The Enchanting Empress Dowager Is Really Poisonous

Volume 2 Chapter 26 - Jiu'er Bathes, Bewitching Jin Yu

Leng Jiu felt as though her stomach was being twisted into knots. There was hardly anything left inside, and the taste of blood from earlier—his blood—lingered on her tongue, its metallic tang making her want to gag.

She tugged at Jin Yu’s sleeve, her voice weak, “I feel awful! Put me down!”

Jin Yu strode leisurely between the mushroom-shaped tents, her weight seemingly insignificant to him. “I think this is just fine. It’s the first time I’ve discovered a woman’s body can be so soft.”

Leng Jiu’s face darkened, and she retorted angrily, “You scoundrel! With so many women in the world, surely plenty would throw themselves at you. Why torment me? Just because I accidentally hit you that day? That was all because of that cursed snake—if anything, it’s your fault!”

Jin Yu casually patted her, his tone indifferent. “Stop talking. If you cause trouble, even I might not be able to save you.”

Leng Jiu’s face flushed. “You jerk! Where exactly are you hitting? Pervert!”

Jin Yu paused momentarily, his expression slightly awkward as he glanced down. Carrying her upside down like this, his casual pat had landed… on her soft, springy backside.

But the moment passed quickly. Jin Yu smoothed over the situation with a calm demeanor. “Didn’t you once say you’d repay me with your body? Now I just touched you, and suddenly I’m a pervert? Shouldn’t you feel honored?”

“Honored, my foot!” Leng Jiu’s face was red, not from embarrassment but from being carried upside down, causing blood to rush to her head. Furious, she glared at his legs, then suddenly yanked open his outer robe, wrapped her arms around his thigh, and sank her teeth in with the ferocity of a wild animal.

“Ow!” Jin Yu froze, his face twisting slightly. He could feel the distinct sting of teeth breaking skin. Glancing down at her with a deep, unreadable gaze, he muttered, “Are you part dog?”

Tasting blood in her mouth, Leng Jiu finally let go, spitting furiously to rid herself of the taste. “As expected, you’re a bastard. Even your blood tastes foul!”

Jin Yu raised an eyebrow. “I seem to have forgotten to tell you—my blood is poisonous, and there’s no antidote.”

Leng Jiu immediately began choking and coughing, her throat constricting in panic, rendering her speechless.

Satisfied, Jin Yu continued forward, his leg barely stinging—an insignificant pain to him.

“Young Master Jin!”

At a larger tent, the guards quickly pulled aside the curtains for him. Without glancing around, Jin Yu walked inside and tossed Leng Jiu onto a thick sheepskin rug. Without sparing her a second glance, he disappeared into the inner chambers.

Disoriented and dizzy, Leng Jiu lay sprawled on the ground, unwilling to move. After a while, she managed to recover enough to look around for water.

“Phew!” After downing several mouthfuls, she finally felt alive again. Surveying the space, she found a slightly elevated spot and plopped down to sleep. She didn’t care where she was—after being tormented for so long, she was utterly exhausted. Rest first, everything else could wait.

When Jin Yu emerged in fresh clothes, he found Leng Jiu curled up on a nearby mat, fast asleep. Her small frame was tucked into itself, her face buried in her arms. Long lashes rested gently on her cheeks, her delicate nose rose and fell softly, and her pink lips looked enticing. Stray strands of hair framed her face, lending her an air of quiet beauty. Despite the deliberate makeup meant to disguise her, her extraordinary features remained undeniable—a unique allure that explained why Long Yue Li had been so smitten.

Ordinary men, upon seeing such a beautiful woman sleeping so peacefully, might feel compelled to cover her with a blanket. But Jin Yu wasn’t one for tender gestures. He walked over and unceremoniously picked her up.

“Wake up! Time to go out!”

Leng Jiu opened her eyes, glaring at him. “No! I’m sleeping!”

“Not even to meet Crown Prince Chi Yin?”

“Even if it were the Jade Emperor, he can’t stop me from sleeping!” Sleep was paramount—she didn’t care about some prince.

Without further argument, Jin Yu grabbed her by the collar and dragged her out. Knowing resistance was futile, Leng Jiu simply wrapped her arms around his waist, twisting herself around him like a vine as they exited.

