18

Chapter 246: The Precious Treasure
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【Thank you, Qinghan. You truly are this master's finest disciple!】

【You've truly been a great help to your master!】

Su Cheng glanced at Li Shiyu, thinking to himself: This kid has no shame whatsoever!

This doesn't add up!

Li Shiyu wasn't like this!

Even if she's a bit slow, with only a child's understanding, she shouldn't be this brash, right?

She wasn't like this before!

Didn't she get shy even when bathing with Ye Qinghan?

【Ding~】

【Detected suspected psychic attack-type negative effect. Spend 2000 system points to remove this negative effect?】

Su Cheng couldn't help but laugh. So people really do laugh at times like this…

【Who do you think I am? My name is Su Cheng, and she is my direct disciple!】

【Ding~ Host's heart rate, blood pressure, and other physiological metrics detected as exceeding normal ranges.】

【I can turn a single bowl into an imperial artifact at the start, and with a half-sealed marriage contract, I'll still slaughter the Four Great Families!】

【What kind of woman haven't I seen?】

【Are you implying I can't handle her?】

Su Cheng pulled Shiyu's robe over Li Shiyu's body, exposing only the patch of skin marked for inscription. He was ready to begin.

He bit his finger, lightly pricking Shiyao's skin. Immediately, a soft moan escaped her lips~

"Mmm~ Master~ So warm~ Entering Shiyu's body~"

【Damn it! Shiyu! Don't say things that could be misunderstood!】

"Mmm~ Master… slower…"

[Ding~ 2000 system points deducted. Negative effects removed.]

【System, you win this round…】

"Don't speak. Just feel it."

【What on earth have I been saying to my disciple?】

"Mmm……. Shiyu understands~"

【Holy crap, my precious Shiyu is actually feeling it?】

"Does it hurt?"

"A little, but Shiyu won't cry."

Yu Lan made an excuse to leave. Knowing the Second Young Miss was fine, she had work to attend to.

Without Yu Lan around, Dongfang Jue and Su Muchan weren't content with just eavesdropping. They now pressed themselves against the door, peering inside through the crack.

There sat Su Cheng by the bedside. Li Shiyu lay flat on the mattress, her delicate form half-concealed by a light blue robe, resembling a sumptuous dinner spread.

Even as the second disciple of Lingxian Hall, her face was flushed, her breath quick and uneven, her soft moans filling the air.

Su Cheng, meanwhile, was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Golden streams of light, like threads being drawn through a needle, carried his blood along. As his fingertips moved, they formed patterns on Li Shiyao's chest, resembling intricate tattoos.

Unlike Ye Qinghan's work, the characters being etched now glowed with golden light as divine arts flowed into them, creating an astonishingly beautiful sight!

The two at the door were also somewhat astonished, though not by Su Cheng's technique.

Rather, they were astonished that Master Su had actually carved it on the front…

To say they weren't envious would be a lie. As girls, who wouldn't want a man who could protect them in times of trouble?

In this perilous world, where humans, demons, immortals, and demons vied openly and covertly, and human hearts were unpredictable, preserving oneself was already difficult enough. A master like Su Cheng was truly a rare treasure, impossible to find.

One before her, one behind?

For Ye Qinghan, hadn't Master Su already stood behind her, offering unwavering support?

With his words, "Everything is taken care of," Ye Qinghan faced every challenge with confidence, unafraid of danger or formidable foes.

For Li Shiyao, she was the prized treasure of Lingxian Hall. Master Su naturally stood before her.

With the innate defensive artifact, the Chaos Bell, protecting her, he could not bear to see her suffer even the slightest harm.

The reconstruction of the Northern Demon Capital had already commenced. Ye Qinghan had just finished a round of inspections and returned to the resting place.

"First Lady, we have news. Though the Twelve Sacred Realms have been eradicated, some local factions still resist in isolated pockets."

"As you instructed, I investigated. Just as Second Madam predicted, those people are worse than beasts!"

