I Did It to Save You

"Don't just stand there—give me some advice. How should I handle this?" Ye Qing asked the system standing by beside him. He had treated other Spirit Beasts before, but their injuries could usually be resolved with energy. With enough energy replenishment, their wounds always healed faster.

It was like telling someone to drink more hot water. Maybe it was useless, but plenty of minor problems could be solved by drinking more hot water. But if someone was drowning, just try telling them to drink more hot water.

If a drowning person woke up and learned that someone had given them hot water while they were unconscious, they would definitely want to beat that person to death. Besides, if you forced hot water down a drowning person's throat, they probably would never get back up.

Ice Empress's situation was exactly like that. She had ended up this way because she had absorbed too much energy. Treating her with energy would be tantamount to murdering her.

"The target's condition is caused by excessive energy absorption."

"Do you really need to tell me that? Anyone can see it. I'm asking how to solve it!"

"It is very simple. Just remove the excess energy."

Ye Qing felt that the system was messing with him. How was he supposed to take out something that had already been absorbed? But Self-Discipline No. 3 had clearly anticipated this question and immediately explained.

"Others may be unable to do it, but it is very simple for the host. Your Devour talent can perfectly consume and absorb this energy. For details, please refer to the second item from the left in the third row on page fifteen of the Marketplace, <Detailed Applications of the Heaven-Swallowing Hou's Devour Talent>. After purchasing it, you can use this talent for even the most meticulous work. The host has just enough points to purchase it."

"You think I haven't browsed the Marketplace just because I didn't buy it? This thing used to be dirt cheap. Why is it so expensive now?"

"Have you never heard of supply and demand? It was the off-season before, but now that you urgently need it, a slight price increase is only natural."

"You win. I'll buy it." Ye Qing naturally would not give up the purchase just because the system had raised the price at the last minute. They were only points; he could slowly save up more later. But if the life before him was gone, it would truly be gone. Even if resurrection was possible, it would take much more effort, and something might go wrong along the way.

After the exchange, the flow of energy within Ice Empress's body became much clearer before Ye Qing's eyes, and he finally understood her current condition. If it had been any other Spirit Beast, it would probably have died long ago. Fortunately, the Ice Jade Scorpion lived in the Extreme North, where resources were scarce. Through evolution, they had developed a special method of storing energy. They could store surplus energy in the many protrusions on their bodies and in each segment of their tails. It was this talent that had allowed her to hold on until now. But if this continued, even that talent would not save her. Thus, Ye Qing began his emergency treatment.

"Make an opening, then absorb all the excess energy released from it. It sounds simple enough." But Ice Empress was currently like a balloon filled with water. If he carelessly made an opening, it would not simply let water flow out—the balloon would burst outright.

"An existing opening... I really am only doing this to save you." Ye Qing sat down on the spot, picked Ice Empress up, and adjusted her into a comfortable position. Looking at her tightly shut eyes and small lips, he had no choice but to force her mouth open and press his lips to hers.

Then his racial talent activated. With meticulous control, the excess energy inside Ice Empress gathered into a thin thread and slowly flowed from her body into Ye Qing's.

Earlier, Ice Empress had followed the direction in which Ye Qing had left and happened to see Zi Ji after she had finished absorbing energy. She clearly sensed that Zi Ji had only just reached the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast level before, yet in only a few minutes, she had not only crossed the first major threshold of the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast lifespan limit, but her cultivation had increased by another thirty thousand years. She also saw Gang Zong's cultivation rise by nearly ten thousand years. He had even learned Shape Transformation, directly becoming a burly human man.

Hmph. When the time came, I would definitely beat that bastard's butt until it swelled. She then concealed her aura nearby. Ye Qing did not notice her, so naturally, he did not discover her. In fact, he had planned to strengthen the Ice and Snow Emperors afterward as well. It was just that Ice Empress was too close to the three-hundred-thousand-year threshold. It was better to let this kind of Heavenly Tribulation happen naturally. He did not want to trigger Ice Empress's Heavenly Tribulation ahead of time, so he had not told her. He had not expected Ice Empress to follow on her own.

There was nothing in the room except the device used to store energy. Ice Empress discovered it with ease.

"This must be it. This Empress is here."

She then began absorbing the energy, never considering what consequences might arise. At first, she truly felt abundant energy pouring into her body. But gradually, it seemed as though she had become addicted. Though her rational mind told her she should stop, another voice whispered in her ear, urging her to continue.

In the end, desire overcame reason, and she continued absorbing the energy within. Vaguely, she seemed to hear Ye Qing's voice.

"Is that bastard looking for me...?" After that, her memories were cut off. When she woke again, she found herself seemingly lying in a warm embrace.

Her eyes opened slightly. Ice Empress felt someone's breath close at hand, the warm air he exhaled already brushing against her face. Then Ye Qing's face was reflected in her amber eyes.

"This guy actually... actually..." Ice Empress's mind froze. She found it difficult to accept the situation.

Ye Qing also noticed that Ice Empress had regained consciousness. It seemed that he had extracted almost all of the excess energy. He ended the action, but because they had maintained that position for too long, a glistening thread stretched through the air between them.

Looking at the transparent strand connecting them, Ice Empress felt her reason snap completely. Driven by a woman's instinct, she slapped Ye Qing.

"Ah! This Empress's—this Empress's first kiss! It was meant for Xue'er! You bastard, what did you do to this Empress?!" As she spoke, both hands struck wildly at Ye Qing.

Ye Qing did not block the first slap. He knew she needed to vent in this situation. But seeing her continue like that, he directly grabbed both her hands. Otherwise, she would probably never stop.

"I did it to save you! Have you forgotten what you did before? If I hadn't removed the excess energy from your body, you really would have died!"

After he said that, Ice Empress recalled what had happened earlier and sensed the condition inside her body again.

That bastard really did seem to be saving me.

"Have you calmed down?" Ye Qing asked when he saw Ice Empress settle down again.

"Y-you should let go of this Empress first." After Ye Qing had pinned down her hands, she had tried using her feet as well. As a result, Ye Qing was now holding her entire body against the ground, and their posture was extremely intimate.

Mm, I had resumed releasing two chapters a day. Logically speaking, there should have been an extra chapter today, but I received a recommendation notice from the backend. Though it was only a small trial recommendation tucked away in some corner, it was still progress.

So please bear with me. The extra chapter would start next week.

Please support me with whatever you can. I'm off first.