Chapter 12

Wei Huai loved to smile, but when there was no smile on his face, his peach blossom eyes appeared particularly icy, like sharp beast pupils devoid of human emotion.

No matter how gentle and affectionate his appearance was, it could not conceal the baleful aura deep in his bones. Being stared at so intently by him made Qixue feel as if he were being eyed by Man-Eating Demons, his heart pounding in panic. He quickly denied it. “How could that be? Of course I haven’t thought of abandoning Seventh Brother.”

“Is that so?”

Wei Huai stared at him fixedly for a moment before suddenly smiling. “So I was overthinking it. Just now, I saw you weren’t happy and thought you didn’t want to marry me.”

Seeing him smile again, Qixue felt a bit more at ease. He coquettishly complained, “I didn’t not want to marry you. I was just too surprised and hadn’t reacted yet. Am I so untrustworthy in your heart?”

“It was my fault.” Wei Huai apologized to him. “I shouldn’t have doubted A Xue.”

“It’s fine.” Qixue didn’t press the issue. He lifted the white veil of his curtained hat and smiled sweetly at Wei Huai. “Who told me to like Seventh Brother so much? I don’t blame you.”

He revealed his stunningly alluring true face, and the lantern stall owner was instantly dazed. He didn’t even notice that he’d dropped the lantern in his hand. When they left, the owner gave Qixue another rabbit lantern, saying it made a pair, and insisted on not taking any money.

Qixue sat on horseback holding a pair of rabbit lanterns, gazing at Wei Huai’s back ahead of him. His mood was extremely complicated. He’d managed to get past this time, but what about in the future? If Wei Huai insisted on marrying him, could they still part on good terms?

“A Xue.”

Wei Huai called out to him without turning back. Qixue pulled himself together and responded, “What’s wrong?”

“I’ve never had anyone else, and I won’t in the future. It’ll just be you for this lifetime.” Wei Huai said, “I treat you wholeheartedly and hope you’ll do the same for me. You won’t disappoint me, right?”

“…”

Qixue gripped the handle of the rabbit lantern tightly and was forced to make another false promise. “Right, I’ll treat Seventh Brother wholeheartedly too and won’t disappoint you.”

–

The next day.

Taking advantage of Wei Huai being out and Apricot and Luxiangqiu not being in the tent, Qixue took out the Young Master’s Command Token and silently recited Sang Chi’s name in his heart.

It wasn’t long before Sang Chi responded with a cold snort. “No news for so long—I thought you’d lost the token long ago. Now it seems the token is fine; you’ve just forgotten all about me. That’s just great.”

His tone was dripping with sarcasm, but Qixue had no mood to bicker with him. He asked directly, “As far as you know, is there any spell or pill that can make someone sever all romantic ties? A friend of mine has fallen for someone he shouldn’t have. I want to help him escape this sea of bitterness and end this one-sided crush. Do you have any ideas?”

On the other end of the token, Sang Chi’s expression changed drastically. “What do you mean by that? Do you hate me that much that you won’t even let me like you?”

“?” Qixue said, “What does it have to do with you? I said my friend—who said it was you? Do you even count as my friend? Don’t flatter yourself.”

“You…”

Sang Chi’s expression was ugly, a mix of anger, relief, and grievance.

His voice was muffled. “There is indeed a spiritual medicine that severs all emotions, but once taken, it erases every feeling completely—even turning parents into strangers. Only cultivators seeking to cut worldly ties would use it. It probably doesn’t suit your friend.”

Qixue: “Indeed.”

He just wanted Wei Huai to stop liking him, not to ruin Wei Huai’s entire life. He wouldn’t consider this method.

Sang Chi: “I’ll ask around, but don’t get your hopes up. You probably won’t find what you’re looking for.”

Qixue: “Just do your best.”

If worst came to worst, he’d use a strand of rabbit fur to seek help from Lady Shanyin, but unless absolutely necessary, he didn’t want to waste one of his only three chances on this.

He asked Sang Chi again, “Do you know Linyang City in Nanping County? Are there any of your Spirit Fox Clan members here?”

“Of course. The Spirit Fox Clan’s footprints span the world.” Sang Chi said proudly. “What, do you need someone to help?”

“Exactly.” Qixue said. “Your Spirit Fox Clan excels at disguise and illusion. I need you to find someone to impersonate me for a few hours. I have to do something without being noticed.”

Sang Chi pressed, “What is it?”

Qixue bossed him around. “What’s it to you? Just find someone.”

He couldn’t very well say he was going off to secretly kill someone.

Sang Chi had no choice but to leave for a moment. Soon, he told Qixue, “It’s arranged. Linyang City’s largest fabric shop is called Qiwan Pavilion. The proprietress, Ying Niang, is an elder of our Spirit Fox Clan. Show her the token, and she’ll help you.”

Qixue expressed satisfaction. “You’re somewhat useful after all.”

He was about to cut off the transmission when Sang Chi stopped him, hemming and hawing. “Don’t you want to know… who the person I like is?”

Qixue: “No. I have no interest in that unlucky soul.”

Sang Chi: “…”

After cutting off the transmission, Qixue found Luxiangqiu and asked her to bring him a bottle of deadly poison—see-blood-seal-throat.

Luxiangqiu jumped in fright. “Who are you poisoning? It can’t be Wei Huai, right?”

“Of course not. It’s a man named Ji Yuheng.”

