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Yan Chu had initially relied on her excellent lightness skill to investigate, moving and breathing with extreme caution. To her surprise, he still discovered her. Yan Chu secretly regretted her carelessness, knowing it was too late to leave. If he opened his mouth and called out, it would undoubtedly attract the guards outside and alarm Xiao Qi, leaving her no escape. Her only option was to temporarily appease him.
Having made up her mind, Yan Chu simply walked out from behind the stone wall and bowed: “As a guest in the residence, I inadvertently noticed some movement and, out of curiosity, stumbled into this place...”
His red eyes gleamed, creating the illusion of seeing through one’s heart. The man’s voice carried a laugh: “No need to hide. Your opposition to Xiao Qi can perfectly become a reason to save me.”
Before Yan Chu could speak again, he let out a long sigh and raised a hand to caress his horrifying face: “Look at me now. Am I pitiable? Do you feel sympathy?”
One moment he was laughing, the next his tone suddenly turned sorrowful. His previous roguishness vanished without a trace, the rapid change making it difficult to adapt, instead creating a false illusion.
Yan Chu maintained her composure as much as possible: “The Prince Ding’s enforcement of law is strict. One who receives such heavy punishment must have committed a grave crime, making it difficult to elicit sympathy.”
The man said, “If I were his brother, would you still think so?”
Brother? Yan Chu was truly shocked.
The man nodded: “I am his own younger brother!”
Yan Chu frowned: “If he really had a brother...”
“You haven’t heard of me because I was designedly imprisoned by him and our father not long after I was born,” the man seemed to understand her thoughts. “Don’t believe me? I can alarm them, or even kill you.”
From his fingertips, firelight erupted.
She never expected him to still have the power to attack. Yan Chu had already secretly gathered her inner energy in defense, but the firelight was incredibly fast, impossible to dodge. It grazed her neck with a burning sensation and struck the stone wall. Fortunately, the stone here was of a special type, so it only made a small pit.
Yan Chu reeled back two steps in shock.
“Does my reason convince you?” The man wiggled his index finger. “No one has ever dared to walk in here. You are not Xiao Qi’s person.”
Her palms were clammy with cold sweat. Only now did Yan Chu realize how careless she had been, but the other party had shown mercy with his attack, so he shouldn’t kill her again. She then composed herself and asked, “Your power is enough to glorify the Yunze clan. Why did they do this to you?”
“Because of power that makes them wary,” the man sighed. “I don’t like vying for power, and I’m unwilling to obey them.”
Besides Xiao Qi, who pursued power, did the Yunze family also have such a person? A rebel unwilling to seek benefits for the family was destined to be punished. Yan Chu didn’t believe him because of this. She calmly said, “After all, your surname is Yunze.”
“Look at me, do you see their ruthlessness? Do they treat me as family? I want revenge!” The man gritted his teeth, struggling to crawl forward, his bloody body dragging a shocking trail of blood on the ground. “Only you can save me. If you save me, I will make you my master and obey you.”
Yan Chu was not muddled: “This is all your side of the story. How do I know if it’s true?”
The man said, “You have no choice, because you came with a purpose and wouldn’t want to alarm Xiao Qi.”
His ruined face looked up at her, muscles twitching into an unrecognizable expression. His eyes were full of sincerity and pleading, as if he had already taken her for his savior.
“Flame Kingdom Law: A disciple who betrays their master, death penalty. I choose to believe you, why can’t you believe me?”
Yan Chu hesitated for a moment.
The sorrowful, pleading voice, because it carried so much magnetism, sounded almost seductive in her ears. One would expect that anyone subjected to such cruel treatment would inevitably become strange and twisted in their mind, let alone that the current situation left her no choice but to agree.
Yan Chu squatted down, intending to examine his injuries.
The man avoided her, whispering, “This injury is nothing. Find me a flame stone, and I can free myself.”
