The moment they were out of everyone’s sight, Yun Xi changed completely. She spoke in a soft, coquettish voice, “Changsheng, wait for me～”
Ye Qiu had not actually been moving fast. Hearing her, he slowed down even more.
Yun Xi stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around his.
By now Ye Qiu had withdrawn his War God armour, and instantly he felt an astonishing pressure against his right arm.
“Natural ones really are springy.”
A flutter passed through Ye Qiu’s heart.
“Changsheng, where are you planning to refine the pill?” Yun Xi asked sweetly.
Ye Qiu replied, “I’ll just find a secluded spot nearby. I can’t go too far. First, so no one disturbs me while I’m refining, and second, if the old fellow and the others run into trouble again, I can still get back in time to help.”
Wuhua and Wei Wuji were still alive, and Ye Qiu felt uneasy.
Especially Wuhua. The man looked harmless, yet he was ruthless, vicious, and extremely cunning.
Ye Qiu hovered in the air, scanning the surroundings for a suitable place.
Suddenly a sweet fragrance filled his nose. Yun Xi pressed herself close and whispered in his ear, “Changsheng, I never imagined you’d actually kill both An Ruoxi and Tuoba Xiong. You’re amazing. I adore you so much.”
As she spoke, she traced little circles on his chest with her slender fingers.
Ye Qiu could tell perfectly well that she was seducing him. Back in the mundane world, however, Lin Jingzhi had teased him with every trick in the book. Although he had never managed to hold out in the end, that did not mean his willpower was weak. It only proved Lin Jingzhi’s techniques were far too advanced.
Compared to Lin Jingzhi, Yun Xi, who was new to such things, was barely an amateur.
Ye Qiu pretended not to notice and kept surveying the area.
“Changsheng, why won’t you look at me? Don’t you love me any more?” Yun Xi said plaintively.
Ye Qiu turned his head. Her beautiful eyes were moist and shimmering like pools of autumn water, rippling gently.
Her flawless cheeks were flushed crimson. She gazed at him with deep affection, then quickly lowered her head, looking just like a tender lotus too delicate for the cool breeze.
Utterly shy and enchanting.
In that instant a spark flared in Ye Qiu’s heart. He was just about to suppress it when Yun Xi’s soft voice sounded again.
“Changsheng, I want to stay nestled against you like this until the end of time.”
With that, she flicked out her delicate tongue and lightly licked his earlobe.
to prove it.
At once the spark inside Ye Qiu roared into a blaze.
“This little demon. Normally she looks so dignified, like a pure jade maiden. Who’d have thought she was so…”
Ye Qiu’s mind began to wander. If Wu Qianfan were not at death’s door and in urgent need of the pill, he would definitely have taken her right there and then.
“Xi’er, Wu Qianfan is gravely injured. We can’t waste time. I need to find a place and start refining at once.”
Hearing this, a trace of disappointment crossed Yun Xi’s stunning face. She had finally managed to be alone with him and still wanted to whisper sweet nothings.
Ye Qiu noticed her dejection and gave a small smile.
*Muah!*
He planted a kiss on her cheek, wrapped an arm around her water-snake waist, and said softly, “I want to spend more time with you too, but you know Wu Qianfan’s condition. I have to refine the Blazing Fire Pill as quickly as possible.”
“I promise you, once I’ve saved him, I will definitely…”
Here he lowered his voice, “…feed you until you’re full!”
“Changsheng, you’re so naughty～”
Yun Xi pretended to be angry and glared at him. “I just wanted to talk with you. Who knew you’d have designs on me? If you keep this up, I’ll ignore you.”
“You’d really ignore me?” Ye Qiu grinned wickedly. “If you ignore me, how am I supposed to feed you full?”
“Have you ever fed me full before?” As soon as the words left her mouth, even Ye Qiu was lost for a reply.
At the same time, a touch of irritation rose in him. Back in the mundane world he had been undefeated in a hundred battles. Yet with Yun Xi, not only had he failed to make her beg for mercy, he hadn’t even managed to satisfy himself. As a man, being unable to leave his woman fully satisfied was, frankly, a failure.
And rather embarrassing!
Seeing Ye Qiu silent for a long while, Yun Xi added, “Changsheng, you’re already amazing, you…”
*Smack!*
Ye Qiu suddenly struck, landing a crisp slap just below her waist, as though swatting a taut balloon.
“Ah~” Yun Xi let out a little cry. She looked at him with watery eyes and said, “Changsheng, you’re bullying me again.”
“Who made you look down on me?” Ye Qiu replied. “Xi’er, once I’ve cured Wu Qianfan, I will definitely feed you until you’re full. I keep my word.”
Yun Xi smiled seductively, her eyes like silk. “Good. I’ll be waiting～”
Ye Qiu wasted no more time. Holding Yun Xi close, he crossed the sky in a single step and arrived at a canyon.
The canyon was surrounded by mountains on three sides, extremely well hidden.
Ye Qiu found a clearing and said to Yun Xi, “I’m starting now. Wait for me here.”
“All right. Good luck! I believe you’ll succeed,” Yun Xi encouraged him.
Ye Qiu smiled, then sat cross-legged. He summoned the Cosmos Cauldron, ignited the fire with flame talismans, and began feeding the spirit herbs for the Blazing Fire Pill one by one into the cauldron.
Soon the herbs melted into liquid.
Ye Qiu circulated his true qi and, following the steps recorded in the Book of Pills, carefully controlled the flames.
He was a little nervous, afraid of failure. After all, the Blazing Fire Pill was tied to Wu Qianfan’s life.
Yet for Ye Qiu, excitement outweighed nerves.
This was a Mysterious-tier spirit pill. If he succeeded, it would mean he had truly become a genuine alchemist.
Time slipped quietly by.
In the blink of an eye, three hours had passed.
Ye Qiu concentrated fully on refining, not daring to relax or be distracted for even a moment.
Beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead, but he had no time to wipe them away. According to the process, the Blazing Fire Pill was about to take shape; this was the most critical moment.
Another half hour passed.
“Form!”
With a low shout, Ye Qiu sent two streams of energy from his hands into the cauldron.
Whoosh!
Suddenly the Cosmos Cauldron shuddered. Blazing flames surged inside, sending waves of heat rolling out.
Ye Qiu leapt to his feet and appeared directly above the cauldron. Looking down, he saw a fist-sized pill embryo being tempered by the fierce fire.
This was still only the rough form. To become a true spirit pill, it needed further forging by the flames.
Ye Qiu pulled out more than a dozen flame talismans in one breath and threw them all into the cauldron.
Boom!
The fire instantly roared higher.
He continued channelling true qi to control the flames and refine the pill. Gradually, the pill began to shrink.
Two hours later.
The flames died away. The Cosmos Cauldron settled onto the ground and grew still.
Ye Qiu looked down. A pitch-black pill the size of a bottle cap lay quietly inside, emitting not the slightest medicinal fragrance.
“Failed?”
Ye Qiu’s heart sank.
