Forcing the Aloof Master to Madness - Chapter 10 

Wang Xi’s aura felt colder than ever before. Shen Lezhi didn’t have to distinguish it carefully; she could clearly sense that dangerous, chilling emotion.

Although Shen Lezhi couldn’t see the other party’s expression, she felt as if she could perceive the icy glare overflowing from those deep eyes.

It was sharp and blood-drawing, terrifyingly cold.

However, after hearing those words, it was understandable that Wang Xi wanted to kill.

It was only because Shen Lezhi happened to be there, and the five fingers choking her neck still left her a small margin to breathe, all because of their status as lovers.

Shen Lezhi opened her lips to try and explain, but the next second, the fingers clamped around her throat tightened instantly. Shen Lezhi felt her windpipe violently blocked, unable to produce a single sound.

Wang Xi simultaneously pressed closer, very close, cutting through the dense darkness, allowing Shen Lezhi to see her face.

They were almost nose-to-nose. Wang Xi lowered her eyes, her gaze forcefully invading Shen Lezhi’s own eyes. The deep pupils held a chilling severity that Shen Lezhi couldn’t quite discern.

Being watched like this made Shen Lezhi’s scalp tingle. She opened her eyes wide, desperately wanting to tell Wang Xi that she had stumbled into this place unintentionally and had nothing to do with those people talking.

After all, those few sentences were clearly discussing Wang Xi, discussing her life and death.

The speakers even referred to Wang Xi using the phrase “that heart,” their tone suggesting they didn’t even regard her as a person.

And Shen Lezhi, appearing here coincidentally, seemed impossible to clear of suspicion.

But Shen Lezhi could not speak. Even though she desperately tried to produce a sound, gasping anxiously, no noise would come out of her throat.

Was Wang Xi restricting her?

Shen Lezhi realized this with a start.

At that moment, Wang Xi released the hand gripping her neck, shifting it to press down on her shoulder. Her other hand tightly wrapped around her waist.

She restrained her slightly, then began to move.

Shen Lezhi didn’t recognize the way and could only be passively led by Wang Xi. After about half an incense stick’s time, a clear light appeared before her eyes.

Walking another hundred steps, Shen Lezhi and Wang Xi completely emerged from the darkness and found themselves in a bamboo forest.

By then, the sky was already evening, with purplish-orange clouds hanging in the horizon, a sight like a fantasy world.

Such a scene was rare in the modern era, breathtakingly beautiful, but Shen Lezhi was in no mood to appreciate it.

Because Wang Xi had stopped, but hadn’t released her. The hand restraining her was clasped around her lower back. Shen Lezhi didn’t feel much force, yet her entire body was immobilized.

Her distance from Wang Xi was still very close. Shen Lezhi felt she had grown somewhat accustomed to it, strangely not feeling intense discomfort.

However, this might also be because the gaze Wang Xi cast upon her was too cold, and the streak of red thread appearing at the corner of her eye was too sinister and seductive, drawing away all of Shen Lezhi’s attention.

“Why were you there?” Wang Xi tightened her arm again, her body pressing entirely against Shen Lezhi’s.

Her exhaled breath was almost mingling with Shen Lezhi’s. The coldness washing over her made Shen Lezhi fearful, trembling, and she instinctively closed her eyes in avoidance.

This posture was extremely intimate, yet the emotion emanating from Wang Xi was perilously dangerous.

Isolated and cold.

And lethal.

The red blood vessels at the corner of her eye felt like they were hovering right in front of Shen Lezhi, even with her eyes closed.

“Lezhi, why were you there?” The cold voice had now reached Shen Lezhi’s ear.

Wang Xi’s lips were almost touching Shen Lezhi’s earlobe. The sensitive and fragile spot could not bear the cold, like a sharp blade, hidden within the other party’s breath. Yet, Wang Xi did not actually touch her; only the icy chill continuously encroached.

This was the first time Shen Lezhi had heard Wang Xi call her “Lezhi.” It should have been a slightly intimate term, but it made every hair on Shen Lezhi’s body stand up.

“I…” Shen Lezhi instinctively spoke, her teeth chattering as she managed a short syllable.

It was then that Shen Lezhi realized she could speak. She opened her eyes. In front of her were Wang Xi’s deep, inky eyes, fixed intently on her.

Those eyes, seemingly calm, felt like they were gripping Shen Lezhi’s heart.

It was because of the red thread at the corner of her eye, like a twisted, dangerous snake. The moment Shen Lezhi glanced at it, she felt her life force being pulled away.

“I unintentionally walked there,” Shen Lezhi dared not look any longer and quickly averted her gaze. Regardless of whether Wang Xi believed her or not, she honestly recounted how she had gotten there.

