My Arch-Nemesis is the R-Rated Male Lead - Chapter 27

Lu Rong cried out softly, “Zhou Li, you can’t do this!”

“I won’t kiss you.” Zhou Li’s voice was right by her ear, sending a current through her body that left her numb and tense, heat quietly gathering beneath the surface.

“Then what do you want to do?” With her eyes covered, all of Lu Rong’s senses, except sight, became far more sensitive.

Especially her sense of touch. A faint, cool sensation lingered at her ankle.

Zhou Li looked at her shoulders shrinking with tension in the dim light, her collarbones on either side resembling butterfly wings trembling mid-flight.

“Lu Rong, you’re scared,” he said softly, closing the distance between them.

Caught off guard by his words, Lu Rong fell momentarily silent. “You—you act like this, who wouldn’t be scared?”

“You did the same to me the night before last,” Zhou Li replied in a low, shadowed voice.

Lu Rong was rendered speechless. Why was he still holding a grudge over that?

The two of them remained locked like this in the darkness for a while. As if testing her, Zhou Li lightly pressed the tip of his nose to the edge of her ear, his voice tinged with disappointment.

“Lu Rong, are you afraid of demons, or are you afraid of me?”

Her heart gave an uneasy thump. She was afraid of him, of this demon in heat.

Before she could answer, Zhou Li answered for her. “You’re afraid of me.”

After that, he shifted slightly aside. “That’s true. You’ve always disliked me.”

Lu Rong parted her lips, but with her eyes covered, she couldn’t see his expression at all.

Instead, an image of Zhou Li suffering and enduring torment surfaced in her mind.

The tail coiled around her ankle slowly withdrew, as if it truly meant to pull away and leave.

Instinctively, Lu Rong reached out to grab something, her fingers catching hold of a piece of his sleeve.

The fabric was thin and light. It would take only a little force for it to slip free from her grasp.

Yet Zhou Li didn’t move. He only looked at her upturned face, her snow-white complexion, her strikingly beautiful features still clearly visible even in the darkness.

Lu Rong couldn’t see his expression. If she could have, she would have seen the unmistakable look of a hunter, certain of his prey.

As she hesitated and the strength in her fingers weakened, she heard a deliberately suppressed breath, followed by warm sweat dripping onto her bare arm.

“Zhou Li? Are you alright?” Lu Rong tried to pull away the long strip of cloth blocking her vision, but he clasped her wrist once more.

“Don’t look.” Zhou Li was likely in great discomfort; even his voice had turned hoarse. “You’ll hate my demon form too.”

Lu Rong felt the scorching heat of his palm. The hot sweat, like the prelude to a heavy rain, fell onto her hand, slow, yet unceasing.

With every drop, her heartbeat grew more chaotic.

Should she help him or not?

Her mind was torn, yet her hand slowly climbed up his arm, pulling him back.

For a moment, Lu Rong forgot she wasn’t wearing an upper garment. The blanket covering her slipped down with her movement, revealing the thin, lotus-pink dudou beneath.

It was Zhou Li’s first time seeing the body of the opposite sex, skin like snow, a faint fragrance drifting in the air.

“You said no kissing,” Lu Rong confirmed softly. She lifted her head, trying to find him, but they were so close that her lips seemed ready to offer themselves to his.

Zhou Li’s lips and tongue were slightly dry. With his eyelids lowered, he suppressed the urge to grip her chin and chase her lips, pulling her into his arms through the blanket.

“You’re not allowed to touch me with your hands either!” Lu Rong belatedly realized she wasn’t wearing a top.

Zhou Li laughed softly to himself. What she imagined in her head was far more excessive. In reality, she was more timid than anyone.

“What are you laughing at?” Lu Rong heard his laughter and flushed with embarrassment, but she didn’t hear his answer.

She could only feel his thick, powerful tail wrap around above her ankle once more.

Lu Rong bit her lip, nervous, instinctively holding her breath. She bent her legs slightly, trying to close them, but the long tail wrapped completely around both legs.

The faintly cool touch made her scalp tighten. Fortunately, she couldn’t see it, if she could, she would definitely be afraid.

Zhou Li propped himself up and watched her biting her lip, her jaw tense, her long fair neck once again flushed with a deep, ripe red, spreading down to her heaving chest.

He wanted to bite.

Beastly instinct is always uncontrollable when consciousness is at its most excited and chaotic.

Lu Rong arched slightly, her breathing heavy. “Is it done?”

