Chapter 1041: "Suffer Your Own Consequences (5)"
"Great Aunt!" Immediately upon seeing Lin Feng being grabbed, Lin Que's heart jumped.
"You have an opinion?" Qu Xin Rui smiled coldly at Lin Que.
Lin Que froze in place, his mouth agape and his shivering continued unabated, as a faint chattering sound could be heard coming out from between his teeth. He slunk down to the ground in obeisance, not daring to utter another word.
"Great Aunt have mercy! I have realised my mistake! I have really realised my mistake!" Having been grabbed and picked up, Lin Feng did not have the mind to worry about the pain that was wrecking at his body at that moment. Upon hearing that Qu Xin Rui wanted him to be disciplined, he knew that he was in really big trouble this time and there was nothing he could not do but to beg and plead loudly.
"Father! Save me..... save me....." Lin Feng's voice was sounding highly terrified.
[He had done wrong, he realised that he had really gotten it all wrong this time. He had never ever thought that Jun Xie could be the Fire Country's Emperor. If he had known, he would have immediately understood Qu Xin Rui's intentions for trying to win Jun Xie's favour, and he wouldn't have dared to be so discourteous to Jun Xie in the first place.]
But Lin Feng himself did not know why he had been unable to hold himself back at all earlier, that had made him utter such self damning words.
A pity Qu Xin Rui did not care, and Lin Que did not dare to care.
Lin Feng was dragged downstairs by that man and when his figure disappeared down the stairs, his screams still reverberated within the banquet.
Qu Xin Rui slowly leaned back upon the long lounge, resting her head upon her hand as she looked at Lin Que kneeling upon the ground and said: "I'll discipline him here for a few days and send him back to you after that. You can get up now."
Lin Que was silent for a moment before he stammered: "I thank Great Aunt for your concern."
He got up and went back quietly to his seat, where he did not say another word after that.
On the rug, the bloodstain thrown up by Lin Feng was still a bright red grisly shade, mixing the stench of blood with the sickly sweet scent that hung heavily in the room.
The sound of the zither then played, as if nothing has happened.
A smile came back onto Qu Xin Rui's face as she turned to Jun Xie at her side. "Little Young Master Jun, do not pay any mind to it. Let me offer you a toast."
Jun Wu Xie raised her cup expressionlessly, accepting the toast from Qu Xin Rui.
"Do not let such ignorant people spoil the mood. Regarding what I have said earlier to little Young Master Jun, I wish that little Young Master Jun will consider it seriously. If you are willing to cooperate, whether to you and me, or to the Fire Country behind you, it will only be highly beneficial to all. Afterall, currently throughout the world, there isn't a ruler anywhere that possesses the power of the Purple Spirit." Qu Xin Rui went on to say, as if she had completely forgotten everything about the incident with Lin Feng, her smile blooming like a flower.
Jun Wu Xie did not know from where Qu Xin Rui found out that she was the Fire Country's Emperor, but she was not about to explain the details to her. Since Qu Xin Rui asked her to consider it, she would then consider it "slowly".
"I will definitely deliberate on it seriously."
Qu Xin Rui smiled. She did not believe that any man throughout this land would not be looking forward to gaining the magnificent powers of the Purple Spirit.
Even as a ruling Emperor, one would still be worried about ageing and the finality of death.
Qu Xin Rui lifted up her wine cup and was about to drink up when she spotted the skin on her own wrist. The expression on her face immediately twisted up.
A loud sharp crash sounded!
Everyone looked up in shock.
Qu Xin Rui had smashed the wine cup she held in her hand upon the floor in resentment, her alluring countenance faintly showing traces of rage.
"Today's banquet ends here and all the guests may now depart!" Qu Xin Rui's face was dark as she held her wrist and suddenly turned around, walking towards the back of the main hall.
The birthday banquet had ended suddenly and the guests were surprised by the sudden turn of events. But as Qu Xin Rui had issued the eviction order, none of them dared to remain there a moment longer as they all shuffled out of the place obediently, except for Lin Feng, whom would not be making it back home that night.
Chapter 1042: "I Don't Need To (1)"
After coming out from the Heavenly Cloud Chambers, Qu Wen Hao stood unmoving in a spot and stared at Jun Xie for a good while, looking like he wanted to say something but finally left without a word.
Lin Que was in despair as he left while the other Clan Chiefs and their deputies bid each other farewell before they all left.
Jun Wu Xie departed from the place with Xiong Ba and Qing Yu and halfway through the journey, it was already very late at night and only the bright red lanterns were still lit in the Thousand Beast City, the streets already completely empty.
