107 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 107: Yang Qi (Two-in-One) After Qi Xian Qing fell asleep, Yan Jue remained by the bedside for a while, monitoring her condition, before standing up. She retrieved the glazed cup she had just purchased from the Myriad Beasts Pavilion from her storage bag and placed it on the stone bed. Then, she took out a sleeve arrow and made a small cut on her wrist. The blood dripped slowly. Yan Jue furrowed her brow slightly, instinctively closing her eyes. She was actually quite afraid of pain and could not stand such strange scenes. This loss of blood was less than what had been on the tower at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion a while ago. However, perhaps due to having already bled once, a wave of weakness suddenly flooded Yan Jue's spirit. Sweat trickled down her cheeks, and Yan Jue could even feel the spiritual energy in her body gradually dissipating. But Qi Xian Qing had saved her life many times before. For Qi Xian Qing, she acted without hesitation. After painstakingly following Song Mi Yun's instructions to bleed, Yan Jue used wound medicine and bandages to stop the bleeding and began her work anew. Yan Jue lit nine small candles around the cave. She then took out a bottle of "Wu Xian Liquid" given to her by Song Mi Yun from her storage bag and poured it into the glazed cup. As a medicinal ingredient, the blood of the nine-tailed fox spirit wasn't effective on its own. Yet, when combined with other ingredients, it possessed unmatched efficacy. When mixed with the pale gray "Wu Xian Liquid," the nine-tailed fox blood gradually turned into a pale gold liquid. Sweaty and breathless, Yan Jue carefully carried the cup to the side of the stone bed, used Purple Secret Wine to clean Qi Xian Qing's knee wound, and brought the glazed cup to Qi Xian Qing’s lips. In her daze, Qi Xian Qing only felt a sweet liquid flowing down her throat and smelled the pleasant scent of milk from Yan Jue. With her eyes closed, she instinctively swallowed what Yan Jue gave her. Drinking too quickly, some of the liquid trickled past her lips and down her cheek. Yan Jue knelt beside Qi Xian Qing, witnessing the pitiful yet beautiful scene. Her throat involuntarily swallowed. In such a dire situation, what exactly was she thinking? The medicine mixed with fox spirit blood contained a tremendous amount of spiritual energy, with a powerful restorative effect on Qi Xian Qing's meridians. After feeding Qi Xian Qing, Yan Jue was utterly exhausted. Ensuring Qi Xian Qing was deeply asleep, she retreated to the deepest corner of the cave and transformed into a small reddish-furred fox, curling up into a ball and succumbing to sleep. - Finally, Qi Xian Qing's bleeding had stopped. Daily, Yan Jue diligently fed Qi Xian Qing the meridian-repairing medicine and used Purple Secret Wine to cleanse the wound. With great care, she cleaned away all pus and blood with a handkerchief, attending to Qi Xian Qing's every need. She owed Qi Xian Qing so much and felt it was only right to repay her. Yan Jue thought to herself. Qi Xian Qing, being a sword cultivator with a robust constitution, coupled with the treatment of fox spirit blood, regained full consciousness on the fourth day. The first thing Qi Xian Qing did after regaining consciousness was to search for Yan Jue. Upon hearing movement, Yan Jue immediately sat up with a faint smile, "Senior Sister, you're awake?" These past few days in the cave, aside from basic hygiene, she hadn’t even had the chance to tidy up, her robes still in tatters, a white bandage wrapped around her wrist. Noticing Qi Xian Qing's expression shift, she attempted to stand, but her knees buckled. Qi Xian Qing quickly steadied herself against the wall. With a clatter, the glazed cup beside her fell to the ground. She suddenly realized something, her pupils constricting slightly. Before she could spiral into overthinking, Yan Jue stood up cheerfully and helped her sit down. Yan Jue assured, "Senior Sister, take it easy. I've read some medical texts. Your leg will recover just fine." Seeing the warmth in Yan Jue's eyes lessened the unease