Seductive Temptation

As dawn approached, the government troops at the east and north gates were successively defeated, granting the Holy Mother Sect’s defenders a brief respite to catch their breath, eat some dry rations, and replenish their water.

Luan Yi sat directly on the ground, glancing at the exhausted guards, worry welling up in his heart. The church had far too few defenders to face such overwhelming numbers of enemy soldiers; fighting without rest, if they were not slain in battle, they would surely collapse from exhaustion. Surviving three days would be difficult indeed—he could only hope Dian Wei would complete his preparations swiftly and bring reinforcements soon.

Lost in heavy thought, he suddenly noticed a flatbread being offered in front of him. Turning his head, he saw it was Diao Chan. She pressed the flatbread into his hand, then sat beside him holding a bowl of hot soup.

He fetched his empty knapsack, placed it on the ground, and gently told her, “The earth is cold. You should use something for a cushion before you sit.”

“Aren’t you sitting without one as well?” Diao Chan smiled sweetly, but did not refuse. Obediently, she did as Luan Yi advised and sat down on the knapsack. “Luan, you must be tired. Eat something and drink some hot soup.”

Indeed, after a night of chaotic battle, Luan Yi was utterly spent. He took large bites of the flatbread. With every bite, Diao Chan would thoughtfully offer him the hot soup. He tried to reach for the bowl, but his left arm, strained when he lifted the cauldron the previous night, was still burning with pain and too weak to hold it. The soup in his trembling hand sloshed and nearly spilled.

“Are you hurt?” Diao Chan asked anxiously.

He waved her off, clenching his fist. “It’s nothing, just a minor injury.”

“Then let me feed you instead.” She took the bowl from his hand. Her delicate fingers gently scooped up some soup, blew softly on it to cool it, and brought it to his lips. After each spoonful, she smiled at him, asking, “Is it good?”

“Ah? Uh... yes, it’s good!” Luan Yi stammered, his cheeks flushing bright red. It was the first time he had been so close to Diao Chan. Her every gesture as she served him was enchanting, her captivating eyes, the proud figure beneath her warrior robes, the fragrant breath she exhaled as she cooled the soup—it all made his blood surge. At not quite sixteen, his body responded instinctively. Embarrassed, he averted his gaze, coughed, and repeated, “It’s good.”

“If you like it, have some more,” Diao Chan coaxed, feeding him spoonful by spoonful. Luan Yi struggled to suppress the rising desire in his heart as he drank, but being so near a beauty made restraint almost painful. In comparison, he almost preferred leaping onto the battlements to resume fighting.

Unconsciously, the image of Cai Yan flashed through his mind. To distract himself, he changed the subject and asked, “Um... where is Sister Cai?”

Diao Chan’s face lit up with a smile. “After last night’s battle, Sister Cai was quite frightened and didn’t sleep at all. When things calmed down this morning, she finally fell asleep in her room.”

“Ah...” A trace of gloom flickered in Luan Yi’s eyes. He asked, “Have you rested, Chan’er?”

“Not yet.”

“You should try to sleep for a while, or you’ll wear yourself out!”

“Haven’t you also stayed up all night?” Diao Chan countered.

“That’s different! I’m a man, I can take it. You’re a woman; you need to take care of yourself. Here, I’ll keep the soup warm, you go and rest.”

“If you won’t sleep, neither will I. I want to stay and guard you.”

“There’s no need for that,” Luan Yi replied, knowing how stubborn she could be—her persistent pursuit of him in the past had proven that. So he didn’t press the matter.

As they spoke, Diao Chan yawned softly. “But... to be honest, I am getting a little sleepy...”

“Then go inside and rest! As long as I am here, you’ll be safe. Go on, don’t worry.”

“But... I don’t want to leave you,” she replied, her tone conflicted. Suddenly, her face brightened. “Why don’t you hold me while I sleep?”

“Pfft—” Luan Yi almost choked, soup spraying from his mouth at her suggestion, startling Diao Chan. She quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped his lips, concern written all over her face. “What’s wrong? Are you unwell? Does your injury hurt again?”

He hastily took the handkerchief, stammering that he was fine.

“So, will you hold me while I sleep?”

Hold her while she slept? The ambiguity of the phrase made Luan Yi’s mind whirl; he couldn’t help but picture himself rolling in bed with her. “Um... men and women should keep their distance, I... I’m afraid, afraid...” But before he could finish, Diao Chan pressed her back against his chest right there in full view of everyone.