"Young Master Jun, how did you suddenly become the Fire Country's Emperor?" Xiong Ba had tried very hard to resist for a very long while and he could not hold himself back anymore as he asked of Jun Xie in a low voice.
He still clearly remembered that Jun Xie had only been a disciple from the Zephyr Academy and although he played the Fire Country's Emperor out completely, he had not seized the opportunity to take on the throne. From what Qu Ling Yue said, hadn't Jun Xie previously heaped the rulership of the Fire Country onto the Crown Prince, Lei Chen at that time?
"I don't know." Jun Wu Xie replied truthfully.
Xiong Ba's face was immediately filled with surprise.
"I know only just as much as both of you." Jun Wu Xie said calmly. She had come to the Thousand Beast City together with Xiong Ba and the others and after they left, whatever Lei Chen actually did then was not known to her at all.
But from the way Qu Xin Rui had reacted, she must have investigated into her identity and the matter about her being the ruling Emperor must have been collaborated.
If there was no problem with Qu Xin Rui's source of information, then it could only mean that the Fire Country had done something after she had departed from the country.
At first, Lei Chen had been insistent for Jun Xie to ascend to the throne, but Jun Wu Xie had relentlessly given him the runaround and distracted Lei Chen from the issue completely. Jun Wu Xie had then quickly left the place without even a word, and came to the Thousand Beast City with Xiong Ba and the others. She had thought that she would be able to forget everything about the Fire Country cleanly, but from the way things looked at the moment, things were not exactly going the way she had anticipated.
Having suddenly become the Emperor of the Fire Country for no good reason, Jun Wu Xie did not find it the least bit amusing.
Xiong Ba and Qing Yu exchanged a look between themselves, and knowing that Jun Xie was not a person prone to lies, they believed what the youth said.
"From Qu Xin Rui's demeanor, she intends to poach you. Barring that it's something completely unexpected, she must be eyeing the might behind the Fire Country, to help her further the exploration of the region around that map." Xiong Ba reasoned.
"But from what she said, she seems to be willing to use the powers of the Purple Spirit in exchange. But..... the powers of the Purple Spirit, can be bestowed upon a person by others?" That was one point that Xiong Ba had not been able to understand. If Qu Xin Rui had the ability to give others the powers of the Purple Spirit, wouldn't that be just absolutely Heaven defying?
Jun Wu Xie did not reply. Xiong Ba and Qing Yu were people in the Lower Realm and they would naturally not know that there exists a method that enabled people to temporarily raise their spirit powers in the Middle Realm. But she noted that Qu Xin Rui method of trying to win her over was the same as what the original owner of the ring had experienced.
They were both baited with the might of the Purple Spirit, to lure them to the hook.
Although Jun Wu Xie had never met that person, but she already acknowledged him as her Master. Having the disciple put in the same situation as her Master, to be confronted with the same temptation, had seemed like fate was at play.
"Young Master Jun, you wouldn't really be..... thinking of cooperating with Qu Xin Rui would you?" Xiong Ba asked, looking worriedly at Jun Xie. It wasn't that he did not believe in Jun Xie's character, but it was because the lure Qu Xin Rui threw out was really alluring.
What Jun Xie seeked, Qu Xin Rui was able to provide, and even help him attain the Purple Spirit. But the Thousand Beast City on the other hand, had besides that one piece of map, nothing else to offer Jun Xie and Xiong Ba could not help himself but to become worried.
"I don't need to." Jun Wu Xie replied.
Chapter 1043: "I Don't Need To (2)"
With Jun Xie assuring words, Xiong Ba and Qing Yu were finally able to set their hearts which had been hanging by a thread at ease.
Although it was merely four words uttered by Jun Xie, it gave them a great sense of security.
"Cough, if it were up to me to say, do you think there is something wrong with Lin Feng today? Everything was going on fine but he had somehow insisted to seek his own death before that old hag of a Qu Xin Rui? He might be usually highly arrogant, but in front of Qu Xin Rui, he has always observed the necessary decorum. But today, he seemed to have taken the wrong medication and seemed to have lost his mind." The finally relieved Xiong Ba immediately changed the topic.
Lin Feng's actions today, had really stunned everyone at the banquet.
To dare to slap Qu Xin Rui across the face during her own birthday banquet, Lin Feng was definitely the first in the entire Thousand Beast City. As Xiong Ba did not really like Lin Feng all that much, having gotten to witness Qu Xin Rui being angered to such a rage was rather satisfying for him.
"He took wrong medication indeed." Jun Wu Xie told him expressionlessly, the corners of her mouth curling up into an almost indiscernible sneer.
No one knew that when Lin Feng offered her the toast, he had spiked the wine.
