Chapter 83: The Saintess’s Tender Trap

She first opened the box made of golden nanmu.

The moment the box opened, a pure and scorching power of illusion-shattering emanated from within.

Inside, a golden, eyeball-shaped crystal lay silently, its center marked by a vertical pupil that shone with the intensity of a blazing sun.

“The ‘Illusion-Shattering Demonic Eye,’ personally refined by the Demon Emperor, capable of seeing through all illusions and disguises in the world…”

Bai Zhileng’s gaze flickered, and the smile on her face deepened. “This truly is a generous gift.”

She then picked up the seemingly “primitive” beast hide scroll and unfurled it.

A complex scent, a mixture of ink, animal fur, and a young girl’s fragrance, wafted towards her.

On the beast hide, a line of extremely arrogant words was scrawled in a crooked hand: “Shen Zhaoqing, listen up, Princess commands you! Don’t let those white fox spirits, who look human but are dogs inside, trick you! Their hearts are darker than ink! You wear this eyeball for Princess, and if anyone dares to lay a hand on you, you glare back at them with it! Blind their dog eyes! Hear me?!”

The signature was a hastily drawn, yet distinctly spirited, sketch of a small bird.

“Pfft.”

Even Bai Zhileng nearly lost her composure upon seeing this letter.

White fox spirits?

This little princess of the Myriad Demon Kingdom was indeed as naive, innocent, and crude as the rumors claimed.

However, this gift was quite profound.

The Illusion-Shattering Demonic Eye was specifically designed to counter all illusions, charms, and disguises.

It seemed this little princess harbored deep suspicions about her.

“Interesting, truly interesting.”

Bai Zhileng chuckled softly, then put away the Illusion-Shattering Demonic Eye and the beast hide letter. She turned and returned to the warm chamber.

This time, she walked to the other side of the bed.

There, a similar zitan wood side table stood.

She gently placed the golden nanmu box, containing the Illusion-Shattering Demonic Eye, upon it.

Then, she picked up the beast hide letter, filled with its “tiger-wolf words,” and after a moment’s thought, carefully unfurled it.

She placed it under Shen Zhaoqing’s pillow, directly facing the other side of her cheek.

Having completed all this, she stepped back two paces, admiring her masterpiece with satisfaction.

“Look,” Bai Zhileng whispered, bending down beside Shen Zhaoqing’s ear, her voice a murmur, almost like a lover’s.

“Everyone… cares about you so much.”

“One feared you were cold and sent a warm brazier; another feared you’d be deceived and sent eyes.”

Her fingertips lightly traced Shen Zhaoqing’s cheek, from the peach blossom tear mark to her tightly closed lips, with the cool, scrutinizing touch of a healer.

“They all want to protect you, possess you, obtain you…”

“But they don’t understand.”

“The current you is a fragile work of art. Only I know how to repair you, polish you, and make you shine with the most perfect radiance.”

Her voice grew softer, imbued with a hypnotic magic.

“So, you must obediently listen to me.”

“Forget all those noisy voices.”

“Soon, you will understand that only with me is your true and only home.”

She straightened up, gazing at the two powerful “gifts” emanating their auras from either side of the bed.

A gentle smile finally curved her lips into the arc of a victor.

This war had only just begun.

And she had already won at the starting line.

****

The Qingyun Sect’s mountain-protecting array was virtually nonexistent to Bai Zhileng.

After the Demonic Venerable’s Blood Coral Incense Burner and the Demon Princess’s Illusion-Shattering Demonic Eye had been precisely air-dropped into Lan Yue Abode, disregarding the barrier, Bai Zhileng offered a “small suggestion” to Xuanweizi, the sect master of Qingyun Sect.

“Sect Master, although the spiritual energy conflict within Junior Sister Shen Zhaoqing’s body has been temporarily alleviated, her Divine Soul remains fragile.”

She stood before Xuanweizi, her tone gentle and her eyes sincere, as if genuinely concerned for a patient. “While Lan Yue Abode is pleasant, the constant coming and going of people makes it somewhat noisy.”