Yan Chu had already seen that the two iron chains piercing his shoulder blades couldn’t truly restrain him. The only problem was the solidified snow stone sealing his heart. Indeed, only a flame stone could unseal a solidified snow stone. Yan Chu mused, “This isn’t difficult, but I need time. You must wait patiently, and after you’re out, you must obey my commands.”
“Good,” the man’s voice regained a hint of laughter. He raised his hand towards her. “Here.”
His palm was open, revealing a pearl, precisely the one embedded in her skirt. It should have been kept as leverage, but he chose to return it, showing her his complete trust.
Yan Chu said nothing, took it, and put it away.
The man reluctantly grasped her hand: “Don’t leave me, Master.”
His tone was incredibly desolate, and his entire arm was covered in scorch marks, with faint streaks of blood seeping through. Yan Chu resisted the urge to immediately withdraw her hand, gently patted his hand, said “Don’t worry,” and then quickly stood up and left the way she came.
Watching her disappear, the man slowly got up from the ground, leaned against the wall, touched his face, and tugged at the chains connected to his body, looking bored.
________________________________________
Returning to Maple Garden, less than half an hour had passed. Outside, Hongye and the others were still sleeping soundly. Yan Chu slipped through the window into the bedroom and lay back down on the bed.
Such an unexpected turn of events, she truly didn’t know if it was a blessing or a curse. Having suffered torment for many years, his hatred should not be feigned, and his power was certainly beyond that of ordinary masters. If she could truly gain his assistance, it would indeed be greatly beneficial. However, she knew Xiao Qi’s character best; his ruthlessness was limited, and he would never inflict such torture on his own brother without good reason. The rapid change in his tone might indicate a talent for disguise, and his simultaneous plea and threat suggested he was not a benevolent person. She needed to consider this further.
Yan Chu tried her best to calm her mind and closed her eyes to sleep.
Unknowingly, a night passed. Waking up the next morning, the sun was already high outside the window. After breakfast, seeing that the weather was still good, Yan Chu went out for a walk with Hongye as usual, shifting her energy to another matter.
Listening to the two guards’ conversation last night, Old General Lushan was going back to Yueyi Mountain. If the news was true, it would be a rare opportunity. Wogu in the west of the city was the only vital route to Yueyi Mountain. It would only take one day to escape Xiao Qi’s surveillance and meet the old general privately.
However, achieving a goal too easily often creates a sense of crisis, because it might be a meticulously arranged trap.
Yan Chu didn’t dwell on the issue too much; she just kept walking. Suddenly, a large bouquet of fresh flowers appeared before her, startling her.
“Buy a flower to wear, dear. Freshly picked peonies, they’ll perfectly complement your beautiful face.”
It was a flower-selling old woman who had approached her, calling out. Yan Chu composed herself, saw that the flowers were indeed fresh, and couldn’t help but praise them, taking one and letting Hongye pay.
The flower-selling old woman thanked her happily, then pointed at the flower and said, “Miss, if you look closely, you’ll see my flowers are different from others.”
Yan Chu looked at the white peony in the middle, smiled, and nodded.
After the flower-selling old woman left, Hongye pouted: “These people brag the most. Miss, you don’t even wear it, what’s the point of buying it?”
Yan Chu walked along, playing with the white peony. She quickly lost interest and nonchalantly began tearing off the petals, playing with them: “They’re all small businesses; it’s not easy for them to make a living. Buy some if you can, it’s not our own money anyway.”
Hongye chuckled: “Miss, you’re sharp-tongued, but your heart is actually kind.”
“I’ll have you whipped someday, then you’ll know if I’m kind or not.” Yan Chu grumbled, but a smile formed in her eyes.
The petal in her hand was very special; on its back, a tiny character, fine as a mosquito’s leg, was carved: “计” (jì), meaning “scheme” or “plan.”
Xiao Qi governed strictly, and the Prince Ding’s guards usually dared not say an extra word. How could they privately discuss and leak such important information? Sending a message through a flower clearly indicated that someone was secretly helping her, warning her not to fall into a trap.
