Lin Que spoke with honesty, but Ao Xinyu visibly panicked, even sobering up a little from the shock.
“Dragon blood, dragon tendons, dragon marrow…”
Each word was more horrifying than the last. A cold sweat slid down her temple. She hugged her chest, returned to her original seat, and even took two steps back.
But after thinking it over, and under Qin Wanyuan’s astonished gaze, she rolled up her sleeve, revealing a fair wrist and timidly extended it toward Lin Que.
“You can take the dragon blood first. As for the tendons and marrow, let me contact a skilled doctor for that… I’m afraid of pain, after all.”
As she said this, she covered her eyes with her other hand and turned her head away, as if she were a child terrified of getting a shot.
“……”
Hearing her words, Lin Que didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He felt touched despite himself, but he still gently pulled down Ao Xinyu’s sleeve and pushed her hand back.
“I didn’t explain it clearly. I just need to hunt a flood dragon. There’s no need to use yours, Xinyu.”
As soon as she heard this, Ao Xinyu, who had been timid a moment ago, suddenly looked offended.
“What? Are you looking down on me? I’m a pure-blooded dragon, you know…not some mudfish living in rivers pretending to be one!”
So even among dragons and flood dragons, there’s bloodline discrimination…
Lin Que broke into a cold sweat, surprised that even something like this was worth arguing over to Ao Xinyu.
“No, that’s not it. I just need it for alchemy to treat a wound on my hand.”
“Your hand is injured?!”
At this point, Ao Xinyu dropped all other thoughts. She stumbled around the table and rushed straight up to Lin Que, grabbing his hands to examine them closely.
“Left hand or right?!”
Off to the side, Qin Wanyuan raised an eyebrow, and the words “+10 points” seemed to float above her head. She truly hadn’t expected that even something like this could earn system points.
At the same time, she more or less figured out how Lin Que had ended up holding hands with Ao Xinyu during his last visit to Glazed Pavilion. It must have been due to some kind of misunderstanding.
Unlike her feelings toward Jiang Moqing, his “former Dao companion”, Qin Wanyuan didn’t harbor much hostility toward this carefree white-haired little dragon girl.
If anything, she felt a bit inferior in comparison.
“It’s my right hand… an old injury. I’ve finally found a method that might heal it, but it requires some special ingredients… including the dragon materials I just mentioned.”
“That thing only deserves to be called a flood dragon!” Ao Xinyu corrected him firmly.
“Yes, yes…. whether it’s a flood dragon or a mosquito, you’re right.”
Seeing Ao Xinyu drunk like this, Lin Que could only humor her like one would a child.
“But if you’re looking to take a flood dragon’s life… Let me think. If I remember correctly, there’s an evil flood dragon causing trouble in the Eastern Region. It shouldn’t be too far from here.”
Ao Xinyu wrinkled her delicate nose and thought seriously for a moment before finally beckoning the pavilion mistress.
“Cui’er, go retrieve the file on the wicked mosquito, and draw a map for Master Lin.”
“As you command.”
Cui’er left Wangyue Pavilion and returned shortly with a map and the file.
“It’s an evil flood dragon at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. It hides in the deepest part of Evil Dragon Pool. This is the route map to the location.”
“The terrain around Evil Dragon Pool is treacherous, and it’s shrouded in miasma year-round. On top of that, the flood dragon is extremely cunning and keeps a low profile, so very few cultivators have attempted to subdue it. The more detailed records are all in here….please take a look, Chief Lin.”
After giving a brief explanation, Cui’er handed both the file and the map to Lin Que.
As he opened the file to read, Qin Wanyuan and Ao Xinyu leaned in from either side, equally curious to see the contents.
“Luring in passing cultivators, deceiving mortals, defiling women….this flood dragon really leaves no evil undone. If Master Lin can get rid of it, he’ll be doing a great service for the local people!”
Ao Xinyu added, “And to think it even dares use a name like ‘Evil Dragon Pool’ to tarnish the reputation of my dragon race. Truly a crime worthy of death!”
“Mm.”
Lin Que glanced at the location noted on the file. It wasn’t particularly far. If he flew by sword to Evil Dragon Pool, it would take just two days to arrive. It would take less if he moved at full speed.
There were still more than twenty days left before the duel set between Glazed Pavilion and Juqi Tower….plenty of time for a round trip, so there was no worry about missing it.
“I’ll set out tomorrow. I’ll go early and return early,” Lin Que said, putting away the map and handing the file back. He stood up, straightened his robes, and prepared to leave.
“Why don’t I send a few guest cultivators to go with you? Or if that’s not enough, I can even request a Nascent Soul-stage powerhouse to accompany you…”
Ao Xinyu spoke anxiously.
Even though she knew Lin Que was strong, she couldn’t help but worry.
“No need. I can handle this on my own. If you really sent someone at the Nascent Soul stage, the cost might outweigh the gain and we might even owe them a favor.”
Lin Que would never let Ao Xinyu go that far.
Besides, this was only a peak Nascent Soul opponent, well within his abilities. As for her so-called guest cultivators? Sorry, Lin Que had never once considered relying on them.
Just seeing how they cowered when facing a single genius from the Blade Sect was enough. If they encountered the evil flood dragon, they’d likely be the first to flee in panic.
If he could, Lin Que would’ve advised Ao Xinyu to replace that entire group of guest cultivators.
But then again, she likely had her own reasons or her own difficulties for choosing them in the first place.
This wasn’t something a mere martial artist like Lin Que could understand. Frankly, it was best for outsiders not to give advice to those within the field.
Seeing Lin Que stand up, Ao Xinyu looked at him with a hint of reluctance.
“You’re leaving already? Won’t you stay a little longer?”
