CHAPTER 373: CHAPTER 301: COPIED CORRECTLY, BUT DIDN’T LEARN (EXTRA 2-IN-1)_2

The one-armed woman had no complaints about this.

Chen Yi cuddled the soft little fox in his arms, holding her tightly, and said quickly:

"Actually, I’m a little worried. What if you killing me was just an illusion? If that’s the case, wouldn’t I be seeking revenge on you for no reason? Just thinking about it makes my conscience uneasy."

Yin Tingxue half-understood, but she didn’t want to dwell on past sorrows. In a soft voice, she replied:

"I’m yours..."

"Of course you’re mine."

"Hmm... It doesn’t matter whether you seek revenge or not." Yin Tingxue rested her chin on his shoulder. At this moment, Chen Yi was very gentle.

Chen Yi felt a warm current flow through his heart.

To him,

Could she really be starting to like me?

So, Chen Yi said gently:

"Little fox, I really like you."

"Really?"

Yin Tingxue leaned closer, her posture one of melting into his embrace. However, she was somewhat mindful of Zhou Yitang’s presence, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Chen Yi thought of her diligent cultivation these days and turned to Zhou Yitang to ask:

"What realm is she now?"

"Preparing for Foundation Establishment," Zhou Yitang paused and added, "Tonight she’ll succeed in breaking through."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi turned to Yin Tingxue and playfully flicked her nose:

"Tonight, I originally wanted you for myself, but I guess I’ll leave it."

Yin Tingxue’s charming face turned red as she whispered:

"Tomorrow, you can’t want me either. Just after entering Foundation Establishment, the realm will be unstable..."

"You’ve even started making excuses now." Chen Yi didn’t agree.

Seeing this, Yin Tingxue lowered her head slightly, visibly disappointed. She wasn’t fond of such intimacy, but Chen Yi, with his boundless energy, often seemed insatiable. Most importantly, he loved talking shamelessly and forbade her from lying.

For instance, when Chen Yi frequently asked her how she felt, she couldn’t lie, nor could she admit completely. Instead, she could only reply: "My body feels good, but my heart doesn’t."

And that was among the lighter topics of his shameless talk.

Just as Chen Yi and Yin Tingxue were wrapped in each other’s arms,

A series of hurried footsteps came from the courtyard outside.

Under the bright candlelight of the hall, looking outside,

There appeared a figure in fire-patterned cyan robes carrying the swaying Peach Wood Sword of Yanyue Pavilion, with its dangling golden tassels shaking disorderly.

Taichua Goddess burst into Chen Yi’s courtyard like a gust of wind, her forehead glistening with fragrant sweat, moving hastily and carrying none of her usual ethereal demeanor.

But then, Chen Yi’s courtyard was never a place for her to exude transcendence and purity.

Under the night sky, Yin Weiyin hurried into the courtyard, her breath quickened, crossing the threshold after taking a deep breath.

Seeing her arrival, Chen Yi was slightly surprised. Today wasn’t a day off, yet she had voluntarily come to this courtyard.

At that moment, Yin Tingxue was nestled in Chen Yi’s embrace, her cheeks slightly flushed. She buried her face a bit, nudging Chen Yi.

Chen Yi set Yin Tingxue down and turned his gaze toward the female crown.

She wasn’t wearing her usual plain white attire today. Instead, she wore cyan robes adorned with fire patterns and gold embroidery, tightly fitting over her curvaceous figure. Beneath was a layered black lotus-patterned skirt with a hem reaching low, covering her body in a way both complete and delicate. Under the candlelight, only her neck revealed snowy whiteness, radiant as mountain-top clouds drifting faintly.

Entering the hall, Yin Weiyin slowed her steps, gradually approaching Chen Yi. Chen Yi rose to greet her.

"Why have you come?" Chen Yi asked directly.

Yin Weiyin shifted her long, almond-shaped gaze away from his and replied softly: "Can’t I come?"

Her words sounded justified, which was true. She was technically a concubine in the mansion. However, Chen Yi couldn’t help but wonder—did she truly come here simply to have her cultivation enhanced?

As Chen Yi stared at her, Yin Weiyin became uneasy. She crossed her hands nervously, speaking in an even softer voice:

"Didn’t you say... If I ever got addicted, I could come by every day?"

Chen Yi was briefly stunned, then laughed:

"You’re truly willing to come every day?"

Yin Weiyin turned her head, unsure how to respond. She feared that speaking would make it true. After all, this visit had its ulterior motives.

Little Yin then intervened and relieved her elder cousin from the awkward situation.

The young girl brought over a cup of tea, pulling out a chair for her elder cousin. Yin Weiyin gratefully took the tea, avoiding the topic, and seated herself to sip the tea quietly.

Seeing both Yin Tingxue and Yin Weiyin in the hall, with Chen Yi present as well, Zhou Yitang, apparently anticipating what might happen, set down her teacup and stood up.

Chen Yi turned toward her and called out instinctively:

"Master..."

"You want me to stay?" Zhou Yitang said without looking his way.

