Chapter 19
Those bloodred eyes transformed Shu Li’s once-refined features into something bewitching. The hand radiating killing intent stroked Yu Tai’s neck as he comforted the woman trembling in his arms from the pain. Lowering his voice, he whispered in her ear, “Who are you?”
Yu Tai’s reason had been consumed by agony, leaving her willpower at its weakest. At Shu Li’s question, her already-unfocused pupils grew dazed, and her lips finally released their death grip on the junction of his neck and shoulder.
His blood stained her lips as she answered shakily, “Yu Tai.”
Even the name was the same?
He continued, “Where did you come from?”
Yu Tai answered haltingly, “Somewhere… very far away. Not from here…”
“What happened to the original Yu Tai?” The movements of his hand grew increasingly gentle.
“She died…”
Shu Li was about to ask how she had known the qilin inner core was here-and why she seemed ignorant of so many things, yet was uniquely familiar with him-when Yu Tai suddenly let out a soft whimper.
In the same instant, the crimson vanished from Shu Li’s eyes, leaving them clear and black once more.
Something kept calling out inside Yu Tai’s mind, awakening her to the overwhelming agony.
[Host! Host, wake up!]
It was the System. Yu Tai regained consciousness, but she was in so much pain that she had no strength at all. It felt as though every trace of vitality had been stripped from her, leaving her able to do nothing but lie uselessly atop Shu Li, trembling and convulsing in agony.
Blood filled her mouth again. It trickled from the corner of her lips and dripped onto Shu Li’s pale robe, blooming like red flowers.
He produced the same handkerchief from somewhere and gently wiped the blood from her lips. Taking her chin between his fingers, he spoke in a mild voice that nevertheless brooked no refusal. “Open your mouth.”
Almost instinctively, Yu Tai parted her lips.
Shu Li sat up with her in his arms. His thumb pressed against her lower lip and rubbed it gently. Regarding her like a troublesome child, he said, “Remember this lesson. Don’t eat strange things again.”
Then he cradled the back of her head and captured her lips.
The System: […]
It was beginning to wonder too. Was this male lead truly the same one from the original novel? Hadn’t he been the one who let Yu Tai eat it?!
Inside her body, the demonic qi and righteous qi surged around the glittering golden inner core, only to be scattered. They rampaged through Yu Tai’s meridians.
The agony of her meridians shattering, reforming, then shattering again nearly drove her mad. Just then, a wisp of energy entered her body. Like a spring breeze, it circled the two berserk currents and soothed them.
Miraculously, the two out-of-control currents quieted at once. Even the motionless qilin inner core visibly trembled twice before fawningly circling the new energy. If it could have taken physical form, it might have sprouted a tail and wagged it furiously.
The raging pain receded abruptly like the tide. Once Yu Tai stopped hurting, Shu Li prepared to draw back, but she somehow found the strength to wind her arms around his neck. “Don’t…”
The corners of her eyes were scarlet, and her lashes glistened with moisture. She looked painfully vulnerable.
But Shu Li still separated from her. “Greed is never good.”
Then he covered her eyes with one hand.
Her half-conscious mind sank instantly, plunging her into darkness.
Xia Mo had long since turned its back and curled itself into a ball. Only when the sounds behind it ceased did it sneak a glance over its shoulder.
At some point, Shu Li had risen. He held Yu Tai in his arms, her hair slightly disheveled and her face pale. The unsettled aura of the qilin inner core still emanated from her body.
“Chirp, chirp,” Xia Mo called softly.
Shu Li raised his eyes to Xia Mo. “It’s nothing but a pill. Let her have it.”
“You realized long ago that she wasn’t the original person, didn’t you?”
Xia Mo, which had been so imposing a moment ago, suddenly looked guilty.
“Chirp, chirp.” *I only kept it from you because this was more fun!*
Ignoring its attempt to act cute, Shu Li carried Yu Tai toward the exit, lowering his gaze to the person in his arms.
The same name, but a different soul-and one who seemed intimately familiar with his affairs.
Interesting.
With no one to carry it, Xia Mo pouted and followed behind him pitifully.
The illusion beast crouching outside the door prostrated itself the instant it sensed Shu Li’s presence, its entire body trembling faintly.
“M-My Lord…” Its timid voice formed a striking contrast with its terrifying appearance.
Unfortunately, the only person present who would have commented on that contrast had already fallen asleep from exhaustion.
“You can speak?” Shu Li raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.
The illusion beast shuddered again. “Y-Yes… I have been trapped here for countless years… and benefited from the natural treasures within…”
At the mention of the treasures, it trembled violently. One enormous paw pointed at the neatly organized piles of rare treasures nearby. It said ingratiatingly, “I-I arranged all of these… so My Lord can pack them up easily…”
Shu Li glanced over, seemingly uninterested, but Xia Mo chirped several times beside him.
“Take them if you want them,” he said, his voice faintly indulgent.
He removed the spatial pouch from Yu Tai’s waist and tossed it to Xia Mo.
Xia Mo hugged the spatial pouch and happily ran off to collect everything.
It had noticed Yu Tai eyeing those fruits several times earlier. Maybe she liked them. When she woke up, would she be so happy that she rewarded it with bamboo? Hehe.
…
A somewhat familiar cool fragrance lingered around Yu Tai’s nose. It was not a warm scent, but for some reason, it made her feel safe.
She shifted, wrapped an arm around the waist before her, and nuzzled against it.
Something stirred, like a wild beast lying in wait deep within a forest suddenly opening its eyes.
The change against her cheek made Yu Tai realize something was wrong.
Her hazy consciousness cleared abruptly.
She shot upright, her hair disheveled and her eyes still clouded with confusion and a hint of alarm as she stared at the completely unruffled man before her.
“You…”
*Damn it. How did I end up sleeping on his lap…?*
Shu Li glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Junior Sister appears to be very fond of it.” His meaning was unmistakable.
Faced with someone who could make a dirty joke with such perfect composure, Yu Tai’s brain and powers of speech had yet to wake up. Having been so thoroughly teased, she could not think of a single reply.
She could only stare blankly at Shu Li-and at the space between his thighs…
The young woman’s red lips were slightly parted, her usually clever eyes uncharacteristically vacant. A fading red mark lingered on her right cheek. She looked rather foolish.
Foolish, yet somewhat adorable.
“Chirp, chirp!”
Xia Mo, which had gone off to play somewhere, came charging over and knocked the helpless Yu Tai to the ground.
By sheer coincidence, her face landed directly against a certain place. The pressure forced a muffled groan from Shu Li, his voice tinged with pain… and a trace of suppressed desire.
Yu Tai’s scalp went numb.
She hurriedly shoved the culprit aside and scrambled several steps away from Shu Li.
Well, she was completely awake now.
Xia Mo sat where it was and innocently tilted its head.
Why were these two looking at it like that?
Had it done something wrong?