Jin Yu was speechless. He couldn’t fathom how a woman could be so brazen and shameless, clinging to a man in such an unseemly way. Did she have no regard for appearances? Her antics were bound to ruin his image. Judging by the wide-eyed stares of the guards, his reputation might already be in tatters.

With a sigh, he pricked her with a needle, then stuffed two pills into her mouth. “Stay alert! Crown Prince Chi Yin isn’t someone to trifle with. Even though you’re with me, if you don’t make an effort to see him first, he’ll definitely send people to investigate. If they uncover your identity, I can’t protect you!”

The jab and whatever pills he gave her instantly cleared Leng Jiu’s mind, chasing away all her drowsiness. Feeling resigned, she grumbled, “If not for you, would I even be here?”

Jin Yu ignored her, peeling her arms off his waist and gripping her collar as he strode toward the largest tent. Leng Jiu protested his rough handling, biting his hand in retaliation. Jin Yu frowned, pried her mouth off, and continued dragging her along.

“You’re back so soon. How was the harvest?”

A voice rang out as Jin Yu stepped inside, sharp and commanding yet unsettling, with an inexplicable undercurrent. The moment the words fell, Leng Jiu felt a chilling gaze settle on her. Instinctively, she looked up, locking eyes with a pair of bloodthirsty, ice-cold pupils—eyes that belonged to a god of death.

At the top of the main tent sat a large chair draped with a complete fox pelt. A man dressed in a black bear-skin robe occupied it. Even seated, he exuded an imposing presence, a suffocating aura that commanded fear and submission. His face, though deeply chiseled like those of the grassland tribes, carried an incongruous hint of delicacy. Pale complexion, blood-red lips—his features weren’t attractive but instead emanated a chilling, bloodthirsty cruelty.

The tales of Crown Prince Chi Yin described him as a ruthless killer, merciless and unpredictable. This man before her undoubtedly fit that description.

His cold, murderous gaze fell on her, a smile playing at his lips. Yet there wasn’t a shred of warmth in that smile; instead, it was enough to freeze the blood in one’s veins. One leg was propped up, but it didn’t rest on a stool. Instead, it pressed down on the bare back of a half-clothed woman. His boots, adorned with gold accents, had left a swollen red imprint on her exposed skin.

There were three other men in the room, all in their thirties, sporting thick beards and rugged, grassland attire. Each had a half-clothed woman kneeling beside him. These women stayed submissively on the ground, allowing themselves to be mistreated without raising their heads or uttering a sound.

Jin Yu, clearly accustomed to such scenes, carried Leng Jiu inside without a second thought. He headed straight for the seat nearest Crown Prince Chi Yin, a spot that had evidently been reserved for him. Servants quickly brought him food and drink. Sitting down, he replied casually, “The results were both fruitful and fruitless. However, the thousand cavalrymen Your Highness provided are unlikely to return.”

Chi Yin took a sip from his cup, squinting slightly. “A mere thousand cavalrymen. No matter how many you need, I can give them to you. Don’t let it trouble you.”

A thousand cavalrymen—thousands of lives—dismissed with such nonchalance!

“This time, however, cavalry won’t suffice. I’ll need Your Highness’s direct assistance,” Jin Yu said without a trace of politeness.

“Oh?” Chi Yin stretched out the syllable, then paused before asking, “What could require the involvement of this prince?”

“Has Your Highness ever heard of the ancient Teng Snake?”

“I’ve heard of it,” Chi Yin replied, his interest piqued.

“Then, would Your Highness be interested in seeing it with your own eyes—or perhaps subduing it personally?”

Chi Yin’s posture straightened slightly, clearly intrigued. “Are you saying that today’s discovery was the Teng Snake?”

Jin Yu nodded. “A once-in-a-millennium occurrence. It’s the real thing.”

“Ha! Excellent! This prince will help you!” Chi Yin declared, waving his hand grandly.

Jin Yu’s expression remained neutral as he offered a faint word of thanks. Leng Jiu, however, inwardly rolled her eyes. Jin Yu wasn’t holding back at all—sacrificing a thousand cavalrymen as cannon fodder wasn’t enough; now he wanted Chi Yin himself to step in. The terrifying Teng Snake, presented only as an ancient divine beast, was clearly a trap. If Chi Yin saw it in person, he’d likely regret his decision so deeply that it would gnaw at his very soul.

