Chapter 18

Chapter 18

As Wang Sanshan's words fell, the room fell into a dead silence.

Candlelight flickered slowly in the evening breeze, shadows dancing between light and dark, casting their faces into terrifying and hideous expressions.

Madam Lu stared at Lu Yuanyin, her eyes full of disbelief. After a long moment, she suddenly shrieked, "Get rid of it! You must get rid of that beast! Do it now, immediately! That beast must not be kept!"

She could no longer maintain the gentle and kind expression on her face; her features twisted in unspeakable ugliness as she pointed at Lu Yuanyin's nose and cursed, "Can't you live without a man? At such a young age, will you die without a man?"

If only she had enough cultivation—she would have kicked her belly herself.

After speaking, Madam Lu grabbed Wang Sanshan's sleeve and pleaded desperately, "Auntie begs you, please save Si Si! She's so young; she can't die. Without a spiritual root, she really will die..."

Wang Sanshan looked at Lu Yuanyin with a gloomy expression, his gaze venomous. As a medical cultivator, they are strictly forbidden from handling anything related to abortions or dead infants, but Lu Sisi's condition could no longer be delayed...

Wang Sanshan thought of Lu Sisi's pale face and tearful eyes. She was so kind; she hadn't wanted to exchange another's spiritual root in the first place. They had only persuaded her after they pleaded earnestly.

If she knew Lu Yuanyin was pregnant, she would surely refuse to let the unborn baby die for her. She would absolutely threaten to kill herself, begging them to spare Lu Yuanyin. This matter must never let Si Si know...

Wang Sanshan pondered for a moment, then picked up his medical case and left the room, his expression grim as he walked toward Immortal Lord Changye.

Madam Lu followed him out of the room, crying and complaining about how wronged and pitiful Lu Sisi was.

Wang Sanshan looked grimly at Immortal Lord Changye, who slightly raised his eyes and gazed silently at the pear tree in the courtyard.

He hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "Immortal Lord, do you know that woman is pregnant?"

As his words fell, Immortal Lord Changye's eyelashes trembled. His calm eyes seemed to have a tiny pebble dropped into them, stirring up faint ripples. He looked coldly at Wang Sanshan, his brows seeming to frost over.

Though there was no great change in his expression, Wang Sanshan could sense that he was angry. A chill crept up his back. But thinking of Lu Sisi, who was waiting for the spiritual root to save her life, he tightened his grip on his palm and continued, "Immortal Lord, the baby is less than three months old. If we abort it quickly, we can still extract her spiritual root in three days."

Madam Lu glanced furtively at Immortal Lord Changye and cautiously ventured, "Shall I order someone to prepare the abortifacient?"

Immortal Lord Changye silently looked at the closed window. Sensing the aura inside the room, his gaze darkened.

After a long time, under the anxious gazes of Madam Lu and Wang Sanshan, he said quietly, "No need."

As the two left, the room fell into silence again.

Lu Yuanyin stood still, lowering her eyelashes to see the wound on her palm still oozing blood. Bright red blood dripped from her fingertips, leaving dark spots on the ground.

Her chest felt tight. She took gauze from her storage pouch and carefully wrapped the wound on her palm. The wound stung slightly.

Exhausted, she fell onto the bed, pulling the quilt tightly around herself, wrapping herself in it completely, as if only then could she find a moment of peace.

Lu Yuanyin quietly gazed at the world outside the window. A single pear tree stood in the courtyard, its pinkish-white petals drifting slowly in the evening breeze, falling like heavy snow.

She had planted it the year she came to Chongyao Sect. Amidst all the spirit herbs and flowers in the courtyard, this pear tree looked particularly shabby. Yet although the plants in the yard were constantly replaced, Immortal Lord Changye had never discarded it.

Dusk deepened.

The dim candlelight flickered gently in the breeze. Bed curtains swayed, and through them, the mottled shadows of trees could be seen outside the window.

