Chapter 41: The Price of Provocation

Their bodies, still somewhat damp, the air temperature noticeably higher than outside, and a pervasive scent that inexplicably stirred a restless agitation within her.

It was the scent of Golden Seed.

Bai Zhenye’s vermillion lips trembled slightly, and she struggled to rein in her spiraling thoughts, only just managing to salvage a shred of rationality.

At this moment, the frigidly beautiful immortal gazed at Su Qin with eyes that bordered on pleading.

‘Explain yourself, quickly, explain…’

Su Qin finally came to his senses, glancing at the swirling, fishy scent in the corner, which somewhat reassured him.

Bai Zhenye was one of his favorite characters, and seeing her so close to shattering pained Su Qin greatly.

Yet, he found this woman’s attitude utterly displeasing!

Leaving aside her penchant for hacking people, she showed Su Qin not a speck of reverence, practically viewing him as a mere instrument for procreation.

He had endured it three days ago, but now, the Demon Lord was no longer afraid.

“What transpires between this lord and Hall Master Chu is none of the Sect Master’s concern.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhenye’s breath hitched, and she stared blankly at Su Qin’s indifferent face.

Chu Lingge, naturally, observed all of this, a flicker of surprise appearing in her beautiful eyes as she murmured softly:

“So… that’s how it is…”

This big block of ice, Bai Zhenye, had actually been… in ‘that kind’ of relationship with this fellow all along.

Chu Lingge’s lips curled into a playful smile.

She had stumbled upon an unexpected discovery, and things were becoming quite interesting; perhaps she could even draw Bai Zhenye into their fold, especially since they would all be one family in the future.

The three of them would undoubtedly make a good life for themselves.

“But you two only just met a few days ago… what could possibly have happened?”

Bai Zhenye pressed her red lips together, stubbornly clutching the Azure Cloud Tassel at her waist.

“Surely, surely I was first… We’ve known each other for over ten years, haven’t we?”

Su Qin’s mouth twitched; it seemed the Sect Master had been fantasizing about him all these years.

“Knowing you for over ten years doesn’t compare to the joy of a single quarter-hour with Hall Master Chu.”

Su Qin said languidly, then added after a moment’s thought.

“Meeting early doesn’t equate to closeness.”

Chu Lingge’s phoenix eyes flickered, and she discreetly tugged at Su Qin’s robe, whispering:

“Hey, isn’t that a bit too harsh?”

Su Qin remained impassive, his silence aimed squarely at curbing this woman’s brazenness, making her understand that Su Qin was a person, not some mere talking plaything.

Bai Zhenye felt dizzy; she truly believed him, and she was genuinely terrified.

Chu Lingge’s charm was innate, further enhanced by her cultivation of the Charm Cultivation Technique (TL Note: A cultivation method focusing on allure and seduction), allowing her every subtle expression to stir the hearts of men; almost every man who met her would inevitably succumb.

If they spoke a few more words with her, they would even willingly sacrifice their lives for her.

Moreover, Bai Zhenye often heard Chu Lingge boast that with this cultivation method, once a man experienced her charms intimately, he would never again be moved by any other woman.

“Lingge, didn’t you say… you wouldn’t seek out men?”

Bai Zhenye turned to Chu Lingge, hoping she would speak up, explaining that this was all a misunderstanding.

Even if the explanation was illogical, riddled with holes, she would still choose to believe it!

However, Chu Lingge’s cheeks flushed crimson, and she cast a tender, lingering gaze upon Su Qin’s stern countenance before slowly lowering her head, her eyes constantly fighting back a smile.

“He’s different…”

The blow was devastating; Bai Zhenye felt as though struck by a lightning bolt, never having appeared so disheveled since embarking on her cultivation path.

***

— Thud.

The Immortal Zhenye’s legs gave way, and she collapsed to the floor; the world seemed to drain of all its vibrant hues, and an unfamiliar emotion enveloped her heart.

