Chapter 175: He Likes You

The instant our gazes collided, Su Mo's eyes betrayed an unmistakable shock.

She stared at the red mark on Xuan Qing's wrist, and her mind went briefly blank.

Xuan Qing calmly lowered his wrist, his water‑calm gaze fixed on her, his tone as detached and thin as always: "My blood can bring the medicine's effect to its utmost."

Su Mo's lips trembled slightly, wanting to say something, but she couldn't find words at all.

After a brief silence, Xuan Qing briskly walked toward her.

Su Mo instinctively retreated in panic, but the man simply stepped over her and strode outward.

"Xuan Qing!"

She finally called him back.

"Actually, you don't need to do this… I just need to take the medicine; it'll get better slowly."

His tone remained as cool as water, without any fluctuation: "I want the effect to be faster."

Su Mo stood there, momentarily unsure how to reply.

In the twilight, his silver hair was like frost, shimmering with faint cold light under the moon, even his silhouette exuded an otherworldly chill.

His clear, cold voice sounded again: "Miss Su protected the Tiger Clan's countless subjects, then saved me from trouble. My deeds are trivial; you needn't mind them. Right now is a critical moment against Jiang Wu; my blood is harmless and beneficial to you."

Su Mo clenched her fist, the furrow between her brows deepening.

In her mind, Xiao Jiu ranted wildly: "What the heck is he trying to stubbornly say? Every word is for others, every sentence is about grand principles, yet he never mentions his own feelings. If he just said 'I like you,' what would that change?!"

After a while, Su Mo spoke: "Don't do that next time. I don't like others getting hurt for me, even if it's… for my sake."

Xuan Qing suddenly turned, his hand hanging at his side clenching tightly.

His gaze toward her remained water‑calm, but his tone was no longer as unruffled as before: "Miss Su, is it that you dislike others doing this, or… you simply don't like me doing it!"

Su Mo's eyes darkened slightly, her voice firm: "Anyone! I don't want to see anyone get hurt for me."

Xuan Qing's frosty eyes fixed on her; for an instant his chest seemed to surge with countless emotions, yet his words came out as: "This isn't called injury; this little wound is negligible to me. At most it's called…"

He closed his eyes, suppressing the stormy emotions within, and said calmly: "Mutual benefit, Miss Su is now… the best candidate to defeat Jiang Wu. Defeat her, and the Tiger Clan can live peacefully, right?"

When he finished speaking, he lowered his gaze, hiding the turbulence in his eyes, forcing the surging feelings back: "Even if it weren't you—if it were someone else—I would still be the same. So you really needn't be tangled over this."

Because he knew she disliked him, he couldn't reveal any personal feelings; otherwise she would feel guilty and blame herself. He didn't need her guilt, nor wanted to see her self‑reproach; he… only wished her safety.

"I've said everything I needed to, Miss Su; you should understand my intention."

Su Mo's brows knit tightly; before she could think of how to speak, the person before her had already vanished.

She turned, looking at the bowl of medicine on the stove, her thoughts tangled.

Xiao Jiu sighed, gritted his teeth, and said: "Host, he's being insincere; he likes you."

Su Mo only stared at that bowl of medicine, silent for a long while.

Xiao Jiu raised his voice: "Host, I say, the Third Young Master likes you!"

Since that stubborn self wouldn't say it, let this system speak for him.

Su Mo's eyes softened slightly, she lifted the chilled bowl of medicine, drank it in one gulp, then turned and walked out.

"Host, did you even hear me…?" Xiao Jiu hurriedly bounced in her head: "He likes you so much, why not seize the chance? Maybe your power will further improve."

Su Mo frowned: "Shut up for me."

"He's a Level 9 Beastman…"

"That has nothing to do with his rank! His loyalty and strength shouldn't be the blade on my path of killing enemies."

Xiao Jiu fell silent for a moment, seeming to understand, and said sincerely: "Sorry~"

Su Mo only cooked one dish that night; the rest had been prepared earlier by Xuan Qing.

Her spicy rabbit dish, at a glance, had more chilies than rabbit meat.

Ye Yuan took only one bite, then was scorched as if about to burst into flame.

Cang Lan and Yue Ying also felt no relief.

She kept forcefully serving them more dishes: "Come, eat more! Finish it all; I rarely cook, don't waste it!"

Yue Ying glanced silently at Fei Yan and Mo Xiao, communicating without words: "Wife Master, are you planning to murder your husband today?"

Mo Xiao, expression unchanged, finished the rabbit meat from Su Mo's bowl.

Although it was so spicy it seemed about to burst into flame, he endured it.

Wife Master is emotional today; we don't yet know why she's angry, but this tone at least makes her feel a bit better.

Fei Yan frowned, silently ate his rice.

Xuan Qing remained silent the whole time, having no interaction with Su Mo.

Tonight's torment, only he escaped unscathed.

Fei Yan vaguely sensed that the trigger of Wife Master's anger might involve Xuan Qing; something flashed in his mind, but he wasn't sure yet.

No problem, he's accompanying her tonight; they'll communicate slowly in due time.

