◎Meeting Xie Heng again, trapped together in a secret chamber◎

When Luo Wanqing received Zhusi’s letter, she had just opened her eyes after sleeping for an hour in a tree.

Opening the letter, she sat up, momentarily incredulous.

Xie Heng was captured?

How could Xie Heng possibly be captured by Ji Ruifang?

However, upon seeing the map attached, she instantly understood.

With Xie Heng’s abilities, it would be impossible for Ji Ruifang to capture him. If he were captured, it could only be intentional on his part.

Since Cui Heng mentioned a general assault on the first day of the tenth month, Xie Heng’s entry into Ji Rui Palace was likely planned long ago. Now her most important task was to find Xie Heng and hold out until the first of the tenth month.

Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and took out the route she had recorded. Looking at her path and the number of northwestern accents she had noted, she knew her map-drawing mission was almost complete.

As for those soldiers…

Two hundred ninety-nine.

Looking at this number and recalling the information she got from Ah Long initially, she knew there was still one person missing.

She knew there was one person missing, and Ji Ruifang had figured out her pattern, so she would definitely have people lying in wait at this person’s location.

Ji Ruifang was waiting for her to walk into the trap, so she would play along.

Luo Wanqing put away the letter, organized her things, had a good sleep, took time to catch a rabbit, ate a proper meal, then looked at the place on the map she hadn’t visited yet that was closest to Ji Rui Palace and headed there.

As soon as she arrived, Luo Wanqing felt something was wrong with the wind behind her. She flipped and leaped back to see a giant net attacking!

Luo Wanqing retreated rapidly backward as the giant net pressed forward. Just as she leaped to escape, a silk scarf suddenly broke through the air from behind. Luo Wanqing twisted her blade to counter, and the woman followed her force to move forward instantly, striking her chest with a palm and immediately knocking her back into the net.

The net closed and was quickly pulled up. Luo Wanqing felt tightness and pain in her chest as she was netted like a fish.

Luo Wanqing hung upside down in the tree, breathing heavily as she looked down.

Dozens of people emerged from the forest, led by an exotic woman wearing a thin veil.

Her eyes had deep contours, but she wasn’t obviously from the Western Regions—more like a mix of Central Plains and Western Region blood.

Seeing this person, Luo Wanqing immediately knew her identity. She swallowed blood and spoke hoarsely: “Ji Ruifang.”

“A small Inspector has cost me quite some effort.”

Ji Ruifang looked at her coldly and raised her hand: “Take her back.”

The moment she spoke, Luo Wanqing felt herself suddenly falling. She adjusted her posture but was still trapped by the specially made iron net, crashing heavily to the ground.

The iron net cut into her flesh. Luo Wanqing drew a sharp breath, and before she could react, she felt a heavy blow from behind. Her vision went black, and she fainted.

When Luo Wanqing woke again, the first thing she felt was pain.

Her collarbone was pierced by hooks, locked at vital energy acupoints. All her internal force was forcibly stopped from circulating. The hooks moved with her breathing, causing pain with each rise and fall.

This was the most secure way to restrict someone short of directly destroying their internal force. The hooks damaged the vital energy acupoints, so even removing the hooks would cause injury. Once the internal force was activated, there would be severe pain.

Fortunately, Ji Ruifang hadn’t destroyed her vital energy acupoints, leaving half intact, perhaps for her Yin Moon Scripture practice.

Ji Ruifang’s intention in capturing her was too clear, so she wasn’t very worried about throwing herself into the trap.

The most important question now was…

Where was Xie Heng?

Luo Wanqing raised her head and looked around to see that this was a huge room with magnificent golden decorations, obviously a different decorative style from the Central Plains.

The room contained a large soft bed with gauze curtains hanging around it. She could vaguely see that the bedding had been turned down, as if waiting at any moment.

She was chained in a corner of the room. Before long, she heard footsteps around her.

Luo Wanqing looked up to see Ji Ruifang entering with people.

She walked directly to Luo Wanqing. Others brought her a chair. Ji Ruifang sat down, crossed her legs, and lifted Luo Wanqing’s chin: “So you’re Liu Xiniang?”

