Chapter 22: Supplication

Pushing aside the bedroom curtain, Chen Yi saw Yin Tingxue once again.

She lay on the bed, her gaze unfocused and vacant, her mind blank and listless. Upon catching sight of Chen Yi, a flicker of spirit returned to her.

"Master..." Her voice was devoid of emotion.

"What are you thinking about?" Chen Yi asked softly.

"Nothing at all..." Yin Tingxue replied after a long silence.

Chen Yi changed out of his outer robe, took off his boots, and sat on the edge of the bed. Seeing her looking so frail and sickly, his better judgment eventually gave way to his base desires. He leaned down and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

Yin Tingxue’s ears turned a faint, listless red, and she shot him a look of bitter resentment. Chen Yi smiled; she had taken that kiss as an insult. She turned away, facing the wall, and remained silent, unwilling to engage with him. Ever since the fall of the Demonic Cult, perhaps emboldened by her injuries or perhaps simply acting out in a useless, desperate struggle, she had become far more defiant than before.

But what did that matter? Chen Yi tolerated it, knowing she truly had no way out. By nature, she was soft; given time, even if she resisted a few more times, as long as he remained ruthless, no matter how resolute she tried to be, she would eventually have to submit, however unwillingly.

"Sleep. We’ll eat later," Chen Yi said as he stood up. There were no servants in the residence; meals were either brought in from restaurants or prepared by his own hand.

"I can't sleep." Just as Chen Yi stepped away, she spoke up suddenly.

"What is it?" He turned back.

Yin Tingxue hesitated, her eyes downcast. She propped herself up with some effort, her shoulders aching as she moved. "I'm bored. There’s been... nothing to do these past few days."

Chen Yi walked back over, sat on the edge of the bed, and teased, "Do you want me to keep you company?"

Yin Tingxue looked at him and said coldly, "No."

Chen Yi was silent for a moment. "It doesn't matter. You’ll be keeping me company for the rest of your life anyway," he said, his tone turning sinister.

Yin Tingxue shivered, her body swaying, and she nearly collapsed back onto the bed. Chen Yi caught her by the waist. She leaned into his embrace, trembling, but ultimately dared not push him away. She turned her face, pondered for a moment, and said timidly, "Buy... buy me some books to read..."

Chen Yi held her, enjoying the moment. Seeing that he remained silent, Yin Tingxue’s mind began to race. Did he want to keep her bored on purpose? Was he trying to torment her? At this thought, compounded by her physical pain, her panic and fear intensified. She swallowed her resentment and pleaded in a small, trembling voice, "Please... please buy me some books to read."

Hearing her fragile tone, Chen Yi said gently, "Very well. Since you’re being so obedient, I’ll buy you some miscellaneous novels tomorrow; those are quite entertaining. If you want to read the classics, you can, though they aren't very good for relieving boredom."

Yin Tingxue looked up and said, "Then... the miscellaneous novels."

"I don't want dinner. I'm sleepy."

Seeing her now showing a hint of compliance, Chen Yi nodded, laid her back down, tucked her in, and then stood up and left the bedroom.

...

The capital was draped in the soft, hazy light of twilight, which settled heavily outside the Donghua Gate. In the distance, the flickering lights of the Thousand Lantern Temple were visible. As the blessing ceremony approached, a continuous stream of devout men and women arrived to pray.

The Thousand Lantern Temple housed the Universal Blessing Heavenly Venerable. In the Great Yu Dynasty, Taoism had flourished for years; successive emperors favored the construction of Taoist temples, and the various gods of the Taoist pantheon were all worshipped in grand shrines. However, the current Empress Dowager, of the An clan, favored the orthodox Buddhist faith over Taoism, ordering the construction of far more pagodas and temples than Taoist shrines.

