“However, the circus is extraordinary, and I believe even without the surprise, you will all experience an amazing and thrilling show.”
It was a gathering of the upper class after all, so after he spoke, there was no commotion—just adults flattering each other.
“I’m so touched that the Count is so thoughtful.”
“The Count is truly kind-hearted, deserving of his high standing in the Empire.”
“The Royal Circus? They never accept personal invitations, let alone perform at sea. Only someone of the Count’s noble status could manage to invite them.”
“Thank you, Count!”
The banquet hall on the cruise had already been turned into a stage. Guests filed in, and within half an hour, everyone was seated.
Naturally, the Count and the Countess sat in the best box on the second floor. Several other high-status guests were also seated upstairs, but most were on the first floor.
Ji Nansheng and his group were also on the first floor.
There was a clear distinction between the players and the NPCs. As Ji Nansheng scanned the surroundings, he noticed more than a dozen people who looked like players.
He scanned the room again, feeling that something was missing.
“Strange, have you seen Dijia?” The girl leaned in close and whispered.
Ji Nansheng finally realized what was missing.
It was Dijia.
Where had their “living ancestor” gone this time?
“Ladies and gentlemen!”
The man with exaggerated face paint from the day before, sporting bright red and green hair, descended from above on a lift. At the same time, the lights overhead suddenly went out, and all the spotlights converged on him.
“Welcome to the Royal Circus! I am Thomas, the ringmaster. Tonight, we will present a spectacular performance that will leave our guests in awe and unforgettable for the rest of your lives!”
His spirited voice instantly ignited the crowd. In the darkness, cheers and shouts filled the air.
Taking advantage of the darkness, Ji Nansheng discreetly glanced back at the Count and Countess’s box. The red curtains were drawn open, and the Count and Countess sat gracefully in their luxurious chairs, appearing perfectly normal.
Suddenly, there were cries of alarm and Ji Nansheng turned back. Onstage, a tiger had been brought out at some point.
This tiger had a striking resemblance to the one that drowned that morning. Perhaps thinking of the terrifying corpse and the player who had been bitten, the crowd murmured uneasily.
He overheard the NPCs talking nearby.
“Damn it, why is there a tiger again? Didn’t one drown this morning?”
“It must just look similar. That one’s already dead. A circus this big wouldn’t only have one tiger, and besides, its handler is right there. What’s there to be afraid of?”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re right.”
The ringmaster snorted disdainfully. “Have any of you heard the saying, ‘If a tiger doesn’t show its strength, it is mistaken for a sick cat’? Today, let me show you a real tiger turned into a cute little kitten.”
As he spoke, he cracked his whip, and the majestic tiger obediently walked to the large ball next to it. It balanced its trembling legs on it, attempting to play with it.
The tiger seemed unsteady, as though forced into the act, and it almost fell off several times.
The ringmaster repeatedly snapped his whip, the thick lash making terrifying “crack, crack” sounds as it struck the stage.
The tiger was so frightened it whimpered softly like a newborn kitten.
The audience burst into laughter.
“This beast is actually pretty cute.”
“It must’ve been beaten a lot, no wonder it’s so obedient.”
“Is this the king of beasts I know? How humiliating.”
“King of beasts? Humans are the true kings of beasts. Is there any animal we humans can’t tame?”
Fear vanished in an instant, replaced by overconfidence and arrogance.
Sitting in the stands and watching the once-ferocious beast tamed into a pet, the spectators felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
Ji Nansheng had no interest in the circus performance. He turned his attention once again to the Count and Countess’s box, only to find that the thick curtains had been drawn closed at some point.
The curtains swayed slightly, as if someone inside had accidentally brushed against them.
After some thought, Ji Nansheng stood up, left the stands, and quietly searched for the staircase leading to the second floor.
…
Inside the box, the Countess’s hands were pinned behind her back by a large hand.
A tall man sat in a chair, while the helpless Countess was forced to straddle his lap.
