Chihuang’s pretty face gradually darkened, and her gaze grew sharp as she looked at Qin Xuange. Her chest rose and fell slightly.
She knew that Qin Xuange used to visit Jiang Huai every day, but at that time, Jiang Huai had been bedridden, closely guarded by her and her Master, so they could not meet.
How many days had she been away? Now the two of them were already in this kind of relationship?
“It seems the relationship between you two has progressed quite rapidly. You have already reached this stage,” Chihuang said sourly, her gaze shifting to Jiang Huai.
She wanted to say a few more biting remarks, but her Master’s voice reached her ears via soul transmission:
‘Seven minutes. Come back quickly.’
Chihuang stiffened, feeling unwilling to leave, but she changed her tone and said softly, “Fine. If Young Lord Jiang does not wish to speak, then I shall return to my cultivation.”
“Please suit yourself, Young Lord Jiang.”
After saying that, she moved to stand and leave, though her movements were slow, clearly waiting for something.
Jiang Huai panicked and hurriedly stood up, saying, “I came this time to pay a visit to Clan Leader Chi Hong. Please inform her.”
“I have also brought a few gifts to show my sincerity.”
When visiting the Red Dragon Clan Leader, it would not do to bring nothing and come empty-handed.
Thus, Jiang Huai had selected several high-quality Spiritual Treasures and pieces of jewelry from his treasury to give to Chi Hong.
When Chihuang saw the jewelry in Jiang Huai’s hand, her Dragon Eyes lit up. However, remembering her Master’s soul transmission, she coughed twice and said with feigned regret:
“It is a pity, Jiang Huai. Ever since my Master returned from her last injury, she has been in closed-door cultivation. she instructed me not to let anyone see her.”
“Please come back another day.”
She did not shut the door completely; she only told Jiang Huai to return another day, at which point she would listen to her Master’s arrangements.
“I… I see,” Jiang Huai said hesitantly.
He stood there pondering, caught in a dilemma.
He could not just leave like this, could he? How long would the closed-door cultivation last? Would he have to start with the Azure Dragon and Yellow Dragon Clans instead?
Qin Xuange frowned slightly, staring directly at Chihuang, feeling suspicious of her words.
Ever since the five Great Dragon Clans moved into the Northern Plains Secret Realm, under the leadership of White Moonlight, a Great Ascension Stage expert, the five clans had remained in constant contact and coordination.
If Clan Leader Chi Hong were truly in closed-door cultivation, she should have handed over important matters to the Grand Elder or the Saintess before making a public announcement.
Qin Xuange had handled many affairs within her own clan and had never heard news of Clan Leader Chi Hong entering seclusion.
She had, however, heard that the Yellow Dragon Clan Leader and the Azure Dragon Clan Leader were away.
“Could you… pass word along? Just say that I am here to request an audience to discuss an important matter.”
“Tell her it concerns Clan Leader Chi Hong’s prophecy,” Jiang Huai hinted.
Chihuang’s expression shifted slightly, and she stopped in her tracks.
“A prophecy? What prophecy? Tell me about it.”
Why had she never heard her Master mention a prophecy?
“The seven minutes are almost up. Do you want to be placed in confinement?” Chi Hong’s voice came again, her tone stern.
Before Jiang Huai could answer, Chihuang waved her hand hurriedly.
“Fine, whatever prophecy it is can wait for later.”
“My Master said no one is allowed to disturb her while she is in seclusion. Please go back, Young Lord Jiang.”
She lifted her leg to leave, but her eyes frequently swept over the gifts in Jiang Huai’s hands. She coughed twice.
Jiang Zhun took the hint and immediately used his Lingli to deliver the gifts. They floated through the air and into Chihuang’s hands as he smiled.
“How can one take gifts back after coming to visit? Please accept my gifts, Saintess Chihuang, and bring them to Clan Leader Chi Hong.”
