Wang Feng sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at Ma Xiaotao's peacefully sleeping face. The room was silent, with only the steady breathing of the senior breaking the quiet. Through the window, the fading twilight signaled that the final match had long since begun.
"Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong must be disappointed..." he thought to himself. "Those two sometimes act so much like girls that it makes me wonder... ah, no way." He shook his head, trying to dismiss the strange thought. Right now, he couldn't leave Ma Xiaotao in this state.
His hand was still held in Ma Xiaotao's gentle grip, as if even in her sleep, she didn't want to let go. Wang Feng sighed, attempting to calm his turbulent thoughts.
"What exactly just happened?"
The energy of his Ethereal Lotus still pulsed faintly, seemingly still affected by the intense interaction with the Evil Fire Phoenix. His body also remembered the scorching touch of Ma Xiaotao—just the memory of it was enough to make his cheeks flush.
"This isn't good... I should have stopped it sooner."
But on the other hand, he couldn't deny one thing: the Evil Fire Phoenix within Ma Xiaotao had truly stabilized after what happened. It was as if their energies complemented each other perfectly.
"Mm..."
The soft sound from Ma Xiaotao startled him. Her eyes slowly fluttered open, still hazy but much clearer than before.
"Senior... how are you feeling?" Wang Feng asked in a low voice.
Ma Xiaotao glanced at him briefly before realizing their positions—she was lying on the bed with the blanket half-off, while Wang Feng sat beside her, his clothes still torn.
Her pale face suddenly turned crimson.
"W-What happened?!" She abruptly sat up, pulling the blanket up to her neck.
Wang Feng frowned slightly. "So she doesn't remember?"
"Senior, you... were a little unstable after the energy transfer," he said carefully. "You... had a pretty strong reaction."
Ma Xiaotao stared at him blankly, then suddenly, fragments of memories rushed back—
Ma Xiaotao's POV
I woke up with a heavy head, my body feeling both scorching hot and icy cold at the same time. A foreign energy was surging into me—soothing, refreshing, like dew amidst raging flames.
Wang Feng.
I couldn't fully open my eyes, but I could sense his presence. His warm hands pressed against my palms, channeling that energy ceaselessly.
He... always does this alone now.
Before, Zhang Lexuan would always be here. But this time... it was just the two of us.
"I need to speed this up a little..."
His voice sounded strained, and suddenly, the flow of energy intensified. I let out a soft moan—it felt like being plunged into cool water, refreshing but... too much.
No... this feels good...
Unconsciously, I started panting. His cold energy intertwined with the heat inside me, creating a strange yet addictive sensation.
"Senior...?"
He called out to me, his voice full of concern. But I couldn't respond.
All I wanted was... more.
I don't know when everything spiraled out of control.
The next thing I knew, I was already hugging him from behind, holding him so he wouldn't leave. My body moved on its own, driven by the primal urge of the Evil Fire Phoenix—I needed more, closer, deeper.
"Don't go yet..."
My own voice sounded foreign to my ears—hoarse, trembling, filled with shameful desire.
And when he turned around, his confused expression, his wide eyes... it all only made me lose my thoughts even more.
He's too cold. I want to warm him up.
Or... maybe I was too hot, and I wanted him to cool me down.
"Wang Feng—"
I pushed him down. His clothes tore under my fingers. His exposed skin felt so good—I wanted to touch more, taste more.
"Senior, wait—!"
He resisted, but weakly. I could feel his heart pounding wildly under my palm.
Does... he feel the same way too?
I leaned down, and without another thought—
A bite.
"Ah—!"
He squirmed, but that moan... didn't sound like a protest.
His energy surged into me, filling my mouth, quenching the thirst that had been gnawing at me from within. The Evil Fire Phoenix inside me purred in satisfaction, as if it had finally found its perfect match.
Slowly, my consciousness returned.
I was lying on the bed, with Wang Feng beside me—his clothes in tatters, his face flushed, and... I was still gripping his wrist.
Oh god.
Did I really just—
Embarrassment.
Embarrassment.
MORTIFICATION.
I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.
But amidst all that shame... there was something else.
Comfort.
Satisfaction.
And the most dangerous thing of all—
The desire to do it again.
"I—!" Ma Xiaotao covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide. "Did I really...?!"
Wang Feng nodded slowly, his face equally red.
Ma Xiaotao immediately turned away, her breathing ragged. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't— I wasn't in control—"
"It's okay, Senior," Wang Feng quickly interjected. "It's the effect of the Evil Fire Phoenix. It's not your fault."
But Ma Xiaotao shook her head vehemently. "No! I... I should have been able to control it!"
She lowered her head, her hands clutching the blanket tightly. Wang Feng could see how her fingers trembled.
"She's really embarrassed..."
Wang Feng sighed, then gently placed a hand on her head. "Senior, I'm not angry. Besides... thanks to that, your Evil Fire Phoenix is much calmer now, right?"
Ma Xiaotao lifted her face, still flushed but with a hint of relief in her eyes. "Really?"
Wang Feng nodded. "Yeah. I can feel it."
A moment of silence passed.
Then, Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath. "Still... I'm sorry for treating you like that."
Wang Feng smiled slightly. "If you're really sorry, maybe next time you could not rip my clothes?"
"You—!" Ma Xiaotao's face turned even redder before she hurled a pillow at him. "You shameless brat!"
Wang Feng laughed, easily deflecting the pillow. But inwardly, he was relieved—at least Ma Xiaotao was back to her usual self.
However, as he stood up to fetch some water—
"Wang Feng."
Ma Xiaotao's voice was calmer now.
"Yes, Senior?"
He turned and met Ma Xiaotao's suddenly very serious gaze.
"What happened today... don't tell anyone."
Wang Feng nodded. "Of course."
But then, Ma Xiaotao added in a near-whisper:
"And... thank you. For everything."
Wang Feng smiled. "You're welcome, Senior."
Today might have been full of unexpected events, he thought. But for some reason... I don't regret it at all.