A Change in Taste

Qi Xianqing froze, lowering her eyes to meet Yan Jue’s amber gaze.

Yan Jue had phoenix eyes, long and sharp at the corners.

In the dim light, those eyes were bright and clear, fixed on her without blinking, as if they held endless expectation.

Qi Xianqing had been mentally arranging a long string of words.

But after Yan Jue hugged her, she suddenly didn’t know what to say.

Yan Jue’s honesty made Qi Xianqing happy.

The curve of her brows and eyes softened as well.

Qi Xianqing could no longer remember when she had last been this happy.

She had thought that with Yan Jue, she would still need to coax her for a while before the other could accept her feelings.

Yan Jue held Qi Xianqing for a while.

Because she had just absorbed the other woman’s pure yang energy, Qi Xianqing’s body had become almost dangerously attractive to her.

Just bringing the tip of her nose close to the girl’s neck made the air seem to pick up a faint, uncontrollable scent.

Yan Jue let go of Qi Xianqing, but her arm was caught. Qi Xianqing’s lips curved slightly; her right hand pressed against Yan Jue’s shoulder.

In the next instant, Yan Jue was pinned beneath her.

Qi Xianqing lowered her lashes and stared straight at her.

The aura of the Immortal Spirit Physique filled the surrounding space; Yan Jue’s mind went blank at once.

Qi Xianqing looked into Yan Jue’s eyes, amusement in her tone. “Do you know what dual cultivation is supposed to do?”

The cave was warm, and both of them were only wearing thin inner robes. The fabric was practically nothing; it was almost as if their skin were pressed together.

Yan Jue’s ears burned instantly. Watching Qi Xianqing lean closer, she suddenly recalled the scenes of dual cultivation she had seen before.

Qi Xianqing was so close.

Could she be trying to...

Yan Jue subconsciously closed her eyes, but the soft touch she expected never fell on her lips. Instead, it landed directly on her cheek.

Qi Xianqing held Yan Jue down and boldly kissed her cheek, then quickly pulled back.

Qi Xianqing’s black hair fell forward, hiding her reddened ears. She patted Yan Jue’s overheated hand. “Come, Junior Sister Yan.” Then she stood up.

Yan Jue looked up at her in a daze.

What the hell. She had been nervous, even a little hopeful.

But Qi Xianqing had only kissed her cheek.

Could it be that Qi Xianqing didn’t actually know either...

Yan Jue sat up and saw Qi Xianqing lower her head to remove the pendant from her waist.

Qi Xianqing’s pendant was a pale dusk-purple, exquisitely carved with an ancient crescent qin.

Yan Jue had seen Qi Xianqing wearing it long ago by the Cold Pool.

Qi Xianqing: “This is the pendant I carry with me. I’ll split it in two; one half will be yours. If you’re ever in danger in the future, I’ll sense it.”

As soon as she finished speaking, green light flashed in her hand, and the pendant was cleanly broken in half.

Yan Jue froze.

Qi Xianqing handed her the jade piece. Yan Jue held it in her palm and could faintly feel the warmth it gave off.

The jade was smooth and warm, with a delicate grain; it had to be priceless.

Qi Xianqing hung the broken half of the pendant back at her waist. Yan Jue said, “Why are you still wearing it?”

It had been split in half; how ugly.

Qi Xianqing smiled lightly. “Junior Sister Yan should know that I have many admirers in the sect.”

“If someone comes after me again and sees this, they’ll know I already have a dao companion.”

The atmosphere in the cave was far too quiet.

Yan Jue wasn’t used to it and quickly changed the subject. “How did you know City Lord Liang was fake?”

Back then, Qi Xianqing had struck directly and killed that maid on Fuxian Mountain; everything had happened so suddenly that Yan Jue hadn’t had time to ask.

Qi Xianqing sat back down beside Yan Jue. “Actually, my master and I had been preparing for this for a month.”

Qi Xianqing: “Since the assassins at the Cliff of Severed Malice were able to track me so precisely, it meant my whereabouts had already been leaked.”

“And for this operation, I let news out through the Administrative Hall, telling them where I would be going. If that news really spread like wildfire, then Western Border, as the tiger demon’s territory, would inevitably target me once it learned I was going there.”

Yan Jue wasn’t surprised.

In this world, there were far too many people and demons who valued cultivation over their own lives. Even now that Qi Xianqing belonged to the righteous immortal sect and her cultivation far surpassed countless demons, there would still be demons willing to take the risk and set their sights on her.

“The fact that City Lord Liang was a female tiger demon surprised me too,” Qi Xianqing said after a pause. “I can smell it.”

“When I was young, my whole family was killed by that pair of male and female tiger demons. I remember very clearly that female tiger demon smelled of storax perfume back then.”

Yan Jue couldn’t help muttering, “You didn’t even tell me.”

Qi Xianqing’s expression softened. She raised a hand and gently rested it on Yan Jue’s shoulder. “At first, I didn’t want to put you in danger. I didn’t want to drag you into this.”

“But now I promise you, from now on, I won’t hide anything from you, and I’ll tell you everything. You should do the same, all right?”

