69 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 69: Detoxification Yan Jue had no idea how long she had been unconscious. When she awoke, she found herself laying in a dimly lit room. The mattress beneath her was soft, and purple smoke curled up from an incense burner in the distance. Her last memory was of struggling to retract her tail when, at that critical moment, Qi Xian Qing entered with the Candle Shadow sword, which sent dragon roars and phoenix cries towards Chu Fu. The two pearls sticking to her body, likely some kind of control artifact, combined with the exhaustion and the shocking electric aura Qi Xian Qing brought, caused Yan Jue to faint from fright. In a hazy state, she vaguely felt raindrops falling on her face. Who was carrying her along the mountain path? With great effort, Yan Jue opened her eyes and glanced around, recognizing this as Qi Xian Qing's dormitory at the Zhenhuo Sect. Her heart skipped a beat. ... Yan Jue's entire body was burning up, her lips glistening with saliva. Oh well. If it was Qi Xian Qing’s dormitory, then so be it. Given her current state, she didn’t have time to ponder what had transpired. She swallowed hard, reassured herself that her tail hadn’t slipped out again, and closed her eyes. Suddenly, she sensed an all-too-familiar aura. Qi Xian Qing was sitting by the bed, her expression serious as she began to undo Yan Jue's clothing. The skin of Yan Jue's neck turned a warm peach color, her throat moving rhythmically, creating an indescribable allure. Qi Xian Qing also noticed the two copper beads adhered to Yan Jue's body. They were about the size of pellets, entirely black, with faint traces of gilding. These seemed to be extremely sinister artifacts, and could not be removed. Yan Jue closed her eyes, letting her consciousness drift. Qi Xian Qing’s voice came from above, "These two artifacts on your body need to be removed." Qi Xian Qing added, "It might hurt a bit." Yan Jue managed a bitter smile, never expecting that the day she thought would be her end, Qi Xian Qing would pull her back from the brink. "No matter," Yan Jue replied. She bit her lip, feeling a sudden chill on her abdomen, followed by a sharp pain. Qi Xian Qing's cold hand slipped inside her inner garment, found the right acupoint with her two fingers, and struck it decisively. Yan Jue felt her whole body go numb, and her sense of pain was instantly sealed off. It felt like anesthesia, painful at the point of impact, numbing afterwards. Qi Xian Qing had often sealed off her sense of pain when dealing with troublesome situations in the past. Yet seeing Yan Jue gritting her teeth, her eyes misty, Qi Xian Qing hesitated in a manner uncharacteristic for her. The gilded bead clung to Yan Jue's neck like a parasite, staining her snow-white skin with a demonic red hue. Drawing the Candle Shadow sword, Qi Xian Qing swiftly pressed Yan Jue down with her left hand as the sword flashed like lightning. The originally refined room was instantly filled with the scent of fresh blood and other arcane aromas. With a clatter, the bead dropped from Yan Jue's body. A black stain spread across her skin. Qi Xian Qing observed it closely, raising her right hand and channeling energy through her fingertips, trying to expel the demonic toxin, but the blackness only grew. It was poison. Qi Xian Qing’s gaze lingered on Yan Jue’s flushed face, her expression darkening. It was an aphrodisiac poison. Yan Jue struggled to control her erratic breathing, feeling Qi Xian Qing draw near. The aura of a celestial body was almost tangible, causing Yan Jue to tense all over. Qi Xian Qing’s breath was warm and moist as she whispered, “You’ve been poisoned.” Yan Jue already suspected something was amiss with her body. She furrowed her brow slightly, curling up against the wall. "It’s fine, I'll endure it." But before she could finish, she clapped a hand over her mouth, biting hard into her wrist. A warm, moist sensation suffused her senses as Qi Xian Qing suckled at the wound, rendering Yan Jue limp, unable to move under Qi Xian Qing's control. Her hands clenched and released the sheets. The room was already sealed with a barrier by Qi Xian Qing, even Bai Ying, who had formed a master-servant bond with Yan Jue, couldn’t get in. Qi Xian Qing’s voice was hoarse and gentle in the silent room, "Just bear with it." “Mm... mm…” Yan Jue