Yingnan Yu stepped through the wisteria gate, a faint, lingering fragrance teasing her nostrils. It was as if she had entered a different world; the garden was warm and humid, and even the sky seemed brighter, as if bathed in the light of a perpetual spring.
By the water, several young women with crossed-collar robes and loose hairpins were chasing and playing, their actions often flirting or overtly provocative. A pair of identical-looking girls even embraced, kissing passionately as if no one else existed.
Yingnan Yu slowly walked onto a bridge without railings. Lotus leaves almost covered her feet, and the entire pond was filled with rare thousand-petaled lotuses, mainly in yellow and pink, in full bloom. The petals unfurled in layers, resembling the skirts of noble ladies.
The secret to this unnatural abundance lay beneath the water: a network of fine copper pipes between the rhizomes and stems, carrying hot water and releasing steam through tiny holes, maintaining the temperature of the large pond at the level of perpetual spring. The garden’s four corners were adorned with black crystal lamps, casting light and heat throughout the entire area.
This was the epitome of extravagance by the aristocracy.
At the end of the long bridge stood the largest waterside pavilion, with a long bench where a person was reclining, dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Army, with the rank of colonel!
Hearing footsteps, the colonel lazily turned around, revealing a delicate face, and said, “Yingnan Yu, when I heard you were coming to see me, I couldn’t believe my ears! I never thought you’d come to me on your own.”
Yingnan Yu coldly replied, “Qiqi Yin, if it were possible, I wouldn’t want to see you again!”
“Just call me Qiqi, I like that name,” the female colonel said as she rose from the bench.
She was tall, slightly taller than Yingnan Yu, with short hair, the tips dyed a striking gold. Her eyebrows were thick and straight, and her lips were full. Beneath her air of arrogance, there was an undeniable allure and beauty.
Qiqi was young, and if not for her uniform, she would have been the epitome of a noble lady. But in her military attire, her exceptional figure and long legs were accentuated, adding a dangerous charm to her appearance.
Qiqi walked up to Yingnan Yu, gazing into her eyes, and smiled, “I believe you! So, if you don’t like what you see, you can leave anytime. I’ll just pretend you were never here. As for the task, I’m not in a rush. But if you want to talk seriously, you’ll need to tolerate some of my habits… just a little.”
As she spoke, Qiqi reached out and slowly lifted Yingnan Yu’s chin, raising it higher and higher. She kept her eyes locked on Yingnan Yu’s, licking her lips lightly.
Yingnan Yu didn’t move but said coldly, “You’re reaching the limit of my tolerance.”
Qiqi let go and moved to Yingnan Yu’s side, blowing softly into her ear, her voice filled with amusement, “Almost there, but not quite, right? I’m curious, where is your true limit? I’ve heard that everyone’s real bottom line is much lower than they think!”
With a loud slap, Qiqi smacked Yingnan Yu’s bottom!
“You’re asking for it!!” Yingnan Yu’s eyes blazed with anger as she grabbed Qiqi’s neck!
Qiqi made no move to resist, even refraining from using her force. She allowed Yingnan Yu’s fingers to tighten, her face turning purple.
Yingnan Yu was shocked. Without the use of force, Qiqi was no different from a regular person. If she tightened her grip, she could break Qiqi’s fragile neck. In the end, being slapped on the bottom wasn’t a big deal; it was their long-standing enmity that had ignited her temper.
Yingnan Yu released her grip in frustration.
Qiqi pulled out her military knife, using the blade as a mirror to check her neck, where distinct finger marks now marred her pale skin.
“You really do hate me,” Qiqi said, lightly tapping Yingnan Yu’s cheek with the knife.
Then, Qiqi’s hand slid down to her chest, deftly unbuttoning the first button.
Yingnan Yu grabbed her wrist!
Qiqi smiled, “Think about the task, think about your family, and think about… that matter?”
Yingnan Yu’s face paled, and her body trembled imperceptibly, “Don’t force me.”
Qiqi’s hand moved determinedly, unbuttoning the second button, and continued, “I’m not forcing you. I’m just giving you a choice, a way to resolve that matter. If you don’t want it, I can’t do anything, right? But that matter is serious, depending on who handles it. Coincidentally, I know that the official in charge, Mr. Sun, has a deep grudge against your family. So, no matter how long it drags on, it won’t be dismissed.”
Yingnan Yu’s grip on Qiqi’s wrist weakened as she moved to the third button, firmly unfastening it. This revealed a deep cleavage. Qiqi extended her long fingers, slowly sliding them down the center.
Yingnan Yu suddenly said, “You know the reason for that matter.”
“Attacking a superior officer is always a grave crime, regardless of the reason. As long as the key evidence remains, your brother will never dare return to the upper continent, and your family will always be in the shadows.”