“No.” Zhou Li looked at the strand of hair hanging by her lips, swaying just like the string of his heart at that moment.

He wanted to kiss her.

He wanted to touch her.

He even wanted to make her cry with his hands.

Zhou Li felt he was being tormented by desire into a beast.

He pressed his fingertip under her chin. “Breathe.”

Only then did Lu Rong seem to come to her senses. Her lips parted slightly as she panted, a few low hums escaping her throat.

She couldn’t tell whether it was discomfort or pleasure anymore.

“Zhou Li.” Her voice was soft, as if all her strength had been worn away. “Is it still not over?”

She was almost unable to endure it. Her waist and abdomen tightened, her toes curling up. Numbness, soft, tingling numbness, spread everywhere, leaving her mind dazed.

Even her bones felt as if they were being softened by his tail.

“Alright, alright, I don’t want it anymore.” Lu Rong struggled to leave, but the tail yanked her back violently, as if in anger. The thick tail wrapped straight up from her waist around her chest, coiling tightly.

Sounds spilled uncontrollably from her lips.

Zhou Li watched her instinctively rub closer into his arms, his fingertip touching her neck.

“Zhou Li, you bastard.” Lu Rong cursed him, and warm lips immediately fell against her neck, pressing to the back of it.

With their skin pressed together, everything Lu Rong was thinking at that moment flowed into Zhou Li’s mind.

Ahhh, being left hanging halfway—it’s unbearable.

He’s doing this on purpose to seduce someone, right?

I want him to go even further—am I kind of perverted? Sob…

Zhou Li’s lips curved slightly as his sharp teeth pressed against her delicate skin.

Lu Rong’s tightly suspended heart jolted violently, moisture glistening at the corners of her eyes.

In her daze, she felt a light bite on her neck, no pain, like a mosquito bite, yet she still complained tearfully, “You bit me.”

Zhou Li brought his lips to hers. “Bite back?”

Feeling his warm breath close in, Lu Rong didn’t hold back and leaned in to bite his lip hard.

She bit his lip open in her displeasure. Blood filled her mouth, and she realized she’d bitten too hard.

Lu Rong pulled back slightly, his blood staining her lips. Her tongue instinctively swept it away and swallowed it.

Watching her throat move as she swallowed, Zhou Li bit down on his tongue, suppressing the urge to pry her mouth open, kiss her deeply, and press his tongue into her throat.

“I’m leaving.” Zhou Li withdrew his long tail and left the moment the words fell.

Lu Rong lay there, warmth from his tail still lingering on her skin.

She reached up and pulled off the blindfold, only to find it was her old little peach-blossom ribbon, now completely ruined.

She lifted her gaze and realized Zhou Li was truly gone.

Only the sharp chill lingering in the air bore witness to his presence moments ago.

A hollow, unsatisfying emptiness welled up in Lu Rong’s chest, as though she hadn’t received something she was meant to have. She’d never felt this way the previous two times.

Could it be… because they didn’t kiss?

Mortified, Lu Rong burrowed under the covers, wrapping herself up like a cicada chrysalis, lying stiff and unmoving.

“Is Zhou Li really that useless?” she muttered. “He said no kissing, and he actually didn’t kiss me? Doesn’t he understand forced love at all?”

She pressed her lips together, the faint metallic taste still lingering there, images of their previous kisses rising unbidden in her mind. She bit her lip until it flushed red.

In the end, she secretly made up her mind. Next time, she absolutely would not say things like “you’re not allowed to kiss me.”

Lu Fang’s method truly worked. Zhou Li once again heard Lu Rong’s thoughts echoing in his mind.

There was a knowing calm in his eyes. He understood her nature well, when she didn’t get what she wanted, she would obsess over it.

But if something came too easily, she wouldn’t cherish it, nor would she dwell on it.

He wanted her to keep thinking, longing, and holding onto him.

“Master, you’re really dark,” Bing Lie remarked, fully aware of his thoughts.

Zhou Li didn’t deny it. He had never claimed to be a saint, and what he wanted went far beyond this.

He sat down, recalling the box Lu Rong had handed him earlier. Opening it, he found a sword tassel inside. A dark jade ring inlaid with a pale crescent moon. When lifted, the ring spun lightly, forming a sphere, white jade within it refracting iridescent light like a fragrant sachet ball.

He knew at once that she must have designed it herself and had it made.

His gaze fell to the bare hilt of Bing Lie. He had always regarded sword and self as nearly one, hanging something on it felt no different than wearing it himself.

