Yingqiong in Peril, Her Situation Dire; Xiangrong's Blushing Embarrassment; Echoes of the Dragon-Appreciation Banquet

Zhao Yingqiong dismissed those around her and returned to Dreamsplendor Residence. Phoenix Island had three hundred and twenty exquisite residences, spread across east, south, west, and north, each with beautiful, tranquil scenery. The island had originally been safe, but if thieves were bent on plotting harm, that was another matter entirely.

She inspected Dreamsplendor Residence once over. Seeing no further murderous traps lying in wait, she relaxed slightly and drew a jade dagger from the inner side of a long boot beside the bathing pool. She cut her palm, and purplish-red blood seeped out. She performed the Mysterious Water Palm move, Flooding Water Dragon, striking toward empty space. Her palm force surged out fiercely, forcing the poison from her palm.

Zhao Yingqiong repeated the process, sending out palm strike after palm strike. With every strike, a third of the poison was expelled. Somewhat relieved, she took a simple bath in the hot pool, changed into a broad brocade robe patterned with clouds, let her long hair fall loosely over her shoulders, then entered the study to cultivate the breathing martial art, the Heaven-and-Earth Unitary Breath Technique. This martial art's breath was long and unbroken, its rising and falling containing the mysteries of heaven and earth. Though it could not grant extraordinary martial techniques, it could deepen one's understanding of heaven and earth and reveal the condition of one's breath and body.

Then came a knock at the door.

Ji Beiyu felt deeply apologetic and had someone deliver compensation: a piece of Exotic-Fragrance Mutton-Fat Jade, a Sea Mystic Ginseng, and Five-Elements Severance Powder. These three gifts were truly far from ordinary. The Exotic-Fragrance Mutton-Fat Jade was milky white and gave off a faint fragrance. It was a Mundane Common Good of exceptionally high quality. Held in one's palm and gently rubbed,