Chapter 12. The Culprit Is it Because the Other Party is Bai Li Chuan?

The person in front walked away swiftly, not looking back or saying another word.

Xin Jiao Zhou tilted her head, not thinking much of it, and quickened her pace to follow.

Since receiving the attendant’s reply, A Yu had been waiting in the back hall.

Some time had passed, and still no one had come. A Yu couldn’t sit still any longer.

Just as she was about to stand up, she raised her head and saw a pair of graceful figures with flowing robes enter the hall.

Red was flamboyant, white was calm, blending together perfectly complementary, very intense yet harmonious.

“Master.”

“Mm.” The one in white answered.

“Master Bai.”

“Mm.” The one in red answered.

Somehow, A Yu felt the atmosphere was strange.

Xin Jiao Zhou, oblivious, asked casually: “Where’s Hua Rong?”

A Yu replied: “The medicinal herbs have been collected. Sect Master Hua went back to prepare first.”

Xin Jiao Zhou nodded, then asked: “Where’s Miss Bo?”

“Miss Bo returned to her residence last night. Early this morning, she sent over medicinal herbs as compensation.”

“Compensation?” Thinking of something, Xin Jiao Zhou asked, “Is it because there was a problem with what Miss Bo gave me to drink earlier?”

A Yu only learned about this after investigating the incident: “The tea Bo Jia Zi gave the master is called ‘Thousand Step Rainbow’, one of Feng Yi Tower’s specialties. It has the effect of stimulating one’s inner desires, enhancing mood, nourishing the kidneys and strengthening yang. After drinking, it will stimulate one’s qi and blood.”

Xin Jiao Zhou had already guessed this, and now understood: “What about the rest?”

The rest? A Yu blinked twice, looking at her master in confusion.

Seeing she hadn’t grasped her meaning, Xin Jiao Zhou clarified: “For example, its potency?”

Although she didn’t know why her master, who had always been uninterested in such matters and not attracted to men, would suddenly ask this question, A Yu still dutifully answered: “The effects of Thousand Step Rainbow last for a short time, only serving to stimulate desire beforehand. What happens afterward depends entirely on one’s heart.”

The pharmacology of Thousand Step Rainbow is to stimulate the body’s potential through psychology. Because of this, it can be harmless to the body while still having nourishing effects. This way, it won’t prematurely deplete one’s body, yet can achieve the desired effect, both enhancing what’s already good and providing help in times of need. This is why it’s so famous in the imperial city.

A Yu’s explanation was brief but clear enough for Xin Jiao Zhou to understand.

This was strange. If the drug’s effects weren’t so long-lasting, why had she woken up so excited this morning, and become aroused again just now?

If it wasn’t the effect of the drug, could it be her own doing?

Could it be that she had been abstinent for too long, and things had reached an extreme?

Or had she actually been deeply attracted to the other party, fallen in love, and today was simply her heart following her emotions?

Confidently ruling out the first two possibilities, Xin Jiao Zhou frowned, considering the third possibility – or perhaps she had never truly known herself, and was actually a lustful person, purely desiring the other’s body and coveting their beauty?

Xin Jiao Zhou seriously considered all possibilities, but after a long while still couldn’t determine the answer.

For the first time in so many years, she couldn’t control her heart.

It seemed best to keep her distance from him in the future. Once things got out of control, too many unexpected situations could occur.

If one day she suddenly lost control, broke through reason, and did something unforgivable to the other person, it would be over.

They should keep their distance, and stop here.

Bai Li Chuan suddenly felt a pang of anxiety.

A Yu thought hard for a moment, then seemed to realize something and looked at Xin Jiao Zhou with concern: “Has the master discovered any lingering symptoms?” As she finished speaking, her gaze moved downward, quickly sweeping over.

A Yu was somewhat worried.

Although the master’s martial arts were unrivaled, number one in the world, with unparalleled beauty that captivated everyone, and there was no shortage of young men who liked her, if something went wrong in that area and she couldn’t give the future master happiness, the future master would be too pitiful.

The more A Yu thought about it, the more worried she became, her brows tightly furrowed.

Xin Jiao Zhou caught that glance, and seeing her strange expression, immediately associated it with something. Her eyelid twitched as she denied: “No!”

Don’t think she didn’t see that little movement just now! Her instincts told her she must immediately stop her from imagining further.

Xin Jiao Zhou picked up the teacup beside her, lifted the porcelain lid, and took a light sip.

The tea had cooled.

Closing the lid, she naturally changed the subject: “Is breakfast ready?”

Indeed, it was time for breakfast.

Bai Li Chuan gestured to those around, and the attendants withdrew.

Soon after, small servants carrying trays filed into the hall.

Just as everything was set in place, a pleasant male voice came from outside the door.

“It seems I’ve come at just the right time.”

