Hidden Secrets Beneath the Blood Mist

With the great villain offering her an opening, Yan Yi hurried to seize it.

“Your Excellency, the blood mist that appeared above the residence a few days ago was the same as the one I encountered on Mount Fuyu.”

Hearing the implication in her words, Wen Xiaoran frowned instinctively.

“What are you trying to say?”

Yan Yi pressed her lips tightly together, appearing hesitant.

In truth, she was only speculating in secret and had no concrete evidence.

After a moment of consideration, she steeled herself, lifted her head, and met the great villain’s eyes.

As if throwing caution to the wind, she blurted out what was in her heart.

“Your Excellency, someone is trying to cover something up.”

“Oh?”

Wen Xiaoran seemed greatly intrigued by her words.

He gestured for Yan Yi to sit in the chair opposite him.

It appeared that this mortal physician, who often cried and seemed timid on the surface, was not as shallow as she seemed.

Suddenly realizing something, Wen Xiaoran’s lips curved slightly into a faint smile.

She trusted him.

Upon realizing this, his tone grew lighter.

“Go on.”

Yan Yi carefully chose her words and kept her explanation concise, slowly revealing what she found suspicious.

At the end, she did not forget to emphasize, “They must have feared I would discover the secrets on Mount Fuyu or at the center of Tai Lake.

That is why they staged those ghostly tricks to frighten me and force me to leave.”

As for why they had not simply killed her to silence her, she believed she need not spell it out.

The great villain surely understood.

If she were to die inexplicably, such tactics would only expose the culprit.

They were not that foolish.

After hearing her out, Wen Xiaoran fell into thought.

He had previously sent people to search around Mount Fuyu for several days, yet nothing suspicious had been found.

The matter had ended without result.

Silence settled over the study.

Yan Yi stared at him eagerly, hoping he would offer some clarity.

A sudden knock broke the stillness.

“Your Excellency, it is time for your medicine.”

It was Wen Feng’s voice.

Yan Yi stiffened like a startled bird.

The study door opened.

The old witch doctor stood at the entrance, carrying his medicine chest.

Yan Yi took a quiet breath, forcing herself to calm down.

She quickly stepped forward.

“Elder Bu, you have arrived.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Bu Shu walked toward the couch.

He placed a white jade porcelain bottle on the desk and removed a crystal-clear pill, handing it to Wen Xiaoran.

The pill dissolved into a wisp of white mist and flowed into his body through his lips.

Yan Yi stood quietly beside the desk, observing the old witch doctor’s movements.

After a while, Bu Shu withdrew his hand and returned the bottle to his medicine chest.

Only when he finished did Yan Yi step forward.

“Elder Bu, is this the pill refined from the Frost Lotus?”

Bu Shu nodded.

“Yes.

It was refined using a special method.”

Yan Yi turned to face him, her eyes bright.

She spoke somewhat nervously.

“Elder Bu, may I study medicine under you?”

In recent days, she had learned much while assisting him.

The more she observed, the more she felt this old witch doctor possessed true skill.

Thus she developed the idea of taking him as her master to study medicine earnestly.

After all, extra skills never weighed one down.

If she ever returned to the real world, it might prove useful.

Hearing this, Wen Xiaoran raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze landing on her face.

Bu Shu was also surprised.

He asked, “Medicine, or witchcraft?”

“Medicine,” Yan Yi replied firmly.

Witchcraft would be useless to her.

Superstition was not to be trusted.

Bu Shu did not answer immediately.

He glanced at Wen Xiaoran, as if waiting for his approval.

Wen Xiaoran appeared absentminded and did not notice the look.

The mortal physician suddenly wishing to study medicine—

Could it be because he had been tormented by demonic energy, and she felt heartache yet was powerless as a mortal to combat it.

The thought sent warmth flowing through his chest, spreading quietly through his entire being.

He felt unexpectedly comforted.

“Ahem.”

Bu Shu coughed lightly in reminder.

“Your Excellency—”

Wen Xiaoran returned to himself and composed his expression.

“Uncle Bu may arrange it as he sees fit.”

Yan Yi often assisted Bu Shu.

She was clever and attentive.

Bu Shu was naturally pleased to have someone to inherit his knowledge.

He nodded in agreement.

With a dull thud, Yan Yi knelt before him.

She knocked her head three times.

“Thank you, Master.”

Wen Xiaoran made no comment on the matter.

Instead, he ordered, “Light the calming incense.”

The joy of successfully taking a master vanished instantly.

Yan Yi’s heart trembled uneasily.

Her legs felt weak as she steadied herself against the table.

“Your Excellency, the newly made calming incense—has run out.”

The old witch doctor was experienced and knowledgeable.

The added ingredients in the special incense would eventually be discovered.

Yan Yi knew her limits and dared not act recklessly in his presence.

Wen Xiaoran was doubtful.

He remembered that the incense had only been used once.

It could not possibly have run out so quickly.

After a moment of thought, something occurred to him.

He gazed at Yan Yi intently, emotions stirring within.

She must have seen the blood at the corner of his lips that day and assumed the incense had caused some adverse effect.

Thus she lied, claiming it was used up.

How thoughtful of her.

He did not expose her.

Instead, he said calmly, “Prepare some more.”

Afraid of revealing any flaws, Yan Yi dared not explain further before the old witch doctor.

