Truth Beneath the Flames

Jinjiang Exclusive First Release 7.

After a brief moment of warmth, his fingers gently stroked Yan Yi’s slender shoulder. Reluctantly, Wen Xiaoran let go of her and called toward the door, “Go summon Qiong Jiu.”

Ling You’s voice responded from outside, followed by the sound of footsteps gradually fading away.

Yan Yi straightened her wrinkled collar and leaned forward slightly. “Your Excellency, do you think Qiong Jiu knows something?”

Wen Xiaoran replied, “There are some things she should know.”

Hearing this, Yan Yi fell silent.

According to his reasoning, the group of troublesome boys she encountered on her way back had been deliberately arranged by Lu Qin. Then Lu Qin appeared to drive them away, taking advantage of the moment she covered Yan Yi with her robe to steal the pendant.

It sounded reasonable, but Yan Yi couldn’t figure out the motive.

Before long, Ling You brought Qiong Jiu into the room.

Qiong Jiu carefully glanced at Wen Xiaoran, then looked at Yan Yi and said cautiously, “Miss Yan, Lu Qin did mention to me that your pendant was exquisite. She wanted to borrow it so a craftsman could replicate a pair of earrings for her mother. As for anything else… I don’t know.”

Wen Xiaoran asked, “Lu Qin has been frequently asking for leave recently. Do you know where she has been going?”

Qiong Jiu lowered her head and replied softly, “Your Excellency… she has been going to pay respects to Wen Feng.”

Yan Yi was startled and couldn’t help asking, “What kind of relationship did Lu Qin have with Wen Feng?” She had never seen them interact nor heard anyone mention it.

Qiong Jiu hesitated, then revealed a little-known truth. “Lu Qin… was very close to Wen Feng.”

After Wen Feng’s death, Wen Xiaoran had only told others that he was killed by the old Demon Lord, never revealing his betrayal.

Lu Qin visiting him should have been normal—so why hide it and frequently take leave? Could there be some hidden motive?

At this thought, Yan Yi suddenly remembered that Lu Qin had studied witchcraft under the old witch doctor since childhood. Her frequent absences might just be a cover—

Was she trying to revive Wen Feng?

Yan Yi shook her head. It seemed impossible. Wen Feng had already been reduced to ashes—no matter how powerful the witchcraft, it shouldn’t be able to reverse that.

And what did this have to do with the red crystal?

The red crystal was given to her by the system—it didn’t even belong to this world. How could anyone here know its use, let alone use it for witchcraft?

It was absurd.

“Miss Yan, does your red crystal have any special properties?” Qiong Jiu suddenly asked.

Yan Yi’s eyes widened in shock. “What kind of special properties?”

Qiong Jiu hesitated. “Lu Qin once mentioned privately that your pendant wasn’t an ordinary red crystal. She said it might have great use, but didn’t explain further.”

Yan Yi’s heart leapt to her throat. She took a deep breath and forced herself to stay calm.

When the system had assigned her the task, it only said that giving the red crystal to the villain before completing the task would help.

So yes—it did have special properties.

“A family heirloom. It brings peace and protection. Does that count?” Yan Yi lied smoothly, without even blinking.

Wen Xiaoran cut in, “Enough. Talking about this is useless. Find Lu Qin, and everything will become clear.”

Yan Yi nodded quickly. “Your Excellency, could she have gone to Fuyu Mountain?”

After all, that was where Wen Feng was buried.

Wen Xiaoran was silent for a moment, then ordered preparations and selected several guards to accompany him.

Yan Yi reached out and grabbed his sleeve. “Your Excellency, I’ll go too. A family heirloom shouldn’t leave its owner—it won’t work otherwise. I want to make sure the pendant isn’t damaged.”

For once, Wen Xiaoran did not refuse.

Yan Yi quietly let out a breath of relief.

But her heart remained uneasy.

She had no idea what Lu Qin intended to do with the red crystal.

That was her cheat item—the key to completing her mission. She couldn’t afford to lose it.

Soon, they arrived at Fuyu Mountain.

Flames burned fiercely across the mountain, releasing a decaying aura. Smoke filled the air, and even the areas touched by sunlight looked lifeless.

Lu Qin stood alone at the mountain peak. More than ten fires burned around her, forming a formation with her at the center.

“Miss Yan, the red crystal pendant… is your vital essence, isn’t it?” she asked, her eyes filled with expectation.

Yan Yi’s breath caught. Her heart pounded wildly, her legs going weak.

