When Yun Qingxue felt she had practiced enough and opened her eyes again, it was already noon the next day.
Shi Yu, who had entered at some unknown time, stood meekly by her bedside.
Seeing Yun Qingxue open her eyes, Shi Yu stepped forward and bowed. “Miss, allow this servant to assist you with washing up.”
“Alright.”
Yun Qingxue slipped on her shoes and stood up. After a night of cultivation, she didn’t feel the slightest bit tired—instead, her spirit had never felt better!
Shi Yu walked to the door and instructed someone outside, “Bring Miss Yun’s washbasin and prepare lunch for her.”
“Yes,” a young maid answered from outside.
Watching this scene, Yun Qingxue suddenly felt uneasy.
She was the exiled Flower King of the Flora Clan, yet here she was, living a carefree life as a freeloader in the Aqua Clan.
She should leave…
Jin Lin owed her nothing—what right did she have to sponge off him like this?
But…
In this mystical world, where could she go without spiritual power or direction?
The thought of the future left her utterly lost.
The maid tasked with fetching the washbasin soon returned with a copper basin.
Meanwhile, A-Dai, who had lain on the pillow all night watching Yun Qingxue to prevent another qi deviation, suddenly shot upright the moment the maid entered with the basin.
The maid placed the basin on the copper stand, but before Yun Qingxue could approach, a flash of purple light darted into the water.
“A-Dai?!” Yun Qingxue frowned, watching the little snake frolic in the basin.
Did it want to take a bath?
Just as she thought this, A-Dai suddenly reared up and opened its mouth.
The water in the basin seemed to come alive, transforming into a stream that flowed upward into A-Dai’s mouth.
In the blink of an eye, the basin was completely empty—not a single drop remained.
Yun Qingxue and everyone else in the room were stunned!!!
A moment later, Shi Yu, the first to react, knelt and bowed deeply, her knees hitting the floor with an audible thud. “Miss Yun, please forgive us!”
Following her lead, the other two maids also dropped to their knees, pleading, “Miss Yun, spare us!”
Yun Qingxue was baffled, but Shi Yu wouldn’t kneel and beg for mercy without reason.
Since she couldn’t figure it out, she remained silent, frowning at the three kneeling figures.
“Miss, we are innocent! We would never dare harm you!”
Seeing Yun Qingxue’s silence, the three kowtowed desperately, their voices trembling with fear.
Yun Qingxue took a step back. Though she still didn’t understand what had happened, the sheer terror on their faces told her something extremely serious had just occurred.
But what?
Her gaze shifted to A-Dai. Could it be related to the snake drinking all the water?
“Why did A-Dai drink all my wash water?” she asked Shi Yu, who was still kneeling.
Shi Yu’s face was deathly pale. “Miss, this servant didn’t know… didn’t know the water was poisoned! Please, spare our lives!!!”
“Please spare us!”
“Please have mercy, Miss!”
The other two maids also kowtowed and begged.
Yun Qingxue looked at A-Dai. “The water was poisoned?”
“Sss~” A-Dai flicked its tongue, then nodded to ensure she understood.
“Was it a deadly poison?” she asked again.
A-Dai nodded once more.
“Miss, it truly wasn’t us!” Shi Yu and the others continued kowtowing frantically.
Yun Qingxue’s expression darkened. In this unfamiliar Aqua Clan, someone had tried to poison her—just three days after her arrival!
Thinking back, she hadn’t offended anyone during her short stay.
“Get up.”
Suppressing her shock, she forced a calm tone.
“Miss, you must believe us!”
Shi Yu didn’t dare rise, only lifting her head to stare at Yun Qingxue with a pale face.
“Stand. This matter ends here.”
The three on the floor stared at her in disbelief. Finally, Shi Yu gathered the courage to ask, “Miss Yun… does this mean you’ll spare us?”
“Yes,” Yun Qingxue replied coolly.
“Thank you, Miss! Thank you for your mercy!”
Relieved, the three kowtowed again in gratitude.
“Miss, rest assured—Shi Yu will report this to His Majesty immediately. The culprit will be caught, and justice will be served!”
“Mm.” Yun Qingxue nodded, her earlier joy from mastering cultivation now replaced by gloom.
She couldn’t rejoice—not when someone in this foreign land had already tried to kill her after just three days.
Shi Yu and the other two maids hastily retreated.
A-Dai, sensing the gravity of the situation, obediently coiled back around Yun Qingxue’s wrist.
She stroked its head softly. “Thank you, A-Dai. If not for you, I might have been poisoned.”
“Sss~”
A-Dai nuzzled her finger affectionately.
Yun Qingxue smiled bitterly. “Am I useless? In this world, I’m nothing but a worthless Flower King in name… But I refuse to accept it. I want to live, too.”
“Sss~” A-Dai gazed at her intently with its tiny eyes.
**BANG!**
The door was flung open violently, and a golden figure streaked inside like lightning, stopping right before Yun Qingxue.
Before she could react, strong hands gripped her shoulders, and the newcomer began inspecting her frantically.
“Qingxue, are you alright? Were you poisoned? Do you feel unwell?”
**Slap!**
Yun Qingxue swatted his hands away. “I’m fine. A-Dai drank all the poisoned water.”
“Good.” Jin Lin exhaled deeply. From the moment they’d met, this was the first time Yun Qingxue had seen him look so murderous.
“Don’t worry. I’ll find out who did this and make them pay.”
“Thank you.” Though her spirits were low, she managed a faint smile at Jin Lin’s earnest gaze.
“Shui Liu! Get in here now!” Jin Lin roared toward the door, his anger flaring at the sight of Yun Qingxue’s pallid face.
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