“I observed Tingxue Residence deep in the back mountains; its spiritual脉 is pure and its environment serene, making it more conducive to recuperation.”

“If Junior Sister Shen could move there, and I set up a Calm Heart Soul Stabilizing Array to isolate all external disturbances, I believe it would greatly benefit her recovery.”

Her words were impeccable, logical, and perfectly reasonable.

What could Xuanweizi say?

Thus, under Gu Chang’an’s gaze, which could almost freeze a person into an ice sculpture, Bai Zhileng smiled and personally “escorted” Shen Zhaoqing, who was still in a semi-conscious state, from Lan Yue Abode all the way to the even more secluded Tingxue Residence.

Tingxue Residence.

The name was elegant, and the place itself was indeed refined.

The courtyard was not large, yet it was complete in every aspect.

A clear spring cascaded down the mountain, tinkling softly as it flowed into a jade-green pond.

A few brocade carp swam gracefully and contentedly in the pond. In front of the house grew an ancient, nameless tree, its branches and leaves lush, casting dappled shadows.

The spiritual energy in the air was so rich it almost solidified.

“Zhaoqing, it’s time for your medicine.”

Bai Zhileng walked in from outside, holding a bowl of freshly brewed medicinal soup. Her steps were light, and her skirt swished, carrying with it a faint, elegant herbal fragrance.

Shen Zhaoqing sat cross-legged on the bed, watching her expressionlessly, her mind already spiraling into a frantic internal monologue.

Here it comes, the daily fixed program, ‘The Saintess’s Feeding Time.’

Shen Zhaoqing was convinced by this medicine.

The alchemical and medical arts of Penglai Immortal Palace were indeed formidable. The medicinal soup not only didn’t taste bitter but carried a sweet, fruity aroma.

After drinking it, a warm current instantly coursed through her limbs and bones, gradually untangling the meridians knotted by the chaotic influx of spiritual energy from the various powerful figures.

The effect was outstanding and immediate.

However, the method of administering the medicine was highly questionable.

Bai Zhileng walked to the bedside and naturally sat down. She first scooped a spoonful of medicinal soup with a small white jade spoon.

Then, under Shen Zhaoqing’s already vacant gaze, she slightly lowered her head and brought the spoon to her own glistening lips, gently sipping it.

It was as if she were testing the temperature.

Only after this action did she raise her head and offer the spoon to Shen Zhaoqing’s mouth.

The temperature was just right, not too hot.

Shen Zhaoqing opened her mouth and mechanically drank the spoonful of medicinal soup.

The warm liquid slid down her throat, carrying the clear fragrance of fruit wood, along with an extremely faint, unique cool scent of fresh grass after a snowfall, belonging solely to Bai Zhileng.

Shen Zhaoqing could feel her increasingly sluggish senses being forcibly amplified at this moment.

That lingering, ephemeral trace of scent in the medicinal soup gently tickled her Divine Soul.

It was itchy and tingly, making her very uncomfortable.

“What’s wrong? Does the medicine not suit your taste?” Bai Zhileng keenly noticed her unusual reaction and asked softly.

At the same time, she reached out her other hand and gently brushed Shen Zhaoqing’s lips with her cool fingertips, wiping away a non-existent medicinal stain.

The touch of her fingertips was cool and soft, like a piece of fine mutton-fat jade.

Shen Zhaoqing’s pupils contracted slightly, and she instinctively wanted to retreat.

“Nothing… nothing,” she heard her own voice utter drily.

‘Lying. There’s definitely something wrong.’

Bai Zhileng watched her, the smile in her eyes deepening.

She enjoyed seeing Shen Zhaoqing like this.

Every inch of her body screamed resistance, yet her face insisted on feigning an expression devoid of sorrow or joy. Deep within those eyes, which should have been hollow, an occasional ripple would appear due to her touch, like a pebble dropped into a calm lake.

It was too interesting.

It was like polishing an uncarved jade, watching it slowly shed its hard outer shell in her hands, revealing its most gentle and fragile core.

“That’s good,” Bai Zhileng withdrew her hand, scooped another spoonful of medicine, and repeated the previous action. “We’ll drink it slowly; there’s no rush.”