Luo Wanqing’s face was bloodstained, her expression calm: “Palace Master Ji knows me?”

“I heard earlier that a woman practicing the Yin Moon Scripture appeared on Liufeng Island.” Ji Ruifang studied her for a moment, praising coldly: “Not bad looking, worthy of my Ran’er.”

With that, Ji Ruifang withdrew her foot, playing with her fingertips, saying carelessly: “I just examined you. Pure orthodox sect techniques, practiced the Yin Moon Scripture for some time, but haven’t reached the final step. Since you didn’t practice from childhood, why haven’t you reached the final step?”

Ji Ruifang inquired, looking up at Luo Wanqing’s hairstyle with some confusion: “Married? Then why hasn’t the Yin Moon Scripture been completed?”

“If it’s not completed, it’s not completed.” Luo Wanqing’s tone was unfriendly, as if unaware of Ji Ruifang’s intentions: “Since I’ve fallen into your hands, kill me or torture me as you wish.”

“Miss, why such a temper?”

Ji Ruifang smiled and stood up, half-crouching down and placing her hand on Luo Wanqing’s chin: “Such a beautiful person—wouldn’t it be a pity to die? How about I promise you one thing and spare your life?”

Luo Wanqing looked at her coldly. Ji Ruifang said gently, “Don’t worry, I have no intention of making enemies with the Supervision Department. I want you to help me with something. As long as you agree, name your conditions.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s eyes brightened slightly: “Really?”

“Really.” Ji Ruifang coaxed: “My disciple has some minor injuries and needs a woman who has practiced the Yin Moon Scripture to help him cultivate together. Help me with this favor, and once his injuries heal, I’ll give you whatever you want.”

“Even the Yin Master Token?”

Luo Wanqing stared at her, asking directly.

Ji Ruifang raised an eyebrow, then smiled: “I didn’t expect a small Inspector to have such ambition. But… a broken hairpin—how could it be more important than my disciple’s injuries? I agree.”

Ji Ruifang spoke casually: “As long as you complete the Yin Moon Scripture and help him through this crisis, I’ll immediately offer up the Yin Master Token.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked at Ji Ruifang warily.

She knew she was lying.

How could Xie Minran’s injuries be something she could help with just through joint cultivation? Back then, he forcibly absorbed all of Wei Xiao’e’s power. Now he probably needed to sacrifice another woman practicing the Yin Moon Scripture to be satisfied.

But the Yin Moon Scripture had to be practiced by herself. She was still one step away. If she wasn’t willing, Xie Minran would lose this life-saving elixir.

“How do you want me to practice?” Luo Wanqing stared at Ji Ruifang. “I can’t practice alone.”

Hearing this, Ji Ruifang was silent for a moment. A flash of killing intent crossed her eyes, but her face still wore a smile: “Simple. Ran’er can cultivate with you.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s gaze instantly filled with anger. Ji Ruifang noticed her emotion and slapped Luo Wanqing hard across the face.

“What,” Ji Ruifang grabbed her hair, “you think my disciple isn’t worthy of you? I’m giving you face—do you really think you have a choice?”

“Get away!”

Luo Wanqing breathed heavily, saying viciously: “He can forget about touching a single finger of mine.”

“Stop talking nonsense.” Ji Ruifang raised her hand and flung her aside, saying coldly: “Clean her up and call Ran’er for me…”

“You dare?!”

Luo Wanqing shouted and raised her head, staring coldly at Ji Ruifang: “If you dare let him touch one finger of mine, I will kill him.”

Ji Ruifang’s movement paused slightly as she looked over coldly.

She could see that Luo Wanqing wasn’t just warning her. If it were normal times, she naturally wouldn’t be concerned.

But Xie Minran was seriously injured.

Ji Ruifang stared at Luo Wanqing, who seemed fearful and gasped: “Ji Ruifang, I advise you to turn back now. If you dare harm me and my Chief learns of it, the Supervision Department will level your Ji Rui Palace.”

Hearing this, Ji Ruifang raised an eyebrow, seeming to remember something, saying jokingly: “Xie Heng is very important in your heart?”

“Silence!”

Luo Wanqing immediately warned: “Young Master is not someone you can speak carelessly about.”

