As they continued their leisurely stroll along the mountain's edge, the sky transformed into a vivid tapestry of resplendent hues.

The fading light embraced the world in a breathtaking symphony of pinks and oranges, mirroring the delicate balance between hope and uncertainty that enveloped them.

Nature itself seemed to lend its vibrant palette to their intertwined destinies.

Yet, even as Long Meihui walked side by side with her companions, a profound revulsion stirred within her whenever she glanced at Shen Huang.

She believed that even if she were to marry him, she would never allow him to touch her body, for he would foolishly follow her lead.

For once, she couldn't help but admire the Long Family patriarch for finding such an imbecile.

A surge of indignation and anger consumed her as she compared Shen Huang to Xia Tian.

Her narrowed eyes and flushed cheeks revealed a fire burning deep within her.

In her imagination, she substituted Shen Huang with Xia Tian, envisioning a scenario where dominance overpowered consent.

A chill ran down her spine as she heard Xia Tian's possible vile words reverberate in her mind, if he were to be substituted in place of Shen Huang.

'Women, do you truly believe the world bends to your desires? Now spread your legs or face the consequences!'

Contemplating Shen Huang's status as a mighty emperor, surpassing her in strength, Long Meihui understood that even if he were to wield his power and force himself upon her, she would ultimately suffer the consequences.

She recognized her role as a sacrificial piece, destined to solidify the bond between the Shen and Long families.

The covert dealings orchestrated by the Long Family patriarch involved 'Shen Qing', who accompanied Long Meihui under the guise of a family visit.

Shen Qing was the loyal wife of Long family patriach.

Their true intentions hidden beneath a veil of secrecy, ensuring minimal suspicion.

In the face of any mishap befalling Long Meihui, Shen Huang would face a mere scolding, escaping with a light punishment.

But the question persisted like a haunting echo: Would Shen Huang dare to even lay a hand on her without her consent? 

Shen Huang and many men like him often lacked the astute ability to utilize their power to its fullest advantage.

They appeared cowardly compared to women, who ruthlessly harnessed every resource at their disposal to achieve their objectives.

As absurd as Xia Tian's actions were, he always seized every opportunity to his benefit.

When Long Meihui was on Xia Family land, he brazenly forced her without much thought, knowing that even in the worst-case scenario, she could be discreetly eliminated by the Xia family, making it appear like an unfortunate accident.

The Long family would then demand some compensation, only to forget about it later.

Long Meihui sighed, questioning why she even bothered to think about that cunning man.

He wasn't just cunning; he was her very nemesis.

She still hadn't figured out how to plague the Long family in this new circumstance and complete her assigned task.

In the past, she could manipulate people from both Xia and Long families, using intermediaries to reveal Long family secrets to the Xia Family.

The ambitious individuals in Xia family would secretly start to undermine the Long family, leaving the powerful clan helpless as their secrets leaked away.

However, in this new situation, she had to find a new way.

Internal conflict within the Long family seemed like an option, but the complete authoritarian approach and the patriarch's absolute rule, with only one wife, made creating significant internal conflict challenging.

Just as Long Meihui stressed over the situation, her eyes narrowed, and she spotted a small fox in the hands of a toddler playing in the grasslands.

Her expression changed, "Who could be so irresponsible to leave this child alone in the wilderness?"

As Shen Huang and the others furrowed their brows, a sense of unease hung in the air. Zhao Xin hesitated, her instincts warning her against approaching the little girl who played innocently in the forest with her peculiar, captivating fox. Wasn't this reminiscent of a plotline from a chilling horror story?

Despite their reservations, the group had forged ahead, leaving Long Meihui to trail behind, her steps sluggish and uncertain. However, as she drew closer to the toddler, a remarkable transformation occurred in her eyes. The overwhelming cuteness seemed to defy the boundaries of reality itself.

Long Meihui reached out, attempting to scoop up the child, but the elusive girl slipped through her grasp, persistently squirming away. Yet, with determined effort, Long Meihui managed to secure her, bringing the girl closer and locking their gazes, captivated by those large, innocent eyes.

