Chapter 148: A Change of Heart

"Is that so?" Seeing her serious expression, despite the sharp and defensive tone of her words, Zuoqiu Liye laughed with genuine interest. "Perhaps, as you say, Ji Wuqing does have some ability to contend with me. That suits my intentions perfectly, for as soon as he exerts his internal energy, his poison will flare up. I need only wait to watch the show. But is this truly what you wish to see, Little Xue?"

He leaned in close, teasing her, asking the question with feigned nonchalance.

Was it what she wanted to see? Naturally, it was not.

So, Zuoqiu Liye had truly found her weak spot.

"Just say it plainly: what do you want from me?" She could guess his motives to some extent, just as when he first approached her, utilizing the powers of a blind woman...

If he had set such a trap, was she to go along with his wishes?

"Do you not yet understand my meaning? Let me see what kind of feelings you truly hold for Ji Wuqing. Since he is willing to sacrifice so much for you, you ought to pay an equivalent price. The sacred medicine is in the Kingdom of Wu. Will you accompany me there?" He seemed certain of her answer, as if he had her firmly in his grasp.

His gaze studied her intently, like a butterfly chasing a fragrant flower, lingering and reluctant to leave. Yet her expression remained calm, revealing nothing.

"Ridiculous. If I go, will you actually give me the sacred medicine?" Even if he were to give it to her, how could she return to the Kingdom of Ji, back to the side of Ji Wuqing?

"I will have the medicine delivered personally into Ji Wuqing's hands. Or is it that Little Xue lacks confidence in herself?" He smiled like a blooming flower, showing no doubt at all regarding Xue Xue’s skepticism; everything seemed to be going according to his plans.

This was a tactic of kindness before force. He did not know when it started, but he found himself wanting to care about her thoughts, wanting her to change her perspective of him.

Perhaps he had gone mad...

However, if this approach failed, he would have no choice but to use forceful means to bring her to his side.

"Do you speak the truth?" Xue Xue asked, sounding somewhat moved yet suspicious.

She believed this part of Zuoqiu Liye’s word, not out of trust, but because he would surely delight in delivering the medicine to Ziqing, thereby achieving the goal of humiliating him. After all, this sacred medicine was being exchanged for the Queen of Ji—a woman.

This was nothing short of a profound humiliation and mockery.

"I will never break my promise to you." The simple statement carried the weight of a solemn vow.

Should she believe him? Should she pretend to believe him?

Yet, even if she refused him firmly, Zuoqiu Liye would never let it go. If he resorted to force, there would be no turning back.

Her hands, hidden beneath the covers, clenched tightly. Perhaps she could use—

Suddenly, her hand under the quilt was seized by his. "Little Xue, that trick will not work. You must know that I do not wish to use force against you."

One could never afford to be lucky when facing Zuoqiu Liye.

"Fine, I will go with you." She would just have to wait and see how things unfolded.

"Then show me some sincerity." The smile at the corners of his mouth deepened, lacking the gentle doting of Ji Wuqing, replaced instead by a charm that reached into the marrow of one's bones.

As his words faded, Xue Xue smelled a strange fragrance at the tip of her nose, and then her world turned completely black.

The moon hung high in the center of the sky, and the Yishouli Mansion was cold and silent.

The servants in the estate were unaware of what had happened; they only knew that after the King returned, the atmosphere of the house had changed. It had grown cold, chilling people to the bone. They became even more cautious, fearing they might provoke the King's ire.

He stood in the courtyard where the two had lived, his ink-colored robes radiating an air of untouchability.

"Your Majesty, there is no sign of the Queen," Qinghe reported, kneeling behind him.

"Is there no sign of her, or did you find traces and fear to report them?" His voice was devoid of inflection, yet it caused cold sweat to bead on Qinghe’s forehead.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, I dare not hide anything. It is just... we did indeed find signs that the King of Wu had been to Tan City."

"I knew it. Zuoqiu Liye..." He looked up at the bright moonlight, his lips no longer curved in a gentle arc, but cold—like the crescent moon in the night, carrying a hint of icy light.

That very night, the Kingdom of Ji launched a massive military campaign into the borders of Wu. With such large-scale movements, a catastrophe between the two kingdoms became inevitable.

Late at night, the chill crept into the dark, carrying a biting coldness.

She woke up in a daze, the white silk over her eyes still perfectly in place. Her cheek felt like it was resting on a comfortable pillow, and she was wrapped in a warm brocade quilt. She moved her body slightly. Perhaps the meeting with Zuoqiu Liye had only been a dream?

However, the touch and scent emanating from the quilt immediately dispelled that thought.

This was not the Yishouli Mansion.

