"Mmm?!"
The Empress Dowager’s beautiful eyes flew open, her mind a chaos of white. In an instant, all her reason and reserve vanished like smoke. Her clenched teeth slackened unconsciously, allowing that sudden surge of emotion to crash through her heart’s defenses.
Panic, astonishment!
An unprecedented sensation gradually welled up within her heart.
Scorching as fire, as though it would melt her away!
This is... a kiss?
Time seemed frozen, yet slipped swiftly away. The Empress Dowager’s once-tense body unknowingly softened. Her slender hand, which had pressed between them, somehow quietly wrapped around Qin Yu’s neck, tinged with shy hesitation and a touch of inexplicable longing.
From initial frantic confusion, slowly, she began to enjoy this subtle sensation. The gentle touch of lips and teeth opened a door to a new world, flooding her heart with indescribable delight and joy.
This feeling... really isn’t bad at all!
Gradually.
The Empress Dowager’s body melted boneless against him, her mouth parting slightly, allowing Qin Yu to savor her as he wished.
For a long while.
Only then did Qin Yu release her little mouth.
The two of them gasped for breath, yet the Empress Dowager’s once-tender lips were now slightly swollen and red.
Yet this didn’t diminish that supreme beauty, but rather made her look even more alluring, vibrant as a fresh blossom.
"Qin Yu, you... how could you kiss me?"
The Empress Dowager, like one caught in a dream, murmured softly.
Her voice lost its earlier ethereal clarity, now honeyed and soft, like lovers’ whispered secrets.
Hearing that voice, Qin Yu was seized by an urge to claim her right then and there.
"Qin Yu, this... what we’re doing is wrong."
The Empress Dowager’s voice was low, insisting with her lips, but the slender jade hands still wrapped around his neck did not let go.
"Why is it wrong?"
Qin Yu reached out a gentle hand to wipe her lips clean.
"Little Ling’Er... she’ll be heartbroken..."
The Empress Dowager’s expression flickered with inner struggle.
Reason told her this betrayed Little Ling’Er, but this feeling—such close contact she’d never known—made her heart leap.
She even... wanted to experience it again.
"If the Empress Dowager doesn’t speak of it, no one will know."
Qin Yu’s voice was low and magnetic, laced with a barely perceptible seduction.
"So long as I don’t say a word, no one will know?"
The Empress Dowager’s soulful eyes blinked, deep and lucid yet layered with conflicting emotion. Her swollen lips parted slightly, every breath exuding a delicate fragrance, suffusing the air with intoxicating sweetness.
Innocent as she was, the auspicious omen had unwittingly been led astray by his coaxing.
Qin Yu, seeing this, nodded with utmost solemnity—his earnestness beyond doubt, "Absolutely true."
Receiving such assurance, the Empress Dowager’s eyes curved into crescent moons. A mischievous, coquettish smile unfurled on her exquisite face.
She was simple-hearted, unable to hide a single emotion—every thought played openly upon her face.
Since no one would know...
The Empress Dowager took the initiative, tightening her embrace around Qin Yu and nestling her head lightly against his chest.
At such close quarters, she could feel that warmth radiating from Qin Yu even more clearly.
A cozy heat, just like... the great sun.
That comforting aura made the Empress Dowager’s eyes narrow indulgently in pleasure.
Although shy and guilty, still, she truly loved this feeling.
"Just a kiss... and the bloodline curse can be dispelled?"
The Empress Dowager asked softly.
"That’s not enough."
"Then, what else is needed?"
"Empress Dowager, healing can’t be rushed."
Qin Yu lowered his voice as he spoke.
"Oh~"
The Empress Dowager blinked, half-understanding, half-dazed.
Unaware, she felt Qin Yu’s hand slide away from her back. Opening her eyes, she realized his palm had softly brushed over her shoulder where the dark mark was.
Wait, that’s not right!
There’s... no mark there?!
The Empress Dowager quickly shut her eyes, pressing close to Qin Yu, hoping to block his shameless behavior.
"Empress Dowager, this is to prevent the curse from spreading."
Qin Yu’s palm, carrying a wisp of True Essence, gently stroked her skin.
"Mmm..."
The Empress Dowager’s body shivered violently. She bit her lower lip, a soft moan escaping her mouth.
She truly trusted Qin Yu.
But still...
Why was Qin Yu’s breathing growing heavier?
"Lie still and let me help you change into new clothes."
"Healing also requires changing clothes?"
The Empress Dowager’s eyes were bright with confusion, but she didn’t refuse him.
"Of course. Treating illness sometimes means taking medicine... and injections."
"Take medicine?"
The Empress Dowager was increasingly lost. And what were injections?
Could this really dispel the hateful bloodline curse?
Well, Qin Yu has never lied to me before... it must be true, right?
"Don’t worry. You’ll understand in a moment."
"Um, could you stop... staring at it?"
The Empress Dowager’s voice slipped into a helpless, pleading tone on its own.
She despised that dark mark from the bottom of her heart.
Yet Qin Yu seemed oddly fond of it.
