229 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

**Chapter 229: Unsealing** A massive wave of wind elemental force erupted from the center of Li En, sweeping outwards in all directions. Even masters of wind like Qian Ziyan and Qian Yiling found the surge of wind elemental power to be bizarrely unusual. Although Li En had awakened the wind element, his spiritual power was never this grand and majestic, especially now that he was already dead! How could a dead person possess such powerful spiritual energy? The two exchanged a glance and spoke in unison, "A seal." Qian Wanyu was also affected by this force that seemed intent on breaking through everything. She quickly withdrew from her meditation and saw the body of Li En, which had been lying on the ground, gently supported by a whirlwind. He gradually floated into the air, and the surrounding wind elemental forces began to form a small vortex. This spiritual energy continuously assaulted the flickering flame at the top, sweeping through walls recklessly and even unintentionally launching attacks on them. Qian Wanyu's expression was dark and foreboding, as if on the brink of unleashing a storm. The red mark on her forehead grew scalding hot, hotter than it had ever been, as if it intended to imprint itself deep into her soul. After a moment, she gritted her teeth and said, "He isn't dead!" Qian Ziyan and Qian Yiling quickly collaborated to erect a barrier to fend off Li En’s unconscious attacks. If Qian Wanyu were still trapped in her inner demons, she might have rolled up her sleeves to attack him again. However, in her regained sanity, she would not act so foolishly, even if a part of her wished to die. She observed the rampant spiritual energy that would eventually converge at the center, fiercely crashing into the flame above. The flame, under the assault of the fierce wind, flickered as if it could extinguish at any moment. "What is Yu'er doing?" Qian Wanyu easily broke through their barrier and stood at the eye of the storm, glaring at Li En defiantly. After a long gaze, she suddenly pulled out a half jade pendant from her storage, casually tossing it into the air. The jade was only half intact, appearing gentle and light green from a distance. She allowed the raging gusts to slam against the half-jade pendant, unconcerned it would turn to dust in this furious wind. Had Qing Mo been aware, her reckless actions would have given him a heart attack. "Qian Ying, here's the half jade, your son is here, would you care to confirm it?" Qian Wanyu laughed wildly like she was possessed. For over a year, the blood vow had tormented her incessantly, a constant thought weighing on her mind, but in this moment of potential liberation, she felt no joy. Qian Yiling was about to pull her back when she heard her words and was taken aback, "Qian Ying?" "Wait." Qian Ziyan frowned, finding the name Qian Ying familiar. He murmured it twice and said, "Qian, the same surname as ours." "Once, mother let it slip: Qian Ying is an offender of our Qian family, imprisoned in the ninth peak of the family's rear mountain." Qian Yiling’s exceptional memory allowed her to retrieve the name from the depths of her mind with ease. Before they could ponder how Qian Wanyu was entangled with this person, an object from Li En's chest flew from around his neck—a matching half jade pendant. The two halves, like lovers divided across lands, met with unrestrained joy, uniting effortlessly. The Hehuan Jade emitted a brilliance, and a blood-red beam shot out from the Longevity Cauldron. It trembled under the immense pressure, finally emitting a sound. Buzz— The sound reverberated within the cauldron. "So you are not invincible after all." Qian Wanyu sneered and swiftly moved towards the vortex's center, appearing to others as though she had a death wish. "Yu'er." Spiritual power transformed into a hundred different weapons, some of which she had never seen before. They rushed her uniformly, but Qian Wanyu neither flinched nor retreated. She dodged left and right among the weapons, simultaneously resisting the vortex and drawing out her water thunder whip to strike at Li En. Qian Yiling watched her anxiously, "Has Yu'er fallen into her inner demons again?" Qian Ziyan roughly pulled her aside, "This likely has to do with the blood vow at her brow. Let's see what she plans to do." The water thunder