Seizing a moment, Emily Grant leaned in with a mischievous smile and whispered, “Don’t look at me like that. I just think you’re really different from those servants. If you really want to thank me, just tell me a few more stories.”

James Carter smiled slightly. “You can hear as many as you like.”

As a man, James Carter ultimately had to live separately from the female disciples of Xingyue Sect. Leading the way for him was a young girl who introduced herself as Charlotte. She had just been standing beside Grace, which showed she was also an important disciple in charge here for Xingyue Sect. James Carter didn’t try to chat up the girl and followed her in silence all the way to a small, standalone courtyard.

A small bamboo building made of green bamboo stood there, elegant and refined. Unknown little flowers bloomed in the courtyard, filling the air with a pleasant fragrance. James Carter immediately took a liking to the place, thinking to himself that no modern farmhouse could compare to this fresh authenticity. The only regret was that there was no internet here, so the nights would surely be quite boring.

The girl Charlotte stopped and gave a slight bow. “Young master, we’ve arrived.”

After remaining silent the whole way, James Carter finally spoke. “Thank you, Miss Charlotte.”

Charlotte gently bit her lower lip, a hint of a seductive smile appearing on her face as she leaned in, her fair and ample curves seemingly brushing against James Carter’s arm by accident. In a soft, sweet voice, she said, “The place is simple, I hope you won’t mind, young master…”

Soft fragrance and gentle words, James Carter turned his head slightly to meet Charlotte’s face, feeling a bit surprised inside—what is she up to?

This girl was only seventeen or eighteen, with an incomparably beautiful face. Perhaps it was due to years of cultivating Xingyue Sect’s techniques, but she carried a faint, hazy aura, very similar to the one that Alice Carter and Emily Grant occasionally revealed—a mysterious, elusive charm. It must be a trait of their sect: like stars and moon, like a dream or illusion, a very unique kind of beauty, and a fantastical quality that James Carter had never seen in modern society, which he always found quite admirable.

But at this moment, Charlotte’s aura reversed. Her peach blossom eyes brimmed with spring, her sexy red lips slightly parted, a faint floral scent wafted to his nose, and her breath was like orchids. The most primal desires of the human heart were drawn in by this sensory allure, as if a veil had fallen from the mysterious to the mundane, making one want to peel it back further and see more clearly.

James Carter was no stranger to women—in fact, he’d had plenty of experience—yet even so, a surge of primal impulse rose from deep within him at this moment. His eyes involuntarily fell on the whiteness of her chest, and he just wanted to tear it open and bite down hard.

James Carter believed himself to be battle-hardened; no matter how beautiful the other party was, he couldn’t possibly be so easily seduced. This must be the legendary charm technique at work, right? He sighed softly, stepped back half a foot, and smiled. “I’m very satisfied with this place. Thank you, Miss.” He pointed to the bathrobe he was wearing. “Could you help me find a change of clothes? I’d like to take a bath.”

Although he’d seen all sorts of strange outfits on the street, this bathrobe wasn’t particularly eye-catching, but walking around in it was still quite awkward. The first thing James Carter wanted to do after settling in was to change into something more normal.

Seeing how calm and unfazed he was, a barely noticeable look of surprise flashed in Charlotte’s eyes. She then gently stroked James Carter’s chest and said softly, “That’s a small matter. Why don’t I help you bathe, young master?”

James Carter smiled. “Miss, the charm techniques of your sect shouldn’t be used on your own people.”

Charlotte froze for a moment, her seductive smile finally fading as she stepped back half a pace. “Though you have no cultivation, young master, your willpower is extraordinary. It was presumptuous of me.” She paused, then smiled sweetly again. “I’ll take my leave. Someone will bring you clothes soon.”

With that, she floated away. As her graceful figure disappeared, the surging desire that James Carter had been suppressing instantly faded, and he thought to himself, so it really was a charm technique. This silent, subtle seduction was truly easy to fall for. She must have been careful not to hurt him and didn’t use her full power—otherwise, just a bit of inner force would have been enough to finish him off. Or if it had been some inexperienced young man, even this much would have been enough to make him lose his mind. Luckily, he was seasoned and not easily swayed by beauty.

New to this place, with his own future uncertain, how could he have the mind to chase girls… Besides, he wasn’t really Alice Carter’s relative, so where would he get the nerve to mess around? He wasn’t some idiot ruled by his lower body.

But why did she try to seduce him? And so impatiently, at their very first meeting?

Chapter 7: Different Paths, Same Destination

After a while, sure enough, a maid brought over some clothes. She glanced curiously at James Carter, covered her mouth with a smile, and asked, “There’s a bath barrel upstairs. Should I fetch water for you, young master?”

James Carter saw that there was a well right in the courtyard, so he waved his hand and smiled. “There’s no reason to make a girl fetch water. You can go, I’ll do it myself.”

Perhaps Charlotte had told her not to cause trouble, so the maid didn’t insist and left with a smile.

Drawing water from the well in the middle of the courtyard, James Carter sank himself into the bath barrel, washing away his fatigue.

Why did she try to hook up with me… If it wasn’t a deliberate test, then there’s only one possibility—the sect leader’s relative, right? Isn’t that enough for the local disciples to curry favor? Maybe she was hoping to use this opportunity to become the person in charge here. She was just too eager—this was only their first meeting… The Demonic Sect is still the Demonic Sect; no matter how high their martial prowess, sometimes they really do make people feel a certain way…