169 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 159: Heart's Fire Qin Miao was late, missing the time he had promised to meet with Xiang Shiyan. After much thought, Xiang Shiyan decided to provide him with some basic explanations. At this point, Qin Miao's former stature as the main protagonist had all but dissipated. This allowed Xiang Shiyan to face him, the disciple whose feelings towards her were most transparent, with a sense of ease. To Qin Miao, Xiang Shiyan had always been his guiding light. He was a boy who, after being taken in by her, found a new home despite his conflicting spiritual roots. His relentless cultivation was driven not only by a desire to avenge his family but also an inner longing to become a man worthy of his revered master. Such aspirations, to elevate oneself until matched with one's beloved, inspired admiration from Xiang Shiyan. To her, it was far superior than those who, while tucked away in some gutter, still dream of dragging celestial beings down to earth, like Zhu Cheng. Throughout the original work, Qin Miao endured hardship a hundredfold beyond that of ordinary people to achieve his goals. Though countless people aided his journey, and numerous fortunes helped him build his legend, walking the path of cultivation was always arduous. Without any luck, how might one ever hope to ascend to the heavens? Even after discovering that the world's happenstances were merely elements in someone's narrative, with Qin Miao's luck and accomplishments preordained, Xiang Shiyan's view of him did not change. From this standpoint, Qin Miao was undeniably talented. But does that mean Xiang Shiyan was obligated to love him? Flaws and virtues cannot conceal one another. The once pure-hearted boy learned arrogance as his journey smoothened. According to the system, his mindset and logic had been steeped in the author's influence. Even a slight blemish like this meant Xiang Shiyan could never truly fall for him. Her aversion towards Xuan Jiu stemmed from a similar source. The black dragon's strength was too overwhelming. Xuan Jiu had gotten used to looking down on mortals, and her affection towards Xiang Shiyan carried a condescending, pet-like patronage. Xiang Shiyan's pride could be challenged but never to a point where her dignity was insulted or become merely a backdrop for someone else. She didn’t consider her interference to have severed Qin Miao's path to fame. Even without those heavenly windfalls, she believed Qin Miao was capable of rising steadily, potentially becoming much more remarkable than the character whimsically crafted by another. Though...reflecting upon it now, her hope seemed destined to remain unmet. Xiang Shiyan couldn't help but massage her forehead. Over the years, she had been observing Qin Miao and naturally noticed the gradual deviation in his character. Yet, being the only elder around, she found it hard to intervene. Raising her head with an inexplicable air, Xiang Shiyan realized the young girl across the table was staring intently at her. Perhaps truly parched, He He had consumed two full pots of tea, no more than a quarter of an hour apart, a bit alarming indeed. The intensity of the girl's gaze almost compelled Xiang Shiyan to look away, prompting her to mutter, "Don't drink so fast, you might burn yourself." Completely parched, He He hadn’t quite processed it while daydreaming about Xiang Shiyan earlier. But the moment the latter spoke, the oddity became apparent. Her previous body's cultivation of outer elixir magic had granted it resistance to most toxins, but her current human body, however enhanced with spiritual power, would still be affected by poison exposure, not deathly so, but impacted nonetheless. Alas, if only it were just common poison. With a parched throat, He He couldn't help but cough softly. She had checked the tea leaves earlier; there should have been nothing wrong—until she suddenly paused, staring dumbly at the cup in her hand. A devouring heat surged within her, the fire toxin rapidly coursing through her meridians like an unrestrained wildfire. An unnatural flush rushed to her cheeks, her breathing became labored. He He suppressed the discomfort and stood up nonchalantly, "Since Brother Qin isn't coming… I'll be on my way." She glanced at the tea set on the table. After Xiang Shiyan's four-year seclusion, most things had been tidied away. The teaware she often used was taken out and cleaned by Zhu Yun yesterday and left in the kitchen. Some spiritual plants and high-ranking fire-elemental demon beasts can reinvigorate the body when consumed, but they also have aphrodisiac side effects. If too potent, they become fire toxins. In small doses, they may enhance intimacy but being termed "toxins," the aggressive fire elemental spiritual energy could easily damage meridians if mishandled. He He's dull taste couldn’t discern it; the remedy's delayed reaction type eluded her, and driven by thirst, she drank more and more... Had Xiang Shiyan not avoided her like a plague, it would have been the master suffering fire toxin's assault instead of her. She didn’t fear mere fire toxin; she could expel it with time and then