“Speak carelessly?”

Ji Ruifang thought for a moment, then walked to Luo Wanqing again, half-crouching down with a smile: “You like your Chief?”

“How dare you!” Luo Wanqing seemed to have her secret thoughts stepped on, shouting urgently: “Young Master is like the bright moon—how can you speak such nonsense?”

Hearing this, Ji Ruifang couldn’t help but laugh loudly.

She seemed to hear some amusing joke, laughing until she doubled over.

“Bright moon… bright moon?!” Ji Ruifang laughed until tears came, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, then said: “Fine, since you like your Young Master so much, I’ll fulfill your wish.”

With that, Ji Ruifang raised her hand to remove the hooks from Luo Wanqing’s collarbone, grabbed the iron shackles on Luo Wanqing’s hands, pulled her up, and said: “Then I’ll take you to see what the bright moon looks like.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing instinctively felt something was wrong, but seeing her goal achieved, she didn’t think much more and followed Ji Ruifang forward.

She could see that Ji Ruifang had feelings for Xie Minran. Though she couldn’t understand their relationship, Ji Ruifang had Xie Minran kill Wei Xiao’e back then, and looking at her now, it was only because she thought Luo Wanqing would die that she endured her disgust at letting Xie Minran touch her.

Given any chance, Ji Ruifang would instinctively make other choices.

She deliberately pretended not to know of Xie Heng’s existence. Mentioning Xie Heng and the possibility of harming Xie Minran, Ji Ruifang would remember that Xie Heng also came from the orthodox sect.

As long as Xie Heng was willing, he could also help her complete the Yin Moon Scripture. Then she wouldn’t need to force Xie Minran to touch her.

Anyway, after she completed it, Xie Minran could take it for use later.

But what surprised Luo Wanqing was Ji Ruifang’s reaction.

When she mentioned Xie Heng, she looked like an old acquaintance and seemed to have an extremely low opinion of Xie Heng.

But she didn’t have time to think more before being led by Ji Ruifang into the dungeon. Through a long corridor, they came to an iron door.

“Open the door.”

Ji Ruifang gestured to the person beside her. A maidservant immediately stepped forward to open the door.

The door opened bit by bit, and Luo Wanqing discovered this room had no windows, completely dark.

The door brought in light, illuminating this pitch-black room. As light entered inch by inch, Luo Wanqing simultaneously smelled intense mandala incense and bloody flesh scent rushing toward her.

Her heart jumped, then she saw the figure in the darkness.

He wore only a single shirt, also covered everywhere with whip marks, kneeling on the ground with both hands bound by iron shackles hanging on either side.

His entire body was stained with blood, not a single spot intact, but Luo Wanqing couldn’t see very clearly. She only saw that he seemed to hear their voices and slowly looked up like a wild beast that had lost its reason.

Then, the moment he saw Luo Wanqing, his pupils instantly contracted. Luo Wanqing awakened as if from a dream, rushing into the room urgently to check his injuries, when she heard him burst out: “Don’t come in!”

Luo Wanqing stopped abruptly. Xie Heng knelt on the ground, his spine trembling lightly, breathing rapidly, suppressing fear and glaring at her with hostility, as if looking at some ghost or demon.

Such an intense reaction made Luo Wanqing frown, knowing Xie Heng was in a bad situation.

When had someone so calm and self-controlled ever lost composure like this?

Ji Ruifang, beside her, didn’t seem surprised. She stepped into the cell and walked to Xie Heng, bending down slightly: “Chief Xie, it’s been a while.”

Xie Heng stared at her coldly, saying nothing.

Ji Ruifang smiled, saying gently, “I found an old friend for you and brought her to see you. How do you feel?”

Hearing this, Xie Heng clenched his fists.

Hallucination.

He told himself it was all a hallucination. Don’t believe it, don’t respond.

Ji Ruifang knew his mind wasn’t clear at the moment and had no intention of playing games with him. She said calmly, “Let’s make a deal. You help her complete the Yin Moon Scripture, and after it’s done, I’ll give you the Yin Master Token and let you go. How about it?”

“Don’t even think about it.” Even unable to distinguish between hallucination and reality, Xie Heng refused outright.

