Volume 3, Chapter 316 – Is This What You Mean?

Taking in her dazed and endearing expression, Chi Xiyan quietly reined in whatever feeling flickered behind her eyes, then let a gentle smile settle onto her face.

“You’re awake. How do you feel? Is anything bothering you?”

“Sister?” Lu Zhuxin looked at Chi Xiyan and pressed her lips together.

The phantom sensation of being stolen a kiss still seemed to linger at the edges of her mouth.

“…Was I not drinking in the front hall? How did I end up here?”

“And why are you back too, Sister? Isn’t tonight your engagement banquet?”

Chi Xiyan met Lu Zhuxin’s gaze. “Do you not remember what happened before?”

Lu Zhuxin’s brow furrowed slightly as she slowly tried to piece it together. “Before? I remember someone splashed wine all over me, soaking my clothes, and then a girl took me downstairs to change.”

“I felt thirsty, so she brought me a cup of water…”

“And then… and then…”

Lu Zhuxin raised a hand to cover her forehead, her face creasing with pain.

Chi Xiyan frowned and stepped forward in an instant, pressing her hand to Lu Zhuxin’s forehead.

A cool, steady stream of energy flowed into Lu Zhuxin’s body, easing an ache that had no real cause.

“Better now?”

“Much better, Sister.”

“How much do you remember from before you lost consciousness?”

Lu Zhuxin lowered her head slightly. “I think I had a dream. A broken, scattered dream…”

“I dreamed that someone barged into my room… tearing at my clothes…”

“I also saw Sister’s face…”

Lu Zhuxin’s words came to an abrupt halt.

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Chi Xiyan studied her closely. “Did you dream about me?”

“I dreamed… I dreamed…” Lu Zhuxin brought both hands up to cover her face. “I dreamed that Sister did something improper to me…”

The moment those words landed, Chi Xiyan’s expression stiffened. A flicker of unease crossed her eyes.

Lu Zhuxin kept her small hands over her face, her gaze slipping through the gaps between her fingers to quietly watch Chi Xiyan.

“Sister, I’m sorry! I know you’re not that kind of person. I shouldn’t have said that. Please don’t be angry with me!”

“I’m not angry.” Chi Xiyan dropped her gaze slightly. “That was only a dream. It shouldn’t be taken as real.”

“Earlier, you were poisoned with a seduction toxin. As the poison flared, it caused you to hallucinate.”

“Everything you saw in that dream cannot be taken as real.”

“In order to purge the toxin from your body, I did resort to some… particular methods…”

“Yes, it was the Medical Immortal Valley’s secret technique.”

“I used the Silver Needle Secret Technique from the Medical Immortal Valley, along with a topical medicine, to draw the poison out of you.”

Chi Xiyan explained all of this to Lu Zhuxin with a perfectly straight face.

Lu Zhuxin looked at her, eyes swimming with something strange.

If I hadn’t been conscious the entire time, I might actually have believed your nonsense.

Where on earth did you learn to lie so shamelessly with such a serious face?

If the seniors of the Medical Immortal Valley ever found out you were using their life-saving needle technique as a tool for indulgence, their coffin lids would be flying off.

And what exactly was this “topical medicine”? Your fingers?!

You sleep with someone and then won’t take responsibility. You’re even worse than me!

Lu Zhuxin fumed inwardly.

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But on the surface, she arranged her features into an expression of wide-eyed surprise.

“Sister… I was poisoned?”

“Yes.”

At that, Chi Xiyan’s expression darkened in an instant.

“Someone made a move against you. They wanted someone to ruin your purity.”

“Fortunately, I arrived in time… and no further harm was done.”

Lu Zhuxin blinked. “When Sister says that, you mean…”

“Exactly what it sounds like.” Chi Xiyan’s face remained grave. “The one who nearly ruined your purity was Song Shixuan…”

Lu Zhuxin’s mouth fell open. She stammered, “Sister means Young Master Song? Isn’t he your fiance?”

Chi Xiyan’s expression didn’t change. “It was him.”

“But there are still many things about this that don’t add up…”

“That is actually what I wanted to speak with you about…”

Lu Zhuxin felt a creeping sense of unease.

What exactly is this girl plotting?

“Go ahead, Sister.”

Chi Xiyan paused, then spoke with a grave expression. “I have examined your body.”

“While he did act with some impropriety toward you…”

“He did not carry it through to the end…”

“So…” Chi Xiyan lowered her eyes. “You are still pure.”

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Lu Zhuxin heard this, and something cold and sharp passed through her gaze. “So, what is Sister saying?”

Chi Xiyan still had her head low. She did not lift her eyes to meet Lu Zhuxin’s.

“Perhaps… this was all just a misunderstanding…”

“Song Shixuan is the pride of the Song Clan. He is the Young Sect Master of Lingxiao Sword Sect. He has no reason to do something like this…”

“And besides… Lingxiao Sword Sect stands at the head of the Seven Sword Sects, with Immortal Venerable Qingzhi herself as its backing…”

Lu Zhuxin bit down lightly on her lower lip. “So Sister’s saying that I should forgive him?”

“Is that it?”

Chi Xiyan’s expression wavered.

For reasons she could not name, she could not bring herself to meet Lu Zhuxin’s eyes just then.

Though she continued to avoid her gaze, she still gave a firm nod.

“Yes.”

“After all, this was only a misunderstanding.”

“Over a mere misunderstanding, to make an enemy of Lingxiao Sword Sect…”

“Sister!” Lu Zhuxin had no desire to hear the rest. She cut her off directly.

“Can you lift your head and look at me when you speak.”

Chi Xiyan froze. She hesitated, then slowly raised her head, her gaze complicated.

“I’m not some flood or wild beast,” Lu Zhuxin said. “Why can’t Sister even bring herself to look at me while speaking?”

“I…” Chi Xiyan opened her mouth, then quickly said, “I was not avoiding your eyes.”

“I understand everything Sister is trying to say.” Lu Zhuxin looked directly into Chi Xiyan’s eyes.

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“I don’t care about the rest of it. There is only one thing I want to know right now…”

“What Sister said just now. Was it Sister’s own will, or the Chi family’s?”

“Please look me in the eyes when you answer.”

Chi Xiyan looked at Lu Zhuxin’s face. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

“Sister.” Lu Zhuxin pressed on. “Is looking me in the eyes really so difficult for you?”

Chi Xiyan bit down on the tip of her tongue and said coolly, “This is my will. And it is the Chi family’s will.”

“…” Lu Zhuxin fell silent. The warmth slowly drained from her eyes.

Right. This girl is nothing like Song Shiyuan.

She is like a stone dropped into a cesspit. Stubborn and immovable.

Winning her over is no small task.

After all, in the original story, this girl kept love and desire in perfectly separate compartments.

A woman who acts on instinct without letting her heart follow. Did someone really think sleeping with her once would make her devoted forever?

That’s a bit naive.

What she said just now speaks for the Chi family.

Keep the peace. Give ground willingly.

The Chi family cannot stand against Lingxiao Sword Sect.

Ha. And is that truly the conclusion you reached after careful thought?

But do you really think it will be that simple?

You’re dreaming, Chi Xiyan. I won’t let you have your way so easily.