Chapter 128: Dead Demoness, You Have Greatly Harmed This Daoist

Inside the riverside terrace, the lamplight was dim; a man and a woman sat side by side before a small table.

As time passed, Nangong Ye's body temperature rose higher and higher; bead-sized sweat droplets rolled down her cheeks, and the white skirt emitted mist from within, gradually soaked through by sweat.

Xie Jinhuan, having channeled his cultivation technique under high load for a long time, himself gradually entered an overheated state. Seeing Nangong Ye's endless demands, he could only ask:

"I'm not made of iron. Do you have any acquaintances? Shall I call one for you?"

"Haaah..."

Nangong Ye's limbs trembled slightly; she had almost completely sealed off her divine sense, wholly devoted to resisting the fierce poison in her lungs and heart.

Ye Hongshang appeared at that very moment, sitting opposite the small table:

"Judging by the look, you were careless just now, and yang poison invaded your heart meridians. You can't suppress it. Go find Lin Wanyi; she should have a method to temporarily suppress the gu poison."

Xie Jinhuan felt that only Queyue Manor could handle this matter. He immediately raised his hand, attempting to scoop up the black-clad female knight, who was drenched in sweat all over.

But to his surprise, the great female knight before him, sensing his movement, directly grabbed his collar with a backhand, pinned him to the floor, and forced herself upon him.

"Hey? Mu..."

Zzzzt—

Xie Jinhuan jolted from the electric shock, but had no choice. He could only comfort her by her ear:

"Don't get agitated. I'll take you to a Physician who can help suppress the yang poison..."

But unfortunately, the woman on top gave no response. She simply, like a cultivation machine, instinctively adopted the optimal solution available: drawing in qi, sealing the meridians, and preventing the yang poison from spreading...

Seeing that his own qi sea was about to give out, Xie Jinhuan tried to forcibly rise and carry her away.

But their cultivation levels differed by far more than a little. Discovering the 'heat sink' beneath him was restless, arcs of electricity flashed across the hands pinning her down.

"Hey!"

Xie Jinhuan possessed no demon-immunity technique either; he was helpless against this and could only look to the ghost for help.

Ye Hongshang shrugged slightly: "She wears a protective artifact; I cannot interfere, nor can you remove it. However, this Miss seems to have a Dao heart as unyielding as iron. Even with her divine consciousness scattered by the fierce poison, she is still resolving it in the optimal way. She should be able to endure it herself."

"What if I can't endure it?"

"Life and death are determined by fate; wealth and rank by heaven! You can't run away anyway. What else can you do?"

"..."

Xie Jinhuan had nothing to say. He could only lie on the floor, being run over by a great cart. After channeling his cultivation technique under high load for so long, his body gradually turned scorching hot, and his qi began to decay uncontrollably.

Fortunately, the great cart on top of him was not entirely devoid of pity for a fragile beauty.

Perhaps sensing the 'heat sink' was about to boil over, Nangong Ye's figure suddenly sprang up. Her sharp eyes opened; bead-sized sweat droplets rolled down her chin. She looked down at Xie Jinhuan, visible pain and lingering divine thought evident in her eyes:

"You can't hold on... get out..."

Suddenly released, Xie Jinhuan quickly flipped up and continued supplying his icy qi.

"I can still hold on for a while. Shall I take you to find a Physician?"

Haa~

Before he finished speaking, the woman before him waved her sleeve, pushing Xie Jinhuan out until he slid onto the terrace.

Splash...

Xie Jinhuan, as if pushed by a clear breeze onto the terrace, looked up with considerable surprise, taking a glance...

The result was visible: Mu Mu Yun Hong stumbled out a few steps toward the side room, then tore off the white skirt on her body.

Rrrrip...

In an instant, the entire room became several degrees brighter...

"Hiss—?!"

Xie Jinhuan's pupils contracted. He raised a hand, not yet having time to say, "Miss, please have some self-respect," when he saw the great white-clad female knight walk into the bedroom and plunge headfirst, feet to the sky, into the bath tub.