Qi Xian Qing felt for reasons unknown. Ignoring the pain from her knee, Qi Xian Qing started reflecting on the frequent dreams during her recent unconsciousness. Her parents were indeed gone, but their spirits remained within the tiger demon. She wondered if her master, when visiting Mount Fuimm, would be able to find her parents' spirits and grant them peace. Thinking about it made her heart ache. She had thought of her parents every moment of her life. She hadn’t expected it to end this way. Qi Xian Qing remembered standing at the cliff’s edge, looking at her father across the distance, his eyes devoid of any emotion. Perhaps, deep down, he only wished for her demise. Maybe when her father pushed Yan Jue off the cliff, he was also puzzled as to why the adversary seemed so familiar. Though mature beyond her years, no one knew that the annihilation of her family and her parents' death was her sole unresolved pain. Engulfed in her own thoughts, Qi Xian Qing remained oblivious to the golden object suddenly presented before her. She hesitated. Yan Jue held a golden demon core the size of a palm in her hand. It gleamed even in the dimness, reflecting Qi Xian Qing’s image. Yan Jue spoke earnestly, "Senior Sister, Uncle surely remembered you." "This demon core,” she continued, “was tossed to me when he pushed me off the cliff." At first, Yan Jue didn’t comprehend its significance, dismissing it as something dropped inadvertently. Upon reflection, however, she realized this wasn’t the case. Normally housed within the tiger demon, the core wouldn't have appeared in the spirit’s possession had it not been intentional. The demon core was a gift intended for Qi Xian Qing. "Perhaps," Yan Jue hesitated, "even though he's now a spirit of the tiger demon, he still harbors warmth and love for you." Before Yan Jue could finish, she suddenly stiffened. Qi Xian Qing closed her eyes, extending her arms to gently embrace her. "Thank you, Junior Sister." Encircled by warmth and softness, Yan Jue felt unsure where to place her hands. "Thank you for telling me this." In the silent cave. Qi Xian Qing lay on the stone bed, holding the massive demon core in her palm. Weakened by her injury, she recounted the complete tale of the Qi family’s massacre to Yan Jue. As a child, Qi Xian Qing often had nightmares, and each one summoned the same scene — a snowy night, running to the door to find a man and woman standing outside. ... Yan Jue listened attentively with furrowed brows. Until Qi Xian Qing, unable to withstand exhaustion, closed her eyes and drifted to sleep. Watching Qi Xian Qing, Yan Jue frowned slightly. She gently covered her with a warm cloak. "Good night, Senior Sister." - Over the next few days, Qi Xian Qing spent most of her time in a deep sleep. On the eighth day, with a hint of anticipation, she awoke and instinctively checked her leg. Travelers often encounter injuries and bleeding. Qi Xian Qing had prepared herself for the worst. But examining her wounds left her stunned. The injury on her knee had almost completely healed. Testing her strength, she stood and attempted a few steps with the help of the wall. Yan Jue, in a corner of the cave, looked at her bruised and scarred arm in a daze but turned at the sound. Their eyes met unexpectedly. Yan Jue reassured, "I told you not to worry about your leg; it's going to be fine." Her voice was listless, her body enveloped in fatigue as she lay back down for more sleep. The frequent loss of blood had left her increasingly weak. Sleeping was her best method to restore spiritual energy. Blessed with good weather, the autumn sun felt particularly warm. While dozing, Yan Jue realized Qi Xian Qing was observing her. Now wearing a clean, lake-blue cross-collared dress, Yan Jue looked markedly better than she had in her ragged robes, her raven-black hair cascading over her shoulders, face pale yet weary. Curled up against the wall, she closely resembled a small fox with tousled fur. Frowning, Qi Xian Qing initially thought it strange upon waking. However, the early days found her too weak and preoccupied to notice Yan Jue's condition. She distinctly remembered