171 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 150: Disappearance For Xiang Shi Yan, the latent talent of the Jade Fox Clan wasn't entirely without benefits. No matter how calm a person appeared outwardly, the turmoil inside was always glaringly obvious to her. This innate advantage gave Xiang Shi Yan a somewhat unrealistic perception, making her mistakenly believe she wasn't so inept at dealing with others' emotions. Upon hearing her words, He He paused subtly, then feigned nonchalance as she gently kissed the tip of Xiang Shi Yan's ear. "Whatever secrets Shifu has, I'll like to know them all." Detecting something amiss in her emotions, Xiang Shi Yan felt both perplexed and at a loss. The human heart and its feelings were puzzles she would rather avoid for a lifetime if she could. Her cool skin was warmed by He He's temperature, yet even pressed so closely, there seemed to be an inexplicable distance between them. Unsure if this nebulous feeling was worth trusting, Xiang Shi Yan awkwardly turned and embraced He He's body. The young girl immediately wrapped her arms around Xiang Shi Yan's waist with delight, her tone lightened considerably. "Then let's trade secrets, one for one with Shifu." What secrets could a young girl who had spent nearly her entire life secluded in the mountains possibly possess that would pique Xiang Shi Yan's curiosity? Yet the woman's lips curled into a smile at her childish suggestion, an instinctive reaction as she agreed with a simple "alright." Since their acquaintance, He He's emotions had always been more intense than most. Outwardly, she had grown increasingly composed with age, yet inwardly, she seemed unchanged. The bitter and sour feelings would arise inexplicably, difficult to dissipate. But whenever the girl acted coquettishly towards her, Xiang Shi Yan somehow felt reassured, making her less concerned with other matters. "What do you want to know?" "I want to know how you found Sister Huai Ye." He He buried her face against Xiang Shi Yan's neck, her laughter warmed the woman's skin with every word. Retracting her previous thought, Xiang Shi Yan realized this little jar of jealousy was indeed troublesome. She cleared her throat. "That's your Sister Huai Ye's past. I have no right to share it with others." He He held her tightly, seemingly determined to hear Xiang Shi Yan's romantic history that day. Her pleas were feigned; she knew Xiang Shi Yan would never casually divulge Huai Ye's past, using this as a ploy to unearth deeper secrets. "If you still wish to hear about the origin of that scale mark, I could..." "No need, I'm not interested." He He suddenly found herself breathless, biting lightly in annoyance at Xiang Shi Yan. She wasn't keen on hearing Xiang Shi Yan's discomfort over her entanglement. If He He were in her true form, the scales around her might have already bristled. A flush crept over Xiang Shi Yan's face. Marks from last night's passion dotted her body, from neck to thighs, all bearing the girl's rounded teeth imprints. He He's bites weren't harsh but swiftly pulled her mind back to last night's foolishness. She clasped the girl's chin, compelling her to look up. With lowered brows, Xiang Shi Yan reprimanded, "No more biting people indiscriminately, understand?" Where did He He pick up such a habit? Watching her nod reluctantly, Xiang Shi Yan couldn't help but sigh. That familiar feeling of unease quietly resurfaced. She had a faint memory of this peculiar habit, yet couldn't recall who else had resembled He He in this way. Holding He He close, Xiang Shi Yan awkwardly leaned her cheek against the girl's soft hair. Hesitantly, she said, "Do you want to know about the odd mark on my nape?" Unknown to her, a glint momentarily flickered in the girl's eyes. Feigning innocence, He He asked, "I thought Shifu had some ailment, not suited for detailed discussion..." "No, it's nothing major, and since it concerns you, it's better I tell you." Xiang Shi Yan recounted the reason she previously concocted to deceive Huai Ye, painstakingly explaining the supposed effects of this "curse." A love curse... Shifu's ability to fabricate was astoundingly poor. He He chuckled softly. Curses and poisons varied infinitely, intertwining yet distinct from medical arts. In humans, misunderstandings about curses were often influenced by demonized speculation, effortlessly obscuring the truth in Xiang Shi Yan's words. Having traveled the demon realms, He He had naturally encountered demons skilled in curses and poisons. Her transcendent nature allowed her to alter appearance, making her seem like an ordinary woman. How could she not know whether she bore any curse or poison? Furthermore, while love curses were admittedly elusive, few could transform a person's body thusly. Even with He He's standing, deciphering anything substantial from Xiang Shi Yan seemed elusive. Perhaps next time, let Xuan Jiu engage her anew. But might that cause Shifu to dislike her more? The thought momentarily alarming He He with its suddenness. What she should consider isn't Xiang Shi Yan's impression of her but whether this woman might obstruct her plans for revenge. Xiang Shi Yan had been deceived by her more than once. Given her shrewd mind, future attempts to exploit her might not go smoothly. If "He He" vanishes henceforth, could she live peacefully alongside Xiang Shi Yan eternally? This possibility might forever serve as He He's idle daydream, a reality she dismisses yet again, dimming the light in her eyes. Speaking of matters that should have been addressed, Xiang Shi Yan finally realized she had yet to confront Qin Miao. Her expression turned somber. Rising, she freshened up, only to notice the girl lazily sprawled on the bed, watching her undress with unabashed interest. The sight prompted Xiang Shi Yan to hasten her movements. Fastening her belt, she hesitated before speaking. "You—" "I want to sleep a bit more. Shifu, go on ahead," He He yawned, using her feet to drag the covers over herself. Xiang Shi Yan sighed with relief. She wasn't so much concerned about her relationship with He He being exposed. The two were a master and disciple, both women, and rumors would undoubtedly arise. However, given her renowned status and recent breakthrough to the Great Ascension stage, few would dare cross her. Undoubtedly, most gossip would target He He. Keeping this within a small circle seemed wise, minimizing any potential misinformation from Qin Miao to He He. Retracing her steps, Xiang Shi Yan returned, leaning over to tenderly kiss He He's forehead. "About the love curse... It wasn't my intention. If you desire compensation, I'll make amends." He He blinked nonchalantly at the trivial matter, yet refrained from comforting words. Playfully, she replied, "There's a festival at the mountain town in seven days—accompany me, Shifu." The Black Dragon herself didn't realize the youthful glimmer in her eyes was genuine, her invitation purely sincere, driven solely by the longing to be with Xiang Shi Yan. "Alright," Xiang Shi Yan hooked her pinky with the girl's, unwittingly revealing a soft smile. True to her foresight, the Ink Bamboo Peak lay deserted. By this hour, Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu were likely at the main peak, attending a lecture by the elders. Qin Miao, of course, was nowhere to be found. This was anticipated. Having attempted such a contemptible act as spiking a mentor’s drink, Xiang Shi Yan struggled to grasp Qin Miao’s intent. Did he for a moment think she was the type to become irreversibly committed due to such a violation? Xiang Shi Yan had cultivated her Root of Ice in the Path of No Emotion for three centuries. While she was hardly an expert in matters of love, her resolve was tempered through countless emotional battles—a mere aphrodisiac could hardly test her fortitude. Even when her senses were momentarily abandoned, was his assumption that she’d easily forgive upon discovering the truth? Morally corrupt and resorting to such vile means... If not for Xiang Shi Yan's timely extraction of the venom, He He could have faced not just transient doom but the permanent crippling of her spiritual veins. Even her most vexing suitors had never truly sought to harm her, a testament that such actions were driven by selfish desires unworthy of being called love. Steadfastly, Xiang Shi Yan turned towards the main peak, her mind set, yet discovered Qin Miao’s knowledge dispelled, a vacant slot on the disciple badge rack. Some sanity remained for Qin Miao. Finding Xiang Shi Yan’s chamber empty, he realized he was in imminent peril, and under the guise of her name, tricked the disciplinarian elder into relinquishing his disciple badge. These badges weren’t mere identifiers; each disciple stored a fragment of their soul within. Should a cultivator die, the bonded artifact would shatter, making it easy to track the owner’s location. In the original work, Qin Miao, framed and on the run, hadn't secured his disciple badge in time. Tai Xu Sect, leveraging it, tracked him down to his hidden sanctuary, foiling him had Xiang Shi Yan not covertly destroyed it, leaving the sect's pursuers floundering aimlessly. Evidently, some intellect remained. Nonetheless, Xiang Shi Yan had another course of action. She connected to the emergency contact channel left by the system. After a burst of static, a faint voice emerged on the other end: "Host, is that you?" "Can you still track down Qin Miao?" Xiang Shi Yan asked directly. Not finding what she sought in the Wuji Palace, she intended to head to the Hall of Justice instead. After all, without approval, it would be difficult for Qin Miao to leave Jade Green Mountain unnoticed. "We can, but... what happened? The system shows that Qin Miao's aura value has dropped to 8." A young woman's voice, filled with confusion, spoke out, clearly unaware of what had transpired. "Please show me his location. I’ll explain everything to you later," Xiang Shi Yan said, rubbing her temples. It was indeed good news; she initially feared that punishing Qin Miao might unexpectedly trigger issues due to his protagonist status. "Uh, I’m retrieving his coordinates now..." "Wait." Xiang Shi Yan suddenly halted, turning her gaze towards the lecture hall at the main peak. Elders and inner disciples usually gathered here for lessons. As she looked at the dense crowd from a distance, her expression stiffened. Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu were not there. Author's Note: First day of daily updates! 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