The atmosphere in the cave fell into silence for a time.
Bai Yuji's expression grew darker and darker. Though she didn't know much about the relations between men and women, she trusted that the potion she'd concocted could overpower any deep affection or bedroom technique, especially with her own body helping things along.
Judging by Qin Muye's dazed expression, he'd clearly fallen under its effects.
But then...
In an instant, countless thoughts raced through her mind.
Before she could sort them out, Qin Muye suddenly threw his arms around her.
A sneak attack!
"Smack!"
Bai Yuji jolted awake. Her neck felt damp and ticklish. She wiped it with her hand, and a smear of grease appeared on her fingertip.
She glanced at Qin Muye's greasy mouth, fresh from eating roast chicken, and was instantly overcome with fury and alarm.
"You lecher!"
Bang!
Qin Muye was kicked into the wall.
But he was still worked up. The kick didn't sober him at all. Instead, the sensation of having two heads with only one that could get big left him somewhat frustrated.
His anger surged, and he lunged at Bai Yuji again. "You drugged me, and now you're turning around and calling me a lecher?"
Bai Yuji knew she couldn't blame him for this, but she couldn't control her anger.
She raised her right leg and planted her bare foot against his chest.
Her long leg stretched between them, pinning him against the wall so he couldn't move.
Then her ankle began to tingle.
She stiffened and glared fiercely at Qin Muye. "Touch me again, and I'll chop off your hand!"
Qin Muye's eyes were bloodshot. He tried his best to rein in the sensual thoughts swirling through his mind and keep the hand gripping her ankle from wandering. "Then hurry up and give me the antidote... Yuck! Cough, cough, cough..."
A pill shot into his throat, nearly choking him to death.
Fortunately, it melted as soon as it entered his mouth, quickly turning into a cool stream that flowed into his dantian.
The heat was soon extinguished, and the helpless fury faded with it.
He looked up.
Bai Yuji had already dressed and run outside the cave. She was vigorously scrubbing her neck and ankle with rainwater.
Qin Muye couldn't help cursing inwardly. That little minx had been ready to give herself to me just a moment ago, and now she's pretending to be so pure?
Bai Yuji seemed to sense his gaze and immediately turned around to glare at him.
"Shut up!"
Then she flashed forward and pressed a dagger against Qin Muye's neck.
Qin Muye was stunned. "I didn't say anything!"
"Your eyes are talking!"
"..."
Seriously, lady?
Am I Tony Leung?
You're way too weird!
Weird beyond belief!
Qin Muye's head was buzzing. He hurriedly said, "If you kill me, you'll never get another chance to raise a Gu and kill my father! He's extraordinarily powerful, and my brothers are all young talents. You can't get close to them easily."
Killing intent flickered in Bai Yuji's eyes, and the hand holding the dagger trembled slightly.
She'd never imagined that, after all the twists and turns, things would end up at an impasse because Qin Muye couldn't perform.
She gritted her teeth. "You really are useless!"
Qin Muye gave a self-mocking smile. "I wouldn't have been so useless if I'd had a choice."
Bai Yuji: "..."
Hearing this, she couldn't help showing a trace of pity.
The hatred of a destroyed clan was truly irreconcilable. But as she'd said, she and Qin Muye had no direct enmity. In fact, in some respects, he was a pitiable man worthy of respect.
After a moment's silence, she put the dagger away.
But when she saw Qin Muye's gaze still roaming over her, she glared at him and made a vicious gesture, as if gouging out his eyes.
Qin Muye quickly looked away.
Even dressed, this woman's figure was so striking that her clothes clinging to it only made the imagination run wilder.
He shook his head, banishing the distracting thoughts. "Are you still going to kill me?"
"What do you think?"
"But you haven't done it. Does that mean you think I can still be saved?"
"..."
Bai Yuji found him infuriating, but he'd hit the nail on the head.
If all she wanted was to incite a rebellion, then with Qin Kaijiang's influence in Annan, he could at least carve out a domain of his own. Even amid the chaos, he wouldn't be someone an ordinary expert could assassinate.
That was why raising a Gu was so important.
But she also knew that Qin Muye was only saying this to buy time.
And the fact that the medicine she'd prepared herself hadn't even made him rise to the occasion was proof enough that his body was utterly depleted. She had ways to nurse him back to health, but with his foundation so badly damaged, even spending a fortune on rare medicines might not be enough.
She couldn't afford that much.
So what should she do?
Give up on raising a Gu and kill him outright?
Seeing her expression shift from one moment to the next, Qin Muye could guess with his toes that she was debating whether to kill him.
It was too soon to talk her into taking him back to the Capital City.
He needed to pour on another ladle of oil. "Miss Bai, I think someone's trying to harm you!"
Bai Yuji's delicate brows knitted together. "Are you still trying to sow discord?"
Qin Muye spread his hands. "Can't you hear my reasoning before deciding whether I'm sowing discord?"
