Chapter 20: You are searching me?

She blinked, her eyes slightly sore, feeling the bed beneath her gently sway. Gritting her teeth, she cursed under her breath, "Damn it, still out at sea."

The door clicked open, and a tall, slender figure stepped inside. What had once been a fairly spacious room now seemed cramped with his presence.

Tong Xiaoman sat up on the bed, glaring at him with fiery eyes. "You bastard, get me ashore right now."

"From here to the shore will take at least a day," Nalan Che said coolly, looking down at her contorted, frustrated face. "Besides, I have no intention of going ashore so soon."

"What? You’re not coming ashore?" Tong Xiaoman suddenly felt her legs weaken.

"Out here, without those annoying flies around, why wouldn’t I stay?" he replied.

He had already made up his mind—to go out to sea and avoid them for a while. They had been pushing him too hard; it was time they tasted some consequences.

Hearing this, Tong Xiaoman suddenly leapt from the bed, grabbing his collar and pulling herself close to his handsome face. Her voice was sharp and clear as she shouted, "That’s your problem! I don’t want to be out at sea! I don’t care where you can dock, but now—immediately—order your men to dock! Dock! Dock! I want to get ashore!"

She was not only fierce but also remarkably hot-tempered.

He narrowed his eyes, staring at her flushed face from anger. Except for the old master, no one had ever dared raise their voice to him. One look from him was enough to intimidate anyone.

But she was different—her courage was truly bold, daring to constantly test his patience. Interesting, very interesting.

He glanced at the small hand clutching his collar tightly, his sharp eyes darkening slightly. He whispered two words, calm yet commanding: "Let go."

"Why are you being so harsh? You’re the one imprisoning me," she shot back.

His gaze turned frightening, dark and ominous like a lurking danger waiting in the shadows. But she wasn’t easily scared—fear wasn’t something she was raised with.

So who was really the one being harsh now?

Nalan Che found himself both amused and exasperated.

"If you don’t want to stay here, you’re free to leave. I won’t stop you," he said coldly, narrowing his eyes on her.

"You say that easily, but in this damned place, how do you expect me to get away?" Tong Xiaoman’s bright eyes locked onto him; he was deliberately making things difficult for her.

Nalan Che brushed her hand away mercilessly. "That’s your problem."

"You..." She was furious. In this terrifying place, he had her completely cornered. But Tong Xiaoman wasn’t one to admit defeat so easily. She quietly clenched her fist.

Before she could make a move, a thunderbolt struck.

"I’ve already found all the poisons you’re hiding," Nalan Che said leisurely, seeing right through her thoughts and reminding her with calm certainty.

"You searched me?" Tong Xiaoman gasped, then reached over her body, feeling all around. Sure enough, even the most hidden poisons were gone.

She touched the edge of her bodice, her face paling and flushing in turns. Damn it, even the poisons concealed inside her clothes had been taken away. That meant he had searched her completely while she was unconscious.

Furious, she glared at him. "Nalan Che, you’ve gone too far."

"You’re the most skilled poison heiress of the Tong family. I’m only thinking about my own safety. How is that going too far?" He suddenly leaned down toward her.