“He said he likes it here. Only here can he truly do what he wants, without going against his nature.”
Qiqi laughed, yanking off Yingnan Yu’s top, “You believe such nonsense?”
Yingnan Yu covered her chest, refusing to let Qiqi go further. Qiqi didn’t push, returning to the bench. The girls playing in another pavilion immediately rushed over with tea and fruits, their eyes filled with envy and hatred, especially as they looked at Yingnan Yu’s chest.
Qiqi held up a finger, “One, complete the task for me. Otherwise, your brother will have no place in Dark Blood City, or any major city. I’ll kick Chu Xiong to the cannon fodder camp, and don’t think I don’t know what he did using my name!”
Yingnan Yu angrily retorted, “If you have the guts, come after me! Bullying others is no skill!”
Qiqi’s gaze turned cold, glancing at her, “Yingnan Yu, you think too highly of yourself! You alone are not worth so much.”
She held up two fingers, “Second, I’ll resolve your brother’s issue, and he can rejoin the main army. Your small family will no longer be suppressed, and the three-year red line can be lifted. In exchange, you’ll be mine. You can do what you want, but whenever I want you, you must come immediately!”
Qiqi tossed a fruit into her mouth, “Those are the terms. Accept them, or leave. You’re not worth the trouble of forcing.”
Yingnan Yu hesitated, then whispered, “I… agree. But the exchange will be after everything is done. Let’s discuss the task first.”
Qiqi’s face brightened, tossing aside a pear half, standing up with a smile, “That’s right! You minor clans always think you’re different from commoners. Now you see, in the eyes of true aristocrats, you are all just as easy to manipulate. It’s just a bit more effort. But that makes it interesting, doesn’t it? Hahaha!”
Yingnan Yu remained silent, well aware of Qiqi’s arrogance.
Though the Yin family couldn’t match the four great clans, they were still among the top ranks of the aristocracy. Qiqi, favored by the elders, was always unrestrained, enjoying the power to bully others. As she put it, if she was of higher birth, why shouldn’t she bully others?
“Since you came to me about the task, you must have a confident candidate. You know my tastes, so where is this person? Let me see them,” Qiqi said with interest.
Yingnan Yu took a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it over.
It was a simple sketch, capturing the essence of Qi Ye with just a few strokes.
Qiqi whistled, examining it closely, “Not bad! Just the kind of person I want! Compared to him, my men are trash! How is his combat strength and potential?”
“He’s currently at Level 3 and has a natural talent for fighting.”
“Level 3, a bit low. But I have money, and I can boost him to Level 5 with drugs. Level 5 is acceptable, not too embarrassing. Alright, bring him to me. If there are no issues, he’s the one!”
“Wait,” Yingnan Yu took back Qi Ye’s portrait, “But I have conditions. If you can’t meet them, he won’t accept the task.”
“Name your price—money, resources, or what?” Qiqi said nonchalantly.
“First, you can’t force him to do anything, especially that. Second, if he ever faces danger, you must protect him once, no matter the reason, even if it means confronting the four great clans.”
Qiqi pondered, “You didn’t ask for anything for yourself. Do you like this guy?”
“That’s none of your business!”
Qiqi smiled knowingly, “I can agree to both, but the second one after the task. For the first, I won’t force, but I can’t guarantee I won’t seduce.”
Qiqi leaned close, licking Yingnan Yu’s earlobe, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely get him into bed.”
Yingnan Yu shivered, stepping back.
Qiqi burst into laughter, “How about it? Your beloved man will soon be in my bed. Do you want to kill me?”
Yingnan Yu said firmly, “You should know I wanted to kill you years ago.”
“Then do it! Why not?” Qiqi taunted, “Are you afraid that killing me will doom your little family? Hmph, you minor clan members, thinking you’re high and mighty, yet timid in action, not even as good as the poorest commoners! In the end, you and that Gu Liyu are just bullies who fear stronger opponents. What use are people like you?”
Yingnan Yu left the Yin family’s courtyard, unsure how she got to the floating ship. Her mind was blank yet strangely calm. After deciding to let go, the pain wasn’t as excruciating. She had simply lost interest in everything. Perhaps, Qiqi’s place might be ideal for Qi Ye, at least he could earn more money.
In Yingnan Yu’s small room in Dark Blood City, Qi Ye had absorbed the last dose of the medicine and was channeling the soldier’s technique, aiming to break the fourth node. His blood energy had recovered to seven strands, forming a thin membrane protecting his organs from the backlash of the force.
After thirty cycles, Qi Ye felt he still had energy. He continued to summon force waves, striking the barrier at his left hand.
By the thirty-third cycle, the barrier was trembling. Qi Ye relentlessly summoned new waves!
When the thirty-fourth wave reached its peak, the barrier shattered with a thunderous boom!
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