The Vicious Beauty Faked His Death Three Times [Transmigration] - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Brewing

“Here, take it.”

Wen Leyou handed the long wooden box to the youth in front of him, his expression clearly reluctant.

Ling Yanhe did not take it. Instead, he sized him up briefly, then withdrew his gaze to continue wiping the wooden sword in his hand; a book of sword techniques lay by his side.

This had mysteriously appeared in the study hall a few days ago. Ling Yanhe simply assumed it was a new curriculum added by that minor demon teacher. He hadn’t intended to pay it any mind, but after flipping through a few pages, it proved to be an excellent set of sword styles, so he carved a wooden sword himself to practice with.

Seeing himself ignored, Wen Leyou grew even angrier. He wanted to throw the wooden box directly at him, but he couldn’t bear to damage the item inside. He suppressed his temper and explained: “Big Brother ordered it to be made. If you don’t want it, I’ll take it back.”

At those words, Ling Yanhe’s movements paused, but he still didn’t look up: “Made what?”

Seeing him so indifferent, Wen Leyou felt even more indignant on Lin Qinghan’s behalf, his words tinged with resentment: “A sword! It was a waste for Big Brother to take out that Mystic Iron and specifically instruct me to finish the sword within three days. I didn’t expect some people to be so heartless and utterly insincere, failing to recognize a person’s kindness.”

“Forget it, I’ll just take it back myself, lest it soil the sword.” After saying that, Wen Leyou turned to leave.

Suddenly, fine threads appeared in front of him, blocking his path.

“What are you doing?” Wen Leyou turned around and questioned him indignantly.

Ling Yanhe put down the wooden sword, his gaze falling on the wooden box in Wen Leyou’s arms: “When did he order you to make it?”

Wen Leyou was dissatisfied with his lack of respect in his tone. He snorted coldly, his voice carrying a bit of temper: “The day of your competition.”

Ling Yanhe frowned slightly and remained silent with pursed lips.

Seeing this expression and assuming the other was feeling guilty, Wen Leyou’s mood improved. He cleared his throat and continued: “It’s been about three days since you’ve been by Big Brother’s side, hasn’t it? Big Brother caught a cold and was bedridden for two days. Even so, Big Brother still kept you in his thoughts; even while ill in bed, he didn’t forget to urge me to keep an eye on the progress of the sword-casting. You, on the other hand, have no conscience, not even checking on Big Brother once.”

As he spoke, Wen Leyou’s gaze fell on the sword manual by his hand, and his look became even more resentful: “I begged Big Brother many times for this sword manual before, but he never let me have a single look. It’s truly a bargain for you.”

Ling Yanhe was stunned. He indeed hadn’t gone to see Lin Qinghan these past few days.

Firstly, the other party likely didn’t want to see him.

Secondly, he needed time to ponder certain things.

But in just three short days, that man had fallen ill?

Was the dosage of the Symbiotic Gu antidote insufficient, or was it something else?

Was the sword manual also sent by him? Ling Yanhe’s gaze fell on the manual by his hand; seeing the meticulous annotations on it, his eyes flickered.

“Where is he?” Ling Yanhe asked.

Seeing that he was only now becoming anxious, Wen Leyou couldn’t help but roll his eyes and said crossly: “Big Brother’s illness is already gone. He’s currently discussing the Winter Banquet with the Second Sect Leader; he’s likely busy beyond measure right now. You’d better wait until the banquet tonight to go find him.”

With that, Wen Leyou didn’t care to explain further. He tossed the wooden box to Ling Yanhe and turned to leave, appearing as if he didn’t want to say another word to him.

The other’s crude movements elicited no reaction from Ling Yanhe. He looked down at the wooden box in his arms.

The box was heavy. Upon opening it, the long sword inside was revealed.

The blade was forged from Mystic Iron, thin and long. A tiny character “He” was engraved on the hilt; the handwriting was identical to the annotations in the sword manual.

Beside the long sword lay a black scabbard, simple yet lustrous.

Ling Yanhe raised his hand and brushed over the engraving, a flash of surprise in the depths of his eyes.

Was Lin Qinghan seeking a truce with him?

Taking the long sword from the box, Ling Yanhe gave it a casual swing. The wooden sword leaning to the side was instantly sliced in two.

This was an extremely fine sword, delivered into his hands by Lin Qinghan.

The long sword returned to its sheath, and the youth vanished, leaving only the wooden sword lying on the ground, snapped in half.

“Winter Banquet? What is that?”

Shen Miaomiao looked at Lin Qinghan curiously.

Before Lin Qinghan could speak, Wen Leyou took the lead in explaining: “It’s a custom of the Hundred Demons Sect. The sect was founded on the first day of winter. To celebrate this, a banquet is held every year on the day winter begins. Today is the first day of winter, and it will be very lively tonight—not just a banquet, but also lanterns to see.”

Shen Miaomiao, who had long grown tired of staying on the mountain, saw her eyes light up: “Truly?”

“Would I lie to you?” Wen Leyou said, arching an eyebrow.

Hearing this, Shen Miaomiao stopped grinding her herbs, dragging Wen Leyou to the side to press for more details.

Ye Zhaoyan, who was brewing medicine nearby, glanced at them but said nothing; instead, she beckoned to Lin Qinghan.

“What is it?” Lin Qinghan’s voice was a bit raspy, carrying the lingering air of someone recently recovered from illness.

Ye Zhaoyan asked softly: “Did you have a fight?”

Lin Qinghan was stunned, taking a moment to realize Ye Zhaoyan was talking about him and Ling Yanhe.

“I thought Miss Ye didn’t pay attention to such matters.” Lin Qinghan laughed lightly, not as a jibe but from the heart.

