Eddie was caught off guard when Jean approached him with the intention of kissing him. His heart raced with excitement, thinking that the "Tigeress" was actually taking the initiative to seduce him.
As she slowly moved down towards his chest, Eddie's heartbeat soared, wondering if she was going to give him a 'bite'.
Jean's lips parted, and her delicate tongue, like a dainty carp, approached Eddie's chest.
It seemed she was going to kiss her way down, sending Eddie into a state of blissful anticipation.
But the situation took a painful turn when Jean suddenly bit down hard on Eddie's chest, causing him to scream in agony.
Hearing the commotion, his cousin Rue Yew, worried that Eddie and Jean might be fighting, prepared to intervene.
Eddie quickly assured Rue that everything was fine, trying to prevent Jean from being thrown out of the room. Instead of continuing to bite, Jean began to tenderly lick and kiss the sore spot on his chest, eventually blowing gently on it, much like a doting wife.
Despite the pain, Eddie was touched by Jean's sudden display of tenderness and decided not to throw her out.
Just as he was about to forgive her, Jean twisted his behind with a swift, painful pinch, making him jump in pain once again.
Eddie realized that Jean wasn't playfully biting but was actually inflicting real pain, along with her tiger-like claw twist.
Determined to get his revenge, Eddie planned to pin her down, rip her clothes off, and give her a hundred bites and licks on her chest, not to mention a hundred pinches on her behind.
Before he could act on his vengeful plan, Rue seemed about to enter the room, causing both Eddie and Jean to quickly compose themselves.
They greeted each other with smiles, pretending as if nothing had happened. Jean cunningly played the role of a little fox pretending to be a tiger, asking Eddie about his progress in the Heaven-Reaching Tower.
Eddie, having swiftly put his pants back on, was ready to respond.
Eddie, with a smile on his face, responded to Jean's concern about his progress in the Heaven-Reaching Tower.
"Thank you for your concern, Princess. Sophia and I have successfully passed one of the challenges. It was a piece of cake," he said in a lowered voice, leaning in closer to whisper a threat to Jean.
"Tigeress, remember that revenge is a dish best served cold. Just wait and see, I'll deal with you. If you willingly surrender and undress, I might consider being a bit lenient. Otherwise, be prepared for the worst!"
Jean, hearing Eddie's threat, couldn't help but smile cunningly, responding in a whisper, "Trying to scare me? Not so easy. If you dare, do it now!"
She then raised her voice, loud enough for Rue Yew to hear, and congratulated Eddie.
"Congratulations, Eddie, on your success in the Heaven-Reaching Tower. It's been years since anyone has achieved this feat. You truly are a hero among young men!"
Rue, aware of the underlying tension between Eddie and Jean, opened the door to check on them.
Seeing them chatting and laughing, she was relieved and suggested they have some plum juice she had prepared earlier.
Once Rue closed the door to get dressed, Eddie and Jean immediately resumed their scuffle.
Their struggle was evenly matched, and they both ended up on the floor. Eddie had the upper hand in strength, but Jean's flexibility and agility allowed her to effectively counter his moves, entangling their bodies in a compromising position.
"Give up now, or I'll use my secret move!" Eddie warned, determined to teach Jean a lesson about male authority.
"I will never surrender!" Jean defiantly replied, confident that Eddie wouldn't use excessive force due to the noise they were making, which could attract Rue's attention.
Eddie, unwilling to prolong the fight, decided to employ his "Thirty-Six Ways of Undressing" technique.
Eddie, feeling triumphant after his sneak attack on Jean, quickly turned his attention to Sophia, who had just emerged from another room.
She was mesmerized by the luxurious surroundings of the residence, seemingly oblivious to Jean's discomfort from the recent scuffle.
Eddie, seizing the opportunity to play the doting brother, offered to pour some chilled plum juice for Sophia.
Jean, meanwhile, was seething with resentment towards Eddie for his bold and painful assault.
She was tempted to give him a taste of his own medicine but restrained herself in Sophia's presence.
Eddie, unfazed by Jean's glare, casually whistled as he served the plum juice, reveling in his successful provocation.
As Eddie sat down next to Jean, he whispered smugly, "How was it? Comfortable?"
Jean, itching to retaliate, whispered back through gritted teeth, "You big pervert, this isn't over between us!"
She then turned to Sophia with a welcoming smile, inviting her to share the details of their adventure in the Heaven-Reaching Tower.
Sophia, happily accepting the invitation, credited Eddie for their success, admitting that she was knocked unconscious by an explosion and was unaware of what happened afterward.
Rue Yew, freshly dressed and emanating a post-shower fragrance, joined the group and eagerly asked Eddie about their challenge in the tower.
Eddie, now surrounded by Sophia, Jean, and Rue, prepared to recount their thrilling experience in the Heaven-Reaching Tower, much to the curiosity and excitement of his companions.
Eddie, intrigued by the familiar scent emanating from Rue after her shower, couldn't shake off the feeling of déjà vu.
He had noticed a similar fragrance on Jean, Laura, and the mysterious Phoenix before, but it was especially noticeable on Rue at that moment.
Eddie wondered if this was the legendary scent of a virgin, but he was puzzled as to how Phoenix, known for her seductive prowess, could possess such a scent.
While Eddie was lost in thought, Jean playfully punched him on the head to bring him back to the conversation.
Eddie quickly refocused, explaining that he had successfully navigated the Heaven-Reaching Tower's Taurus Chamber but was struggling with the Gemini Chamber.
Both Jean and Rue were shocked to learn that Eddie had already overcome the Aries and Taurus Chambers, feats that even Sophia was unaware of.
Jean, putting aside her usual animosity towards Eddie, pondered the dilemma of the Gemini Chamber.
She explained that it replicated the challenger's strength and abilities, making it nearly impossible to defeat the shadow copy.
The shadow, wearing the Gemini golden mask, would continuously resurrect, maintaining the same power level as the challenger. Eddie's decision to withdraw was wise, as a direct confrontation was futile.
Rue then mentioned a potential strategy that might help Eddie.
Her suggestion immediately piqued Eddie's interest, and Sophia expressed her hope that Eddie would become the first warrior to conquer all the chambers.
Eddie, Rue, and the others engaged in a lively discussion, brainstorming ways to overcome the formidable challenge of the Gemini Chamber, hoping to find a solution that would lead to success.
Sophia expressed her belief in Eddie's ability to surpass the legendary warriors who had challenged the Heaven-Reaching Tower before.
She regretted not being able to assist him, particularly in the Gemini Chamber, where his formidable strength made the challenge even more difficult.
Rue then shared a story about her mentor's mentor, a healer with no offensive abilities, who had once attempted the Gemini Chamber.
Before entering, she severely injured herself, ensuring that her shadow clone would be equally incapacitated.
Despite reaching the golden mask and nearly succeeding, she encountered a powerful guardian beast in the inner chamber.
Unable to fight, she was forced to heal herself and retreat.
Upon hearing this, Eddie, Jean, and Sophia were curious about the identity of the guardian beast, but Rue admitted she did not know.
Jean suggested seeking out Rue's mentor for more information.
Although Rue was hesitant, respecting her mentor's privacy and previous instructions not to divulge certain details, she agreed to inquire, recognizing the importance of the information for Eddie's quest.
Eddie, still deep in thought, was urged by Jean to act.
She grabbed his hand, emphasizing the need for immediate action rather than mere contemplation.
Together, they decided to seek Rue's mentor for answers and guidance on how to overcome the daunting challenge of the Gemini Chamber.