Chapter 200
Chapter 200: Venerable Xing Lan—Why Fool Yourself Like This!
Ye He Qi had just stepped out of the room when the oppressive, murderous aura of Xing Lan swept through the entire Bamboo Cloud Courtyard, avoiding only the side room.
He quickly activated his spiritual power to resist, but in the face of absolute strength, Ye He Qi could not escape his fate and ended up on one knee, bowing in submission.
“Jiu Jiu is young and easily distracted by the flowers and grass outside,” Xing Lan’s voice was cold, and from his outstretched fingers, an ice sword materialized.
As soon as the words left his lips, the ice sword shot forward, aiming directly at Ye He Qi’s fatal pressure point.
Bang!
A white jade folding fan flew out and blocked the ice sword, the clash of spiritual power sending a shockwave that blew the surrounding grass and trees away.
Despite the overwhelming pressure, Ye He Qi gripped the folding fan with ease, a fake smile spreading across his face, which only grew wider. “Venerable Xing Lan, why deceive yourself like this?”
Shi Zi Chu was young, but would she really be blinded by the flashy world around her?
In the end, it was nothing more than his unwillingness to punish Shi Zi Chu, pushing all the blame onto her instead.
“You are her master, so you understand her better than I. If she were truly the one-minded, devoted type, how could she have Jiang Wan Sheng, Meng Xi Yu, and the others in her life?” Ye He Qi said, slowly raising his head to meet Xing Lan’s piercing gaze, as if the oppressive aura had no effect on him.
Although he was on one knee in submission, his face remained filled with the proud composure of one in a position of power.
“Venerable Xing Lan, even without me, others would have come. You know this as well as I.”
As he spoke, the sharp ice sword was already a mere breath away from him, and he could feel the icy chill radiating from it.
Meeting Xing Lan’s sharp, narrow eyes, Ye He Qi smiled, his tone warm and humble, “If you wish to keep Shi Zi Chu all to yourself, there is only one way. But would you dare?”
Indeed, he dared not do it.
But he dared to kill.
Realizing that he had angered Xing Lan, Ye He Qi spoke before Xing Lan could make a move. “Your father did not die in battle.”
As soon as the words were out, Ye He Qi felt the chill of the ice sword press against his neck.
The sword’s blade cut through his skin, and the blood began to stain the ice.
Ye He Qi remained as calm as ever, speaking deliberately, “A venerable at the half-step tribulation crossing stage could not have fallen so easily. The only way for such a person to perish is if it is by the hand of someone close to him.”
Looking at the storm brewing in Xing Lan’s eyes, Ye He Qi smiled faintly, offering a way out. “Venerable Xing Lan, may I have the honor of speaking my piece?”
After a long pause, the ice sword and the oppressive aura disappeared.
Sitting at the tea table, Ye He Qi placed a storage ring before Xing Lan. “This is my sincerity. Venerable Xing Lan, take your time to examine the secrets within.”
Xing Lan remained silent for a moment before reaching out to take the storage pouch.
“Venerable Xing Lan, may I ask you a question?” Ye He Qi inquired, all the while preparing tea.
Xing Lan glanced at him with a cold, indifferent gaze.
Ye He Qi poured a cup of tea and placed it before Xing Lan. “You did not kill Jiang Wan Sheng, was it because you didn’t dare, or because you didn’t want to?”
Xing Lan lowered his gaze to the clear tea, his voice as cold as ice. “Ye He Qi, I do not enjoy dealing with people full of schemes.”
If there was anyone full of schemes, it was Shi Zi Chu.
Ye He Qi smiled knowingly, seemingly struck by inspiration. “Daoist Shi truly is Venerable Xing Lan’s exception.”
Xing Lan, his patience running thin, gave a faint, indifferent sigh. “For the information you provided, I will give you an opportunity.”
As long as Ye He Qi and Jiu Jiu cut ties, he would…
No, he still had to find an opportunity to kill Ye He Qi. His existence was too much of an eyesore.
Ye He Qi smiled. “It seems that Venerable Xing Lan wishes for Shi Zi Chu to discuss matters of love with others, rather than with him.”
Xing Lan sneered. “How noble of you.”
If it weren’t for the fact that Ye He Qi had a history of remaining clean, he wouldn’t have been so shameless.