The Countess’s hands were easily restrained by the man behind her. She looked at him with shame and anger. “How dare you!”
“How dare I?” The man chuckled hoarsely. “I haven’t dared enough, Countess. Keep your voice down, or you’ll wake the Count, and that would be troublesome.”
The Countess glanced at the elderly man beside her. His eyes were closed, face pale. “What did you do to him?”
The man’s hand pressed against the Countess’s waist, while the other that was holding her wrists gently teased her palm. “He was in the way, so I made him lose consciousness for a while. He’s not dead. But you… I hear you’ve been spreading rumors that I’m an ugly, terrifying siren.”
His hand slid downward, lightly lifting the hem of her heavy blue dress, his long arm disappearing beneath the fabric. “Aren’t you the siren, my dear Countess? A thief crying ‘stop thief’.”
The man caught something, and the Countess’s expression suddenly changed. Her body collapsed against the man’s chest, her chin resting on his shoulder.
His voice was rough and restrained. “I am your lover. So what if I’m called a siren? Not only do you refuse to cover for me, but you even tell those people I’m the siren. You’ve stabbed me in the back.”
“You’re so good with words, baby.” The man tilted his head slightly, his warm lips brushing against Bai Lixin’s cheek. “It was you who betrayed me first, yet now you act as the victim. Why don’t you beg me? Maybe, if I’m in a good mood, I’ll agree to take the blame for you.”
As he spoke, his hand moved rhythmically beneath the skirt, and the scent of heather slowly filled the room.
Bai Lixin’s cheeks flushed, his neck tensed, and his eyes shifted from clarity to confusion.
His eyes briefly glanced at the unconscious Count in the corner, shame and pleasure clashing within his body.
Suppressing the broken sounds in his throat, he asked haltingly, “How should I beg you to make you happy?”
The man stopped his movements and withdrew his hand.
His fingertips, now glistening with a transparent liquid, appeared in front of the Countess. “Suck on it.”
The Countess’s face changed dramatically. “You lunatic—mmm.”
Her words were cut off as the man forced his fingers into her mouth, the strange taste spreading across her tongue.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the man, her face a mixture of shame and anger.
She twisted her body furiously, but with her arms pinned behind her, any resistance was futile.
In fact, the more she struggled, the more she felt the heat of the sharp blade against her.
Her body stiffened instantly, too terrified to move.
The man arched his waist leisurely, toying with his fingers as he explored the soft interior of the mouth.
A low and hoarse voice brushed past the Countess’s ear: “Why don’t you move? I always like it when you take the initiative.”
Shameless words slipped into the Countess’s ears, causing her to blush deeply up to the tips of her ears.
“The more you take the initiative, the more I will like it. The more I like it, the happier I will be. When I am happy, I will accept the accusation of being the siren.”
“Don’t just sit there like a corpse. Move your tongue, my dear Countess.”
Tears welled up in the Countess’s eyes. The shame of being humiliated beside her lawful husband made her body unusually sensitive.
Her tearful eyes glared resentfully at the man in front of him, who seemed determined to win everything. She had no choice but to comply with the man’s demands and gradually sank into the pleasure brought by instinct.
It was as if a newborn kitten was licking his fingertips, and finally, the man showed a satisfied smile. His fingers straightened and bent rhythmically, mimicking the most primal movements of a beast. The hand that had been holding her wrist loosened, and the man’s large, slightly calloused palm fell on the slender swan-like neck, sliding down along the beautiful curve.
Suddenly, there was a faint sound of footsteps outside, accompanied by the rustling of clothes.
The curtains that acted as the door swayed, as though someone was about to enter from outside.
The countess who was immersed in pleasure immediately woke up and let go of the man’s hand in horror.
But the man was quick. He grabbed her by the back of her neck and pulled her into a kiss, swallowing her voice entirely.
“Don’t be afraid,” he mumbled against her lips.