She tilted her head, feeling a weight pressing down on her through the quilt, making it hard for her to muster any strength.

The room was dimly lit, with a lantern in the distance casting a faint, bright glow.

The light spread, falling upon the person there. He wore only a crimson outer robe, sleeping peacefully outside the quilt, one arm resting lightly upon the bulging folds of the bedding.

With his back to the light, his long, dark hair hung over the edge of the bed, trailing down to the floor like a long, winding river.

He seemed to be in a deep sleep, his breath gently brushing the back of her head.

She froze for a moment before realizing who it was sleeping behind her—

"Zuoqiu Liye!"

"Hmm..." He seemed to be woken by her voice, stirring slowly.

"Don't pretend to be asleep. You are awake, aren't you?" She sat up abruptly, clutching the quilt, and said coldly.

Zuoqiu Liye slowly opened his eyes. Lying in the distance, he watched her clutching the quilt in a guarded manner. "I intended to pretend, but you were sleeping so soundly that I couldn't help but fall asleep for real."

He spoke with an air of innocence, his fox-like phoenix eyes glistening, seemingly veiled in a faint mist.

"Where is this?" She only wanted to know if they were still in Tan City.

She wondered how Ziqing was doing, and what he would do once he discovered she was gone...

"This is a place for sleeping—a bed. So now is the time to sleep. Do be a good girl and lie down; I won't do anything to you." He answered her query earnestly, his eyes studying her closely, mixed with an unnameable emotion.

Sharing a bed with him—how could she possibly lie down?

She did not speak, but leaned against the inside of the bed, clearly intending to sit up and hold the quilt all night.

What was going on? Why did she encounter such things? Her life had started anew, and yet, having changed form, she still could not escape being used. There would always be someone scheming to possess the strange arts within her, disturbing her life and, consequently, giving Ziqing no peace either.

"Zuoqiu Liye, you want to use my Soul-Seizing Technique, don't you? If I sincerely help you, will you let me go?" For reasons unknown, she asked this.

She didn't want to think about anything anymore; she just wanted to let it all fall apart.

"Heh... In your eyes, I am that kind of person, aren't I? In fact, I suppose I am..." He laughed, a strange, sinister tone in his voice, his gaze clouded with an odd chill.

"Isn't that the truth?" If he was risking so much, if not for the Soul-Seizing Technique within her, what else could it be?

"Why wouldn't it be?" He too had once hoped to maintain that original intention—the intention to use her.

But when had his feelings changed, becoming something he could not speak of, something beyond his own control?

Yet, Little Xue did not know his heart. Was he the only one troubled by this? That seemed unfair.

Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her down and pressing her onto the bed, his gaze savoring the way her expression wavered—guarded and filled with a touch of confusion.

"Yes, I do want to use you. Use you to unify the world. When that happens, the Kingdom of Ji will cease to exist, and the entire world will be mine. No one will ever dare to mock me again. All the disdain and ridicule I have suffered will be returned to the people of the world!" He did not sound hysterical, but calmly traced her features with his fingers. "Little Xue, can you not help me? Since you can help Ji Wuqing, you can surely help me as well."

All he cared about was that she had helped Ji Wuqing, not the power she possessed.

"I truly don't know what you are talking about. I helped Ziqing to save lives. Can what you do be called 'helping'? It is clearly aiding and abetting a villain." She said calmly.

"Rest assured, I do not want your hands stained with blood. Little Xue should be the purest—spotless and flawless." He did not get angry, but instead lay down beside her, his tone carrying a touch of satisfaction.

Zuoqiu Liye was being abnormal.

Xue Xue was also left bewildered by his words and actions.

"I came to the Kingdom of Wu with you of my own volition. I will not run away in the middle of the night, so you don't have to be so miserable as to demand only one room." Lying beside him made her skin crawl; how could she possibly sleep?

"If I don't watch you, how can I be at ease?" He seemed not to think there was anything improper about them sharing a room, or even the same bed.

Watch her? Did he not have guards or shadow agents around?

Xue Xue pondered, feeling that something was strange. Given Zuoqiu Liye’s usual style, this was a concession on his part.

Suddenly, something cool brushed against her neck, pulling her thoughts back. How could she have forgotten that Zuoqiu Liye was right beside her? How could she lose focus?

"What is the meaning of this?" She realized he had wrapped something around her neck, much like binding a prisoner.

"Nothing. If I accidentally fall asleep again, wouldn't that give you a chance to run?" he said as if it were a matter of course.

"..." His words made little sense. If he was afraid she would run, why wrap her neck?

She reached up to touch the object around her throat. It was unmistakably his hair!