Chen Yi hesitated, replying: "If you stay?"

"You can’t keep me."

Chen Yi realized and quipped: "Then I won’t keep you."

"In that case, I won’t stay."

With that, Zhou Yitang’s figure vanished almost instantly.

Chen Yi was taken aback for a moment before he finally reacted, smiling bitterly.

He then shifted his gaze back to Yin Weiyin.

The female crown’s fingers trembled slightly, seemingly catching on to his mood. His irritation at Zhou Yitang was unlikely to be directed openly, so she’d bear the brunt of it instead.

Though she inwardly thought that this wasn’t ideal and didn’t want this outcome, she had already come, and there was something she needed from him.

Yin Weiyin lowered her gaze, eventually stood up, and was immediately pulled into his embrace. Her body trembled lightly as she stiffly stood there for a long time before softly whispering:

"...Husband."

When those two words fell, Chen Yi froze slightly.

During a previous encounter, she had left saying she’d call him "husband" privately. Chen Yi hadn’t thought much of it at the time and soon forgot. Now hearing her whisper "husband," his heart couldn’t help but quiver faintly.

Even though they’d had intimate contact before, hearing her address him as "husband" was still a first.

Not only did Chen Yi pause, but Yin Tingxue was also caught off guard.

She lowered her brows, childlike and innocent. After all, she had been the first to call him "husband."

Sister Weiyang sure learns quickly...

But isn’t this...

Copying?

Watching her elder cousin act somewhat demure and dependent, Yin Tingxue felt conflicted. She feared Chen Yi might dislike her, yet feared he might like her too much.

Now that Master Zhou had likely gone to the guest room, Yin Tingxue, about to break through to Foundation Establishment Realm, didn’t want to stay any longer. What if Chen Yi pulled her back on a whim?

"I’m going to cultivate for Foundation Establishment," she said.

Chen Yi snapped back to focus, replying softly:

"Go ahead."

Yin Tingxue then walked off in small, light steps.

"She’s breaking through already?"

The female crown exclaimed, taken aback.

Even as someone who had held the title of Taichua Goddess for decades, it had taken her an entire year to reach Foundation Establishment Realm—a feat already considered extraordinary.

"She possesses Heavenly Ear Technique," Chen Yi explained.

"Oh... I see," Yin Weiyin responded woodenly, then turned to meet Chen Yi’s gaze, softly uttering again: "...Husband."

Chen Yi found it subtly pleasing and smirked playfully:

"It’s delightful to hear the Phoenix Empress call me that."

He deliberately teased, causing Yin Weiyin’s cheeks to redden further as she turned her head away, secretly using the corner of her eye to glance at him.

She took in his expression fully, relishing every detail. Though she acted indifferent outwardly, inwardly, she felt a quiet satisfaction.

If her mild methods elicited such a response,

winning his favor wasn’t as difficult as one might think.

She realized she’d previously taken the wrong approach, relying on manipulative tactics, which yielded little results. As cultivators, relying on destiny and heavenly will was the proper path.

Now he was gradually falling for her, evident as destiny at work. When the time came for her to rise, she would undoubtedly make him understand the distinction between immortal and mortal worlds.

For now, though... she had other matters to attend to.

Chen Yi toyed with the strands of hair by her cheek. He wasn’t convinced she had come merely out of longing; her claim alone wasn’t enough for him.

Surely... there must be something more.

As this thought crossed his mind, Chen Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Currently, he possessed nine True Yuan essences, five of which had been incorporated into the Resentment Yin-Yang Technique, making it ready for advanced breakthroughs. Dual cultivation would enhance mutual abilities significantly.

Even without dual cultivation, transferring True Yuan to her would allow her to digest it, naturally boosting her cultivation.

While Chen Yi wasn’t entirely opposed to dual cultivation, he couldn’t trust the woman before him, wondering if she might harbor dangerous thoughts.

This Taichua Goddess was skilled at nothing if not pushing boundaries.

"Do you have something you’d like to tell me?" Chen Yi stared at her directly and asked.

If Little Yin were here, she would surely remind Elder Yin to tell the truth.

But Little Yin had gone to cultivate for Foundation Establishment, leaving Yin Weiyin, who was grappling with her own guilty conscience.

After all, the Prince Mansion and Chen Yi were like nemeses. In the past, Yin Weiyin could avoid confrontation, but now she had no choice but to face it.

Yin Weiyin wasn’t sure what might happen.

If this man sought to humiliate her in front of her father and mother for petty revenge, what could she do?

Thus, she didn’t dare to speak too soon, even though Chen Yi had repeatedly asked her before to stay honest and tell the truth.

Though she addressed him as "husband," Yin Weiyin was no simple woman. She neither understood him nor had tried to.

"I have nothing much to say, just..."

Summoning courage, Yin Weiyin leaned against his shoulder, whispering with difficulty:

"...I slay the Red Dragon, you tame the White Tiger..."

Chen Yi narrowed his eyes slightly.

This female crown... was still hiding things from him.