“An alliance for benefits is always better than one based on love,” Ye He Qi said as he took a sip of tea. “Venerable Xing Lan, you can kill me, and you could even kill Jiang Wan Sheng, but do you really want to face the consequences of falling out with Shi Zi Chu?”
His words pierced straight to Xing Lan’s weakness.
Looking at Ye He Qi’s soft smile, Xing Lan acted.
——
Xing Lan and Ye He Qi left the side room one after another, and Shi Zi Chu, lying in bed, slowly opened her eyes.
Her peach blossom eyes were clear, and she turned over, gazing calmly at the door.
In such a short time, two spiritual roots had sprouted within her.
Three spiritual roots—if you wanted to be blunt, they were no different from mixed spiritual roots.
In her past life, she only had one spiritual root until it was extracted…
[Gold, Water, Fire, three spiritual roots! Hahaha—this is the consequence of opposing the female lead!]
Relying on Xue Gu being in deep slumber, the female villain system screeched loudly, [How does it feel to have mixed spiritual roots now?! From now on, you’ll be a cripple!]
Shi Zi Chu chuckled softly, her powerful spiritual sense materializing as a great hand that entered her spatial storage ring, crushing the female villain system.
Listening to the system’s shrill, anguished cries, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and her previously dark mood lightened considerably.
The owner of the candy shop definitely didn’t have the courage for this, nor the chef or waiter.
The fact that she suddenly grew spiritual roots had everything to do with Chu Zhi Rou.
Shi Zi Chu raised her hand, and the golden hook phoenix butterfly on her hairpin fluttered over, landing on her finger.
After issuing a command, the butterfly flew off.
Shi Zi Chu lay back, staring at the ceiling.
For her, whether or not Chu Zhi Rou was behind this wasn’t important. What mattered was that she was suffering, and the noble female lead wouldn’t have it any better!
There was no helping it—Chu Zhi Rou was the root of all her problems.
Knock knock knock
The door suddenly sounded, and Shi Zi Chu jumped up, calling out, “Come in.”
Xing Lan entered, and upon seeing Shi Zi Chu sitting calmly at the edge of the bed, all traces of her previous violent madness gone, he paused for a moment.
“Master~”
Her voice was filled with grievance and anxiety, accompanied by tears. Shi Zi Chu stood and rushed over, clutching Xing Lan’s sleeve tightly. “I don’t know how I became a mixed spiritual root, Master, please don’t despise me. Don’t abandon me, wu wu wu…”
The question Xing Lan had been about to ask was forcibly swallowed.
Looking at Shi Zi Chu’s anxious and fearful expression, he sighed faintly, barely audible.
Forget it, Jiu Jiu was young, and he would be more patient with her.
“I won’t despise you, and I won’t abandon you, Jiu Jiu,” Xing Lan answered seriously, using his sleeve to gently wipe the tears from Shi Zi Chu’s face.
Looking at Shi Zi Chu’s teary, uncertain gaze, he spoke again. “Three spiritual roots will indeed affect your future cultivation, but it’s not a problem. I’ll discuss with Peak Master Xuan Ji to develop a spirit cleansing pill. Once that’s done, we can remove the two extra roots.”
Currently, the spirit cleansing pill on the market posed certain risks, so Jiu Jiu’s cultivation would have to stagnate for a time.
Seeing her sobbing, Xing Lan gently ran his hand down her back. “Jiu Jiu, you can use this time to focus on body tempering and solidify your foundation.”
It had only been a short time, and her cultivation was already at nascent soul perfection. Growing so fast wasn’t necessarily a good thing, as it could destabilize her foundation.
Shi Zi Chu, her voice small with grievance, said, “I’m afraid I’ll embarrass Master.”
Xing Lan reached out and lightly patted her on the head, his tone stern. “I’m more troubled by your rotten romantic entanglements than your embarrassment.”
First, there was Jiang Wan Sheng, and now Ye He Qi—each one more troublesome than the last.
Shi Zi Chu, who hadn’t been able to get around it, avoided his gaze, feeling a little guilty.
There was no helping it—when a high-level cultivator appeared so effortlessly before her, how could she not take a bite to supplement her own cultivation?
Xing Lan sneered coldly.