whip, crackling with purple lightning, cleaved the vortex itself, exposing Li En from it. Just as she was about to close in further, the once lifeless Li En suddenly opened his eyes, deftly evading her second attack. A strange light twinkled in his deep gaze as he used his surrounding spiritual energy to evade more of Qian Wanyu's relentless strikes. "Qian Wanyu." "You dare to be alive." Li En maintained a composed demeanor, with a newfound gravitas that seemed ill-suited to his aura, as if upon waking he had become a different person, exuding a mature steadiness. He gazed at Qian Wanyu like she was a defiant child, his expression holding a trace of pity. With a gentle wave, the turbulent spiritual energy returned to his body and the Longevity Cauldron once again regained its calm. Only the merged Hehuan Jade emitted a world-destroying aura, surging like it would pierce the sky, leaving just a small flame flickering within the cauldron. Qian Wanyu was unnerved by his gaze, "I need a drop of your blood. Will you give it to me yourself, or must I take it personally?" Li En didn't furrow his brow or ask questions; he simply sliced open his finger, and a small drop of blood hovered towards her under his control. She retrieved a sealed fingertip from her storage, allowing the blood to merge with it seamlessly. "This is—" "Wanyu’s blood vow must be linked to Li En." The blood and the fingertip fused, then flew toward the Hehuan Jade. A beam of blood-red light shot into Qian Wanyu’s forehead, and the originally fiery red mark became scorching hot, intensified by the glow. Dropping to one knee, Qian Wanyu let out a low groan as sweat poured down her cheek. The bright crimson mark gradually faded until it vanished completely, as if it had never been there. Yet she felt her soul sea had been brutally pounded, the pain unbearable. "I merely took a nap, and you managed to stir up this much trouble." Qing Mo was jostled awake from a slumber by the turbulence in the soul sea. The persistent blood vow dissipated just like that, leaving him with a sense of disbelief, slightly melancholic. However, he quickly found his spirit, "Quick, grab that Hehuan Jade. Who would've thought this Ice Lotus Mountain is your place of fortune; the other half of the inheritance is within." As the pain subsided, Qian Wanyu gradually stood up. The Hehuan Jade floated between her and Li En. She glanced at it, its aura indicating the presence of the Qian family’s hidden inheritance. "Do you remember who you are?" After falling into a death-like state, Li En had a long dream. In it, he was five, living with his father amidst the icy expanse of Ice Lotus Mountain. Snow was everywhere, a world covered solely in white. Life on the mountain was harsh, both plants and animals couldn't endure long. Yet, little Li En always had some fruits brought back by his father, who braved the treacherous mountains to find them. In those carefree childhood days, as he grew older, he often asked, "Father, why do we live on this cold mountain, and where is mother?" He asked countless times before getting an answer. His father explained, "We are here to atone. Only when we’ve made amends can we see your mother." At age seven, driven by hunger and unable to wait for his father, little Li En ventured to another mountain, discovering a green plant bearing an emerald fruit. The fruit was highly toxic; after eating it, he was poisoned to death. ... Li En raised his gaze to Qian Wanyu, "You know who I am." Qian Wanyu was sure that the seal had triggered some memories for Li En, although he seemed unaware of his own origins. "Help me open the Longevity Cauldron, and I’ll tell you." "Agreed." "Together." Qian Ziyan and Qian Yiling quickly joined them, collectively focusing their wind element force to forcefully attempt breaking free of the cauldron. Meanwhile, Dongfang Minghui, drifting amidst the magma, almost overturned with the force. The lava grew unstable, and even while Little Fatty shielded her from much of it, the impacts kept driving her forward. "Quick, let this weapon spirit release us." Several spiritual plants huddled together, trembling in fear as the fiery sea lay before them like a monstrous maw ready to devour them. "Little Weapon Spirit, open the Longevity Cauldron for us. We'll take you to see the world outside, how about that?" "Hmm." The mummy-like weapon spirit