Chapter 016
Chapter 16: Continue to Kill Until Both Are Severely Wounded?
The once peaceful courtyard was ravaged by the collision of spiritual power, half of it collapsing in ruins, yet the infant in the cradle remained untouched.
Well then, killing wasn’t an option.
The two paused their actions.
Shi Zi Chu clicked his tongue, then raised his hand to rub his ear, “Clan Chief Ye is all-powerful, I imagine soothing a child is no trouble for you.”
Ye He Qi cast a glance at the infant, his gaze tinged with a hint of murderous intent.
He didn’t like children.
Hearing Shi Zi Chu’s compliment, Ye He Qi’s smile didn’t reach his eyes as he spoke, “Daoist Shi is so gentle and kind, surely children adore you.”
Their eyes met across the air, silently sparking a violent standoff.
Finally, growing irritated by the baby’s crying, Ye He Qi strode over and covered the infant’s mouth with his hand, his long fingers pressing down over the tiny face.
His stance seemed as though he intended to smother the infant.
Shi Zi Chu crossed his arms.
With the crying ceasing, the air around them grew quieter, and Shi Zi Chu turned to search for the cold jade cup, casually looking for other heavenly treasures along the way.
Ye He Qi lowered his gaze to the infant below him.
The key to obtaining the cold jade cup lay with this child, something Shi Zi Chu was surely aware of. He feared that Shi Zi Chu had malicious intentions.
Around a quarter of an hour later, Shi Zi Chu returned empty-handed.
Ye He Qi retracted his hand, noticing the infant was about to cry again. He shot a cold glance, and the baby fell silent, tears rolling down its face in quiet distress.
These two demons had no sympathy for children at all!
Ye He Qi washed his hands with a flow of water, his voice as smooth as ever, “Daoist Shi, didn’t you find the cold jade cup?”
Shi Zi Chu nodded, his expression still as gentle as ever.
The Floating Flower Secret Realm was under the control of the Ye Clan, and he was Clan Chief Ye.
Moreover, in the female villain system’s storyline, after Chu Zhi Rou obtained the cold jade cup, she handed it over to Ye He Qi.
Rather than a gift, it was more like Chu Zhi Rou had retrieved it on Ye He Qi’s behalf, as it was Ye He Qi who truly desired it, not her.
That was also why she had agreed to travel with him.
Ye He Qi was determined to obtain the cold jade cup, and even if they didn’t travel together, they would meet here anyway. It was better to join forces; at least it would be safer along the way.
“Clan Chief Ye, it seems our goals have crossed paths. What should we do now?” Shi Zi Chu asked with a smiling expression, but his question was a counter.
“Murder and steal treasures?” Ye He Qi replied with a smile, his voice clear and melodious.
Shi Zi Chu’s face remained warm and helpless, as if saying ‘please don’t joke.’
“Daoist Shi, what would it take for you to give up the cold jade cup?”
“What would it take for Clan Chief Ye to give up the cold jade cup?”
The two voices echoed in unison, both equally sweet but laced with false kindness.
As soon as the words left their mouths, the gentle expressions on their faces disappeared, revealing coldness and murderous intent on both of their exquisite faces.
How they hated this mirror-like feeling!
Kill them!
Suddenly, two beams of water-blue spiritual power collided in midair.
The fake gentleness dissolved, replaced by a deadly intent.
A translucent purple whip, like a poisonous snake, slithered toward Shi Zi Chu’s neck.
The barbed whip, if it grazed her, would surely tear her apart.
Shi Zi Chu made a hand seal, and a water blade intercepted the whip, quickly followed by a barrage of water needles hurtling toward Ye He Qi.
Ye He Qi spun the whip to block the water needles.
The next moment, the whip, now damp with water, was pinned by countless aqua-blue silk threads.
Ye He Qi twitched his hand, but the whip didn’t budge.
He loosened his grip and swiftly sidestepped Shi Zi Chu’s attack. His left hand grabbed her delicate wrist, while his right hand formed a water blade aimed at her vital point.
