Chapter 23: He admitted that he had softened his heart

Ye Qingyi immediately replied, “Okay.”

She closed her eyes, emptied her thoughts, and forced herself to endure the strange sensation of a foreign presence entering her body, allowing Ye Chu’s soul power to fill every corner of her being.

Ye Chu gradually increased his soul power output, slowly testing the limit of what Ye Qingyi’s body could withstand.

Afraid that he might accidentally damage Ye Qingyi’s body.

Even a sliver of a Great Vehicle stage soul power was enough to burst a Golden Core stage body cultivator’s well-tempered body.

…

As Ye Chu’s soul power continued to pour in.

Thump!

Thump!!

Thump!!!

Thump!!!!

Thump!!!!!

Thump…

Ye Qingyi’s heart pounded violently, the sound like a war drum being struck repeatedly.

Her blood flow accelerated, and her originally fair skin slowly flushed red.

Her power kept climbing—late Golden Core, peak Golden Core, early Nascent Soul!

This was the limit of what Ye Qingyi’s body could currently bear of Ye Chu’s soul power.

Any more and there would be a risk of collapse.

Ye Chu kept throwing punches.

Left punch high damage!

Right punch high damage!

Every punch he threw made the air tremble.

A shadow flickered across Mu Qingge’s eyes.

Did Ye Chu really not want to go with her that badly?

“Do you have to go this far just to resist me?”

Her voice carried a complex mix of emotions, as if both pained and helpless.

“Consuming your soul power like this—won’t you hurt yourself?”

Ye Chu’s response was only four words: “Don’t you worry about it.”

Mu Qingge said nothing more.

Since Ye Chu chose to resist, she would treat it as his little game—he runs, she chases.

After all, she was the one who had wronged him back then.

Their figures clashed, collided, separated, and collided again in the small courtyard, locked in an inextricable fight.

‘What’s going on?’

Ye Qingyi was full of confusion.

‘How did this suddenly turn into a life-or-death struggle? Don’t they have history together?’

‘Is Ye Chu going to be okay…?’

‘Is he doing this for himself or for me?’

‘If it’s for me, is it worth it? He could just go with Mu Qingge…’

…

Mu Qingge stepped back several paces.

Her robes were slightly disheveled from the battle, but her breathing remained steady.

Clearly, she hadn’t been forced back by Ye Chu.

‘That’s enough. Ye Chu’s soul power has been worn down considerably. Time to use that.’

She took a silver chain from her sleeve, its surface covered in dense, intricate runes.

It radiated an aura that made one’s soul shudder.

Ye Chu’s heart sank at the sight of the chain.

That was a tool specifically designed to target soul bodies.

Not only did it deal double damage to souls, but it could also restrain and control them.

Was Mu Qingge really planning to cripple him and then drag him back for ruthless control?

“Mu Qingge, you sure came prepared…”

Mu Qingge’s voice took on a hint of apology: “Ye Chu, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“But since you won’t come with me, I have to use this.”

She paused, as if choosing her words or making an excuse for herself: “Although you, as a body cultivator, are quite accomplished in the way of the soul, you’re still no match for me. Don’t worry, I won’t harm your soul.”

‘Once I peel you out of that woman’s body, we can play many more little games. I hope you’ll still be so stubborn then.’

“I just… want to separate you from her.”

As she finished speaking, she activated the chain.

The chain turned into a beam of silver light, winding toward Ye Qingyi’s body.

It was too fast.

Ye Chu wanted to dodge, but the chain moved far faster than he anticipated.

He couldn’t get out of the way.

The silver light sank into Ye Qingyi’s body.

Ye Chu felt something wrap around his soul.

A sharp pain shot through the depths of his being.

Ye Qingyi sensed Ye Chu’s agony.

“Ye Chu! What’s wrong?!”

She wanted to help, but there was nothing she could do.

Ye Chu struggled, but his soul power had been significantly depleted.

He couldn’t break free for the moment, and the chain only tightened further.

He could feel his soul being pulled out of Ye Qingyi’s body.

Ye Qingyi felt Ye Chu’s soul being ripped away.

