203: Chapter 201 Hot Potato

Early the next morning,

Yun Ming came out of the Quiet Room,

pushed open the door, and froze.

The stone table in the courtyard was covered with steaming dishes.

Qin Zhao and Xue Ji were sitting opposite each other,

each holding a pair of chopsticks and eating.

Qin Zhao had not removed her armor, and her long sword leaned against a table leg.

She ate very efficiently, picking up food, putting it in her mouth, and chewing in one smooth motion.

Xue Ji had changed into a pale pink dress, her hair loosely held up by a jade hairpin, with a few stray strands hanging by her ears.

She ate very slowly, in small bites, like a cat licking its food.

Her chopsticks picked up a piece of Drunken Immortal Shrimp. Her red lips parted slightly as she took a gentle bite, spitting the shell neatly onto her plate; her posture was so elegant that she didn't seem to be eating, but rather performing.

Yun Ming stood at the door, watching the two of them, and remained silent for a few breaths.

"Didn't you two leave yesterday?" He walked over and sat down at the stone table. "Why are you back?"

Qin Zhao picked up a mouthful of Stir-fried Three Spirit Vegetables and pointed her chopsticks at Xue Ji, her tone carrying an irrepressible irritation: "It's all because of this woman."

Xue Ji was picking up a piece of Dark Musk Scented Pork Shank. Hearing this, she raised an eyebrow and her chopsticks paused in mid-air, but she didn't respond.

Qin Zhao continued, "Walking on the road, she attracted the gaze of a crowd of men. In just one night, four or five people jumped out for no reason to 'save the beauty.' Some jumped off rooftops, some rushed out of alleys, and some actually descended from the sky on Flying Swords, each one saying righteously, 'Don't be afraid, lady, I've come to save you.'"

She took a bite of food, chewing with a crunching sound. "I explained all night that it wasn't a kidnapping, but an escort. No one believed me. The last one, a hothead at the Golden Core Middle Stage, insisted on fighting me and was knocked unconscious by my sword. It dragged on until midnight."

Xue Ji gave a proud snort, also put a mouthful of food into her mouth, and said slowly while eating, "Has no one ever taught you not to point at people with chopsticks?"

Qin Zhao glared at her, switched her chopsticks to her left hand, and her right hand almost reached for her sword.

The corners of Xue Ji's mouth curled slightly as she lowered her head to continue eating shrimp.

Qin Zhao took a deep breath and turned to Yun Ming: "So, it's safer to keep her here with you. Your courtyard has a Formation, so ordinary people can't get in. Even if they do, they can't get out." She paused, "And your place is remote; no one knows she's here."

Yun Ming turned slightly and glanced at the courtyard gate.

A new lock hung on the door, made of brass and shining brightly.

He had put it there before to prevent Zhou Qian from entering and leaving as he pleased.

It seemed now that this lock was completely useless.

None of these people used the door.

He sighed and rubbed his brow.

"Keeping her here is fine," he said, "but I won't take care of her."

Qin Zhao waved her hand: "You don't need to take care of her. I've sealed her cultivation; you can just treat her as a maid. Pouring tea, washing clothes, folding blankets, cleaning the courtyard—make her do it all."

Xue Ji put down her chopsticks, turned her head, and looked at Yun Ming.

Her eyes curved into two crescents, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing a charming smile.

Her voice was as soft as if it were coated in honey, cloyingly sweet: "This humble one will serve her husband well."

The corner of Yun Ming's eye twitched.

He picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and set it down again.

"I'd like to live a few more years."

He picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of Cold Lantern Shadow Liver, stuffed it into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. Then he took another piece, and another, and another.

Qin Zhao and Xue Ji were stunned at the same time.

They hadn't expected Yun Ming to be so blunt, sitting down and eating without even a greeting, as if the dishes on the table were prepared for him alone.

Yun Ming ignored their gazes.

Qin Zhao looked at him, her mouth twitching, but she said nothing.

She picked up her chopsticks and continued eating.

Xue Ji looked at Yun Ming, a flash of complexity in her eyes, but it was quickly covered by a smile.

She also picked up her chopsticks and continued to eat.

The three of them sat at the same table, each eating their own food, with no one speaking.

The mist in the courtyard drifted faintly, and the sunlight filtered through it, casting mottled shadows on the stone table.

Occasionally, the sound of birds chirping came from the distance, crisp and melodious.

After finishing the meal, Xue Ji stood up and stretched, her dress clinging to her body and outlining her exquisite curves.

She looked around, her gaze falling on the empty side room. "That room is mine." She walked over, pushed open the door, went inside, and closed it behind her.

Qin Zhao glanced at the closed door, then took a Storage Pouch from her sleeve and placed it on the stone table.

"This is the reward from the Third Prince. Last month's Medicinal Pill money and this month's Materials. From now on, I'll come to collect the pills; Zhou Qian won't be coming anymore."

Yun Ming picked up the Storage Pouch, scanned it with his Divine Sense, and put the bag into the map of mountains and rivers.

"You went to the City Lord's Mansion?"

