“Where did you go? Where did you go? Where did you go?”
Qin Qingyue’s high heels clicked sharply against the floor as she pressed with her questioning voice.
“Tell me quickly, where did you go?” She extended her slender fingers and gently lifted Jiang Huai’s chin, forcing him to meet her gaze.
The dragon tail behind him stopped its lively swaying and instead moved slowly and dangerously from side to side.
It seemed ready at any moment to coil around him and deliver a severe interrogation.
Jiang Huai looked into those crimson vertical pupils so close to his face, eyes filled with faint anger and a peculiar amusement.
Suddenly, he reached out and lightly wrapped his arms around her slender waist, pulling her closer into his embrace.
He chuckled softly and confessed, “I sent the red jade stone and those immortal materials to Zhuxin.”
Qin Qingyue was momentarily stunned.
Of course, she had long known where Jiang Huai had gone; the faint fire element aura on him, and the subtle Orchid Fragrance that belonged to Zhuxin, did not escape her notice.
She had expected Jiang Huai to offer some excuse or evasion, but he surprisingly laid everything out straightforwardly.
Her little plan to turn this into a “punishment game” for some fun was instantly dashed, and she felt a slight pang of disappointment.
“You confessed so quickly, how am I supposed to have any fun?” she muttered softly, pouting her red lips in mild displeasure.
If he had told a small lie, she could have “interrogated” him properly and played the game.
“What’s the use of deceiving you?” Jiang Huai shook his head with a serious tone.
Since they were family, honesty was the best policy; he detested pointless suspicion and lies.
Seeing Jiang Huai’s candidness, Qin Qingyue reined in her playful thoughts, straightened her expression, and adopted a slightly admonishing tone.
“Jiang Huai, I really need to have a serious talk with you.”
“Do you even know what you gave away? Do you know how valuable that thing is?” She raised her hand and tapped his forehead lightly but firmly with her knuckles, voice filled with both pain and reproach.
“That ancient Fire Attribute Cultivation Method is far stronger than the Ancestral Treasure Technique of the Blazing Sun Sect. It’s enough for the Zhujia to keep as a secret heirloom for generations!”
“And you just gave it away like that? Holding this cultivation method could have kept her indebted to you for a long time, you prodigal son!”
The more she spoke, the more her pain grew, as if she saw countless rare resources sprouting wings and flying away.
It was the first time Jiang Huai had seen Qin Qingyue so heartbroken and nagging like this, and he realized that the gift’s significance far exceeded his original estimate.
He hurriedly tightened his embrace, holding her even closer, and smiled in a coaxing way.
“I know, I know it’s priceless, but Qingyue…”
His tone became sincere.
“I think if we really did what you said—keep dangling it over her and manipulating her—given Zhuxin’s personality, it might backfire.”
“I believe she’s extremely proud but surprisingly easy to soften inside.” Jiang Huai carefully organized his words.
“So, I want to just give it to her honestly.”
Listening to Jiang Huai, Qin Qingyue fell silent for a moment.
Her red dragon pupils fixed on him unwaveringly, as if trying to see into every thought buried deep in his soul.
Perhaps because they grew up in entirely different environments, their approaches to human nature were poles apart.
Apart from this man, Qin Qingyue had rarely ever given her true heart to anyone else.
In her eyes, the only way to firmly bind someone was through tangible benefits and overwhelming control.
“Jiang Huai.” After much thought, she spoke slowly, her tone unusually grave.
“Sometimes, don’t be too naive. Exchanging sincerity for sincerity is something very hard to come by in this world.”
“This is the Cultivation World—filled with schemes and struggles for survival, the law of the jungle—not your Secular Dynasty where laws and morality still hold some sway.”
“Don’t easily give your true heart to anyone other than me.” She emphasized sharply, a subtle worry hidden deep in her eyes.
She feared that Jiang Huai’s innocent heart might lead him to do foolish things that were out of place in this cruel world, especially if he ever ventured alone into secret realms or dangerous places, inviting disaster.
She had experienced the coldness and darkness of this world too deeply.
“I understand your intention.” Jiang Huai met her gaze and nodded earnestly.
“I’m not naive about the world—I know that most of the time, sincerity can’t compare to real benefits, and people’s hearts can be treacherous.”
He understood this world’s harsh reality but believed there had to be exceptions.
“I know sincerity might fall on deaf ears. Maybe giving such a precious gift to Zhuxin is just fulfilling her wishes and won’t stir a single ripple of true feeling.”
“But… someone has to take the first step, and offer their true heart first, right?” Jiang Huai said, staring at Qin Qingyue.
“I’m willing to be that person who reaches out first.”
He paused.
“Also, I don’t want to owe her too much.” After all, the loss of Primordial Yin was related to him.
No matter what Qin Qingyue thought, he had his own perspective.
Not saintly, but certainly not cold-blooded.
At his words, Qin Qingyue remained silent for a long while, staring intently at Jiang Huai.
Her red eyes flickered as if wanting to say something but swallowing it back, only managing to say:
“You’re really naive. You’re the most naive person I’ve ever met.”
Indeed, if he wasn’t born with such a nature, why would he have stayed by Wu Zhaohua’s side in that place, taking care of her so attentively for so many years?
If not for this nature, why did he step forward to pull her sword out that day, why did he courageously rush to save her by the River of Misfortune?
“It’s just this time, you used my stuff as a favor.” Jiang Huai smiled sheepishly.
“Consider it a debt I owe you.”
“Hmph!” Qin Qingyue finally broke free from the complicated emotions and snorted lightly, raising her chin.
Actually, she didn’t care at all that Jiang Huai used her things—what was hers was his.
But she refused to let him off the hook verbally: “Of course, it counts as you owing me!”
A mischievous gleam suddenly flashed in her eyes, sweeping away all the previous solemnity and replacing it with a familiar, teasing expression that made Jiang Huai’s scalp tingle.
Her dragon tail silently coiled around his calf, slowly climbing upward.
“Since you owe a debt, you’d better pay it back properly…”
Her red lips pressed close to his ear, breath fragrant as orchid.
“Darling, how do you plan to repay me?”
Before Jiang Huai could answer, her fingers nimbly slipped inside his clothes.
The dragon tail swiftly pinned Jiang Huai down onto the Dragon Throne.
Somehow, Qin Qingyue’s hands now held a sturdy rope.
“Actually, I could compensate you in other ways,” Jiang Huai said solemnly as he was tied down onto the Dragon Throne by Qin Qingyue.
“My Innate Primordial Qi is already complete. I can pass it to you to strengthen your power.”
Now that he had advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, he could transfer his Innate Primordial Qi, which was even stronger than Jade Liquid Qi Refining, to Qin Qingyue.
Qin Qingyue paused briefly in her binding but continued to securely tie him to the Dragon Throne, rendering him immobile.
Seeing Jiang Huai thoroughly bound, Qin Qingyue nodded with satisfaction and took out a pill, feeding it into his mouth.
“This is a pill refined by Su Yingman, a secret of the Huanhuan Sect. Try it.”
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