A pair of black-patterned brocade boots slowly stepped forward and stopped in front of Yuan Shu.
Ji Yun crouched down, reached out, and pinched Yuan Shu's jaw, forcing her to slowly look up and meet his gaze.
"Did I say you could leave?"
His face was gloomy.
Just thinking about the distant, unapproachable expression on Yuan Shu's face a moment ago ignited an unwarranted surge of anger in his heart.
She provoked him, yet she thought she could retreat unscathed.
She really was a wicked woman!
He should take her back and torture her properly!
Ji Yun scoffed coldly. Seeing Yuan Shu's tightly furrowed brows and uncomfortable expression, he initially wanted to tell her a way to feel better.
But recalling her impatient attitude toward him just now, he scoffed again and kept his mouth shut.
Let her suffer a little more pain; otherwise, she might never remember how she bullied him that day!
He had guarded his chastity for decades, only to give it to her in such a murky manner, and yet she remained expressionless, even looking impatient?
Yuan Shu was scooped up by Ji Yun with one hand and tucked under his arm.
With a sharp whistle, a clear-headed spirit crane flew over from a short distance away. Kicking off the ground, he carried Yuan Shu and leaped directly onto the crane's back.
The spirit crane quickly took to the sky, heading toward the Ziyang Pavilion.
Wisps of a medicinal fragrance emanated from Ji Yun, drifting into her nose, seemingly able to alleviate the pain within Yuan Shu's body.
It made her feel a fraction more comfortable.
High in the sky, Yuan Shu's long eyelashes fluttered. She slowly opened her eyes, meeting Ji Yun's sharply defined jawline.
His light purple robes accentuated his handsome, deep-set features, making him look like an exotic nobleman.
Looking closely, Ji Yun's appearance was truly exceptional.
He bore some resemblance to Ji Qingyan, but their temperaments were completely different.
Yuan Shu's lips curled into a smile. Realizing her hand could still move, she reached up and pinched his tall, straight nose.
"What are you doing?" Ji Yun turned his head to shake off her hand, furrowing his brows as he looked at her, his features filled with deep displeasure.
"What? Is a tiger's nose untouchable?" Yuan Shu raised an eyebrow at him.
Ji Yun pursed his lips and glared at her resentfully. "Weren't you just acting like we barely knew each other? Who is this playful smile for now?"
He wasn't someone who could be coaxed so easily!
He was determined to take Yuan Shu back, preferably to make her a test subject for his medicines, make her wish for death, and thoroughly torture her!
Yuan Shu chuckled softly. "That was then. Wasn't it because I hadn't realized I couldn't beat you?"
"And now you have?" Ji Yun looked down at her, his expression skeptical.
He didn't know exactly how many faces Yuan Shu had, but it was definitely a lot!
Her attitude could change in a thousand ways, and she acted entirely as she pleased. Even now, as a prisoner, she could speak so calmly?
"I have," Yuan Shu nodded honestly.
"Hmph, at least you know your place!" Ji Yun gave a haughty snort, then spoke in a warning tone, "I advise you not to get any funny ideas. Otherwise, I really will give you a lethal poison that seals your throat at the sight of blood!"
Yuan Shu nodded vigorously like a chick pecking at rice, wearing an obedient expression that said she understood.
The anger in Ji Yun's heart dissipated a little.
Sure enough, his master was right. If you want something, you have to fight for it yourself. Otherwise, given Yuan Shu's attitude just now, he would probably be pushed a thousand miles away!
But looking at her now, she was leaning against his chest submissively and obediently.
This was the result of him fighting for it!
Indeed, listening to advice pays off!
On the other hand, Yuan Shu, who had roamed the cultivation world for many years, had long since reached a conclusion.
When your life isn't in immediate danger, if you can't win, you lay low. Lay low, wait for the opponent to drop their guard, and then strike back.
And that was exactly what she always did.
Seeing Ji Yun's demeanor, it didn't look like he wanted to kill her, so there was really no need to clash head-on right now.
"The medicinal scent on you is quite unique. Where did it come from?"
Yuan Shu twitched her nose.
It was a faint, woody medicinal scent, mixed with a hint of deep, distinctive crispness.
With just one sniff, Yuan Shu felt the pain in her body, caused by the venomous insect's toxin, ease significantly.
Yuan Shu couldn't help but lean a bit closer to his neck.
Her warm breath softly brushed against his neck. Ji Yun's body suddenly tensed, the tips of his ears involuntarily turning red, and his voice stuttered slightly.
"It's... it's just some ordinary medicinal scent."
"Is that so?"
Yuan Shu clearly didn't believe him.
The toxin from that venomous insect was highly unusual. If it weren't the scent of a specially cultivated antidote, it would be absolutely impossible to relieve the pain.
It was obvious that the medicinal scent on Ji Yun had a detoxifying effect on the poison she was afflicted with.
But she needed to smell it more and get closer.
A flash of guilt appeared on Ji Yun's face, but he stiffened his neck and raised his voice in affirmation. "Of course it is!"
Yuan Shu cast a glance at him without speaking, then turned her face and leaned closer to his neck to take another sniff.
The pain in her body indeed subsided quickly.
The medicinal scent on Ji Yun absolutely contained the antidote!
Could this guy have turned the antidote into a liquid for a medicinal bath, just to cover himself in so much of the detoxifying scent?
Wasn't he afraid of being poisoned by an overdose of the medicine?
Thinking of this, Yuan Shu began to laugh.
Ji Yun felt uncomfortable under her gaze. With slightly red ears, he couldn't help but turn his head away and spoke awkwardly.
"If... if you feel comfortable, just come closer."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt a twinge of regret.
Yuan Shu had been so heartless to him, so why did he have to act like catnip, drenching himself in medicinal scents to tempt her?
And now, he was actively inviting her to get closer?
Ji Yun furrowed his brows. Just as he was about to stubbornly explain that none of this was his intention, a patch of softness suddenly pressed against his neck.
A faint scent of pear blossoms drifted from the person in his arms, lingering around his nose and body.
He felt the softness on his neck move, and something gently licked him.
Ji Yun's body went completely taut, his eyes widening slightly, and the arm holding Yuan Shu involuntarily tightened its grip.
"Mhm, it's true. Getting closer does seem to feel better. A little lick seems to neutralize the poison."
Yuan Shu's soft, delicate voice came from beside his ear. The moment her words fell, a wet sensation spread across his neck.
Realizing what she was doing, Ji Yun froze completely.
An indescribable heat suddenly surged from deep within his body, burning so fiercely it made him dizzy.
Yuan Shu... she was actually kissing him?
Ji Yun opened his mouth to say something, but feeling that soft, unhurried touch, he closed it again.
His mind was a tangled mess, yet under Yuan Shu's lips, his neck instinctively tilted up slightly.
Making it easier for her to trail her kisses down the side of his neck.
Sensing Ji Yun's half-hearted resistance, Yuan Shu's lips curled into a smile, and she gently bit his Adam's apple, just as he desired.
She was satisfied to hear Ji Yun's uncontrollable, soft groan.
This guy, his body was so honest in wanting something, yet his mouth was so sharp.
Talking about poisoning her, teaching her a lesson, and all that.
Up to this point, he had only used venomous insects to slightly restrict her mobility.
And he had deliberately covered his entire body in the scent of the antidote for those very insects.
Making her treat him like catnip, willingly drawing close to him!
He was quite the schemer!
Since that was the case, she would play along with his desires!
Yuan Shu's kisses were neither too light nor too heavy; each one landed precisely on his sensitive pressure points, making Ji Yun tremble in response.
Soon, Ji Yun felt a burning heat rising within his body.