Ji Ruifang smiled, leaning to his ear and lowering her voice: “Don’t worry, no one will know about this after you leave.” With that, Ji Ruifang’s eyes showed mockery: “Anyway, you’ve done this kind of thing plenty. You could sell out the Cui family back then—what’s wrong with selling her out today?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but look over. Xie Heng’s movement suddenly stiffened.

Ji Ruifang smiled and patted Xie Heng’s face, standing up and walking out with a smile: “Little girl, take good care of your bright moon.”

“Ji Ruifang!”

Hearing this, Xie Heng called out urgently: “Take her away—name your conditions!”

“Complete the Yin Moon Scripture.”

Ji Ruifang walked out and closed the door. As darkness completely enveloped the room, Luo Wanqing heard Ji Ruifang’s cold voice: “Then I’ll let you both go.”

The door slammed shut, and the room was filled with the scent of mandala incense.

Xie Heng breathed rapidly, seeming to fall into extreme panic.

Luo Wanqing thought about the room structure she had seen earlier, stepped to where the mandala incense was placed, and crushed it out with her hand.

Mandala incense was different from Five Stone Powder. It was extremely addictive, but developing an addiction required time. Smelling it suddenly wouldn’t cause major problems, but prolonged inhalation could lead to addiction.

Moreover, mandala incense specializes in silently changing thoughts in one’s mind, making oneself infinitely submissive to inner greed. Even after just that brief exposure, Luo Wanqing found it difficult to confirm she hadn’t been affected.

She quickly extinguished the mandala incense, then followed the breathing sounds back to Xie Heng, half-crouching in front of him and lowering her voice: “Young Master, this subordinate came on Lord Cui’s orders. I brought medicine. Do you need me to check your pulse?”

Xie Heng didn’t speak.

Luo Wanqing waited quietly for Xie Heng’s response, but he remained silent for a long time. Luo Wanqing couldn’t help saying: “Young Master?”

“Are you a hallucination?”

Xie Heng spoke hoarsely, asking this question.

Luo Wanqing was stunned, then realized Xie Heng was disturbed by the mandala and could no longer distinguish between reality and hallucination.

Mandala incense made people manifest their deepest desires. That Xie Heng would mistake her, who came to rescue him, for a hallucination showed that despite his calm exterior, he was still panicked inside.

Realizing this, Luo Wanqing suddenly felt that the person before her wasn’t much different from ordinary people, just forced to move forward by his high position.

Her voice softened: “Young Master, this subordinate is not a hallucination.”

Not a hallucination.

The Luo Wanqing in hallucinations wouldn’t use the term “this subordinate.”

She would call herself “I,” would spare nothing to tempt him, cling to him, entangle him.

Such a distant Luo Wanqing was not his hallucination.

But… if she wasn’t a hallucination, why would she be here?

If she wasn’t a hallucination…

Xie Heng slowly raised his head, his gaze surveying her whole body.

He couldn’t see her appearance clearly in the night, only vaguely make out her silhouette.

But he remembered that when he saw her just now, she wore a married woman’s hairstyle.

“Where is Cui Heng?”

He spoke hoarsely. Luo Wanqing was stunned.

She looked at the person before her, who seemed mentally unclear and tested: “Young Master, he’s gone. Have you forgotten?”

Gone.

Hearing her words, Xie Heng couldn’t quite process them for a moment, instinctively saying: “He’s gone?”

“Yes.” Listening to his somewhat dazed words, Luo Wanqing belatedly realized that perhaps Xie Heng’s feelings for Cui Heng were deeper than she had thought.

So, even in the world constructed by mandala incense, he refused to acknowledge his departure.

She carefully repeated what had happened, reminding Xie Heng, “After he fell into the water, there were flesh-grinding mechanisms below. You only found blood and flesh.”

Xie Heng listened to her calmly recount Cui Heng’s departure. After she finished, he seemed unable to recover, saying blankly: “You’re not sad.”

“Young Master?”

“Someone important in your heart is gone,” he continued questioning, “it’s only been a few days, yet you’re not sad.”

These words burned Luo Wanqing’s heart until it was scalding, hurting with a sizzling sound.