seemed to contemplate the truth of her words. "No." "Why?" Dongfang Minghui thought she had pinpointed Little Weapon Spirit's desires, only to be met with an unhesitating rejection of her well-intentioned suggestion. "Must wait for the master." Dongfang Minghui: "..." This was indeed a very loyal weapon spirit. "Could you tell me what your master is like? Perhaps we can help you find him," Dongfang Minghui coaxed in the turbulent magma, trying to persuade the innocent weapon spirit. "He’s formidable, capable of moving seas and filling mountains with bare hands, changing the color of the sky with a mere gesture." Little Weapon Spirit lacked vocabulary, repeating only those keywords. This didn’t stop Dongfang Minghui from imagining its master as an extraordinary being. Combined with the stories she had heard from her eldest uncle, she could picture the master as a divine figure, possessing unparalleled grace and charisma, someone who would be truly revered. However, if the master of Little Weapon Spirit were still alive, the Longevity Cauldron wouldn’t have been abandoned here. Most likely, he had perished. "Little Weapon Spirit, hundreds of years can change the world beyond recognition. I believe your master must be entangled with something. If you continue waiting, you may have to wait for another few centuries. Why not accompany us outside for a search?" "How long is hundreds of years?" The mummified Little Weapon Spirit, having spent its existence inside the Longevity Cauldron, had no concept of time. "Long enough—" Dongfang Minghui was at a loss for words. She herself didn’t have a strong grip on time, often getting lost in peculiar places, leaving her uncertain of how to explain time to a weapon spirit. "You’re so naive," Xiao Se, one of Dongfang's companions, was exasperated by her soft-heartedness. Their idea was simple: have Little Fatty devour this spirit quickly, extract the method to open the Longevity Cauldron, and leave. "In hundreds of years, I could probably transform into human form," Pig Immortal Grass said earnestly. For plants like them, with awakened spiritual consciousness, a few centuries were like a good long sleep, waking up to a changed world. Dongfang Minghui latched onto Pig Immortal Grass's comment, trying again to lure the spirit, "Little Weapon Spirit, do you want to meet your master?" "Yes." "Why not explore with us? You might find an opportunity where you could transform like Little Fatty, meeting your master again in a form that delights him." Little Weapon Spirit hesitated. It admired the idea of transformation but had never achieved it. The shape it took resembling Little Fatty was an illusion, aided by the magma. When the conditions faded, it reverted back, securely ensnared by the white thread, unable to escape. "If you stay here, once we leave, you'll have nobody to talk to." Dongfang Minghui pressed on persuasively. The mummy-like spirit was caught up in her reasoning, not considering that without its release, they couldn’t leave. At least they would have someone to converse with inside the cauldron for a long time still. Seeing its silence, Dongfang Minghui seamlessly shifted the conversation, "Look at Little Fatty, who, like you, is also a weapon spirit. It only took a few months to transform. Do you want to compete with her?" After speaking, she internally screamed at how ludicrous it sounded. Little Fatty indeed transformed remarkably quickly, within a year rather than hundreds. Dongfang Minghui scrutinized Little Fatty, noticing the power it wielded, rivaling that of her Seventh Sister. She pondered if growing that quickly came without side effects or repercussions. "Alright." "Be cautious of its tricks. Don’t agree to anything until it releases us from this magma," Dongfang was reminded. Dongfang Minghui understood. "Little Weapon Spirit, this magma is potent; if you stay too long, it might affect you. Why don’t we compete below?" Without consideration, the spirit agreed, "But you must let me go first so I can open a passage for you to descend." Its quick agreement made Dongfang Minghui suspicious. No longer an inexperienced girl, she knew that anything with spiritual intelligence had its own views and motives. The charming Little Weapon Spirit could very well be yet another enigma. Not long ago, this very spirit had transformed into Little Fatty's likeness, attempting to drag