Chapter 49: Past of Unexpected Joy

As the words fell silent, Xu Yuan and Zhou Chen ceased all conversation.

Zhou Chen drank his wine, his eyes fixed on the road, driving with focused intent.

Xu Yuan, in contrast, turned his gaze toward the interior of the vehicle.

He did not know with certainty why Mr. Qin had targeted him, but he now had a faint sense of why the old man had turned his fury toward the sect.

The interior was opulent—soft, jade-like cushions, plush pillows woven from silk, and a dedicated tea tray, its delicate fragrance drifting gently through the cabin.

Xu Yuan’s eyes fell upon a woman whose beauty was both alluring and otherworldly, kneeling before the tea tray, pouring tea with graceful precision.

Her eyes lowered, a look of helpless vulnerability etched into her features.

Xu Yuan subtly raised his fingers, activating the silent barrier array within the carriage, and glanced at her:

"Did you hear what I said just now?"

Su Jinxuan lifted her eyes slowly:

"The lord didn't avoid it, so Jinxuan naturally heard it all."

The tone still carried a hint of seductive charm, but the sharp, emotional pull of earlier had faded.

She had grown more straightforward, yet not entirely so.

Thinking this, Xu Yuan gave her a glance laden with deep meaning.

Su Jinxuan changed into a new outfit.

A delicate, pale silk dress wrapped her curvaceous form, the sheer fabric revealing glimpses of her fair, pale skin beneath. A pair of translucent, white silk stockings perfectly fitted her straight, long legs.

This woman knew men well—and knew exactly how to leverage her body's advantages.

Since they'd boarded the carriage, she had subtly, constantly teased and provoked him.

Even now, she still intended to turn the tide.

If she had come straight with such tactics from the start, Xu Yuan might have lost everything in a single, fleeting impulse.

What a pity that she had not, choosing instead to coerce him through those bizarre, unnatural spores.

Now, her Phantom Enchantress physique stood thoroughly exposed.

Zhou Chen had also warned him,

The deeper the physical intimacy,

The easier it seemed for this woman's insidious allure to ensnare one's mind.

Risk

"Jin Xuan, I heard from Yue Niang that you were personally brought by Qin Sir. I'm curious—how did you meet that Qin Sir? Could you tell me about it?"

It was phrased as a question, yet the tone carried an undeniable insistence.

Su Jin Xuan was left behind as a deception meant to mislead Qin Sir, to misdirect his judgment that the plan had already succeeded.

Once the carriage entered Xu Fu of Jingjiang, the woman would be handed over to Ying'er for interrogation.

Ying'er came from the Black Scale Guard of the Chancellor's household—the so-called "Shadow Guard" among the outside world.

Torture was precisely her specialty.

Yet this did not prevent Xu Yuan from first gathering some information beforehand.

Su Jin Xuan's eyes flickered with subtle light. After a brief pause, she spoke softly:

"Over a decade ago, my family fell into ruin, and our enemies came seeking us. During our flight from danger, Qin Sir rescued me and has raised me ever since."

Fleeing?

Adopted?

And a one-of-a-kind phantom soul demon physique, no less.

This clichéd turn of events instantly brought a myriad of thoughts rushing to Xu Yuan's mind.

Pondering for a brief moment, Xu Yuan feigned a sigh:

"My apologies... I have touched upon a painful memory of yours, Jinxuan."

Su Jinxuan lowered her gaze, letting out a faint, melancholy sigh:

"Thank you for your sympathy, Young Master. I was still young back then; this matter has long since passed."

Xu Yuan shook his head, asking casually:

"Then do you still remember who your enemies were, Jinxuan? If they are still alive, I could help you avenge this bloody feud."

"Your kindness overwhelms me, Young Master."

"Needn't we?"

"The vengeance against Jinxuan has already been avenged."

"All of them?"

"...Yes."

"........"

Xu Yuan stared intently into Su Jinxuan's eyes, his expression deliberately puzzled, smiling lightly:

"Ah, so Mr. Qin has already eliminated all your enemies in secret..."

"........"

Su Jinxuan heard this and paused, momentarily startled.

Then she grasped the meaning behind the words, and the softness in her eyes was instantly replaced by a flicker of anger.

"Third young master, please do not indulge in wild speculations."

Seeing her reaction, the smile in Xu Yuan’s eyes deepened.

He was highly satisfied with Su Jinxuan's response.

He was entirely unsure of her specific situation, nor did he even know if she was currently lying or putting on an act, but none of that hindered his casual, fabricated nonsense.

Had it failed, it would have merely been a waste of a few minutes of idle chatter.

Conversely, if it succeeded—even if it failed to fully persuade Su Jinxuan—merely planting a seed of suspicion within her mind would be a tremendous victory.

