Zhu Siyao stood at the door, glancing into the inner room from time to time.
Her gaze remained fixed on Jiang Huai’s wrist, where blood trickled steadily.
A look of obvious worry hung on her face, but she knew better than to disturb him now.
‘Being immersed in his mind for this long should mean it’s working,’ she thought. ‘Perhaps he’s already established contact with that predecessor of the Yin-Yang Body.’
Still, she couldn’t help but fret. ‘Even if they can talk, why stay for so long? Wouldn’t a few instructions on the cultivation method of the Yin-Yang Body be enough?’
‘Can’t whatever they’re saying wait until his injury heals?’
‘Come to think of it, can someone else bleed in his place? If so, I could…’
As Zhu Siyao’s mind wandered, the sound of rushing wind suddenly reached her ears.
Her heart jolted. The sword at her waist unsheathed in an instant, her long hair drifting upward despite the lack of wind.
Blazing fire-attribute Lingli surged outward as she widened her beautiful eyes and shouted, “Who’s there?!”
A black light flashed. When she saw the face of the newcomer clearly, Zhu Siyao’s heart skipped a beat, and her lips trembled slightly.
Qin Xuange landed steadily at the courtyard gate.
Seeing Zhu Siyao’s hostile stance, she quickly waved her hands and said apologetically, “My name is Qin Xuange. I mean no harm. I’ve only come to see Jiang Zhun. Saintess Chi Lian knows about this; I used to come here often.”
Qin Xuange recognized the woman before her, who was radiating a scorching aura. This was the Master Sister of the Nine Heavens Palace, Zhu Siyao.
She looked the woman up and down, sensing the quality of her Lingli. She couldn’t help but marvel inwardly, ‘The younger generation of the Nine Heavens Palace is truly impressive.’
‘Even though the woman before me is only at the Nascent Soul stage, she gives off a very dangerous feeling. Her Lingli even feels a bit like Jiang Huai’s. Is that the effect of a Nine Heavens Palace Gongfa?’
Zhu Siyao, naturally, had no idea what the other woman was thinking.
Half of her Original Source had been forged by Jiang Huai, so the Lingli she released was naturally of the same source as his.
“Qin Xuange…”
She stared at the woman’s face and the dragon horns on her head, finally realizing that this was the Saintess of the Black Dragon Clan, not Qin Qingyue.
“At first glance, I thought the Main Wife had returned. You scared me to death,” Zhu Siyao muttered. “My husband is busy right now. He doesn’t have time to see you.”
Qin Xuange hesitated at the door, a smile gracing her pretty face. “Could you please inform him? Just say Qin Xuange wishes to see him regarding an important matter.”
Zhu Siyao didn’t really want to look at her, but that face was simply too striking. It made it difficult for her even to speak harshly. Softening her tone, she said, “Saintess Qin, it’s not that I won’t help you, but since I’ve said this, it’s because Jiang Huai is truly occupied with something urgent.”
“Once he’s finished, I will definitely inform him for you, alright?”
She smiled with narrowed eyes, appearing gentle, but she was secretly grumbling to herself. ‘When did Jiang Huai get involved with a woman from the Black Dragon Clan?’
‘And this woman looks so much like Qin Qingyue. What is he thinking? He couldn’t be looking for a replacement, could he?’
Zhu Siyao studied the woman again. If she applied a bit of makeup and dressed up, she would indeed look exactly like Qin Qingyue.
Seeing her insistence, Qin Xuange thought for a moment and stood outside. “Very well. I’ll wait here for a while.”
Based on Zhu Siyao’s words, Jiang Huai was likely awake but busy with important matters.
It wasn’t as if he was intentionally avoiding her. Since that was the case, he would eventually finish. She would simply wait.
‘However, even after I said all that, she isn’t going to invite me into the courtyard to wait?’
Qin Xuange looked at Zhu Siyao’s face expectantly, but Zhu Siyao ignored her completely, having no intention of inviting her inside.
Beneath the starry sky, Jiang Huai’s face was pale.
He had intended to withdraw, but thinking there were still things left unsaid, he continued to ask, “Predecessor, do you mean to say I must have the Yin Yuan of a Red Dragon?”
