Chapter 246: The Farmer and the Snake?

Inside the duty room, fog billowed.

In the height of summer, the residual ink on the inkstone on the official desk had actually frozen into ice.

It was the simple wooden bed that was constantly radiating cold air.

Ding Suian held Xu Jiuxi tightly; her legs had completely transformed into a crimson snake tail, with fine scales shimmering like pearls, unconsciously coiling around his waist and abdomen.

Her bare upper body, from the waist up to her slender neck, was covered in crystalline red scales that made one feel a chill throughout their body upon touch.

A layer of frost coated her bewitching face, and the red scales on her forehead were particularly striking.

It was as if a cinnabar mole had been adorned there.

Xu Jiuxi curled up weakly, but her snake tail tightened unconsciously. The scales rubbed against each other, making a soft rustling sound like snow falling on a winter night.

At first, after Ding Suian realized something was wrong with her, he intended to use his body heat to soothe her increasingly stiff body.

But not only did it not work, he himself was almost frozen stiff by the overbearing cold Qi on Old Xu.

Ding Suian thought quickly, channeling his Protective Aura to circulate wildly throughout his body. After several cycles, his inner body became as scorching as surging lava.

Sweat had barely seeped from his pores before it was condensed into ice mist by the extreme cold on her body, and the rising cold mist enveloped them both.

The duty room was swathed in clouds and mist, like a sauna.

Xu Jiuxi, with her consciousness blurred, likely felt a bit more comfortable; she kept her eyes tightly shut and just kept coiling tightly around him.

It is unknown how much time passed, but Ding Suian exhausted his strength and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, at the mao hour.

At dawn, the cold mist in the duty room had dissipated, turning into fine water droplets that clung to the walls, the desk, and the bedding on the bed.

Xu Jiuxi kept her eyes closed, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

In a half-dreaming, half-waking state, the exceptionally warm environment made her reluctant to open her eyes.

After continuing to keep her eyes closed for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she slowly opened her eyes.

She realized she was still maintaining her half-human, half-snake form, coiled around Ding Suian. The bedding had long been soaked through by sweat and melted ice, but Ding Suian was still sleeping soundly, seemingly exhausted.

His plain white undergarment was stained with mottled sweat salt, and his handsome face was also covered in sweat marks that had dried and wetted repeatedly.

Who knows how much he had sweated.

Xu Jiuxi maintained her original posture, gazing at Ding Suian’s chapped lips. Her snake tail unconsciously loosened its grip. She slowly raised her slender, white right hand, her fingertips hovering half a foot from his cheek, stroking through the air over his eyebrows, eyes, nose bridge, and lips.

Her hovering fingers curled and extended, extended and curled, but ultimately did not truly touch him.

This time was the only time they had slept plainly since becoming bed partners, and it actually made Xu Jiuxi experience an indescribable feeling she had never had before.

She watched quietly for a moment, recalling the reason for their argument before the Cold Marrow Gu flared up last night. A moment of struggle flashed in her peach-blossom eyes, and after a few breaths, it seemed she had finally made up her mind.

Her red lips parted slightly, and two hollow, slender snake fangs slowly emerged at the positions of the canine teeth in her fine white teeth. She sat up and leaned forward, lying on the side of Ding Suian’s neck.

The snake fangs pierced his skin without any resistance, sinking deep into his flesh while he was completely off guard.

Ding Suian woke up in sharp pain; his Qi followed his will, and as he swung his palm, a faint blue Protective Aura shimmered in his palm.

Caught off guard, Xu Jiuxi was struck and flew backward, crashing directly into the blue brick wall a zhang away.

With a loud bang.

Xu Jiuxi, are you f***ing sick?!

Ding Suian raised his hand to touch his neck; although there wasn’t much blood seeping from the two small holes, being ambushed by his bed partner was still annoying.

Especially after he had just gone through so much trouble last night to find a way to help her relieve her pain.

Isn’t this a literal, live-action performance of the Farmer and the Snake!

Xu Jiuxi was also unprepared and didn’t take Ding Suian’s blow lightly. Just as she was about to speak, she spat out a small mouthful of blood.

Seeing the blood, she actually got angry too.

This strike could be said to be Ding Suian’s conditioned reflex as a Martial Artist, or it could be said that even though they had reached such an intimate stage, he still harbored wariness.

Ding Suian~

Xu Jiuxi stood up, leaning against the wall, and raised her hand to wipe the blood from her lips, her gaze cold as she looked over. You never think the best of me!

You f***ing bit me, how am I supposed to think the best of you?

Just then, a flurry of footsteps came from outside, followed immediately by Chest Hair’s shouting.

