"I apologize."
"I didn't expect a single sentence to cause so much trouble."
Wang Zhong stood to the side, formally apologizing for his earlier words.
Davis's condescending and almost questioning tone in the carriage had truly disgusted Wang Zhong to the extreme. Davis was a prince, but he was also a disciple of the Pope.
The status and position of the two were almost equal.
Davis possessed the pride and domineering nature of a prince, just as Wang Zhong held the honor and aloofness of a disciple of the Pope.
Moreover, he had merely hitched a ride and done nothing, only to be interrogated like an adulterer. Who could let such a thing slide?
To retaliate fiercely against the other party, Wang Zhong had deliberately made his statement sound ambiguous and wicked. As expected, Davis had erupted in rage on the spot.
However, the consequences of that sentence had caused some unwelcome repercussions.
Davis's careless words had truly hurt Zhu Zhu Yun, something Wang Zhong had not anticipated.
That roaring reprimand was the best proof.
Furthermore, they had spent half a month together, and their relationship had been exceptionally harmonious. This apology was one Wang Zhong had to give.
Zhu Zhu Yun shook her head and sighed, "You don't need to apologize."
"The reason I'm angry isn't because of the consequences of that sentence. I feel it was not worth it for myself."
"How could I have such a..."
"Ah, forget it. I don't want to deal with him."
Zhu Zhu Yun waved her hand with considerable annoyance and walked into the courtyard with a sense of disappointment.
"You didn't take your gift," Wang Zhong pointed to the gift box on the ground.
"I don't want it. You can see if you like those things."
"If you like them, keep them. If not, just throw them away like trash!"
Without looking back, Zhu Zhu Yun disappeared from Wang Zhong's sight.
Wang Zhong shrugged, not expecting such a windfall.
He picked up the two boxes and placed them on the stone table in the courtyard. Wang Zhong opened the first box, and inside lay the black pearl, no larger than his fist.
Holding the black pearl, he found it weighty and its surface perfectly smooth and flawless. The interior was equally translucent and pure, making it a superior gem.
After admiring it for a moment, Wang Zhong placed it back in the box and opened the other. Inside lay a majestic jade carving of a tiger.
"Why a tiger?"
"Shouldn't you give a cat as an apology?"
Wang Zhong expressed his complete lack of understanding, finding the gift rather foolish.
He put the tiger back in its box and picked up the fist-sized black pearl, examining it from all angles. As he did, he gestured with his hand on its surface.
"The size is acceptable, barely enough."
"I just don't know if I can make it myself."
"Shadow carving, although difficult, should be something I can try."
Under the willow tree, on the stone bench, Wang Zhong cupped the black pearl in his palms. The soul force within him, under his direction, seeped into the pearl bit by bit.
When the pearl's soul force reached a certain level, Wang Zhong condensed it, forming an invisible, sharp carving tool.
Under his manipulation, the carving tool moved meticulously within the pearl, making light strokes, dots, and lines, creating white dots and lines within the black pearl.
As the dots and lines accumulated, the image of a hot-bodied, cold-looking woman slowly took shape.
Time passed, and the woman's image became more complete, more detailed, and more lifelike. Looking at her, she was identical to Zhu Zhu Yun.
She was in a semi-crouched position, her long legs spread wide in a forward and backward lunge, her hands placed in front of her, like a cat ready to pounce.
Behind her stood a spirit cat with peculiar patterns all over its body, its head raised, fierce and menacing.
Wang Zhong carefully examined the image he had carved and nodded with satisfaction.
It was incredibly detailed and lifelike.
However, after a long while, Wang Zhong stroked his chin and murmured.
"Due to the limitations of the tools, shadow carving is usually done on a flat surface, thus forming only a single image."
"And I used soul force, penetrating the interior of the pearl to create this image."
"But this pearl is three-dimensional, meaning it has more than one surface that can be carved."
"What would be the result if I covered as many of the carvable surfaces as possible?"
As he pondered this, Wang Zhong's eyes lit up with excitement, and he became eager to try.
This seemed like a very interesting undertaking!
He acted on his thoughts and once again infused soul force into the pearl, embarking on a grand and intricate project.
Although this project had no practical significance, for Wang Zhong, it was an engaging challenge and experiment.
Meanwhile, on the other side, after leaving the Zhu family mansion and returning to his palace, Davis's handsome face was contorted with rage.
"Scoundrel!"
"How dare you, Zhu Zhu Yun! I humbled myself so much, almost groveling before you, and you still put on that kind of expression!"
"Who do you think you are! I can have as many women as I want!"
"What is a Netherworld Spirit Cat! If it weren't for your ability to merge martial spirits with our Davis family, do you really think you're that special!"
He clenched his right fist and angrily slammed it onto the wooden tea table beside him, shattering it completely.
Davis's anger had still not subsided.
"Zhu Zhu Yun, I cannot touch you, nor should I touch you."
"But you, some nobody from nowhere, dare to act so imperiously in front of me? If I don't strip off a layer of skin from you, I'm not Davis!"
With a sinister and ferocious gaze, Davis immediately summoned a guard.
"You, go near the Zhu family and keep a close watch."
"As soon as you see someone with green eyes coming out of there, report to me immediately!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" The guard immediately took his orders, bowed, and left.
Not long after, a slender and beautiful maid entered the room. She bowed slightly to Davis and then began to carefully tidy and clean the shattered tea table.
Looking at the maid's graceful back and the curves of her body, a fiery glint appeared in Davis's eyes.
Now, not only was his heart burning, but his body was also aflame.
He had long coveted Zhu Zhu Yun's devilish figure.
But given her status, he could not resort to force. He could only try to wear her down little by little. Yet, after a year, his efforts had yielded very little, let alone getting intimate, he hadn't even held her hand.
"With that cool disposition, I wonder what she's like in bed."
"But no hurry, she can't run away anyway!"
A wicked smile on his handsome face, Davis walked behind the maid, gently pulled her up, wrapped his arms around her soft and slender waist, and pulled her into his embrace. He smiled and said, "You stay with me today!"
Maids chosen to serve in the imperial palace were by no means lacking in beauty. Moreover, Davis was handsome and a prince. Which maid could refuse him?
A shy blush painted her pretty face as the maid demurely replied, "Yes, Your Highness."
Receiving her assent, Davis buried his head in her neck, gently sniffing the unique fragrance of a woman. A lustful desire rose in his eyes, and he gently kissed her slender neck.
His kisses made the maid gasp for breath...