After a moment’s hesitation, he slipped the tassel into his sleeve instead.

Closing his eyes, he tried to enter his spiritual sea, hoping to settle the restless thoughts weighing on him.

But before long, Lu Rong’s aggrieved expression surfaced in his mind.

He opened his eyes again and tossed the tassel out. “Hang it yourself.”

Bing Lie promptly did so, spinning in delight. “So pretty, Master. I love it.”

Zhou Li said, “A sword won’t understand what liking is.”

Bing Lie replied, “Master, if you understand, then I will understand.”

Zhou Li was momentarily at a loss for words. He cast Bing Lie a glance, said nothing more, and continued his cultivation, forcing his mind to settle.

Lu Rong’s emotions were no easier to calm. She tossed and turned until deep into the night before finally falling asleep.

As a result, she showed up at the gathering point for the sect competition the next morning with dark circles under her eyes.

From ancient times to the present, some things are unavoidable. Where there’s a competition, there’s an opening ceremony, and where there’s an opening ceremony, there’s always a nagging old man droning on for a few words.

Even though the one droning on was her own father, it didn’t stop Lu Rong from yawning nonstop.

“Rongrong, did you go sneaking around last night?” Qiu Ling asked after finally finding her.

Lu Rong squinted sleepily and made up an excuse on the spot. “Drawing.”

“That doesn’t look like exhaustion from drawing, looks more like you wore yourself out in bed,” Qiu Ling said, poking lightly at the back of her neck.

Lu Rong clutched it instantly. “Holy crap, is there a mark?”

“Nope. I lied. Gets you every time.” Qiu Ling crossed her arms, studying her with a playful look. “So? Spill.”

“Shh.” Lu Rong shook her head. “Not telling. It’s a secret.”

“Then don’t come begging me to carry you during the competition.”

“I won’t need to.” Lu Rong had a senior brother her father arranged for her now—she was set.

Qiu Ling eyed her smug expression, gaze sweeping her up and down, then landed on the sword in her hand. “Where’d you get that sword?”

“My dad gave it to me.” Lu Rong knew Qiu Ling loved gossiping about her and Zhou Li.

“Oh?” Qiu Ling said. “That’s no ordinary sword.” Even without knowing its origin, the sword’s abundant spiritual energy made its quality obvious at a glance.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Lu Rong showed it off proudly.

Qiu Ling fell silent. Whoever gave her that sword was clearly throwing heartfelt glances at a blind person.

Lu Rong, for her part, had no idea that this sword could save her life at a critical moment.

With a helpless sigh, Qiu Ling tapped her on the head.

On the high platform, Lu Wen finished his final words. Several elders rose into the air and, working together, dismantled Shiba Chong barrier.

A beam of light descended as the dense fog slowly dispersed.

“The overseers of this sect competition will be several elders jointly supervising.”

As soon as those words were spoken, the Xuan Yang Sect disciples gathered below the platform let out a collective sigh.

“Why is it that every previous Shiba Chong Grand Competition had Venerable Jian as a supervisor? Why not this year?”

“Yeah, I was hoping to take this chance to catch a glimpse of Venerable Jian from afar.”

“Waaah, I even prepared a long-distance scope.” Several female disciples chattered all at once.

Off to the side, Lu Rong frowned as well. Yesterday, her father had mentioned that Zhou Li had gone into seclusion.

She had thought that since Zhou Li came to her last night to deal with things, there wouldn’t be any problem.

Unexpectedly, he still hadn’t come to serve as a supervisor.

She lifted her head to look at the figures in the sky, Zhou Li was indeed not among them.

“Venerable Jian didn’t come to be a supervisor this year?” Qiu Ling asked curiously. “Shiba Chong Grounds are already dangerous, wouldn’t it be even worse without him?”

“That’s why my father and several elders went together,” Lu Rong replied, glancing at the jade token hanging at her waist. She couldn’t help wondering whether Zhou Li had lost control during his heat period and gone into seclusion again.

After all, Xue’er had said that demons who remain unsatisfied for too long will self-harm and go mad.

“I have a bad feeling about this year,” Qiu Ling said. “Even though the elders are powerful, Shiba Chong Grounds are an ancient mirage forest stretching for thousands of miles. There are many hidden demonic beasts. One careless moment, and someone could be devoured.”

Lu Rong was still looking at Qiu Ling when she heard her father announce from above, “Due to special circumstances, the scope of this competition has been reduced to the Ancient Vine Forest.”

