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Qi Yuan wrapped his arms around Nangong Wan's slender waist from behind, breathing in the delicate orchid fragrance of her hair. He whispered, "I just don't understand—why do you always insist on making me call you sister? Do you have some special preference?"
"I just like it," Nangong Wan replied with a smirk. "If you refuse, I might just seal your mouth and make sure you never speak again."
Her gaze carried a clear warning, her expression unwavering.
Qi Yuan sighed inwardly. This woman had survived through blood and fire, her heart hardened by the trials of cultivation. A mere threat like sealing someone's mouth didn't weigh on her conscience in the slightest.
He chuckled. "You really are cruel. I risked everything in the Forbidden Land for you, but you don't seem to care about our past at all."
Nangong Wan's cheeks flushed, her body stiffening for a moment. Then she shot him an annoyed glare and scolded, "You shameless brat, must you bring up the past every chance you get?"
Qi Yuan gently turned her face toward him, his gaze deep and unwavering. He lowered his head, capturing her soft lips in a kiss, savoring the familiar sweetness as memories of their past encounters flooded back.
For a brief moment, Nangong Wan was caught off guard. Then, her face turned a rosy hue, her long lashes fluttering as she slowly surrendered to the warmth between them.
Hadn't she traveled all the way from Yanyue Sect just for this moment?
After a long while, Qi Yuan supported her delicate body and grinned. "Feeling better now, Sister Wan'er?"
Nangong Wan half-opened her eyes, a rare softness in her usually cold gaze. Her voice carried a teasing lilt. "You're lucky I'm feeling generous today. I'll let you off this time."
Qi Yuan shook his head with a helpless sigh. He knew he wasn't strong enough to challenge her yet. One day, though, the tables would turn, and he would be the one in control.
"Little brat, my legs are sore. Come and give me a massage." Nangong Wan pouted slightly, a hint of playfulness in her tone.
Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes. A Jindan-stage cultivator complaining about sore legs? What a blatant lie.
Still, he didn't argue. Instead, he got up, grabbed his Poison Dragon Sword, and walked toward a nearby tree. Spotting an old tree he liked, he swung his sword and cut it down in one clean strike.
Nangong Wan rested her chin on her hand, watching him with curiosity. Her sleeves slipped slightly, revealing a glimpse of her fair arms.
"What is Qi Yuan up to?" she wondered. "If my legs are sore, he could just massage them. Why chop down a tree?"
A short while later, Qi Yuan returned with a freshly made wooden tub, setting it down at her feet. He then pulled out two talismans—one for fire, one for water—and activated them, filling the tub with warm water.
Without hesitation, he squatted down, lifted one of her delicate feet, and began removing her embroidered shoe.
Nangong Wan's cheeks turned red as she instinctively pulled back. "You little rascal! Why are you taking off my shoes?"
Qi Yuan remained calm. "If your legs are sore, soaking them in hot water will help. Just sit still and behave." His tone left no room for argument.
Nangong Wan blinked, momentarily stunned. After a brief hesitation, she huffed but stopped resisting.
Seeing her compliance, Qi Yuan swiftly removed her other shoe and placed both feet into the warm water. His hands moved with practiced ease, massaging her soft soles with just the right amount of pressure.
"How does it feel? Comfortable?" he asked.
Nangong Wan pursed her lips, pretending to be unimpressed. "It's… acceptable. But it's still far from perfect."
Qi Yuan looked up, noticing the faint blush on her face. He chuckled, shaking his head. This woman had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
As he continued the massage, a thought crossed his mind—Yan Ruyan.
Her natural talent was too valuable to ignore. If trained properly, she would become an excellent ally. Beauty and capability combined—what more could one ask for?
But the situation in Yanling Fort remained uncertain. Would Wang Chan from the Ghost Spirit Sect and Tian Buque from the Hehuan Sect still go there to recruit the Yan family?
The demonic invasion plan had already been disrupted, so anything was possible.
The destruction of Lingshou Mountain had weakened the Demonic Path's influence. Now, Yanling Fort had likely become even more crucial in their plans.
Compared to a direct war, the Demonic Path might prefer infiltrating from within, using internal betrayal to break Yue Kingdom's defenses.
If that were the case, then Wang Chan would undoubtedly make a move to win over the Yan family.
Qi Yuan glanced at Nangong Wan, who seemed completely relaxed. He asked seriously, "Are you familiar with the ancestor of Yanling Fort?"
"I've met him a few times. He's quite easy to talk to. Why do you ask?" Nangong Wan replied without opening her eyes.
Qi Yuan pressed his thumb into the arch of her foot and said, "I have reason to believe he might betray us. Do you trust me?"
Nangong Wan's eyes snapped open, the playful expression instantly vanishing. She studied him carefully. "How certain are you? If you're wrong, I'll lose credibility."
Qi Yuan felt the weight of her Jindan-stage pressure bearing down on him, but he didn't waver. "I'm a hundred percent sure. When the time comes, you should send multiple Jindan cultivators to suppress the threat. The Demonic Path will send two Jindan and two Foundation Establishment cultivators. If you act preemptively, you can prevent them from joining forces."
Nangong Wan fell into deep thought. A moment later, a smile played on her lips. "If you're right, and this matter is resolved, I'll give you a generous reward."
A reward? That sounded promising. Perhaps it was finally time to take down Yan Ruyan.
In the original timeline, she had built her foundation by feeding on the blood of seven sect disciples. Clearly, she wasn't a saint. The best way to handle her might be through dominance rather than persuasion.
"How generous of a reward?" Qi Yuan pressed.
Nangong Wan smirked. "That's a secret."
Qi Yuan scoffed. Before he could argue, a sudden force pushed him forward. Seeing Nangong Wan's mischievous smile, he realized she had finally run out of patience.
Eight small flags flew out, landing in precise positions. A misty white fog rose, concealing everything from view.
By noon the next day, the mist had dissipated. A streak of light shot into the sky, disappearing into the distance.
Shortly after, another figure emerged from the jungle, swiftly making his way toward Huangfeng Valley.
Qi Yuan flew at a steady pace, his expression unreadable. He felt slightly frustrated—he hadn't expected the Chaos Cauldron's unique ability to balance Yin and Yang energy so perfectly.
He had hoped to use Nangong Wan's Jindan-stage Yin energy to cultivate more ghost vine talismans, but his own Yang energy had neutralized the effect, making it a wasted effort.
Back in the Blood Forbidden Land, he hadn't noticed this trait because Nangong Wan had only been at the Qi Condensation stage back then.
Still, he had to admit—Nangong Wan truly lived up to her name.
What a bottomless pit...
(End of Chapter)