how severe her injury had been, to the point she could barely walk, yet she was surprised at her rapid recovery. Though her memory was blurred in the past few days, she recalled Yan Jue's attentive care. But for Yan Jue, her knee wouldn't have healed so quickly. In her sleepy stupor, Yan Jue was stirred by the subtle noise around her. Her eyelashes fluttered, a breeze lifting the light fragrance to her nose. Opening her eyes, Yan Jue saw Qi Xian Qing squatting before her, gazing down at her. Dressed in a simple white inner garment with loosely tied outer robes, Qi Xian Qing’s porcelain-like skin contrasted like pure snow. This tender scene was reminiscent of countless nights spent at Ice Peach Blossom Retreat. In the dim light, the two were especially close, inadvertently bridging a psychological gap. Yan Jue suddenly felt an urge to snuggle into her embrace, though she only entertained the thought. Qi Xian Qing's lips curled into a faint smile. "Junior Sister." Yan Jue snapped back to attention. "Hmm? What is it?" Qi Xian Qing said, "I feel like taking a walk, if that’s possible." Now that she was recovering, walking more would aid her healing, and Yan Jue was naturally supportive, quickly standing up. Just as she reached to assist Qi Xian Qing, a wave of dizziness overcame her, her vision blackening briefly, causing her to almost lose her balance. Qi Xian Qing looked at her, slightly startled. "What’s wrong?" Yan Jue raised her hand to rub her temple. "It's nothing, I probably haven’t rested well lately—just feeling a bit exhausted." She managed a smile, sincerely expressing, "Congratulations on your recovery, Senior Sister." Cultivators require far less rest than ordinary humans, often able to restore themselves with just a bit of meditation. Something was off with Yan Jue, Qi Xian Qing mused, her smile fading slightly. Together, Yan Jue and Qi Xian Qing stepped out of the cave. The warm sunlight poured over them, and the sound of a bubbling stream created a serene atmosphere. However, Qi Xian Qing wasn’t in a state to appreciate the beautiful scenery, as she turned to look at her companion. "Yan Jue." Lost in thought, Yan Jue's pale face was marked by an unusual flush. Hearing Qi Xian Qing call her, she snapped back to the present. "Hmm? Yes?" Qi Xian Qing lifted her dark, almond-shaped eyes, suppressing a surge of frustration. "If there's anything wrong, please promise to tell me." She hadn't had the strength to notice Yan Jue's condition before, but now that she was mostly recovered, she felt ready to protect Yan Jue. Yan Jue, who seldom paid attention to her own body, was a concern to Qi Xian Qing, who feared she might be hiding something serious. Feigning casualness, Yan Jue brushed it off, "Oh." Yan Jue sensed that her spiritual energy wasn't fully recovered; her state was less than optimal. Qi Xian Qing's questions were answered briefly before Yan Jue returned to sleep in the cave. Time passed swiftly. Every day, Qi Xian Qing focused on meditation within the cave, consuming Spirit Gathering Pills to replenish her spiritual energy. While Qi Xian Qing's knee healed remarkably well, Yan Jue grew increasingly listless, her hours of sleep extending longer each day. Seeing this worried Qi Xian Qing deeply. But with Yan Jue refusing to share, Qi Xian Qing found herself at a loss. Yet another sunny day dawned. Qi Xian Qing observed Yan Jue curled up in the corner, sleeping, and went over to nudge her. "Junior Sister, would you like to go out for a walk?" Yawning, Yan Jue replied, "You can go." Then she resumed her sleep. Frowning slightly, Qi Xian Qing chose to go out alone. Beneath the sunlight. Sitting by the stream, Qi Xian Qing looked down at a communication talisman in her hand. She had recovered her consciousness a few days ago, enough to communicate with her master. Having left a fragment of her mind in the Image Resonance Ring at the steward's pavilion as her pledge, if she were to die, her mental fragment would disappear as well. Therefore, her master could clearly know she was still alive. Her master was someone who avoided unnecessary worries, so there was little fear of