Ye Qinghan chuckled softly. What instructions had she given?

She briefly scanned the intelligence report from the Northern Garrison Army. The advancing forces swept through unopposed, like a whirlwind cutting through empty fields—unstoppable!

Resistance was scarce wherever they passed; most surrendered upon hearing of their approach.

Even those foolish enough to defy them met their end beneath the Northern Frontier Army's iron hooves!

The reconquest of the Northern Territories was now within reach!

"Tell me about it. That look on Shiyao's face made me suspicious from the start."

Ye Qinghan waved her hand, gesturing for Xu Zhanfeng to sit down and speak. These past days, Xu Zhanfeng had followed her everywhere, and even if he hadn't earned any merit, he certainly hadn't shirked his duties.

"Madam, those beasts… they're using children's bodies to refine elixirs!"

Ye Qinghan's expression turned icy. She clicked her tongue in disgust, her face twisted with contempt.

"Arrange for an investigation. Not a single person involved shall be spared."

Xu Zhanfeng gently tried to calm her, sensing the First Lady was acting somewhat impulsively.

"Madam, most of these people are local strongmen or gentry. With your position still unstable, perhaps we should wait a while longer?"

"If they dragged your son off to refine elixirs, would you be so calm?" Ye Qinghan turned her head, her expression utterly impassive as she stared at Xu Zhanfeng. The look made Xu Zhanfeng's heart flutter uneasily.

"Forget my son. For Madam's grand cause, even if it meant using Zhanfeng's own heart for alchemy, I wouldn't hesitate."

"Cut the bullshit. My mind is made up. Carry out my orders exactly as I've stated."

Xu Zhanfeng couldn't control Ye Qinghan, nor had he ever wanted to. If anything, this was precisely the kind of Grandmistress she desired.

"The First Lady means that all those involved should be publicly executed?"

Ye Qinghan now looked genuinely puzzled, her face etched with doubt as she propped her chin on her hand and turned to stare at Xu Zhanfeng.

"Steward Xu, is Qinghan really that terrifying?"

Truthfully, that slightly seductive look would be utterly devastating to any man.

But at this moment, Xu Zhanfeng only felt a chill run down his spine…

"The First Lady jests. You are kind-hearted and saved Zhanfeng from death. I hold you in reverence."

"Steward Xu flatters me. Qinghan still relies on the steward for many matters. Within Lingxian Hall, only the Master is the true master. To Qinghan, we are all family."

"Zhanfeng thanks the First Lady."

Perhaps it was a reminder, perhaps a concession of authority, or perhaps a warning.

But at this moment, the final authority to interpret it all was handed over to Xu Zhanfeng through those crimson lips.

Truthfully, Xu Zhanfeng couldn't understand why the First Lady would act this way.

Yet it was clear this did not diminish Ye Qinghan's status as second only to the master within Lingxian Hall.

"Go. Take the Fallen Immortal Ruler with you. If you encounter anything beyond your handling, do not take risks."

"Zhanfeng will remember."

Watching Xu Zhanfeng turn and leave, Ye Qinghan's slightly curved lips slowly relaxed. She wasn't made of iron; right now, she desperately wanted to find her master and cry her heart out.

Her mother's blood stained the square of the Demon Capital red. The ignorant masses, unable to flee in time, were mere scum perishing beneath Her Majesty's claws.

Ye Qinghan traced the crumbling wall, its surface stained with flesh fragments. It felt as though she could see the dying glances of the victims, hear the Mother's final, agonized wail.

Given her mother's pride, she likely wouldn't have uttered such a shameful sound, but the pain must have been excruciating.

At the very center of the Demon-Slaying Array lay the spot where her mother had fallen. Within the pool of blood, a colossal fissure gaped, its scale unimaginable—a testament to the divine power unleashed upon it.

Ye Qinghan doubted whether he could bear the title of Lord of the North, even if it was only meant to be a temporary proxy for his mother.

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