Chapter 105 I know he forced you

Yin Xiaozhu was about to turn and leave when he suddenly stopped. Lu Yuanyuan thought he was going to say something, but he only paused briefly before turning cold and continuing on his way with her in his arms.

The forest fire was left far behind, and darkness swallowed their silhouettes. The wind was a bit cold, and Lu Yuanyuan shivered, silently raising her head to reveal her eyes.

She lay face down on Yin Xiaozhu, directly facing the deep pool.

The noisy crowd blocked her view, and she could only see Qi Chang frowning as he stepped forward, bent down, and picked up the Corrosive Flower from the soil.

It would be best if someone would preserve that flower. But it doesn't matter if they don't.

Because the fact that so many people saw the Corrosive Flower fall out of Duan Lansheng's coat is the strongest evidence that he had the antidote but didn't use it, and took the opportunity to force himself on her.

Compared to the situation there, something else was currently capturing most of her attention.

--system.

Lu Yuanyuan's nerves tightened slightly as she paid attention to the system's movements.

After waiting and waiting, the system remained silent, without issuing a single OOC (Out of Control) warning.

Unlike her previous life, she now wears shackles called a system. Altering the plot is tantamount to going against the system. How to achieve her goals under its watchful eye without triggering the punishment mechanism is a difficult problem. Otherwise, she might heal herself one minute and be killed by the system the next.

Why eradicate the Corrosive Flowers beforehand? Because she's a simp and wants to use the opportunity to sleep with Duan Lansheng. Then, isn't it reasonable to prevent Duan Lansheng from getting the antidote?

Why did she keep it a secret from Duan Lansheng, leaving only the Bone-Eating Flower? Because she was afraid that Duan Lansheng would abandon her, so she left herself a backup plan. Doesn't that fit the character's cowardly and self-serving persona?

Why did she put the bone-corroding flower into Duan Lansheng's clothes? At that time, she was in a daze, unable to control her own body, and didn't even know where she was.

Who can prove that she acted with absolute clarity of mind?

Who can say for sure that she deliberately framed Duan Lansheng?

...

The system is indeed a ruthless story-driven machine. But machines also have their advantages, namely that every punishment it inflicts cannot be based on mere speculation but must be grounded in concrete evidence.

What she had to do was to outwardly comply while inwardly defying the rules, all the while rationalizing her behavior within the framework of those rules.

A gentleman judges by actions, not intentions. So what if the system suspects her of malice?

As long as her behavior is consistent with the character's logic, even if the system wants to judge her as disrupting the plot, it can't do anything about it.

It seems she passed the test.

Having endured a day and a night of strenuous activity, Lu Yuanyuan was exhausted, both mentally and physically. Her back and legs ached. As soon as she relaxed a little, she tilted her head and leaned against Yin Xiaozhu, falling asleep.

But he didn't sleep for long.

In a daze, she felt herself soaking in warm water that was up to her chest.

Upon opening her eyes and seeing her current appearance, her eyelashes trembled, and she awkwardly curled her toes, trying to shrink back into herself. However, she couldn't.

The poison that had been eroding her bones had been neutralized, but its lingering effects hadn't completely dissipated. She was weak and powerless, like an animal forced to expose its belly for others to touch.

The steaming mist carried the scent of herbs, and the minor scratches and snake bites on my skin no longer hurt. However, because of the hot water, some red marks seemed particularly noticeable, especially around my collarbone.

Yin Xiaozhu leaned down, his eyes cold and unfathomable. He didn't meet her gaze, but instead looked at the marks on her body.

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing long, slender, and beautiful hands. But instead of plucking the strings, he took a cloth and carefully washed her body.

She woke up, and he kept going.

She thought washing her chest and back was one thing, but she didn't expect them to go even further...

Lu Yuanyuan gripped his wrist tightly, and a layer of color gradually returned to her pale face. Cold sweat seeped from her neck. She bit her lower lip and held back from uttering a sound.

After washing her thoroughly, Yin Xiaozhu dried his wet hands, tossed the cloth aside, picked her up with a large cloth, and placed her on the bed.

