“There’s a trace of Earth Fiend aura in this pottery jar!”
Ling Chi suddenly spoke in Yuan Shu’s mind, and Yuan Shu was slightly taken aback.
Earth Fiend aura?
Wasn’t that the thing mixed into the Crimson Sun Sand Ji Qingyan had shown her last time?
Hadn’t it been dug up from the medicinal herb gardens? How could it be in the Beast-Taming Garden?
Yuan Shu’s hand paused as she set down the jar. Turning around, she looked at Xiao Li behind her.
“Junior Brother Xiao, why would a jar like this be kept in a perfectly good library? Is there anything special about it?”
Rather than waste time guessing, she might as well ask the jar’s owner.
Xiao Li wore a faint smile, his expression relaxed and natural. He showed no sign of panic at Yuan Shu’s interest in the jar.
“It contains some medicinal powder used in the Beast-Taming Garden to assist with taming beasts. There’s nothing special about it.”
Yuan Shu raised an eyebrow. “Then may I open it and take a look?”
Xiao Li’s expression briefly stiffened. He stepped forward and reached out to take the jar. Looking up at her, he asked, “Miss Yuan wants to see?”
“If I’m not allowed, then never mind.” Yuan Shu smiled and shrugged.
The next second, Xiao Li had already opened the jar and tilted its mouth toward her.
“There’s nothing you can’t see, as long as you want to.” Xiao Li turned his head, his beautiful, narrow eyes resting quietly on her.
Yuan Shu glanced into the jar. Blackish-gray powder was mixed with green powder, and a faint medicinal fragrance drifted into her nose.
There was nothing unusual to be seen with the naked eye.
Ling Chi’s voice, however, sounded in her mind. “Master, there is indeed a trace of Earth Fiend aura. And it’s probably the power of its source.”
The power of its source?
That meant whoever had made this jar must have come into contact with the Earth Fiend.
Yuan Shu turned toward Xiao Li in surprise. Could this be Xiao Li’s opportunity?
But the Earth Fiend was evil and vicious. How had he managed to obtain the power of its source without suffering the slightest harm?
“Miss Yuan, have you seen enough?” Xiao Li extended the jar slightly, his smile unchanged.
“That’s enough.”
Yuan Shu lowered her eyes and watched as he calmly sealed the jar before returning it to the antique shelf.
As he approached, she suddenly grabbed his hand and pressed forward.
Xiao Li’s expression flickered with surprise. Acting on instinct, he retreated several steps under her pressure until, with a bang, his back struck the antique shelf behind him.
“Miss, Miss Yuan…”
The familiar fragrance of pear blossoms once again drifted uncontrollably into Xiao Li’s nose. His eyes trembled as though he had recalled something. His Adam’s apple bobbed.
Yuan Shu leaned closer, bringing her face almost against his neck, and gave a small sniff.
Yet she detected not the slightest trace of Earth Fiend aura.
“Ahem, Master, the Earth Fiend aura is concealed. You’d have to be a ghost to smell it like this! Unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Unless you cultivate dual cultivation. Only when his emotions are stirred and his body and mind are trembling will it spill out involuntarily!” Before Ling Chi could finish speaking, the Hehuan Divine Tree cut in, its tone carrying a hint of malicious amusement.
“Hehuan, shut up!” Ling Chi glared angrily at the Hehuan Divine Tree.
What did this tree mean?
Did it want Master to practice dual cultivation with this human who was entangled with the Earth Fiend aura?
“Heh… You don’t have that ability right now, and you won’t let me say anything either?” The Hehuan Divine Tree rolled its eyes. After sizing up Xiao Li, it continued, “This boy’s cultivation may not be very high, but he has a strong affinity with beasts, and his yang essence is pure.”
“If Shushu really takes him, he won’t be any worse than a Nascent Soul cultivator!”
“Shut up! Master promised to be with me in a few days. I’m next after that…”
“Tch. You don’t even have a physical body. What good is dual cultivation with only your spiritual sense?”