replied. Then it was time for the bead on her waist. Due to the numbness blocking the pain, Yan Jue did not find it as unbearable. Qi Xian Qing helped expel all the poison, carefully checking the wound to ensure there was no residual toxin on the skin. Qi Xian Qing picked up the beads from the table again. It wasn’t intentional. This specific poison from the Valley of Absolute Dust was highly potent, making it difficult to resist at first exposure. If left untreated, it would infiltrate the meridians, slowly corroding a practitioner’s spiritual power. In severe cases, it could even affect one's cultivation in the future. Yan Jue’s face flushed an intense red, spreading to the tips of her ears, rendering her speechless. Her heart pounded as if it would leap from her chest. Suddenly, a comforting weight settled on her shoulders. Someone gently covered her with a quilt. Qi Xian Qing’s bed was soft, and the sound of rain was loud outside the window, cocooning Yan Jue like a newborn. Embracing the Candle Shadow sword, Qi Xian Qing sat coldly by the bed, staring out into the night. She had wiped the blood from her face, yet her lips remained red, adding an unearthly allure. Upon closer inspection, one would see her ears had turned a deep red as well. Two hours passed, and the numbing effect on Yan Jue began to fade. The pain in her waist and neck surged. Yan Jue gasped in pain, tossing and turning. Soft touches fell upon her shoulder. Qi Xian Qing looked down at her with immense patience, gently saying, "There’s no one else here. It’s alright." Yan Jue, who had suppressed her feelings for so long, finally began to sob softly, "It hurts—" Once more, gentle pats applied softly on her shoulder, giving her a sense of safety akin to her days as a small fox. After crying, Yan Jue felt slightly better and slowly drifted off to sleep. In her fading consciousness, one thought dominated her mind: did Qi Xian Qing know? Did Qi Xian Qing know? But the pain was so overwhelming that it prevented her from thinking further. She quickly slipped into a dream. - It was deep night. The rain had ceased. Qi Xian Qing left the Candle Shadow sword to watch over Yan Jue and stepped out. For a practitioner, being separated from one’s celestial sword was incredibly dangerous. The Candle Shadow sword lay quietly beside Yan Jue, its jade-like blade exuding an icy aura, reducing her excessive body heat. Qi Xian Qing rose and left. She had changed into clean clothes, her long dress as white as snow, her dark hair pinned with a jade hairpin. She headed straight to the Qidun Sect, where the Five Dragon Sect’s head, Mu Zhong Zi, resided. The great hall exuded a sense of overpowering authority. “Enter.” An elder in a Daoist robe stood by the incense burner. His hair and beard were all white, yet he possessed a youthful aura. His immortal essence was evident. The head of Five Dragon Sect, Mu Zhong Zi. Though shrouded in shadows, Mu Zhong Zi's intimidating presence was palpable. “Master Uncle, there are traces of demonic cultivators within the sect,” said Qi Xian Qing, presenting two small golden beads glinting ominously in the candlelight. Mu Zhong Zi gestured and the beads flew into his hand. Inspecting them, Mu Zhong Zi spoke gravely, “These Nine Yin Poison Beads must belong to a demon. I sensed a demonic aura at the sword platform earlier. The world is unstable, and the demon race's allegiance is shifting towards demonic paths. It’s not uncommon for them to use such items.” “The creature I mentioned today, did you destroy it?" Mu Zhong Zi turned, his old age belied by penetrating eyes that commanded respect. Qi Xian Qing hesitated before softly saying, "The disciple destroyed it." Mu Zhong Zi asked, “What was it?” Qi Xian Qing bit her lip uneasily. “This reluctance isn’t typical of your decisive nature. What’s wrong today?” Mu Zhong Zi snapped. “Humans and demonic beings are mortal enemies. Never forget, your family was taken by demons.” The pressure of an eighth-stage practitioner was overwhelming, even Qi Xian Qing with her celestial constitution felt it heavily. Qi Xian Qing took out a wild boar hide and laid it on the ground. “The demonic creature I found was a wild boar demon." The skin was exquisite, with faint watermelon-like stripes. Mu Zhong Zi paused, "The demonic aura at the sword platform was caused by this creature?" Qi Xian Qing