Possessing a treasure is a crime

His tone was soft, carrying a long-absent warmth. He was like a satiated beast, eyes narrowed, brooking no refusal.

Chang Wan curled her lips slightly. She couldn’t understand how their roles had reversed so completely in a single night.

In the Nine Provinces, strength reigned supreme. Chang Wan was not one to ignore the reality of her situation, and with the system mission hanging over her head, she decided to play along.

“I won’t,” she promised.

She turned and wrapped her arms around his lean waist, leaning her head against his chest. His hard muscles made her head ache, and no matter how she shifted, she couldn’t get comfortable.

“I will always stay with you.”

If he liked her skin and her shell, then she would let him like it.

She was merely a transmigrator; this wasn’t even her real body. As long as she could complete the mission… she was willing to use any means necessary.

He lifted her chin with his fingertip, forcing her to meet his eyes.

Though he was only a youth, his eyes were as black as midnight, as if he could see straight into her soul.

Chang Wan felt a twinge of guilt under his gaze, and an inexplicable fear made her toes curl slightly.

…Had he seen through her?

“Good.”

Chu Changqing watched her for a long time, ignoring the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. His voice was quiet and tender. “You promised me.”

He leaned down and pressed a careful, cautious kiss to her lips.

He had seen her uneasy prevarication and her dodging gaze.

But it didn’t matter.

Now that she had fallen into his web, he would never let her escape, not even to the ends of the earth.

“When will Ah Wan come to see me again?” he whispered.

“…The Mid-Autumn Festival,” Chang Wan murmured. “When it’s Mid-Autumn… I’ll bring you mooncakes.”

Chu Changqing narrowed his eyes, complaining, “That’s so far away.”

Chang Wan quickly added, “It’ll be here soon.”

Although she wanted to follow his wishes and visit every few days, she still felt an indescribable fear.

Chang Wan left the Spiritual Mountain under the watchful gaze of a host of unknown beasts.

When she returned to the Qingfeng Sect, she heard strange rumors. They said that demonic beasts were running amok lately, terrorizing many villages. They were said to be very powerful.

Some disciples were worried, fearing a repeat of the “Beast Soul Chaos” from thirty years ago.

Chang Wan found it strange but didn’t take it to heart. Since that troublesome Shen Lan was absent from the Sage Hall, her mood was actually quite good.

Until, after finishing her lecture, she overheard a conversation between some disciples.

“I heard the Young Master of the Demon Sect has the bloodline of an exotic beast…”

“Yes… he seems to have escaped. Do you think this chaos is related to…”

Chang Wan reprimanded the two gossiping disciples, but an inexplicable unease settled in her heart as she left the hall.

Chu Changqing’s sudden, mysterious power; the beasts that obeyed him; the sudden outbreaks of chaos…

Chang Wan’s heart grew heavy.

Could it be him?

She noticed two partridges perched on a magnolia tree by the gate, frolicking like a pair of lovebirds. Chang Wan stared at them, and her mind inadvertently drifted back to the Spiritual Mountain—to that thrush that looked identical to the one she had met in Diebao Town, with its cold, haunting eyes.

Chang Wan had a terrible suspicion. But before she could think deeper, she saw a youth crouching on the wall of the Sage Hall, right alongside the partridges.

Chang Wan was surprised. “Shen Cong?”

The youth was dressed in loose, simple cloth clothes. He smiled, revealing a row of white teeth, and leaped lightly down to her side.

“You…” Chang Wan started to ask what he was doing there.

Before she could finish, her sleeve was gently taken. He tugged at her, leading her into a run.

Ever since he had snatched the lethal green leaf for her, she had developed a good feeling toward this “foolish” youth. She didn’t resist, letting him lead her away.

Fortunately, the disciples were all inside for self-study; otherwise, being dragged away like this would have surely made her a laughingstock.

Shen Cong led her to the Back Mountain.

The Back Mountain was covered in dense forests and was very secluded. After bringing her there, Shen Cong had her stand under a tree while he entered a small cave nearby.