Crack~

Splash...

Amidst the sound of splashing water, the sound of ice crystals cracking was mixed in...

(O_O)?!

Xie Jinhuan had never seen such an honest Miss in his entire life. His heart beat like a drum. He scratched his head, turned to leave quietly, and avoid getting beaten.

But he had not yet obtained the Sixty-Year Lotus! Even if he got a thorough beating today, he had to get a result!

And what if this Miss really died in the room?

After hesitating for an instant, Xie Jinhuan moved to the doorway of the room and called out carefully:

"Miss Mu?"

Haa~

In the center of the room sat the bath tub; to the side were screens, wardrobes, and clothes racks, hanging black skirts, undergarments...

The woman was entirely buried in the redwood bath tub; only floating ice crystals melting gradually on the water's surface could be seen. Clearly, she could not hear his words.

Xie Jinhuan did not dare enter either. He turned and asked:

"Can this suppress it?"

Ye Hongshang stood beside him, observing:

"It's risky. You continue channeling qi into her; the two combined should be able to suppress it."

"What if she beats me if I go in?"

"If she can't endure it, your Sixty-Year Lotus will be gone."

"..."

Xie Jinhuan hesitated for an instant. To avoid being beaten to death later, he first bent down, picked up the scattered white cloth strips on the floor, and tied them over his eyes. Then, following his memory, he approached the bath tub, plunged his hand into the bone-chilling water, and continued to channel his cultivation technique to generate qi.

Splash~

The woman in the bath tub, like a bloodhound detecting usable qi, immediately grabbed Xie Jinhuan's hand, and then began to transform into a high-pressure water pump...

"Hiss~..."

Xie Jinhuan was almost used to it; he held the soft, moist palm and quietly began circulating the cultivation technique...

Whoosh~

Two quarters of an hour later.

Qi flowed within the room, and faint white mist drifted over the water's surface.

Nangong Ye soaked entirely in the water; under the dual effects of the Extreme Ice Bucket and the frigid Qi, he gradually withstood the surging assault of the Yang Poison, his lungs and heart slowly calmed, and consciousness gradually returned to his mind.

Finally endured it...

Xie Jinhuan isn't still waiting outside, is he...

No, what am I holding in my hand?!

Her phoenix-like beautiful eyes opened in the water; what met her gaze was the man's large hand held in hers...

Xie Jinhuan, blindfolded, was doing his utmost to support the flow of Qi and circulate the cultivation technique when he suddenly discovered splashes of water exploding beside him, drenching his face.

Splash—

Then a slender arm reached around from behind, directly wrapping around his neck, pinning him back against the bath tub, while a menacing killing intent emanated from behind!

"Hey, hey! Miss, wait!"

Nangong Ye surfaced, her right hand blocking in front of her, while her left hand, using a naked chokehold, pinned Xie Jinhuan against the rim of the bath tub, her eyes radiating killing intent that pierced the sky:

"Who allowed you to enter?"

Xie Jinhuan patted the Bai Xi arm locking his neck, his expression helpless:

"I have my eyes covered; I was just circulating Qi, I didn't look at you..."

"I told you to leave first, didn't you hear?!"

"I heard, but how was I to know your situation? If I left and you died in the room, what then?"

"..."

A storm of shock surged in Nangong Ye's heart; fearing she would trigger the Yang Poison again, she gritted her teeth and calmed her breath.

She discovered Xie Jinhuan was indeed blindfolded, and after circulating the technique under high load for so long, his body was even hotter than hers; although his gaze was cold like a sharp blade, the killing intent finally subsided somewhat, and she asked in a deep voice:

"Before you entered, did you look around recklessly?"

Xie Jinhuan, always honest, spread his hands and said:

"I'm not blind; you tore your skirt right in front of me in the living room, I couldn't even dodge, what could I do? Seeing your mind was already unclear, I feared something would happen to you, so I transferred Qi to you; don't repay kindness with ingratitude..."

"..."