Her suspicion confirmed, Yan Chu quickly crumpled the petal in her hand and said, “I’m tired, let’s go back.”
In the distance, two people dressed as guards exchanged glances and slipped into a street corner.
Inside the main hall of the royal residence, Xiao Qi was giving instructions to several stewards. The misunderstanding of last night seemed to have no major impact on the surface, and Liu Yu was not seen crying or making a fuss, suggesting he had already appeased her.
Yan Chu’s expression was as usual. She stepped forward and said, “Tomorrow, I need to return to the Eternal Realm for a visit. The Prince Ding doesn’t need to send anyone to accompany me.”
Watching her leave, Xiao Qi remained silent for a long moment, then called in a guard and instructed: “Pass on my order, do not harm anyone.”
________________________________________
The next day was the day to tend to the flowers. Yan Chu was brought back to the Eternal Realm. In the snow cave, Lord Xiling stood with his hands behind his back before the ice platform. He had changed into white robes, almost blending into the surrounding ice and frozen snow. Had it not been for his long black hair, Yan Chu would barely have noticed him.
“You’ve arrived.” He turned around.
Due to his Ice Country physique, his complexion and lip color were excessively pale, yet they harmonized beautifully.
Meeting his gaze, Yan Chu quickly lowered her eyes: “How is Lord Xiling here?”
Lord Xiling said, “I came to see the flowers, and happened to meet you. Quite a coincidence.”
Choosing this time to see the flowers, stating an obvious fact as a coincidence, and doing so without changing his expression, Yan Chu couldn’t guess his intention for a moment and could only remain silent.
Lord Xiling paced around the stone platform a few times, then scooped up some snow with one hand and slowly sprinkled it into the basin.
After a long time, he spoke again: “It’s rare for you to be so afraid of me.”
Yan Chu’s palms were already sweating. She couldn’t tell if he was displeased or something else, so she simply answered respectfully, “The awe of an Emperor, Yan Chu is humbled.”
Lord Xiling had no objection to the word “Emperor”: “In your eyes, what kind of Emperor am I?”
This question was very sensitive. The legendary Emperor, who regarded human lives as ants and ruled the Five Spirit Realms, almost like a tyrant, was probably the impression most people had of him. He couldn’t possibly be unaware of this. Thus, asking this question must have been intentional. Yan Chu thought for a moment and cautiously replied, “Your Majesty unified the Five Spirit Realms, achieved eternal dominance, and ushered in a century of prosperity. Your accomplishments shine brighter than the sun and moon; everyone in the world respects you...”
He offered no comment, continuing to sprinkle snow into the flowerpot: “That is what makes you revere me. Tell me what makes you afraid.”
Yan Chu replied euphemistically and subtly: “As an Emperor, one is naturally heartless and devoid of emotion.”
“Heartless and devoid of emotion.” Lord Xiling repeated.
Evaluating her savior in such a way made Yan Chu very uneasy. She bowed her head and dared not speak.
After a moment, he grunted and called, “Come over.”
Yan Chu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly walked to the stone platform. Seeing that the flower bud in the jade basin hadn’t changed much, she tried to lighten the atmosphere and asked, “Is Lord Xiling trying to cross the cycle of reincarnation through karma?”
Lord Xiling said, “No.”
The answer was undoubtedly surprising. Yan Chu didn’t press the topic and turned to the broken, withered flower in the adjacent pot: “The flower hasn’t borne fruit, so what’s the use of breaking it off?”
“Eating the petals makes one forget past events.”
So, the person who broke the flower merely wanted to use it to forget past events? Yan Chu was surprised but didn’t ask further. A secret unknown even to the disciples of the Eternal Realm would not easily yield an answer from her questions.
Watching her cut her wrist and feed blood to the flower, Lord Xiling said, “This place is extremely cold, which is bad for your injuries. Go outside.”
Yan Chu agreed and followed him out of the cave, walking back along the plank path to the Go Cliff.
