Ji Yun's expression changed slightly. He reflexively turned to strike back, but his movements were restricted by the Stiffening Powder.
Before his attack could even reach Yuan Shu, she dodged it with ease.
He started to panic.
Previously, when he found out this woman was the newly appointed guest elder of Yaoyun Peak, he had been completely dismissive of her.
Especially after hearing that she was merely an expelled core disciple from Qingyun Peak.
But to his surprise, her strength was so bizarre!
For a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, her movement speed and agility were no less than his own.
And then there was that weird Stiffening Powder. He didn't even know when he had fallen into her trap!
After exchanging two more blows and feeling the power within him growing increasingly sluggish, Ji Yun gritted his teeth and stealthily pulled some medicinal powder from his Qiankun bag.
Taking advantage of their clash, he fiercely threw it right at her face!
Having anticipated this, Yuan Shu immediately waved her long sleeve, sweeping all the powder straight back into Ji Yun's face.
Ji Yun reflexively tried to dodge, forgetting that his movements were currently slowed by nearly two degrees.
The moment he turned his head, his face was covered in the powder!
Bang!
Yuan Shu struck Ji Yun's chest with her palm, sending him stumbling back until he slammed hard against the tree trunk behind him.
But at this moment, Ji Yun couldn't care less about the pain in his chest. He hurriedly brushed the powder off his face and body.
In a sheer panic, he pulled a porcelain bottle from his Qiankun bag, shook out two pills, and tried to toss them into his mouth.
A slender, fair hand reached over first, snatching the pills from his fingertips and taking the bottle from his hand along with them.
Is this... the antidote to this poison?
Yuan Shu rolled the pill between her fingers. With a brief sniff, she identified the main ingredients and raised an eyebrow.
An antidote for an aphrodisiac? The powder you just threw wouldn't happen to be the same aphrodisiac you used on Ji Qingyan, would it?
Ji Yun's face looked dreadful. He stumbled forward, trying to snatch it back. Give it back to me!
Holding the medicine bottle, Yuan Shu easily dodged his hand.
The scent of the Joyous Passion Flower. It really is an aphrodisiac. So vicious at such a young age, using an aphrodisiac on a frail, weak woman?
Yuan Shu shook her head, clicking her tongue.
A weak woman?
Ji Yun was about to die of anger from Yuan Shu's words.
Would a weak woman be able to detect his presence, silently approach him, and drug him?
How was she a weak woman in any way?
On the surface, she looked like a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, but in reality, she was more of a Golden Core expert than he was!
Give it back right now!
Ji Yun roared, lunging forward to grab it again. But just as his hand reached Yuan Shu, she grabbed it and pulled him toward her.
The antidote bottle, pinched between her delicate white fingertips, was slowly brought up and dangled right in front of Ji Yun's eyes.
It seemed like he could reach it if he just stretched out his hand.
But when he actually reached out, Yuan Shu pulled the bottle away again.
Like teasing a dog.
Yuan Shu leaned in with a beaming smile, her tone incredibly punchable. Can't get it. Are you mad?
Ji Yun turned his head and glared at her viciously. If she hadn't hit him with that damn Stiffening Powder, how could he possibly fail to grab it?
This damn woman, this cunning woman. She must have secretly drugged him while he was focused on lifting the roof tiles.
He had been careless!
Do you know who I am? You dare offend me?
Anyone in Yaoyun Peak who had ever offended him had been tormented until they were incontinent and wishing for death!
This Yuan Shu had some nerve!
Ji Yun threatened her with a ferocious expression, but to his surprise, Yuan Shu was completely unaffected, the faint smile remaining on her face.
Tilting her head in thought, she said, Yaoyun Peak, Ziyang Hall, right? Are you that legendary core disciple of Ziyang Hall who was bold enough to drug the Sect Master?
Oh, no, I should call you the new Hall Master of Ziyang Hall now, since your master went down the mountain.
Yuan Shu slowly and methodically stated his identity.
You really do know who I am? And yet you still dare treat me like this? Ji Yun gritted his teeth, looking at Yuan Shu in disbelief.
Among those who knew of his track record, who wasn't so terrified that they didn't even dare approach Ziyang Hall?
This woman, she was far too audacious!
At first, I thought you were pretty impressive. But looking at you now...
Yuan Shu looked him up and down, the corner of her lips curling up. ...it seems you're nothing special.
You!
Ji Yun's cheeks flushed crimson. It was hard to tell if it was the drug taking effect or if he was just infuriated by Yuan Shu.
Yuan Shu narrowed her eyes and smiled.
She didn't even need to make special inquiries. From the chatter of the junior disciples at Yaoyun Peak, she already knew there was such a person in Ziyang Hall.
The scene in the bamboo forest at noon, the drugging, the catching in the act—anyone with a normal brain could easily figure out the connection after a moment's thought.
He was the one who drugged Ji Qingyan.
He just happened to bump into her.
No wonder she had felt like she was being watched since the afternoon. So this guy had his eyes on her all along!
The night was long and truly boring. Having a little fun wouldn't hurt!
Yuan Shu narrowed her eyes, watching Ji Yun's increasingly red face, an amused smile appearing on her own.
Naturally, Ji Yun also sensed that something was wrong.
He had never used this aphrodisiac on himself, but he had used it on others.
Every time those martial brothers were drugged, they would find someone to dual cultivate with.
He had seen it a few times and thought it was no big deal.
But now that the drug was actually taking effect on his own body, he finally understood just how agonizing it was!
His blood boiled from head to toe, radiating a steamy heat.
An indescribable throbbing washed over him in waves from deep within, challenging his sanity.
Uncontrollably, he squeezed his legs together, stumbling backward until he hit the tree trunk behind him.
It was painful, agonizing!
Ji Yun gasped heavily through his slightly parted thin lips.
It felt as though doing so could slightly alleviate the torment inside his body.
But it was useless, completely useless!
Ji Yun's gaze fell upon Yuan Shu standing opposite him.
Under the moonlight, Yuan Shu, draped in sheer fabric, had a graceful posture. Her exquisite and alluring curves were illuminated by the moonlight, revealing a perfect silhouette.
The night breeze fluttered her straight black hair, making her look like an elf who had accidentally fallen into the mortal realm.
Ji Yun had seen people dual cultivate before, but at the time, he only felt disgusted and nauseated.
He even silently scoffed to himself that he would never feel such an urge toward a woman.
But at this moment, all those thoughts vanished completely.
In his eyes, there was only Yuan Shu, the woman looking at him coldly in the night breeze.
If the person he dual cultivated with was her... it didn't seem entirely unacceptable!
Dark shadows surged in his ink-black pupils. Ji Yun swallowed hard, a sudden impulse welling up inside him—an impulse he had never experienced before.
He wanted to pull aside that sheer fabric and see the scenery hidden beneath it!
He stumbled to his feet and hurried toward Yuan Shu.
However, before he could even get close, Yuan Shu kicked him, sending him flying away.
Yuan Shu didn't know what relationship Ji Yun had with Ji Qingyan, but the man before her was clearly far less likable than Ji Qingyan.
If he dared to make a move on her, he should be prepared to be punished!
Ji Yun panted in agony. In this moment, the pain in his chest could not mask his body's deep craving.
He stumbled to his feet once more and approached Yuan Shu.
Only to be kicked away mercilessly by Yuan Shu once again.