She pressed her lips together without speaking, only struggling for a moment before comforting herself that Xie Heng wasn’t rational, and she couldn’t be like this either.

She took a deep breath and only said: “Young Master, I’m naturally sad about his passing, but now isn’t the time to discuss such matters. You’ve used mandala incense, and your mind isn’t clear. Please try to restrain yourself. Lord Cui will launch a general assault from outside in a few days. I was ordered to rendezvous with you. Please give orders for the next step.”

Xie Heng didn’t speak.

He finally confirmed this was Luo Wanqing, not a hallucination.

If it were a hallucination, he couldn’t possibly imagine such a calm Luo Wanqing.

He remained silent. After a long time, reason finally suppressed everything. He closed his eyes and said quietly, “Give me a Qi Concentration Pill.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing immediately knew Xie Heng was refusing to let her check his pulse.

Qi Concentration Pills were a medicine commonly used by the Supervision Department to restore vital energy. Every Inspector had them. Luo Wanqing immediately found the pills and handed them over in the dark: “Young Master, the medicine.”

Xie Heng didn’t speak immediately. After a moment of silence, he said somewhat awkwardly: “Feed me.”

Only then did Luo Wanqing remember his hands were bound. She quickly focused, following the direction from which Xie Heng’s voice had come to deliver the medicine.

The medicine reached Xie Heng’s lips and teeth. Even though she tried her best not to touch Xie Heng, she still touched his lips at that moment.

His lips seemed cracked, the dry skin scraping across her fingertip. The shocking heat burned her heart with alarm. Luo Wanqing immediately withdrew her hand and stepped back, saying hurriedly: “This subordinate was presumptuous.”

Seeing her dodge, Xie Heng’s movement paused slightly. He held the Qi Concentration Pill in his mouth without speaking. After a moment, he said quietly: “You should rest first.”

Luo Wanqing immediately complied and withdrew, finding the farthest corner to sit down.

Since Xie Heng had entered voluntarily, he couldn’t possibly let himself be seriously injured. She didn’t need to worry too much.

Now that Xie Heng was here, she needn’t think about other matters. Thinking too much would be overstepping. She had to maintain proper boundaries, so she didn’t ask more questions and just waited quietly in the corner.

Xie Heng held the Qi Concentration Pill for a moment, feeling his tongue tip finally regain some sensation and taste some bitterness.

At this time, there was a “crack” sound in the room, followed by the sound of iron shackles hitting the ground. Luo Wanqing immediately opened her eyes, knowing Xie Heng’s iron shackles had been removed.

Ji Ruifang’s voice sounded outside the door at just the right time: “Xie Lingshu, the next medicine delivery is tomorrow morning. I’ll check her pulse. If she’s practiced the Yin Moon Scripture, I’ll give you medicine and you’ll be comfortable too.”

With that, Ji Ruifang’s tone carried mockery: “Make good use of the opportunity. You shouldn’t torture yourself.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing instinctively looked toward Xie Heng.

Xie Heng didn’t speak immediately. Luo Wanqing heard footsteps outside and knew there were still people out there.

Both remained quietly silent. Xie Heng sat alone in the corner. Only when even the breathing sounds outside became distant did Luo Wanqing get up and walk to Xie Heng’s side, lowering her voice: “Young Master, are you feeling better?”

Xie Heng leaned against the wall corner with his eyes closed and hummed in response.

Luo Wanqing whispered: “How should we arrange things now?”

Xie Heng didn’t answer immediately. He seemed to be thinking. After a moment, he chose the most neutral question to ask: “How did you get here?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing truthfully reported her departure: “This subordinate received a message from Lord Cui, saying Young Master deliberately allowed himself to be captured in the forest to enter Ji Rui Palace. He also gave this subordinate a route map drawn by Young Master, having this subordinate come to Ji Rui Palace to rendezvous with Young Master. These days, this subordinate has killed 299 northwestern soldiers on Liufeng Island. Ji Ruifang used the last person to set an ambush for this subordinate, so I played along and let her capture me. Ji Ruifang wanted Xie Minran to complete the Yin Moon Scripture with me and then take my internal force. I used words to provoke her, inducing Ji Ruifang to send this subordinate to Young Master to meet with you.”