Lord Xiling did not leave immediately. He turned back and looked at her, saying, “Years ago, you had a flame stone on you. I ordered someone to keep it for you. It should now be returned to its rightful owner.”
A white-clad attendant was waiting there. Upon hearing this, he presented a reddish crystal stone with both hands, apparently having prepared it beforehand.
Yan Chu had originally intended to ask about this matter. Seeing the stone, she quickly thanked him and accepted it.
The red stone was still burning hot to the touch, making her heart tremble. General Yue had painstakingly found it and had his beloved daughter carry it to alleviate the pain of her heart attacks, yet he had concealed the fact that she had been afflicted by the Ice Dissolution technique.
After the white-clad attendant took her away and disappeared, a woman in purple, seated in a wheelchair, slowly ascended the Go Cliff and quietly questioned, “You saved her and hid her in the Eternal Realm for a century?”
“I have my reasons.” Lord Xiling did not look at her much and walked down the Go Cliff.
________________________________________
In the imperial garden’s pavilion, the Emperor and Consort were enjoying flowers and amusing themselves. Soon, an attendant walked over, and the Flame Emperor rose to the edge of the pavilion to listen to the report, then gestured for him to withdraw.
Consort Ying hastily asked, “Did she fall for the trick?”
The Flame Emperor said, “She didn’t go to Wogu to wait for Lu Shanchi. It seems she really went back to the Eternal Realm.”
“Impossible,” Consort Ying doubted. “Did she see through the trick?”
“My beloved concubine’s brilliant plan, how could it have flaws?” The Flame Emperor chuckled. “Someone leaked information to her.”
“Leaked information?” Consort Ying was surprised. “Not many people knew about this.”
“The method of transmitting the message was indeed clever, but unfortunately the person has already committed suicide. The mastermind is still unknown,” the Flame Emperor casually put his arm around her shoulder. “Perhaps it’s the Southern King. He has spies in the palace.”
“The Southern King is certainly possible,” Consort Ying paused, then softly said, “But I heard that Xiao Qi dotes on her very much, even overshadowing his new wife. With beauty before him, Xiao Qi might not have been able to control himself, perhaps... he deliberately gave her a pass?”
The Flame Emperor was noncommittal: “That old man Lu Shanchi is stubborn and should have been gotten rid of long ago.”
Consort Ying thought for a moment and said, “Xiao Qi wouldn’t agree, would he? There are too many people watching Lu Shanchi. He was the one who led the way, and it was through his prestige that the nine divisions of the Yue army smoothly submitted to Xiao Qi. Now, Xiao Qi still hasn’t fully gained control of the Yue army. Unless absolutely necessary, he shouldn’t act against him.”
The Flame Emperor hummed and said, “That Yan Chu is undoubtedly from the Eternal Realm. If she truly isn’t the Prince Ding’s Princess Consort, she could be won over and used as a pawn by Xiao Qi.”
Consort Ying’s face darkened: “She is the Southern King’s person. Your Majesty must not trust her lightly.”
“If the Southern King can bribe her, so can I,” the Flame Emperor took her hand and patted it. “I know she has offended you before, and I apologize for that.”
Without waiting for Consort Ying to speak, he chuckled again: “Don’t worry, this game of chess isn’t over yet, and I won’t easily trust her either.”
“Your Majesty’s meaning...” Consort Ying was puzzled.
“She has a helper. Won’t I turn the tables?” The Flame Emperor raised an eyebrow, stopping her from questioning further. “My beloved concubine is right; with beauty before me, not just Xiao Qi, even I might lose control.”
The fruit platter was swept to the ground by his long sleeve. Consort Ying giggled, letting him push her onto the stone table.
________________________________________
A few days later was the birthday of an old imperial concubine in the palace. The Flame Emperor, filial and kind, personally went to offer birthday wishes according to etiquette in the morning and ordered the Empress to hold a grand birthday banquet. Xiao Qi and Liu Yu naturally had to enter the palace. Yan Chu, desiring peace and quiet, had not intended to go. However, the attendant who came to deliver the order specifically mentioned her, stating it was the Empress’s imperial decree, hoping she could enter the palace to perform a dance to celebrate the birthday and fulfill the Flame Emperor’s filial piety. Given her identity as a disciple of the Eternal Realm, the words were very polite, half-invitation, and Yan Chu considered it briefly before agreeing.