Her silky hair brushed his chin, releasing a tantalizing fragrance that made him dizzy and at a loss for what to do.

She spoke softly, “What is there to be afraid of? In one year, three months, fifteen days, and four hours, you and I will be husband and wife. Who could object to a little intimacy? Isn’t that so, Luan?”

“It... I suppose so,” Luan Yi stammered, surprised she remembered their wedding date so precisely—it spoke to her deep affection for him.

“So...” Diao Chan’s cheeks blushed. “You don’t have to be formal with me. From now on, just treat me as your wife.”

Luan Yi agreed absentmindedly, not noticing how she emphasized being his wife, never mentioning the word “concubine.” In truth, she was to be his concubine; Cai Yan was the official wife.

As she lay on top of him, she quietly reached behind her, groping about, and muttered, “What is this? It’s poking me...”

Luan Yi’s blood pounded, and he nearly fainted. How could it not poke her, he thought—she was so beautiful, so alluring... He tried to move her hand away, but before he could, Diao Chan grasped—

She stroked back and forth, then with a little gasp, quickly withdrew her hand, her face flushed bright red.

At this point, Luan Yi felt a sense of loss, almost wishing she would stay as she was or even move a bit more...

He coughed, taking several deep breaths, suppressing his unruly thoughts with great effort. Yet every time he forced them down, Diao Chan would release another wave of her intoxicating fragrance, rekindling his desire.

He finally couldn’t bear it any longer and, unable to remain pressed against her, excused himself with a pretense of needing the restroom.

Like other Luan family properties, the church headquarters had proper latrines, separated for men and women by partitions, each with a wooden seat over a channel below.

He hadn’t actually needed to relieve himself but needed an excuse to escape, so he wandered around the empty, clean latrine as if inspecting it.

At this unusual hour, no one was there, and everything was tidy. He pushed open the door to leave and found Diao Chan walking straight toward him. Embarrassed, he pointed down the corridor. “The women’s restroom is that way.”

“I’m not here for that.”

“Then...” Before he could finish, she rushed into his arms in a few quick steps, pressing him against the wall. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, rose on tiptoes, and kissed him passionately. As she kissed, her hands roamed from his chest down his body...

Panicked, Luan Yi protested, “Chan’er, Chan’er... what are you doing, this is... mmm...” He tried to push her away, “No, we can’t... can’t we wait for our wedding night?”

Hearing this, Diao Chan began to cry. She sobbed, “The wedding night... when will that ever come? Right now we are surrounded, life and death are uncertain. They say reinforcements will arrive in three days, but with so few of us, can we really hold out?”

“We can, we will!” Luan Yi replied firmly.

“I don’t care! If we can’t hold out, if you die, I won’t go on living. If I must die, I’m willing to follow you into the afterlife. What I can’t accept is never having been your wife, not even for one night. Our marriage is already settled; a little ahead of schedule won’t matter. For my peace of mind, won’t you yield to me?” With that, she threw herself into his arms again, kissing and caressing him without pause.

Luan Yi had long since reached his limit with her teasing. He couldn’t help but mock himself: coming from the liberal 21st century, where nothing was taboo and one could hook up with a swipe on a phone, he, engaged as he was, was still being shy, while here was a woman of olden times more daring than he.

With that thought, he gave in, responding boldly. Their lips entangled, they slipped into the men’s restroom, into a private stall, and shut the door.

Diao Chan pushed him down onto the seat, quickly helping him undress, stripping his lower half bare, and shedding her tight martial attire until only loose undergarments remained.

She pulled aside his underwear and, in one swift move, sat astride him. “Ah...”

Never in his wildest imagination had Luan Yi expected Diao Chan, innocent and untouched, to be so wild on her first night, like a hungry she-wolf, biting and clinging to him.

Every movement of hers was seductive—her hair flowing, her soft hands roaming—pleasure beyond words. She even tried many positions, some that Luan Yi, despite his modern experience, had never seen. She confessed she had studied many spring palace manuals to better serve him after marriage, and had even practiced with her maid Qiqiao, who would accompany her as a dowry maid and could serve him together.

In the throes of passion, desire only grew stronger. Hearing this, Luan Yi grew even more excited, working harder, making Diao Chan cry out uncontrollably.

Her voice was sweet to begin with, and now, for fear of being overheard, she kept it low, making it all the more enchanting...

(This chapter has been heavily abridged.)