Su Mo finished her meal, took a walk around, then returned to the room.

When Fei Yan pushed the door open, he saw her standing still, back turned to him.

He lay on his side outside, propping his head, and smiled at her.

"Wife Master, is there anything you want to ask?"

Su Mo ignored him; the few of them were indeed a bit over the line, all knowing Xuan Qing…

…kept it hidden from her alone!

Fei Yan reached out and twisted the sulky person over; Su Mo, in a bad mood, leaned in and bit his shoulder.

Fei Yan let out a muffled hum, then chuckled lightly: "Did that vent your anger? If not, want another bite?"

Su Mo, hearing his voice, grew more angry, lowered her head and bit again.

But the person not only felt no pain; his eyes even hinted at a bit of excitement: "Mo'er, your energy is so high; why not do something else first, then talk?"

Su Mo squinted, "Do you listen to me?"

"Hmm."

…

Fei Yan saw it; today she is sincerely grinding him…

How could there be a fairy like her in the world, whose glancing eyes easily ensnare a person's Soul, and whose fingertip stroll easily burns his reason to ash.

He loves being tormented by her like this… it fascinates him, makes him addicted; even if the road ahead is an abyss of endless ruin, he is willing to sink with her.

Fei Yan, holding back emotions on the brink of collapse, calmly discussed with her: "Mo'er, it's my turn now, okay?"

"Mo Mo, be good, let me have a turn."

He grabbed her rebellious hand, rolled over and pinned her down.

At the most chaotic, enamored moment, he stared into her affection‑filled eyes and asked silently, "Mo'er, do you know what I'm most afraid of right now?"

Su Mo answered groggily, "Jiang Wu?"

Fei Yan's eyes flashed with a gentle smile; he leaned down and kissed her honey‑colored lips, "I'm afraid you'll suddenly disappear…"

"Don't disappear, okay? Whether in the bright heavens or the yellow springs, I'll walk with you."

…

At the end, Su Mo was already a bit drowsy, her cheeks flushed crimson, her whole figure delicate like a flower just sprinkled with morning dew, looking utterly enchanting.

Fei Yan, suppressing the urge to start over, held her in his arms and asked, "Wife Master, you must know what the Third Young Master has done for you, right?"

Su Mo said nothing.

He continued, "I didn't tell you before: first, I hoped your body would recover quickly; second… my selfish reason is that I didn't want Wife Master to know these things, fearing that if you knew, it would shake him."

His tone suddenly took on a bitter edge: "Mo'er, scold me. I am indeed such a despicable person. On one hand I want to use the Third Young Master's affection for you to heal your body, and on the other I don't want you to know these things. How could I become so vile…"

"I knew this day would come, yet I kept deceiving myself, thinking that a day later is still a day. Because I know in my heart that the Third Young Master is a good person; even if Wife Master falls for him, it's understandable. Yet inside, I strongly reject him as a rival… Such filthy, contradictory feelings are unbearable even to me. How about you, Mo'er, give me a hard beating to vent your anger?"

Su Mo, angry, raised her hand to twist him, but at the moment of lowering it she changed her mind and gently embraced the person before her.

She buzzed, "You really should have told me about this earlier; how can I repay this favor now?"

Fei Yan held her tighter, his jaw brushing her dark hair, and said softly, "The Third Young Master… is also your fiancé. He does these things not to make you remember a debt."

"If, for us, protecting you is a duty and instinct, then he also possesses that same instinct and duty."

"But his status is different from yours…"

"He likes you." Fei Yan interrupted her, his voice barely audible, "If I hadn't said it, the Third Young Master would never have spoken up, because he, more than anyone, does not want this feeling to trouble Wife Master."

Yet today the matter was exposed; even if Xuan Qing kept silent, Wife Master would inevitably notice.

Fei Yan was silent for a moment, as if making a decision: "If Wife Master feels any inclination toward him, perhaps…"

After speaking for a while without hearing a response, he couldn't help but look down.

The person in his arms had fallen asleep at some point.

Fei Yan sighed once, "Enough."

As for destiny, it's three parts fate, seven parts human effort; some things still require the Third Young Master to work on himself.

In the early hours.

Su Mo felt a throbbing pain in her chest; when she turned over, her side was empty.

Xiao Jiu: "Host, quickly take a Pill to steady your breath!"

Su Mo took a Pill from the space, frowned and asked, "What's happening?"

"It's probably that something went wrong with Jin Tong." Xiao Jiu frowned, "In theory, after your Totem's power upgrades, the feeling of being restrained by him should lessen. Perhaps his current condition is not optimistic."

Su Mo frowned, "He's a Level 9 Beastmen; who could match him? Could it be Jiang Wu?!"

Xiao Jiu frowned, "He must have a leverage in Jiang Wu's hand; that day in battle, Jiang Wu summoned something unknown, instantly turning him into a cat."

Su Mo recalled, indeed it was like that.

Speaking of it, Jin Tong, as the awakener in this story, generally wouldn't be controlled by anyone.

What could possibly make Jin Tong so easily manipulated by Jiang Wu?

