Chapter 230: Chapter 230 - 222: Lantern Festival, A Fleeting Glimpse

Shen Li was walking when he suddenly caught a captivating, bewitching fragrance.

His steps halted, pupils dilating instantly, showing a slight daze.

This scent...

Returning to his senses, he sniffed the air carefully, finally setting his gaze on Shen Tang who followed behind him.

Shen Li sniffed several times, confirming that this alluring fragrance was emanating from Shen Tang, surprising him. A moment ago, it wasn’t there; how had this little female suddenly become so fragrant...

The scent seemed to instantly stir desires in males’ hearts; even a mentally strong person like him was a bit entranced. For other males, it was practically a walking aphrodisiac!

Shen Tang hadn’t anticipated Shen Li to stop abruptly. She couldn’t brake in time and bumped into his back, letting out a soft exclamation.

She rubbed her nose, about to speak when the man embraced her waist, pulling her into his arms.

Shen Li buried his face in her neck, inhaling deeply in bliss, his voice carrying a hint of seductive hoarseness, "Xiao Tang’er tonight~ you’re so fragrant~"

Shen Tang hadn’t imagined the Body Fragrance Pill’s effect to be so fast!

She had smelled herself but couldn’t detect any scent. Aside from some personal information value adjustments, she hadn’t noticed any difference from before, so she didn’t understand the pill’s exquisite benefits.

[Oh by the way, Host, there’s another thing I haven’t told you, an additional effect of the Body Fragrance Pill.]

[For the Host’s convenience and safety, the Host’s fragrance will have varied effects on male beastmen with different talents—]

[Ordinary males and females will perceive it as a mild floral scent, which will elevate moods and induce a natural closeness, with slightly less seduction.]

[For A-level and higher male beastmen, it produces a stronger, more stimulating effect.]

[The higher the male beastman’s talent, the more effective the fragrance’s allure will be!]

[If the Host wishes to modify the fragrance parameters, you can adjust it in the system interface.]

"..." Well, that’s rather convenient, but Shen Tang doesn’t have specific demands for the fragrance, so she uses the system’s default parameters.

Many bystanders were stopping to sneak a look, Shen Tang’s cheeks flushed red, gently pushing his chest, "In public, show some restraint!"

Shen Li let out a muffled, low laugh from his throat, releasing Shen Tang as requested, lowering his head to plant a kiss on her nose tip, gently sighing, "Xiao Tang’er doesn’t realize how enchanting she is."

"This year’s lantern festival is grand, many aristocratic youths and young males will come."

"I almost don’t want to bring you over there."

Shen Tang chuckled, "It’s not that exaggerated. Didn’t you say the festival is held once every three years? Missing it would mean waiting another two years, so let’s hurry over!"

"Okay."

...

The riverside lantern festival was teeming with people.

The nearby long street was adorned with silk lanterns—red, white, yellow—floating in the night, casting mottled reflections upon the water.

Many vendors had set up stalls, selling uniquely shaped traditional lanterns, crafted somewhat roughly and simply, yet quite intriguing and amusing for beastmen of this era.

Shen Qingli and Yun Han were also wandering through the adjacent street.

Shen Qingli was drawn to a rabbit-shaped lantern, and Yun Han, eager to win the lady’s smile, went to the stall to buy it for her.

Turning back, however, the person was gone.

The street was bustling and crowded, a quick inattentiveness could sweep one away into a sea of people, vanishing completely.

The place’s myriad scents were too chaotic; Yun Han momentarily couldn’t catch her scent.

"Qingli!" Yun Han weaved through the crowd, calling out anxiously.

Suddenly, Yun Han caught a faint, delicate fragrance.

His steps froze, face showing a dazed expression.

Thinking he perhaps smelled wrong, this barely perceptible delicate fragrance stood out amidst the chaotic odors, like a pure, immaculate jasmine blooming amongst wild grass, captivating the soul.

