"I..." Bai Suche bit her lower lip with such force that it immediately drew blood.
Wang Lingqiu watched her in astonishment.
Bilianyi stood to the side, slowly retreating step by step.
"You what?" Yu Konghou gazed at her as if beholding the most peculiar and amusing thing in the world. "Su Su, oh Su Su, I’ve never doubted you because I’ve always known that, apart from your passionate devotion, you’re different from other girls—you have ambition in your eyes." He traced Bai Suche’s eyelids, the soft and delicate skin, the long lashes trembling beneath his fingers like a fragile rabbit. He continued, "You want to prove you’re different. I understand that, so I gave you opportunities. Now, think carefully and tell me—where did you get the Yihuan Duyue, and why have you kept it?"
"I..." Bai Suche whispered, "I admire Young Master Tang."
Yu Konghou raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Bai Suche slowly opened her eyes. Contrary to Yu Konghou’s expectations, there were no tears—only an icy indifference, as if she had shed some mask in an instant. "Su Su admires Young Master Tang, but he is beyond my reach. Unless the Revered Master achieves victory and I accomplish a feat of unparalleled merit, I lack the means to claim him. I beg the Revered Master to grant him to me."
Yu Konghou studied her. "Is that so?"
"Yes," Bai Suche replied coldly. "Young Master Tang’s thoughts are inscrutable. Su Su knows she cannot win his heart, so if I cannot have that, having his person will suffice." Her eyes suddenly widened as she stared at Yu Konghou. "Is that not allowed? How many women in Fengliudian lose their minds over Lord Liu’s peerless qin artistry and unmatched beauty? I merely set my sights on another! Is that not allowed?" She glared back at him. "Even an ant has its delusions—how much more a human!"
Yu Konghou chuckled, surprisingly unangered. He patted Bai Suche’s hair. "You truly broaden my horizons... Tell me—what does your admiration for Tang Lici have to do with you keeping the Yihuan Duyue? What have you hidden from me?"
Bai Suche slowly closed her eyes. "Only if the Revered Master promises not to kill me will I speak."
"Very well, I won’t kill you today," Yu Konghou smiled. "Speak. Why did you keep the Yihuan Duyue?"
Bai Suche said, "I stole Chi Yun’s corpse."
Yu Konghou froze. "What?"
Bai Suche looked at him expressionlessly. "This Yihuan Duyue came from Chi Yun’s body."
Yu Konghou was genuinely astonished. "You stole Chi Yun’s corpse? Did you mean to use it to blackmail Tang Lici? Where is the body now? Su Su, oh Su Su, you never cease to amaze me. I won’t kill you—" His mood suddenly brightened, as if the gloom from Tang Lici’s successive schemes, which had ruined his divine technique, had lifted. "What a brilliant plan—one I never even considered."
"Chi Yun’s corpse neither rots nor decays—it’s very strange," Bai Suche said, still impassive. "I sank it into the frigid pool atop Cold Emerald Peak."
In an instant, Yu Konghou devised seventeen or eighteen ingenious ways to exploit this against Tang Lici. Delighted, he pinched Bai Suche’s cheek. "Does Tang Lici know of your feelings for him?"Bai Suche shook her head and said indifferently, "This subordinate carries the Ring of Crossing the Moon precisely to take the opportunity to inform him that Chi Yun's corpse remains uncorrupted and unspoiled, thereby earning his gratitude. This blade serves as my proof of identity. However, Tang Lizhi's whereabouts are unpredictable, and I have yet to find the right moment."
"You are truly clever, ruthless, and reckless..." Yu Konghou released his grip on her. "So you took this blade to confront the Central Plains Sword Assembly, attempting to lure out Tang Lizhi and inform him that Chi Yun is in your hands? Yet, Young Master Tang simply refused to appear, wasting all your elaborate schemes."
"Indeed." Bai Suche's jade-white chin bore several dark bruises from Yu Konghou's fingers, but she paid them no mind and lowered her head.
"Bring Chi Yun's corpse from that icy pool to me, then send someone to inform Tang Lizhi. Tell him to meet me at the Drifting Eyebrow Manor in ten days—or else I'll burn Chi Yun's corpse to ashes." Yu Konghou laughed. "That man is also clever, ruthless, and reckless... but he's overly sentimental, riddled with weaknesses, yet pretends otherwise."
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