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Qi Yuan slowly opened his eyes, his mind still clouded with the remnants of sleep. As awareness returned, he realized that he was unclothed. Memories of what had transpired flooded back—he and Nangong Wan had crossed a line.
Turning his head slightly, he saw her lying beside him, her slender figure relaxed in deep sleep. Her long lashes cast faint shadows on her fair cheeks, her face calm and serene.
Qi Yuan felt a surge of emotions. He reached out gently, his fingertips gliding across her smooth skin. Her complexion, once carrying a hint of youthful innocence, now bore a subtle maturity—a transformation brought about by what had happened between them.
*Is this the Su Nu Samsara Technique?*
He recalled the descriptions in the ancient texts, but before he could dwell on them further, he noticed the faint tremble of Nangong Wan's eyelashes. She was awake, though pretending otherwise.
With a soft chuckle, Qi Yuan whispered, "If you're awake, open your eyes. It's just the two of us here. Sooner or later, we'll have to face this."
Nangong Wan had, in fact, been awake since the moment he stirred. As a Jindan-stage cultivator, her senses were far sharper than his. But as she lay there, realization hit her—after years of guarding her purity, her innocence had been taken in such an unexpected way.
Frustration and resentment surged in her heart. 'Why did I touch that damned pink pearl?' A second-tier demonic beast like the Black Dragon shouldn't have had such an artifact, let alone something with such potent effects.
Yet, as she turned to glance at Qi Yuan, she hesitated. His features were striking, exuding a devilish charm. If nothing else, at least her first experience had been with someone… presentable.
'And in certain aspects… quite remarkable.'
Suppressing her emotions, Nangong Wan reached out and firmly grasped Qi Yuan's wandering hand. Her voice was cool and composed.
"Don't think that just because we had a moment of intimacy, I will be tied to you. I am an elder of the Yanyue Sect. With your current aptitude, do you think you can reach the Jindan stage before the end of your lifespan?"
Qi Yuan remained unbothered by her words. Instead, he leaned closer and whispered, "Not only do I know you're an elder of Yanyue Sect, but I also know your name, Nangong Wan."
A flash of shock crossed her face. Her expression hardened, and in an instant, a cold blade pressed against Qi Yuan's throat.
"How do you know my name? Who told you? Speak!"
Nangong Wan's presence was formidable, her dagger poised with lethal precision. This mission had been a secret within the Yanyue Sect. If word got out that a Jindan-stage elder had infiltrated the Blood Forbidden Land, it would cause a major uproar.
Could there be a traitor within her sect?
Despite the cold metal at his neck, Qi Yuan remained composed. He gazed at her and replied calmly, "Even if I told you, there's nothing you could do about it."
"You—!" Nangong Wan gritted her teeth in frustration. She withdrew the dagger but sat up with a cold glare, keeping her distance.
It wasn't that she couldn't force the truth from him, but… he wasn't just anyone now. Killing a random cultivator would have been easy. But taking the life of someone who had just become her Dao partner… that was another matter entirely.
Despite being from Yanyue Sect, Nangong Wan was a traditional woman. Even if she didn't fully accept Qi Yuan, she couldn't bring herself to eliminate him so rashly.
Qi Yuan smirked as he draped a thin blanket over her. "A beautiful woman looks far less attractive when she's angry."
"Hmph. Don't try to act considerate." Nangong Wan rolled her eyes and turned away, rejecting his gesture.
Qi Yuan sighed and began to dress. As he stepped down from the stone platform, his foot slipped on the damp steps, sending him stumbling forward.
Nangong Wan covered her mouth, stifling a laugh as her shoulders shook with amusement.
Brushing off the dust, Qi Yuan shot her an accusing look. "This is your fault. You made the steps wet."
"Hateful!" Nangong Wan's eyes narrowed. With a flick of her hand, she sent a small surge of spiritual energy toward him.
Qi Yuan dodged swiftly, recognizing it as nothing more than a harmless warning. He smirked but chose not to push her further. Instead, his expression grew serious.
"I need to tell you something important. It concerns the fate of the Yue Kingdom's cultivation world."
Nangong Wan's playful demeanor vanished instantly. Her voice was composed but firm. "Speak."
Qi Yuan's tone grew grave. "Spirit Beast Mountain is working with the six Demonic Path sects. In a few years, the Demonic Path will launch a large-scale invasion of Yue Kingdom. When that happens, Spirit Beast Mountain will betray us from within. The six righteous sects will either be forced to flee or be completely annihilated."
Nangong Wan's brows furrowed. "That's impossible. With Cheqi and Jiang as buffer states, any large-scale movement from the Demonic Path would be noticed long before they reached us. Moreover, Spirit Beast Mountain has always maintained a neutral stance. Do you have any proof?"
Qi Yuan chuckled. "Surely the higher-ups of your sect are aware of Spirit Beast Mountain's connection to the Demonic Path's Yuling Sect?"
At this, Nangong Wan stiffened.
This was a closely guarded secret, known only to the leaders of the seven major sects. How could someone in the Qi-training stage possibly know this?
Had someone from Huangfeng Valley's leadership sent him?
Was this entire meeting orchestrated?
Her mind raced, and she narrowed her eyes at Qi Yuan. "Which Jindan-stage elder of Huangfeng Valley sent you? Has Old Linghu approved of this?"
Qi Yuan smirked inwardly. It seemed Nangong Wan had drawn her own conclusions, which, while incorrect, worked in his favor.
To solidify her trust, he needed to play into her assumptions.
"Of course, Ancestor Linghu is behind this. He even entrusted me with a thousand-year-old spiritual medicine as a token of sincerity—to be delivered to Yanyue Sect as a sign of our alliance."
With that, he retrieved a jade box from his storage pouch. With a snap, he opened it, revealing a powerful, glowing elixir.
Nangong Wan's breath hitched. She instinctively stepped forward, staring at the medicinal treasure in shock.
With this, combined with her accumulated foundation, she could break through her current bottleneck in no time.
This confirmed it—Huangfeng Valley was serious about eradicating Spirit Beast Mountain. Not only would this eliminate a threat, but it would also grant them a significant share of the spoils. Old Linghu had always been ambitious, and now, it seemed, he was making his move.
But Yanyue Sect had its own interests to consider. Spirit Beast Mountain had been growing stronger in recent years, even challenging Yanyue Sect's prestige. Many within her sect had already called for its destruction.
This war wouldn't be a simple one. If they wanted success, they would need to rally more sects to their cause.
Nangong Wan's eyes darkened as she made her decision.
"If we destroy Spirit Beast Mountain, what plans does Ancestor Linghu have for the Demonic Path's invasion? Once we weaken ourselves, won't we become even more vulnerable to them?"
Her voice was tinged with concern, her mind already thinking several steps ahead.
Qi Yuan simply smiled. "That… is a discussion for another time."
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