deal with Qin Miao. He He bit her molars in frustration, shocked that she had fallen for such a trap here. But better her than Xiang Shiyan. "… What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" The girl appeared to lose her composure and staggered slightly. Xiang Shiyan picked up on the anomaly, standing up hesitantly. He He forced the fiery toxin into a mental box, though the frenzied spiritual energy wreaked havoc within her. Her limbs still occasionally weakened. She simply let herself slump against the table, accidentally knocking the teacup to the floor, shattering it with a clatter. Leaning on the table, she remarked, "Nothing serious, just stood too long, my legs tingled. Pity about the cup you liked, Master." "That doesn't matter." Xiang Shiyan moved the debris aside with her hand, supporting He He's arm, "Your face is so flushed…" "Cough, cough… A little dizzy, I'll be alright after some sleep." Avoidance proved futile as Xiang Shiyan grasped her wrist; He He's usually cool hand was now scorching. Even without delving her spiritual power, Xiang Shiyan felt something amiss. How did He He, just seated and drinking tea moments before, suddenly become… Tea? Xiang Shiyan glanced at the remnants in the corner, realization dawning. Indeed, an errant spiritual force was wildly rampaging within He He, the scorching toxin virtually unstoppable and beyond mere spiritual power's control. The woman’s cool spiritual energy entered her, easing He He’s relentless, scorching agony but offered little relief—quite the contrary, it backfired. Nestled against Xiang Shiyan, the woman's fragrance assaulted her senses in waves, the faint trace now vividly intense. He He felt her control slipping, a familiar scent she normally suppressed surged ahead, the gland at her nape swollen with heat, as if her thoughts might melt. Xiang Shiyan’s spiritual energy flowed through her like a floodgate, and He He had to divide her focus to conceal her identity lest Xiang Shiyan unwittingly discern her truth. However, as she loosened her guard, the fiery toxin burst forth like a breached dam, He He dreaded she'd ever been in such a pitiful state, the acrid taste of blood filled her throat. The backflow of fervor felt less like emotion’s crest and more like volcanic eruption. He He coughed softly, biting down. Qin Miao knew of Xiang Shiyan’s demon lineage, her pureblooded jade fox heritage, her perennial struggle against cycles of heat, deftly handling emotional surges. Hence, he administered a potent dosage. So-called aphrodisiac drugs were plentiful on the black market. Clearly, their concocters and buyers had little concern for the victim’s safety, often mixing various demanding elements in search of potency, far from the detailed dosages prescribed by a healer. Buyers, often with malicious intent, misled by this “wonder drug,” rarely understood its complexities, driven by reckless resolve... What, intending to kill Xiang Shiyan, is he? If any ordinary cultivator ingested such a high dose of forbidden concoction, their meridians would sustain significant damage, much less the fire-countered Xiang Shiyan. Despite He He’s placid exterior, her clothing was soaked through with sweat as she resisted Xiang Shiyan's embrace, hiding the torment of burning meridians. The dragon's formidable regenerative power swiftly mended internal injuries, creating an illusion of stalemate within her. “Don’t move, I’ll force out the toxin.” Xiang Shiyan insisted, pressing He He’s shoulder, resting her hand gently on the girl’s chest and abdomen. The icy spiritual energy seeped into He He’s core, soaking her dantian. Ripples of spiritual energy circulated through He He's meridians, oblivious to the void within her chest cavity. He He dispersed her focus, misguiding Xiang Shiyan so profoundly the woman sensed nothing. The snow-white neck of Xiang Shiyan blushed under He He's heated breath. Though she noticed the warmth at her nape, her immediate concern was aiding He He. An impulse she had never truly confronted struck deep within He He, the itch from healing injuries stirred an urgent need for release. The girl quietly gasped, aware of the scent from the nearby female's scent glands, teeth tingling. So sweet. So tempting to nibble her... to devour her whole, piece by piece. He He realized that her prized composure was reaching its breaking point. A jumble of chaotic emotions and thoughts clamored in her mind, searching desperately for a reason to act on the dark impulses brewing within her. This level of fire toxin shouldn't have left her in such a pitiful state; if not for Xiang Shiyan, He He would have purged it long ago. Wasn't it the master's negligence that allowed this to happen? After all, she'd taken the fall for Xiang Shiyan. Would Qin Miao have seized this opportunity if the master hadn't been so careless? Such hesitance and avoidance—she'd had enough of this from Xiang Shiyan. Perhaps a bit more pressure might force the master to confront her true feelings? No... What are you thinking? Have you lost your sanity... How is this any different from those people? Xiang Shiyan's hand hovered over the jade pendant, and instantly a