Go, Return to the Manor

"So that's how it is."

Xu Yuan had a rough understanding, but his thoughts were somewhat complicated.

According to the information he possessed, Su Jinxuan was merely a very beautiful courtesan with no cultivation base.

The reality, however, was that Su Jinxuan was a courtesan with a special constitution, and still possessed no cultivation base.

It didn't contradict the original plot, but the original plot had never mentioned it either.

After a moment of silence, Xu Yuan glanced sideways at the unconscious Su Jinxuan beside him and asked softly, "Do you two know what kind of constitution has the talent to control another person's body?"

Zhou Chen replied in a low voice, "There are... a few possibilities."

Xu Yuan pondered for a moment, then added in a measured tone, "It involves some kind of minute particles attaching to the surface of the soul-intent to control a person's body. Furthermore, once these particles burrow into the soul-intent, the victim is brainwashed."

Zhou Chen mused for two seconds, cast a glance at Su Jinxuan, and asked in a low voice:

"Third Young Master, is she still able to influence your emotions without you noticing?"

"Yes."

"..."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Chen looked back and exchanged a glance with Si Ziyu, both of them wearing strange expressions.

Ying'er remained standing alone in place, her eyes lowered, saying nothing.

Si Ziyu gave a slight nod toward Zhou Chen, who turned, cupped his hands, and said in a low voice:

"Third Young Master, this woman... this woman should possess the Charm Soul Demon Body."

"Charm Soul Demon Body?"

Xu Yuan sat cross-legged on the red bed, murmuring the name, his own expression turning equally strange.

This constitution reminded him of a cultivation technique, one of only three blood-colored grade techniques: the Great Joy Yin-Yang Art.

Don't laugh.

When Xu Yuan played the game, he had wanted to mock this cliché name too, but he couldn't deny that the thing was incredibly useful.

It was the technique cultivated by the protagonist when following the evil path.

The soul-intent secret technique attached to his own Blood Origin Heart-Fall Technique was nothing but a child's plaything compared to the predatory nature of this Great Joy Yin-Yang Art.

Because he had never cultivated it, Xu Yuan didn't know the specifics of the Great Joy Yin-Yang Art.

But the mere fact that it could ignore level gaps was enough to instantly crush his soul-intent secret technique.

Unfortunately, this manual was located in a mountain hollow near Burial Village; he couldn't get his hands on it, and since the subsequent records of his Blood Origin Heart-Fall Technique were also quite powerful, there was no need to switch.

The official guidebook stated that the Charm Soul Demon Body was the best fit for the Great Joy Yin-Yang Art. Xu Yuan had thought it was only natural at the time, but experiencing it firsthand, he finally understood the terror of it.

Coupled with the eerie spore particles of the Charm Soul Demon Body, one could invisibly drain another's cultivation, and if exposed, could forcibly control their body. If the spores burrowed into the soul-intent, the victim would be a furnace for life. If the mood struck, one could even slowly cultivate genuine affection; the Charm Soul Demon Body could also influence others' emotions, ensuring the target couldn't help but fall in love with you.

A perfect match.

Collecting his thoughts, Xu Yuan felt a plan forming. He looked at Zhou Chen and said:

"Mr. Zhou, report this matter to Xu Changge."

Xu Yuan didn't know what that Mr. Qin was planning for the time being, and his own strength was insufficient, so he naturally wouldn't try to be a hero and handle this himself.

Why not call for backup when you can?

It was a classic villain tradition.

If you beat the small fry, the big fish are bound to show up.

"Understood." Zhou Chen bowed and cupped his hands.

Xu Yuan slowly stood up, glanced at Yue Niang on the floor, and with thoughts flashing rapidly, asked:

"Dragging this Yue Niang back might alert the enemy. Mr. Zhou, did she see you when you knocked her out?"

Zhou Chen's eyes flickered as he shook his head:

"She did not."

Xu Yuan pondered briefly and instructed:

"Very well. Throw her onto the bed in my suite on the top floor. Feed her a Heart-Confusing Pill before you leave. You should know how to stage the scene."

