A three-hundred-year lingzhi could not be obtained immediately. Ye Chu still needed to suppress the evil qi in Bai Bao temporarily, or the man truly would not survive the night.
He had Bai Xuan hold Yao Yao and stand further back. His hand reached towards Bai Bao’s body again. His technique was skilled. As his fingers moved, the black spots on Bai Bao began to fade slowly. Strands of evil qi shot from the body, surging towards Ye Chu.
So much evil qi rushing at him made Bai Xuan’s heart leap in fear. Yet, to her astonishment, Ye Chu’s arms danced, tracing perfect circles. The evil qi became trapped around him. The grey mist continually seeped into his body. Because of it, his forehead gradually darkened.
Unlike Bai Xuan’s terror, Pang Shao’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. This was the first time he had seen Ye Chu confront evil qi so clearly. Ye Chu could allow evil qi to enter his body without harm. What method did he rely on? Or had Ye Chu’s strength reached a level where he no longer feared such evil qi?
Pang Shao quickly dismissed the latter thought. No matter how strong Ye Chu was, he could not have cultivated in just one year to a realm capable of resisting the evil qi from the Great General’s Tomb.
“Could Ye Chu be one of those perverted professions?” Pang Shao’s heart thudded. He could not help thinking of the tiny group of heaven-defying figures in the world. They did possess special methods against evil qi, but he had never heard of anyone absorbing it directly into the body without refining it first.
Moreover, Pang Shao did not believe Ye Chu could be one of them. Everyone knew how difficult it was to enter that circle. Though Ye Chu was strong, he was not strong enough for that.
It took considerable time before Ye Chu withdrew his moving fingers. Sweat now beaded on his forehead. His face had grown somewhat pale. Yet once the evil qi stopped entering his body, the darkness on his forehead vanished. This left Pang Shao clicking his tongue in wonder. The fellow truly was different. He could transfer evil qi into himself without damage.
“It is done. For the next few days, your father will be fine.” Ye Chu wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled at Bai Xuan. He reached down to pick up Yao Yao, who had run to his side for affection. He gently scraped her small nose with a finger, making her giggle.
The little girl had red lips and white teeth. She was sunny and full of life. Most importantly, she recognised his handsomeness and charm. Ye Chu liked her very much.
Seeing many black spots on her father gone, his breathing steady, and some colour returned to his face, Bai Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. Only now did she truly believe Ye Chu could save him.
Though the facts were right before her, Bai Xuan still found it hard to accept. Evil qi that even court alchemists could not cure, Ye Chu could handle. Was this still the scum and trash everyone in Yao City cursed? Bai Xuan felt she could no longer see through him.
Yet one thing was clear. Ye Chu was definitely not the waste everyone called him.
“Why stare at me?” Ye Chu smiled. He patted Yao Yao’s hand, which was tugging his hair, then suddenly realised. “Oh, I remember. You want to fulfil the promise, right?”
At this thought, Ye Chu could not help appraising Bai Xuan. Beneath her clothes, her figure was full and exquisite, like a ripe peach exuding faint allure. Her long black hair cascaded over fragrant shoulders. The enchanting curves, even concealed by clothing, remained intensely tempting. It was the kind of body that drove men mad.
Ye Chu’s words instantly extinguished the joy Bai Xuan had felt at her father’s improvement. She bit her lip and stood silent.
“I know I am very charming. Many women are happy to throw themselves at me. Yet I am in no hurry. Why are you so eager to fulfil the promise?” Ye Chu laughed.
Pang Shao could listen no more. He thought Ye Chu utterly shameless, taking advantage yet acting innocent. Even Pang Shao, who rarely pitied women, felt sorry for Bai Xuan. Meeting such a vile scum was truly bad luck.
Bai Xuan stood pale, face ashen. Stared at by Ye Chu, she felt like prey under a wolf’s gaze. It cut like a knife. Uncomfortable, her body shrank back, trying to escape his eyes.
Seeing her reaction, Ye Chu smiled inwardly. His reputation as scum was truly frightening. A casual word could scare someone into losing colour.
“Fine. I prefer mutual willingness in such matters. The condition can be changed. I have no place to stay in Yao City. Your residence is quite large. If you waive rent and include meals, perhaps I can consider dropping the original demand.” Ye Chu revealed his true aim. Though Bai Xuan was tempting, and Ye Chu was no saint, he had never forced a woman to sleep with him.
In his previous life, mingling in nightclubs, he always valued mutual consent. He had never stooped to drugging women like some scum. He despised such behaviour. For a man to be so vile as to use those means, how utterly incompetent must he be?
Ye Chu had only scared Bai Xuan to secure a place to stay. He could not keep living at the flower boat inn. Penniless, if not for robbing Pang Shao, he would struggle even to eat. Now with a chance to solve food and lodging, especially with such a beautiful hostess, how could he let it pass? It was a place one could not find even with a lantern.
“Ah!” Bai Xuan struggled to react. The notorious Ye Chu, known for bullying men and dominating women, would truly let her go? She knew how alluring she was to men.
“If you do not agree, forget it. We will stick to the original terms.” Ye Chu smiled.
“I agree!” Bai Xuan said quickly, without hesitation.
Her swift agreement was within Ye Chu’s expectations. Given the choice, she would naturally pick the latter. This was why he had scared her first. If he had proposed this from the start, she might still have been unwilling.
Setting Yao Yao down, Ye Chu patted her head and sent her to Bai Xuan. He strolled out of the residence lazily with Pang Shao.
“Truly willing to let such a beauty go?” Once outside, Pang Shao could not help asking Ye Chu. He sighed inwardly. Ye Chu was actually letting such a woman slip away.
“I have long said I pursue a higher realm. Unlike you, so incompetent you can only rely on threats and bribes to get women.” Ye Chu looked at Pang Shao with contempt.
Pang Shao gave an awkward laugh and did not argue. “When you searched him just now, did you find anything?”
“Nothing on him. Either he obtained nothing from the General’s Tomb, or he hid it before falling unconscious.” Ye Chu shook his head.
“Could he have given it to Bai Xuan?” Pang Shao asked.
Ye Chu rolled his eyes. “How would I know?”
“Fine. I will leave it alone. You wake him and ask yourself.” Pang Shao was happy to let Ye Chu handle it. “But what method do you use against evil qi? You truly are unafraid of it entering your body.”
“Condense evil qi into a pill.” Ye Chu smiled.
“What nonsense is that?” Pang Shao frowned, not understanding. Unable to comprehend, he stopped asking and shrugged. “You have found food and lodging. This young master will not bother with you. Damn it, these days you have used all my money. Remember to pay me back.”
Pang Shao grumbled a few times, then turned and left, heading off to another flower tower to find women.
After Pang Shao departed, Ye Chu smiled. He flipped his palm. In his hand appeared a grey, round pill. If Pang Shao saw it, he would be utterly shocked. The aura emanating from the pill was extremely similar to the evil qi from the General’s Tomb, only lacking the violent and life-corroding nature.
