The Bloody Deception

Life, at times, can be utterly helpless. Yet, life itself remains indifferent to such plights. Ultimately, one must gather themselves, and sort things out on their own.

He still couldn’t fathom Liu Ruyan’s obsession with bathing, nor could he comprehend why Ji Xue had completely cast aside the crucial information he had previously shared with her.

Two pairs of wide, watery eyes fixed upon him, making him feel as though he had committed an unforgivable sin.

Surely, he couldn’t just pat their heads, offer a doting smile, and declare, “You are both my wings,” could he?

He would be beaten to death!

These two were no delicate maidens who would tap his chest with dainty fists, cooing softly; they were formidable figures, capable of shattering metal with their strength!

Appeasing them both simultaneously was an impossibility; he had to tackle them one by one!

Life rarely offers the luxury of having it all.

‘Look, I understand now. Though I’ve lost my paralysis, I’ve gained a maiden and a fangirl.’

‘Alas.’

‘Oh, life.’

Seeing no way to quell the dispute between the two women, Lin Mo’s gaze sharpened. A fierce resolve hardened within him, and he abruptly circulated his spiritual energy, forcefully impacting the vital points within his body!

As if igniting a dormant volcano, a scorching, sweet-smelling torrent erupted within his internal organs, surging upwards with unstoppable force!

Pfft—cough, cough, cough…

Lin Mo felt a sudden sweetness in his throat, utterly unable to suppress it. Thick, crimson blood, like shattered rubies, erupted violently from between his fingers as he coughed, splattering across his palms, his clothes, and even the ground before him, each star-like droplet a shocking sight.

Lin Mo’s coughing of blood was like a pause button pressed on reality. The two women instantly froze, their suspicions and animosity washed away by the blinding crimson.

The murderous intent and towering rage in Ji Xue’s eyes instantly extinguished, replaced by an indescribable shock.

The mist that had gathered in her beautiful phoenix eyes quickly transformed into large tears, rolling down her pallid cheeks.

Her aura, which had been as cold and unyielding as a furious lioness just moments before, instantly crumbled, leaving behind only an overwhelming, suffocating panic and worry.

“What’s wrong? Has an old injury flared up again?!” Ji Xue immediately rummaged through her storage ring, desperate to find a healing elixir. However, with its myriad contents, locating it would take some effort. “Wait, wait for me! I’ll, I’ll, I’ll find it right away!”

Almost simultaneously, Liu Ruyan was also stunned into silence. The stubborn defiance and chilling triumph on her face vanished without a trace, replaced by the bewildered panic of a small animal.

“Sister Wan’er!” Liu Ruyan’s voice trembled, and she abruptly released Lin Mo’s hand. “Was it me… did I accidentally touch you just now, causing Sister Wan’er’s hidden wounds to flare up and torment her?”

“…It’s all Ruyan’s fault! I caused Sister Wan’er’s hidden wounds to relapse!” She cried out, filled with terror and self-reproach. “You, you, you wait for Wan’er! Ruyan will find you the best physician!”

No sooner had she spoken than Liu Ruyan, without even pausing to put on her shoes, scrambled off the bed. Her fair feet bare, she moved with the lightness of a swallow, vanishing like a wisp of smoke out the door in the blink of an eye.

Just as Liu Ruyan disappeared outside the door, Ji Xue finally located her healing elixir!

Ji Xue retrieved a lustrous, exquisite pill bottle, carved from supreme warm jade. The moment its lid opened, a refreshing, rich medicinal fragrance, seemingly imbued with endless vitality, instantly permeated the air, even clearing the lingering scent of blood.

With a careful yet urgent hand, she poured out a single pill. It was no larger than a fingernail, perfectly round, and glowed with a gentle, pale golden hue. Intricate pill patterns covered its surface, through which a faint, ethereal spiritual energy continuously flowed.

Needless to say, this extraordinary phenomenon and aura alone proclaimed it to be no ordinary item! Though she usually begrudged using it, Ji Xue’s eyes now held not a trace of reluctance for this priceless treasure, despite it being the only such pill she possessed.

Just as Ji Xue was about to place the pill into his mouth, Lin Mo suddenly grasped her hand!

Gone was his earlier feigned weakness; his previously vacant gaze now sparkled with renewed vitality, brimming with spirit!

There was no sign of injury whatsoever!

“You… you tricked me!?” Ji Xue exclaimed, a mix of shock and delight quickly morphing into furious indignation. “How could you—”

“Are you—” Lin Mo was torn between exasperation and amusement, but he swallowed his words mid-sentence. “I’m fine. If I didn’t do this, some things couldn’t be said directly, and you two would never stop arguing. Have you forgotten something?”

