Seeing the other party's face turn even paler, Gongsun Qing seriously explained, "Corruption is, after all, a process. It basically starts with the disorganization of the mind. When it affects the body, nine times out of ten, it begins with the brain stem. However, as long as the process is severed in advance, corruption can usually be stopped."
Esenpier's mouth twitched. He felt that this girl's natural, matter-of-fact explanation of the principles was far more frightening than the way she chopped people up.
"Of course, if it starts somewhere else, I can see that too. At this distance, all the psionic energy flowing through your body is within my field of observation." Gongsun Qing shifted her left hand slightly, and the cold edge of the Frostsoul Sword moved from his neck to his shoulder. "Don't worry. If the corruption point changes, I can pierce it immediately."
"Th-then what would be the point?" After his cheek twitched with difficulty, Esenpier finally couldn't hold back the question.
"At least you'll die as a human." Gongsun Qing said it solemnly, as though she were doing what any human being ought to do and he didn't need to thank her.
"Oh, you sound awfully kind. You mean I should—cough—thank you?" Esenpier said irritably.
"You're welcome. It's what a successor of the Spirit Sword ought to do. Of course, you might just be scaring yourself." The young Sword Saint continued comforting him patiently. "Actually, our discussion just now works in the other direction too. For example, you could tell me everything, and I might spare you after taking the circumstances into consideration. Then we could pretend none of this ever happened."
Esenpier fell into thought, seemingly genuinely considering whether that was feasible.
"Don't say I never gave you a chance." Gongsun Qing added another sentence.