Qi Xianqing was sharp-minded, and her heart was clear as a mirror.

She knew very well that she still had many shortcomings when it came to exorcising demons.

Many times, if it hadn’t been for Yan Jue, she would already have died without a burial place.

Yan Jue frowned, thinking about it too.

She wasn’t angry because Qi Xianqing hadn’t told her about the tiger demon operation this time.

In truth, Qi Xianqing had no reason to tell her.

What Yan Jue was really upset about was how dangerous Qi Xianqing had been.

The previous times had only ended safely because Yan Jue had been by her side, but what if she hadn’t been there?

If Qi Xianqing acted like this when she was out on missions alone, how many lives did she think she had to lose?

Yan Jue: “Swear an oath.”

Qi Xianqing blinked. “What oath?”

Yan Jue: “Swear that in the future, no matter what dangerous thing you’re going to do, you’ll tell me.”

The cave was very quiet; the Spirit-Transforming Pearl lay on the ground, emitting a soft glow.

Water droplets rolled down the rock wall and fell into the stream.

Yan Jue pressed her lips together and fixed her eyes on Qi Xianqing’s.

After a long silence, Qi Xianqing raised her hand. “I, Qi Xianqing, if I ever hide anything from Junior Sister Yan again, may I be struck by fivefold thunder and have my soul scattered.”

Yan Jue laughed and muttered a curse under her breath, “Too vicious.”

She had only wanted to test Qi Xianqing’s sincerity; she hadn’t expected Qi Xianqing to really swear such an oath.

Qi Xianqing lowered her hand and let out a faint smile.

The last time she had sworn like this was before her master, when she vowed, “In this life and the next, I will slay demons and exorcise evil.” But now, she was making an oath before a little fox.

Yan Jue steadied herself. “I also have something I want to tell you.”

Since Qi Xianqing had given her sincerity, then she would return it in kind.

Qi Xianqing lifted her eyes, waiting for her to continue. “Mm?”

Yan Jue swallowed, then told her about how the Sect Master was the Demon Lord and how she had discovered the Demon Lord, along with a series of other things.

After all, the matter was far too unbelievable; she left part of it out and didn’t say everything.

She said it out loud, but whether Qi Xianqing believed her or not was another matter entirely.

After hearing everything, Qi Xianqing’s expression turned slightly serious.

“I understand,” Qi Xianqing said as she stood. “Thank you for telling me, Junior Sister Yan. I’ll think carefully about what you said.”

Yan Jue knelt on the ground, her hands resting on her knees, still not fully recovered. A lock of black hair on the crown of her head stuck up stubbornly, making her look a little dazed.

Qi Xianqing looked at her for a while, then said, “Let’s go out for a walk.”

They had already stayed in the cave for two days and two nights; Yan Jue felt that if she didn’t get out and move around soon, she was going to mildew.

So Yan Jue nodded.

Specks of sunlight fell through the gaps in the leaves, and the surroundings were quiet and still.

Qi Xianqing: “Yesterday, I received a message from Master.”

Yan Jue blinked. “What did Master say?”

The events of the past few days had been too dark; Yan Jue had completely forgotten about Yun Zhen.

Qi Xianqing: “Master rushed over from Five Dragons Sect and has already taken care of the tiger demon’s corpse. She’s currently staying at an inn in Skyferry City and waiting for us.”

Yan Jue’s spiritual power had only just recovered, and she was still a little unsteady on her feet; it felt as if she were stepping on cotton.

Qi Xianqing supported her slowly. “Careful.”

Yan Jue could only lean on Qi Xianqing’s arm as she walked. “Thank you,” she said softly.

Seeing how polite she was, Qi Xianqing couldn’t help but smile. “Junior Sister doesn’t need to be so reserved.”

“Now that I belong to you, you can treat me however you used to. Just continue as before.”

Qi Xianqing’s words made Yan Jue’s heart jump, then start pounding foolishly against her chest.

Besides, Qi Xianqing already knew she was the little fox baby.

Thinking about it that way, Yan Jue really couldn’t tell whether she was used to it or not.

Her heart was beating even faster now; what should she do...

The stream murmured softly, and the trees stood thick and green.

Yan Jue pressed her lips together, then suddenly stopped. “Then when do you plan to see Master Yun Zhen?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Yan Jue suddenly felt a gaze from somewhere.

She had reached the fifth realm; after forming her core, her Divine Sense had grown increasingly sharp. Add to that the fact that they were in the wilderness, and her vigilance was especially high. With a flick of her eyes, she suddenly noticed the person standing behind a large tree not far away.

The woman had fair skin and a pair of phoenix eyes that shone brightly. She wore a pale rose pleated ruyao moon skirt, her figure slender and graceful, and she was looking this way with a dark expression.

Yan Jue froze.

San Niang.

Why was San Niang here?

Lu Yanshuang and Yan Jue looked at each other for a moment; surprise flashed through her eyes before she walked over.

At the same time, another girl emerged from behind the tree: the Doctor Immortal Song Miyun, whom Yan Jue had seen by the stream that day.