Nangong Ye glanced out of the corner of her eye toward the door and indeed saw the skirt she had torn with her own hands lying on the floor...

Does that mean he saw everything?!

It's over...

Nangong Ye's expression was extremely complex, like an iceberg transforming into a volcano erupting from provocation!

But this was her future Dao companion, Linghu Qingmo; she couldn't silence this youth. After a moment of silence, she still first projected the aura of an ancestor, feigning composure:

"I was busy suppressing the Yang Poison just now, thinking you had already left; who would have thought you... Forget all this. If you reveal even half a word to an outsider..."

Xie Jinhuan raised his hand: "I never took it to heart, nor will I reveal even half a word to outsiders. Moreover, you have been bullying me the whole time; I couldn't even dodge. If you wanted to take advantage, you were on top of me; couldn't I touch you?"

Didn't you touch?!

Nangong Ye desperately wanted to grab the bra hanging on the clothes rack to show Xie Jinhuan the handprints, but that was obviously inappropriate:

"Leave quickly."

Xie Jinhuan noticed the grip on his neck had loosened; he did not obey and leave, but instead asked:

"What about the Sixty-Year Lotus? We haven't finished discussing it just now..."

Nangong Ye was wearing only a pendant on her entire body; how could she have the mind to discuss matters now!

But Xie Jinhuan had indeed come to help and suffered much; moreover, looking at his appearance, if she didn't give an answer, she could beat him and he still wouldn't leave. She thought for a moment and responded:

"The Sixty-Year Lotus is the foundation of the sect. If you can detoxify, I can give it to you, but since you cannot detoxify, I can only give you a top-grade magical artifact as thanks."

What use would I have for a magical artifact?

Xie Jinhuan identified the location by sound, turned his head, and they faced each other:

"I need the Sixty-Year Lotus very much..."

?!

Nangong Ye trembled all over and raised her hand to strike this disrespectful young man, but remembering Xie Jinhuan hadn't taken off his blindfold, she held back:

"Exchange the method of detoxification for it."

"I already gave it to you!"

Xie Jinhuan leaned against the bath tub, his tone calm:

"The method works; it was Miss Mu who felt it was inappropriate. How about this? I won't ask for the opportunity or thanks; you lend me one Sixty-Year Lotus, and within three months I will return one to you. I swear by the Luo River; is that acceptable?"

Nangong Ye knew Xie Jinhuan's character; it wasn't that she was stingy and unwilling to lend, but that Mount Zihui only had living plants; once dug up, they died.

If it were exchanging for a divine herb like the Reviving Grass, she could explain it to the sect and get something for nothing; how could she explain it to the elders of the sect?

"I cannot lend this item; at most, I can give you some magical artifact manuals."

"..."

Xie Jinhuan had said his piece and was also at a loss for words; after a slight consideration, he turned around, pulled down his blindfold, and his gaze fell upon the Bai Huahua bath tub:

"Miss Mu surely wouldn't want to... Gulp—?"

The words had barely left his mouth when he was immediately pressed down and had his face washed!

Nangong Ye was struck as if by lightning; she pinned Xie Jinhuan with one hand, leaped out of the bath tub, pulled down the curtain halfway to wrap around herself, and then spun rapidly!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—

Splash~

Xie Jinhuan flipped over and sprang up, only to find the Great White Heroine in the bath tub had wrapped herself in a white towel and landed behind him, holding a three-foot green blade to his neck, her eyes like ten-thousand-year-old ice:

"What don't I want?"

"..."

Facing the cold, sharp edge a mere 0.01 millimeters from his neck, Xie Jinhuan wisely raised both hands:

"Miss Mu probably doesn't want to either. Shall we sever this friendship right here? I suffered quite a bit of grievance to rescue Miss. Even if I earned no merit, I at least endured hardship. If you can't borrow it yourself, could you help me borrow one from somewhere else? The Green Mist Sword Manor is, after all, a righteous and famous sect; they must have some connections. I am waiting for this herb to save an emergency..."

