Hearing Han Lie’s low, vibrating laughter, Su Mei finally realized what had happened.

“Hmph, you old man, this was all your doing, wasn’t it!”

Su Mei scrambled back to her feet, placing her hands on her hips with feigned indignation. Her eyes, however, held no real anger, only a playful spark.

“Well then, how about I compensate you?” Han Lie’s laughter ceased abruptly. His expression turned serious, though a dangerous glint remained in his eyes.

“Hmph, of course you have to compensate me! The problem is…” Su Mei tapped her chin, genuinely stumped. “I don’t know what I want from you.”

She knew this was just Han Lie teasing her. Demanding a serious treasure or favor felt wrong between them.

“Isn’t it simple?”

Han Lie stepped forward, closing the distance in an instant. He wrapped his arms around Su Mei’s slender waist from behind, pulling her flush against him. His breath ghosted over her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

“Today, this old man will reluctantly offer himself as compensation.”

“Hehe, that’s not unacceptable!” Su Mei’s eyes lit up, all traces of drowsiness vanishing.

It had been some time since she last practiced Dual Cultivation with Han Lie. She had considered visiting him at the Violet Heaven Palace several times, but fear of disturbing his cultivation had held her back.

“Let’s go, old man! To my place!”

“Why bother with the trouble? Right here is fine.”

Before Su Mei could react, Han Lie scooped her up in a fluid motion, holding her in a princess carry. He walked straight to her main office chair and sat down, settling her firmly onto his lap.

“Ah? Here?” Su Mei’s face turned a shade of crimson. She glanced nervously at the door. “Isn’t that… not good? What if my Junior Brothers and Sisters hear us? Wouldn’t that be embarrassing?”

“It’s fine. Just try not to make too much noise,” Han Lie whispered, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. “Captain Zhuo Hongyi and I had a fierce battle right inside the Vermilion Bird Squad’s office. Don’t you want to experience that too?”

“What? She did?”

A surge of competitive heat flared in Su Mei’s chest. “Then I want to experience it too!”

Han Lie’s words instantly solidified her resolve. In fact, as the thought settled, the idea of doing it right here in the White Tiger Squad’s command center felt incredibly thrilling. The tension, the risk of discovery, the taboo nature of it—it was intoxicating.

The office quickly became a secluded world of heat and heavy breathing.

Shadows danced against the walls as the atmosphere grew thick with an intoxicating scent. It was a clash of Yin and Yang, a drowning in sensation where reason was incinerated by pleasure. Su Mei clung to him, her knuckles white, biting her lip to stifle the cries that threatened to escape.

After the storm passed, Su Mei lay limp, drenched in fragrant sweat. Her skin was flushed a deep rose, and her chest heaved as she gasped for air.

“Alright, old man… I… I really can’t take anymore!”

Han Lie chuckled but didn’t push his luck. He sensed that if they went for another round, the commotion would likely alert the entire White Tiger Squad outside.

However, the fire in his blood had not yet been extinguished, and Su Mei, despite her fatigue, looked at him with lingering hunger.

They changed venues, moving swiftly to the privacy of Su Mei’s residence.

The battle raged on for three days and three nights.

Clouds and rain mingled in a relentless cycle of cultivation and pleasure. Only when Su Mei was completely drained, begging for mercy with a trembling voice, did Han Lie finally relent.

“Captain Su Mei, This Senior will take his leave now.”

Han Lie adjusted his robes, estimating the time. He needed to meet Zhuo Hongyi soon.

“Ah? Old man, why are you in such a hurry to leave?” Su Mei lay amidst the messy sheets, pouting playfully. “Hmph, what a heartless man! You eat your fill and then wipe your mouth and run?”

“Ahem, Captain Su Mei, it’s not what you think.”

“Then why are you rushing off? It’s not like you’re rushing to be reborn!” Su Mei rolled her eyes, clearly not buying his vague excuses.

Left with no choice, Han Lie sighed and revealed the truth.

“Ah? What did you say?”