Ancient Vine Forest.

Just thinking about those dense, tangled vines made Lu Rong break out in goosebumps.

“So without Venerable Jian as supervisor, the area’s been reduced this much?” someone muttered.

“I remember two years ago, when Venerable Jian was supervising, the entire Shiba Chong Grounds were open, and no one got eaten by a demonic beast.”

The crowd started buzzing again.

Lu Rong’s head began to ache. She shifted slightly to the side, but still couldn’t resist sending Zhou Li a message.

The jade token at Zhou Li’s waist lit up. He emerged from his spiritual sea and picked it up, initially thinking it was a message from Lu Wen.

Lowering his gaze, he saw Lu Rong’s message.

[Lu Xiaorong: Are you okay?]

[Zhou: Hm?]

[Lu Xiaorong: You’re not even coming to be a supervisor? Did you… that thing happend again?]

Only then did Zhou Li understand what she meant.

[Zhou: No.]

His refusal back then was simply because he didn’t want to see her following behind that senior brother.

[Lu Xiaorong: Then why didn’t you come?]

[Zhou: My lip split.]

Zhou Li then saw Lu Rong’s name dim almost instantly.

A moment later, it lit up again.

[Lu Xiaorong: Y-you can’t put some medicine on it yourself, or just make it disappear?]

[Zhou: I can’t.]

Seeing those two words, Lu Rong became absolutely certain that Zhou Li was retaliating for her biting him last night.

But he bit her too.

[Lu Xiaorong: You’d better really not know how!]

After sending that, Lu Rong put away the jade token. Thinking about the bite she’d taken last night, her cheeks flushed with heat.

He… did it on purpose, didn’t he?

“Rongrong, let’s go!” someone called out.

Lu Rong looked up to see it was Senior Brother Minhui. She hurriedly hugged her sword and chased after him. She had wanted to look for Qiu Ling as well, but Qiu Ling was already nowhere to be seen.

So he really wasn’t going to team up with her?

“Rongrong, do you know much about the Ancient Vine Forest?” Senior Brother Minhui asked, turning back.

Lu Rong nodded. “I do.” She had nearly died there before, though she still didn’t know how she’d managed to get out.

“That makes things easier. The demon in the Ancient Vine Forest is a vine demon. You must be careful of the flowers that grow on the vines. Once you come into contact with the nectar or pollen, you’ll become… very strange,” Senior Brother Minhui warned, still uneasy.

“What do you mean by ‘very strange’?” Lu Rong asked, puzzled. She had been young the last time she entered the forest, and her memories were hazy.

“Everyone reacts differently, but none of it is normal,” Senior Brother Minhui said with a smile when he saw her confusion. “You’ll understand once you encounter it. A lot of people fall for it.”

“Okay, Senior Brother, you absolutely have to protect me,” Lu Rong said. She was still deeply wary of the Ancient Vine Forest.

The two flew straight toward the Ancient Vine Forest within the Shiba Chong Grounds. At a glance, Senior Brother Minhui noticed the sword beneath Lu Rong’s feet and asked curiously, “Rongrong, did Master give you that sword?”

“No, another senior brother gave it to me,” Lu Rong replied honestly. She didn’t bother hiding it. After all, Minhui wasn’t the gossipy type like Qiu Ling.

“Another senior brother?” Senior Brother Minhui seemed to catch a different scent altogether. “Is he also participating in the competition today?”

“No. He doesn’t need the grand competition anymore.” Zhou Li no longer needed to prove his abilities to anyone.

Minhui had spent many years away and wasn’t yet familiar with everyone in the Xuan Yang Sect, but he vaguely sensed something. “Does he like you? Or are the two of you mutually in love?”

The question startled Lu Rong so badly she nearly fell out of the sky.

“Senior Brother, don’t talk nonsense!” Lu Rong hurriedly steadied her sword.

“Hahaha, little girl, you’re shy.” Senior Brother Minhui smiled at her. “Even if there’s nothing between you, you’re still someone very special to him.”

“Huh?” Lu Rong was confused.

“This sword has restrictions placed on it. Only you are allowed to touch it. As long as the sword is subjected to a heavy impact, the one who set the restriction will arrive instantly.”

Lu Rong froze before finally processing what Minhui meant.

Zhou Li had given her such a powerful sword?

Back then, he hadn’t really said anything at all—just “your sword,” before turning and leaving.