A thought flashed in Su Mo's mind, she said suspiciously, "Could it be the Soul?"

Hearing that, Xiao Jiu hurried, "Better not be!"

"Why?"

Xiao Jiu frowned, "Now the Host and Jin Tong share a life; if his Soul is controlled by Jiang Wu, that's not good for us. If Jiang Wu discovers the link between you and Jin Tong, she might exploit it."

Su Mo frowned, about to speak, when a stabbing pain returned to her chest.

She frowned, "This Pill seems useless? My pain is actually getting worse."

Xiao Jiu frowned, "Host, we should go find Jin Tong immediately; it's best to get him out before Jiang Wu discovers this. If we delay too long, I'm afraid she'll catch on."

Su Mo hadn't had time to speak when the door opened.

Mo Xiao and a few others hurried in.

"Wife Master, what's wrong?!"

Mo Xiao, looking nervous, helped the pale‑faced person to their feet.

Su Mo endured the numb throbbing in her chest, shook her head, "It's nothing, just a bit uncomfortable; I'll take it easy."

After a moment she forced herself to endure the discomfort, stood up and said, "I need to go out for a while."

Ye Yuan, with a worried expression, asked, "Wife Master, do you want to go find Jin Tong right now?"

Su Mo cast a suspicious glance at him.

She hadn't just said she was going to look for anyone; how did Ye Yuan know? Did he guess precisely?

Ye Yuan didn't think he misspoke; with a worried face he asked, "Wife Master, your chest hurts so much; why not rest a bit longer?"

Su Mo narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "It's not chest pain; it's just… a headache."

The room fell silent instantly.

Su Mo's calm gaze swept over their expressions; as expected, she saw a flash of surprise on each of their faces.

Such coincidences had happened before, but she hadn't thought much about it then, merely feeling that perhaps it was some special ability of the Beastmen, occasionally guessing her thoughts, which was not surprising.

Now it seems not to be the case.

Could it be that everyone has the Peeping Heart Technique?

No……

Su Mo quickly thought of something, but now is not the time to ponder these.

She quickly got out of bed, dressed, and went out.

Mo Xiao followed behind her, involuntarily furrowing his brow slightly.

After the group came out, Xuan Qing, who was leaning by the door, also quickened his pace to follow.

On the mountain where Jin Tong was.

Lin Shan saw the arrivals and instantly became wary on his face: "What do you want?!"

Su Mo said in a low voice: "I'm looking for Jin Tong."

Lin Shan furrowed his brows, impatiently saying: "The lord does not wish to see you!"

Su Mo didn't miss the flash of panic in his eyes, and she didn't want to waste time with him, speaking directly: "If you don't want him to die in Jiang Wu's hands, you'd better let me go up the mountain to discuss countermeasures."

Lin Shan's eyes showed obvious astonishment; he hesitated a moment, then nodded to his subordinates and said: "Let them pass."

After Su Mo went up the mountain, she asked about the time Jin Tong disappeared.

Lin Shan told everything he knew, after all he had thought of all possible methods, but with his ability, trying to get the lord out of Jiang Wu's hands would not be easy.

Su Mo frowned and said: "What leverage does he have in Jiang Wu's hands? Tell me clearly, then I can think of a plan."

Lin Shan was silent for a moment and said: "The lord has a Strand of Soul held by Jiang Wu; that day, when confronting the lord, he revealed his intention to kill her, and Jiang Wu never tolerates such things, so this time it's likely more ominous than auspicious."

Su Mo's brows furrowed slightly; indeed, it was the Soul.

It seems this person must be saved.

Su Mo turned and sat on a nearby stool, saying: "Tell me everything you know about Jiang Wu's side, and draw it out."

Although Lin Shan thought Su Mo was not entirely reliable, he had no better option and could only trust her.

He told Su Mo everything he knew and also drew her a deployment diagram of Jiang Wu's side.

"Her side usually has just these few deployment patterns, which are changed irregularly."

After Su Mo finished looking, she casually handed it to Mo Xiao beside her.

Mo Xiao frowned and said: "A frontal assault won't work; we lack the manpower to be a match."

Su Mo said nothing; she certainly didn't intend a frontal assault, rescuing Jin Tong being a last resort, and she could not implicate innocents because of him.

She tilted her head to glance at Lin Shan beside her, pondered a moment, and formed an idea.

?? This story is nearing its end as I write this; let me say a few words. First, thank you to all the little cuties who have followed along so far—some readers' IDs I know well… I keep them in mind silently. But I'm actually not fond of interaction, nor of explanations or spoilers, so I rarely appear.

? Xuan Qing's character is liked by some, disliked by others; to those who don't like him, I apologize—failing to please everyone is my fault.

? I have devoted more ink to describing this character; he is destined to be a special existence, so his storyline must differ from the previous ones.

? So far he has also gained some recognition, which makes me happy.

? No story can please everyone; ultimately we seek only those who resonate with it. Thank you to those who have journeyed with me this far, and I also understand and respect the differing voices.

? Love you all~ Gratitude~