“Forgotten?” Ji Xue’s willow-like brows furrowed. ‘What could she have forgotten? She was incredibly clever! How could she—’

Her thoughtful expression froze as Ji Xue instantly realized what she had overlooked.

“Hmm? Do you understand now?” Lin Mo sighed, rubbing his forehead. “How could I possibly bathe with Liu Ruyan? What were you thinking?”

Ji Xue’s face flushed crimson. In her haste, she had completely forgotten that Lin Mo was a man, and that this secret was currently known only to her!

So how could he possibly go bathing with that Liu Ruyan?

‘Wait!’

‘What if she knows but hasn’t said anything!?’

At this thought, Ji Xue’s gaze turned stern. “What if she knows, but hasn’t revealed it? I—”

‘Are you stupid…?’

“What?! How dare you call me stupid? Let me tell you, don’t assume that just because I dote on you, I’ll—”

“Please, what was the reason I was targeted in the first place? Their goal was to poach me from my Master. If they knew about this, would those people still need to use the Hall of Clarity, or send others to undermine me?”

“I would only have two paths left.”

‘One was death.’

‘Upon discovering Lin Mo’s true identity as a male, he would be immediately executed according to sect rules.’

‘The other was infinitesimally small.’

‘It involved exploiting this secret to pry Lin Mo away from Mu Qingli.’

Ji Xue finally caught on, but she remained stubborn.

“You… you didn’t explain it clearly before! How was I supposed to know such a thing would happen!” Ji Xue pouted slightly. “You merely… merely mentioned your past in the private room! Does that… does that count as explaining it clearly? So, so you can’t blame me entirely!”

She huffed indignantly like a little girl, swiftly sticking out the tip of her delicate pink tongue. “It’s all your fault! Blech~”

Then, she turned her face away.

Seeing her in this state, Lin Mo felt no annoyance, only finding her somewhat endearing.

How could he be angry when she was willing to shed her imperial princess’s dignity before him, acting like a bashful maiden?

Feeling a warmth spread through his heart, he quickly offered a conciliatory gesture. “Yes, yes, it’s my fault, my fault~ My fault for not explaining it clearly! My good Highness, would you be so kind as to show mercy and forgive this humble one just this once?”

“Hmm~ now that sounds more like a human speaking. So, are these injuries truly alright?”

Listening to his gentle, cajoling words, her remaining pique dissipated like smoke. Ji Xue tilted her head and turned back to him.

Her pretty face was faintly flushed, and the emotions in her phoenix eyes were now replaced by pure worry, as she stared at him intently, her voice soft and urgent.

Lin Mo finally understood the saying, ‘When you apologize without reason, instead of pursuing the issue, you’re ready to get married.’

‘After all, with a child on the way, a man must take responsibility and marry, mustn’t he…?’

‘Though, no matter the place, this was a bad situation indeed.’

Thinking a little further ahead, if word got out that he had gotten an imperial princess pregnant before marriage… Lin Mo felt a cold sweat break out at the mere thought. Would he end up like Shang Yang’s vanguard, meeting such a grim fate?

“It’s nothing. As long as it stopped your argument, that’s what matters,” Lin Mo said with a smile.

“Absurd—!” To his surprise, this peacemaking remark not only failed to calm Ji Xue but ignited her like a powder keg with a lit fuse!

Ji Xue’s eyes were bloodshot, her previously soft and delicate face now hardened with a chilling malevolence. Every word she uttered seemed coated in shards of ice. “How dare you treat your own life as a game?! All for… all for the sake of stopping this argument?! It’s truly childish!”

‘Though the argument was my fault, you shouldn’t have used your own injuries to quell this dispute!’

Lin Mo was somewhat taken aback. He had merely thought it convenient to act this way, not considering so much… nor had he considered… that someone would… care if he injured himself like this.

Once, there had been someone who cared, but they had been gone for a long time. So much time had passed that he seemed to have forgotten.

Ji Xue’s sudden outburst of rage wasn’t frightening; instead, it made Lin Mo… feel a touch of warmth.

“I’m sorry,” Lin Mo said, sitting up and looking directly into Ji Xue’s eyes. “I won’t do it again.”

“Hmph, you’d better not!” Ji Xue glared, then immediately helped Lin Mo lie back down. Though still somewhat angry, she continued to grumble, “Lie down quickly! Ruyan just called a physician for you, so let them take a look. Sometimes I think you’re clever, but other times I think you’re foolish.”

“If you’re going to lie, lie about trivial things. Why make a false show into reality? Do you really believe that just because you cultivate as an immortal, you’re made of steel and iron?”

Ji Xue continued her incessant muttering, yet Lin Mo didn’t find it irritating. He merely smiled, feeling that subtle warmth seep into his heart.

Slowly, something within him began to melt.