When his voice fell, Xu Yuan and Zhou Chen fell silent.
Zhou Chen drank as he focused on driving.
Xu Yuan turned his gaze toward the inside of the carriage.
Xu Yuan didn't know whether that was why Mr. Qin had attacked him, but he had a few leads as to why his cheap old man had targeted the sect.
The carriage was lavishly furnished, with a jade-like couch, soft cushions woven from silk, and a tea tray. A faint fragrance wafted through the carriage.
Where Xu Yuan's gaze fell, a woman of otherworldly beauty and natural allure knelt before the tea tray, pouring tea.
Her eyes were lowered, her manner so delicate and pitiful that anyone would feel for her.
Xu Yuan raised a finger slightly and activated the Sound-Blocking Array inside the carriage, then glanced at her.
"Did you hear what we just said?"
Su Jinxuan slowly raised her eyes.
"You didn't avoid speaking in front of me, Young Master, so of course I heard."
Her voice still held a hint of alluring charm, but the stirring fluctuations that had been enticing him earlier were gone.
She was a lot more obedient, though not completely.
Xu Yuan gave her a meaningful look.
Su Jinxuan had changed into another outfit.
A blue-and-white silk dress hugged her curvaceous figure. Her fair skin showed through the sheer fabric, and a pair of translucent white silk stockings perfectly fitted her long, straight legs.
This woman knew men—and knew exactly how to use her physical advantages.
Ever since she'd boarded the carriage, she'd been subtly enticing and teasing him.
Even now, she was still trying to turn the tables.
If she'd started with this, Xu Yuan might have lost everything over a moment's lapse in judgment.
Unfortunately for her, she hadn't. Instead, she'd chosen to forcefully control him with those strange spore-like particles.
Now her Charm Soul Demon Body had been exposed.
Zhou Chen had also warned him:
The more intimate the physical contact,
the easier it seemed to be for this woman's Charm Soul Demon Body to control his mind.
Trying it himself was out of the question.
Still,
this world actually had white stockings.
Tsk, tsk.
Gathering his thoughts, Xu Yuan asked casually,
"Jinxuan, I heard from Yue Niang that Mr. Qin brought you here himself. I'm curious how you met him. Would you tell me?"
It was phrased as a question, but his tone left no room for refusal.
He'd kept Su Jinxuan around to mislead Mr. Qin, making him believe his plan had succeeded.
Once the carriage reached Jingjiang Xu Estate, this woman would be handed over to Ying'er for questioning.
Ying'er had come from the Black Scale Guard of the Prime Minister's Estate, known to outsiders as the Shadow Guard.
Interrogation and torture were right up her alley.
That didn't stop Xu Yuan from learning a few things beforehand.
Su Jinxuan's beautiful eyes flickered. After a moment, she spoke softly.
"More than ten years ago, my family fell into decline, and our enemies came after us. While my family was fleeing, Mr. Qin rescued me and raised me ever since."
Fleeing?
Adopted?
And she had a Charm Soul Demon Body, a gift unique in all the world.
That familiar plot immediately brought many possibilities to Xu Yuan's mind.
After a moment's thought, Xu Yuan sighed with feigned sympathy.
"I'm sorry. I brought up something painful, Jinxuan."
Su Jinxuan lowered her eyes and sighed faintly.
"Thank you for your concern, Young Master. I was still young then, and it's all in the past now."
Xu Yuan shook his head and asked offhandedly,
"Do you remember who your enemies were? If they're still alive, I can help you avenge your family."
"You're kind, Young Master, but I'm unworthy of your concern."
"You don't need my help?"
"My revenge has already been taken."
"All of them?"
"...Mm."
Xu Yuan stared into Su Jinxuan's eyes, feigning sudden realization, then chuckled.
"So Mr. Qin secretly killed all your enemies for you."
"..."
Su Jinxuan froze at his words.
Then she understood what he was implying, and a trace of anger replaced the gentleness in her eyes.
"Third Young Master, please don't make baseless assumptions."
Seeing her reaction, Xu Yuan's smile grew wider.
He was pleased with Su Jinxuan's response.
He didn't know the specifics of her situation, or even whether she was lying and acting right now. But none of that stopped him from making things up.
Even if he failed, he'd only wasted a few minutes talking.
But if it worked—even if he couldn't convince Su Jinxuan, merely planting a seed of doubt in her heart would be a huge gain.