Hearing this, Nangong Ye became puzzled:

"The Sixty-Year Lotus is for Super Rank cultivators only. What emergency are you saving?"

Xie Jinhuan naturally could not mention accidentally digging open the Demon-Suppressing Tomb, so he sighed lightly:

"It is all for the world! The Mingshen Sect has been lurking in Jingcheng for a long time; anyone could be a hidden agent. I trust no one and can only investigate myself.

"But the hidden agent likely possesses cultivation close to Super Rank. I cannot subdue them, so I must find a way to quickly improve my strength. Coincidentally, I know a good prescription that can solidify the foundation and boost cultivation power, which is why I urgently need the Sixty-Year Lotus.

"Every day this item is delayed in my hands is a day my cultivation is delayed in improving, yet demons and monsters will not wait; they could commit murder in the Jingzhao Prefecture at any moment..."

"Enough!"

Nangong Ye did not question this speech about "saving all living beings and time waiting for no one."

After all, since Xie Jinhuan first appeared, he had indeed been tirelessly fighting demons and monsters. His bravery in boarding the enemy ship alone and his diligence in slaying demons whenever he had free time made his character hard to question. Even her secret tracking revealed that Xie Jinhuan was slaying demons and had even uncovered some clues.

Now that Xie Jinhuan wanted to quickly improve his cultivation to deal with the Mingshen Sect's hidden agent who possessed extremely high cultivation, it was also reasonable.

Softly grinding and hard-persuading to beg for the immortal herb, even while being pinned down and bullied, his original intention remained unchanged and his goal firm. On the path of cultivation, this could even be called a Dao-heart as iron!

Thinking of Xie Jinhuan's past actions and his very legitimate request, Nangong Ye fell silent for a moment. Her mixed emotions settled somewhat. She lightly flipped her wrist, sheathing the single sword behind her back, and her tone became calm:

"I can help you borrow the Sixty-Year Lotus, but you had best keep today's events sealed. If I hear even a whisper of gossip, you will bear the consequences yourself."

Xie Jinhuan's eyes lit up: "What are Miss Mu's chances of borrowing it?"

Nangong Ye could use Mount Zihui as a guarantee to borrow heavenly treasures from the imperial court. For wild life-saving divine objects like the Yang-Returning Grass, if the imperial court had any, they would inevitably be coveted by a crowd of Ancestors and even imperial relatives; no matter how many there were, they could not be kept, so no one bothered to ask. However, the Sixty-Year Lotus could still be borrowed on credit, though the interest would certainly not be small.

"I will give you the item the day after tomorrow. But do not think you can get something for nothing. For every material or treasure you obtain, you must pay a corresponding price; I will guarantee at most. Additionally, if you have a suitable method to neutralize the poison, I can also help you repay part of the debt."

Hearing this, Xie Jinhuan felt a great weight lifted, almost wanting to hug the Great Ice Tuozi and kiss her twice:

"A person without trust cannot stand! If I cannot find a method to neutralize the poison, I will certainly return a Sixty-Year Lotus. I take my leave first. I will come back the day after tomorrow. Please forgive me for the offense, and rest early."

Having spoken, he ran away like the wind, fearing any further mishaps.

Nangong Ye, wrapped in a towel, watched him off with a single sword behind her back, her waist and back straight, her expression like an unmelting glacier.

But after Xie Jinhuan leaped off the terrace, her cheeks slowly turned alternately red and white. Finally, she dove back into the bath tub, immersing her whole body in the ice water, holding her forehead with her hand, full of regret:

What a sin...

How did I lose my mind and let this fellow into the room...

I didn't find a method to neutralize the poison, yet the Sixty-Year Lotus was actually coaxed out through soft grinding and hard persuasion...

Since matters have come to this, how will I explain this to Linghu Qingmo in the future...

You evil woman, you have truly harmed this Daoist!

If this Daoist does not repay blood with blood and let you suffer this bitter fruit, what face do I have to walk the world...

(End of this chapter)