She could only agree obediently.

Though it turned out to be a false alarm, her back felt chilled with cold sweat.

Night had fallen.

Yan Yi bid farewell to the old witch doctor and the great villain one by one before leaving the study.

Wen Feng waited outside.

When he saw her, he nodded slightly.

“Miss Yan.”

Yan Yi nearly stumbled out the door.

The chill of the glacier still seemed etched into her bones.

Though Wen Feng’s manner remained gentle, she could not help but feel a shiver down her spine.

Forcing a smile, she exchanged a few polite words before hastening back to her quarters.

The moment she stepped into the courtyard, Xiao Li leapt into her arms with a “meow,” carrying a specially made envelope in its mouth.

Holding the cat, Yan Yi returned to her room and carefully opened the letter.

As expected, it was from Su Can.

The letter contained the usual pleasantries.

He repeatedly mentioned how adorable the cat paw seal was and hoped she would provide her detailed address so he could visit someday.

Reading this, Yan Yi panicked.

The male protagonist of the original novel was seeking her out ahead of schedule.

This was disastrous.

All the fabricated life stories she had spun before the great villain to preserve her life would be exposed.

As for harvesting the great villain’s essence to complete her mission—

Forget it.

She would likely end up dead without a corpse left behind.

What should she do.

What should she do.

Yan Yi paced anxiously around the room.

Xiao Li followed behind, pouncing at her skirt until it grew dizzy from spinning.

“What should I do?”

Yan Yi picked up the cat and rubbed her face against its fluffy head.

“I’m doomed this time.”

Xiao Li meowed incessantly, as if understanding her words.

Yan Yi looked utterly miserable, not noticing the cat fur stuck around her mouth.

Seeing she failed to grasp the hint, Xiao Li tapped the letter in her hand with its soft paw and meowed louder.

Yan Yi focused again and looked at the tabby cat blankly.

“Xiao Li, you’re worried about me too, aren’t you?

They say cats are very spiritual creatures.

I knew you could understand me.”

“Meow—”

Praised, Xiao Li grew even more excited.

It leapt onto the desk and grabbed the usual cinnabar box in its mouth.

Only then did Yan Yi suddenly recall something.

The great villain had once mentioned that demons were filled with magical power and were treasures from head to toe.

Xiao Li was born of the demon race and raised in the Demon Realm.

Surely it was no ordinary cat.

An idea struck her.

She immediately took out paper and brush, carefully composing her words.

She filled an entire sheet with polite refusals, declining her cousin’s visit.

Seeing the crimson cat paw print stamped at the end, Yan Yi stretched in satisfaction and prepared to bathe.

Her fingers instinctively reached toward her neck.

Her thoughts froze for a moment.

Suddenly, dizziness overwhelmed her.

Her head buzzed.

Yan Yi felt as though struck by lightning.

The red crystal pendant hanging around her neck was gone.

That pendant was essential to completing her mission.

It was as vital as her lifeline.

Her heart pounded wildly, nearly leaping from her chest.

She stood frozen, desperately trying to recall when she had last seen it.

It had not fallen into the glacier.

Lowering her head, she felt a small relief.

Glancing at the unfamiliar clothes she wore, she remembered the great villain’s maid had changed her garments.

The red crystal must have been removed then.

Perhaps it was still in the study.

Clinging to that hope, Yan Yi rushed to the door and pulled it open.

Wen Xiaoran stood outside alone, one hand raised as if about to knock.

Yan Yi rubbed her eyes, thinking she was hallucinating from shock.

When she looked again, he was still there.

One hand was loosely clenched, as if holding something.

He spoke first.

“It is so late.

Where are you going?”

Yan Yi stared blankly at him.

Was this what it meant for sincerity to move the heavens?

She had just silently repeated his name several times in her heart.

The moment she opened the door, he appeared.

However, still shaken, she blurted out without thinking, “Your Excellency, why are you here so late instead of sleeping?”

Wen Xiaoran’s expression blanked for a moment.

Her tone seemed strange, almost unwelcome.

He did not respond.

Instead, he extended the hand he had kept clenched.

When he loosened it slightly, a crystal-clear red pendant dangled from his palm, swaying before her eyes.

It swayed back and forth.

So did her heart.

Driven by impulse, she reached to snatch it.

But Wen Xiaoran was prepared.

He swiftly withdrew it and tucked it into his robe.

“What is this?”

He asked patiently.

The sudden loss and recovery of the pendant sent her emotions into turmoil.

Her mind felt dizzy.

She answered casually, “A protective charm.”

Wen Xiaoran did not believe her.

Feeling she was too perfunctory, he spoke sternly.

“What did you say?”

Hearing the displeasure in his tone, Yan Yi snapped back to her senses.

She quickly amended her words.

“Your Excellency, it was left to me by my grandmother.

It is a family heirloom.

I panicked when I could not find it, which is why I spoke rudely just now.

Please do not hold it against a mere mortal like me.

Could you return the pendant first?”

Her eyes were moist and reddened.

Her tone carried a hint of pleading.

She looked small, pitiful, and helpless—like a frightened fawn.

Wen Xiaoran remained unmoved.

He made no move to return it.

Standing at the doorway with his hands behind his back, he regarded her with interest.

“What is this.

Do you not intend to invite me inside?”