causing alarm. Qi Xian Qing just wanted more time with Yan Jue. Yet lately, the little fox's condition had been exceptionally poor. This was understandable. For Yan Jue, Qi Xian Qing was currently her biggest enemy, with many secrets to keep, placing immense pressure on her. With such thoughts, Qi Xian Qing's expression darkened. During the confrontation with the tiger demon, she was about to fall off the cliff, saved only by Yan Jue. When unconscious at the foot of the cliff, risking being devoured by monsters, it was again Yan Jue who saved her. Through this, Qi Xian Qing realized one thing clearly. No matter who she suspected, she shouldn’t doubt Yan Jue. While the world might harbor ill intentions toward her from its demons, the naive little fox would not. Because of this, she had never been so certain of her feelings for Yan Jue. But Yan Jue's guarded heart toward her dampened Qi Xian Qing's spirits. Must she be the one to take that first step? The sun's warmth cascaded from the sky, enveloping her in a comforting warmth. Wiping her sword, Candle Shadow, Qi Xian Qing’s attention was drawn as she felt someone watching her. Quietly, she raised her head, her gaze sharp as she noticed a figure standing behind a tree at a distance. It was a woman, dressed in an ivory robe woven with cloud patterns and carrying a poised demeanor. Her long, dark hair was styled in a celestial bun, exuding grace. Sunlight graced her jade-like features, her beauty enchanting. But now, she wore a sullen expression as she stared at Qi Xian Qing, her narrow, phoenix eyes harboring a hint of anger. This was deep within Mount Fuimm. Encountering a beauty in such isolated mountains meant either encountering a ghost or a spirit. As the woman approached, killing intent rushed forward. Qi Xian Qing’s brow furrowed, instinctively tightening her grip on her sword, Candle Shadow, never looking away from her. With a whoosh... A green bracelet shot towards her. Qi Xian Qing leapt back, her garments fluttering in the wind as Candle Shadow flashed blue and clashed with the bracelet. Abruptly, Qi Xian Qing noticed something, a momentary hesitation. The woman had a pouch of fine azure fabric embroidered with two spiraling butterflies at her waist. This pouch was identical to her master's own. As the bracelet came back at her, Qi Xian Qing blocked it with her sword across her chest, the clear sound of their clash echoed in the wilderness. The woman, observing her deft movements, remarked in a sardonic tone, "In terms of seniority, I am your senior. I once consoled you when you first came crying at night to this mountain." Withdrawing her sword, Qi Xian Qing respectfully gestured, "My reflexes acted on habit; I apologize, Senior, please forgive my offense." While memory failed to recall this person distinctly, she remembered her master had numerous connections, including several demon acquaintances. Qi Xian Qing respectfully inquired, "May I ask the purpose of Senior's visit?" Lu Yanshuang wasted no time with small talk and went straight to the core: "My niece's spiritual power is diminishing; she's dying, and I'm curious as to what kind of person Yunzhen's disciple is to dare covet my niece." Qi Xian Qing's brow furrowed instantly. ... Lu Yanshuang had received an unexpected message from her brother a few days earlier, mentioning that Yan Jue was in grave danger and instructing her to find her. Her usually stoic brother, the iron-blooded old fox, was crying before her—this unnerved Lu Yanshuang and prompted her to swiftly use the fox clan's Image Resonance Ring to locate Yan Jue. In Mount Fuimm, of all places. Further complicating matters, she was with the disciple of that faithless person. Tracking Yan Jue's presumed position, Lu Yanshuang arrived at Fuimm Mountain. Despite being in the mountain, the search proved tough, with clouds obscuring many paths. The Image Resonance Ring could only highlight a general area. Lu Yanshuang managed to inquire at the Myriad Beasts Pavilion, where she learned of Yan Jue's whereabouts, allowing her to search this vicinity. Qi Xian Qing ventured, "May I ask your relation to Yan Jue..." She paused