her into the magma for refinement. "Is there a way to ensure that even if it plays tricks, it won’t escape our control? If it jumps into the magma, it could be detrimental to us." "We have Little Fatty," Pig Immortal Grass suggested, wagging its tail. Dongfang Minghui glanced at Little Fatty, who moved confidently through the magma, unafraid of the flames. Imagining the Little Weapon Spirit trying to flee into the magma, she realized only Little Fatty could catch it. "Mm-hmm," Dongfang Minghui indicated freeing meant retracting the carnivorous plant’s bindings, while still keeping a braided thread hooked onto Little Weapon Spirit like a keychain. Tugging gently, both felt the connection, like grasshoppers tied to a thread. Little Weapon Spirit took a moment to adjust to the plant’s tether, eventually moving. Muddled with dust and shadows, it was unclear where its eyes or mouth were, a pixelated illusion. "Is it the mist from the magma obscuring my view? Why can't I clearly see the spirit and Little Fatty’s appearances?" "Because they have yet to choose their forms; that’s why everything seems blurred to you." Dongfang Minghui realized that, and soon enough, Little Weapon Spirit truly parted the magma pool, rolling it sideways to reveal a narrow path with a gate in the distance—a tiny dot to Dongfang Minghui. "Go." Little Weapon Spirit led the way, rolling smoothly until it was hindered by the tether. It extended a claw, tugging at the grass-like braid, yet it couldn't sever it. "What's it trying to do?" Xiao Se and Pig Immortal Grass wondered from within the soul sea. Dongfang Minghui focused, quickening her steps. Little Fatty beside her tilted its head, scrutinizing Little Weapon Spirit before suddenly capturing it in its grip. Large and small, the two spirits looked at each other bewilderedly. Dongfang Minghui pulled the odd spirit near, "Little Fatty, let's wait until we’re down there before the match. Whoever wins gets a reward." "Reward?" Little Weapon Spirit, unfamiliar with the concept, asked. Dongfang Minghui’s eyes darted as they neared the exit, a slight excitement bubbling, "If you beat Little Fatty, you can get whatever item you desire." Little Weapon Spirit pondered before declaring, "I want my master." Dongfang Minghui felt a sudden, intense pressure akin to having a mountain on her shoulders, sweat trickling down her forehead. In her soul sea, the laughter of Xiao Se and Pig Immortal Grass was nearly deafening, reaching wave-like crescendo levels. Her cheek twitched slightly, "I meant physical rewards, usually something edible." "Edible? Like what?" Little Fatty released a formidable burst of fire energy, causing the separated magma to roil once more as a reminder that their battle hadn’t even started, and victory was far from certain. Dongfang Minghui shrank back slightly, "The magma seems to be rebelling; move quickly." Both raced forward, soon reaching the door. "Wait, how does this open?" Little Weapon Spirit volunteered, "I’ll do it." Before they could brace themselves, a whirlwind swooped them away. "Ah—" As Dongfang Minghui descended, she held onto Little Weapon Spirit with a death grip. This was key to escaping the Longevity Cauldron. Without it, they'd perish here. Below, Qian Wanyu and the others had already consolidated the wind elemental force into a massive sword, preparing to cleave the Longevity Cauldron. But just as they raised the wind blade, two figures fell. "It's Ninth Sister." "The Sorceress." "Xiao Jiu." Qian Wanyu swiftly caught hold of her, feeling immense relief as the person she held tightly had their eyes firmly shut in fear. Her heart, which had been filled with longing, finally settled. For the first time, she felt truly alive again, "Ninth Sister, are you ready for a scolding?" Despite being unable to retract it in time, the sword still cleaved violently into the Longevity Cauldron, resulting in a booming echo. The Little Weapon Spirit jerked free from Dongfang Minghui's arms and noticed a sword had nearly split the top of the Longevity Cauldron. Infuriated, it exclaimed, "I want to kill you all." "Wait—wait!" Dongfang Minghui had braced herself to hit the ground hard but instead felt a gentle embrace envelop her. She opened her eyes and was met with Seventh Sister's joyful gaze. Her heart swelled with emotion as she looked at her beloved, though at Seventh Sister's