Song Miyun wore a duck-green pleated skirt with a scented pouch hanging at her waist and a bamboo basket on her back. She still looked like some high-ranking herbal expert drifting with immortal grace; her long black-feather hair fell over her shoulders, and her expression was cold as she followed behind.

That day, Yan Jue had heard Song Miyun say she would stay here for ten days.

Today happened to be the day she was leaving.

Lu Yanshuang approached with a cold face.

Only when she came closer did Yan Jue see the white, unidentified thing on her shoulder.

It was actually a white butterfly.

The white butterfly rested lazily on Lu Yanshuang’s shoulder, slowly flapping its large wings; its antennae twitched faintly.

Why did it have antennae?

It had a cat’s face.

A butterfly with a cat’s face? Yan Jue twitched the corners of her mouth. She was already used to seeing all kinds of bizarre things in this world, so she greeted Lu Yanshuang first. “San Niang.”

Lu Yanshuang frowned slightly and sniffed at Yan Jue’s body.

Seeing her murderous expression, Yan Jue subconsciously stepped back. “...”

How strange. Lu Yanshuang raised her brows in surprise.

The fox clan’s Soul-Mirroring Ring clearly showed that Yan Jue’s spiritual power had weakened, that she was already on the verge of collapse.

If she were the one to take Yan Jue back for recovery, it would probably take a year before she could recover.

Why was she recovering so quickly now...

Lu Yanshuang lifted her eyes and frowned at Qi Xianqing.

Could this person really...

After some hesitation, Lu Yanshuang said, “Juejue, why was your spiritual power so weak a few days ago, but today it has recovered so quickly?”

Yan Jue felt Qi Xianqing’s uneasy gaze from behind her, but she didn’t intend to hide it. “Thanks to my senior sister.”

“She gave me her yang essence.”

San Niang fell silent, her gaze involuntarily landing on Qi Xianqing.

One had to know that humans valued their yang energy more than anything.

Up to now, the only person San Niang knew who had been willing to give away their yang energy was that crazy faithless woman.

If the princess was telling the truth, then the madness of these master and disciple really did come from the same line.

Even though this person had given her yang energy to Yan Jue, by rights she should be grateful.

But why did it feel like...

San Niang stared at Qi Xianqing, then moved her eyes to Yan Jue. “You really only absorbed her yang energy and didn’t do anything else?”

Yan Jue immediately denied it. “No.”

“San Niang, you don’t trust me at all. Could I possibly bite her?”

As soon as Yan Jue finished speaking, she nervously stole a glance behind her. Qi Xianqing stood there with her hands clasped behind her back, looking at her indulgently, her expression carrying a trace of helplessness.

Fortunately, the bite marks were lower down, hidden by the collar. Otherwise Yan Jue really would have died on the spot.

After a long silence, Lu Yanshuang turned to Song Miyun. “Doctor Immortal.”

Yan Jue: “...”

Song Miyun stepped forward to take Yan Jue’s pulse and said thoughtfully, “The spiritual energy in your body still hasn’t fully recovered. You’ll need to absorb a certain amount of yang energy every day, then take this immortal paste with it.”

Yan Jue said quickly, “Thank you.”

“What exactly is this immortal paste?”

Song Miyun took a brocade pouch from her sleeve and handed it to Yan Jue. “This is enough immortal paste for a month. After you finish taking it, your body will fully recover.”

Yan Jue: “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” Song Miyun said with a smile, looking at her deeply. “I was already planning to leave today. If not for Miss Lu giving me some very important medicinal material, I wouldn’t have come.”

Yan Jue froze. Medicinal material?

Lu Yanshuang: “I gave the Doctor Immortal a gourd of fox spirit blood. That’s a precious medicinal material that can cure all illnesses; it was just a trade. There’s nothing to thank me for.”

Yan Jue was practically developing an allergy to the words drawing blood; she said in surprise, “San Niang, you too...”

Fox blood was itself a medicinal material. The more tails a fox had, the higher the quality of its blood.

San Niang had a six-tailed bloodline; although her blood wasn’t as pure as Yan Jue’s, its value was still very high.

Lu Yanshuang: “What’s the big deal? As long as you’ve practiced blood refinement, losing a little blood is nothing. Juejue, you’re just lacking in cultivation, which is why losing that little blood damaged your spiritual energy so badly.”

In the sunlight, Lu Yanshuang’s skin was rosy-white and her complexion looked excellent; she truly didn’t seem like someone who had lost blood.

Yan Jue was just about to speak when she suddenly heard Lu Yanshuang say, “Then don’t go back to the fox clan for now. Your spiritual energy loss is too great; you need to absorb yang energy every day to recover.”

Yan Jue: “...”

After saying that, Lu Yanshuang was also secretly watching Qi Xianqing’s expression.

Qi Xianqing’s features were calm, her expression completely unmoved, as if she agreed with San Niang’s words very much. For some reason, there was even a faint smile at the corners of her lips.

Lu Yanshuang: “...”

Fine. She seemed to understand what was going on now.

Lu Yanshuang looked at Qi Xianqing, a little unable to understand.

Why had the princess’s taste changed so drastically?

Just a year ago, she had liked pretty boys like Chu Fu.

Why was she looking at such a ... demon-slaying maniac without even blinking now?