After agreeing, Chi Yin’s gaze shifted back to Jin Yu, his tone laced with ambiguity. “This prince knows you’ve always operated alone. Why bring a companion today? She seems… rather unusual.”

Jin Yu glanced sideways at Leng Jiu. “She’s just a little slave I picked up. Is Your Highness perhaps interested?”

“A slave?” Chi Yin raised an eyebrow. “This prince has never heard of you keeping slaves. You’ve always kept others at arm’s length.”

“Indeed. Let’s just say this one is a bit special—difficult to explain,” Jin Yu replied nonchalantly.

Leng Jiu kept her head down, pretending to be invisible. Deep down, she cursed Jin Yu furiously. A slave? You’re the slave! Your whole family are slaves! But now she understood why Jin Yu had insisted on bringing her along. This Crown Prince Chi Yin was no ordinary man. Though she had encountered her fair share of killers, none had an aura of bloodlust as dense as his. Without exerting any effort, his mere presence was enough to terrify. If she accidentally provoked him or drew his attention, she would surely be doomed.

Chi Yin had already discerned that Leng Jiu was a woman. Her simple disguise might fool the average person, but not someone whose martial arts prowess allowed him to discern the truth from her bone structure alone. It was precisely because she was a woman that she caught his attention. However, seeing her trembling and keeping her head low, he didn’t find her particularly noteworthy. To him, all women were the same—unworthy of interest.

Chi Yin’s gaze shifted away as he raised his cup to drink. The other men in the tent drank heartily as well, their conversation in an unintelligible language. Leng Jiu couldn’t understand a word.

After half an hour of this torturous scene, Jin Yu rose to take his leave. Leng Jiu naturally followed, though not by walking—once again, she was carried out. This time, she didn’t resist, letting Jin Yu have his way for the moment.

Back at the tent, Leng Jiu finally raised her head and asked, “Who exactly is this Crown Prince Chi Yin? Why does his aura feel so strange?”

Sitting cross-legged on a mat, Jin Yu didn’t hesitate to explain. “He was originally a prince of the Moker Grassland Tribe. However, because his mother was a slave, he was never valued and was even treated as a slave by his royal brothers. He suffered countless humiliations from a young age. By chance, he obtained a manual on sinister martial arts. Consumed by a desire for revenge, he trained obsessively, determined to kill them all. The evil techniques, tempered by centuries of bloodshed, gave him unparalleled power. There are few in this world who can match him.

“However, despite its strength, this martial art comes with severe drawbacks—an insatiable thirst for blood, a shortened lifespan, and changes to his appearance. It’s said that he was once an exceptionally handsome man, envied and despised by his brothers for his looks. Yet, after cultivating this art, he’s lost count of how many people he’s killed. With each life he takes, the stench of blood on him grows stronger, making it impossible to suppress. This is how he earned his reputation as the ruthless Crown Prince Chi Yin. But the technique is extremely damaging to the body, producing toxins that have already halved his lifespan.”

“Could it be that he’s helping you so you’ll cure the harmful effects of his sinister technique?” Leng Jiu asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jin Yu adjusted his robe with a casual flick of his fingers. “Cure him? His meridians have been entirely transformed by his inner power. Unless he’s willing to abandon all of it, he will never change. All I can do is help suppress the toxins in his body and extend his life.”

No wonder Crown Prince Chi Yin was so generous—his very life depended on Jin Yu, so what would he hesitate to give?

Jin Yu only sat for a moment before heading into the inner room. Leng Jiu, now fully alert thanks to his antics, decided to follow and see for herself. Stepping inside, she discovered a room filled with various medicinal herbs. A screen divided the roughly 100-square-meter space into two sections—one side held a bed, while the other was lined with shelves containing herbs of all kinds: plants, animal parts, even various stones. Another set of shelves was crowded with jars and containers of all shapes and sizes, the contents unknown. Though she didn’t open any, she could faintly hear a soft “hissing” sound from some of them, which instantly dampened her interest in staying there.

Just as she was about to retreat, Jin Yu casually took a small bottle from one of the shelves and turned around. “Come here and take this.”

Leng Jiu frowned. “… Are you seriously using me as a guinea pig?”

Jin Yu raised his gaze. “You don’t have to take it, but don’t come crying to me when the poison in your body flares up later.”

