Shen Qi grabbed Yuan Shu's hand, his fingertips pressing down slightly. The pressure made her frown. "Eldest Senior Brother, you're hurting me."
"Then answer me, did you two..."
Yuan Shu suddenly chuckled softly.
A hint of mockery flashed through her phoenix eyes. Her soft, delicate voice cut like a sharp blade. "Eldest Senior Brother, someone else did what you didn't dare to do. Why are you so angry?"
Shen Qi's eyes widened slightly.
Someone else did what he didn't dare to do?
Shu Linyuan did it?
He...
"You, you and him..." Shen Qi's Adam's apple bobbed, his eyes fixed dead on Yuan Shu's face.
He clenched his jaw, his gaze drifting from her eyes and brows to the tip of her nose, and finally to her full, bright red lips.
Those lips were so sweet, yet they had actually been kissed by Shu Linyuan?
What gave him the right?
Jealousy and resentment ignited in his chest, burning fiercely.
He pulled Yuan Shu's hand and pressed it against his heart. "Why? Yuan Shu, didn't you like me?"
Yuan Shu's expression remained placid. Hearing this, she smiled.
"Eldest Senior Brother, didn't you run away?"
Her tone was light, yet it carved into his heart like a knife, piercing it full of holes.
So, this was the reason Yuan Shu had given up on him?
Shen Qi stared intently at Yuan Shu, staring at that infuriating little mouth.
For the first time, he hated himself for being too bound by propriety!
If it weren't for that, Yuan Shu would...
No, it wasn't too late!
Yuan Shu still had feelings for him, otherwise she wouldn't have said those things just now!
The only reason she was giving him the cold shoulder was to vent her dissatisfaction.
At this thought, Shen Qi suddenly reached out and wrapped his arm around Yuan Shu's waist.
As he spun around and sat back down in the chair, he pulled Yuan Shu onto his lap with a forceful tug.
She was shorter than him; even sitting on his lap, she had to tilt her head up slightly to meet his eyes.
Yuan Shu looked somewhat surprised. She opened her mouth to speak, but Shen Qi's handsome face swooped down, filling her vision.
It was a heavy kiss. Without giving Yuan Shu any time to react, he directly used his spiritual energy to pry her teeth apart.
Yuan Shu tried to struggle, but Shen Qi firmly grasped her hands.
There were no unnecessary words, only the plundering of her breath and a punishment for her infuriating remarks.
...
In the small courtyard, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, spilling over the two of them and casting an intertwined silhouette on the ground.
It wasn't until Yuan Shu's breathing grew ragged and she melted softly against his chest that Shen Qi slightly loosened his grip.
Slowly and gently, he continued the kiss.
It was as if he wanted to completely erase the traces left by someone else, and then brand her with his own mark.
To make Yuan Shu his exclusive possession!
It had to be said that Yuan Shu's current body was far too sensitive.
Judging by how weak her limbs had become, she simply hadn't weathered enough storms.
"Yuan Shu, don't say such infuriating things. I won't be able to take it."
Shen Qi's voice was hoarse. After the deep kiss, he gently pecked the corners of Yuan Shu's lips, as if kissing a rare and precious treasure.
Yuan Shu didn't speak. She just rested against his chest, slowly regaining her strength.
"Yuan Shu, I truly like you."
Seeing that Yuan Shu remained silent, Shen Qi thought she was still angry. He couldn't help but speak, lowering his head to kiss her again.
With him holding the back of her head, Yuan Shu struggled a couple of times but couldn't break free, so she gave up.
After all, her current strength was limited; she was truly no match for him.
A long time passed. It wasn't until Shen Qi finished kissing her and held her while calming his emotions.
Only then did she ask in a calm tone, "Eldest Senior Brother, why exactly did you come here?"
Shen Qi's expression stiffened. He hadn't expected Yuan Shu's first words after their intimacy to be this.
He gritted his teeth, his voice laced with exasperation. "Don't you have anything to say to me?"