"Who left you here...?" she asked, her query tinged with a touch of self-consciousness, aware that coherent responses could hardly be expected from a child so young.

"Pa-pa!" The child's response escaped her rosy lips, surprising Long Meihui and eliciting a bewildered "Huh?" from the buxom woman. Her curious eyes remained fixated on the little girl, sensing an inexplicable disquiet.

Even in that moment, Shen Huang voiced his concern, suggesting, "Meihui, there's something off about this child. We should move on." However, Long Meihui stared back at him, her frustration aimed at his sudden display of fear. Just a moment ago, he had followed her boldly, yet now he seemed apprehensive?

Even the little girl turned, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Shen Huang. His bewildered expression deepened, prompting him to rub his eyes, questioning the veracity of what he had witnessed. "What? Was it all an illusion?" he pondered. He had undeniably observed the child's reaction to his words, yet it felt too surreal to fully comprehend.

Zhao Xin interjected hastily, attempting to sway Long Meihui's decision. "My lady, the sun is setting. We should heed the Master's words! If you wish, we can bring this little girl along with us."

Long Meihui deliberated for a moment. However, before she could reach a conclusion, a peculiar laughter resounded, causing Feng Xiao, who had remained silent until now, to freeze in surprise.

"Haha, are these real? I must say, you have preserved them quite well. The softness is truly remarkable," a man's taunting voice echoed through the air.

The group turned in unison, their reactions as varied as their personalities.

"Shit!" Long Meihui exclaimed instinctively, her elegant demeanor crumbling within seconds.

"W-who are you?" Zhao Xin stammered, her face briefly flushed as she succumbed momentarily to the charm emanating from the man's long, black hair and handsome visage. Yet, she quickly shook off her fascination, reminding herself of her loyalty to Shen Huang.

Shen Huang's expression contorted into a mix of anger and confusion, his features reflecting the tumultuous emotions swirling within him.

Meanwhile, a deep shade of crimson spread across Feng Xiao's face, causing her lips to part as she let out a breathless moan, "Ahn~."

Xia Tian's hands skillfully continued to massage her breasts, gently squeezing them as he held her from behind. His restless hand danced sensually across her body.

Shen Huang's face contorted with anger, turning a dark hue of black and blue. "Get your filthy hands off her, you bastard!" he roared, his aura surging and sending shockwaves through the air.

Feigning fear, Xia Tian took a step back, his voice laced with a hint of mockery. "Oh, young master, is this your woman?"

In perfect synchronization, as Xia Tian retreated, Feng Xiao's body turned limp, gracefully falling backwards only to be effortlessly caught by Xia Tian's waiting arms.

Caught off guard, Shen Huang saw this as his golden opportunity to assert his dominance and impress Long Meihui. He misinterpreted her expression, falling into a false sense of confidence.

"Yes! I am Young Master Shen Huang! I don't know who you are, but since you dared to touch my people, cut off your hands and you are free to go," Shen Huang declared arrogantly.

With a subtle nod, Xia Tian raised his other hand, revealing a gleaming sword firmly grasped in his grip, emitting a mesmerizing shine.

A wide smile spread across Shen Huang's face, his surprise evident. He never anticipated that it would be this easy to exert control.

Meanwhile, a sense of unease washed over Long Meihui as she quietly muttered, "Not good."

Swish!

The sword came down with lightning speed, slicing through the air.

But to Xia Tian's surprise, it didn't aim for his hand. In a daring twist, he skillfully redirected the blade towards beautiful Feng Xiao, a look of fear etched across her face. 

Shua!

In an instant, the sword cleaved through the tender flesh of her chest, severing it into two pieces.

The severed flesh tumbled downwards, accompanied by a bone-chilling scream that pierced the silence of the surroundings.

Xia Tian remained unperturbed, his head shaking slowly. His words resonated across the vast grasslands, carried by the wind, "I apologize, my lady. Your boyfriend has made it quite clear that he doesn't wish for me to touch your breasts. So, I've taken it upon myself to solve your problem. No one will ever dare touch them again!"

"...."