Hearing this, Leng Jiu reluctantly snatched the bottle, opened it, and poured out three thumb-sized pills. They were smooth and rounded but pitch black—definitely not something appetizing. “How many should I take?” Though they were supposed to be an antidote, she dared not take them recklessly.

“All of them.”

Her face darkened, but she obediently tossed the pills into her mouth, swallowing them whole without bothering to taste them. Once she was done, she set the bottle aside and immediately went to find water, not noticing the strange glint in Jin Yu’s eyes as he glanced at the empty bottle on the table.

Jin Yu busied himself inside, clearly in his element. Leng Jiu, disliking the atmosphere and unwilling to leave, ended up sitting outside in a daze. Her mind wandered—thinking about Gong Yuwei, Long Yue Li, and Hua Jin Zhi—before she sighed. Thinking about them was pointless. Cold Moon City was nearby, but the distance between her and them felt insurmountable. She had no idea when she would see them again.

By evening, someone brought food: roasted meat, barley wine, butter tea, and some flatbread. Hungry, Leng Jiu didn’t bother calling Jin Yu and ate on her own.

The sky had grown dark, but Jin Yu still hadn’t come out. Feeling gritty and uncomfortable, Leng Jiu wanted a bath but knew it was impossible here. She could only endure it, heading to the bed on the other side to lie down. Wrapping herself in the blanket, she fell asleep, deciding to deal with everything after a good rest.

After Leng Jiu had fallen asleep, Jin Yu finally emerged, holding a bottle in his hand. Giving it a shake, the sound of liquid sloshing inside was faintly audible. He walked over to the bed, brushed a hand over Leng Jiu’s acupoints to immobilize her, then lifted her and poured the contents of the bottle into her mouth. Only when the last drop of the faintly red liquid had disappeared did Jin Yu seem satisfied. Gently placing Leng Jiu back on the bed, he undid her acupoints and left the tent.

Pain. It was everywhere. Not just on the surface of her skin, but deep into her bones, as if her entire body was being ground down inch by inch. Leng Jiu writhed in agony, trying to open her eyes but finding it impossible. She could only roll helplessly, desperate to alleviate the pain, but nothing worked—it only intensified.

The torment lasted all night, a relentless ordeal that felt like it would kill her. Finally, at dawn, Leng Jiu opened her eyes, drenched in sweat. Even her outer clothes were soaked. The pain wasn’t a dream—it had been real. Then she realized her period had come.

Weak and miserable, Leng Jiu gritted her teeth and got up. She rummaged through the small cabinet, found some of Jin Yu’s clothes to change into, and improvised a makeshift pad from spare cloth. Once she was done, she collapsed back onto the bed, completely exhausted.

When the sun was fully up, Jin Yu returned, slightly damp, carrying a bundle in his hands. He glanced at Leng Jiu without a word, tossed the bundle to her, and went straight into his medicine room.

Leng Jiu opened the bundle to find a set of plain men’s clothes, similar to what she’d just changed into, along with a roll of cotton fabric. Her eye twitched. She hadn’t expected a man like him to buy such things.

Someone brought in food, and Leng Jiu dragged herself up to eat. The person who delivered it, however, gave her a look filled with both sympathy and something odd, leaving her speechless. Did she look like someone who needed pity?

After finishing her meal, Jin Yu appeared again, holding yet another bottle. “Drink this.”

Leng Jiu gritted her teeth. “Do you have any decency? I’m still recovering, and you’re making me drink these strange things?”

Jin Yu set the bottle on the table. “If you’d like to relive last night’s excruciating pain, feel free not to drink it.”

“I don’t believe you. Didn’t you say yesterday that taking the pills would prevent any problems? Then why did I still suffer all night?”

Jin Yu replied with brutal honesty, “Because I tested a new medicine on you after you fell asleep.”

Leng Jiu nearly choked with rage, her temper flaring. “What did you make me take this time?”

“No name, but it was enough to make you suffer all night,” Jin Yu replied. Leng Jiu felt a strong urge to stab him with a dagger, and she did exactly that. Without hesitation, she thrust the blade with all her strength, aiming mercilessly at Jin Yu’s throat.

Jin Yu caught her wrist. His hand wasn’t particularly thick, but the strength in his grip rendered her unable to move. His expression remained indifferent, showing no anger at her attempt to assassinate him. “With your current state, you think you can kill me?”

