“If you’re willing to seek me out for sparring after your injuries heal, you can find me here.”
Jiang Huai finished speaking and didn’t linger. With a slight movement, he walked toward the exit of the platform.
He had a vague premonition in his heart. ‘Chi Hong wasn’t lying. There must be some connection between the Yin-Yang Body and the Five Great Dragon Clans.’
With Qin Qingyue not by his side, he needed to take the initiative to contact these Dragon Clans.
The Black Dragon Clan was naturally indispensable.
If he could gather the five dragons by his side to study them, he might discover something.
Qin Xuange, as a member of the Black Dragon Clan’s younger generation, had not only refrained from hunting his Madam but also felt a sense of admiration for her.
She was undoubtedly a good person to contact.
Qin Xuange stood frozen on the spot, her eyes flashing with light.
She quickly raised her voice toward Jiang Huai’s retreating figure.
“Fine! Once my injuries are slightly better, I will definitely come!”
On the side, Chi Huang’s eyebrows twitched repeatedly. ‘What does this mean? Right in front of her face, they’re setting up “private work”?’
‘Was Jiang Zhun here to accompany her in sword practice, or was he here to recruit sparring partners?’
Once Jiang Zhun’s figure completely vanished into the wind and snow, only two people remained on the platform.
The atmosphere grew somewhat stagnant for a moment.
“Tsk.” Chi Huang crossed her arms and let out an ambiguous tsk without hiding it, glancing sideways at Qin Xuanxin.
Qin Xuange’s expression quickly tightened, returning to her usual coldness.
She stood up, her black robes fluttering.
Without even glancing at Chi Huang, she let out a cold snort.
Her Black Dragon Tail flicked slightly behind her as she turned and left the Ice Plain Platform with her maidservant.
“Husband Lord has returned.”
Inside the courtyard, which was as warm as spring, Chi Lian sat absentmindedly on a stone stool. Her gaze fell upon a Spirit Flower blooming in the yard.
It wasn’t until she heard the familiar footsteps that she snapped back to her senses and hurriedly rose to greet him.
A gentle smile spread across her face, but there was a strange look in her eyes.
“Yes, I’m back.”
Jiang Huai stepped into the courtyard, the lingering cold from the Ice Field quickly dissipated by the warmth.
Facing his own family, his face naturally shifted to a soft smile, like a spring breeze melting snow — a world of difference from his cold demeanor on the Ice Field.
“How do you feel today? Was Clan Leader Chi Hong diligent in her teaching?”
“The Clan Leader taught very meticulously. Many things I didn’t understand before have suddenly become clear today,” Chi Lian answered softly, her hands never stopping.
She led Jiang Huai to sit by the stone table.
With her delicate hands, she held the pot and poured him some Spiritual Tea.
Then, she moved behind him, her slender fingers kneading his shoulders and neck with moderate strength.
Her fingertips occasionally brushed against the skin of his nape, bringing a comfortable warmth. Her voice remained gentle.
“Husband Lord has worked hard today as well.”
Jiang Huai picked up the teacup and took a leisurely sip, enjoying Chi Lian’s thoughtful and considerate service.
He replied relaxedly, “I wouldn’t call it hard work.”
Sparring with Chi Huang was more about guiding and suppressing; it really didn’t consume much mental effort. His mind was still turning, pondering the matters of the Five Great Dragon Clans, when he suddenly thought of White Dew.
Should he find an opportunity to visit her? At the very least, he had to ask why she had been so cold recently.
“Husband Lord must be tired. Would you like to go inside and rest for a while?” She walked to Jiang Huai’s side and leaned over slightly, her beautiful eyes looking at him with a gaze that carried an unspoken expectation.
“Hmm? Go inside?”
Jiang Huai looked at the door right in front of him, then met Chi Lian’s eyes — which seemed as gentle as water but held a faint, different kind of light flickering within. Warning bells rang in his heart, sensing something was wrong.
“Maybe not. I was thinking of heading over to White Dew’s place to see Jianjia…”
He tried to find a reason not to stay tonight. Who could stand being suppressed like this every day? That look in her eyes was clearly wrong. If they went inside, he would definitely be pinned down again.
“It’s better to go inside.” Chi Lian had already reached out with her soft hand and gently grasped his.