Her tale of the experience sounded utterly absurd—how could she happen to stumble upon that place, and at that precise moment? Yet, the more absurd it was, the more plausible it became. The hoe she was still holding, and the bruises and injuries all over her body, perfectly matched the story she told.

After Shen Lezhi finished explaining, Wang Xi did not respond, remaining silent for a long time.

Shen Lezhi was still restrained by her. The intimate position was truly taxing. The frigid, autumn-wind-like aura constantly brushed her ear, making her body feel as though it would melt over time.

She didn’t want to blush, but Wang Xi’s faint fragrance lingered in her nostrils, her breathing fell upon her ear, and even her body temperature was starting to be affected by Wang Xi’s.

Shen Lezhi was extremely uneasy, filled with fear and discomfort.

She didn’t know if Wang Xi believed her. After waiting for a long time, Wang Xi finally released her.

Wang Xi remained silent, but the red line at the corner of her eye had completely faded. Shen Lezhi couldn’t resist taking a few extra glances, only withdrawing her gaze when she saw a warning in Wang Xi’s eyes.

Wang Xi raised a hand and pointed to the path ahead, no longer engaging with Shen Lezhi. “That way is your residence.”

Wang Xi neither asked any further questions nor explained why she was there. Based on the route Wang Xi took to lead Shen Lezhi out, Wang Xi must have been very familiar with the location and had gone there deliberately.

So, who were those people talking?

They disrespectfully referred to Wang Xi as an object and said she should have been killed long ago.

Shen Lezhi didn’t know if there was such a plot in the original novel, but she felt that everything was becoming strange.

Shen Lezhi wanted no part in it, even resenting her bad luck for stumbling upon such a matter and being suspected and threatened by Wang Xi.

Shen Lezhi decided to seal that cave entrance tomorrow!

Shen Lezhi was a person of action. The next day, before dawn, she got up, chopped bamboo, and completely sealed the cave entrance.

Wang Xi had instructed Shen Lezhi to seek her out today. After yesterday’s incident, Shen Lezhi was somewhat hesitant. But since she was determined to learn spells and acquire the means of self-preservation here, she would not back down.

Wang Xi had established her own cave residence, which was devoid of any vegetation or living things nearby.

Linglong Peak itself was named after Wang Xi’s characteristic—the peak’s formation and the cultivation method she practiced made everything here cold, as if instantly transitioning from comfortable autumn to winter.

Although there was no white frost or snow falling in front of Wang Xi’s cave residence, the temperature was nearly the same.

Shen Lezhi had sensed spiritual energy yesterday, but only grasped what it was and that it existed; she had no idea how to utilize it.

Before entering Wang Xi’s cave residence, she was already shivering from the cold. Walking further, almost to the entrance of the residence, her cheeks were frozen pale.

“It’s too cold,” she mumbled softly, greatly missing modern down jackets and thermal wear.

In this world of cultivation, everyone wore light, thin silk clothing. It looked good and ethereal, but she was freezing to death.

She endured and finally reached the cave residence. The cold temperature did not rise but fell further. Shen Lezhi felt that if she stayed any longer, she would be frozen into an ice sculpture.

“Come in.” At that moment, Wang Xi’s voice clearly reached her.

It didn’t come from inside; it sounded directly in Shen Lezhi’s ear.

Telepathic transmission in cultivation dramas was truly convenient.

Shen Lezhi complained inwardly while resisting the cold, and obediently walked into the cave residence.

There was almost no furniture inside the residence—a few oil lamps and a single prayer mat. That was all.

This aligned somewhat with Shen Lezhi’s expectations.

Wang Xi didn’t seem like the type of person who would spend time on such things; she must have been focused solely on cultivation.

Oh, and presumably, caring for the young Shen Lezhi.

“Master,” Shen Lezhi called softly.

She no longer bowed, firstly because she was already freezing, and secondly because her resentment from yesterday hadn’t faded, and she didn’t want to bow to Wang Xi.

“Come closer.” Wang Xi sat squarely on the only prayer mat in the residence. She opened her slightly closed eyes, paying no mind to Shen Lezhi’s small thoughts. Seeing Shen Lezhi gulping air due to the cold, she waved her hand, gesturing for the latter to approach.

Shen Lezhi grumbled inwardly, tucking her neck, and walked to stand in front of Wang Xi, stopping three steps away, unwilling to move a single inch closer.

Seeing this, Wang Xi’s eyes lingered on Shen Lezhi’s body for a moment, then, after a brief pause, she suddenly said, “What, are you afraid of me?”

Shen Lezhi inhaled sharply, her eyes instantly widening. Her almond-shaped eyes were huge, as if they were fiercely accusing Wang Xi.

Why didn’t you ask that when you were choking my neck yesterday?