Outside Longyin Hall.
Zhuxin had been pacing in front of the enormous hall doors for quite some time.
In her hand, she tightly gripped the burning Scarlet Jade, her mind as if two tiny figures were fiercely battling within.
She frowned irritably, raising her hand several times to knock on the heavy door, only to lower it helplessly each time.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the two petite Dragon Ladies standing on either side of the door.
They were secretly sizing her up with curious glances, which made Zhuxin feel even more uncomfortable, her face burning red.
Just as she stood at a loss, almost ready to give up and turn away, a soft footstep came from behind her, accompanied by a faint and elegant fragrance.
“Oh? Isn’t this Sect Leader Zhu? Why are you lingering outside the Main Wife’s hall? Lost your way back to Sea Calming Hall, or perhaps…”
Su Yingman approached slowly, still wearing that gentle, smiling expression.
But when her eyes swept over Zhuxin’s flushed ears and the tightly clenched Scarlet Jade, a knowing and teasing glint appeared.
“Is there something hard to say—something you wish to tell the Main Wife and our husband?”
Zhuxin felt as if her heart had been read. A flush of embarrassment flashed across her face, but she retorted stubbornly, “Where I go is no business of yours.”
Su Yingman was unoffended and merely laughed softly behind her fan, “I wouldn’t dare presume. It’s just a coincidence— I happen to have business with the Palace Master.”
“If Sect Leader Zhu has nothing pressing, please proceed as you wish.”
With that, she swayed her slender waist and moved to knock on the hall’s door.
Just as the door was about to be struck, thinking that Jiang Huai might be inside and considering the purpose of her visit, Zhuxin steeled herself and nearly blurted out, “Wait!”
Su Yingman froze and looked back at her, the smile in her eyes deepening—just as she expected.
The Main Wife certainly knew how to get to Zhuxin so quickly.
Zhuxin avoided her gaze, steeling herself, her voice dry, “I happen to have a small matter as well.”
Su Yingman smiled meaningfully but said no more, gently pushing open the heavy hall doors.
Inside, the light was dim, and an oddly sweet and cloying fragrance filled the air.
Zhuxin took a deep breath, bracing herself like one about to sever ties with the past, and followed Su Yingman into the hall.
It was only to call out a few words to the Main Wife and the husband—how bad could it be?
However, the scene she expected—Qin Qingyue sitting upright on the Dragon Throne, Jiang Huai perhaps practicing swordplay nearby—did not appear.
What greeted their eyes froze the two experienced female cultivators in place, their pupils dilated.
At the center of the hall, atop the black jade Dragon Throne symbolizing status…
Qin Qingyue lounged lazily against the armrest, wearing only a few dragon scales that barely covered her.
One long, straight, jade-white leg was arrogantly propped up.
The delicate tip of her foot hooked a dark gold high-heeled shoe, teetering and swinging lightly, rhythmically.
Her slender body rose and fell with the slightest, steady movement.
Looking closer, Jiang Huai was tightly bound to the Dragon Throne by an extraordinarily resilient rope, restrained in an unconventional position.
He seemed to want to speak but had something stuffed in his mouth, producing only muffled whimpers, his eyes full of awkwardness and helpless indulgence.
Used as a seat cushion.
Qin Qingyue appeared to have sensed their arrival long ago.
She slowly ceased her movements and turned her head.
Her red slit pupils glanced sideways at the two women frozen at the doorway, as if struck by lightning.
Her face held no hint of embarrassment from being discovered, but rather a lazy, mischievous smile.
They were her own concubines, not outsiders.
If not for keeping Zhuxin at arm’s length, Su Yingman and she would have moved in long ago.
She even deliberately pressed down a little more firmly.
“Oh? Yingman and Rongxin?” Her voice was husky and casual, as if they’d just bumped into each other in the garden.
“Such poor timing.”
She extended her slender fingers and gently traced the sweat-dampened forehead of Jiang Huai, sighing in apparent resignation:
“Sigh, no choice.”
“My own husband is far too disobedient—neglecting his Sword Formula practice, always sneaking off to play.”
She tapped Jiang Huai’s nose with her fingertip, a mix of reproach and grievance.
“I told him clearly not to step beyond the hall door, and that he’d have to answer for his studies when he returned.”
“But before I knew it, he vanished without a trace. Such negligence—how can one expect to advance on the Dao?”
“As Palace Master, I have no choice but to give him a little ‘punishment’ myself, to teach him a proper lesson.”
“You should be able to understand my intentions are for his own good, right?”
She blinked innocently yet dangerously, her gaze lingering on Zhuxin’s face, which had instantly drained of color before flushing red again.
Su Yingman: “……”
Strict sword practice? Main Wife, when did you become so demanding of our husband’s lessons?
Zhuxin: “!!!” Understand? Understand what?!
Understand that you’re using your bound husband as a chair?!
Su Yingman quickly recovered from her shock, bowing her head, eyes downcast, struggling to hold back laughter as she respectfully said,
“Palace Master’s teaching methods are admirable; I am truly impressed.”
She knew Qin Qingyue’s twisted sense of humor all too well.
Zhuxin, however, felt a rush of heat surge to her head.
Everything before her was more absurd and surreal than any nightmare she had ever imagined.
The emotional turmoil stirred by the burning Scarlet Jade, the psychological preparation she’d built up to “soften” her words—all shattered by this scene.
And the guilt, born of herself.
It was because of her that Jiang Huai had ended up like this.
“Oh, right.”
Qin Qingyue suddenly seemed to remember something, her gaze returning to Zhuxin.
The high-heeled shoe at the tip of her foot ceased its swaying, hanging motionless.
“Zhuxin, what brings you here today? It’s been a long time since you appeared—do you have something urgent?”
Zhuxin was caught off guard by the direct question, her mind blank, and she instinctively replied,
“I-I came to see…”
“To see what…”
Qin Qingyue watched Zhuxin closely, even the high heel at her foot still.
Silently waiting for Zhuxin’s next words.
“Please, Main Wife, spare my husband.” Zhuxin lowered her eyes and said softly.
“He went to me, not off chasing pleasure.”
She opened her palm, revealing the Scarlet Jade quietly resting there, emanating intense heat.
“This was given to me by my husband today. The responsibility rests solely with me. I ask you, Main Wife, to spare him.”
A strange smile tugged at the corner of Qin Qingyue’s mouth as she finally released her lips.
“If he gave it to you, then keep it well and train hard—protect him in the future.”
“As for the consequences…”
She turned slightly, caressing Jiang Huai’s cheek.
“That’s not allowed. He must repay properly.”
“But…” Zhuxin interjected anxiously.
Pop.
Qin Qingyue slowly straightened, stretching out an exquisitely graceful yawn.
Her perfect curves were fully displayed in the dim light.
She waved carelessly at the two below—Zhuxin stunned and Su Yingman trying hard to make herself inconspicuous—
“That’s enough. Since you’re both here, come on in and line up.”
“I’m going to refine some Innate Primordial Qi first.”
Using a cultivation technique to refine Innate Primordial Qi—that was a good business.
Upon hearing this, Su Yingman almost immediately quick-stepped forward.
Zhuxin snapped out of her shock and abruptly grabbed Su Yingman’s wrist.