ominous words, she instinctively shrank back and covered her backside. The Little Weapon Spirit squirmed to the side, trying to slip away from Dongfang Minghui's grasp. Since the Longevity Cauldron was its true form, being struck in such a way would anger anyone. She held onto the feisty spirit tightly, fearing it would slip away, "A misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding." Everyone looked at her, puzzled, yet gradually retracted their released spiritual energy. "What’s happening?" "Little Weapon Spirit, calm down, it’s all a misunderstanding!!!" Despite her soothing words, it was ineffective. Similar to how the Tiānyīn Headgear was life itself to Little Fatty, the colossal Longevity Cauldron was equally crucial to the weapon spirit. Dongfang Minghui, seeing its increasing agitation, urgently sought advice within her soul sea, "Quick, think of a way." "There’s no way, have Little Fatty swallow it." "Try appeasing it with your usual method," Pig Immortal Grass suggested, arguing that simply eating the spirit wouldn’t guarantee their exit. If they overpowered its will, it might choose to erase its consciousness rather than comply—a disastrous outcome. Dongfang Minghui, thinking frantically, finally retrieved a molar stick from the depths of her storage space. She had no idea where its mouth was, opting to push it in, "Little Weapon Spirit, this is food." The spirit paused, no longer struggling. Everyone heard delicate crackling noises as if it were savoring its treat with elegance. Little Fatty, however, was displeased and returned to its usual form. Qian Yiling handed it a set of clothes, which were slightly small, making Little Fatty look like it wore cropped sleeves and pants, exposing its pale skin enticingly. It didn’t seem to notice, and, seeing the Little Weapon Spirit eating leisurely, tugged at Dongfang Minghui’s hand impatiently, "Hui." Hearing the nickname, Qian Wanyu's brows furrowed so tightly a fly could be crushed between them. "Ninth Sister." "Sigh." Dongfang Minghui was delighted that a simple molar stick had calmed the Little Weapon Spirit. However, as soon as she met Seventh Sister’s icy gaze, a chill ran down her spine and she quickly made introductions, "Seventh Sister, this is the weapon spirit." Qian Wanyu's eyes swept over the spirit before landing on Little Fatty. Little Fatty stood unafraid, slightly taller than Qian Wanyu, puffing out her chest before turning back to gazing at Dongfang Minghui with a tender, 'deeply affectionate' look, "Hui." Dongfang Minghui, caught between Seventh Sister’s menacing glare and Little Fatty's persistent affection, started sweating profusely, "Ah, this is Little Fatty. She fused with the Tiānyīn Headgear, which is why she’s…larger." Not just a bit larger, but significantly so. Little Fatty's eyes glistened as she watched, sensing that everyone’s eyes were on her. Dongfang Minghui felt the pressure of the crowd’s gaze. If not for the substantial spirit she held, she’d have preferred to find a quiet corner to hide. "Fused with the Tiānyīn Headgear?" Qian Wanyu finally understood where the confusion lay. They’d been misled by a golden-loving mouse—the soul refined by the Soul Refining Furnace wasn’t the rodent’s at all but the one from the Tiānyīn Headgear. Goodness, it had tricked them thoroughly. "Minghui, thank goodness you’re alright," Mu Sheng, nearly overcome with emotion, almost embraced her. Then, the Little Weapon Spirit in her arms smacked its lips, "More." "Hui," Little Fatty pressed, the competition hadn’t even begun, and yet, they were already indulging. Dongfang Minghui quickly offered another molar stick to the weapon spirit, then produced a fire lotus seed for Little Fatty. Once she quieted both gluttonous spirits, she had a moment to explain her ordeal. Qian Wanyu, with single-minded possessiveness, encircled Dongfang Minghui’s waist, playing with her hair, fingers twirling and tugging amid the locks, sometimes pulling sharply as if venting her grievances. Seated stiffly with anger unspoken and pain silently endured, Dongfang Minghui had to stifle her annoyance. The weapon spirit occasionally demanded more treats, and with her space running low on consumables, she improvised. "Weapon Spirit, if you come with us, there will be plenty of delicious things to eat, and lots of people to play with you." Dongfang Minghui weaved a