A light footstep came from behind her. Lu Yuanyin's fingers gripping the quilt tightened until her fingertips turned white. The bitter smell of medicine filled her nostrils. She stared silently at the gauze stained with a few spots of blood on her palm, refusing to look at the person.

But then she felt a weight on her shoulder. Cold fingertips touched her thin shoulder. He pressed down slightly and pulled her out of the quilt. Lu Yuanyin turned her head slightly and saw a tall figure sitting quietly by the bed. He wore a blue robe, with his black hair falling loose, his expression cold and clear, his dark eyes like a deep forest pool—cold and indifferent.

Lu Yuanyin paused. Looking at this familiar, handsome face, she could barely maintain her composure. Her eyelashes trembled, and a flash of hatred passed through her eyes.

But she heard the person in front of her suddenly say coldly, "You blame me."

Lu Yuanyin was silent for a moment, then countered, "Shouldn't I blame you?"

For what he had done to her and to the Lu family, even if she tore him into pieces, it wouldn't ease her hatred.

Immortal Lord Changye gazed at her steadily, then picked up a bowl of brown liquid from the table and said quietly, "Drink it."

Lu Yuanyin looked at the bowl warily. "What is this?"

Immortal Lord Changye did not answer her question. His gaze lingered for a moment on her flat belly, but then he suddenly asked coldly, "Whose? Gu Lingqiu?"

As he spoke, he seemed to find the question unnecessary. His slender fingers gently rubbed the jade bowl, a cold glint flashing in his dark eyes. Changye brought the bowl to her lips.

No matter whose child it was, he would not allow Lu Yuanyin to give birth to it...

She might have had a brief fling with that male cultivator, but she could not have any deeper bond.

Lu Yuanyin turned her face away, but felt a sharp pain in her chin.

Cold fingers gripped her chin firmly. He applied pressure, forcing her mouth open. Immortal Lord Changye forced the spoon into her mouth. "Drink it, and it will be over."

Lu Yuanyin struggled wildly, trying to avoid his grip, but the fingers on her chin were like iron clamps, locking her face in place. The bitter medicine flowed into her throat, making her want to vomit. The strong medicinal aroma filled her nose.

Her pale face flushed red. She stared at the person before her, wishing she could tear him apart, break his bones, and scatter his soul to the winds!

Her fingers fumbled under the blanket, and when they touched the cold blade, she didn't hesitate. She grabbed the dagger and stabbed straight at his dark eyes!

The blade cut through the air with a sharp sound. The sharp gleam grew rapidly in his eyes. But the dagger stopped just before his eyes, as if unable to move an inch. Cold fingers tightly gripped her slender wrist.

Changye applied pressure with his fingers. Lu Yuanyin felt a sharp pain in her arm, and the dagger fell to the ground. Changye raised his eyes and glanced at her indifferently. He retrieved the dagger and casually placed the empty bowl on the table.

As soon as she was free, Lu Yuanyin immediately retreated backward. She glared at Immortal Lord Changye, her eyes wide open, and couldn't help but curse, "You'll get what's coming to you!"

Immortal Lord Changye took a handkerchief and wiped the medicine from the corner of her mouth. He lowered his eyes and looked at Lu Yuanyin, at her eyes full of hatred. He was silent for a moment, then said quietly, "You are my retribution."

"My life is right here. You can take it any time."

Lu Yuanyin sneered, lowered her head, and couldn't be bothered to even look at him again.

Immortal Lord Changye gazed at her steadily, then picked up the empty bowl and slowly walked out of the room.

The door closed again.

Without her noticing, the candle had completely burned out. The last glimmer of light disappeared.

Lu Yuanyin sat up slightly and couldn't help but gag twice. The room was filled with the bitter smell of medicine. Her nose stung, and she could barely hold back her tears. She gently pushed open the window, but the moment she moved, she felt a continuous, intensifying pain in her abdomen.

Her face lost all color, and a thin layer of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

The pain in her abdomen grew stronger. Lu Yuanyin pressed two fingers to her throat and retched violently, vomiting out all the bitter medicine. The strong, astringent smell quickly spread through the air. A splitting headache set in, and her head throbbed.

