Chapter 16: Unexplained Entanglement

This was, after all, someone else's romantic scandal, and Wen Wan had initially had no intention of getting involved.

So, she stood where she was, motionless.

Unfortunately, the people in the woods did not seem to give her the chance to remain a bystander.

Shen Yu strode out from the woods. When he saw Wen Wan, he looked as if he had seen a savior, appearing desperate to reach her side.

Behind him, the disheveled woman was coyly trying to tug at his arm.

Shen Yu's hand had already moved to his waist.

Wen Wan knew that a soft sword was hidden at his waist.

From this, it was evident that he was only refraining from acting because he could not afford to draw attention; otherwise, he could have dealt with a woman like this with a single finger.

"Madam, let me explain."

Shen Yu spoke these words almost through gritted teeth.

As he spoke, he cast an inconspicuous glance toward the distant merchant caravan.

Wen Wan froze, then caught sight out of the corner of her eye that several escorts were already walking in this direction.

She immediately cleared her throat and lowered her voice, shouting with her hands on her hips, "You unfaithful man! How dare you be involved in something so scandalous with this old woman behind my back!"

Old woman?

Those three words stunned the disheveled young woman.

Throughout history, all women have been the same: equally terrified of their beauty fading with age.

Being called an "old woman" by Wen Wan caused the young woman's hand, which had been attempting to grab Shen Yu's arm, to immediately change direction.

"You little brat, you have such a poisonous tongue! See if I don't tear your mouth apart today!"

The conflict between man and woman instantly transformed into a quarrel between women.

By the time the escorts arrived, they saw Wen Wan and the young woman already scuffling.

It was perfectly normal for women fighting to tear at each other's clothes, so the young woman's garments were being torn increasingly ragged by Wen Wan.

Shen Yu's expression was grim. Seeing him there, the escorts felt it inappropriate to pull Wen Wan away, so they all went to restrain the woman instead.

The two women were finally separated, and the woman's disheveled state now had a reasonable explanation; no one would link her state of undress to Shen Yu.

Wen Wan took the opportunity to grab Shen Yu's hand and lead him aside. She did not let go until they reached a secluded spot.

"How was that? I'm quick, aren't I? Now no one will suspect the relationship between you two. But really, you—in broad daylight, couldn't you have exercised a bit more restraint? Even if you like that type of woman, at least wait until night..."

As Wen Wan spoke, she felt a warm liquid flowing from her nose. She raised her hand to wipe it, and her fingertips were stained red with blood.

Her expression changed, and she complained while pinching her nose.

"I sacrificed too much! I'm even bleeding! I was so focused on tearing her clothes that I took several heavy blows from her. You owe me a favor for this, right?"

Originally, seeing her nosebleed, Shen Yu had reached into his robes for a silk handkerchief, but after belatedly realizing the implication of her words, he lowered his hand again with a cold face.

"What kind of relationship do you think I have with her?" Shen Yu asked coldly.

Wen Wan sniffled, "Uh..."

Shen Yu's gaze fell intensely upon her.

The woman before him, having just gone through a brawl with a shrew, had messy hair, a bruised face, and several glaring scratch marks on her neck.

She was a mess—a complete mess.

But this mess was, after all, because of him.

Shen Yu sighed and finally took out a silk handkerchief to press against her nose, his tone softening slightly.

"I don't know that woman. She sought me out herself and then started undressing. It should be..."

He seemed somewhat embarrassed, unable to even bring himself to say the word "seduce."

Wen Wan watched him, stunned, witnessing once again the pure-hearted side of this rugged man.

Good heavens, with him putting on such a pure expression, was he sure he wasn't trying to seduce her?

Wen Wan swallowed hard. "I believe you!"

She must be losing her mind; with him looking like this, how could he have actually done anything with that woman?

Avoiding sensitive terms, Shen Yu continued, "These traveling merchants are used to a life of debauchery. If they encounter someone they like on the road and it's mutual, they'll have a fleeting affair. There is a slang term among merchant caravans for such women: 'Dewy Ladies'."

He explained so much only to tell her that the woman coming to him was not due to any misunderstanding caused by his actions, but rather the woman's own issue and a bad habit among these merchants.

After listening, Wen Wan finally understood the whole story.

She stared at Shen Yu for a moment and nodded. "Understood. I must say, with looks like yours, I'm sure many 'Dewy Ladies' have taken a fancy to you."

Just as Shen Yu was about to retort, she dropped an even more chilling remark.

"However, since there are 'Dewy Ladies,' are there also 'Dewy Husbands'?"

"I'm quite good-looking myself. What if a 'Dewy Husband' takes a fancy to me, and that husband happens to have eight-pack abs? I'm afraid I won't be able to resist the temptation..."

Shen Yu's mouth twitched. He shot her a glance and turned to walk back.

He looked as if he had absolutely no desire to deal with her anymore.

Wen Wan scurried after him, her mind still racing through various deductions of the potential consequences of failing to resist temptation.

"Husband, walk a little slower! Let's talk about this carefully. What if I can't resist the temptation and something happens? If I accidentally end up carrying someone else's cub without you knowing, wouldn't you become the cheap father of a little cub..."

Walking ahead, Shen Yu's temples throbbed.

He shouldn't have explained so much to her—she was just an insignificant pawn!

He should have just let her misunderstand!

***

As darkness approached, the caravan arrived at the first small town where they would stop.

The town was truly small, with only a few dozen shops from one end of the street to the other.

As the wealthiest man in the border town, Gao Ling was incredibly wealthy and directly booked the only inn in town.

During dinner, Wen Wan scanned the room but did not see the "Dewy Lady."

Sitting opposite her, Shen Yu seemed to guess what she was looking for and remarked casually.

"Gao Ling sent her away."

Hearing this, Wen Wan turned to look at Gao Ling. "How did he send her away?"

She was merely purely curious.

Gao Ling smiled while eating. "These small merchants follow our Gao family's caravan hoping to gain our protection. Since she offended my brother, she was naturally driven away."

"Oh." That made sense.

They weren't running this caravan truly for the sake of business.

When the three of them were nearly finished eating, a carriage pulled up in front of the inn.

The carriage was piled high with goods like furs, appearing to belong to traveling merchants as well. The drivers were two tall, handsome young men.

Upon seeing the Gao family's carriage parked at the inn entrance, their faces lit up with joy, and they strode toward the inn.

Wen Wan's gaze followed them the moment they appeared, especially when one of them accidentally tripped over the threshold while stepping inside.

His companion instinctively reached out to pull him, but accidentally caught his belt.

The belt fell, his clothes parted, and eight clearly defined abdominal muscles were revealed.

"Heaven wants to destroy me!"

Had an eight-pack "Dewy Husband" appeared so easily?

Wen Wan swallowed hard, her eyes staring blankly.

(End of Chapter)