compelling narrative, thinking it best to leave immediately and escape the cauldron, “Why don’t you open the Longevity Cauldron, travel with us, and seek your master along the journey?” There’s a saying: those who receive hospitality must reciprocate. The weapon spirit smacked its lips hesitantly, a clear indication of temptation. Qian Wanyu’s hair-twirling fingers paused, alerting everyone to the central matter at hand. Their escape hinged entirely on the curious being in Dongfang Minghui's arms. "The last one," Dongfang Minghui lamented, feigning helplessness, "Besides molar sticks, I can make small fish snacks, barbeque, various dishes, and cakes—they might not be tasty though." In her bid to lure the weapon spirit away, she willingly stooped to the role of a chef. Qian Wanyu glanced sideways, seeing little of the odd weapon spirit. For a moment, the room was silent. "Ah." Little Fatty, having swiftly consumed the fire lotus seed, extended a hand and pulled the weapon spirit from Dongfang Minghui’s arms. "Battle." "Great." The Little Weapon Spirit understood Little Fatty’s succinct words, feeling a tinge of defiance, especially after hearing how quickly Little Fatty transformed. It tugged on the braid connecting Dongfang Minghui to its wrist. Dongfang Minghui, continually thinking within her soul sea, speculated, "Fighting isn’t practical; better to remove it." The braid untangled on its own, returning to her hand. Unexpectedly, the two spirits began their duel, catching everyone by surprise. They had been waiting for the spirit to decide whether it would release the Longevity Cauldron, but it suddenly turned into a competition! Bystanders cleared a space, crowding around Dongfang Minghui to ask, "What are they doing?" Dongfang Minghui couldn’t exactly say that the original plan had been for Little Fatty to devour the weapon spirit, and the duel was merely to test which spirit was the stronger...antagonizing the spirit beyond the point of reconciliation wasn’t advisable. "As fellow weapon spirits, they’re just playing." The clash didn’t start like a simple game. Little Fatty enveloped the Little Weapon Spirit in flames, attempting to boil dumplings. The Little Weapon Spirit, undeterred, endured the heat, using a bony claw to rake in surrounding fire, compressing and manipulating it fiercely. The blazing sword, just formed by Qian Wanyu and her companions, appeared again in the Little Weapon Spirit's hand. A gentle swing sent the flaming sword flying towards Little Fatty. Just the right length to avoid damaging the cauldron's walls, it chased Little Fatty relentlessly. Without dodging, Little Fatty swallowed the long sword whole. Qian Wanyu observed the duel, both spirits evenly matched. Determining a winner could take days, so she dragged the nervous Minghui into her embrace, securing her as they retreated into the shadows, "Ninth Sister." Dongfang Minghui, intrigued by the battle, suddenly lost interest when interrupted. The warm breath on her neck made her shiver, and something soft and warm nibbled her neck, rendering her motionless. A jolt of pain pierced her neck. “Mmph.” Through frigid eyes, Qian Wanyu left a trail of bloody bite marks on her neck, holding her tightly within her arms. Dongfang Minghui thought a bite would calm Seventh Sister, but panic ensued as she felt her collar being tugged open. Though hidden in shadows, with fluctuating firelight above that seemed to indicate impending doom, they were still exposed to many eyes. "Seventh Sister." Dongfang Minghui, flustered, grasped her hand tightly. "Ninth Sister," Qian Wanyu whispered into her ear, nibbling her earlobe. Dongfang Minghui shuddered, nearly collapsing entirely. Feeling eyes on them, Dongfang Minghui hastily turned and hugged the warm body behind her. Pressing closely, she sensed the irregular heartbeat beneath. Her ears, a shade of crimson from the stimulus and shock, grew hot. Burying her face in Seventh Sister’s bosom, she brushed against her, calming significantly with skin-to-skin contact. Qian Wanyu's vengeful intent was far from over. Were it not for the unfit location, she might have been bolder. The two embraced silently. "I'm sorry, Seventh Sister." A soft apology came from within Qian Wanyu's embrace, and she gently stroked the soft hair of Dongfang Minghui, her eyes growing deeper and more inscrutable. She waited for a while, and