nodded, “Yes.” The air grew still momentarily. Mu Zhong Zi turned back, “Very well, you may go. Speak of this to no one.” - Yan Jue woke once more several days later. Morning sunlight filtered into the dormitory, the cheerful chirping of birds audible through the window. With her body still in pain, one thought occupied Yan Jue’s mind. She had survived! As she slowly opened heavy eyelids, her eyes fell upon something in the corner of the room. She slowly moved her shoulder, gradually... Yan Jue blinked her eyes open, finally getting a clear look at the object in question. In the corner of the room sat a little girl with fair skin, draped in a cloak woven from withered rushes, fiddling with a piece of wood. She seemed familiar. Startled, Yan Jue shifted her gaze and unexpectedly spotted a complex expression on the face of a white fox. Glancing between the little girl and the fox, Yan Jue rasped out, "She..." Bai Ying replied, "She's been here for days and won't leave even when shooed away." Yan Jue remained silent, a resigned sigh escaping her lips. Perhaps realizing that they were discussing her, the girl stood up and approached. Yan Jue asked, "Who are you?" The girl stared at Yan Jue, forcing a stiff smile: "Heh-heh." Yan Jue sighed, "Alright then." So it was the little wild boar, after all. At some point, the boar had successfully transformed, yet only into a five or six-year-old girl. It seemed she hadn’t gathered all the necessary materials before transforming, resulting in her less-than-ideal form. She didn't seem very bright. Yan Jue inquired, "Why are you here? Do you realize how much trouble it could be if Qi Xian Qing found you?" The girl said nothing, merely balancing the piece of wood on her head, her lips pursed and her cheeks flushed. Still, not a word came out. It seemed she hadn’t been in human form long enough to master speech. Deciding against further interrogation, Yan Jue turned to Bai Ying, asking, "Did she find out?" By "she," Yan Jue referred to Qi Xian Qing. Though she voiced the question, Yan Jue felt she must have been incredibly lucky that Qi Xian Qing hadn’t discovered her true identity. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have made it out unscathed. Bai Ying pointed a paw at the girl, "When you were tangled with Chu Fu, this creature somehow found its way into that room." "She happened to be transforming at that time, releasing a massive amount of demonic aura." "And Lord Meng Heng just happened to enter right then. Judging by her reaction, she must have mistaken this one for the source of the aura." Yes, Yan Jue recalled how her tail had slipped out back then; Qi Xian Qing must have arrived just as she had managed to retract it. Lying on the bed, Yan Jue pondered everything that had happened that day. Everything had gone remarkably smoothly. She had been preparing for that day long in advance, buying pills and learning seductive techniques from Bai Ying... Yan Jue’s maneuvers were, in fact, her way of testing the limits of the heavenly law. If her fate was destined to be tied to the male protagonist’s fortunes, could she help him advance without harming him in another way? It seemed possible. The ache that used to loom in her chest had vanished without a trace since that night. Suddenly, Yan Jue recalled something and frowned at the little girl, "You can't tell her about, uh... me, understood?" The girl nodded with a cheerful smile, "Won't tell." Just then, footsteps echoed from outside. Yan Jue’s heart leapt. She quickly laid back down, pretending to sleep, eyes tightly shut, her body curling up as her brows knit together. Qi Xian Qing entered, dressed in white, a black sword slung across her back. The little girl stood, walked to Qi Xian Qing’s side, and gestured, "Skin.” Qi Xian Qing smiled faintly, "Sorry, I'll weave you a new one in a few days." The girl nodded, resuming play with her wooden toy on the floor. Qi Xian Qing sat beside Yan Jue, observing her "sleeping" form. "Feeling any better?" she asked suddenly. Yan Jue, caught off guard by the direct question, stayed silent for a moment. A brief silence hung in the room, Qi Xian Qing’s question seemingly ignored. Yan Jue wanted to continue feigning sleep but found herself reluctant to. After several seconds of silence, she sat up expressionless, instinctively gripping her knees. "A little better," she