The Truth Tested

Jinjiang Exclusive First Release 8.

After a whole day of fear and anxiety, Yan Yi was completely exhausted, both physically and mentally, and went to bed early that night.

With worries weighing on her mind, she couldn’t sleep peacefully. Even the slightest disturbance would wake her.

She woke up for the fifth time, her temples throbbing, the image of Lu Qin hysterically choking her still vivid in her mind.

In the latter half of the summer night, the air turned cooler. She wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, curling up inside it, sweating heavily despite the chill.

The little fox lay on its back on the couch, belly rising and falling gently, sleeping soundly.

Yan Yi sat there with her head lowered, as if shrouded in a thick cloud of gloom, unable to muster any energy. After sitting in a daze for a long time, she quietly got out of bed.

Outside the window, a thin mist lingered, and the morning light was faint.

After a quick wash, she picked up a medicine box and went out alone.

With her personality, she would never sit still and wait for things to unfold. She had to find out the connection between the red crystal and vital essence—and how Lu Qin learned that the crystal was her vital essence.

Her mind was filled with doubts, leaving her restless.

Yesterday, Ling You had brought Lu Qin back and locked her in a hidden dungeon. By Wen Xiaoran’s order, no one was allowed to visit without his permission.

Yan Yi had originally thought they would interrogate Lu Qin overnight.

But according to the little fox’s information, since being imprisoned, no one except the guards had gone near the dungeon.

Thinking of this, she tightened her grip on the medicine box she was using as an excuse and quickened her pace toward the dungeon.

At the entrance, she took a deep breath and forced herself to appear calm.

“Sir, may I go in to see Lu Qin? She’s seriously injured—I want to check her condition.”

The guard looked unfamiliar and spoke rigidly, “Miss Yan, the dungeon holds important prisoners. Without His Excellency’s permission, I cannot let you in.”

Gripping the handle tightly, Yan Yi steeled herself and lied—

“Sir, you may not know this, but His Excellency ordered me to examine the prisoner’s injuries. Lu Qin is an important case. If she dies due to untreated wounds before the truth is uncovered, can you take responsibility?”

The guard hesitated, exchanged a glance with another guard, and after whispering briefly, said, “Miss Yan, please enter.”

Yan Yi froze for a moment, almost surprised by her own success.

Were the guards really this easy to fool?

Seeing her stand still, the guard reminded her, “Miss Yan?”

She quickly regained her composure, thanked him, and hurried inside.

The dungeon was not as dark and damp as she had imagined. Instead, it was dry and cool—almost comfortable.

But that illusion vanished the moment she saw Lu Qin.

The outer corridor was pleasant, but the actual cells were like hell. Flames burned along the walls, radiating intense heat.

Yan Yi stood at the entrance, looking at the figure inside.

“Lu Qin, I’ve come to see you,” she called out.

The person inside curled up tightly. Hearing her voice, she trembled slightly but didn’t respond.

Yan Yi hesitated, then stepped closer.

The heat didn’t reach outside the cell. She touched the door—it felt normal, as if made of some special insulating material.

Or perhaps… it was magic.

“Can you hear me?” she called again.

No response.

She shook the medicine box. “I came to treat your injuries. If you don’t speak, I’ll leave.”

She turned to go.

“Don’t leave—”

Lu Qin finally moved, struggling to stand, one hand on the wall—only to recoil from the burning pain.

Her voice was hoarse, as if she had aged decades overnight.

Yan Yi stopped and turned back.

Lu Qin lay on the ground, staring at her intently.

“Miss Yan… you can revive Wen Feng, can’t you?”

Yan Yi walked back slowly and said, “Methods are created by people. Answer my questions first, and I’ll consider whether to help you.”

“What do you want to ask?”

Yan Yi didn’t beat around the bush. “How did you learn that the red crystal is my vital essence?”

Lu Qin countered, “Isn’t it?”

Yan Yi placed the medicine box down. “I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking you.”

Lu Qin looked surprised. “Miss Yan, you truly don’t know your vital essence isn’t in your body?”

Yan Yi remained calm. “I’m just an ordinary person. Before this, I didn’t even know what vital essence was.”

Lu Qin said, “I’ve studied witchcraft since childhood and have some talent. My master taught me everything. When I saw your pendant, I recognized it immediately.”

Hearing this, Yan Yi’s heart sank.

If the old witch doctor confirmed it, she would have no way to deny it.