small jade bottle appeared in her hands. She helped He He swallow a pitch-black pill before attempting to lift the girl from the floor. But as soon as she slipped her arm under He He's knees, she met with resistance. As though trying to escape her master's well-intentioned aid, He He impatiently twisted free from Xiang Shiyan's embrace. "Don't touch me!" He He protested in a hoarse voice. Xiang Shiyan's touch overwhelmed her, as if a swarm of ants crawled over her skin, an unbearable mix of itch and pain. Ignoring her resistance, Xiang Shiyan hooked her arm under He He's waist and knees, lifting her from the floor. The woman was seething with anger towards Qin Miao. The more He He feared causing her harm, the more fury Xiang Shiyan felt. Were it not for He He needing her now, she would have stormed out to confront him immediately. "Ugh..." He He, in a sudden move, wrapped an arm around Xiang Shiyan's neck and fiercely pressed her lips against hers. The once stern-faced Xiang Shiyan froze instantly. The sensation of He He's slightly chapped lips was odd; their initial fervent clash left their teeth colliding. She stumbled backward, nearly dropping He He to the ground. Holding Xiang Shiyan's head firm with one hand, He He used her other hand to grip Xiang Shiyan's face, preventing any escape for the woman who trembled with apprehension but couldn't bear to push her away now. Instinctively, He He kissed her lower lip, Xiang Shiyan passively allowing the girl’s tongue to taste and explore hers. He He’s touch gradually softened, her fingers gliding over Xiang Shiyan’s searing ear. Her insistently tender yet firm touch was like a network of damp threads, entangling Xiang Shiyan until escape seemed impossible. The girl embraced felt hard and bony, yet the supple little tongue probing Xiang Shiyan’s teeth, carrying a metallic tinge of blood, was far more provocative than their mingled scents. Only when Xiang Shiyan tilted her head back to catch her breath did their entwined presence finally separate. Xiang Shiyan's eyes shimmered, her lips quivering slightly. She blushed, unsure of what to say, as she stared blankly at He He who mindlessly licked her lips, seemingly yearning for more. Despite the unyielding pain blazing inside her organs, He He couldn’t help but smirk, her harrowed voice husky and imbued with an alluring undertone from the burning toxin. "Master, do you still wish to purify this toxin for me?" As dusk fell, Qin Miao finally returned to the Mo Bamboo Peak. Earlier that morning, Xiang Shiyan had sent a paper crane summoning him for an evening discussion. Though only a few hours passed, it felt like an eternity, leaving him trembling with excitement before his master’s door. The junior sisters were nowhere to be seen; the courtyard lay silent. Qin Miao gently extended his hand, a gleaming, white bone blade materializing in his grip, its handle and guard carved as beastly claws, the blade seemingly seamless, woven from countless bones. Though Xiang Shiyan’s room was protected with a formidable barrier, it crumbled like paper to the dragon bone knife in Qin Miao’s hand. After a cautious survey of his surroundings, Qin Miao drew the blade against the door seam, slicing through the barrier effortlessly. Anxiety coursing through him, he pushed open the door, only to be met with emptiness save for the scattered debris hinting at what had transpired. "Now, the fire toxin should be all expelled." Xiang Shiyan wrapped a bandage around the small incision on He He's arm used for the bloodletting, tying it off with care. Resting on the stone bed, the girl’s face was pale, her expression indifferent yet full of disappointment. This was Xiang Shiyan's retreat, its furnishings sparse, with layers of thick, soft pelts spread beneath He He for comfort. Despite Xiang Shiyan's adept command of spiritual power, swiftly purging He He's body of the toxin proved challenging. To avoid prolonged exposure that might irreparably damage He He's meridians, she resorted to bloodletting to assist in expelling the poison. The tainted blood in the jade dish was black. Xiang Shiyan, unsure where else to look, stared blankly at it for a moment before sheepishly raising her head to wipe the sweat from He He's brow. He He watched Xiang Shiyan intently with her dark eyes, both her natural and artificial ones brimming with unspoken sentiments. She caught her master’s wrist in a gentle hold, playfully grazing Xiang Shiyan’s hand. Xiang Shiyan, startled, retracted her hand quickly as soon as her little finger brushed He He's lips, as though scalded. Facing away, she stammered, "We should..." He He interrupted, not allowing her the chance to speak further. Pulling Xiang Shiyan closer by the collar, the memory of their earlier ambiguous kiss brought a fresh flush to the elder's face. "Are you still uncomfortable?" Xiang Shiyan asked hesitantly. "Desire holds no fear..." He He whispered, guiding Xiang Shiyan's hand, her lips brushing past Xiang Shiyan’s cheek, lingering at her earlobe, "The heart's fire is undying. Does the master still think to douse it with a drop?" "Better to treat thoroughly, from body to soul, once and for all."