Boss, are you alright?

It was likely that the noise just now had alerted Chest Hair and the others.

I’m fine.

Ding Suian replied, but the next moment, he suddenly felt dizzy, his vision blurring and doubling.

Old Xu, you even used poison?

This was a typical symptom of poisoning.

Upon hearing this, Xu Jiuxi seemed to disdain explaining. A soft rustling sound was heard as the scales covering her upper body gradually faded beneath her jade-white skin, and her snake tail split and transformed into round, straight long legs.

She stepped forward, glanced at the deep purple robe that had been torn to shreds when the Cold Marrow Gu flared up last night, and casually picked up Ding Suian’s vermilion official robe to put on.

Then she turned, pulled the door latch, and pushed the door open.

Boss, you… uh…

Outside the door, Chest Hair and a group of brothers stood stunned.

Eh, isn’t this Headmaster Xu?

Why is she wearing our Boss’s clothes?

Xu Jiuxi stood at the doorway, and before stepping out, she finally turned back and gave a cold instruction: Dizziness is normal. Circulate your Qi to neutralize the poison, and it will be fine in half an hour.

Having said that, she walked directly to the soldiers of the Patrol Inspection Office who were crowding the door, and said with a cold face: Make way~

Oh, oh.

Chest Hair hurriedly moved aside, and only after Xu Jiuxi’s figure disappeared at the courtyard gate did he crane his neck to peek into the duty room.

But he heard an angry voice from inside: Old Xu, you’re wearing my clothes, what am I supposed to wear!

…

Naturally, there was no response.

After a while, he heard Chest Hair say cheekily: Hehe, Boss, Headmaster Xu is long gone. Last night, you…?

I was treating a patient and saving a life last night!

Hehe, trying to fool your brothers again~

Old Xu really wasn’t lying. Ding Suian sat cross-legged in the duty room, circulating his Qi, and in less than half an hour, the dizzy, poisoning symptoms had completely disappeared.

What was she after?

Biting me early in the morning and injecting snake venom that could be easily digested.

Just for fun?

Ding Suian was puzzled.

At the si hour.

Gray Rat, who had been missing for a day, unexpectedly appeared on his own.

Why did it take so long to come back and report?

This little one found out the news yesterday~

The small-statured Gray Rat huddled in a large robe, his shifty eyes quietly glancing at Ding Suian before saying: But last night, this little one was stopped by the Sect Master.

This reason was the same as what Ding Suian had guessed, and he couldn’t help but ask curiously: Then why did you come again?

Just now, the Sect Master summoned me and told me to take orders from you, sir.

Oh?

Ding Suian was even more puzzled. Last night, the two had disagreed on the matter of Wangchuan Ferry. Xu Jiuxi clearly didn’t agree with him acting against this bunch of scum; why did she change her mind?

Did the Sect Master have any abnormalities last night?

This little one didn’t notice anything different about the Sect Master.

Nothing useful could be asked from Gray Rat, so Ding Suian simply turned his attention back to Wangchuan Ferry.

Speak, what have you found out?

Yes.

The two thin whiskers on Gray Rat’s lip trembled slightly. This little one found that the gang at Wangchuan Ferry are accustomed to operating in the underground tunnels. It’s just that the Central Heaven tunnels are intricate and lead in all directions, claiming to be four hundred li long, but in this little one’s opinion, it’s more than four hundred li, winding around like a maze.

Get to the point!

Yes, yes~

Gray Rat shrank his neck, rubbed his hands, and laughed flatteringly: This little one wandered inside for a day, almost got lost, and still haven’t found their lair. However, this little one did manage to grab a tail. Hehe~

Don’t keep me in suspense~

Does the sir know about that brothel in the south of the city called ‘Warm Fragrance Courtyard’?

I don’t know it. This official does not get close to women and has never set foot in such places in my life!

Heh, the sir has high moral integrity and keeps himself clean; this little one admires you! That Warm Fragrance Courtyard specializes in the flesh trade for coolies and porters. This little one followed a person who crawled out from the Tongqufang tunnel last night, all the way to the Warm Fragrance Courtyard in the south of the city. After inquiring, I learned that this person is the owner of the Warm Fragrance Courtyard, called Fei Rongbao~

As Gray Rat spoke, he took out a crumpled map from his sleeve and pointed to a mark in the south of the city. The back wall of this Warm Fragrance Courtyard is right next to the B-7 culvert of Tongqufang~

Hmm, not bad.

Ding Suian took the simple map and examined it carefully.

Gray Rat enthusiastically suggested: Sir, hurry and send people to capture him.

Ding Suian thought for a moment, then said: No rush, don’t alert the enemy.