The Heart-Confusing Pill—a small aphrodisiac.

"..."

Zhou Chen thought for a moment and realized that the Third Young Master had no intention of alerting that Mr. Qin, and his heart sank slightly.

Dragging Yue Niang back might indeed extract some information, but it would also make that Mr. Qin wary.

The power of the Charm Soul Demon Body was self-evident, yet the other party was willing to use it as bait.

If it weren't for the Third Young Master's Innate Soul Body providing a certain level of resistance, the Third Young Master might have already been controlled.

To think of controlling the Third Young Master of the Prime Minister's Estate...

This Mr. Qin did not seem as simple as he appeared on the surface.

Looking at it this way, trading information that Yue Niang might know for Mr. Qin's vigilance was clearly a losing trade.

Xu Changtian was merely cleaning up the mess from his own reckless actions.

Zhou Chen sighed slightly and bowed:

"Third Young Master, it was my recklessness."

Xu Yuan glanced at him and waved his hand:

"It is fine. Mr. Zhou, you did not know beforehand that this woman possessed the Charm Soul Demon Body, so making such a judgment was understandable. Go on down, and remember to make it convincing; Yue Niang is a veteran of the pleasure quarters."

Zhou Chen chuckled upon hearing this, but immediately fell silent and offered a reminder:

"Third Young Master, although the situation is now clear, it would be best if you did not have deep physical contact with someone possessing the Charm Soul Demon Body."

Xu Yuan glanced at Su Jinxuan's curvaceous figure and frowned:

"Why?"

"The deeper the physical contact, the more likely your mind will be controlled."

Having said that, Zhou Chen cupped his hands, and while Xu Yuan was still stunned, he hoisted Yue Niang up and left.

For a moment, the room fell into silence once again.

Si Ziyu stared at Xu Yuan without leaving a trace, his eyes filled with contemplation.

Ying'er remained in her usual state, eyes lowered and silent.

The fact that Xu Yuan had been in danger right under her watch seemed to have hit her hard.

Xu Yuan regained his composure, sighed, and after a moment of silence, suddenly looked at Ying'er:

"Ying'er, come and wake Su Jinxuan up."

"..." Ying'er.

After a brief silence, Perhaps due to her failure in protection, Ying'er did not refuse Xu Yuan's order this time.

She walked slowly to the bedside, took a small bottle from the pouch at her waist, opened it, and leaned down to place it under Su Jinxuan's nose.

Xu Yuan turned his eyes slightly, glancing at Ying'er's peach-like buttocks as she leaned over, and the corners of his lips curled up.

Seeing this smile, the effeminate-looking Si Ziyu realized what was about to happen, and his eyelids twitched.

Then, "Smack--"

A crisp sound rang out.

The air became deathly silent.

Si Ziyu felt a headache coming on.

It was definitely the Third Young Master himself.

After being taught a lesson last time, he still dared to touch this woman's backside.

Ying'er remained in her previous posture, standing motionless as if she weren't the one who had just been struck.

Xu Yuan glanced at her, silently pulling his hand—which was already red, swollen, and trembling—behind his back.

Enduring the pain, he turned his gaze calmly toward Si Ziyu.

Their eyes met.

"..."

Si Ziyu suppressed the urge to laugh and looked away.

"..." Xu Yuan.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Su Jinxuan slowly stirred awake. Upon seeing the scene before her, she silently curled up into the corner of the bed, biting her lip without saying a word.

Seeing that she had woken up, Ying'er put away the small bottle and silently retreated to her original position, standing with her eyes lowered.

Xu Yuan glanced at her.

The swelling and pain on his hand had already faded; Ying'er had only given him a small lesson.

With a light chuckle, Xu Yuan turned to look at Su Jinxuan on the bed, with Ying'er and Si Ziyu standing behind him, and said with a slow, deliberate smile:

"Jinxuan, I have already found a physician for you. Come, follow me back to the manor."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan's eyes carried a hint of coldness as he slowly reached out his hand toward her, huddled in the corner of the bed.