Undercurrent
That rough dagger, like a thorn, pierced Jiu Che's seemingly calm heart.
For several days in a row, he could feel that the dagger's clashing and malevolent energy was indeed remarkably effective in refining his divine sense. However, the more effective it was, the deeper the doubts in his heart grew. How could a seemingly docile rogue immortal with extraordinary talent know how to refine such unorthodox and almost demonic methods? And how could he so accurately determine that his divine sense was damaged due to forcibly refining a magical artifact and that he needed external stimulation to recover more quickly?
This is far beyond the insight and ability of an ordinary wandering immortal.
Doubts, like vines, quietly sprouted and entangled his rule-abiding heart. Finally, one afternoon, when Qi Yuan was by the spiritual spring, not feeding the fish, but thoughtfully looking at several ancient pebbles containing hidden array patterns at the bottom of the pool, Jiu Che walked up behind her.
“Seven Kite.” His voice was colder than usual, carrying a scrutinizing tone.
Qi Yuan slowly turned around, her face showing no surprise, as if she had expected this question. "Your Highness," she replied politely, her eyes calm and undisturbed.
"Where did you learn such a weapon-refining technique?" Jiu Che's gaze was sharp, trying to find the slightest panic in her eyes. "The Earth Fire Crystal Core is violent, and the Dust-Severing Grass's golden energy is harmful to the spirit. The orthodox immortals never use these to refine weapons. How could you, a rogue immortal, know the key to it and control it so...perfectly?"
He deliberately emphasized the phrase "just right," his suspicions were self-evident.
Qi Yuan met his gaze, and instead of backing down, a faint smile, quite different from his usual gentle demeanor, slowly spread across his lips. The smile carried a hint of languor and a touch of amusement, as if he had heard some interesting question.
“Your Highness,” her voice was soft, yet it tickled one’s heart like a feather, “not all the laws of the world are recorded in the immortal scriptures.” She took a half step forward, closing the distance between them, and looked up at his icy handsome face, her breath as fragrant as orchids, “Wanderers always have some… experiences that are not for outsiders to know. The more you see, the more you will understand.”
Her approach carried an invisible pressure, or rather, an aggressive allure. Jiu Che instinctively wanted to back away, but his heels seemed nailed to the spot. The fragrance emanating from her was not the usual elegant scent of a fairy, but a very faint, cold, and ethereal fragrance, as if from the abyss, unlike any scent he knew.
"A fortuitous encounter?" Jiu Che steadied himself, refusing to let her lead him astray. "What kind of fortuitous encounter could have allowed you to master such a method of wielding malevolent energy? Could it be related to the Demon Clan?" He directly threw out the worst guess, his gaze fixed on her.
Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan showed no alarm; instead, her interest deepened. She even chuckled softly, extending her slender finger to lightly tap his still-furrowed brow—a bold gesture that astonished onlookers.
"It's truly heartbreaking that Your Highness doubts me so much." Her tone was filled with exaggerated sorrow, but her eyes shone with an astonishing light, like a demonic phantom lurking in the dark. "If I were to say... that I once fell into the ruins of an ancient demon lord and obtained some incomplete inheritance within, would Your Highness believe me?"
Her words were half true and half false, and her eyes were so open that it seemed as if she were saying that the weather was very nice today.
Jiu Che was taken aback by her sudden act of intimacy and her inexplicable answer. The fingertip that touched his brow didn't actually touch his skin, yet it seemed to carry a scorching heat, causing his frozen heart to tremble violently. He abruptly brushed her finger away with his sleeve, his tone tinged with anger: "Stop talking nonsense! The Demon Lord's Former Residence is not a child's play!"
"See, I told you, but Your Highness didn't believe me." Qi Yuan withdrew her hand, casually straightening her sleeves, as if she weren't the one who had just been so boldly provocative. "Then what does Your Highness think you should do? Tie me up and send me to the Hall of Punishments for a thorough interrogation?" She tilted her head, her eyes innocent yet tinged with provocation, "Just because I... know a little more and have done something beneficial for Your Highness?"
Jiu Che was speechless for a moment. Her behavior was indeed outrageous, and her words were full of doubts, but so far, she had not done anything to actually harm the fox clan; on the contrary... she had indeed helped him. The effect of that dagger was undeniable. To send someone to the execution hall out of suspicion was neither the act of a gentleman nor his way.
Seeing him fall silent, Qi Yuan knew the time was right. Pushing too hard would only make things more boring.
She took another step forward, this time even closer, almost able to feel the subtle fluctuations in his clear, pure spiritual energy caused by her approach. She lowered her voice, her words like a whispered sympathy, carrying a bewitching power:
“Your Highness, why bother getting to the bottom of things?” Her gaze swept over his slightly moving Adam’s apple, finally settling on his icy eyes, which he was trying to keep calm. “You only need to know that I am here now, standing before you, and everything I’m doing…”
She paused, her red lips curving into a breathtaking smile.
"...It's all just for you."
As soon as she finished speaking, she stopped looking at his suddenly contracting pupils and the faint blush that rose uncontrollably to the tips of his ears. She turned around gracefully, leaving behind a meaningful silhouette and a room filled with a faint, cool fragrance.
Jiu Che stood frozen in place, his grip on the Frost Condensation Sword tightening and loosening repeatedly.
Her words were like an intricately woven trap, full of lies and danger.
But his heart, out of control, began to pound violently at the words, "It's all just for you."
He clearly realized that this woman named Qi Yuan was a fog, a cup of poison.
And he seems to have unknowingly drunk poison to quench his thirst.
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