Chapter 144: Throwing the Soul Bone to the Dogs

Zhao Ling also noticed Ning Fengzhi's strange gaze, mainly because Ning Fengzhi kept looking him up and down, left and right, and all around.

That gaze was filled not only with shock at seeing a freak, but also curiosity, confusion, and other emotions, which made Zhao Ling feel somewhat creeped out.

He grumbled in his heart, "Hey, Ning Fengzhi, have you looked enough? Can you stop staring at me like that? Your eyes are really weird."

"I know I'm pretty good-looking, but I'm a guy, I like girls, and I'm not interested in you at all."

"If your future daughter Ning Rongrong looked at me like that, I'd enjoy it, but you're different. I warn you, turn your head away quickly, or I'll have to hit you."

...

Of course, although Zhao Ling thought this way inside, he wouldn't actually fight Ning Fengzhi.

After all, he still had eyes for Ning Fengzhi's future daughter; how could he be so reckless as to beat up his future father-in-law?

So Zhao Ling didn't bother paying attention to Ning Fengzhi anymore and began to enjoy his meal happily.

Compared to the chef at his own manor, the palace's imperial chef's skills were a little better — these dishes were very delicious, not at all like some five-star restaurant chefs on Blue Star.

After several rounds of wine and dishes, Zhao Ling took a carriage back to the manor.

As soon as he got off, he saw Liu Erlong waiting at the gate — the scene felt like a wife waiting for her husband's return.

This made him feel somewhat strange. Why was Long'er standing there waiting for him?

But Zhao Ling didn't think too much and walked up to Liu Erlong, brushing aside the hair on her forehead, then lightly kissed the spot between her eyebrows.

"Long'er, are you waiting for your husband to come pamper you?"

Liu Erlong felt the lingering warmth on her forehead from the kiss and quickly buried her head in Zhao Ling's embrace, pleading.

"Ling, Brother Ling, Long'er was wrong. Long'er won't dare provoke you again. Can you spare Long'er?"

Immediately, Zhao Ling became dissatisfied, grabbing Liu Erlong around the waist and glaring at her fiercely.

"Heh, before leaving today, I clearly told you to obediently call me 'husband,' but you didn't back then, and now that I'm back, you still don't obediently call me that."

"And you want me to spare you? Dream on. When you deliberately provoked me during the day, you should've known the consequences. Now I'm going to punish you properly."

Liu Erlong, held tightly in his arms, knew Zhao Ling would never let her off, so she gave up trying to please him and defiantly challenged.

"Hmph, don't think Long'er is scared of you. I don't believe you can do anything to me."

Though tough-talking, Zhao Ling clearly felt her trembling in his arms.

He thought she was amusing — clearly scared to death, but refusing to admit it. Fine, Zhao Ling wanted to see how stubborn she really was.

He then ran toward the manor holding Liu Erlong. Unexpectedly, on the way to her room, they encountered Ah Yin sitting in the courtyard playing chess.

Zhao Ling wanted to greet Ah Yin but saw her expression change suddenly. She put down her teacup and hurriedly fled.

Her speed was faster than an Olympic 100-meter champion on Blue Star, which surprised him. But soon he understood why.

Ah Yin obviously didn't want to get caught up and dragged into Liu Erlong's troubles.

Even more ridiculous, when Zhao Ling passed by Bo Saixi's room — whose door and windows had been open — they immediately slammed shut, the locking sounds clearly audible.

Zhao Ling smirked bitterly. He wanted to ask those two girls, Bo Saixi and Ah Yin: "Do you think I'm some clueless beast?"

He had already said tonight he would punish Long'er severely, but wouldn't drag others into it.

Seeing that her once-close 'sisters' ran away without helping her when trouble came, Liu Erlong felt a chill in her heart.

Finally, with a determination to face death, Liu Erlong was carried by Zhao Ling back to her room.

As the door closed and locked, the lights went out, and strange sounds came from inside…

Two days later, Ah Yin and the fully recovered Bo Saixi sat in the courtyard playing chess.

Bo Saixi frequently glanced toward Liu Erlong's room, her beautiful eyes full of pity mixed with schadenfreude.

"I'm stunned — it's been two whole days, and hubby still hasn't come out of Long'er's room. So scary, really scary."

"Luckily, I didn't provoke hubby deliberately. Otherwise, he'd have tormented me a whole day and night before leaving my room, or else…"

Thinking of Zhao Ling's insane constitution, Bo Saixi still shivered in fear.

"Indeed, Long'er has only herself to blame. I warned her a thousand times not to provoke hubby, but she didn't listen. Now she's paying the price."

Ah Yin picked up her knight and immediately captured Bo Saixi's rook, which made Bo Saixi unhappy.

"Sister Yin'er, I was so focused on talking just now that I didn't notice the move. That doesn't count. I want to take it back…"

Ah Yin put the captured rook behind her back.

"Don't try that. Hubby said no take-backs. Don't think I'm a fool. You're playing carelessly, so don't blame me."

"Damn…" Bo Saixi was frustrated. The game had just started, and she had already lost a rook, putting her at a disadvantage.

Bo Saixi adjusted her mindset and racked her brain for a way to turn the game around, while Ah Yin considered how to defend carefully and keep control.

With Bo Saixi's life experience and cunning, once serious, the game became interesting and even challenging for Ah Yin.

After more than ten minutes, the board reversed — the advantage shifted from Ah Yin to Bo Saixi, and quite significantly.

Ah Yin was puzzled why, when she tried to play carefully and hold the position, victory leaned toward Sister Bo Saixi.

No way, this couldn't continue.

Her eyes rolled and she smiled mischievously, winking at Bo Saixi.

"Sister Bo Saixi, I remember when I first met you, you said you came to the land looking for someone named Tang Chen. What's your relationship with him? Could it be…"

Before she finished, Bo Saixi's face softened into a gentle smile.

"Tang Chen? Who's that? I don't know him. Sister Yin'er, I hope you don't talk about any men besides our hubby in front of me."

"I don't want hubby to misunderstand and think we have anything to do with other men. If you dare talk nonsense, watch out, Sister will kill you and throw your ten-thousand-year soul bones to the dogs…"