Yuan Shu tilted her head, pretending to think it over. "Actually, I do. Eldest Senior Brother, whatever you want to ask, ask quickly. I want to take a nap."
"Yuan Shu!" Shen Qi was furious, his eyes widening as he glared at her.
Yuan Shu smiled faintly, her demeanor so serene that it made him look like a clown.
Shen Qi squeezed his fists tightly, barely suppressing the urge to lose his temper.
Seeing that Yuan Shu was still throwing a tantrum, he knew this matter couldn't be rushed.
Taking a deep breath, Shen Qi pushed down his restless emotions and tried his best to regain his composure.
"Master asked me to come and ask you if you know the reason behind the destruction of the forbidden area's confinement array this time?"
"When you entered the Xiushe cave before, did you discover anything?"
Yuan Shu shook her head. "I didn't find anything."
The Xiushe should know about this.
However, that guy was currently nourishing his soul beneath the Divine Acacia Tree, so he probably wouldn't wake up anytime soon.
She couldn't ask him anything anyway.
Yuan Shu stroked her chin and asked, "Since Master is asking this, could there be another reason why the Xiushe left the forbidden area and broke into the Fallen Immortal Sect this time?"
"Yes." Shen Qi nodded. "Traces of a cultivator's spiritual energy were found at the site where the confinement array was destroyed. Someone broke into the Xiushe cave!"
Someone broke into the Xiushe cave?
Yuan Shu's brows twitched. She suddenly remembered that when the Xiushe went mad and swept her away, someone had pushed her from behind.
"Did you think of something? If you know any clues, you can tell me. I will definitely help you!"
The corners of Yuan Shu's mouth curled up. "I just recalled some details. When the Xiushe swept me away earlier, someone in the crowd pushed me."
"Also, I have a clue regarding the riot in the demonic beast cave."
"Eldest Senior Brother, if this person happens to be someone very close to you, you wouldn't cover up for them, would you?"
Someone close? Cover up for a criminal?
Shen Qi's expression changed slightly. "What do you know?"
Yuan Shu smirked. "I originally planned to hand the evidence directly to Master, but I figure Eldest Senior Brother will seek justice for me, right?"
After speaking, Yuan Shu took out that recording stone from the Divine Acacia Tree.
Shen Qi was taken aback. He looked at Yuan Shu, then at the recording stone, and with a wave of his hand, he directly activated it.
At first, Shen Qi didn't know what Yuan Shu meant by covering up, until Ji Yunzhao's figure appeared in the projection.
Along with the sound of his grumbling.
"Damn Yuan Shu, you forced me to return those things. Let's see how you demand them back when you're dead!"
He sneered coldly, then proceeded to destroy the array at the entrance of the demonic beast cave.
Seeing no one around, he even sprinkled some medicinal powder at the cave entrance before leaving silently.
And shortly after Ji Yunzhao left, the demonic beasts inside the cave collectively flew into a frenzy.
With red eyes, they charged out of the demonic beast cave one by one!
"I picked up a parcel specifically addressed to me from the Demonic Beast Cliff's affairs pavilion. The communication jade slip inside was laced with beast-attracting powder."
"Eldest Senior Brother, there are no walls in this world that don't leak wind. If investigated carefully, the source and purchase records of the beast-attracting powder can surely be found."
As Yuan Shu spoke, she handed the parcel containing the preserved evidence over to Shen Qi.
Shen Qi found it somewhat hard to believe. The Fifth Junior Brother of Azure Cloud Peak, Ji Yunzhao, had always been obedient. Although he hadn't liked Yuan Shu much in the past, he hadn't exactly mistreated her either.
To think that he not only secretly swindled belongings from Yuan Shu but also committed such a despicable and malicious act!
This was simply outrageous. What colossal nerve!
Shen Qi's face turned green and then red, especially when he met Yuan Shu's half-smiling gaze.
He only felt as if his face was being pressed against the ground and rubbed in the dirt.
To think that such a thing existed on the Qingyun Peak under his management?
"Junior Sister Yuan, I promise I will give you a proper explanation for this matter!"