"Mm." Qin Zhao stood up and hung her long sword at her waist. "From today on, I'm taking over Zhou Qian's job. He's been transferred to the front line; they're short-handed there." She paused and looked at Yun Ming, "The Third Prince asked me to tell you, thank you for your Medicinal Pills. Without you, the front line wouldn't have held until now."

Yun Ming waved his hand: "It's just a transaction. He pays, I perform Alchemy; there's no need for thanks."

Qin Zhao glanced at him and said nothing more.

She turned, walked to the courtyard gate, pushed open the door with the new lock, and walked out.

The door closed behind her, the lock rattling slightly.

Yun Ming sat at the stone table, picked up his teacup, and drank slowly.

The mist swirled around him, and the formation patterns on the ground operated quietly.

Tens of thousands of miles away, in the provincial city of Fengyin Province.

The Third Prince sat in his study, a map spread out before him, holding a transmission talisman in his hand.

Shen Yizhi stood by his side, his folding fan closed, his gaze on the map.

Qin Zhao's transmission had echoed in their ears several times, every word clear—Yun Ming was fine, Xue Ji had been captured and was now settled in Yun Ming's small courtyard, her cultivation sealed, unable to stir up any waves.

The Third Prince put down the transmission talisman, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.

"This man Yun Ming," he spoke slowly, "is deeper than we imagined."

Shen Yizhi nodded. "Xue Ji is a Fox Yao, at the Early Nascent Soul Stage, and is proficient in Charm Technique. Her Lianxiang Cup, Qingluo Ruanyan, and Wangdao Chenghuan are things even someone at the Late Nascent Soul Stage like the Second Prince couldn't withstand. Yet Yun Ming, a mere Golden Core Late Stage, was actually able to counter her." He paused, tapping his fan lightly against his palm. "Either he has a rare treasure on him, or his Divine Soul far exceeds ordinary people. Either way, he's worth befriending deeply."

The Third Prince did not speak.

He looked at the red and black dots marking troop deployments on the map and remained silent for a moment. "Does the Second Prince's side know the news yet?"

Shen Yizhi said: "They probably don't know yet. Qin Zhao only captured Xue Ji last night, and the news has been kept under tight wraps. But it won't be hidden for long."

The Third Prince nodded. "Then while they still don't know, let's set the price first."

He picked up a blank transmission talisman from the table, thought for a moment, and carved a few sentences into it.

The talisman turned into a stream of light and disappeared into the horizon.

Shen Yizhi watched the receding light and tapped his fan against his palm again. "Does Your Highness think the Second Prince will agree?"

The Third Prince laughed, his smile carrying a hint of mockery. "Of course he won't want to agree. But he has no choice. Xue Ji is his most beloved woman; he can't just ignore her. Even if he doesn't agree, his subordinates will force him to. One woman in exchange for a few months of peace—it's worth it."

Shen Yizhi did not respond.

He knew the Third Prince was right.

Although the Second Prince's side was powerful, it was not a monolith.

Once Xue Ji's identity as a Fox Yao is exposed, the Second Prince's prestige will take a heavy hit.

Rather than letting this secret become public, it's better to pay a price to get her back and settle the matter quietly.

The Second Prince's Temporary Princely Mansion.

The Second Prince sat on the soft couch in his bedchamber, clutching a transmission talisman he had just received.

His expression was unsightly, ashen, as if he had been slapped.

The content in the talisman was very short, only a few sentences—Xue Ji is in our hands; if you want her alive, bring supplies to exchange.

The signature was the Third Prince's mark.

The Second Prince crushed the transmission talisman, the fragments drifting from between his fingers to the floor.

He stood up, paced a few steps in the room, and sat down again.

His chest heaved violently, his breathing heavy, like an enraged bull.

"Good, good, good." He said the word "good" three times in a row, each one sounding as if squeezed through his teeth.

He hadn't expected that he would send Xue Ji to capture someone, only for her to be captured himself instead of bringing the person back.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he kicked over the coffee table in front of him.

Teacups and fruit plates shattered all over the floor, and tea splashed onto the carpet, spreading into a large, dark water stain.

The guards outside heard the commotion and pushed open the door to enter, only to be glared back by the Second Prince.

The door closed again, leaving him alone in the room with his heavy breathing.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the pitch-black night.

The moon was obscured by clouds, and the courtyard was pitch black; nothing could be seen.

He stood for a long time, until the anger in his chest slowly subsided and the chaos in his mind gradually cleared.

He turned, walked back to the table, and took a new transmission talisman from the drawer.

He carved a few words into the talisman and then crushed it.

The talisman turned into a stream of light and disappeared into the night.

He agreed to the Third Prince's conditions.

It wasn't that he was willing, but that he had no other choice.

Xue Ji had been by his side for over a hundred years, and she was not only his favorite concubine but also his right hand.

Her Charm Technique, her methods, and her identity as a member of the Yao Race were all Sharp Weapons in his hands.

He couldn't do without her.

At least not for now.

He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.

This debt, he had noted it down.