Xie Heng listened to Luo Wanqing’s words, analyzing what had happened outside.

She said Cui Heng sent a message, proving Luo Wanqing wasn’t on Liufeng Island. She was from Baihu Division, so she might have been sent out to scout.

She said Cui Heng said he deliberately allowed himself to be captured in the forest. This should be a lie Cui Heng told to cover his identity and prevent Luo Wanqing from discovering the connection between Cui Heng and Xie Heng. It also proved that after she fell into the water, Luo Wanqing should have seen “Xie Heng,” so Xuanshan should have brought people to Liufeng Island, and everyone was probably safe currently.

She only mentioned herself throughout, so this forest entry should have been her alone.

Killing 299 northwestern soldiers with only one remaining for the ambush meant there should have been 300 soldiers in the forest.

Playing along meant Luo Wanqing knew early on that Ji Ruifang planned to use her to heal Xie Minran, so she was fearless.

Using words to provoke her into being sent here, and Ji Ruifang having him help her practice the Yin Moon Scripture…

She deliberately had Ji Ruifang send her to him, even knowing the price of completing the Yin Moon Scripture, knowing Cui Heng had just died. She still came resolutely for official business.

Thinking of this, even knowing she had done nothing wrong, Xie Heng still felt somewhat stifled.

He didn’t dare ask further, only changing the subject: “Where are the other 200 people?”

“Ji Rui Palace.”

“How is the mission proceeding?”

Having absorbed most of this information, Xie Heng asked quietly.

Luo Wanqing noticed nothing amiss, only saying: “The outer mechanisms of Xueling Mountain have been dismantled by me. I’ve had Zhusi deliver the map back to Lord Cui.”

“When did Cui Junye say they would act?”

“The first day of the tenth month.”

“The first day of the tenth month…”

Xie Heng murmured, then asked: “What day is it now?”

Luo Wanqing paused, sensing Xie Heng should have been in this sunless place for a long time. She said softly: “The twenty-seventh of the ninth month.”

The first day of the tenth month—that was five days away.

They had to endure here for five days.

Xie Heng calculated in his mind. After a while, he said slowly, “Completing the Yin Moon Scripture requires at least four days. Before then, Ji Ruifang won’t act against you or me. But she’ll check progress daily. If she’s unsatisfied, we won’t last until then.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing understood Xie Heng’s hint.

She had to practice the Yin Moon Scripture for them to have a chance to save their lives.

She gripped the sword in her hand tightly without responding.

Xie Heng leaned against the wall with his eyes closed and continued: “When your Yin Moon Scripture is completed, you’ll be sent to Xie Minran by Ji Ruifang. Xie Minran is seriously injured now. I’ll give you two paths. One is for me to delay the completion of the Yin Moon Scripture, keep you by my side, find a way to protect you, and drag it until the fifth day when we wait together for Lord Cui to come rescue us.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was stunned, not expecting Xie Heng to still think of protecting her at this point. But then Xie Heng continued: “But this method has great risks for both of us. If Ji Ruifang is determined to act against us, I don’t have absolute confidence.”

“What about the other path?”

Luo Wanqing immediately asked.

Xie Heng’s tone was calm: “I’ll help you complete the Yin Moon Scripture while teaching you Ji Ruifang’s techniques. You go to Xie Minran’s side, and taking advantage of his serious injuries, you find a chance to absorb his internal force in reverse and kill him.”

Luo Wanqing’s heart stirred as she looked up, hearing Xie Heng analyze: “This method has extreme risk for you. By then, her attention will be on you and Lord Cui, so she probably won’t have time to worry about me. But if successful, it would greatly benefit you. You’re now on a knife’s edge with no way back. You can only climb upward, or face the fate of being shattered. Think it over and give me your answer.”

Hearing Xie Heng’s words, Luo Wanqing didn’t respond.

Though he was letting her choose, in his words, he had already chosen for her.

She knew she should agree with Xie Heng’s words.

But she couldn’t speak.

She knew what completing the Yin Moon Scripture would entail. She had once tactfully asked Cui Heng if he had never considered teaching her the Yin Moon Scripture.