Shi Zi Chu twisted his wrist, redirecting the water blade with a deft motion.
The beautiful water-blue spiritual power swirled, mixed with the deadly energy of close combat.
Unfortunately, they were in sync, anticipating each other’s moves and landing blows that were perfectly matched. As a result, the injuries on their bodies accumulated in equal measure.
Not long later, the once peaceful courtyard was reduced to rubble by their clash.
The smell of blood heightened their frenzy and violence, their bodies entwining like two beautiful snakes, their sharp fangs eager to sink into each other’s weakness.
“Psh!”
Two sharp blades sank into flesh at the same time.
Just as they were about to continue their relentless battle, a demonic beast arrived uninvited.
“Hisssss—”
From the corner of the courtyard, the cold jade ice silkworm wriggled its fat body, its eyes gleaming hungrily at the blood-soaked humans before it.
Two pairs of beautiful, shimmering peach blossom eyes locked onto each other.
Without a word, they simultaneously withdrew the water blades embedded in each other’s bodies and turned toward the cold jade ice silkworm.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the fat body of the cold jade ice silkworm crashed to the ground, its blood staining the earth.
Standing on either side of the corpse, Ye He Qi and Shi Zi Chu faced each other, the tense atmosphere thick with unspoken hostility.
The rich scent of blood filled the air, gradually calming the madness and violence simmering beneath the surface.
Their false gentleness returned, masking the cold-blooded cruelty beneath.
“Let’s deal with the body first.” Shi Zi Chu spoke first, her water blade disappearing from her hand.
Ye He Qi gave a brief “Mm” and, swallowing a hemostasis pill, walked over to begin dissecting the corpse.
Shi Zi Chu had no intention of helping. She turned and walked toward the purple whip lying nearby.
An immortal-rank magic artifact with two forms—such treasures were rare.
After consuming both a hemostasis pill and a healing pill, Shi Zi Chu turned her gaze back to Ye He Qi, who was busy dissecting the cold jade ice silkworm.
As one of his kind, she understood just how troublesome Ye He Qi was.
They had already fought to the point of attempting to kill each other, yet neither had succeeded.
If they continued, it would only end in mutual destruction, and with the secret realm so full of dangers, that was simply not worthwhile.
How could she make Ye He Qi give up on the cold jade cup?
“What’s wrong?” Ye He Qi looked up, his gaze soft, the question on his face perfectly measured.
“I suddenly envy little junior sister for having such a big brother.” Shi Zi Chu retrieved her water-blue silk threads, turning the whip into a folding fan as it fell from the air.
Her delicate fingers caught the folding fan, the cool jade-like texture sending a subtle chill through her touch.
Shi Zi Chu caressed the smooth surface of the fan, her fingers lingering on the cool jade.
At the same moment, Ye He Qi, who had been dissecting the ice silkworm, paused. His gaze deepened, an unreadable expression crossing his face.
“Shi Zi Chu, did Venerable Xing Lan not teach you not to touch another’s life-bound artifact?”
Shi Zi Chu raised the folding fan in her hand, “Apologies, I forgot.”
Her apology, however, carried no trace of sincerity.
Ye He Qi’s thoughts moved, and suddenly Shi Zi Chu’s hands were empty.
Shi Zi Chu’s eyes sparkled, alluring and mischievous, “How about this? You give me this folding fan, and I’ll give up on the cold jade cup.”
An immortal-rank magic artifact in exchange for a mere heaven-rank cold jade cup—and both were technically his. Shi Zi Chu truly knew how to make a deal.
Ye He Qi’s cold gaze swept over her, “It seems you are determined to have the cold jade cup. Let’s see who can claim it through their own abilities.”
Shi Zi Chu massaged her sore arm, “Shall we continue to fight until both are badly wounded?”
“I’m happy to oblige.” Ye He Qi stood up and tossed a piece of ice silkworm silk to Shi Zi Chu.
Given how much Venerable Xing Lan favored her, Shi Zi Chu shouldn’t and couldn’t possibly lack resources.
Why was she so determined to obtain the cold jade cup?