Ninth Elder hurriedly ushered the medical cultivator into the room. “The child from our sect is already physically weak, and now she's been targeted by a demon. I have no idea how she's doing!”
The medical cultivator offered some reassurance, “This old man will do his best.”
With that, he hurriedly went inside.
Chen Qingqiu pursed her lips and followed him inside without a word.
The remaining cultivators asked about the situation and comforted Ninth Elder, “Senior Yun, please do not worry. Since this happened within the Beiyao Sect's territory, we will take full responsibility. We have already ordered people to reinforce the barrier to ensure this doesn't happen again.”
Ninth Elder nodded reluctantly, pacing back and forth along the corridor with his hands clasped behind his back.
Since he had brought her out, he had to bring her back safe and sound.
Otherwise, Old Seven would definitely skin him alive.
Inside the room, Song Yao was fast asleep, completely dead to the world like a helpless fish on a chopping block.
The medical cultivator examined her thoroughly, his expression growing tense. “Strange.”
Chen Qingqiu's eyes grew cold as she uncharacteristically spoke up, “What is strange?”
“There are no external or internal injuries,” the medical cultivator replied. “Her body is just a bit too weak, and her vital energy is depleted.”
Chen Qingqiu's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. A few silvery-white threads slid out from her sleeve and wrapped around Song Yao's wrist.
What a weak pulse.
No wonder she seemed so small and thin, despite eating constantly throughout the day.
But other than that, there indeed seemed to be nothing wrong with her.
Chen Qingqiu retracted her silver threads. “Let's go outside.”
The medical cultivator nodded in agreement, packed up his tools, and went outside to report his findings. At the end, he frowned deeply. “However, something is still slightly off.”
Ninth Elder asked anxiously, “What is off?”
“She hasn't suffered any injuries, yet she cannot be woken up. She appears to be in a coma,” the medical cultivator said. “This old man suspects that the demon might have placed some sort of restriction spell on her.”
Ninth Elder immediately let out a sigh of relief. “Can't wake her up? That's fine, it's perfectly normal.”
The medical cultivator: “?”
Perfectly normal?
Chen Qingqiu's delicate brows knitted together. Her thin lips parted slightly as she said in a cold voice, “It is not normal.”
Ninth Elder waved his hand, not bothering to explain in detail. “This child is just like that. She's a heavy sleeper. Once she gets enough sleep, she'll wake up on her own. There is no need for the Saintess to worry.”
Chen Qingqiu: “……”
She seemed to be pondering the truth of his words. Meanwhile, Ye Chang'an appeared out of nowhere and cleared his throat to remind them, “Even if Senior Sister Lin isn't injured, she must have been terribly frightened. I'm afraid she won't be able to attend classes later.”
The medical cultivator pondered for a moment. “No matter. I will explain the situation to Teacher Tao. I am sure she will understand.”
Ye Chang'an breathed a massive sigh of relief.
The absolute top priority Lin Mu had given him was to secure her leave.
If he failed to do so, she would definitely torture him mercilessly later.
That girl had an endless supply of methods to torment people. He was truly a bit terrified of her.
Chen Qingqiu, however, looked up and swept her gaze over Ye Chang'an. Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as she shot a look at the cultivator beside her.
The cultivator immediately understood. Stepping forward, he said respectfully, “Young Master Ye, the Saintess requests a private word with you.”
Having been run ragged all night, Ye Chang'an was so exhausted he was about to faint. He was only holding on by sheer survival instinct, and his first impulse was to refuse.
But then he thought about it. Chen Qingqiu was usually cold and reticent, rarely initiating contact with him. For her to suddenly request a private conversation... could it be because...
With a flash of understanding, he put on his usual playboy smile, dripping with a hint of cynical charm, and drawled in a flirtatious tone, “Sure~ Since the Saintess is looking for me, how could I possibly refuse?”
...
The sky was just beginning to brighten outside, but inside the bedchamber, a single night-luminescent pearl hung suspended, casting a soft glow.
The cultivator behind them gently closed the heavy sandalwood doors. After the soft click of the lock, only the two of them remained in the hall.
Chen Qingqiu stepped up the dais, turned around, and looked at him directly. Unaccustomed to talking to people, her voice was tense as she got straight to the point: “Were you with Lin Mu last night?”
Ye Chang'an was taken aback, but he quickly raised an eyebrow and took two steps forward, teasing, “What's this? Is the Saintess... jealous?”
He closed the distance between them step by step, saying with a grin, “I thought the Saintess didn't care much for this young master. It seems I was mistaken?”
Forced back half a step by his approach, Chen Qingqiu was clearly uncomfortable with such close proximity.
With a sharp clang, the long sword at her waist unsheathed, its icy tip pressing firmly against his chest. The smile on his face froze instantly. “What is the meaning of this, Saintess?”
Chen Qingqiu looked up at him, her eyes as cold as ice. “I know you want to take revenge on the Nine Saints Hall,” she said, enunciating every word.
The expression on Ye Chang'an's face faded.
Chen Qingqiu nudged her sword forward a fraction of an inch, her tone remaining completely flat. “I also know what your intentions toward her are. Her temperament and personality are thirty percent similar to Song Yao's, and she is beautiful.”
Ye Chang'an paused for a moment before forcing out another nonchalant smile.
He even leaned forward slightly against the sword tip, betting that she wouldn't actually dare to make a move.
Then, he said lazily, “What intentions could I possibly have? I am your fiancé, after all. Aren't you falsely accusing your husband...”
Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp pain shot through his chest.
Chen Qingqiu's gaze suddenly turned cold. With a slight pressure of her wrist, her sword tip mercilessly pierced through his brocade robe.
She was actually trying to kill him!
Ye Chang'an's face paled instantly. Scared out of his wits, he retreated repeatedly.
After only a few steps, his back slammed heavily against the hall doors with a dull thud.
The icy sword tip had already sunk half an inch into his chest. Beads of blood slowly seeped down the blade, dripping onto the warm jade floor and blooming into a small, jarring splash of crimson.
His breath caught instantly, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks as his voice cracked in terror. “Chen Qingqiu! Y-You're insane! We are getting married this year! How could you try to kill me over jealousy?! This is murder!”
The hand Chen Qingqiu used to hold the hilt remained absolutely steady, her knuckles turning white from the force of her grip. Yet, her face was completely devoid of expression. She simply stared at him with indifferent eyes, her voice flat. “I do not care how you fool around with others outside.”
“But Lin Mu is Song Yao's junior sister. If you dare to use her as a substitute, or if you dare to lay a hand on her, I will never forgive you.”
The sword tip pushed in another fraction of an inch. Ye Chang'an gasped in pain, but when he looked up, he saw absolutely no emotion in her eyes. “I keep my word.”
This was the first time Ye Chang'an had ever felt such a terrifying aura from Chen Qingqiu.
In the past, she had always kept a cold face. No matter how he provoked or insulted her, she never showed any emotional reaction, just like a block of ice.
He had thought she had finally opened up a little and was acting out of jealousy.
But now, it was clear that was not the case at all.
Who on earth would try to kill their fiancé out of jealousy?!
She was clearly harboring murderous intent toward him for the sake of that little girl she had only known for a few days!
Feeling incredibly wronged, he grit his teeth and threw all concerns of face out the window, roaring, “I laid a hand on her?! It was clearly her! She was the one who attacked me!! You have no idea what she did to me—she almost killed me!!!”
“Still making excuses,” Chen Qingqiu said, completely unmoved.
“She is merely a pill cultivator with a weak and fragile constitution. How could she possibly do anything to you?”
Ye Chang'an: “???”
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