midway, realizing the other might not reply. Qi Xian Qing frowned, "I've been with Yan Jue for the past few days, what could be causing her loss of spiritual energy?" Lu Yanshuang grew more furious. "Isn't it because you took her yin essence?" For humans, excessive loss of yang energy can result in death; similarly, for demons, depletion of yin essence can threaten one's cultivation or even life. Yan Jue possessed a body of pure yin, making her yin essence crucial. Bloodletting and intimate activities both depleted her yin essence. But no one had told the princess about this, so she was blissfully unaware. Lu Yanshuang wouldn’t tolerate any threat to her little princess’s life. "I didn't expect someone from a righteous immortal sect to be after another’s yin essence," Lu Yanshuang’s temper was naturally fiery, and as she spoke, her anger surged. Her right wrist’s green bracelet sensed her agitation, emitting a slight tremor. "Just tell me where she is, or else don't blame me for being unkind!" Lu Yanshuang's rage was justified. Yan Jue was a demon, further distinguished by the purest lineage of the nine-tailed fox. For such inherently yin creatures, bloodletting and intimacy both deteriorated their yin essence. The only remedy for such a loss was to find several men and absorb their essence. Countless lives would be at stake to compensate for this deficit. In the past, she might have casually found a few unlucky men for the princess, but now the demon race was already facing a perilous situation. Should the fox clan recklessly drain human yang energy, it would inevitably prompt a carnage from the immortal sects. It's truly a predicament. Qi Xian Qing fell silent momentarily. In that instant, everything she struggled to understand before suddenly clicked. Yan Jue recently displayed unprecedented fatigue; who would've guessed it was due to substantial spiritual loss? Qi Xian Qing knew of Yan Jue’s pure yin essence but was quite certain she hadn’t absorbed any of it during the recent fog of confusion she was in. Her heart surged with a mix of shock and anger. The little fox’s tail had grown so swiftly that she had suspected something for some time. Although the arrow on her leg was not poisoned, she could keenly feel it penetrating to the very bone. But how could the necrotic flesh regenerate, and how could the broken bones mend? The blood of the nine-tailed fox was indeed an exquisite ingredient for restoring life and healing severe wounds. Qi Xian Qing couldn’t fathom that Yan Jue would go so far to harm her own body. After a moment of silence, Qi Xian Qing immediately knelt before Lu Yanshuang. "It’s my fault for allowing Yan Jue to fall into such danger. Please rest assured, Aunt, I will naturally help her heal." "Once she's recovered, whether she follows you back or not will be entirely up to her." Just as Qi Xian Qing finished her words, she caught sight of a small white butterfly resting on Lu Yanshuang's shoulder. The butterfly stayed there, gently flapping its wings, seemingly pleased with her statement. Its antennae twitched slightly. Lu Yanshuang frowned, suppressing the urge to speak the words on her mind—"Who's your aunt?" She had initially intended to duel with Yunzhen's rebellious disciple, but this unexpected reaction caught her off guard. Faced with such sincerity, she found herself at a loss for words. The white butterfly remained on Lu Yanshuang's shoulder. Watching Qi Xian Qing’s retreating form, Lu Yanshuang swatted it away, muttering, "Brazen little thing, just like you." ... Inside the dim cave, Yan Jue sat on the ground nibbling on spirit candle fruit, its sweet-sour juices bursting into her mouth, barely restoring a trickle of spiritual energy. The spirit candle fruit and Spirit Gathering Pills offered little more than a fleeting whisper of strength. In a corner, cheeks puffed childishly, Yan Jue resembled a forlorn little fox, sulking in her discomfort. Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching from behind. Turning, Yan Jue saw Qi Xian Qing, clad in a lake-blue dress, emerging slowly opposite the light from outside the cave. Surprised, Yan Jue looked back. With a soft thud, Qi Xian Qing knelt down beside her, turning her head to look at her. Startled, Yan Jue paused her movements. "What’s wrong? You came back so quickly." In the shadows, Qi Xian Qing’s slightly lowered eyes were as clear and bright as ever, yet within them, Yan Jue saw an unprecedented tenderness and a resolute determination. "Are you feeling any better?" Qi Xian Qing asked softly. "Feeling better—" Yan Jue started, only to be silenced as Qi Xian Qing pressed her down. Surprised, Yan Jue barely had time to react before a soft collision, with Qi Xian Qing's hand gently supporting the back of her head to prevent any injury. The scent of Qi Xian Qing’s celestial body was intoxicatingly close, tinged with an irresistible pure yang aura, prompting Yan Jue to swallow nervously as she met Qi Xian Qing's gaze. "Haven't I told you before? Always tell me if there's something wrong," Qi Xian Qing murmured with palpable concern. Completely depleted of strength under Qi Xian Qing, Yan Jue lay there, entirely immobilized. "What… does that mean?" "You're keeping many things from me," Qi Xian Qing said with a pointed look. "Isn't that right, little fox baby?" The words struck like thunder in her ears. That nickname—little fox baby—was so naturally spoken that Yan Jue instinctively almost responded. Just as she was about to, a sense of unease gripped her. Feigning ignorance, Yan Jue stammered, "What are you talking about? What little fox baby?" Qi Xian Qing didn't answer, instead tucking a stray lock of hair behind Yan Jue's ear. "You've lost too much spiritual energy." "A few days ago, you used fox blood to heal me." With both hands pressed to the ground, Qi Xian Qing looked down at her, and Yan Jue felt as though her blood had turned to ice with every word. She never expected Qi Xian Qing, who was known for ruthlessly slaying demons, would somehow uncover her secret, making her tremble in fear. Her disguise had been impeccable; she didn’t know how Qi Xian Qing had found out. Then again, considering how quickly Qi Xian Qing’s knee had healed—which should have been impossible without intervention—her ruse must have faltered somewhere along the way. Qi Xian Qing bent over to look at Yan Jue, noticing the red that slowly colored her pale cheeks—a vibrant, gorgeous flush that softened Qi Xian Qing’s previously agitated heart. All she wanted was to soothe her but feared frightening her in the process. Just as Qi Xian Qing parted her lips to speak, Yan Jue suddenly hugged her head, shrinking just like a defensive hedgehog. Qi Xian Qing: "..." Yan Jue couldn’t predict how Qi Xian Qing would react towards her. Although she had tested the waters before, the brutal way Qi Xian Qing handled demons gave Yan Jue the impression that she despised them. As someone who cherished Qi Xian Qing deeply, Yan Jue couldn’t help feeling wronged at the thought that her identity had been discovered despite her careful efforts. Why had it come to this? Though a demon, she had never harmed anyone. Feeling Qi Xian Qing’s embrace tighten gradually, Yan Jue braced herself for the inevitable sting of Candle Shadow piercing her, but she hadn’t stopped mentally preparing to resist either. A long, slender icicle had already formed behind her, ready for self-defense. Suddenly, Qi Xian Qing released her grip. "Your spiritual energy needs to be replenished immediately," Qi Xian Qing stated. What? Yan Jue’s eyes flew open, unable to believe what she was hearing. Qi Xian Qing was making the situation unbearably clear. Yan Jue, standing so close, found her mind blank and couldn't string together coherent thoughts, eventually blurting out, "How do I replenish it?" Qi Xian Qing was so close that Yan Jue feared she’d lose her composure. Her eyes betrayed an involuntary flicker of desire. Qi Xian Qing untied her sash, her outer robe slipping off loosely, hanging lazily around her shoulders. In the dim light, her skin appeared smooth and white as snow, with those dark, almond-shaped eyes fixed firmly on Yan Jue: "My pure yang energy—take as much as you need." This site remains ad-free with the permanent domain (xbanxia.com).