Standing in the courtyard, Chen Yi stretched, his mind calculating the upcoming blessing ceremony. As the first major "dungeon" of the capital, the rewards for the ceremony were undoubtedly bountiful. To get ahead in this world, reach the top ten of the Martial Rankings, and enjoy the finer things in life, the blessing ceremony was an opportunity not to be missed. To clear it perfectly, he had to increase his strength.

Mid-thought, Chen Yi paused and narrowed his eyes. In the distance, a figure with a graceful, swaying gait, dressed in a bright red pleated skirt and a cloak, approached.

"Min Ming," Chen Yi said.

The courtesan’s brows were lightly furrowed, her slightly desolate expression making her look all the more captivating.

"Commander..." Min Ming stopped outside the courtyard. She looked up, her gaze conflicted, and said softly, "The Wuyong Tower has agreed."

Chen Yi nodded slightly. That the Wuyong Tower agreed to cooperate was within his expectations. With their help, he could gather more intelligence in the capital, which would prove useful for the ceremony and perhaps even help him find the rare medicinal ingredients needed to cure the strange poison in his body.

Min Ming looked up and offered a charming smile as she crossed the threshold and approached Chen Yi. He looked at her with suspicion.

"Does the Commander want... for me to be your concubine?"

In an instant, Min Ming cast aside her despondency; her expression shifted, the chill of spring fading to reveal a soft, alluring charm. Chen Yi was surprised by this sudden change, but he quickly realized he had encountered this scenario before.

She spoke in a low, haunting voice: "Just... spare Min Ning, that is all."

Chen Yi realized the situation instantly and found it amusing. A sister sacrificing herself for her sibling, and the sibling sacrificing herself for the sister... such a plot made it difficult not to let one's selfish desires take root.

Chen Yi hooked his arm around her shoulders, feeling her tremble slightly. "If Miss Min can endure humiliation for the sake of the greater good, perhaps I will consider it," he teased.

Min Ming bit her lip and whispered, "I need a firm promise... If I can serve you to your satisfaction, I hope you will spare her. She worked so hard to become a captain, and she is always seeking to uphold justice. Please, I beg you... do not ruin her."

Chen Yi squinted at her, his expression meaningful. "That is something you must earn yourself."

A flash of struggle crossed Min Ming’s eyes, but she lowered her head, resigned, and nodded, stepping into the room of her own accord. Chen Yi followed, his mind turning. His "Yin-Yang Grudge Technique" had not yet reached a level of maturity that allowed him to break his vow of chastity, and she was carrying poison in her body. However, while he could not break his cultivation, there were other ways... Chen Yi thought of the courtesan’s red lips, which held the charm of the Jiangnan region.

Entering the inner room, Min Ming caught the faint sound of snoring. When she saw Yin Tingxue on the bed, she was startled.

"She... who is she?" Min Ming asked. Min Ning had not told her that this was the Saintess of the Demonic Cult.

"My concubine," Chen Yi said, glancing at the sleeping Yin Tingxue.

"Here?" Min Ming asked, unable to believe it. "Let us go to... the guest room." Even though she had come to sacrifice herself, the presence of a third party in the bedroom left her humiliated.

Chen Yi laughed teasingly, "Right here."

A flush of shame rose to her cheeks, and a bitter taste filled her heart. *So be it... as long as I can successfully poison him... it will be a way to protect Min Ning.*

Min Ming tried to steady her heart. She imagined the look of shock on Chen Yi’s face later when he realized she had been concealing poison in her body, and she couldn't help but smile. She felt the area where the poison was hidden grow increasingly hot.

Chen Yi watched her with a mocking smile. Sensing his gaze, Min Ming broke out in goosebumps. The courtesan, skilled in the art of pleasing men, quickly suppressed her panic. She turned away, and without hesitation, removed her cloak, followed by her upper garments, from left shoulder to right. Her eyes shimmered with a soft, seductive light...

"The thieves from Wuyong Tower are here!"

Suddenly, a cry rang out from outside the Donghua Gate.