She steadied herself and asked, “Can vital essence really revive the dead?”

Lu Qin’s eyes were unfocused.

“My master said vital essence can nourish another’s and restore it. I searched countless texts but found no complete method… so I tried on my own.”

She stared at Yan Yi. “You removed your vital essence and remain unharmed. You must know how, right?”

Yan Yi frowned. Lu Qin had gone mad.

“The red crystal is my family heirloom. As far as I know, it has nothing to do with vital essence. I don’t know why you’re so obsessed, but I can’t revive Wen Feng.”

“You’re lying!” Lu Qin shouted hoarsely. “Do you think His Excellency will believe you? He trusts my master. When he finds out your vital essence is missing, how will you explain it?”

Before she could finish, she suddenly coughed violently and spat out dark blood.

Yan Yi was shocked. The demonic energy from yesterday had already damaged her internal organs.

Her instincts told her—Lu Qin didn’t have long to live.

She glanced at her medicine box, hesitating.

As a doctor—and a former medical student—she had a duty to treat the injured.

But just yesterday, this same person had tried to kill her.

“Miss Yan… help me revive Wen Feng, and I’ll help you escape,” Lu Qin said weakly.

Yan Yi looked around and let out a cold laugh. “Escape? This place is impenetrable. How?”

Seeing no response, Lu Qin suddenly went mad, rushing forward and slamming her body against the cell door.

A sharp alarm-like sound rang through the dungeon.

Yan Yi froze for a moment.

“Miss Yan, the prisoner has triggered the barrier. Please leave,” a guard rushed in and escorted her out.

As soon as she steadied herself, she looked up—and met a pair of deep, unreadable eyes.

“Your Excellency—” Her heart jumped to her throat, her voice stuck.

“You’ve improved,” Wen Xiaoran said meaningfully.

Yan Yi quickly grabbed her medicine box and explained, “Your Excellency, Lu Qin is seriously injured. I thought she didn’t deserve to die, so I came to check on her.”

“How is her condition?”

“Ah?” She froze, then stammered, “I—I didn’t get to check. She suddenly slammed into the door, so I ran out!”

Wen Xiaoran ignored that and asked, “What did you find out?”

Yan Yi looked at him, lips pressed tightly, saying nothing.

He clearly knew her intentions but pretended not to, waiting for her to speak.

Seeing her pitiful expression, he suddenly lost interest in pressing further.

“Enough. Come back. Your master is here.”

Her heart tightened instantly, as if she were about to face execution.

“My master… why is he here?” she asked nervously.

“To check whether your vital essence is still in your body.”

Yan Yi sucked in a cold breath, her back covered in sweat. “It should be… there, right? Otherwise I wouldn’t still be alive.”

Wen Xiaoran extended his hand. “Come with me.”

The moment she touched his wrist, dizziness overwhelmed her. She shut her eyes and clung tightly to his waist.

When she opened them again, they were already outside the study.

“Master, you’re here!” she forced herself forward.

Bu Shu nodded and said directly, “Xiao Yi, your pendant… may I examine it?”

With sweaty palms, Yan Yi removed the pendant and handed it over.

Time seemed to freeze.

Her heart felt tightly gripped. She took a deep breath to steady herself.

After a moment, Bu Shu stood up, his expression grave.

“Your Excellency, besides vital essence, there is something else within this pendant.”

Yan Yi’s face changed instantly.

Even the old witch doctor could detect something beyond this world.

Wen Xiaoran stepped forward. “What is it?”

Bu Shu shook his head. “I do not know. I have never seen or heard of such a thing. It must be… an object from another world.”

Yan Yi secretly let out a breath of relief.

It made sense—something from the real world wouldn’t be recognized here.

Wen Xiaoran frowned and looked at her. “Explain yourself.”

Cold sweat formed on her forehead. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Your Excellency… you suspect me.”

Bu Shu coughed lightly. “Xiao Yi, this is for your own safety. His Excellency is not targeting you.”

Yan Yi sniffed. “Master, I understand.”

Then she repeated the explanation she had rehearsed countless times—

“The red crystal is my family heirloom, passed down from my grandmother to my mother. It brings protection. I don’t know anything about it being connected to vital essence. Perhaps it belonged to my grandmother—but she has long passed away…”

She wiped her tears and looked at Wen Xiaoran.

“Your Excellency, Ying Yue said that if a person’s vital essence leaves their body, they would die. Do I look like someone about to die?”