And that person had just gently patted her shoulder.

At that time, she knew he didn’t plan to stay, but she never thought he would leave in such a tragic way.

Thinking of Cui Heng, she couldn’t agree to Xie Heng’s request.

But her reason—the reason she forced herself to suppress after Cui Heng left—told her she should accept this proposal that carried the least risk for both of them and was best for her future.

She remained silent, and Xie Heng seemed to know she was struggling.

After a moment, Xie Heng suddenly said with certainty: “You’re unwilling to practice the Yin Moon Scripture with me.”

“This subordinate…” Luo Wanqing couldn’t speak for a moment.

She couldn’t agree, yet didn’t know how to deny it.

After a stalemate, she finally admitted, only saying: “Young Master… is there no other way?”

Xie Heng didn’t respond immediately. After a long time, he said: “There is.”

“Please enlighten me, Young Master.”

Luo Wanqing felt relieved, her tone involuntarily brightening.

Xie Heng leaned against the wall corner, bending his knees and lowering his gaze: “Those who practice the Yin Moon Scripture differ from ordinary people in having more balanced yin-yang vital energy. I can inject vital energy into you once daily to fool Ji Ruifang. On the fourth day, I’ll inject the final flow of vital energy into your body, and you can handle Xie Minran’s examination.”

“Then…”

“But fake is fake,” Xie Heng reminded her. “When Xie Minran absorbs your internal force, he’ll realize something’s wrong within a third of the time at most. If you want to kill him, you only have that third of the time.”

Hearing Xie Heng’s reminder, Luo Wanqing immediately said, “This subordinate understands.”

After Luo Wanqing responded, Xie Heng fell silent. After a while, his voice sounded again: “Those addicted to mandala incense go through three stages. When the drug takes effect, they feel euphoric with strong desires. After the effect subsides, there’s a period of calm. After that, if they don’t take medicine on schedule, their whole body feels like ants are crawling, extremely painful. Most importantly, it changes people’s minds, driving them to infinitely accommodate their desires. People never lose reason because of pain, but because they find excuses.”

“What do you mean, Young Master?”

“I won’t get medicine tonight,” Xie Heng’s tone was flat, as if discussing something perfectly ordinary. “To get medicine, I’ll do anything. There’s a bell that sounds in the distance every morning at chen hour. Before chen hour, don’t believe a single word I say, don’t let me near you, and especially don’t let me touch you. Given the special circumstances, I permit you to be insubordinate. If you show the slightest weakness, Luo Wanqing,” Xie Heng paused, then said hoarsely, “neither of us will escape.”

“Yes.”

Luo Wanqing answered solemnly. Xie Heng wearily acknowledged and said nothing more.

After a long time, Xie Heng suddenly spoke in the night: “Liu Xiniang.”

“Young Master?”

“Now… are you living well?”

This question was so sudden, too much like old friends meeting after a long separation.

Realizing this, Luo Wanqing’s heart skipped a beat, but she immediately remembered what Xie Heng had said earlier.

Mandala incense would tempt people to think about all their desires. For example, if Xie Heng wanted someone to save him, even if someone harmful came, mandala incense would make him find reasons to ignore all the wrong signs and lose his usual vigilance to trust the other person.

Or if she hoped Cui Heng was alive, mandala incense would provide countless excuses to make her believe Cui Heng might be alive, thereby guiding her to do irrational things.

So the way for those who inhaled mandala incense to stay calm was often to think opposite to all their past hopes.

But even so, many people couldn’t successfully escape this drug’s influence.

When she entered earlier, she had inhaled some.

Though not much, it had some effect. Fortunately, she still had some reason, so she forced herself to suppress such inappropriate thoughts and said softly: “Reporting to Young Master, this subordinate is doing fairly well.”

Hearing her words, Xie Heng seemed to nod.

“That’s good.”

With that, Luo Wanqing heard some melancholy in his voice as he said softly, “As long as Cui Heng didn’t affect you.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s movement paused.

After a moment, she softly acknowledged: “Mm.”

Her longing for Cui Heng needn’t be told to others, nor did she need to make others worry.

