhou Li.

“No. Xue’er, go back to sleep. I’m not afraid anymore.” Lu Rong wanted to be alone for a while.

“Are you really not afraid anymore?” Xue’er asked, a little worried.

Lu Rong nodded and waved her hand. “Go on, go on.”

Xue’er put on her clothes and left. In the darkness, Lu Rong tossed and turned, finally letting out a hot breath.

“He really is a male demon,” Lu Rong muttered.

Far away in Wuhui Tower, Zhou Li looked at Lu Rong in the darkness and heard these words.

Thinking of the moment just before, when Lu Rong in her sleep had suddenly started breathing rapidly, a few ear-enticing soft moans leaking from between her lips.

She must have been dreaming. He didn’t know what she had dreamed about.

Zhou Li’s long fingers moved slightly as he dispelled the formation that allowed him to see inside Lu Rong’s room. He lowered his head and looked at his intertwined long tail.

He had also just dreamed.

He dreamed again of that woman with a blurred face, using her slender, straight legs to wrap around his long tail.

Pure black entwined over snow-white skin, winding into a decadent red.

She even affectionately kissed the tip of his tail with her lips.

This very brief dream made Zhou Li hesitate to close his eyes again.

All that flashed before him was the image of those red lips kissing the pitch-black tail tip.

He pressed his palm against his throbbing brow.

He still needed to hear Lu Rong’s inner thoughts. Otherwise, he couldn’t judge what she was thinking.

He didn’t know how to make her take the bait.

He had to pull her down with him.

Otherwise, he would be trapped by his heat period, and everything would come to nothing.

Thinking of the method Lu Fang had mentioned, Zhou Li got up and disappeared from Wuhui Tower.

Lu Rong flailed about on the bed for a moment. In the end, she was so hot that she took off her top, lying there wearing only a dudou, even hesitating over whether to take off her pants as well.

She suddenly felt a faint pressure appear beside the bed.

She lifted her eyes and saw a tall, slender figure standing in the darkness.

Startled, she jolted upright and shrank toward the inside of the bed. “Zhou—Zhou Li, you—you, what are you doing here?”

Zhou Li looked at the small, jade-like feet peeking out from beneath the covers. His gaze froze for a moment before he looked away.

Zhou Li said softly, “Help me one more time.”

“No, no.” Lu Rong refused in a rush.

Seeing the tension in her eyes, Zhou Li’s gaze dropped to her completely exposed collarbones and chest.

He leaned forward slightly, gradually drawing closer to her face in the darkness. Lu Rong tried to retreat further back.

But something suddenly bound her eyes, plunging her into pitch-black darkness.

“Zhou Li!” Lu Rong tried to reach up and tear off what was covering her eyes, but his palm clasped her wrist and pressed it behind her back.

Warm breath brushed down against the tip of her nose.

“Relax. Just let me coil around you for a bit. No kissing.”

Coil around her?

Lu Rong was stunned. A familiar chill began creeping up from her ankles, sending a sharp jolt through her mind.

She realized that this time his tail was thicker and longer, as if it intended to wrap her entire body inside it.

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