Her body began to grow cold, as if something was leaving.

‘Is he being taken? Is he going to leave me? No… don’t go…’

She didn’t know why she had such a thought, but she just didn’t want Ye Chu to leave.

Just then, the cold electronic voice sounded again in Ye Qingyi’s mind:

[The demon within the host has detected external intrusion.]

[Knight Dies by No Hand System: Weapon Seizure function unlocked.]

[Conditions for seizing enemy weapon control have been met!]

[Seize? Yes / No]

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ye Qingyi answered, “Yes!”

The next second, Mu Qingge suddenly felt the soul chain slip out of her control.

The silver light halted in midair… and then began to wrap in reverse.

Ye Chu was also stunned.

‘This crappy system… it actually has this function?’

Not that he needed it.

He could have broken free on his own.

He was a dignified Great Vehicle stage body cultivator soul and a master artifact refiner.

How could he be stumped by a tiny little chain?

The system making him look like he couldn’t handle it—how embarrassing!

Outsiders would laugh!

And who are you calling a demon!?

But this wasn’t the time to quibble.

Ye Chu manipulated the soul chain to wind back around Mu Qingge’s soul, a hint of smugness in his voice: “Mu Qingge, did you think you were the only one prepared?”

“I came prepared too, okay!”

“I’m not the same person you once knew!”

Silver cracks began to spread across Mu Qingge’s body, as if she were about to shatter.

She let out a muffled groan, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

‘It hurts, but that’s fine.’

‘To seize control of my painstakingly refined weapon so easily… you really are the man I chose.’

Seeing Mu Qingge’s pained expression and the blood, Ye Chu instinctively pulled the chain back…

“Are you okay?”

He admitted it—he had gone soft.

The corners of Mu Qingge’s mouth lifted slightly.

She looked at Ye Chu, who had withdrawn his hand, with a knowing smile.

“You hit me so hard just now, and now you’re feeling sorry for me?”

Ye Chu was speechless.

“You attacked me first. I was just defending myself.”

Mu Qingge thought to herself that Ye Chu was still stubborn, just like before—tough mouth, soft heart.

“Since you’ve given me such a fine weapon, you can go.”

Mu Qingge let out a soft laugh and raised a hand to wipe the blood from her lips.

She knew Ye Chu was making an excuse to let her go, a gesture of reconciliation.

But it might also be a bluff.

“This isn’t like you. You used to press your advantage against a defeated enemy—relentless, merciless.”

“Letting me off so easily today—aren’t you afraid I’ll see through your bluff?”

Mu Qingge speculated that either Ye Chu had just awakened and his soul was still very weak—pushing Ye Qingyi’s power that high had already reached his limit—or Ye Qingyi’s body was about to collapse under the strain of Nascent Soul-level combat.

After all, she was only at Qi Condensation.

“But…” Although Mu Qingge could continue fighting to test Ye Chu’s true strength, she had a premonition that she wouldn’t be able to take him away today.

She wasn’t sure if Ye Chu was bluffing or if he really had strength left to spare.

What if he had another trick up his sleeve…

‘Forget it. Let’s leave it at that for today.’

‘No need to make the first meeting after ten thousand years so rigid. It’s normal for Ye Chu to be a bit defensive around me right now. Consider it giving him some time to adjust… a little taming.’

She changed her tone.

“Let’s call it a day.”

“Next time… I’ll come back better prepared.”

Mu Qingge turned, and her figure vanished into the night.

…

After confirming that Mu Qingge was long gone, Ye Chu let out a long breath.

“Finally gone…”

This ordeal was over, for now.

A few seconds later, the twelve hours were up, and the mask dissipated on its own.

Ye Qingyi regained control of her body.

Her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the ground.

Every muscle in her body ached terribly—the aftereffect of Ye Chu forcibly overloading her body.

“Ye Chu… are you okay?”

Ye Chu’s voice was very weak. “I’m fine… won’t die…”

“Good thing I bluffed her away. One more second and we’d have been exposed.”

Ye Qingyi looked down at her hands, trembling slightly from the muscle pain.

“Why did you… stay?”