With a twist of his wrist, he disarmed her and sealed her acupoints, then poured the medicine into her mouth. With a faint sigh of exasperation, he said, “Wouldn’t it have been easier if you had just obediently taken the medicine?”

Leng Jiu was furious. She couldn’t beat him or outsmart him, and now she was being force-fed poison. She had never felt more wretched. Her body was already uncomfortable, and she lacked the energy to fight back or irritate him further. She simply finished eating and collapsed onto the bed for a long sleep.

That night, she once again experienced the excruciating pain, rolling off the bed onto the ground. By the next morning, her mouth and nose were streaked with blood—dark, viscous blood that was sickening to look at.

“Jin Yu! You bastard!” she screamed.

Jin Yu glanced at her impassively before sealing her acupoints again. He picked her up and carried her out of the tent, using his light-footed martial arts to cross the plains. Before long, they arrived at a small river, where he unceremoniously tossed her in.

“Splutter! Cough, cough!” Even though he released her acupoints at the last moment, Leng Jiu still ended up swallowing two mouthfuls of water. She struggled to the surface, coughing violently.

When she finally caught her breath, she realized Jin Yu was nowhere to be seen. Anger surged within her, but with no one to vent it on, she stayed in the water. The water was cool but surprisingly comfortable. Leng Jiu felt a bit puzzled but decided not to dwell on it. Since she was already in the river, she might as well wash up. Her body was filthy.

She stripped off her clothes, wrung them out, and set them aside before diving into the water. Like a fish, she swam freely, enjoying the faint grassy scent of the river and the occasional fish darting by. It was far more pleasant than the baths in the imperial palace.

She spent a long time underwater watching the small fish until she couldn’t hold her breath any longer. Breaking through the surface with a splash, water cascaded off her body as she wiped her face. That’s when she noticed Jin Yu had returned, holding a set of clothes and staring at her in shock. Though his expression was subtle, he seemed… startled?

To be precise, Jin Yu wasn’t startled but rather shocked—or perhaps disbelieving. He had arrived a while ago and had watched her snow-white figure move through the water like a peerless mermaid. He saw her play and chase the fish, then burst from the water with stunning beauty. Her soaked hair clung to her body, and the plain makeup that had concealed her features was washed away, revealing a face so captivating that it could enchant any man. Her eyes held a hint of charm, her lips were as vibrant as flowers, and her flawless, curvaceous body was fully exposed to him. The sunlight on her skin made it seem almost translucent, the water droplets glistening as they traced her perfect form, sliding along her curves. She tilted her head back to keep her hair off her back, causing her chest to lift prominently, entirely unhidden, fully displayed before Jin Yu.

Jin Yu’s understanding of the female body came mostly from dissecting corpses. He had never seen a living woman like this, let alone felt any kind of unusual reaction toward women. He didn’t even glance at them, let alone entertain thoughts of their bodies. But nothing he had ever seen compared to the breathtaking sight before him. It was as if she were a divine masterpiece, impossible to look away from.

Leng Jiu had no idea how stunning she looked or how much of an impact she had on Jin Yu. To her, Jin Yu seemed like the type who wouldn’t blink even if a naked woman stood before him. It wasn’t that she underestimated her own allure; it was just that Jin Yu had never shown any interest or desire toward women. So, she couldn’t fathom that her body had left him awestruck. Seeing his dazed expression, she felt a bit exasperated. “It’s just a woman’s body. Is it really so shocking?”

With that, she stepped out of the water, her long legs and everything else fully exposed. She felt no shame as she walked barefoot on the soft grass, grabbed the clothes from Jin Yu’s hands, and dressed quickly. After putting them on, she stretched contentedly. The bath had been incredibly refreshing.

Jin Yu finally snapped out of his daze, his gaze falling to the now fully dressed Leng Jiu. His eyes lowered slightly, betraying little emotion.

Leng Jiu didn’t notice anything unusual about him. If he had blushed or acted shy, she might have thought something was wrong. As she wrung out her hair, she asked, “What exactly did you make me drink yesterday?”

Jin Yu didn’t answer. Trying to compose himself and avoid looking unnatural, he turned to leave. But suddenly, he sensed something approaching. Without thinking, he spun around, grabbed Leng Jiu, and leaped several dozen meters away. In that instant, a massive creature erupted from the water, causing a large swell. Its enormous wings spread wide, sending droplets of water raining down.