Lu Yuanyuan saw the furnishings in the room and finally realized where she was.

Outside the Lingbao Secret Realm, there is a temporary camp for rest and supplies, consisting of several abandoned wooden buildings. Although it has been unclaimed for a long time, some cultivators who spontaneously enter the Lingbao Secret Realm still use it as a temporary place to stay. Therefore, the buildings are well-preserved and still have some daily facilities.

Setting her down, Yin Xiaozhu pulled her clothes up, his gaze lingering on the collar where there was an ambiguous red mark.

Only prolonged caressing, or forceful sucking and pinching, can leave such a deep mark.

He looked down at her, remaining silent for a long time. Only when he heard her let out a nasal groan of pain did he realize that he had unconsciously squeezed her shoulder too hard, causing pain.

He let go and straightened up.

The candlelight was dim and scattered in the dust. He stood by the bed, blocking the light, and his features were shrouded in a dark shadow.

Lu Yuanyuan covered her shoulder, slowly tilted her head back, as if she had been wronged to the extreme, her eyes red.

They looked at each other, and suddenly, Yin Xiaozhu moved her lips and said as if talking to herself, "I know he forced you. You didn't do it willingly, and you don't like him."

Without even questioning her, he made his conclusion. His cold, unwavering certainty, leaving no room for argument, clearly indicated that he had no intention of hearing any other answer from her.

Lu Yuanyuan's hand silently curled up under her sleeve.

His tone was so calm, yet like a calm sea concealing a murderous undercurrent. She had a strong and strange feeling that if she were to speak up now and say that she had done it willingly, the outcome would not be what she wanted to see.

Naturally, she had no need to refute it.

Because those were the words Yin Xiaozhu wanted him to say.

She could lay the groundwork, hint at it, and use that corrosive flower to frame Duan Lansheng. With her face full of tears and her trembling body language, she could hint at the story to everyone, making them believe that Duan Lansheng had taken advantage of her vulnerability.

However, she was unable to speak out and accuse Duan Lansheng as a victim.

After all, according to the original book's setting, as Duan Lansheng's devoted follower, it was absolutely impossible for her to turn her back on him and bite him after the fact.

Sleeping with Duan Lansheng gave her a perfectly legitimate excuse to cling to him and demand he take responsibility for her. How could she possibly let go of such a coveted opportunity? She'd have to be out of her mind.

Because of the limitations imposed by this character setting, she cannot openly target Duan Lansheng. Otherwise, the system will find a handle against her, confirming her crime of deliberately framing the male lead and altering the plot.

However, if she says nothing and Shushan judges the cause and effect based solely on Duan Lansheng's explanation, there is still a possibility that the matter will be reversed.

Therefore, she needed someone to speak for her in the final stage, a knife to nail Duan Lansheng to death for her.

First, this person must be a native whose behavior is not controlled by the system. Second, this person must have prestige and status in Shushan, and their words must carry weight. Third, she must ensure that this person will stand by her side in crucial moments.

Yin Xiaozhu was the person she had chosen.

There is no knife better than his.

There are only two possible outcomes to this matter between Duan Lansheng and her. They will either become Daoist partners or become enemies, with the one who did the wrong being expelled from Mount Shu.

Yin Xiaozhu spent so much time winning her over, all to keep this powerful tonic by his side. Now she knows such a big secret of his. Once she becomes a Daoist partner with someone else, she will break free from Yin Xiaozhu's control.

Whether it's for her blood or to monitor her, Yin Xiaozhu would not be happy to see her and Duan Lansheng become Daoist partners.

In the days leading up to this, she suppressed her fear and repulsion, putting on an act in front of Yin Xiaozhu multiple times, all to incite his hostility and rejection towards Duan Lansheng. But Yin Xiaozhu was very cautious; he would never make a move without absolute certainty.

Now, she has given Yin Xiaozhu a legitimate opportunity to drive Duan Lansheng away.

Yes, she couldn't speak ill of Duan Lansheng. But tears, a trembling body, and a wronged expression that seemed to want to speak but couldn't... could all hint at her attitude and become her weapons.