Bai Yuji thought for a moment, then nodded. "Go on!"
Qin Muye took a deep breath. "I don't know how you managed to capture me, but given how sensitive my identity is, whoever spirited me out of the Capital City without anyone noticing must have made extremely meticulous preparations.
"After entering the capital, I indulged in wine, women, and wealth, but I never indulged in women. That may not be common knowledge, but it wouldn't be hard to find out.
"Your plan was so carefully laid out. Why would you overlook that?"
"..."
"You're the final link in the kidnapping plan. I imagine someone promised to let you steal the Qin Family's bloodline. They should have ensured my safety, yet I nearly died."
"..."
Bai Yuji hadn't said a word, but her expression had gradually darkened.
Everything Qin Muye said made sense. Just now, he hadn't merely come close to dying. For a while, he'd actually lost all signs of life.
With the organization's capabilities, it couldn't have made so many amateur mistakes.
Qin Muye pressed his advantage. "Killing me would provoke my father into rebellion. Keeping me alive would let you deal him a fatal blow. Yet someone among your companions wanted me dead outright.
"If your organization had a lot of people and opinions were divided, I could understand that.
"But I don't know whether the person who made you waste this trip only meant to deceive you, or whether they had some other purpose.
"If my estimate is right, you've already wasted at least twelve hours trying to save me, haven't you?
"That's the golden window for escape. If you want my bloodline, you should find somewhere safe.
"But after all this time, we're still in the mountains within three hundred li of the northern outskirts of the Capital City.
"Of course, I don't doubt you can keep your whereabouts hidden. But what if someone sold you out?"
At that, Bai Yuji's expression changed dramatically. She curled a slender finger, put it to her lips, and blew a whistle.
The next moment, figures flitted about outside the cave, as if scattering in all directions.
Qin Muye's words had finally punctured the cloud of suspicion in her heart.
She'd joined the organization and personally made this trip for the Qin Family's bloodline.
But someone had struck with lethal force—and it was so blatant that she could spot the problem at a glance.
Whoever had made the attempt might already have made plans for her not to return.
The best option was to let the imperial court deal with her.
She knew Qin Muye was sowing discord, but he'd hit exactly where it hurt.
She said nothing.
Qin Muye said nothing either.
They remained locked in a standoff, which lasted for the time it took an incense stick to burn.
After a while, a petite, masked woman entered the cave. She whispered something into Bai Yuji's ear, then left.
Bai Yuji's expression darkened for a moment, then she suddenly smiled. "Are you going to tell me that people from the imperial court might come knocking soon? And that, if I want to stay alive, I'd better turn around and beg you?"
Qin Muye secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He'd actually guessed right. The person who'd set him up really had been up to no good.
He smiled and waved a hand. "My life is in your hands now. What makes you think I have that much nerve? I only hope you can stay calm and come up with a plan that works for both of us.
"For example... give me a poison only you can cure?
"That way, even if I go back to the capital with you, you'll be safe. You might even find a chance to heal my body, and when the time is right, get a child with the Qin Family's blood in him."
"Heh. You've certainly thought it all through."
Bai Yuji sneered. Her emotions gradually settled, but she found him more and more detestable.
Even in this situation, he could stay calm and talk on and on.
Which one of you is the kidnapper, anyway? Me or you?
She said coolly, "A lot of people call you useless. I don't think that's true. Actually, you..."
Qin Muye leaned back, bracing himself for a compliment.
Bai Yuji added, "Actually, aside from not being able to act like a man, you're pretty manly in every other respect."
Qin Muye: "???"
He was a little taken aback. Why the hell was she attacking him personally?
It wasn't his fault that his body didn't work in this life, but it was still a problem he had to solve.
The feeling of desire clouding his mind while his body refused to respond had been anything but pleasant.
Seeing his furious expression, Bai Yuji finally smiled a little. Now he looked like a prisoner under her thumb!
Much easier on the eyes.
She rummaged in her clothes and tossed him a medicine bottle. "Here! Take it!"
Qin Muye rolled his eyes at her, pulled out the stopper, and swallowed the pill inside.
Bai Yuji looked surprised. "That's a poison that could take your life. You didn't hesitate at all?"
Qin Muye scoffed inwardly. This little minx bears the grudge of her clan's destruction against me, and she's not stupid. She knows how things stand. If she gets cornered, she might kill me.
Best to be direct.
Besides...
He smiled. "After taking the poison, at least I can live a little longer. Maybe I can even heal my foundation and be your husband for a few days."
Bai Yuji's expression froze, and she looked at him with displeasure.
Qin Muye seemed completely oblivious. With a sincere look, he said, "I may have been under the influence of the medicine just now, but I meant what I said.
"Your looks and figure are exactly my type. I'm crazy about you. Please make sure to cure me, so you can get my child, and I can have your body."
"???"
Before you continue