aside from the ruckus caused by the two weapon spirits battling, this person in her arms remained unresponsive. This made her heart race with unease, even more than if she were about to face death. "Seventh Sister, don't ignore me. I never wanted to die." She couldn't just stand by and watch Little Fatty and Douya be refined by the fire. Moreover, being from the Longevity Tribe, she herself was potentially a material for refinement in the Longevity Cauldron. Qian Wanyu pressed her tightly against her chest, and after a long moment, spoke coolly, "I understand." Understand what exactly? Dongfang Minghui felt increasingly anxious. She tugged gently at her companion’s sleeve, "Seventh Sister, I was wrong." Qian Wanyu gazed into the distance, a dark thought crossing her mind. If possible, she wanted to forge the strongest chains in the world, akin to an intricate metal puzzle, to bind Ninth Sister to a place where she would never leave her sight again. "Seventh Sister, please don't ignore me. I know I was wrong. You can punish me however you like, just don’t ignore me." Dongfang Minghui was terrified of Seventh Sister being cold and indifferent. She'd rather be bitten or hit, anything but being ignored without a word. "Punish you however I like?" Qian Wanyu's lips curled slightly, her gaze profound and lingering. "Yes, just don't ignore me." "I get it." After a while, Qian Wanyu added, "We'll settle this account slowly once we're out of the Longevity Cauldron." Dongfang Minghui shivered involuntarily. Qian Wanyu released her and led her step by step towards the spot where the light was brightest. Little Fatty and the weapon spirit were evenly matched, and it seemed likely to end in a draw. "This is quite troublesome." They had hoped Little Fatty would quickly intimidate the weapon spirit, with gentle persuasion and some incentives, to coax it into following them out. "Even in three days, they might not decide a winner." Qian Wanyu gave her a deep look. "Three days!" Dongfang Minghui felt she’d metaphorically shot herself in the foot. She should have applied more pressure when Little Weapon Spirit had hesitated earlier. Perhaps they could have left by now. But now, here they were. "I have a way to make them pause their battle." Qian Wanyu announced mysteriously. "What way?" Dongfang Minghui's eyes sparkled with hope as she looked at Seventh Sister. Qian Wanyu didn’t answer immediately. She pressed her lips together and, with a meaningful glance, said, "Wanting to know isn't impossible, but you must satisfy me." Dongfang Minghui: "..." What Seventh Sister meant by 'satisfying' was surely not what she was imagining. Her face flushed inexplicably. To cover her impure thoughts, she lowered her head, feeling a bit embarrassed, and asked, "Seventh Sister, what do you mean by satisfying?" Qian Wanyu leaned over and whispered two ambiguous words into her ear. Dongfang Minghui felt her mind explode. Her entire body felt hot, not just her face, neck, and ears. "What do you think?" "…" Did she need to think about it? There was no decision to make here. Furthermore, Seventh Sister wasn’t offering a choice; it was clearly a 'threat.' Yet she felt unable to resist, sacrificing her dignity for everyone present. "Yes." "And Ninth Sister's answer is?" Qian Wanyu deliberately asked. Dongfang Minghui was most annoyed by Seventh Sister's knowing inquiry. She shot her a resentful look. Seeing her serious demeanor made her heart clench. She stamped her foot, "Of course—willingly." The last words were whispered so quietly they were like a kitten’s mew. After speaking, she glanced around, relieved that no one was watching them. Qian Wanyu swiftly drew her closer, "Let's collect a little interest first." “Mmph—” Seventh Sister's cool lips pressed against the corner of hers, swiftly parting her lips with a skillful tongue, sweeping through her mouth before retreating with a final nip. Dongfang Minghui winced at the pain and looked at her, feeling wronged. Qian Wanyu extended her crimson tongue, lightly licking her own lips, grinning wickedly with an inexplicable mischievousness. "Tastes good." ... "To separate them is actually quite simple." Qian Wanyu glanced at her, her beautiful eyes lingering on Dongfang Minghui's slightly swollen lips, still adorned with the mark she'd just left. Leaving her mark on her companion was a satisfying feeling.