Hearing this, Ye Zhaoyan’s brows also carried a smile: “Miaomiao said it. She said it’s been a long time since she’s seen Young Master Ling with you.”

Lin Qinghan nodded and took over the medicine powder Shen Miaomiao hadn’t finished grinding: “I actually wanted to ask Miss Ye something. I’m not sure what happened while I was unconscious that made Miss Shen suddenly so concerned about the relationship between me and the Young Master.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhaoyan didn’t answer immediately, but frowned slightly as if deep in thought.

Lin Qinghan hadn’t originally intended to ask, but Ling Yanhe’s behavior a few days ago had truly provoked him, making him somewhat neurotic. He felt he had to dig up and re-examine anything he might have missed to feel at ease.

“That day, your internal energy was disordered, and you needed someone to transfer true qi to you to pull through.” After a moment’s thought, Ye Zhaoyan spoke.

Lin Qinghan arched an eyebrow at her: “The Young Master transferred it to me?”

“Mm.”

Lin Qinghan was indeed surprised. He had thought Ling Yanhe would leave him to fend for himself. No wonder Ling Yanhe had been acting evasive since he woke up and made side-handed remarks about his recklessness; it seemed he was pained over his own true qi.

Seeing Lin Qinghan’s expression remain normal, Ye Zhaoyan’s frown deepened. After a pause, she spoke tactfully: “Only when one trusts the other person implicitly will they unconsciously accept their true qi. Some immortal families specifically prepare ‘furnaces’ to boost their cultivation; these are usually trained from a young age.”

She stopped there, not continuing further.

This time, Lin Qinghan was truly stunned.

No wonder Shen Miaomiao kept asking about their relationship; it turned out she thought he was Ling Yanhe’s “furnace.” She likely saw the other transferring true qi to him and brainstormed a whole drama of them being in love.

Then, did Ling Yanhe’s behavior two days ago also stem from treating him as a furnace?

Current Trust Value: 43

Looking at the number on the panel, Lin Qinghan’s eyes darkened.

If the other truly viewed him as a furnace, his act of gifting the sword was likely taken as a gesture of favor or even a signal for a truce.

How incredibly unpleasant. Lin Qinghan half-squinted his eyes.

Lin Qinghan suppressed his fleeting displeasure and looked up at Ye Zhaoyan: “I have a favor to ask of Miss Ye.”

Ye Zhaoyan looked at him. Seeing his solemn expression, her hands stopped their movements: “Speak. If I can help, I will certainly do my utmost.”

“I would like to ask Miss Ye for a poison.”

Ye Zhaoyan’s brow furrowed: “Poison?”

“Mm.” Lin Qinghan nodded. “A poison that can trigger the Gu parasite to act up.”

At those words, Ye Zhaoyan’s expression immediately became grave.

Seeing the blatant refusal on her face, Lin Qinghan raised an eyebrow.

As expected, Ye Zhaoyan had diagnosed the Gu parasite inside him.

“What do you want this for?” Ye Zhaoyan asked.

Lin Qinghan gave her an apologetic smile: “I cannot say.”

Ye Zhaoyan froze for a moment, looking up at the man before her.

Those eyes, which usually looked at people with a watery tenderness, now held a refusal that BROOKED no argument. That forceful aloofness made Ye Zhaoyan dazed for a moment, wondering if the person before her really was Lin Qinghan.

But she quickly recovered her senses.

This was Lin Qinghan.

Lin Qinghan didn’t know what was going through Ye Zhaoyan’s mind; he just sat there quietly waiting.

Ye Zhaoyan had said they were friends, so this time he chose to seek help from a friend.

“Very well. I will write a prescription for you, but this medicine is unstable. It cannot be manipulated to control the Gu parasite according to your thoughts. I will do my best to lower its potency…” As Ye Zhaoyan spoke, she frowned slightly, then paused and looked at Lin Qinghan seriously. “If necessary, I will intervene early to forcibly detoxify your body.”

Lin Qinghan nodded to her with a smile, continuing under her grave expression: “Besides that, I hope Miss Ye can take Miss Shen and leave the Winter Banquet early tonight.”

“What are you planning to do?” Ye Zhaoyan asked immediately.

Lin Qinghan smiled but did not speak.

“This can’t be said either?” Ye Zhaoyan’s brows were practically knotted together.

“It can’t,” Lin Qinghan replied truthfully.

Seeing her even graver expression, Lin Qinghan felt she likely already regretted her promise.

Ye Zhaoyan scrutinized the person before her. The bitter smell of medicine filled the room. After a long while, she spoke deliberately: “I cannot see through the grievances between you two.”

The Gu parasite, leaving the banquet early—even a fool like Ye Zhaoyan could figure out who this play was aimed at.

But she didn’t know the history between Lin Qinghan and Ling Yanhe. As Lin Qinghan’s friend, all she could do was provide him with some minor assistance.

Lin Qinghan looked down at the flames burning in the hearth and said softly: “There is no ‘kindness’.”

“What?”

She had thought this question would also be lightly glossed over, so she was surprised to hear his reply.

This was the first time Lin Qinghan had spoken so frankly about it.

Hearing her confusion, Lin Qinghan didn’t seem to intend to avoid it. Instead, he looked back at her, his beautiful eyes carrying a touch of coldness.

It wasn’t aimed at her, but at someone else.

“Between us, there is only resentment,” Lin Qinghan said calmly.

Ye Zhaoyan froze on the spot.

Even long after Lin Qinghan had left the room, she still hadn’t recovered her senses.

The bitter scent of medicine filled the room, but Ye Zhaoyan’s thoughts involuntarily recalled those eyes full of dark, possessive gloom.

Is it truly… only resentment?

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