It felt like an illusion, but it wasn’t entirely one.
Black One had never made a habit of barging in while she was eating.
This visitor meant trouble!
Yuan Shu lowered her long lashes slightly, pretending she hadn’t noticed anything. Unhurriedly, she raised the food in her spoon to her lips.
The cavern was utterly quiet, save for the crisp clinking of the cup and utensils in Yuan Shu’s hands.
Then, all of a sudden, an inexplicable pressure descended from behind her, and a cold voice sounded beside her ear.
“Li Xie really treats you well. Even when he leaves, he doesn’t forget to arrange everything for you?”
“Clang!”
Yuan Shu twisted her waist and spun around, thrusting the sharp spoon straight toward the eye of the person behind her.
But when it was only an inch from his eye, he caught it between two fingers.
“Did you think everyone was as useless as Li Xie, still stuck in the Demonic Infant Realm?”
Yuan Shu lifted her eyes and met Liye’s cold, bloodthirsty black gaze.
So it really was this bastard!
Yuan Shu’s brows drew together slightly. She decisively abandoned the spoon he had blocked, turned her palm into a blade, and struck fiercely behind her.
Liye’s strength was still far greater than hers. Before her palm strike could land, he seized her wrist and abruptly twisted it.
Yuan Shu was forced to spin beneath his control. He caught her wrist, drew her arm across her neck, and pinned her against him from behind.
Yuan Shu struggled twice, but the man’s strength was immense. She couldn’t break free.
However, since he hadn’t killed her outright, did that mean there was still room for negotiation?
“Third Prince, the Eldest Prince left with the Demon King on business. If you’re looking for him, I’m afraid you’ve come at the wrong time.”
Liye lowered his eyes and glanced at Yuan Shu.
Beneath the dim glow of the luminous stones, Yuan Shu’s fair profile was exquisitely delicate, her features beautifully defined, and her rosy lips naturally red.
This woman had exceptionally beautiful features.
No wonder Li Xie treated her differently!
“What if I said I came specifically to find you?”
“Oh!” Yuan Shu let out an exaggerated gasp, as if she couldn’t believe it. “Third Prince, you—you came to find me?”
“Yes. So what?”
Liye stared darkly at Yuan Shu’s profile.
“Oh, I see… Then may I ask why you came looking for me? Ahem, whatever it is, we can discuss it calmly. Could you let me go first, Your Highness?”
Yuan Shu tilted her head back, her pretty face lifting into a smile.
Liye let out a cold laugh. “Let you go so you can try to ambush me again?”
“How could I?” Yuan Shu gave another soft gasp, her eyes glimmering as she shot him a coquettish glance.
“Ahem, Third Prince, you came in and frightened me without warning. I’m only a low-level female cultivator. I thought you were some lustful bandit with ill intentions, so I had no choice but to defend myself.”
“Fortunately, Your Highness is highly skilled and reacted quickly enough to dodge. If I had injured you, I would truly deserve to die!”
She wore an expression of relief, her gaze sincere, as though she was genuinely terrified that she had nearly hurt Liye.
Liye arched a brow. He hadn’t expected Yuan Shu to react this way. The hand gripping her wrist paused slightly, and his gaze gained a hint of scrutiny.
“You’re saying you were worried about me?”
“Of course!” Yuan Shu replied as though it were only natural. “You’re the Eldest Prince’s brother. Naturally, I would be worried about you… Mmph.”
Before Yuan Shu could finish, the person behind her suddenly exerted force, tightening his grip around her wrist and pressing it against her throat.
Yuan Shu was forced to arch backward against his chest.
She looked up and met Liye’s dangerous, lowered gaze, blinking her clear, innocent eyes.
This man flew into a rage the moment he heard Li Xie’s name?
Did he hate Li Xie that much? No wonder he opposed Li Xie every time!
He had probably been driven half-mad by the recent palace treasure hunt. That must be why he had attacked her after Li Xie left!
Yuan Shu immediately changed tactics. She lightly rubbed herself against Liye’s arms, her cheeks flushing as she lowered her head and spoke.
“Ahem, Third Prince, you… what are you doing?”
Her suddenly transformed voice, soft and naturally alluring, drifted into his ears. Liye, who had been about to lose his temper after hearing Li Xie’s name, paused.
“What did you say?”
Liye sensed that something was wrong. This woman’s tone and expression…
He frowned, his face turning even colder.
Yuan Shu looked utterly innocent. With her clear, spotless eyes, she glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her voice becoming somewhat anxious.
“T-Third Prince, I know I’m beautiful, and it’s already my good fortune that the Eldest Prince has taken a liking to me. But if you’ve taken a liking to me too, I absolutely cannot go away with you!”
“?”
“Who said I’ve taken a liking to you?”
Liye lowered his eyes and stared coldly at her. What nonsense was this woman spouting?
“You did, Third Prince! Isn’t that obvious?”
Yuan Shu blinked and continued to lie through her teeth. “If you don’t like me, then why are you holding me so tightly? And—and rubbing your chest muscles against me?”
Liye was speechless.
The moment Yuan Shu finished speaking, he hurriedly grabbed her arm and pulled her forward a short distance.
What did she mean by rubbing his chest muscles against her?
He was only holding her firmly to prevent her from playing any tricks.
Who had taken a liking to her?
Besides, wasn’t she Li Xie’s woman?
Even if he took a liking to someone, it would never be her, would it?
This woman had an extremely serious delusion problem!
No wonder so many battle fanatics in the clan would rather cultivate alone than take a companion.
Women truly were a group prone to letting their imaginations run wild!
“Third Prince, if you like me, you can tell the Eldest Prince directly. I’m sure there’s room for discussion on his side…”
Yuan Shu peeked at him pitifully as she spoke, then reached out and lightly hooked her little finger around Liye’s.
Seeing that Yuan Shu was about to say something even more outrageous, Liye hurriedly shouted her down.
“I don’t!”
Yuan Shu’s body trembled. She lowered her head with a wounded expression, looking as though she were about to cry.
Liye was speechless.
Women were such a nuisance!
The thing he hated most in this life was women who burst into tears at the slightest provocation. They were just like his useless mother—disgusting!
Liye’s expression grew intensely impatient, and even the force with which he held Yuan Shu’s wrist slackened slightly.
“Stop crying! If you cry again, I’ll kill you!”
“Oh.”
Yuan Shu sniffled, lowering her head and trembling her shoulders, as if she were genuinely trying her best not to cry.
Liye grew even more irritated.
He shouldn’t have come personally. He should have sent his men to capture her first, then slowly tortured her until she revealed her relationship with Li Xie…
Just then, the woman in front of him suddenly moved!
Yuan Shu seized the opportunity. Her arm twisted abruptly at an incredibly strange angle, and she slipped free of Liye’s grasp.
She spun around and kicked him hard in the chest!
Caught off guard, Liye was actually sent flying several yards.
By the time he recovered, Yuan Shu had already darted toward the entrance of the underground palace cavern.
This woman… had been pretending!
Liye’s expression turned cold. He raised his foot to give chase, only to discover a rigid, numb pain rapidly spreading from his fingers through his body.
Within the space of a single breath, the moment he circulated his demonic energy, the sensation spread throughout him.
“Hiss!”
He sucked in a sharp breath, realizing that he had most likely been poisoned!
When had she drugged him?
Was it when she had lightly hooked her little finger around his?
This woman… was truly cunning!
Liye’s eyes widened slightly. All he could do was watch helplessly as Yuan Shu raced out of the underground palace cavern without even looking back.
After several leaps, she vanished from sight.