Qixue said, “I can’t say too much, but I must get rid of Ji Yuheng, or my benefactor will die at his hands. Xiangxiang, please help me. You’re my most trusted friend. At a time like this, you’re the only one I can rely on.”

His eyes were full of pleading. Luxiangqiu, who had secretly sworn to protect him well, was swept up in the moment. She boldly patted her chest. “No problem, leave it to me. Why not let me kill him for you!”

“I’ll do it myself. Just get me the poison.”

Qixue shook his head, refusing Luxiangqiu. Killing brought karma; he couldn’t let his good friend bear that sin for him. As for himself, he didn’t care much. Nothing was more important than saving his benefactor.

Luxiangqiu was efficient. That very evening, she brought the poison and even used a dozen small birds to scout the layout of the County Princess Mansion, chattering it all out to Qixue.

Since Qixue was weak and couldn’t use any demon arts, his only means of killing was poison. He needed a way to slip it into Ji Yuheng’s food or drink.

His assassination plan was simple: Tomorrow, enter the city, go to Qiwan Pavilion to find Ying Niang, swap identities with her so she impersonated him strolling around town while he went to poison Ji Yuheng at the County Princess Mansion.

Conveniently, Wei Huai would be out of the camp all day tomorrow and wouldn’t return until the morning after. Ying Niang wouldn’t need to return to camp, so her demon qi wouldn’t be detected by the demonic beasts. He would have plenty of time to assassinate Ji Yuheng.

The next afternoon, Qixue called Apricot over. “I want to go into the city to shop and look at new clothes.”

“Alright, I’ll arrange it for you right away, Young Master.”

Apricot agreed without hesitation. Wei Huai had instructed that Linyang City was safe, so if Qixue wanted to go out shopping, just bring more people to protect him—no need to stop him.

Apricot selected the four best Zhu Huai Guards, plus herself and Luxiangqiu, to accompany Qixue into the city.

The group entered the city in grand fashion and arrived at Qiwan Pavilion.

Qiwan Pavilion was Linyang City’s largest fabric shop, a three-story building. The wooden counters displayed a dazzling array of fabrics, from common coarse cloth to precious cloud-patterned gauze. There were also many ready-made garments hanging on racks for customers to choose styles or buy directly.

Qixue had Apricot and the others wait for him on the first floor while he took Luxiangqiu up to the third floor, straight to the innermost room—the proprietress Ying Niang’s boudoir. He knocked lightly on the door.

A seductive voice came from inside. “Come in.”

With permission, Qixue pushed open the door. A young woman with bewitching features lounged on a soft couch, holding a pipe and puffing clouds of smoke. “You’re Qixue?”

“I am Qixue.” Qixue removed his curtained hat and presented the token. “I’ve come to see Elder Wen.”

Ying Niang’s true name was Wen Ying, an elder of the Spirit Fox Clan who often handled clan affairs outside. This was their first meeting.

“I’ve finally met you.” Ying Niang giggled, not even checking the token. She looked up at Qixue. “I’ve heard of you for ages. Everyone knows our Young Master is so—”

Her eyes suddenly widened in shock and admiration as she stared at Qixue. Even her fox ears popped out.

“Oh my god… Oh my god…”

She scrambled up and approached Qixue, carefully touching his face. “How are you even made? How can you be this beautiful?”

“No, this won’t do… You’re too beautiful. My illusion arts aren’t refined enough; I can’t transform into you. Find someone else.”

Seeing her refuse, Qixue quickly said, “But I really have urgent business. Can’t Elder Wen think of something?”

His eyes pleaded, and Ying Niang was entranced. She murmured, “It’s not impossible. I need a few drops of your blood to smear on my face, and I can become you completely.”

Qixue immediately cut his finger with a small knife. Ying Niang felt heartbroken. “Don’t be so rough with yourself!”

She gently took Qixue’s blood and applied several ointments to his finger. After her fussing, the small cut seemed on the verge of healing instantly.

Ying Niang dripped the blood beads into a special ointment, smeared it evenly on her face, then cast her illusion, transforming into Qixue’s exact likeness. Luxiangqiu checked the details to ensure no flaws.

Qixue transformed into Rabbit Tuan’s form and hopped lightly onto the windowsill. “I’m off. Leave this side to you two.”

“Don’t worry. Be careful and hurry back.” Luxiangqiu urged.

Rabbit Tuan squeezed out through a window crack, leaped a few times to the first floor, darted into the bushes, and headed straight for the County Prince Mansion.

Qiwan Pavilion wasn’t far from the County Prince Mansion. Relying on his tiny size, Rabbit Tuan sneaked silently to the base of the wall, quickly dug a hole, and kicked his way inside.

He cautiously carried the porcelain vial in his mouth, faintly hearing the liquid sloshing inside, terrified of dropping and shattering it.

The poison in the vial was Core Poison—toxin extracted from demon cores.

Demonic creatures all grew inner cores, and those of Man-Eating Demons typically contained toxins, stronger the older the demon. The bottle Luxiangqiu brought was top-grade; a few drops could kill Ji Yuheng.

But for the Demon Clan, Core Poison had the opposite effect. The toxin not only couldn’t kill demons but acted as an aphrodisiac, like human aphrodisiacs.

Worried Qixue might accidentally get it on himself, Luxiangqiu had spent extra silver for Core Poison. Qixue was grateful for her thoughtfulness and accepted it happily—he was indeed a bit scared.

Still, he was confident in this assassination. With heaven, earth, and man all aligned, how could he fail to kill Ji Yuheng? Tonight would be Ji Yuheng’s last!