Her movements were gentle and submissive, and her tone was even more tender. “Husband Lord.”
“No, really, I shouldn’t.” He tried to pull his hand away, his tone suggestive of negotiation. “I’ll go hold the child, just for a moment.”
“Oh.” Hearing this, Chi Lian actually let go of his hand.
She didn’t pester him but silently sat back on the nearby chair, turning her face away and leaving Jiang Huai with a beautiful but lonely profile.
Her thick eyelashes drooped, casting a small shadow under her eyes as if they were stained with moisture. Her voice was soft.
“Now that Husband Lord has seen the Young Miss, you no longer wish to be close to your Concubine. Have you finally discovered that this Concubine is inferior to the Young Miss?”
‘Hold the child?’ Last time White Dew sent someone to deliver a message, she had been listening right there.
“No, no, why would you say such things?” Seeing her aggrieved look, Jiang Huai’s heart softened.
He had no choice but to turn back and explain patiently. “I only made an exchange with Clan Leader Chi Hong. She gives you her true teachings, and I go point out Chi Huang’s sword practice. It’s all for your own sake. Besides, I wanted to use this opportunity to contact the various clans and understand the situation.”
Chi Lian seemed not to hear his explanation.
She merely raised her hand and very lightly wiped the corner of her eye with her sleeve.
In fact, there were no tear marks there, but the movement was full of grievance.
She still kept her head turned, her voice carrying a hint of a sob. “Go inside.”
Looking at her pity-inducing appearance, Jiang Huai knew she was likely faking it and could guess what she wanted to do once they went inside.
“Fine, let’s go inside, let’s go inside.” He sighed helplessly, taking the initiative to grab her hand in compromise.
Chi Lian obediently let him lead her. On her lowered face, the corner of her mouth curled into a slight, mischievous arc.
The moment they stepped through the door, the panels closed behind them, cutting off the light and sound from the outside world.
Jiang Huai’s vision suddenly blurred as a flash of red Spiritual Light flickered.
Immediately after, a force came from his elbow joint, instantly restraining his movements.
His whole body was involuntarily carried by a gentle force, and his back lightly hit the door panel.
Jiang Huai turned his head and met Chi Lian’s face, which was now inches away.
At this moment, the usual gentle watery light in her eyes had faded, replaced by a red glow like a burning fire, clearly reflecting the palpitations of the Yuq Period.
“Husband Lord.” Chi Lian’s breath brushed past his ear, a warmth that brought an itching numbness to his heart. Her voice grew a few shades deeper and huskier, no longer having its usual soft elegance.
“How did you teach the Young Miss her sword practice today?”
Jiang Huai felt helpless. Knowing she was jealous, he could only answer, “How else could I teach? Naturally, it was swords clashing back and forth, a sparring match.”
“Was there no physical contact?” Chi Lian asked again, her other hand’s fingers already skillfully slipping into the edge of his collar.
“None,” Jiang Huai answered curtly.
“Then Husband Lord is truly good.” Chi Lian pressed closer, almost sticking her entire body against him, her voice sugary sweet.
“Concubine wants to see ‘even better,’ is that alright?”
As she spoke, her fingers moved lightly, already undoing the belt at his waist.
Jiang Huai glanced at her.
The burning fire in her eyes told him that resistance would likely be futile.
He simply gave up struggling and let her proceed.
The black outer robe and inner shirt slid down his body, piling at his feet.
Chi Lian had Jiang Huai turn around.
Her gaze fell upon his body, lingering especially on his waist and hips.
Several clearly defined, rosy palm prints were starkly imprinted there, obviously not having been deliberately erased with his Lingli.
Many palm prints gathered together like a blooming red flower, tugging at Chi Lian’s heartstrings.
The smile on Chi Lian’s face blossomed, bright and searing.
“Husband Lord is so good; you didn’t even remove them.”
“Yeah! Are you satisfied now?” Jiang Huai replied irritably.
Chi Lian leaned down.
Under Jiang Huai’s slightly annoyed gaze, she pressed a warm and lingering kiss onto the place where the palm prints were with utmost devotion.
“Husband Lord will always be this Concubine’s good Husband Lord.”
As she spoke, she pulled out a Red Brush from behind her.