CHAPTER 245: CHAPTER 214 QIN QINGLUO

In the teahouse.

Yin Tingxue listened intently, her face suddenly flushed upon catching those scattered sounds.

Her face was as red as blood, and she lowered it, muttering for a while, secretly cursing Chen Yi.

How could he have such a way with women?

Yin Tingxue, feeling so embarrassed, covered her ears, wishing she could find a hole to hide in.

Now that they were boyfriend and girlfriend, she was a bit bolder, not only cursing him secretly, but might even scold him a bit when they met later. However, she knew not to say too much, just a word or two, or she’d be in trouble if he turned hostile.

At this moment, a woman in white turned her face towards Yin Tingxue, seeing her flushed face and guessing something had happened.

Yin Weiyin repeatedly asked:

"How’s it going?"

The lips of the Princess of Xiang quivered a little, not knowing how to respond, and after a while, she stammered:

"Just... this and that."

The young girl, naturally shy, was already resistant to such matters and dared not speak openly. She couldn’t handle these things even in bed, let alone discuss them with others. Discussing her husband tormenting another woman was something she just couldn’t bring herself to say.

Yin Weiyin, seemingly dissatisfied, whispered:

"Be more clear, otherwise, what if he falls into a trap, what then?"

What a joke—didn’t she agree to Chen Yi’s request just for this moment? After all this effort to taste the pleasure of revenge, Yin Tingxue was holding back, letting Chen Yi enjoy it all alone.

"Ah... It’s just that Sister Zhu and... that Princess..."

The female crown prodded her repeatedly, and Yin Tingxue only vaguely said:

"It seems they both cried..."

Yin Weiyin’s fingertips trembled slightly, and memories of the underground palace came flooding back in her mind’s heart lake.

Yin Tingxue seemed to hear the female crown’s inner voice, slightly lowered her eyebrows, and softly said:

"Please don’t ask me anymore..."

The female crown, somewhat unhappy, had finally welcomed an opportunity for revenge only to regret she didn’t possess the Heavenly Ear Technique or the Thousand Mile Eye, unable to fulfill her heart’s desire.

"This isn’t good..." Yin Tingxue whispered.

Yin Weiyin’s face flushed slightly as she softly retorted:

"What’s wrong with that?"

Born in the lavish comfort of the Prince Jing’s Mansion, at the age of twelve, Yu Zhenyuan Jun came with a crane, placed a hand on her head and bestowed longevity, leading her on the path of seeking the Dao. She, esteemed as the daughter of the Prince Jing, and Taichua Goddess, rarely held grudges with others. If there were any lifelong nemesis, it would only be Chen Yi, the Prince of Annan, and the Princess.

The grievances she suffered at the hands of the former, she could only swallow silently, letting him do as he pleased without daring to speak out. The latter wanted her dead, plunging her into danger. Now that the former wanted the latter to suffer, would she not be delighted, would she not want to fully enjoy the moment?

Yin Weiyin couldn’t wait to witness the tragic state of the Prince of Annan and the Princess for herself, venting the frustration she endured from Chen Yi’s insults.

The Princess of Xiang looked at her, seeming to hear her inner voice, hesitated and then said:

"Sister Weiyang, this isn’t really right..."

"What’s not right?"

Yin Weiyin pressed aggressively.

The Princess of Xiang gently picked up a tea bowl, pondered and said: "...How could an immortal be so petty?"

Her voice was soft and light, devoid of any harshness.

At first, Yin Weiyin dismissed it, shaking her head with a laugh, but after mulling over it, she was suddenly startled, realizing she had been tangled in minor grievances. Once in power, she pursued them relentlessly, losing both composure and nearly carried away with pride. With such a mindset, how could she achieve the Dao and roam freely? Thinking of this, the female crown sighed softly, reciting, "Blessings of Infinite Heavenly Venerable," to calm her mind and heart.

She tried hard not to let her heart lake ripple.

Yet, when the enemy faced hardship...

It really felt great.

In contrast, apart from feeling embarrassed, Yin Tingxue experienced few emotional waves, even though the Prince of Annan and the Princess didn’t share much enmity with her, but the difference in disposition was evident.

Regarding Zhu E’s situation, the Princess of Xiang actually felt somewhat guilty, as she had deceived the woman, leading her into a deep pit. Even though it was Chen Yi’s request, deceit was still deceit. Moreover, that woman in red hadn’t harmed her, and she felt uneasy about it.

So, back then, she begged Chen Yi to spare her life.

Chen Yi neither agreed nor refused, just saying... to act according to the situation and assess accordingly.

Thinking of this, Yin Tingxue uneasily rubbed the teacup, unwilling to listen to those scattered sounds, yet worried and fidgety, her ears involuntarily focused.

A clear, long-lasting sound echoed in her ears,

"Hmm..."

Yin Tingxue was startled, shrank a bit, her face turning red.

It seemed like... he was done with Sister Zhu?

After thinking for a while, worried about others’ fates, Yin Tingxue, filled with compassion, continued to eavesdrop.

"Zhu... Zhu E... kneels before the Bright Venerable..."

A slight tremor in the voice, weak and faint,

"The day will come... when the Bright Venerable reinstates the Four Dignified Saintesses, holds the authority..."

