"Mmm~ Ah! Mmm~!"

Before Liu Xiyun could knock, muffled moans spilled from inside the room. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Slowly lowering her hand, she clenched her pearly teeth and stood frozen at the door, listening intently.

"Your skills are truly exceptional, little brother. Wasting such talent in some backwater town is a crime," purred a woman’s voice, thick with exhaustion. Liu Xiyun strained to hear every word.

"Of course!" came a man’s reply. Liu Xiyun’s blood boiled instantly.

Even after all these years, she’d recognize that voice anywhere—it was *him*!

Not only skipping missions, but sneaking off to flirt with strangers?!

Fury surged through her. Yet she held her ground, ears glued to the door. How *dare* they be so loud?!

"I’ve got a secret, sis," Qin Ling’s voice drifted out.

The woman beneath him paused, twisting her head in surprise. "What secret? Spit it out."

"You’re not even nervous? Or curious?" Qin Ling sounded taken aback.

She scoffed, confidence dripping from her tone. "Hah! After all that *special tea* you’ve drunk from me, what’s there to fear? You won’t *turn the tables* on me, will you?"

"Seriously?" Qin Ling rolled his eyes, hands still working. "What if I told you that tea does *nothing* to me?"

"Heh." The woman merely waved behind her.

*Grrroooowwl!*

"Then I’ll deal with you myself!" snarled a demon hound’s voice.

Qin Ling backtracked fast. "Okay, okay! I admit—it *does* work a little."

"*Deliciously* well!"

"Giggles~ You love playing tough, don’t you? Mmm, harder now, yes~"

"This *is* full power! Any faster and it won’t work!"

"... ..."

Liu Xiyun’s jaw slowly dropped. Her wide eyes held pure shock.

*There’s another man in there?! What are they even DOING?!*

"No! I must drag him out *now* before his teammates arrive!"

Decision made, she slammed her palm against the door.

*BANG!*

The door flew off its hinges.

*Splash!*

A basin of ice-cold liquid poured down, drenching her completely.

As she struggled to move, her body locked rigid—only her eyes could dart around.

*Trap!*

She realized too late: the Yuyu Express boss had warned her this place was suspicious. How could she be so careless?! Who knew *his* voice would be used as bait? The Main Family’s doing?

Regret gnawed at her. Now she could only wait for the drug to wear off... or hope for rescue.

"Haha! Told you this’d work, sis!" Qin Ling’s laugh rang out. "Time to beat that fat bastard!"

"Mm, clever little brother. This scheme’s worthy of your country’s famed ‘500k bounty’ status."

"Ah, you flatter me—*way* too much!"

Amid her silent fury, Liu Xiyun glared as the pair emerged.

Their eyes met. Qin Ling froze. She blinked helplessly.

"Eh? Who’s *this*?" Qin Ling stared, baffled.

The woman scowled. "This isn’t the fat boss you described!"

"Uh... total accident!" Qin Ling slung an arm around the immobilized Liu Xiyun, grinning. "But look, sis—this beauty’s a late-stage Xuan realm peak cultivator! Barely an adult! Without your special paralyzing potion, we’d never have caught her. She’s an even bigger catch!"

"Huh?" The woman studied Liu Xiyun closely. "Truly late-stage Xuan... impressive for her age." Her gaze snapped back to Qin Ling. "But *how* did you know her cultivation level?!"

"Uh... I *know* her!" He beamed. "Xiao Hong, your luck’s awful. We were set to ambush that wage-thieving fat boss for revenge, but you finished your mission early and took his place? What rotten luck!"

"... ..." Liu Xiyun.