“Sorry, Sister Xinyu. It’s getting late, and my younger sister is still waiting for us at home,” Qin Wanyuan said, bowing politely.
“Your sister is waiting for you to go home…”
Then why don’t you just go back by yourself and leave Lin Daque here?
The second half of the sentence was caught just in time. Ao Xinyu didn’t say it aloud, but her expression betrayed a touch of sadness.
Seeing that pitiful, lonely look on Ao Xinyu’s face, Qin Wanyuan was suddenly reminded of a time when she and her sister were living on the streets. Her sister had picked up a stray kitten, wanting to keep it.
But back then, they could barely feed themselves….how could they afford to care for a cat? In the end, Qin Qian’er had no choice but to abandon it.
Looking back, the expression on that kitten’s face before they let it go was almost identical to Ao Xinyu’s now.
She did feel a bit sorry for her, but her sister was clearly more important.
“If there’s a chance next time, I’ll be sure to visit again with Lin Lang to properly thank Sister Xinyu.”
“No need to thank me. Just having someone to drink with is enough for me,” Ao Xinyu said, waving her hand. Then, using the last of the wine, she filled Lin Que and Qin Wanyuan’s cups one final time.
“Drink this cup as my farewell to you, Lin Daque. I wish you a smooth journey and great success!” Ao Xinyu raised her cup with a smile and looked at the two of them.
“Thank you.”
Lin Que and Qin Wanyuan clinked glasses with Ao Xinyu and downed their drinks in one go.
The drunk Qin Wanyuan leaned on Lin Que’s shoulder. He simply scooped her up in a princess carry and then stepped onto his sword and flew off through the window.
After the two had left, Ao Xinyu didn’t have the maid clear the food and wine. She didn’t bother with a cup either. She just grabbed the wine jar, gazed out the window at the streak of sword light soaring upward like a meteor, parted her lips slightly, and drank the rest of the wine straight from the jar, gulp after gulp.
Thud.
The white-haired girl collapsed onto the table, with no one around. Cui’er had already taken her younger sister and the other servants away, leaving their mistress some private space.
“Lin Daque…”
Ao Xinyu murmured hazily, her drunken eyes half-closed, as if she saw Lin Que turning back, returning to her.
This time, he stayed. There was no sign of Qin Wanyuan by his side….only him, staying behind in this alcohol-fueled illusion, keeping her company as they drank the night away.
***
Qin Wanyuan was well and truly drunk.
Ao Xinyu’s spiritual wine was no ordinary brew. Even with her being at the Core Formation stage, she was tipsy after just a few cups.
Of course, if she had used her spiritual energy to dispel the alcohol, she could have sobered up quickly. But she didn’t.
Because the wine was incredibly expensive and once it was in her system, it made her feel warm and light, not unpleasant at all.
Once they were back home and she confirmed that Qin Qian’er had returned safely, Qin Wanyuan felt a little more at ease.
That said, Qin Qian’er had to make do with food bought from a restaurant tonight. After all, Lin Que was also a bit tipsy and clearly wasn’t in the mood to cook.
Qin Qian’er didn’t mind, though. She just said they should both get some rest and not worry about her.
So polite and considerate. She was completely different from her earlier sharp-tongued self when dealing with Lin Que.
The dazed and intoxicated Qin Wanyuan was carried to the bed by Lin Que.
“Wanyuan, wait here for a moment. I’ll go get a basin of hot water to wipe you down,” Lin Que said, turning to leave the room.
However—
As he was about to walk away, the originally lying-down Qin Wanyuan hooked her long legs around Lin Que’s waist, pulling him back.
Lin Que didn’t resist. He let himself fall onto the bed, and Qin Wanyuan promptly leaned over and pressed him down.
“Don’t go, Lin Lang~ My body feels so hot, like it’s on fire. Could you help me cool down a bit?”
The drunken fairy’s beautiful eyes shimmered with intoxication, and a peach blossom smile played on her lips.
At the same time, her hands began to wander.
She undid the belt he had just bought today, lightly taking hold of something, and her smile grew even more radiant. “Lin Lang, seems like you’re feeling the heat too~ Why don’t we help each other out?”
“Of course, I’d be happy to. It’s my duty, after all,” Lin Que replied without hesitation.
With a flick of two fingers, Qin Wanyuan suddenly went limp, her fair hands clutching the bedsheets as she gasped for breath.
“You tricked me… You can’t just start like that…” The “drunken” fairy’s eyes glistened with tears, her expression full of delicate grievance.
“If you can’t win head-on, you could always try other methods. Perhaps… a ‘different approach’.”
Lin Que smiled as he removed Qin Wanyuan’s shoes, revealing the tips of her feet wrapped in white silk. Through the thin stockings, the fairy’s delicate skin was faintly visible.
Next, that broad, wandering hand slowly moved downward…
***
Inside Jiang Moqing’s cave abode.
The cool, aloof fairy sat alone on her bed.
Bathed in the fading glow of the sunset, she stared blankly at her left hand, lost in thought.
That morning, it was this very hand that had been interlaced with Lin Que’s fingers.
Jiang Moqing’s right fingertips brushed over her left hand, gently tracing the lines of her palm, as though she could still feel his lingering warmth.
Gradually, she raised her palm toward her nose and breathed in softly. Her gaze grew hazy, as if she were inhaling the scent of pure spiritual wine.
“Junior brother… junior brother…”
She kept murmuring his title, her movements growing bolder. Her soft, rosy lips parted slightly as her fingers disappeared between them, while her other hand slowly drifted toward a forbidden place.
After cultivating the Heartless Valley technique, she should have cut off all feelings and desires, free from such earthly impulses. Yet after nothing more than physical contact with Lin Que, those emotions and longings reignited from the ashes. They became impossible to suppress any longer.
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