Leng Jiu clung to Jin Yu’s shoulders, her anger forgotten as she stared at the monster with lingering fear. If she had still been in the water, it would have swallowed her whole without even a struggle.

Jin Yu held Leng Jiu tightly as he used his light-footed technique to retreat quickly. In moments, they were back at the camp, but the giant serpent wasn’t far behind.

“Ah! A monster!”

The soldiers at the gate turned pale at the sight of the Teng Snake, their shouts shaking the heavens, throwing the entire camp into chaos! If it had been ten thousand enemy soldiers, they might have been filled with hot-blooded resolve to charge forward. But facing such a colossal creature that demanded their gaze to the heavens, its sheer visual impact was enough to instill terror in anyone.

Jin Yu placed Leng Jiu back in the tent, lowered his head to sniff her scent, and sighed deeply, “A woman with a pure yin body, and at its peak right now—no wonder you managed to attract the Teng Snake.”

After speaking, he stood up. “Stay here and don’t come out!”

With a flash of white, he turned and disappeared!

“It’s coming closer! Heavens, what kind of monster is this?”

“Run! It’s a monster!”

Some shouted in Han, others in the language of the grasslands, and in no time, the place was in utter chaos!

Leng Jiu wrapped her face with a handkerchief and used something to cover her head before walking to the door, peeking through a small crack. She saw the soldiers running in fear, utter panic filling the scene. At the front of the camp stood two figures atop two tents, one black and one white. One was ethereal like an immortal—Jin Yu, naturally—while the other, resembling a bloodthirsty demon, was the Crown Prince of Chi Yin!

The Teng Snake halted thirty meters away from them, its massive eyes gleaming with malice, its bloodthirsty aura rivaling that of the Crown Prince of Chi Yin.

Perhaps due to the presence of this ancient beast, the sky, which had been bright with spring sunlight, dimmed, and a light drizzle began to fall.

The soldiers who had fled were forced back by a few commanding officers. They all drew their weapons, forming a tight group to face the Teng Snake.

The Crown Prince of Chi Yin slightly rotated his drooping hand, and black inner power condensed into a tangible mist in his palm. Suddenly, a crimson blade appeared in his hand, as though summoned from nowhere. The blade was instantly shrouded in the black mist, turning into an ominous dark hue.

Jin Yu also became serious, gathering powerful inner energy in one hand and holding a silver whip in the other, its origin unknown. The aura around both of them surged—a stark contrast of white and black, immortal and demon.

“Roar!” The Teng Snake couldn’t wait any longer. It let out a deafening roar before lunging forward, its massive wings stirring up gusts of wind.

Jin Yu and the Crown Prince of Chi Yin leapt simultaneously, their concentrated inner power forming tangible attacks aimed at the Teng Snake’s wings.

“Boom!” The Teng Snake flapped its wings, clashing with their strikes. The resulting impact sent blood and flesh flying in the air. Jin Yu and the Crown Prince were forced back, their forms unstable. Although the Teng Snake’s wings suffered loss of scales and flesh, the injuries were shallow, only further enraging the ancient creature.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!” This time, the sound seemed to originate from its belly, a terrifying resonance that chilled everyone to the core.

Jin Yu and the Crown Prince didn’t pause, attacking again with their weapons brimming with deadly intent.

Another tremendous clash ensued, but this time their efforts bore more significant results. Both of the Teng Snake’s wings were severely damaged, and it writhed in pain, retreating rapidly by dozens of meters.

Jin Yu’s whip became taut like a sword, and he didn’t give the snake any respite, leaping forward to slash repeatedly. Scales began to fall from the creature with each strike. The Crown Prince leapt onto its back, using his bloodthirsty blade to carve off more scales. Finally, the two pooled their inner energy into one final blow. The Teng Snake was cleaved apart from head to tail, its blood raining down like a storm, staining the ground crimson.

“Boom!” The massive body of the Teng Snake collapsed to either side, creating two large pits as it thrashed a few more times before lying still.

“Clatter!” The Snow Mountain Flying Dragon galloped through the rain, catching Jin Yu as he landed before rushing toward the tent. Jin Yu scooped Leng Jiu up without a word, retrieved something from the room, and immediately urged the Flying Dragon out of the camp. As they passed the Crown Prince of Chi Yin, he tossed a package. “A token of gratitude for the prince’s assistance!”

With that, he spurred the horse forward, ignoring the drizzle as they sped away!