replied. "Good," Qi Xian Qing responded. Watching Qi Xian Qing, relief washed over Yan Jue. It seemed Qi Xian Qing truly hadn’t figured her out. Thank heavens. If Qi Xian Qing ever discovered she was the little fox who had spent so much time close to Qi Xian Qing, even licking her, who knew if she’d be cut down like Chu Fu was that day. The wounds on Yan Jue’s collarbone and waist still twinged with pain, sapping her strength and preventing her from staying upright for long. Qi Xian Qing retrieved a wooden box from her pouch. Opening it revealed a thick, light purple ointment. Dabbing some with her fingers, she leaned over, applying it to Yan Jue’s wounds. The cold sensation spread through Yan Jue's limbs, turning into a deep heat. Her heart pounded wildly as she struggled to swallow, reaching a hand to Qi Xian Qing’s shoulder to steady herself. She felt Qi Xian Qing’s presence growing ever closer. Qi Xian Qing calmly lifted Yan Jue’s hand away, concentrating solely on applying the medicine, absent of any other intention. Yan Jue lowered her gaze. Perhaps it was just her imagination. Suddenly, Qi Xian Qing spoke again, "Care to explain?" Yan Jue blinked, "Explain what?" "What happened that day? Why was Chu Fu in your room?" Qi Xian Qing prided herself on being rational. But for the first time, that day, she had acted without clarity, leaving someone severely injured. It wasn't easy to heal Chu Fu without top-tier elixirs. Yan Jue sighed, "At the sword arena, I drank too much. Master Uncle asked me to rest in my room. I hadn’t rested long before Chu Fu entered." "And then, you saw what happened." She wasn’t lying. When she first regained consciousness, she noticed the messaging charm Qi Xian Qing had given her was broken in two. She must have crushed it during her scuffle with Chu Fu, allowing Qi Xian Qing to swiftly pinpoint her location. Qi Xian Qing remained silent for a long moment. "So Chu Fu was the one bothering you?" Yan Jue was taken aback, then realized Qi Xian Qing was avenging her. Her nose stung with emotion. Beside her, the white fox spoke up, "Elder Li gave the master trouble at the sword arena because she disciplined his son at the Five Dragon Square recently." Qi Xian Qing’s brow furrowed, "And this is...?" Yan Jue chuckled awkwardly, "A few days ago, while off the mountain, I happened to gain a spirit pet and formed a master-servant bond." In this world, spiritual creatures were not often warmly regarded. But those bonded with human cultivators were viewed differently. This pointed to a flaw in human nature. Humans bore no ill will towards branded creatures, but an independent spirit walking the human world invited trouble. Qi Xian Qing studied the white fox, deep in thought. Yan Jue’s heart raced. The room stood still for a moment, as Qi Xian Qing’s gaze shifted to the little girl playing with wooden blocks. Even transformed halfway into human form, the little boar retained her animal habits, a testament to the incomplete transformation. When Qi Xian Qing first entered the room, her eyes were drawn to Yan Jue and Chu Fu. Then, she noticed the half-transformed wild boar. During negotiations with Master Uncle, Qi Xian Qing had managed to deceive him. Something she had never done before. Master Uncle had brought her back to Five Dragon Mountain and was her greatest benefactor. She should deceive anyone but him. Qi Xian Qing regarded the little boar for a while before saying, "As she's a transformed demon, she cannot remain at Five Dragon Peak openly. I’ll use the Spirit Conversion Pearl to settle her." She fetched the gleaming Spirit Conversion Pearl from her bag. Yan Jue froze, breaking into a cold sweat, hurriedly sitting up to shield the wild boar. "Senior sister, please... she's... cute." Qi Xian Qing noted Yan Jue's anxious expression and arched an eyebrow. "If that's the case, I'll form a master-servant bond with her, making her my spirit pet. Then she can stay at Five Dragon Peak legitimately." To bond with the wild boar?! A master-servant bond was an intimate contract. It fostered dependence between demon and human, requiring the creature to stick closely to its master. They might even protect their master. Yet, for reasons she couldn’t articulate, Yan Jue firmly opposed, "No! You can't!" "Why not?" Qi Xian Qing inquired, lifting her gaze. Yan Jue hesitated, unable to provide an explanation.