Then, silence was sealed with a kiss.

How shameless he was...

The Princess of Xiang shook her head a little, feeling the awkwardness of eavesdropping, dismissing idle thoughts, focused on listening.

Among the rustling noises, she vaguely heard Chen Yi seemingly verifying Zhu E’s unwavering loyalty, confirming that this woman, stripped of her ego, harbored no second thoughts, and when the day comes to reconstruct her ego with the Secret Technique, she would still believe he was the unrevealed Bright Venerable of the Divine Sect.

Yin Tingxue breathed a sigh of relief, rubbed her burning face, having experienced numerous grievances since staying by Chen Yi’s side after her family was seized. She now realized through others’ predicaments that her grievances were relatively mild. By being gentle and compliant, he exercised more restraint with her. Had she resisted and harbored murderous intent back then, he would have taken her regardless, without any preparation.

Even with this understanding, Yin Tingxue couldn’t bring herself to feel gratitude towards Chen Yi. No matter what, grievances remained grievances, and the fact that other women had it worse didn’t bring her joy. What Chen Yi did to her back then was wrong, too cruel, and should not be considered any form of favor. This was a truth deeply entrenched in her heart, and not even Chen Yi’s kindness could change that.

He occasionally made her happy, but often bullied her. She disliked him, harbored resentment, couldn’t say she liked him, feared him, yet accepted him, obediently stayed by his side, and followed his words, sometimes even dependent on him.

Such a relationship was quite complicated...

Yin Tingxue wanted to clarify it but couldn’t, shook her head, and decided not to think further.

In any case, no matter what, whether Chen Yi was nice, it was like boiling a frog in warm water, gradually forcing her to step back.

Speaking of which, would he want Sister Zhu to have a child?

She knew him well; he loved Saintesses and such...

Yin Tingxue suddenly felt a bit fortunate, maybe this way she wouldn’t have to be a mother.

After feeling fortunate, she inexplicably felt a sense of loss, dazed in her thoughts, unexpectedly visualizing Chen Yi holding someone else’s child.

After a while, Yin Tingxue came back to her senses, listening again, hearing the sound of the Medicine Temple, and the heavy, laborious breathing of a large woman.

............

The Princess struggled to get up but with a creak, she fell back to the ground, kneeling.

Her breath was chaotic, eyes reddened as she glared at Chen Yi and the person she cared about most in her life.

Zhu E had already fainted, a smile played on her lips, radiating a trace of happiness.

Serving the Bright Venerable as a Saintess and receiving such favor was a rightful satisfaction.

Qin Qingluo’s heart was wrung countless times, yet even so, catching a glimpse of that smile plunged her into deeper despair.

She clearly still had life force, still had strength, but the person before her had lost an arm, nearly burnt out.

Yet Qin Qingluo couldn’t move her hand, her heart was dead inside.

The epiphany she reached was shattered.

Chen Yi gradually approached, outlined by the incense in the Medicine Temple, his silhouette cast over the grand woman’s face. A slight tremor passed through her body, reminiscent of shared experience.

With a trembling voice, she dejectedly said:

"You first incited me to talk of intent, shattered my spear, let me realize the spear in my heart. Pity, back then, I thought I had assured success, never expected you already knew what my heart spear truly was, and then broke my intent... what a scheme... what a scheme,"

Amidst speaking, Qin Qingluo took a deep look at the woman in red, her chest hurting sharply, gripping her palm unconsciously,

"I don’t know what sort of devilry you used to make her believe you’re the Bright Venerable... Now, then kill me."

She couldn’t kill him, as Aunt Zhu saw him entirely as the Bright Venerable, more important than her even in Aunt Zhu’s heart.

The sting in her palm, she could only vent her anger silently there.

"Kill me..."

Qin Qingluo rasped.

Chen Yi looked down at her, this once grand woman... finally cowered before him.

He spoke very calmly:

"You’re immortal, how could I kill you?"

Qin Qingluo’s snake pupils contracted suddenly, a bitter smile spilling over, the idea of eternal life now seemed a form of torment.

Chen Yi also chuckled mirthlessly, dull pain coursing through his left arm and half his body.

Qin Qingluo slightly raised her face, her darkened snake eyes filled with Chen Yi, as he raised his hand high.

Then, a fierce slap sounded.

On the grand woman’s fair, soft face, a crimson handprint had appeared, the pain surged, yet she wasn’t distorted with rage, the anger not yet risen, subsiding instead.

Her face was full of desolation, her heart, like dead ashes.

"In skill inferior, I submit..."

Qin Qingluo’s word "wind" wasn’t yet uttered when a crashing sound interrupted.

He grinned menacingly,

"Still trying to act cool at this moment?"

She was already in despair, already inert, having inherited a lifetime legacy when young, commanding Southern Border, training with the spear for fifteen years, now all reduced to dust in a day.

The arrogant princess, gradually realizing her intent, reaching the pinnacle, unstoppable as if showcasing the grandeur of a Grandmaster, was instead utilized by him to shatter her integrity bit by bit...

She felt the cold ground against her cheek as Chen Yi acted.

The fallen An Nan Princess, in a hazy consciousness, began to hum softly.