Chihuang accepted the gifts with satisfaction. She did not actually care about those few Spiritual Treasures; she simply wanted the jewelry inside.
After tucking the jewelry away, she remained standing there with her hands behind her back.
The tip of her red embroidered shoe tapped lightly on the ground as she winked at Jiang Huai, teasing, “Since Young Lord Jiang is so sincere, I shall give you a gift as well.”
She took out a pre-prepared jade belt from her Storage Ring and used Lingli to hand it to Jiang Huai.
“Here. This is my gift to you.”
Jiang Huai took the jade belt, feeling a bit at a loss for a moment.
By all rights, he should give Chihuang a return gift, but he had not brought a gift specifically for her this time.
Chihuang clearly saw Jiang Huai’s hesitation. She laughed inwardly, though her face showed displeasure.
“What about me? Do I not get a gift?”
“Only a gift for my Master?”
Jiang Huai hurriedly began rummaging through his Storage Ring for a suitable gift.
But before he could find one, Chihuang’s expression changed as if she had heard something.
She scurried back like a frightened puppy with its tail between its legs, muttering:
“Forget it. Just give it to me next time we meet, Young Lord Jiang.”
She left Jiang Huai and Qin Xuange stunned in place, eventually forcing them to leave.
“You exceeded seven minutes. Go back and stay in confinement for one month.”
Chi Hong sat cross-legged on a Putuan. She spoke with a stern tone to the recently returned Chihuang, her expression unchanging.
“Oh, Master, why must you be so restrictive? I did not even say much!”
“Did I not come back obediently? At least subtract the time it took to change my clothes,” Chihuang grumbled.
After returning to the living quarters, she kicked off her embroidered shoes and padded over to Chi Hong’s side on her bare feet.
She took out the two Spiritual Treasures, which consisted of a mirror and a long sword.
One could tell just by looking that these two treasures were extremely valuable.
They were at least at the Immortal Artifact level, faintly emitting Immortal Radiance and having been weathered by many Heavenly Lightning Tribulations.
“Master, look at how generous Jiang Huai is to bring out such gifts.”
“What does he want with you, Master?” Chihuang leaned against Chi Hong’s plump, soft body and placed the two Spiritual Treasures on the table, asking curiously.
“And what was he saying about a prophecy? Did you calculate something for him? What prophecy is there?”
Chi Hong stared at the two Spiritual Treasures on the table, feeling surprised.
Her pomegranate-red lips parted slightly.
She had not expected Jiang Zhun to be so generous, delivering such items right to her door.
If she wanted to obtain two such treasures from Qin Qingyue, she would likely have to expend a great deal of effort and trade many favors.
It seemed her guess had not been wrong. How could a mere Yin-Yang Body break through its physical limitations so easily?
If it were truly that simple, a few juniors at the Nascent Soul Stage could have accomplished it.
If that were the case, one wouldn’t even need the five Great Dragon Clans; finding a few high-level Five Elements cultivators would achieve the same result.
That would conflict with her prophecy regarding the Yin-Yang Body and the five Great Dragon Clans.
It appeared there was a massive karmic connection between this and the future closeness of those two.
“Hmph, is your Master not worthy of these few Spiritual Treasures?” A hint of a smile bloomed on Chi Hong’s mature, pretty face as she reached out toward Chihuang.
“What else? I see more than just these two Spiritual Treasures. I believe there were also a pair of earrings and a hairpin?”
Chihuang’s delicate body trembled, and she slumped softly into Chi Hong’s embrace, hugging her waist.
“Oh, Master, those little things are not even worth mentioning compared to the Spiritual Treasures! They are just jewelry. I did not see anything special about them; the style is quite ordinary.”
“Just consider it a fee for my errand.”
Chi Hong irritably patted Chihuang’s head and pinched her cheek. “Why do I feel like you are becoming more and more audacious?”
“What kind of errand fee do you want for seven minutes? Hand them over!”