The dance performance at the banquet was a great success. The old imperial concubine liked it very much and immediately rewarded her with several gold and pearl ornaments. Soon, generous rewards also came from the Empress and several other consorts.
Among the flowers, the Southern King chuckled, “The Flame Kingdom’s number one dancer has shown off her skills again.”
Yan Chu said, “Your Highness flatters me.”
The Southern King said, “Though the dance was good, it wasn’t performed for this king, so there’s no pity in not seeing it.”
Yan Chu said, “Your Highness’s presence here isn’t for me either, I heard the envoy from Wuse Dixiang has arrived in the capital.” Seeing that the Southern King’s expression remained unchanged, she continued, “Their new emperor just ascended the throne not long ago, so sending an envoy is reasonable. This suggests the new emperor is different from the former.”
“Not so,” the Southern King said, “This time, the envoy was sent at the instruction of Prince Xiang.”
Yan Chu looked at him for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly: “I heard... this Prince Xiang is no less capable than Your Highness.”
Wuse Dixiang and the Flame Kingdom were not adjacent, and historically had little interaction, but this did not hinder the spread of news. Prince Xiang was the fourth son of the former Emperor of the Earth Kingdom, extremely talented and repeatedly achieved military successes. The Earth Emperor, constrained by ancestral law, passed the throne to his eldest son. Fortunately, though the new emperor was weak and inactive, he was still friendly towards his brother, who overshadowed him in achievements. This was unlike the Flame Emperor. Thus, even with great power, Prince Xiang bowed and swore loyalty. Whether he was truly willing or merely acting out of necessity for his reputation, outsiders did not know.
The Southern King glanced at her sideways.
Yan Chu, knowing her place, closed her mouth. Just as she was about to excuse herself, she suddenly heard voices from outside the flower thicket. Through the branches and leaves, she saw two familiar attendants, both usually serving by Xiao Qi’s side.
“Old General Lushan sent a letter. One for the Lord, and one for Miss Yan Chu. Go and call Miss Yan Chu out.”
“No need. Present it to the Lord first.”
“But he said the old general personally instructed that it must be delivered into Miss Yan Chu’s hands.”
“You tell him to wait outside the corridor, say you can’t find Miss Yan Chu. I’ll report to the Lord. Don’t make a fuss.”
After discussing, the two attendants hurried off in different directions, unaware that two people were hidden in the flower bushes nearby.
Meeting the Southern King’s gaze, Yan Chu frowned.
The Southern King said, “There can be other opportunities, but a wrong opportunity only comes once.”
Yan Chu nodded: “Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness.”
She had deliberately carved words on the back of the table last time to distract Xiao Qi, but it was highly unlikely that the old general would have noticed her hint so quickly. What was before her was clearly a trap. Bidding farewell to the Southern King, Yan Chu walked along, calculating, intending to return to her seat and wait for Xiao Qi to send someone to pick her up from the palace. Just then, a palace maid carrying a tray approached. The tray was filled with fresh flowers, all broken off with their branches, carefully selected.
Seeing her, the palace maid stopped and smiled: “Isn’t this Miss Yan Chu who just performed the dance? It’s the old imperial concubine’s special day; Miss, please wear a flower too.”
Yan Chu’s heart stirred slightly. She smiled her thanks and took the red camellia.
There were characters in the flower, each petal spelling out “True.”
Watching the palace maid’s retreating back, Yan Chu gasped. That person would never deceive her. Could this truly be real? Since it was a letter specifically to be handed to her personally, its contents must be crucial. If it fell into Xiao Qi’s hands, both she and the old general would be in danger. Yan Chu dared not think any further, crumpled the petals, and immediately turned and hurried out of the garden.
