Chapter 7

Zuan turned around, found a stool, and sat down: "Let's start. I only have one request: don't hit my face; I still need it to make a living."

Chu Hanzhao couldn't help but feel a deep hatred, but she didn't want her parents and sister to find out, so she agreed: "I won't hit your face." She flicked her wrist, and the whip in her hand made a terrifying cracking sound as it lashed across his chest, tearing his clothes and causing his chest to bleed and flesh to tear.

However, Chu Hanzhao's smile quickly faded because there was no expected scream, no wailing, nothing. The other party just sat calmly on the stool, with a somewhat strange expression.

Zuan's expression was indeed strange because there was no intense pain, but instead, an immense sense of pleasure, as if a person lost in the desert for days suddenly tasted a cold watermelon, or as if he saw his name at the top of the imperial examination list. The comfort was so great that he almost cried out.

But considering his future image, to avoid any strange rumors about him being a masochist, he tried his best to suppress any strange sounds.

"Huh?" Chu Hanzhao's eyes widened in surprise. What was happening was beyond her imagination.

This guy must be tough, deliberately pretending to be indifferent. Yes, it must be that! The first lash made him scream, so this time it must be for the bet.

Chu Hanzhao gritted her teeth and lashed him again. She knew the power of the whip of wailing. Maybe someone could endure one lash with great willpower, but no one could withstand the second.

This lash left a bloody X on his chest. Chu Hanzhao looked at him expectantly, thinking, "Aren't you going to scream now?"

But Zuan's reaction was: "Hmm? Hmm~"

He couldn't help it; this was already his best effort to control himself. The strange sensation was extremely shameful, as if he had opened a new world.

Chu Hanzhao felt uneasy. Today's events were far beyond her understanding. After thinking for a while, she decided to hit him in a different place, thinking maybe his chest was numb from the injuries.

She took a deep breath and the third lash hit his leg. But she was disappointed again. Although his expression was pained, he never cried out in agony.

"I win, right?" Zuan noticed that the golden substance in the second array was already half-filled. It seemed this girl was really ruthless.

"How is that possible!" Chu Hanzhao's eyes widened. She looked at the whip in her hand, deeply suspicious. Could the whip have lost its power?

After some thought, she walked up to Zuan and handed him the whip: "Try hitting me with it."

Zuan perked up: "Really let me hit you?"

"Hit me, just don't hit my face, and stop talking nonsense!" Chu Hanzhao lifted her chin, looking defiant.

Seeing her close her eyes, her eyelashes trembling, her smooth, white cheeks like a freshly peeled boiled egg, Zuan couldn't help but marvel at how good the Chu family's genes were, even though the women were all a bit abnormal.

He naturally wouldn't hit her face, not out of chivalry, but to avoid trouble from the Chu family later.

He cackled: "I've never heard such a request before, but I'll definitely satisfy you." This girl had hit him so hard earlier; it was time to let her taste it.

He swung the whip hard, but due to the pain reduction, he underestimated his injuries. He could barely breathe, let alone have the strength to swing the whip.

The lash was weak, but even so, when it hit Chu Hanzhao, she immediately screamed and clutched her wound in pain: "Ouch~"

Seeing her tears streaming down, Zuan was glad for the first time that he had drawn the "Rich Lady Happiness Ball."

"You bastard, you hit so hard!" Chu Hanzhao clutched her wound and wiped her tears.

Zuan was exasperated: "You hit me harder just now!"

"Then why didn't you scream?" Chu Hanzhao stared at him curiously, knowing that his strength was far less than her previous lashes.

Zuan coughed and said calmly: "A real man never screams in pain." He had to maintain his image.

Chu Hanzhao blinked and nodded, somewhat understanding: "I underestimated you before. Fine, you win this time. I won't pursue the matter of the lick dog."

With that, she turned to leave. She needed to get back quickly and have her maid apply some medicine. She didn't know if there would be any scars.

But she was pulled back, and she heard him looking at her expectantly: "Don't go yet, hit me a few more times."

Chu Hanzhao: "???"

"Ugh, ugh, ugh!" Zuan realized his words sounded too submissive and quickly corrected himself: "No, I mean, let's bet again."