Hua Rong walked into the hall, waving a gold-threaded peony fan, and unceremoniously sat down beside Xin Jiao Zhou.

Influenced by his surroundings, he had unconsciously become thick-skinned and learned to make himself at home like those of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

As soon as he sat down, he felt a cold gaze fall upon him, containing killing intent. A chill rose up his spine, shooting straight to the back of his neck.

Hua Rong looked in that direction but found nothing unusual. Everyone was eating breakfast, with no signs of anything out of the ordinary.

Hua Rong was puzzled. Had that feeling just now been his imagination?

The aroma of food wafted over. Hua Rong glanced down at the table, seeing a full spread of delicacies that looked appetizing even just from appearance.

He raised his head to look at Xin Jiao Zhou, blinking his big eyes twice and putting on a pitiful expression: “I came to bring you good news, yet there’s not even a bite of breakfast for me?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the person opposite say: “Master Hua, you’ve come at such an unfortunate time. The servants in my tower only prepared three portions of food for the masters. We didn’t expect Master Hua to visit so early in the morning. It’s truly this servant’s oversight. Please forgive Feng Yi Tower for this lacking hospitality.”

Bai Li Chuan’s voice was gentle and considerate, appearing soft and harmless.

Hua Rong’s smile froze on his face, and he embarrassedly tapped his nose with the head of his fan.

Naturally, he couldn’t blame them. It was he who had suddenly come over early in the morning. Who would expect guests to come so early and prepare an extra portion of breakfast for them?

Hua Rong looked at the table full of delicious food, could only swallow his saliva, and said dryly: “It’s fine.”

Bai Li Chuan smiled kindly: “Thank you for your understanding, Master Hua.”

“Speak quickly.” Xin Jiao Zhou said expressionlessly, picking up a small piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks.

“Alright.” Hua Rong snorted, muttering quietly, “Such a stone-hearted person, no wonder no young masters like her.”

“What did you say?” Xin Jiao Zhou said.

“Ahem, nothing.” Hua Rong covered his face with his folding fan.

“I’ve written out all the prescriptions and counted out the medicinal herbs. Now we just need to follow the prescriptions for treatment. After some time, the toxins can be completely eliminated.”

Upon hearing this, the two people in the corner secretly breathed sighs of relief.

“However, there’s still one problem that hasn’t been resolved.”

Two gazes focused on Hua Rong again.

“I don’t have any clues about this problem yet. I still need to ask Master Xin for details to prescribe the right treatment and develop a solution.”

Hua Rong looked at Xin Jiao Zhou with a serious expression, his eyes unblinking.

Bai Li Chuan waved his hand to dismiss the attendants around.

The door closed, leaving only four people in the room.

Xin Jiao Zhou took a sip of porridge, raised her head to meet Hua Rong’s gaze: “What do you want to know?”

Hua Rong didn’t speak immediately.

“If you want to know something, say it.”

Although he didn’t know why the master of Feng Yi Tower didn’t need to avoid this, Hua Rong didn’t ask unnecessary questions, only inquired: “What exactly went wrong with your cultivation technique?”

Xin Jiao Zhou didn’t conceal it: “When practicing the technique to the later stages, there was a conflict in the method. Although it was almost imperceptible at first, as the level increased, the latent danger gradually revealed itself.”

“…The successive heads of the Heavenly Sword Sect all met untimely ends, likely for this reason as well.”

This was something she hadn’t told Feng Yan.

“The specifics will have to wait until after the poison is removed before making further plans.”

Hua Rong agreed: “That’s right, removing the poison is the priority now. Other matters can’t be rushed.”

Next came the discussion of specific arrangements for detoxification, starting with deciding on a location.

Bai Li Chuan spoke up first: “Master Xin’s incident occurred in this servant’s Feng Yi Tower. This servant feels deep guilt about it and has been looking for an opportunity to make amends.”

“Now that the master needs a place to stay for detoxification, why not settle here in Feng Yi Tower? This way, this servant can also make some compensation.”

He looked around and promised: “Please rest assured, masters. This servant will certainly take good care of Master Xin.”

Seeing that the other party called out Xin Jiao Zhou’s real surname, Hua Rong guessed something and also put aside his concerns.

They all used aliases outside, and the fact that the other party knew Xin Jiao Zhou’s true identity clearly showed that they had gained her trust.

Originally, he had planned to take her to a branch of his sect, but since the master of Feng Yi Tower had offered and was someone she trusted, he had no reason to refuse: “That works as well.”

“However, although it’s detoxification, the process is very taxing on the body and spirit. Master Xin should rest well in Feng Yi Tower for a few days first. Once Sect Master Yu brings over the medicine I’ve prepared, we can begin the detoxification.”

“Alright.” Bai Li Chuan immediately agreed.

Xin Jiao Zhou hadn’t even put down her spoon before the matter was settled.