Just as she reached the garden gate, she ran directly into Consort Ying.
Yan Chu composed herself and bowed.
“It’s you again!” After all, they had once had a master-servant relationship, so Consort Ying felt a bit short of breath and, putting on airs, reprimanded, “Sneaking around, what are you up to?”
Yan Chu glanced at her, her tone humble: “This commoner is not the Prince Ding’s Princess Consort, nor do I intend to offend Your Ladyship. I hope Your Ladyship will forgive past matters.”
Consort Ying snorted lightly, using her fan to lift Yan Chu’s chin: “I suppose you’re not Yue Xiluo. Relying on your looks to get close to Xiao Qi, what ulterior motive do you have?”
Yan Chu said, “Your Ladyship jests.”
Consort Ying retracted her fan, slowly circled her, and a malicious smile reappeared in her eyes: “The Prince Ding has already left the palace by imperial decree to attend to matters. This consort wants to see who else can stand up for you today?”
Like a basin of cold water poured over her heart, Yan Chu instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
Xiao Qi had already left the palace. How could an attendant send a letter in? Had the matter of sending a message via flower already been discovered, so someone was turning the tables, faking a flower message, setting up a trap within a trap to ensnare her?
One step away, she almost fell into the trap. Fortunately, Consort Ying’s difficult behavior saved her.
Yan Chu finally composed herself and said, “Yan Chu apologizes here. If Your Ladyship insists on not letting it go, Yan Chu has no choice. I take my leave.”
“Presumptuous!” Consort Ying angrily said, “Slap her!”
The palace maid nearby heard the command and quickly stepped forward, but before she could make a move, two crisp slapping sounds were heard, and the palace maid had already received two slaps.
Consort Ying recoiled a few steps: “You... you dare to strike someone in the palace, you’re rebelling!”
“Yan Chu is from the Eternal Realm. At most, she’ll receive a few reprimands if this escalates, but Your Ladyship’s reputation might suffer more.”
Having suffered several losses because of her, Consort Ying was furious, yet also feared her martial arts, unable to act for a moment. She watched helplessly as Yan Chu’s figure disappeared, her bright red nails fiercely tearing the fan’s surface: “Just you wait!”
There were eyes everywhere behind her. Since she knew it was a trap, suddenly turning back would only arouse suspicion. Yan Chu made up her mind and simply walked straight out of the garden. She casually found an attendant and inquired if the carriage to pick her up had arrived. The attendant agreed to go out and check for her, while Yan Chu waited alone in the corridor.
“Miss Yan Chu.” A corner of a crimson robe entered her sight.
Looking up to see who it was, Yan Chu hastily knelt: “Your Majesty.”
“No need for formalities,” the Flame Emperor said with a smile, extending a hand to help her up. “Why are you out here alone?”
“They don’t need me inside,” Yan Chu replied truthfully. “I heard Old General Lushan sent a letter, and I wanted to find the Prince Ding.”
The Flame Emperor was surprised: “You know the old general?”
Yan Chu said, “I’ve met him once.”
The Flame Emperor nodded and said, “Old General Lushan is also a meritorious official of this dynasty, though he has a peculiar temperament. It’s rare that you can make him happy. When you’re free, visit him often and convey my regards to the old man.”
“Your Majesty is indeed considerate of your subordinates,” Yan Chu’s smile was a bit unnatural. “But Yan Chu resembles the Princess Consort and knows the Southern King. How can I privately visit the old general?”
“The Prince Ding is good in other ways, but he’s too suspicious,” the Flame Emperor shook his head. “I rarely leave the palace and feel quite bored. If there’s an opportunity someday, tell me more fresh news from the Prince Ding’s residence. If the Prince Ding treats you poorly, I will stand up for you.”
Meeting his meaningful gaze, Yan Chu immediately lowered her head and whispered, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Had it not been for the Prince Ding’s plea using the deceased Princess Consort as a reason, I wouldn’t have...” The Flame Emperor sighed lightly, as if with deeper meaning. “I heard your dance skills are superb. I wonder if I will have the fortune to witness them someday?”