The Woman in Green nodded and smiled. “Indeed. It is quite strange, actually. You have a Red Dragon Mark on your body, yet you don’t possess the Yin Yuan of a Red Dragon?”
“Not only that, you will also need the Yin Yuan of an Azure Dragon and a Yellow Dragon.”
“Can’t you just go back and ask for some?”
Jiang Huai shook his head, thinking of Chi Lian. He asked again, “I should have Red Dragon Yin Yuan in my body!”
“Predecessor, please look again…”
The Woman in Green laughed. “You do. I can see that you indeed have Red Dragon Yin Yuan in your body, as well as the Yin Yuan of a Pure Yang Body and a Mysterious Bright Body. It seems you are quite lucky with women.”
“However, it must be the Yin Yuan of the specific Red Dragon who carved that mark.”
Jiang Huai fell into silence. If that were the case, didn’t it mean he had to find Chi Hong to get her Yin Yuan? How was he supposed to bring that up?
“Can I have a different one carved?” he asked again.
If he could use Chi Lian’s, it would save him a lot of trouble.
But then Jiang Huai remembered the prophecy Chi Hong had once told him, and a bad premonition rose in his heart.
Sure enough, the Woman in Green shook her head, but then nodded. “It’s not entirely impossible.”
Jiang Huai felt a surge of joy and leaned forward.
“However, that would require two Red Dragon marks. Then, the marks of the other dragons would also have to increase for it to be effective.”
“I can’t guarantee it will work, though.” The Woman in Green watched Jiang Huai’s expression shift from joy to gloom and let out a light chuckle, reaching out to pat his head.
“Don’t make that face. You are a male Yin-Yang Body. Now that the Human Race has reached a moment of crisis, you must not only protect the Five Provinces but also ensure the proliferation of your lineage.”
“We Yin-Yang Bodies have the best relationship with the Dragon Race. They will understand you. Go and ask for the Yin Yuan.”
Jiang Huai said with a bitter face, “That’s not the same thing.”
“It is exactly the same thing. Don’t look so miserable,” the Woman in Green teased with a laugh. “Alright, seeing as you aren’t in the best state, do you have anything else to say?”
Jiang Huai dithered for a moment and slowly shook his head. “No more. I should head back.”
“Then go back. If there is anything you don’t understand, come find me again,” the Woman in Green replied.
Jiang Huai nodded. His figure gradually began to fade as he started to sever the Essence Blood connection between them.
The Woman in Green watched him for a moment before slowly turning around.
She looked back toward the bright stars, the places she had protected during her lifetime.
Each of those bright stars was a Small World she had once put all her effort into guarding.
Jiang Huai suddenly remembered something and asked, “Predecessor, is there any chance I can resurrect you?”
“Is there any way to restore your consciousness?”
The Woman in Green paused. A complex expression appeared on her face. With her back turned to Jiang Huai, she waved her hand and spoke with a slightly melancholy tone, “I don’t know. Matters of life and death are far greater than those of Yin and Yang.”
“If there is a chance, you can try. If there isn’t, do not let it become an obsession. My task is, in truth, already complete.”
Jiang Huai’s vision began to blur. All the scenery vanished, and he snapped his eyes open.
The room was bright and warm, but Jiang Huai felt a chill. He looked at his arm; compared to before, it was deathly pale, with blue veins clearly visible.
“Sigh,” Jiang Huai sighed.
That drop of Essence Blood had been half consumed. With a wave of his hand, he guided the remainder back into the ceramic bottle.
He glanced at the remains inside the crystal coffin with lingering fear, muttering under his breath, “So you knew all along.”
Fortunately, he had asked Zhu Siyao to search the body earlier; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to explain himself just now.
“You’re awake? What’s wrong?” Hearing the commotion, Zhu Siyao hurried inside. Her tone was full of concern as she carefully scrutinized Jiang Huai’s face.
It seemed it really wasn’t anything serious. Thinking about how solemn she had been earlier, her face felt a bit hot.
“A dragon came looking for you,” she said, changing the subject.
Jiang Huai felt a jolt of alarm. ‘Could it be Chi Hong or Chi Huang?’