After changing into new garments, Qin Yu withdrew by a short half-step, standing back to appreciate the Empress before him.
With luminous silver hair cascading around her, skin like finest porcelain agleam with gentle luster—truly jade bones under frosted flesh—she seemed sculpted by chill moonlight itself, a beauty unfit for mortal world; more like a Fairy from the Moon Palace, gliding out pure and untainted.
For a moment, Qin Yu was entranced by her unparalleled face, unable to shift his gaze for even a second.
He never expected the Empress Dowager would also be as White Jade Flawless as that—without a single imperfection.
Could it be she, too, is an Innate Sacred Body like the Sect Leader?!
"Qin Yu, the way you stare at me like this..."
The Empress Dowager’s voice carried a shy undertone barely detectable, her delicate hand attempting to shield her face in vain. Such celestial beauty could hardly be concealed by mortal means.
"Empress Dowager, may I now... treat your illness?"
Qin Yu’s words were a hint of coming to his senses once more.
Unable to resist, he stepped forward and took that frosty palace Fairy into his embrace.
The Empress Dowager offered no resistance, even lifting her little mouth to him on her own initiative. Of course, Qin Yu satisfied her wish.
No one knows how much time passed.
"Qin Yu, just what... are you doing?"
The Empress Dowager’s eyes were misty; with a murmur she questioned softly, as if half-seeing the truth.
"An injection..."
The Empress Dowager still didn’t understand, but suddenly let out a low cry—and then, with a bite, she sank her teeth into Qin Yu’s shoulder.
"Together..."
...
Moonlight cascaded down.
In that gentle silvery glow, the Ugly Little Phoenix revealed its sinister aspect.
Not until now did the Empress Dowager realize—Qin Yu truly hadn’t deceived her.
When pecked by that Ugly Little Phoenix, she actually bled.
In the darkness, flames flickered, embers spilled, sketching strange crimson lines which wound the two of them together.
[Emotion Point from Bai YiYi: +4]
[Bai YiYi Romantic Point: 41 (Passionate)]
[Bai Ze Sacred Body]
[Original Divine Body: 2/9]
Original Divine Body!
As the flames wavered, tiny embers sank into Qin Yu’s body.
Qin Yu was startled, clearly sensing subtle changes occurring within.
Though not as intense as Pure Yang Divine Body’s ascension, as the embers merged into him, he felt his being more in harmony with the world’s Dao.
There was no need to deliberately cultivate—threads of mysterious power drifted quietly into him, melding into flesh and bone.
Since cultivating with Tu Yaoyao, Qin Yu had awakened his Original Divine Body.
Now, as the red lines spun down to bind him and the Empress Dowager together, his Original Divine Body finally advanced a step.
Though even now, it was just 2 out of 9 parts.
He could barely imagine what the completed Original Divine Body would become.
"┭┮﹏┭┮"
"Uuuh~"
The Empress Dowager murmured in a dreamy daze, letting out random hums, her eyes half-closed, half open.
In a fuzz of consciousness, she keenly sensed—a new Warm Current filled her body.
Though weak, as it coursed through her, a gentle energy soaked into her very limbs and bones.
On her shoulder, where the jet-black bloodline curse lurked, it was as if sunlight had broken through, the curse meeting its nemesis, showing signs of melting away.
The Empress Dowager was incredulous.
That bloodline curse, so strong it could affect her Bloodline Power... was actually frightened by such a faint energy?
Could it be...
Was Little Yan Yu’s wound also healed by this Warm Current?!
So what exactly is this spring-breeze-like, balmy energy?
The Empress Dowager quieted her heart, seeking to sense it more clearly—only to realize with certainty, because of the Warm Current, the dark mark she hated was softening like winter snow under spring sun, slowly dissolving.
It was just, the current was so feeble—barely a single thread, like sunlight tearing through an icy winter sky.
Not enough to disperse true winter’s cold.
I... I need more Warm Current!
So long as there’s enough, she’ll never have to fear becoming a hideous Hao Sha devil!
Thinking back, the Empress Dowager could easily guess the origin of the Warm Current.
It came from Qin Yu!
He... was truly, truly special.
No wonder both foxes couldn’t bear to leave him.
How hateful.
These days, those two foxes must have gotten so much, so much more than her?!
No way.
She had to take more than either of those foxes.
With this resolve, the Empress Dowager slyly cracked one eye open, but seeing Qin Yu still unmoved... she wiggled her body softly.
Qin Yu seemed unaware, simply stroking her black mark and the Great Phoenix’s feathers.
To be honest...
The Empress Dowager’s spirit beast really was so big—wait, no, so white.
Or rather... both.
Of course, most of his focus was on that black mark itself.
Neither Qin Yu nor the Empress herself could be sure if the Warm Current truly had any effect on the bloodline curse.
Even now, Qin Yu himself couldn’t fathom why the Warm Current was so effective.
When he saw the black mark was indeed changing, the Empress Dowager’s voice sounded softly by his ear: "Qin Yu, I still want..."