Chang Wan watched curiously. Before long, he emerged, with the white deer following close behind him.

The youth held something carefully in both hands. A strange, mellow fragrance wafted out. It wasn’t until he stood before her that she saw what was in his hands.

It was a cluster of burning, green cherry blossoms.

A soft, sweet scent drifted through the air, like a young girl’s purest love—light and tender.

As the fragrance spread, the orange blossoms and camellias on the mountain—though out of season—began to bloom in competition. Every flowering tree seemed to have encountered spring; in an instant, the mountain was a riot of color, with ten thousand flowers blooming at once.

Chang Wan’s eyes widened. The System couldn’t help but scream: [It’s the Green Cherry Sunken Fire!]

Green Cherry Sunken Fire?

Chang Wan was confused. The System cleared its throat and explained in a low voice: [It’s a top-grade agarwood that’s hard to find in a thousand years. You can wear it on your person… Legend says that only a Green Cherry tree that has lived for ten thousand years can produce this kind of agarwood.]

[They say if you wear this, flowers will bloom around you and spiritual beasts will guard you.]

Chang Wan looked at Shen Cong and instinctively took a step back.

Something this precious… what did he want?

“For…” His eyes were clear and innocent, carrying a boyish innocence. “For you.”

—Only the most precious agarwood in the world was worthy of the most precious Ah Wan in his heart.

Chang Wan shook her head. “I cannot accept this.”

But the youth wouldn’t listen. He simply held it out before her with both hands. Though his gaze was clear, it possessed a strange obsession.

Meeting his eyes, for some reason, Chang Wan was reminded of Chu Changqing.

…He had looked at her the same way.

Chang Wan stood in a deadlock with him. Seeing that he wouldn’t move an inch unless she accepted it, she finally said helplessly, “Even if you make me take it, I don’t have the ability to protect it. The possession of a treasure brings its own guilt…”

But before she could finish, he had already gently tucked the agarwood into her sleeve.

The youth’s voice was stubborn.

“I… guard.”

Chang Wan hurried to pull the item out of her sleeve, but when she looked up, only the white deer remained, nuzzling her affectionately because of the scent. The youth was nowhere to be found.

In her hand, the cherry blossom burned with a green flame, emitting a quiet, divine fragrance. It was a marvel to behold.

Chang Wan: “…”

The System chimed in eagerly: [The guilt of the hidden treasure indeed, Host!]

[Want to exchange it for points?]

Chang Wan: “How much?”

System: [Well, this, probably…]

Chang Wan: “Tell the truth.”

The System sounded pained: […One hundred thousand points?]

Chang Wan, unfazed: “Stop lying to me.”

The System gritted its teeth: […Two hundred thousand?]

Chang Wan: “One million.”

The System was overjoyed: [Deal!!]

Chang Wan: “Just kidding.”

System: “…”

Chang Wan looked at the burning blossom in her hand.

Green Cherry Sunken Fire—something the System felt was a bargain even at a million points… why did that youth named Shen Cong give it to her for no reason?

Was their relationship really that close?

Chang Wan couldn’t figure it out.

Finally, she thought: Whatever. We’re on the same peak. When I see him again, I’ll find a chance to give it back.

The youth who had gifted the agarwood leaned against a tree. His mind was full of the girl’s fair cheeks, her rosy lips, her soft gaze—all paired with that peerless fragrance.

Truly…

He was going mad.

His clear eyes were stained with a thick darkness. The youth tilted his head back, his hand gripping the clothes at his chest. The soft cloth was shredded into pieces by his strength, revealing his lean chest and a single, fatal scar.

Only thin slivers of sunlight filtered into the dense forest—weak rays that couldn’t illuminate the suppression and sharpness in his eyes.

After a long while, he licked his lips and let out a low laugh.

Guilt of the hidden treasure?

Ah Wan was the treasure he would grasp in his hands, even if his sins were unforgivable in this life.