The bright moon hung high, and the night was deep.

A cool night breeze passed through the room, carrying away the suffocatingly bitter medicinal smell.

Outside the window, no one was there. Only a few birds were huddled together in the trees, and the faint chirping of cicadas could be heard from afar.

Lu Yuanyin touched her flat belly. That vague thought grew clearer. She knew this decision was like asking a tiger for its skin—if the slightest mistake were made, she would fall into utter ruin, and her fate might be a hundred times worse than it is now!

But she refused to give up!

She truly wouldn’t accept it!

She utterly loathed Immortal Lord Changye and detested Lu Sisi and her group—she would gladly die if it meant destroying them…

Lu Yuanyin gazed at the dense night outside the window, her hands subtly clenching inside her sleeves. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke softly, “I know you’re here. Thank you for the fruit you gave me before.”

“I want to see Huo Wuyan.”

The window remained eerily silent, as if no one had heard her. Lu Yuanyin nervously clutched the hem of her dress, her fingertips turning faintly white.

Just as she was about to give up, she finally heard a faint chirp, just like the one she heard that day on the Cliff of Reflection.

Lanterns were being lit, the moon shone upon the window, and the city was brightly lit.

Hong Rong worked without complaint, carefully placing the jade slips delivered from the clan onto the shelves. He stole a glance at the side, where the tall male cultivator sat expressionlessly by the window, his white hair cascading down, slightly lowering his eyes, his gaze coldly fixed on the jade slip in his hand.

Hong Rong rubbed his nose awkwardly; the Dragon Lord had kept this posture for nearly half an hour.

Throughout, he hadn’t even blinked once.

Hong Rong could sense that the Dragon Lord had been in low spirits recently, somewhat distracted while doing everything.

He moved even more quietly, careful not to disturb the Dragon Lord’s peace, when he noticed the jade token in his sleeve flashing incessantly. Hong Rong raised an eyebrow, puzzled. Wasn’t Qing Nong supposed to be following Lu Yuanyin? Why was he sending messages in the dead of night?!

He sneaked out of the room and formed a Mystic Mirror, only to see a palm-sized bird with red feathers appear on the other side. Hong Rong stared at the bird, his tiger-like eyes wide, “What kind of weird form is that? What do you want from me in the middle of the night?”

The bird’s round beak moved, and Qing Nong’s deliberately lowered voice came through the mirror, “Where’s the Dragon Lord? I need to talk to the Dragon Lord about something—no, wait, it’s Lu Yuanyin who wants to see him!”

Their hushed conversation echoed clearly in the deep night.

At the sound of Lu Yuanyin’s name, Huo Wuyan paused, his fingertips froze. He lifted his eyelids slightly, his gaze coldly fixed on Hong Rong.

On the other end, Qing Nong continued to chatter, but after much whispering, they still hadn’t reached the main point.

Huo Wuyan stared intently at the image in the Mystic Mirror, his voice low and husky, “Where is she?”

Startled by his voice, both Hong Rong and Qing Nong bristled. After a dazed pause, Qing Nong flew quickly toward the slightly open window. Ripples like flowing water spread across the Mystic Mirror, and then the top of a fluffy black head appeared in the mirror.

Qing Nong reached out a claw and tugged at her hair, whispering, “Miss Lu, speak quickly. The Dragon Lord is here.”

Huo Wuyan looked at that fluffy little head, his lips pressed tightly together, when a weak voice, laced with suppressed pain and fear, came from the mirror, sounding both aggrieved and pitiful, “I’m sorry for how I treated you before.”

“But I’m pregnant now, and they forced me to drink an abortion drug.”

“Huo Wuyan, my stomach hurts so much…”

Huo Wuyan’s breath caught, and there was a moment of dead silence in his ears.

Author’s note:

Here we go~

After discussing with the editor, the story will be going VIP tomorrow. Hope you all can support it! _(:3」∠)_