Before she could respond, Wen Xiaoran suddenly moved.

In an instant, a massive shadow swept across the mountain, extinguishing all the blazing fires.

Lu Qin collapsed to the ground, her body going limp.

Yan Yi hurried forward, grabbing Wen Xiaoran’s sleeve. “Your Excellency, she doesn’t deserve death—please—”

Lu Qin lay on the ground, letting out hoarse, eerie laughter.

“Miss Yan… you have no vital essence in your body, yet you are unaffected…”

Yan Yi felt as if struck by lightning. Her mind went blank.

She forced herself to remain calm and pretended confusion. “My vital essence? Lu Qin, what do you mean? I don’t understand.”

Wen Xiaoran glanced at her, his expression unreadable.

Yan Yi sensed his doubt but knew that explaining too much would only make things worse.

“I thought that with your vital essence… I could revive Wen Feng,” Lu Qin said, clutching the red crystal tightly, tears streaming down her face.

She struggled to get up but failed. “Miss Yan… tell me how to use it to revive the dead. From now on, I’ll obey you in everything… I’ll serve you forever…”

Yan Yi quickly interrupted, “Lu Qin, I don’t know what you’re talking about. That pendant is just my family heirloom. It doesn’t have any power to revive the dead. I understand how you feel, but… I can’t help you.”

Lu Qin suddenly screamed and lunged forward, grabbing Yan Yi by the throat.

“Tell me! Tell me how to use it!”

Yan Yi barely managed a weak sound before her throat was tightly choked.

Wen Xiaoran waved his sleeve, sending Lu Qin flying across the ground.

“Courting death!” his eyes turned cold and ruthless.

Yan Yi’s face turned pale as she coughed violently, clutching her neck.

“Are you alright?” Wen Xiaoran gently patted her back.

After a long moment, she steadied herself. “Your Excellency… I’m fine.” Her hoarse voice betrayed otherwise.

Wen Xiaoran’s expression darkened. He ordered Ling You to take Lu Qin back and imprison her. “Investigate thoroughly.”

Yan Yi’s heart skipped a beat, afraid something might be discovered.

Carefully observing him, she hesitated before softly explaining, “Your Excellency, I don’t know why Lu Qin said that. But I truly don’t know anything about the pendant being related to vital essence. Ying Yue once said that if a person’s vital essence leaves their body, they would die.”

She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. “Your Excellency, look at me—I’m alive and well. I don’t look like someone missing their vital essence.”

Seeing her trembling and desperately explaining herself, Wen Xiaoran’s heart softened. He held her slightly shaking hand. “I am not pursuing this matter.”

Yan Yi’s steps were unsteady, her palms still sweating.

But she couldn’t relax. His words seemed to carry hidden meaning.

If the red crystal really was her vital essence… then what was she now?

When had the system taken it from her?

Why?

The more she thought, the more uneasy she became.

She recalled that the old witch doctor once said a living person’s vital essence could nourish another’s damaged one.

Lu Qin must have known this and taken the risk to steal the crystal.

But she had failed—Wen Feng could not be revived.

Understanding this, Yan Yi felt a chill run through her body.

The suspicion had already been planted.

Wen Xiaoran would surely have the old witch doctor verify the truth.

A terrible premonition grew stronger.

That useless system—always disappearing—had put her in deep trouble.

In the original story, the “canary” was just an ordinary human.

If a human lost their vital essence, they would die.

Yet she was alive and well.

Wen Xiaoran was naturally suspicious—he would not overlook anything.

Suppressing her emotions, Yan Yi said with a trembling voice, “Thank you for trusting me, Your Excellency.”

Then she pointed at Lu Qin and asked carefully, “Your Excellency… can I have my heirloom back?”

Wen Xiaoran glanced at her, hesitated, then ordered a guard to retrieve the red crystal from Lu Qin.

The surroundings finally grew quiet. The cool mountain breeze brushed across the water, and Fuyu Mountain returned to its former calm.

Wen Xiaoran used a cleansing spell on the crystal and handed it to Yan Yi. “Keep it safe.”

Yan Yi wiped the sweat from her palms on her clothes and tightly held the crystal. Her voice trembled slightly. “Thank you, Your Excellency!”

Wen Xiaoran paused, then asked, “Are you nervous?”

Yan Yi shook her head quickly, raising her voice slightly. “No, Your Excellency. I’m just… I’m too happy! My heirloom is back—I’m trembling with excitement!”