This kind of affection brings a tightness in the chest, far more exhilarating than the bridal chamber on a wedding night. Of course, if the two were combined, perhaps...
After a moment, Chen Yi stopped his wild thoughts.
"Let's first see the cultivation technique we got from Song Shengbao."
Chen Yi pulled out a cultivation manual.
People in Jianghu often carry one or two manuals. First, to practice diligently, and second, to give up the cultivation techniques in desperate times to save their lives.
What Song Shengbao carried with him was a Qinggong technique manual, and also ... a demonic cult token.
Flipping through a few pages, the words "Eagle Falling Skill" appeared on the panel.
Looking at the remaining True Qi in his hands, Chen Yi hesitated—should he pour all of it into this cultivation technique or save some for emergencies?
"No need to rush. Wait until there's more True Qi available. For now, let's take a bath."
After bathing, outside the courtyard, a thick and strange fragrance somehow had enveloped the air.
Night had already fallen. Chen Yi suddenly looked up.
In the courtyard outside the East Hua Gate of the palace, wisps of fragrance were drifting in, flowing to the windows.
Chen Yi rose silently and grabbed the Brocade Spring Blade hanging on the wall.
The breeze swept across, faintly carrying a seductive, tumultuous feeling, a concentrated enrapturing aroma invading the senses.
Lifting the lantern, Chen Yi walked to the door and discovered, seemingly unnoticed, the courtyard gate was wide open.
To reach the West Factory, one must bypass the palace guards outside. This concealed skill... was no simple feat.
Chen Yi noticed a dark shadow shifting.
At the sound of his voice, the shadow instantly flinched, then slowly stepped forward—a woman, veiled, holding a folding fan, her red dress outlining a graceful figure, her scent flooding the air as something abundant closed in.
She approached him languidly, laughing softly behind her veil:
"Young master, it's me."
A whiff of alcohol lingered around her.
Just as her words fell, the courtyard's fragrance intensified sharply.
Her alluring peach blossom eyes gazed at Chen Yi, smile brimming as she spoke:
"I think I've seen you in the pleasure quarters, young master. Are you my benefactor? I humbly ask, would you join me inside for a talk?"
The heady fragrance swept over him, stirring unrest in Chen Yi's thoughts. His mind grew hazy and drowsy.
The woman's swaying posture was mesmerizing.
He lowered his head, speaking softly:
"...You truly wish to enter with me?"
Hearing the tremble in Chen Yi's voice, the woman realized she'd succeeded, her seductive tone dripping like nectar:
"Just for one night, even if... I pay you instead."
As the woman drew closer to Chen Yi, even before she could grab his hand, Chen Yi had already pressed his hand onto her shoulders.
She exhaled a soft, orchid-like breath as the dagger in her palm slowly revealed itself, her figure swaying like an immortal in flight.
Chen Yi's hand pressed against her shoulder.
Just as her hazy eyes awaited the perfect moment,
Chen Yi uttered four words:
"I've seen the walkthrough."
In that instant, the woman's expression turned pale, and moments later, her body weakened as she felt the True Qi she had cultivated for years being relentlessly siphoned away.
"Thank you for paying me instead."
At first, she tried to retaliate, but the sensation of losing her strength overwhelmed her. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight parts of her True Qi had drained away, her body collapsing to the ground, unconscious.
[Min Ming possesses ten years of extraordinary True Qi normal people could hope to cultivate.]
Chen Yi's face turned pale as he worked to stabilize the foreign True Qi coursing through him.
Unveiling the veil, he examined her delicate features, then cross-referenced them instantly, realizing who she was.
"Soft Bone Sword Min Ming?"
"Wait—shouldn't she be in Baihua Building acting as a spy courtesan right now?"
Could it be because he'd taken Yin Tingxue away, causing a butterfly effect that altered the storyline?
If memory serves, in 'Heavenly Realm,' Min Ming was essentially the jack-of-all-trades for the Capital City. Anytime someone first entered the game, they'd follow prompts to gather intelligence about the city from her.
And with enough effort, it was easy to establish a favorable relationship with Min Ming. But later on, her low cultivation level caused her appearances to diminish, making her one of the least prominent heroines in the game.
Compared to her, her younger sister became increasingly radiant in the latter stages—in her thirties, she had climbed to the top ten of the martial ranking list, and after Heaven's Gate shattered, she ascended with sword in hand.
Looking at the gentle and boneless woman lying on the ground, Chen Yi's fingers twitched slightly.
However, she wasn't exactly his enemy.
"Her cultivation was already weak, yet I drained the entire reservoir of her True Qi."
Chen Yi thought of something, darkly murmuring:
"Maybe... she can be properly trained."
"Let's take her back and question her once she's awake."
The foreign True Qi rampaged through his meridians, leaving Chen Yi increasingly uneasy.
He found some rope in the courtyard, tied Min Ming up, and placed her in the guest room, patiently waiting for her to regain consciousness.
Min Ming had just awoken, her mouth gagged. As soon as she saw Chen Yi, she struggled to rise from the bed. Judging by her expression, she looked ready to tear him to pieces.
The humiliation of having her painstakingly cultivated True Qi completely stolen was second only to the shame of having her limbs broken.
"I'm quite eager to learn who sent you here."
Chen Yi pushed the window open, moonlight illuminating his face.
In that moment, the courtesan spy was faintly startled. She had seen him before—he'd visited Baihua Building to gather information a month ago. But under dim lighting, she hadn't discerned his features, only capturing glimpses of his striking outline, which she soon forgot entirely. Only his eyes had left a faint impression.
But now, she finally saw clearly the appearance of this West Factory commander. At first glance, the face seemed unremarkable, but upon closer inspection, it was breathtaking.
Simply put... he was very handsome.
Chen Yi removed the rag from her mouth. Her hands and feet remained bound as he shifted his gaze, glancing at the panel.