His mind went blank, almost instinctively moving towards the source of the scent.

Not far away, a graceful and alluring silhouette stood at a stall, picking and selecting.

Though only visible as a back figure, without seeing the face, the feminine grace and noble aura were worlds apart from the surrounding commoners, forming a breathtaking sight.

Qingli?

Yun Han’s expression flickered, thinking she might have changed clothes during this brief time.

However, her figure seemed fuller, more alluring.

Yun Han didn’t overthink; he strode over.

In a blink, a group of beastmen walked by, and as Yun Han hastened his steps, the figure vanished like a moonlit, elusive butterfly.

He anxiously looked around.

Suddenly, Shen Qingli’s urgent voice came from behind, "Brother Yun Han, I’m here, I finally found you!"

Yun Han’s expression flickered, turning to look behind him.

Shen Qingli was squeezing through the crowd, walking toward him.

Yun Han’s gaze was full of surprise; Qingli was behind him? Who was the female ahead just now?

Did he mistake someone?

Yet, looking around the Imperial City, apart from Shen Qingli, which aristocratic family’s noble female possesses such a figure and grace?

Yun Han felt regret for not seeing the face, but he could imagine that she must be an extraordinarily beautiful, captivating beauty.

Curiously, how had he never seen her before?

Yun Han fell into brief contemplation, even missing Shen Qingli calling him several times.

Seeing Yun Han standing dumbfounded, not knowing what he was thinking about, Shen Qingli felt a surge of anger, briskly moving through the crowd to him, tugging his arm, coquettishly saying, "Brother Yun Han, what were you thinking? You didn’t come to meet me, that group nearly squeezed me to oblivion!"

Yun Han snapped back, seeing her beautiful face, yet no longer sensing that captivating fragrance.

He smiled, changing the topic, "Where did you go just now?"

"I saw a lantern exhibition over there and wanted to call you over. I got swept away while not paying attention."

"Alright, let’s go take a look then."

Yun Han guided her away.

Before leaving, he subconsciously glanced towards the stall but didn’t see that figure again.

Strange, could he have truly mistaken?

...

Meanwhile, Shen Tang was choosing masks at a stall when Shen Li pulled her away to the riverside.

She grumbled, "I haven’t paid yet, why did you drag me here?"

"Look, the river lanterns here are beautiful. They say lovers making wishes on river lanterns here will see them come true." Shen Li’s slender fingers brushed through her somewhat messy hair beside her ear, his face light with smiles, gentle and charming.

Shen Tang didn’t think much, following his gaze towards the river.

The riverside hosted numerous young couples and groups, some standing under trees, others squatting by the water, each holding a flower lantern.

In the river’s heart floated numerous flower lanterns, their flames flickering downstream, weaving a galaxy.

Shen Tang was instantly intrigued, eagerly running to the river edge.

Shen Li’s red lips curled into a smile as he paced behind her.

Shen Tang watched eagerly, wanting to call him to buy a river lantern, but his slender, jade-like hand took the mask, placing it on her face, narrowing her view instantly.

Shen Tang curiously touched the mask’s pattern; it was the cat mask she had chosen earlier at the stall.

She lifted her head, looking at the slender, red-haired handsome man before her.

Shen Li donned a fox mask, hiding his irresistibly attractive features.

Behind him, his fiery red fox tail swayed gently like a fan, as he stood against the backdrop of the starry river, his hair fluttering in the wind, resembling a mysterious and stunning spirit, ready to dash into the forest and disappear.

Shen Tang couldn’t help but hold her breath.

Shen Li bent down, chuckling softly, "Xiao Tang’er, staring at Brother Li without blinking, getting mesmerized?"

At his straightforward words, Shen Tang blushes with embarrassment, turning her head, "I’m not!"

Shen Li pinched her chin, turning it back to him, looking at her masked face, suddenly speaking, "Such an adorable, endearing little kitty, yet all this time, I haven’t seen your beast form, Xiao Tang’er..."