Seeing the look of sudden realization on her face, Minhui couldn’t help but laugh. “Rongrong, you didn’t actually notice any of this at all, did you?”

She really hadn’t. Her cultivation level was low to begin with, and there were too many things she didn’t understand. Without being told outright, how could she possibly have noticed?

“Ahem… it’s just a sword, anyway,” Lu Rong said, forcing herself to sound calm as she stared straight ahead.

Her thoughts were in complete disarray.

Why was Zhou Li suddenly being so good to her?

When she followed Senior Brother Minhui down into the Ancient Vine Forest, there was no one else around. The forest stretched endlessly, the trees growing thick and lush, blocking out most of the sunlight and casting the entire area in gloom.

A few stray rays of light filtered through, falling across the intertwined vines as motes of dust drifted in the air.

It was silent and deep, hiding boundless killing intent.

“Rongrong, be careful. The vines here can come to life in an instant and pierce straight through the body.”

“I can smell a very strong demonic aura.” Lu Rong scanned her surroundings warily, her dark eyes filled with vigilance.

“Master discovered that demonic qi has been running rampant here lately. That’s why he sealed off the area—to have you find the mutated vine demon.”

Her father rarely told her things like this, probably because he didn’t want to burden her with pressure.

“Senior Brother, which direction should we go now?” Lu Rong asked. Every path seemed possible, and every one looked dangerous.

“We’ve only just come in. Let’s wander a bit first.” Senior Brother Minhui walked ahead. Seeing her lag behind, he reached out and tugged lightly on her sleeve. “Come on. Don’t be afraid.”

Lu Rong hurried to catch up, neither of them noticing the tall figure standing atop a large tree behind them.

Bing Lie flitted chaotically among the branches, frightening the chicks from a nest before returning to its master. Seeing Zhou Li’s darkened expression, it tilted its hilt, the beautiful sword tassel swaying as it asked, “Master, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Zhou Li flicked it away and leapt straight down. He did not follow Lu Rong’s path, instead heading in a different direction.

“Aren’t you going to find Lu Rong?” Bing Lie asked.

“Someone died.” Zhou Li’s gaze swept the area. The surrounding vines did not dare stir as he flew swiftly forward.

When he stopped, he saw a pool of blood nearly absorbed into the ground. With a single touch, Zhou Li understood.

The vines had drained the person dry in an instant, replacing their identity.

He knew that by the time he arrived, many people had already died.

Lu Wen and the others were still not enough.

Zhou Li reached for Bing Lie, leapt into the air, and unleashed his sword qi. A fierce wind instantly swept through the entire Ancient Vine Forest.

Sword light fell like stars, blanketing the forest.

Before anyone could react, some people saw those beside them suddenly twist and distort.

The once-silent forest erupted with screams.

From high above came a clear, distant voice: “The vine demon is abnormal. Beware those traveling with you.”

Only then did Lu Wen and the others react, rushing to investigate—faces turning pale at the sight.

In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, more than a dozen people had died.

Lu Wen went to look for Zhou Li, but he was already gone.

Lu Rong was also searching for him. She had recognized Zhou Li’s voice, the one who had warned them.

But no matter how she looked, she couldn’t find him.

Wasn’t he supposed not to come?

Then why had he appeared again?

Men’s hearts were truly hard to fathom.

As she muttered to herself, she realized she had walked deeper and deeper without seeing another soul.

She turned back to ask Senior Brother Minhui, but there was no one behind her.

Lu Rong’s heart jolted. She called out, “Senior Brother Minhui!”

There was no response.

Her face went pale. She tightened her grip on her sword, uncertain where she should go next.

A sword appeared first, charging straight at her and grazing past her shoulder.

She froze in shock, eyes wide, then turned to see Bing Lie viciously pin a vine into the ground. Green, foul-smelling vapors spread through the air.

At the same time, a flower drifted down onto her shoulder, as if from nowhere.

“Bing Lie?” Lu Rong was surprised. When she turned, she met Zhou Li’s cold, stern face.

Her gaze instantly dropped to his lips.

Sure enough, the spot she had bitten was still there, redder than the rest.

And somehow… more provocative.

A sharp beep echoed in her mind as the system’s voice sounded once again.

[Male lead danger level exceeds 60%. The host may take on an additional mission to receive rewards.]

[Please locate the male lead’s most sensitive area and make contact for three seconds.]

Hearing this, Lu Rong subconsciously glanced downward.

Lu Rong: “???”

Isn’t this… way, way, way too intense?

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