Upon hearing the explanation, Su Mei shot up into a sitting position, the blanket falling away to reveal her porcelain shoulders. Her eyes were wide with surprise.

“Senior Sister Zhuo Hongyi is being forced into a Dao Companion bond?”

She blinked, then a teasing smile curled her lips. “Then why don’t you let her go back and form that bond? That way, no one will compete with me for you!”

“….” Han Lie smiled helplessly, shaking his head.

“Captain Su Mei, don’t be like that. In my heart, you and Captain Zhuo Hongyi are the same. If it were you in her place, I would make the same choice. I would tear down the sky to stop it.”

Su Mei’s expression softened instantly. A warmth spread through her chest, replacing the jealousy.

“Alright, alright, I’m not trying to make things difficult for you,” she said softly. “In that case, you should hurry up and go. Just remember… you have to compensate me again when you get back!”

“Definitely.”

Han Lie leaned down, capturing Su Mei’s delicate, tempting red lips in one last fierce, possessive kiss. Then, without looking back, he departed.

Han Lie returned to the Heavenly Void Sect’s mountain gate just in time.

Zhuo Hongyi was already there, pacing slightly, her eyes scanning the path.

“Old man, perfect timing! I was just about to come find you!” She waved from a distance, relief washing over her face.

“Hehe, I’ve been keeping it in mind,” Han Lie approached with a relaxed smile. “Is it time to set off?”

“Yes. If we don’t head back soon, my father might come looking for us personally,” Zhuo Hongyi said, her tone carrying a hint of anxiety. “Old man, do you have any unfinished business?”

Han Lie shook his head. “None. I am ready.”

“Then let’s not delay any longer.”

Without further hesitation, the two stepped through the mountain gate, leaving the safety of the Heavenly Void Sect behind.

As they traveled, the landscape shifting beneath them, Zhuo Hongyi began to brief Han Lie on the details of her background.

She hailed from the Eastern Region of the Tianyuan Continent. Her clan, the Zhuo Family, was rooted in Qin Yang City—the capital of the massive Great Qin Dynasty.

Qin Yang City was a place of dragons and tigers, home to the imperial family and countless powerful factions. In such a vast pond, the Zhuo Family was merely a small fish.

Setting aside the Imperial Family, the city was crowded with princes and ancient noble houses. Most of these aristocrats boasted deep connections to the throne and terrifying heritage.

The Zhuo Family counted as a noble house, but they were in decline, their influence waning with each generation. This weakness was precisely why they were so desperate to arrange a marriage alliance. They needed to bind themselves to a family with deep ties to the Great Qin Imperial Family to survive.

The target of this alliance was Mu Feng, the son of the Great Qin Dynasty’s Minister of War.

Zhuo Hongyi had heard of him years ago, before she left to join the Heavenly Void Sect. Mu Feng was famous—or perhaps infamous. He possessed an eighth-grade spiritual vein, a talent so rare it would place him among the top-tier geniuses of the entire dynasty.

Logically speaking, for the declining Zhuo Family, marrying Zhuo Hongyi to Mu Feng was akin to a pheasant flying up to become a phoenix. From a political and cultivation standpoint, she was the one “climbing the ladder.”

But logic had nothing to do with the heart.

Meanwhile, back at the Heavenly Void Sect, within the dark halls of the Overlord Hall.

“Reporting to the Hall Master!” A disciple knelt, head bowed low. “Han Lie has left the sect. He is traveling with Zhuo Hongyi from the Law Enforcement Hall.”

“Excellent.”

Old Ghost Black Sha opened his eyes. The shadows in the room seemed to deepen, and a terrifying flash of killing intent erupted from his gaze.

“If he dies outside the sect… it can’t be blamed on our Overlord Hall.”

He looked down at the kneeling disciple, his voice cold and final.

“Go inform your Senior Brother. Have him take some men and follow them. Find an opportunity to kill Han Lie.”

Old Ghost Black Sha paused for a brief second, a cruel sneer twisting his lips.

“And if Zhuo Hongyi interferes… kill her along with him.”

“Yes! This disciple will see it done immediately!”