“Why, why wasn’t it me, why…”

The immortal’s eyes were vacant as she repeatedly muttered, and Chu Lingge, seeing her in this state, knew their playful teasing had gone far enough.

But just as she prepared to offer comfort, Su Qin spoke.

“There’s no ‘why’; it’s simply because your personality is too terrible.”

Chu Lingge’s face froze, and she turned, looking at Su Qin’s indifferent expression in disbelief.

How could this man be so audacious!?

Bai Zhenye’s eyes grew even more vacant; that sentence felt like a knife, savagely piercing the softest part of her heart, and she silently lowered her head.

“You’re fundamentally a freak; who else constantly thinks of senselessly hacking people?”

Su Qin rolled his eyes, continuing his tirade while summoning more of the fishy scent.

Now, he was secure!

He was quite pleased with the terrifying aura of the fishy scent; dealing with a Squishy Sword Cultivator (TL Note: A gaming term for a character with high damage but low defense) was practically effortless, wasn’t it?

“And your body, it’s excessively voluptuous; why don’t you rein it in? Doesn’t it bother you, jiggling with every step?”

Though, to be fair, Su Qin couldn’t tear his eyes away whenever he saw it.

Chu Lingge was stunned; she could distinctly feel Bai Zhenye was on the verge of exploding, yet this fellow seemed utterly oblivious.

“Tsk tsk, you don’t even know how to dress up. Eight sets of seasonal clothes are one thing, but why does your hairstyle never change?”

“Someone like you, you’re only captivating at first glance; with prolonged observation, one would merely—”

Chu Lingge clapped a hand over Su Qin’s mouth, frantically signaling with her eyes.

“Don’t worry, I’m as steady as a rock~”

Su Qin pushed away Chu Lingge’s delicate hand, about to continue his complaints, when his pupils suddenly constricted.

He saw Bai Zhenye gently lift her head, her pretty face not showing anger or tears, but a disturbingly deranged smile.

***

“So that’s how it is.”

Bai Zhenye held Chu Lingge’s jade hand, speaking as if sharing happy private thoughts between sisters.

However, the smiles on these two breathtakingly beautiful immortals were both somewhat unnatural.

Chu Lingge looked at her friend’s smile, which, despite being restrained, still held a wary edge, and a secret fear crept into her heart.

“Ally, while you sit as an honored guest and I am a prisoner beneath, why not speak a word to save me?”

Su Qin secretly transmitted his message.

He had become a block of ice, with Bai Zhenye’s warm, soft bottom resting upon him in the classic Guanyin Lotus Pedestal (TL Note: A specific intimate position, often depicted as a revered or graceful pose in a different context), almost suffocating him.

It was too much, too fast; he knew nothing until she had already sat down.

“Who told you to court disaster? How dare you provoke her.”

Chu Lingge glared at him, and Bai Zhenye naturally understood they were communicating.

The immortal extended a slender, pale hand and gently pinched Su Qin’s nose for a full minute, nearly causing him to crystallize from lack of air.

“Husband~, if there’s anything, why not say it directly? Lingge is my sister… We are all family.”

“Could it be that my sister’s explanation is incorrect? Or is there truly something between you two…”

“Mmm, mmmph mmmph… S-s-she’s not wrong!”

Su Qin’s mouth was covered, his words muffled and unclear.

“In that case, let’s settle the bill.”

Bai Zhenye retrieved the three million spiritual stones.

“What price did Husband negotiate?”

Immortal Zhenye didn’t ask Su Qin but directly questioned Chu Lingge.

“This time, it was a three-seven split.”

Su Qin’s face showed regret; he had originally wanted to negotiate further, but now he would only get nine hundred thousand.

“Hmph!”

Bai Zhenye pinched Su Qin’s nose again, highly displeased.

“Husband is truly unprincipled; my sister has been busy with this matter, yet you only give her thirty percent?”

“It should at least be a fifty-fifty split!”