But she knew this person’s name spread through every inch of her bones, every piece of flesh, every drop of blood.

He flowed through all her time and body. As long as she lived one day, he lived one day.

The two fell into silence. With nothing to do, Luo Wanqing sat in meditation to rest.

After entering concentration, her perception of surrounding sounds became unclear. Xie Heng listened to her breathing become steady and struggled to pull open his collar.

He felt hot, but he didn’t want to do anything in front of Luo Wanqing.

Meeting her at such a time was already quite embarrassing—he didn’t want to become even more so.

She had never liked him.

He shouldn’t make her find him even more unseemly.

But as the drug took effect, he became increasingly sensitive and tormented. Every breath from Luo Wanqing beside him was like a mill grinding on his heartstrings.

He couldn’t see her appearance clearly, but he could glimpse her silhouette.

She wore a married woman’s hairstyle, her posture upright, like an unsheathed blade burning with alluring fire in the night.

He was like a moth drawn to flame, watching from afar, his mind filled with countless thoughts tempting him forward.

Looking at her, he couldn’t help thinking.

Why was she wearing a married woman’s hairstyle? For whom? For Cui Heng, right?

If it was for Cui Heng… then she had him in her heart, liked him, was willing to belong to him—so why couldn’t he go forward?

Why should he suffer alone here?

If he went forward, she would surely be happy too. What she liked was…

Remembering how she had cried under his tongue and fingertips in the past, Xie Heng completely lost control of himself and couldn’t help but breathe heavily.

His mind repeatedly convinced him, yet he knew this was just the temptation brought by mandala incense.

He knew this was his delusion, merely an excuse he found to convince himself.

Why would she be willing? That wasn’t entirely love.

Whether Cui Heng, Xie Heng, or any other person—if they saved her, she would repay them.

Even if she was willing…

What could he use to promise a future?

Now she was living well. Even with Cui Heng gone, she could still live well. Why should he disturb her?

Must he drag someone down into mud and water before he’d be satisfied?

He cursed himself while breathing heavily.

After barely enduring the first stage of the drug’s effects, he was like someone pulled from water.

He finally got some respite, closed his eyes, and had a good sleep.

This sleep was very long. When he woke up, he began feeling ants drilling into his brain.

He knew the most difficult third stage had arrived.

Taking medicine would make him better, but without medicine, this pain would only grow stronger.

As long as the Yin Moon Scripture was completed, he could get medicine.

This thought flashed by as he began uncontrollably hitting his head with his hands.

Luo Wanqing had just expanded her meridians another circuit and emerged from meditation when she heard what seemed like Xie Heng hitting the wall. She couldn’t help calling out: “Young Master?”

Xie Heng’s movement and sound paused, then he said hoarsely, “Nothing.”

With that, he seemed to suppress some irritation: “Don’t talk to me.”

Luo Wanqing paused, then didn’t dare speak again.

She kept hearing collision sounds and heavy breathing from the wall corner.

After a while, the sounds disappeared as if no living person existed there.

Luo Wanqing’s heart jumped with alarm. After hesitating for a moment, she still couldn’t restrain herself and tested: “Young Master? Are you alright?”

The other person didn’t respond.

Luo Wanqing immediately stood up, gripping the Qianji hairpin in her hand, and hurried in Xie Heng’s direction.

She couldn’t see clearly in the room and could only frantically search based on where Xie Heng’s sounds had come from: “Young Master? Young Master, are you okay?”

Just as she finished speaking, a hand grabbed her wrist urgently and heavily. Luo Wanqing’s heart tightened suddenly as she cried out: “Young Master!”

Xie Heng’s hand loosened. Luo Wanqing gripped the Qianji tightly, her breathing slightly disordered.

The two remained in a standoff without speaking. After a long time, Xie Heng spoke hoarsely: “Don’t be afraid.”

With that, he pried open her fingers one by one, took the Qianji from her hand, and said softly to comfort her: “I’m just borrowing the Qianji.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Xie Heng: “That, that, I…”

Luo Wanqing: “When you get excited, think of Cui Heng. You can’t covet your friend’s wife.”

Xie Heng: “…Then I can still help take care of her.”

Luo Wanqing: Angrily draws sword