He noticed the array filling up quickly and couldn't miss such a good opportunity. Besides, the "Rich Lady Happiness Ball" had a time limit, and it would be a waste to let it expire.

"What do we bet?" Chu Hanzhao asked instinctively.

Zuan replied: "The same as before. If I win, you won't hold a grudge about me climbing into your bed last night; if I lose, I'll... lick your shoes."

Although he didn't fully understand this world, he knew that climbing into a sister-in-law's bed on the wedding night was unforgivable. He needed the forgiveness of the involved party to make life easier in the Chu family.

But Chu Hanzhao's face turned red: "You really want to... lick... my shoes? You pervert, I'll tell my sister."

Zuan: "..."

Isn't the perverted bet you just proposed?

"Fine, I agree!" Chu Hanzhao was excited, like any gambler who had lost and wanted to win back.

"Please whip me!" Zuan had a look of heroic sacrifice.

Another three lashes, and Chu Hanzhao looked at the man who was almost unable to stand, but never screamed, with a puzzled expression: "You... don't feel pain?"

"Of course I do, but a real man never screams in pain!" Zuan looked at the third array, which was half-filled, and felt a surge of joy, but he couldn't let her see through him.

Chu Hanzhao was silent. This man was the bravest she had ever seen. Despite his weakness, his willpower was so strong. She had seen many self-proclaimed heroes with far greater strength, but none could endure her two lashes.

"Shall we bet again?" Zuan asked tentatively.

Chu Hanzhao's expression became strange: "Do you have some special fetish?"

"Of course not!" Zuan immediately denied it. No way, he couldn't bear the shame, "I just want to win and have you lick my shoes."

"Pfft, dream on, no bet!" If it were before, Chu Hanzhao would have agreed immediately, not thinking he had a chance to win. But after losing twice, she felt uneasy.

Zuan realized she probably wouldn't accept the bet and changed his offer: "If I win, you'll respectfully call me brother-in-law whenever you see me, okay?"

Chu Hanzhao considered it. He was already her brother-in-law, so losing wouldn't be a big deal. She nodded: "Okay!"

A new round of the bet began. One lash, and Zuan couldn't suppress the trembling in his body. A moan escaped his throat, not of pain, but of pleasure and satisfaction.

"You pervert! I won't play with you anymore." Chu Hanzhao's face was bright red. She stomped her foot, picked up the "lick dog" corpse, and quickly ran out of the room.

"Hey, there are two more lashes!" Zuan called out, but she disappeared into the night like a frightened rabbit.

Really, can't take a joke.

Zuan grumbled, but the only consolation was that the third array was almost full. He swung his fist to feel the difference, but suddenly heard a voice.

"You're already at the third stage of the second rank? Just a hair's breadth from the third rank's perfection!" A figure walked in, and it was the old man Mi.

Was this guy hiding in the dark all along?

Zuan was furious but didn't show it, asking: "What is the third stage of the second rank?"

Old man Mi explained: "Didn't I tell you before? The first rank involves drawing in the elemental energy of heaven and earth, the second rank involves tempering the skin. Each rank above the second has nine sub-stages. You, in less than an hour, have directly reached the third stage of the second rank. That's strange. Normally, it takes months or even years to draw in elemental energy, let alone reach the second rank. With your inferior资质, you've broken through to the third stage of the second rank in a short time. The secret manual is indeed powerful, but it shouldn't have such a rapid effect."

Zuan realized that after the keyboard swallowed the secret manual, F2 had engraved nine arrays on his skin, helping him skip the hardest part of drawing in elemental energy and directly entering the second rank. After filling nearly three arrays, he became the third stage of the second rank.

He was thinking about how to explain it, as being too talented could cause jealousy and even danger.

But at this moment, old man Mi was muttering to himself: "It seems the whip of wailing is indeed powerful. Also, you've been enduring pain, pushing your body to the limit, which, combined with the secret manual's technique, has led to such an exaggerated cultivation speed."

He even thought about trying it himself next time.

Seeing him finish his self-reflection, Zuan didn't need to waste words explaining. He was about to ask about the abilities of the third stage of the second rank when a sudden intense pain hit him, and he couldn't help but cry out.