FRGNM -Chapter 124 The Strange Man

“Mm… Luo Mingyu, Luo Mingyu…”

She kept calling his name, completely lost in herself. Gone was her former restraint; she moved in sync with him, tightly clutching his body, wrapping around his back, thrown upward in rhythm with his motions.

Her seductive grace nearly forced Luo Mingyu to surrender ahead of time. He almost handed over all his defenses to the woman before him. With a fierce bite on her shoulder, he thought: a demon. She was a demon sent by heaven, irresistible.

“Hmm?”

A cold gleam flashed across his black eyes. The person who had just lain down suddenly sat upright. Outside the window, a shadow flickered, then vanished without a trace.

Bold… to act under his very nose.

With a faint smile, Luo Mingyu glanced at the woman, already asleep, gently stroking her soft, flowing hair.

Her parents?

Thinking of what Murong Ming had said today, Luo Mingyu snorted. He had plenty of ways to find news about her parents!

If anything could be worse than now, Ling Ruoxi could only think of a car accident. Her entire body ached as if run over by a vehicle. Every sip of alcohol seemed like a torment inflicted by the man before her.

Ling Ruoxi silently swore she would never touch alcohol again. Had something strange happened yesterday?

Memories flashed through her mind. Seeing herself with the drum in the hall, she blanched. Then recalling the bath with Luo Mingyu afterward… hadn’t she been the one to seduce him?

Thinking of all that happened last night, her fair face turned crimson. She could only admit defeat—what bad luck to have run into this!

“Hey, Tinghai, where did Luo Mingyu go?”

The culprit from last night was gone this morning. Not even He Yunxu knew where he had gone, and Qingyi was completely clueless.

Tinghai smiled faintly. “Master went out on business. Miss, please stay at the inn. Qingyi Gongzi took Miss Yunxu out to play. They’ll be back later.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll go out for a walk too, see if there’s anything to buy, and explore this place.” Ling Ruoxi rubbed her nose.

“Then I shall accompany you, Miss—”

“No need. I have hands and feet, I’m not afraid. Besides, the things I’m buying are all for a young lady, so you don’t need to follow.” With a laugh, Ling Ruoxi lifted her skirts and dashed outside.

Tinghai froze for a moment, then gave a wry smile.

Compared with Beining Kingdom, Duan Yun Kingdom was far grander. Countless jade pendants and dazzling decorations made her eyes spin. The variety of snacks, vegetables, and fruits were equally eye-catching.

Even the clothes here were unique.

Carrying a pile of snacks, Ling Ruoxi moved through the bustling streets, when she noticed a crowd. Curious, she squeezed in.

Three beggars sat on the street, and beside them was a man in luxurious red robes.

The beggars had a battered bowl with simple noodles. The man in red, wearing brocade embroidered with a hundred phoenixes, black official boots glaring, sat beside them.

Nearby, a donkey was tied to a post.

“What’s going on?” Ling Ruoxi wondered, observing the red-robed man, who kept his head down.

Someone shouted, and the man seemed to wake, yawning as he raised his head.

In that instant, the surrounding women blushed. The man wore a white jade crown, his face flawless, bright eyes and perfect teeth. His sword-like eyebrows reached the temples, eyes like stars, faintly smiling.

His smile carried lazy charm. His long hair, messy but not unkempt, fell over his shoulders. “So hungry… thank you all.”

He picked up the bowl and chopsticks, took the ones offered by the beggars, and ate without disdain.

“Disgusting… does this guy have a problem?”

“He must be sick; otherwise, why eat beggars’ food?”

“But he looks good… I wonder how much he’d be worth in a brothel. That face would please many.”

The noisy chatter continued. Ling Ruoxi rolled her eyes. Seeing the man enjoying his noodles, she offered him some from her own stash. “Here, want some?”

“I’m full.” The red-robed man finished the last bite, patted his belly, and slowly stood, bowing to the three beggars. “Thank you all for letting me taste such delicious noodles.”

The three beggars stared in shock. Never had they expected someone so finely dressed to speak so politely.

Strange man. Ling Ruoxi shrugged, taking silver from her pouch and placing it in their hands. “Here, for you. The food too.”

“Huh? Not for me?” The man raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly.

Looking at his outfit, he clearly wasn’t poor. Ling Ruoxi muttered, “If you want, I can buy another for you. Where are you from, and where are you going?”

“Me?” The man straightened his chest and gestured in front of him. “I come from afar, and I go afar. I’ve traveled a hundred thousand li to reach Duan Yun Kingdom…”

“Get out of here. Do you think this is Journey to the West?” Ling Ruoxi snorted.

The red-robed man quickly untied the donkey, sat backward on it, and watched the bustling streets. “What’s your name?”

“Ling Ruoxi. Hey, why did you ask the beggars for food?” She looked at him, feeling he was imitating Zhang Guolao, riding a donkey backward.

He laughed, brushing back his hair. “I am Li Yi, from the Eastern Capital, very far away. I never viewed them as beggars. Hungry, lazy to walk, I accepted their gift—the best noodles.”

Confused, Ling Ruoxi frowned. “You came from the Eastern Capital, where are you going?”

“I walk every day. Even I don’t know where. Life has no set destination—just temporary stops. I am headed there.” He pointed to a high wall, smiling faintly, his eyes mischievous. “Why did you help me, young lady?”

“Just thought you were fun. No one’s like you. But you’re right—beggars aren’t born that way. No need to look down on them. If they can eat, so can we.” She nodded, rubbing her shoulders.

Her gaze then fell ahead, excitement surging. She smacked the donkey’s rear. “See you later! I’ll check out this side first.”

“Hey, Miss Ruoxi, that’s cruel!” The donkey brayed and bolted.

Holding her herbs carefully, Ling Ruoxi’s eyes lit up. She paid vendors to wrap them securely.

Li Yi, still sitting backward, rocked dangerously on the donkey, nearly thrown off.

“Who dares!”

Bang! A black figure leapt, green fighting energy sweeping forward like lightning.

The donkey screeched, collapsing, and Li Yi was thrown heavily to the ground.

“You dare block my path!” a woman atop a horse shouted.

The crowd stepped back, murmuring: “Again? Must be the Wang family’s second young lady.”

Wang Yuqing, arrogant, lifted her head. A wealthy official’s daughter, accustomed to arrogance, she now acted recklessly.

“Li Yi, are you okay?” Ling Ruoxi hurried over, carrying herbs, one still in her mouth.

“Ouch… my butt… my little guy got hurt…” Li Yi clutched his rear, refusing to move.

Ling Ruoxi twitched. She quickly retrieved the herbs and grabbed his wrist. “You’re a grown man. Stop whining—your butt’s fine. You just fell a bit.”

“My little guy got hurt…”

If he were Luo Mingyu, she would have kicked him. Falling like that wouldn’t have caused any real damage—was he joking?

“Who are you?” Wang Yuqing frowned, having never seen such a woman in the capital.

Ling Ruoxi, in snow-white attire, natural and mesmerizing, looked like a living work of art. Even in Duan Yun Kingdom, such beauty was rare.

“Okay now?” Ling Ruoxi, finally helping Li Yi to his feet, paid no attention to the woman.

“I’m fine, thank you, Miss Ruoxi.” Li Yi bowed slightly, smiling gently. Turning, his breathtaking beauty, paired with a faint smile, was deadly to all women.

Too beautiful.

Even Wang Yuqing’s heart trembled. How could such a man exist? She had never seen such perfection before, and here they were—man and woman, both flawless, like walking paintings.