The night was as dark as ink, and the entire Imperial City was shrouded in a deep, tranquil silence.
Inside the sleeping quarters of Phoenix Palace.
Dozens of enormous night pearls were set into the dome above, emitting a gentle glow that illuminated every detail within the hall with perfect clarity.
Lu Ning was still locked onto that massive warm jade bed.
Ji Linglong sat at the bedside, holding a bowl of black medicinal soup exuding a rich, potent aroma.
She gently stirred it with a small white jade spoon, her golden phoenix eyes fixed on Lu Ning, overflowing with tenderness.
“Ah Ning, it’s time to take your medicine.”
Her voice was soft, as if coaxing a stubborn child.
Lu Ning turned her head away, tightly sealing her lips, her face filled with resistance.
Ever since she had taken action to deal with the assassin, Ji Linglong had completely changed.
She no longer tormented Lu Ning with those humiliating means, replacing them with an all-encompassing “care.”
She would personally wipe Lu Ning’s body, comb her long hair, and cradle her to sleep.
She would also use the finest rare treasures and heavenly materials of the entire dynasty to “nourish” Lu Ning’s body.
Just like this bowl of medicine now.
Although Lu Ning didn’t know exactly what was in this pitch-black soup, from the rich medicinal scent, she could distinguish at least a dozen of the rarest top-grade spiritual herbs.
Any single one of them, taken outside, would be enough to drive countless cultivators into a frenzy.
But now, they were all boiled into this one bowl of medicine, to be fed to a “prisoner.”
Yet this kind of “care” left Lu Ning feeling suffocated.
Because every time Ji Linglong fed her medicine, she would use that unbearably humiliating method.
“Not being obedient?”
Ji Linglong looked at Lu Ning’s stubborn face, but wasn’t angry; she merely smiled faintly.
She set down the jade bowl, reached out, and gently pinched Lu Ning’s chin.
Unable to move, Lu Ning couldn’t resist at all.
“Ah Ning, do you know?”
Ji Linglong’s fingertips softly traced Lu Ning’s lower lip.
“I’ve recently discovered a very interesting way to heal injuries.”
“By letting the medicinal power of these spiritual herbs merge through the blending of our bodies and then transferring it to you, not only will you absorb the medicine even better, but I can also use the chance to harmonize the Nine Heavens Divine Flame within me.”
“Two birds with one stone. What do you think?”
Lu Ning’s body suddenly trembled; she stared in horror, eyes wide.
This crazy woman!
She actually wants to…
“Seems like you agree this is a good method too, Ah Ning.”
A satisfied smile appeared on Ji Linglong’s face.
Then, under Lu Ning’s despairing gaze, she slowly leaned down.
…
One hour later.
Only then did Ji Linglong sit up, contented.
She gazed at Lu Ning, whose eyes were a little red on the bed, a trace of obsession flashing in her own.
“How do you feel?”
She gently stroked Lu Ning’s sweat-soaked forehead, “Did you absorb the medicine better?”
Lu Ning did not answer.
She merely curled up on the bed, her body trembling slightly beyond her control.
Waves of pure medicinal energy coursed through her body, mending her damaged meridians.
Yet at the same time, a strange heat she had never felt before burned within her.
She could feel her body being “remade” bit by bit, in a way she could not resist.
Ji Linglong looked at her pitiful appearance, feeling an immense satisfaction from her urge to protect and possess.
She liked this feeling.
She loved turning a lofty deity into a plaything held in her own palm.
“Don’t worry, Ah Ning.”
Ji Linglong unlocked the shackles, lay down beside Lu Ning, and gently drew her into her arms, as if soothing a frightened kitten.
“I’ll be good to you.”
“I’ll give you the very best in this world.”
“So long as you stay obediently by my side.”
She spoke softly while lightly patting Lu Ning’s back.
No one knew how long had passed before Lu Ning finally fell asleep from exhaustion.
Staring at the peaceful face in her arms, Ji Linglong’s eyes flashed with a complicated light.
She knew what she was doing was selfish.
But she couldn’t help herself.
From the moment she saw Lu Ning save her, she had been utterly captivated.
Ji Linglong slowly lowered her head and pressed a gentle, proprietary mark on Lu Ning’s forehead.
“Good night, my Ah Ning.”
…
Imperial City, Tiandu.
Inside a lavish mansion called “Welcoming Immortals Residence.”
Gu Qinghuan stood with her hands behind her back at the window, gazing at the brightly lit imperial palace in the distance.
Behind her, Su Yuexi sat elegantly, savoring tea, her manner relaxed.
“Qinghuan, are you still worried about your master?”
Su Yuexi set down her teacup and asked gently.
As guests for the birthday banquet, they had smoothly settled into Tiandu.
“I’ve heard of Ji Linglong,” Su Yuexi said slowly.
“She’s proud and overbearing, but she knows her limits. With your master in her hands, there shouldn’t be any threat to her life.”
Gu Qinghuan didn’t turn around.
She only spoke coldly, “If she dares so much as scratch my master, sooner or later, I’ll have the entire Great Wilderness Dynasty buried with her.”
The killing intent in Gu Qinghuan’s tone chilled the whole room by several degrees.
Hearing this, Su Yuexi could only shake her head helplessly.
This Saintess was perfect in every way—except for her overpowering possessiveness toward her master.
“By the way, Ji Linglong’s birthday banquet is tomorrow.”
Su Yuexi changed the topic.
“I’ve already found out—the banquet will be held in the ‘Kirin Hall’ of the palace. The Empress of the Great Wilderness and envoys from all factions will attend.”
“This is an excellent opportunity.”
“But you must be careful of Ji Linglong. Her strength may be unfathomable. Yesterday, that infamous assassin organization, Blood Shadow Tower, accepted a contract and dispatched three cultivators at the Grand Ascension stage to assassinate Ji Linglong…”
“Two of the Grand Ascension experts lured away the palace’s top defenders, while Blood Shadow Tower’s third-ranked assassin, Blood Yuanzi, took the chance to assassinate Ji Linglong.”
“The result… Blood Yuanzi, at the late Grand Ascension stage, was wiped out by Ji Linglong in a single move.”
Hearing this, Gu Qinghuan turned around, surprise flickering in her beautiful eyes.
“I understand. I’ll do my best to avoid facing her directly. Once the banquet starts tomorrow, everyone’s attention will be focused on the Kirin Hall.”
“At that time, you find a way to delay Ji Linglong and the Empress of the Great Wilderness during the banquet.”
“I’ll personally rescue my master.”
“This…”
Su Yuexi looked troubled.
“Qinghuan, that’s too risky. There are countless experts in the palace, with layers of restrictions. You alone…”
“My mind is made up.”
Gu Qinghuan coldly cut her off.
“You just need to do your part.”
Su Yuexi looked at her resolute gaze and could only sigh in the end.
“Alright.”
“But I have one condition,” Su Yuexi said.
“Say it.”
“After you rescue your master, you must immediately leave Tiandu and not linger in the city for battle.”
Su Yuexi’s expression turned solemn.
“If a massive conflict erupts within the imperial city of the Great Wilderness, the consequences will be unimaginable. By then, even my Hundred Flowers Valley won’t be able to protect you.”
“Fine,” Gu Qinghuan nodded.
Her most important goal was to save her master.
As long as she could bring her master back, she couldn’t care less about tangling with the Great Wilderness Dynasty.
Right now, she didn’t have the power to challenge an entire dynasty anyway.
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