The Snow Mountain Flying Dragon raced across the grasslands. Leng Jiu, seated in front, found it difficult to keep her eyes open against the cold rain and wind. Suddenly, she felt a weight on her back. Realizing what was happening, she looked around and directed the Flying Dragon northward, where the Leng Yue military camp lay not far ahead.

After an hour of hard riding, she spotted the high city walls and guards from a distance. Instead of heading directly there, she detoured to a lower section of the wall, guiding the Flying Dragon to leap over it. Weaving through low dwellings, she arrived at a stable where the horse stopped.

Now sheltered from the rain, Leng Jiu dismounted. Jin Yu’s body slumped over with her movement, and had she not caught him in time, the godlike healer would have face-planted unceremoniously.

Jin Yu’s face was pale, his eyes closed, and a trace of blood lingered at the corner of his lips. Gravely injured, he had fallen unconscious.

Leng Jiu considered abandoning him. After all, he’d been nothing but despicable, forcing her to take poison and tormenting her at every turn. She had every reason to let him die. But then she recalled how he hadn’t abandoned her during the danger with the Teng Snake, not once but twice. Fine, she thought. Consider this an act of charity.

She remembered he carried many medicines on him, so she rummaged through his clothes, pulling out a few pills. Examining them briefly, she had no clue what they were or what effects they might have. Oh well, she thought, since they’re his own concoctions, they shouldn’t kill him. Tossing all the pills into his mouth, she felt a small sense of vindictive glee. Let him experience the consequences of taking random drugs for a change!

The stable was empty and clean, with plenty of dry hay. She struggled to move him onto a pile of hay before clearing an area to start a fire. Lacking flint, she patted the Flying Dragon and left to borrow some. Most homes were deserted due to the impending war, but after some searching, she found an elderly couple who lent her a fire starter.

Returning carefully with the fire, she lit the hay and noticed two bundles of wood beneath the pile, a stroke of luck. Arranging the logs, the fire soon burned warmly.

Removing her wet outer garment to dry, she turned to Jin Yu. Who would’ve thought she’d ever get to undress him without a fight? How unpredictable life could be. She removed his outer robe, which was barely damp thanks to its special material, and hung it to dry. Feeling his inner clothing still dry, she couldn’t help but feel envious. Why was her attire soaked through?

She adjusted his legs closer to the fire and brushed damp strands of hair away from his icy face. Rubbing her hands together for warmth, she pressed them against his cheeks.

Rain continued to fall outside, its soft patter broken only by the occasional crackle of the fire. The quiet was almost soothing.

Though not skilled in checking pulses, Leng Jiu occasionally tested his breath to ensure he was alive. She wouldn’t mind if he died—less trouble for her—but it’d be a shame for such beauty to go to waste. Glancing at his face, she clicked her tongue. Such a rare and exquisite face, lost to the world if he perished. Still, he showed no interest in women or men, so maybe his beauty was wasted regardless. How could such a cruel man be so favored by the heavens?

Shifting slightly, she leaned against the wall, Jin Yu’s head resting on her lap. His unbound hair fell loosely, and she brushed it aside to keep it from dampening his clothes.

Time ticked by, and just as she began to doze off, the man on her lap stirred. Snapping awake, she patted his cheek. “Awake?”

Jin Yu shifted and opened his eyes, gazing around with a trace of confusion before focusing on her face. For some reason, Leng Jiu felt something was off about his gaze. The deep, ink-black eyes she saw—were they really Jin Yu’s? Why had she never noticed them before?

Seeing his reflection in her eyes, Jin Yu’s own flickered. Without warning, he flipped over, pinning her beneath him. An enigmatic smile spread across his face as his icy lips descended upon hers.

Leng Jiu’s eyes widened at the unexpected kiss, unable to comprehend what was happening. Jin Yu left her no time to think, skillfully parting her lips and invading her senses with the coolness of snow and the faint scent of medicine. His tongue quickly found hers, entangling passionately.

It wasn’t forceful, nor clumsy. It was practiced and fervent. By the time Leng Jiu realized what was happening, he’d already taken her defenses. His actions left her heart tingling. As he kissed her, his eyes closed, dark lashes casting shadows over his face. That teardrop mole on his temple glistened with an almost bewitching allure. Staring at his handsome features, Leng Jiu felt a little dazed.