Pausing for a moment, Xu Yuan pressed on relentlessly:

"Jinxuan, you need only tell me whether it is a yes or a no,

"That Master Qin never allowed you to see a single living survivor of your enemies, correct?"

Inside the carriage, silence fell for a brief moment,

Xu Yuan felt a flicker of surprise.

Ah?

Could it be true that the things he had casually invented from the sketchbook were actually real?

Su Jinxuan stared at Xu Yuan, her canine tooth gently biting her lower lip:

"Though I know I am already a prisoner of your grace, I beg you not to slander Master Qin's character."

"If you won't answer directly, does that mean I'm right?"

Leaning against the soft couch, Xu Yuan rested one hand on his cheek, his eyes gleaming with amusement, continuing to provoke:

"Master Qin has nurtured you thus far—my guess is that your parents perished in that very 'fleeing disaster,' didn't they?"

He deliberately emphasized the words "fleeing disaster":

"Have you ever thought, Jinxuan, that it's rather remarkable—after your parents' deaths, you, bearing the fang spirit and demonic body, were just happen to be found and rescued by Master Qin. Isn't that too coincidental?"

"You yourself should know best how irresistible such a special constitution—capable of manipulating others' minds from a distance—is. Once one knows of it, who could remain unmoved?

"Especially for a man of such stature as Mr. Qin. Killing your entire family is merely a matter of speaking the words; the price you'd pay... I almost fell under your influence for him."

"......"

Su Jinxuan's jade-hand, pouring tea, trembled slightly, her eyes blazing with anger:

"This world is not composed of people all like the young lord. Mr. Qin has always regarded me as his own sister. My visit today was entirely voluntary, a gesture to ease his burdens."

Xu Yuan seemed utterly unaware, smiling lightly:

"You say he sees you as his own sister?"

Xu Yuan let out a careless, hearty laugh, waving his hand dismissively:

"Very well. Right now, I'll spread the word that you've been captured and are about to be executed.

Guess what—will Mr. Qin vanish into silence and flee, or will he come to my household to rescue this beloved sister of his?"

"......."

After a long silence, Su Jinxuan took a deep breath, the thin silk fabric of her chest swaying gently. She said nothing, merely continued silently pouring tea.

Xu Yuan sensed that her heart was unsettled—this was precisely why he had decided to use the act of pouring tea to calm himself. He did not disturb her.

He watched quietly as Su Jinxuan skillfully handled the tea set before her—boiling the kettle, placing the tea leaves, warming the cups...

The beauty of the woman pouring tea made each step of the tea ritual a pleasing sight.

When it was all done, Su Jinxuan slowly stood and offered a cup of clear tea to Xu Yuan.

He took it casually, gazed into her eyes, pulled her gently close, and, tilting his head slightly, asked:

"I'm curious about something—could you help me clarify this for me?"

At that moment, Su Jinxuan had returned to her usual self, alluring and captivating. Upon hearing her words, she smiled gently at Xu Yuan:

"Master's question, Jinxuan will answer every one with sincerity."

Xu Yuan gently embraced the woman whose body seemed as fragile as a breeze, lightly inhaling the fragrance of tea, and murmured softly:

"Mr. Qin gained fame over a decade ago, and now his power is likely beyond comprehension. Yet, why would such a person not teach you the methods of cultivation?"

Su Jinxuan covered her mouth with a light laugh, her words hard to tell if true or not:

"Hah... Jinxuan has never enjoyed bloodshed or conflict, so she never pursued cultivation."

Xu Yuan, without hesitation, asked directly:

"If you don't enjoy fighting and killing, then why would you practice this demonic body technique?"

"This... Jinxuan doesn't know. Those things seemed to come naturally, as if they were always part of me."

"What a natural talent!"

Xu Yuan smiled.

Even his Innate Dao Body required cultivation techniques for his intent-soul to leave his body, yet your Charmed Soul Demon Body allows you to master it without a teacher?

If nothing else, without practicing secret techniques, you cannot even achieve the most basic internal vision.

Without internal vision, how can you control your intent-soul, let alone those numerous spore particles?

Sitting up straight, Xu Yuan pinched Su Jinxuan's fair chin and pulled her close:

"Jinxuan, it is fine to lie to me, but it is wrong to lie to yourself."

"It was that Mister Qin who only gave you the secret technique for the Charmed Soul Demon Body, correct?"

"..." Su Jinxuan.

Gazing at each other from such close proximity,

But Xu Yuan did not see in the other's eyes any expression he had hoped for.

The haze had passed, and he had grown resolute once more.

Xu Yuan gently shook his head, releasing the other, and finally asked:

"Last question. I hope you answer it truthfully."

"Master, please." Su Jinxuan straightened her skirt.

Xu Yuan asked casually:

"Do you... know a man named Qin Mo?"