Yan Chu hastily replied, “It’s a mere trifling skill, not worthy of Your Majesty’s eyes.”
The Flame Emperor said a few more words and then left. Soon, he ordered an attendant to send her various pastries as a reward. Yan Chu casually ate some. After noon, Xiao Qi finally sent someone to pick her up and escort her back to the residence. She received quite a few rewards from this trip, but Yan Chu didn’t care much for them, distributing most of the gold and pearl ornaments to the maids in Maple Garden.
Having gone through this dangerous situation, Yan Chu had roughly guessed who was scheming against her. Consort Ying’s difficult behavior today ironically turned out to be a blessing in disguise, allowing her to gain the initial trust of that person. Her identity as a disciple of the Eternal Realm made him suspicious, but also eager to win her over to be a pawn beside Xiao Qi. A monarch would never abandon suspicion of powerful ministers.
As night fell, the wind swept through the maple forest, producing a chilling rustling sound.
Even through her clothes, Yan Chu could still feel the warmth of the flame stone.
Xiao Qi’s own brother, whom he would severely imprison, could never be as innocent as he appeared. However, the current situation was critical, and there were too many people to deal with. Having an extra helper by her side was a good thing. A common enemy was enough reason for cooperation. As for the consequences of this transaction, she couldn’t afford to worry about them now.
After repeated deliberation, Yan Chu quietly sat up in bed.
The lanterns in the neighboring courtyard swayed, silent. Nothing had happened for years, and the guards were even more negligent in their precautions.
The route was no longer unfamiliar. Yan Chu climbed over the wall, descended along the well, and successfully entered the stone chamber.
“Master,” the man sat casually against the wall, not showing much surprise at her reappearance. “What reason made you decide to come again?”
Yan Chu said, “You knew I might not come, so why did you return that pearl to me?”
The man chuckled softly, with a hint of loss: “Because I wanted trust. No matter what, you still returned, even if for other reasons.”
Yan Chu remained silent.
“And also, kind as you are, you sympathize with me,” the man looked up and took a soft breath. “You brought the flame stone, you brought warmth.”
Yan Chu composed herself and said calmly, “Now, it’s up to you to earn my trust.”
The man raised his hand and said, “I swear by the Flame God to take you as my master.”
Yan Chu finally felt relieved and calmly stated her plan: “Xiao Qi will realize you’ve escaped and will send people to pursue you. Just head east to Chifeng Mountain, fifty li from here. Do not act rashly until I come to find you.”
The man obediently nodded: “Your disciple understands, Master, don’t worry.”
Dispelling her last shred of doubt, Yan Chu held the flame stone and walked towards him: “Xiao Qi will suspect me, but I can’t let him get any leverage. You must act only after I leave...”
Her wrist suddenly felt a burning sensation, making her fingers loosen in pain. In the blink of an eye, the flame stone had fallen into the man’s hand.
Without the slightest pause, powerful genuine qi flowed continuously into it. A fiery light illuminated the stone, reflecting off his scarred face and his smiling red eyes.
“Woman, you were too trusting.”
Before she could react, the stone chamber glowed fiercely with red light, and a hidden wave of heat engulfed him entirely!
At the same time, the coldness in the chamber intensified, presumably from the solidified snow stone on his body.
The conflict between cold and heat became violent. With crisp sounds, something seemed to shatter. Powerful genuine qi erupted instantly, surging and swirling in the chamber. The entire stone chamber trembled. Then came a crackling sound, and the two iron chains broke link by link, metal fragments splattering against the walls, creating countless sparks, all of which Yan Chu blocked with her internal energy.
Finally, a deafening crash!
After the violent tremor, the light quickly faded.
Looking at the person who reappeared before her, Yan Chu retreated several steps, her back pressed against the hot stone wall, her heart chilling to the point of almost freezing.
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