“You…”
The tree and the snake began arguing in Yuan Shu’s mind. Yuan Shu rubbed her forehead, the corner of her brow twitching twice, and blocked their voices with her spiritual sense.
“Miss Yuan, if you want, I can do it anytime…”
“Let’s eat first.”
Xiao Li’s emotions churned. After a long while, he finally gathered his resolve and carefully began to speak, only to be interrupted halfway by Yuan Shu.
He froze. The small hand resting against his chest had already withdrawn, and Yuan Shu was walking toward the door.
He clenched his fists and opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately held back and took a deep breath.
He reminded himself that they had plenty of time. There was no need to rush.
…
As Xiao Li had said, there were spirit rabbits—and not only spirit rabbits, but spirit fish as well.
After being prepared by the Clear Roasting method, the fish had not the slightest trace of a fishy smell. Instead, it was fragrant and delicious.
Xiao Li did not sit across from Yuan Shu. He sat beside her instead, picking up his chopsticks to remove the bones for her.
He had already carefully selected the boneless, tenderest portion when preparing the spirit fish, but he still went through it once more before he felt at ease.
Using his chopsticks, he brought a piece of deboned fish to her lips.
Yuan Shu opened her mouth and accepted it. After chewing twice, her eyes brightened. “This spirit fish…”
“It was fed with spiritual medicine as well. The flesh has absorbed the fragrance and spiritual energy of the medicine, so it tastes rather special.”
As he explained, Xiao Li brought another piece of fish to her lips.
Yuan Shu swallowed the fish and watched him carefully remove the bones for her. Then she thought of the Earth Fiend aura from earlier and suddenly spoke.
“Xiao Li, if you’re willing, I can transfer you from the Beast-Taming Garden to Medicine Cloud Peak.”
Xiao Li’s expression froze. He looked up at Yuan Shu, astonishment filling his features, followed by a flash of delight.
But the joy lasted only an instant. As though he had suddenly thought of something, he quickly reined it in.
After considering for a moment, he slowly shook his head at Yuan Shu. “I’m sorry, Miss Yuan.”
If Yuan Shu had asked him the same question two months ago, he would have agreed without hesitation.
But now… it was no longer possible.
Unless he broke the agreement he had made with Bai Ze inside the ancient cavern.
But if he did that, Bai Ze would never let the matter rest, and he might never have another chance to see her.
Besides… he did not want to become someone who needed her protection.
He wanted to become someone capable of protecting her one day!
But she would be angry, wouldn’t she, after he turned her down like this?
Xiao Li felt somewhat nervous.
Contrary to his expectations, Yuan Shu merely raised her eyebrows. Her expression remained calm, and she did not seem angry at his refusal. Instead, she leaned over and took the fish from his chopsticks herself.
“Why the long face?” After eating a few mouthfuls of food, Yuan Shu turned her head and saw Xiao Li staring at her with trembling eyes, looking as though he wanted to say something but could not.
“Miss Yuan, you’re not angry, are you?” Xiao Li hesitated.
Pfft.
Yuan Shu laughed. “Am I really that petty? I’m not angry.”
“Really?”
“Mm.”
Yuan Shu answered, and when she saw that Xiao Li still looked nervous, the corners of her lips curved upward.
Suddenly, she reached out and hooked an arm around his neck.
With a wave of her hand, she cast a Dust-Cleansing Art to dispel the scent of food from her lips, then leaned toward him.
“You don’t believe me when I say I’m not angry? What would it take for you to believe me?”
Her soft, pale thumb gently brushed over his lips, lingering at the corner. Yuan Shu leaned close to his ear and breathed a fragrant puff of air against it.
“Would I have to… kiss you before you believe me?”
Xiao Li’s body suddenly went rigid. The instant he turned his head, Yuan Shu pulled him closer by the neck and kissed him.
The Earth Fiend aura was supposed to spill out only during dual cultivation. Yuan Shu wondered whether a deep kiss would be enough to make it emerge.
