Chapter 23: A Reckless Ride and Risqué Remarks

Bai Hao, in response, immediately grew restless. After all, it would have been truly problematic for any man to remain indifferent while confined in such a small space with a captivating beauty.

The young man cleared his throat delicately, then began to feign expertise, launching into an explanation of the Shadow Devourer’s peculiar traits.

Though Xia Zhiquiu had gleaned a fair amount from the old charlatan, she refrained from interrupting.

She wished to discern whether the young man genuinely understood the Shadow Devourer’s weaknesses, or if he was merely attempting to pull the wool over her eyes.

Yet, as she continued to listen, Xia Zhiquiu’s delicate frame suddenly tensed. For, in that very instant, a certain someone’s audacious hand had already begun to ascend her thigh…

“Auntie Xia, to kill a Shadow Devourer, you must first understand its essence.

They are not ordinary ghosts, but beings that exist on a two-dimensional plane. They can only move on flat surfaces—the ground, walls, and ceilings.

This is why they only attack shadows, which are our projections onto the two-dimensional plane…”

“Ugh… stop that…”

At that moment, however, Xia Zhiquiu found herself utterly incapable of heeding the young man’s words, for his audacious hand had truly begun to run wild!

Left with no other recourse, she could only seize the young man’s rogue hand through the layers of her clothing.

“You, you’re going too far, let go!”

Seeing the mature and alluring woman before him finally erupt, Bai Hao’s lips curved into a slight smile, and he tilted his head.

“Auntie Xia, if you don’t let go, how can I?”

At his words, Xia Zhiquiu felt a surge of shame and fury so potent she wished she could simply perish. In that instant, she yearned to sink her teeth into the neck of the scoundrel before her.

She knew perfectly well what this fellow was thinking; even if she released his hand, he wouldn’t release hers. Yet, beyond this stalemate, she had absolutely no recourse.

The two remained in this tense deadlock for what felt like an eternity, Bai Hao merely observing her with a silent, amused smile.

Ultimately, it was Xia Zhiquiu who broke, her voice trembling as she finally spoke.

“Fine, I’ll let go, but you let go of me too! Otherwise, otherwise, I’ll kill you!”

Upon hearing her words, Bai Hao immediately channeled his inner dramatist, speaking with feigned sorrow.

“Auntie Xia, how cruel! Do you want to become a widow right after getting our marriage certificate?”

Xia Zhiquiu’s lovely face flushed crimson at his words. For some inexplicable reason, such idle banter, which would typically hold no sway over a man, now filled her with an overwhelming sense of mortification.

“You, you shut up!”

As she spoke, she slowly relinquished her jade-like hand from its hold on the young man’s devilish grip. Yet, in the very next moment, the young man, predictably, proved his untrustworthiness.

The beautiful, mature woman cast a mournful glare at the young man, then abruptly bent over.

Witnessing this, Bai Hao felt a surge of both surprise and delight.

“Auntie Xia, I’m truly growing to like you more and more.”

How could such an exquisite siren fail to stir his heart? He yearned to consume her entirely, to see her eyes shimmering with stars.

Upon hearing the young man’s brazen words, Xia Zhiquiu glared at him fiercely, her exquisite teeth nearly grinding together in frustration.

“Enough nonsense, continue.”

Bai Hao shrugged, opting not to further provoke the ruffled kitten before him. He then turned and produced a curiously shaped bronze oil lamp, its shade adorned with intricate hollowed-out patterns.

“This is a Manifestation Lamp. Its special spectrum can temporarily materialize Shadow Devourers in the three-dimensional world. However, merely making them visible isn’t enough; you’ll need this…”

With those words, the young man produced a short staff, its body intricately carved with runes and its end fashioned into a distinctive hook.

“A Soul Hook. It can temporarily trap a ghostly entity within a specific area. Only by doing so can you prevent the Shadow Devourer from escaping the Manifestation Lamp’s illuminated range.”

Xia Zhiquiu, utterly bewildered by the display, couldn’t help but ask with genuine curiosity.

“How do you have all these things? And how did you pull them out?”

‘Are his pockets some kind of Doraemon pouch?’

Bai Hao paused at her question, then cleared his throat delicately.

“It’s a secret, Auntie Xia. You want to know? It’s not impossible; just give me a kiss, and I’ll tell you.”

Upon hearing the young man’s cheeky remark, Xia Zhiquiu simply rolled her eyes, then snatched both the Manifestation Lamp and the Soul Hook from his grasp.

“Hmph! If you won’t say, then don’t. I don’t even want to know.”

Bai Hao gazed at the beautiful, tsundere woman, finding her utterly adorable. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he spoke.

“Auntie Xia, I’ll take you somewhere. Let me drive.”

Xia Zhiquiu eyed him with suspicion.

“Do you even have a driver’s license to be driving?”

Bai Hao, however, merely offered a confident smile.

“Who says I can’t drive? Auntie Xia and I ‘drive’ (TL Note: ‘开车’ (kāichē) literally means ‘to drive a car,’ but in slang, it can also refer to ‘getting frisky’ or ‘engaging in sexual activity,’ especially in web novels.) together often.”

Xia Zhiquiu froze at the young man’s remark, taking a moment to process that the ‘driving’ he referred to was not the literal kind. Her cheeks, against her will, bloomed with a furious blush.

“Who wants to ‘drive’ with you?! Go play by yourself. It would serve you right if you got into a car accident and died!”

With that, she tossed the car keys directly to Bai Hao, ready to exit the vehicle. After all, her immediate priority was to eliminate the Shadow Devourer; otherwise, Xia Wei would remain in constant peril.

Bai Hao watched her depart, finding her reaction rather amusing. He promptly reached out and pulled the “big-chested, brainless auntie” back into the car.

“Auntie Xia, are you daft? How much effect can a Manifestation Lamp have in broad daylight?”

Xia Zhiquiu’s delicate frame stiffened at his words, and a flash of embarrassment crossed her eyes. Nevertheless, she merely let out a soft huff, unwilling to engage with the impudent young man.

Seeing her stubborn refusal, Bai Hao simply took matters into his own hands.

“Ugh, you, what are you doing? Let go of me! Don’t push me…”

Three minutes later, Bai Hao and Xia Zhiquiu had exchanged positions, with him now settled firmly in the driver’s seat.

Xia Zhiquiu’s hair, meanwhile, was disheveled, and a button had come undone on her shirt, revealing a generous expanse of her fair skin.

Coupled with the woman’s resentful and furious gaze, anyone ignorant of the situation would have surely assumed something scandalous had just occurred.

Indeed, the truth was not far off; while Bai Hao had merely stated they were swapping seats, he had certainly taken ample liberties with the beautiful woman during the process…

“Auntie Xia, buckle up. We’re off.”

Bai Hao buckled his seatbelt, a faint smile playing on his lips. Xia Zhiquiu thought nothing of it, but in the very next instant, the car shot forward like a veritable arrow, weaving through the urban landscape!

***

Ten minutes later, they arrived at Fortune Shopping Plaza.

Bai Hao executed a flawless drift, parking the car with uncanny precision in the garage. Only then did he turn to Xia Zhiquiu, who sat beside him.

“Auntie Xia, what do you think? I drive fast, don’t I?”

Xia Zhiquiu’s jade hand was currently pressed against her throbbing forehead, her head spinning from the ride.

Upon hearing the young man’s proud declaration, she found herself devoid of even the energy to glare at him. She simply swore.

“I’m never riding in a car you drive again!”