Her goal was to guide Yin Xiaozhu to the conclusion that "the responsibility lies with Duan Lansheng".

She didn't need to worry about what happened after that. A smart person like Yin Xiaozhu would definitely take action.

To prepare, she even mentally simulated the questions Yin Xiaozhu might ask and how she should react.

To everyone's surprise, before she even started acting and shed a single tear, Yin Xiaozhu gave her the answer she wanted.

I don't know whether to call it absurd or feel fortunate.

Maybe... it's a good thing.

In front of intelligent people, doing less means making fewer mistakes. At this point, she just needs to acquiesce.

Lu Yuanyuan pretended to be downcast, sniffed, lowered her head, and silently moved forward, reaching out to hug his waist, looking very dependent.

After a moment of silence, she finally felt a hand reach up and pat the back of her head, a comforting gesture: "Don't think too much about it, what's past is past. Take care of yourself, just think of it as being bitten by a dog."

Lu Yuanyuan didn't say anything, but rubbed against his belly.

The hand paused, but didn't move away, instead moving to her cheek. Yin Xiaozhu lowered her head, slowly brushing the stray hairs behind her ear. After a while, she asked casually, "Speaking of which, I remember I brought you back to the cave. Why did you go to such a far place and stay with him?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuanyuan paused for a moment, then raised her hand, gently pushed him away, sat up, and looked up at him: "It's because of you."

Yin Xiaozhu's expression changed slightly. She pursed her lips but remained silent, as if waiting for her to continue.

"I saw you lying there, bleeding profusely from your wound, your snake tail wouldn't retract, and I was very worried that something might happen to you. I really didn't want to just sit there and wait, but I didn't have any suitable medicine in my storage ring, so I decided to go out and look for some to stop the bleeding. But I didn't go far before I got lost and met Duan Lansheng. After that, we encountered a swarm of poisonous bees, and by some twist of fate, we ended up in front of that waterfall..."

Lu Yuanyuan was slightly dazed, and faint, illusory, and distant voices seemed to echo in her ears.

...

“I saw Lansheng’s wound bleeding profusely and was very worried that something would happen to him. I really didn’t want to sit there and wait, but I didn’t have any suitable medicine in my storage ring, so I planned to look for some hemostatic medicine while fetching water. Above that waterfall, I saw a silver jujube tree and wanted to pick it to save him, but I was dragged into the water by the giant python… I’m not lying, you can believe me!”

"How shameless! What a liar!"

"He lies without even thinking; how could there possibly be Silver Xiao Fruit in a place like that!"

"Don't you know that Senior Brother Qi Chang had already led people to thoroughly search that area? Where did you get the Silver Xiao Fruit? You're just bragging."

"What a thick skin... They can even make up a story like this..."

...

The waves of contempt and ridicule overwhelmed her; she floated and sank in those waves, unable to grasp the shore.

As soon as Lu Yuanyuan stopped speaking, even though a long time had passed, a sudden surge of sour and hot sensation welled up deep in her nasal cavity.

Yin Xiaozhu asking her this question was within her expectations. She had already prepared an explanation, planning to say that she had gone to pick herbs for him.

In the Lingbao Secret Realm, while hemostatic medicines aren't everywhere, they can still be found. Making up any location and species would be far more believable than the absurd pairing of silver berries on a waterfall.

However, for some reason, Lu Yuanyuan's eyes and throat grew hotter and hotter. Her throat tightened, and the perfect words she had prepared were swallowed back down.

"...Above that waterfall, I saw a silver jujube tree. I wanted to pick it to save you, but the giant python dragged me into the water." Her vision blurred unknowingly. She tried hard to see Yin Xiaozhu's expression, but as soon as she looked up, tears welled up in her eyes and fell. She gripped her pants tightly, stubbornly raised her chin, and choked out, "I didn't lie. Do you believe me?"

Yin Xiaozhu seemed to freeze. He stood in front of the bed, staring at her for a long time.

She didn't know how much time had passed when she felt a hand wipe away her tears.

"I trust you."