After a pause, Xu Yuan pressed on.
"Just tell me whether it's true or not.
"Mr. Qin never let you see any of your enemies alive, did he?"
The carriage fell quiet for a moment.
Xu Yuan felt a little surprised.
Huh?
Could the story he'd casually made up from some trashy tale actually be true?
Su Jinxuan stared at Xu Yuan, one small canine tooth biting her lip.
"I know I'm your prisoner, Young Master, but please don't slander Mr. Qin's character."
"You're not answering directly. That means I was right?"
Leaning against the couch with one hand propping up his cheek, Xu Yuan continued to sow discord with interest.
"Mr. Qin raised you all these years. I'm guessing that's because your parents died during that 'flight,' too?"
Xu Yuan deliberately stressed the words "flight."
"Have you ever thought about it, Jinxuan? After your parents died, Mr. Qin happened to find and rescue you, the bearer of a Charm Soul Demon Body. Isn't that a little too much of a coincidence?"
"You know your own body best. This special constitution can control people's minds without them realizing it. How tempting would that be, once someone knew about it? Who wouldn't be moved?
"Especially someone as influential as Mr. Qin. Killing your whole family would take no more than a word from him, and the prize he'd get in return... Even I nearly let you control me on his behalf."
"..."
Su Jinxuan's jade-white hand trembled slightly as she poured the tea, and her anger was plain to see.
"Not everyone in this world is like you, Young Master. Mr. Qin has always treated me like his own younger sister. I came here of my own accord to help him."
Xu Yuan seemed not to hear her, and chuckled.
"You say he treats you like his own sister?"
Xu Yuan burst into exaggerated laughter and waved a hand.
"Fine. I'll spread the word right now that I've captured you and plan to execute you.
"Take a guess: will Mr. Qin disappear and flee, or come to my Xu Estate to rescue his dear little sister?"
"..."
After a long silence, Su Jinxuan drew a deep breath. The sheer over her chest rose and fell, but she said nothing and continued pouring the tea in silence.
Xu Yuan could tell she was unsettled. She was using the tea ceremony to calm herself.
He didn't interrupt her,
quietly watching as Su Jinxuan deftly handled the tea set before her.
She warmed the teapot, added the leaves, and warmed the cups.
The beauty poured tea, each step of the ceremony a feast for the eyes.
When she was done,
Su Jinxuan rose slowly and brought a cup of clear tea to Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan took it casually, then stared into her eyes and drew her down beside him. He tilted his head and asked,
"There's something I'm curious about. Could you clear it up for me?"
Su Jinxuan had returned to her usual state, alluring and charming. Hearing his question, she smiled sweetly at him.
"Whatever you ask, Young Master, I'll answer."
Xu Yuan gently held her boneless body close. Inhaling the fragrance of the tea, he asked softly,
"Mr. Qin made a name for himself more than ten years ago, and his strength must be unfathomable by now. Why didn't he teach you how to cultivate?"
Su Jinxuan covered her mouth and laughed. Her answer was impossible to tell from the truth or a lie.
"Heh. I don't like all that fighting and killing, so I never cultivated."
Xu Yuan asked without a second thought,
"If you don't like fighting and killing, why did you cultivate this demonic body art?"
"I... I don't know. It's as if I just knew how to do those things from birth."
"Just knew how to do them from birth, huh?"
Xu Yuan laughed.
Even he, with his Innate Dao Body, needed to cultivate a method to send his Will Soul outside his body, yet this woman with a Charm Soul Demon Body had learned it on her own?
Never mind anything else. Without cultivation techniques, she couldn't even achieve the most basic inner vision.
Without inner vision, how could she control her Will Soul, let alone those countless spore-like particles?
Sitting upright, Xu Yuan grasped Su Jinxuan's fair chin and drew her close.
"Jinxuan, you can lie to me, but you shouldn't lie to yourself."
"Mr. Qin only gave you the secret technique for the Charm Soul Demon Body, didn't he?"
"..." Su Jinxuan.
Their faces were close as they stared at one another,
but Xu Yuan saw none of the reaction he'd been hoping for in her eyes.
Her period of confusion was over, and she was hardening her stance again.
Xu Yuan shook his head lightly, released her, and asked one last question.
"One final question. I hope you'll answer honestly."
"Go ahead, Young Master." Su Jinxuan straightened her dress.
Xu Yuan asked casually,
"Do you know someone named Qin Mo?"
Before you continue