When the wine cup was brought over, it had already been smeared with poison. Any other person might not have been able to detect it, but Jun Wu Xie had found that something was suspicious with just a single whiff. The very faint scent had been covered by the smell of alcohol and it could have been easily mistaken as the fragrance of the wine but it had not escaped Jun Wu Xie's alert senses.
A great pity it was, under the Heavens, a poison that would be able to take her down had still not been developed.
Since Lin Feng dared to play the game, she couldn't very well not return the favour.
All favours done for you must be reciprocated in return, and that was merely the "polite" thing to do.
When Jun Wu Xie poured out the wine for Lin Feng, she had already drawn out her silver needle and had it hidden between her fingers. Under the cover of the wine flask, she had poured the wine over the tip of the needle before it fell into Lin Feng's wine cup. Her silver needle had been small and fine and she had only exposed it by such a tiny bit that no one would even see it.
Qing Yu stared at Jun Wu Xie. Her words had just made him feel stronger about the guess he had been holding in his heart and he could not help himself but to ask: "Young Master Jun, did you..... drug Lin Feng earlier?"
Xiong Ba's eyes grew wide. It was obvious he did not have the slightest idea that Jun Xie could have drugged Lin Feng.
"Mmm." Jun Wu Xie nodded without hiding it.
Xiong Ba's face was twisted in shock while Qing Yu's face showed that he had guessed it in his mind.
"I had thought, why had Lin Feng suddenly turned so stupid. I had only been suspicious, until I saw your signal, and I immediately understood that all of that had been your doing." Qing Yu said.
If not for that glance from Jun Xie, he would not have stood forth and said those words.
"What did you actually drug him with?" Qing Yu asked curiously.
"It was just something trifle. It wouldn't have killed him, but had just weakened his sense of self control." Jun Wu Xie said with a cold voice. That couldn't be considered to be a form of poison but would have an effect on a person's mood and emotions, digging into a person's negativity and make him release all that the heart tries hardest to suppress. That was one of the drugs that she had developed based on the organization's requirements, to use on those members of their organization who have suppressed themselves for too long, to give vent to their emotions. The duration of the effects of that drug was very short and after they have vented it out, all they needed was a certain amount of provocative stimulation and the effects would be completely nullified, and the target would immediately regain their senses.
In terms of the damage it inflicted, this drug could be considered to be the most gentle one she had at her disposal.
But.....
Under exceptional circumstances, and at special times, it could bring about amazing effects.
With Qu Xin Rui's petty and spiteful nature, how would she allow a insignificant young youth like Lin Feng to snub her so completely during her own birthday banquet?
Chapter 1044: "I Don't Need To (3)"
To deal with Lin Feng, Jun Wu Xie did not even need to lift her own hand. She only needed to introduce a little stimulant into Lin Feng's body and Qu Xin Rui would help her to do the rest.
To punish an opponent, sometimes, one did not need to dirty one's hands.
Xiong Ba and Qing Yu stared at Jun Xie and the two of them shivered involuntarily.
Lin Feng was finished for sure this time. Having fallen into Qu Xin Rui's hands, even if he managed to live through it, he would definitely be at least hopelessly crippled. Jun Xie's hand, killing with a borrowed knife, was played very quickly and devastating. So quick that Lin Feng still did not know that it had all been Jun Xie behind it.
Jun Xie was seen to be small and skinny in size, unexceptional in looks, but that shrewd mind.....
Whew~
The two of them secretly told themselves, that they must never offend this one here, or they wouldn't even know what killed them even upon the very moment of death.
When they got back to the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall, the three of them parted to get some rest.
Jun Wu Xie sat in her room and snapped her fingers, which immediately summoned Ye Sha to appear within the room.
"Young Miss."
"You found anything?" Jun Wu Xie asked, looking at Ye Sha.
Ye Sha answered: "Within the Heavenly Cloud Chambers, there are a total of four people who hold powers at the Purple Spirit and above. The most powerful among them is not Qu Xin Rui. Qu Xin Rui's powers is not considered the highest among those four people."
"Oh?" Jun Wu Xie lifted an eyebrow. Xiong Ba had said those powerful pugilists around Qu Xin Rui were all her subordinates. But if she were to base it on what Ye Sha had told her, things were not as simple as they seemed. The general rule among the Twelve Palaces had always been survival of the fittest and unless one was highborn, otherwise, the powers they possessed spoke the loudest.
Qu Xin Rui was not the most powerful among them, and she had been born in the Lower Realm. According to reason, the position she held shouldn't be higher than the other three people.
"Looks like, this Qu Xin Rui is putting on an act." Jun Wu Xie reasoned, rubbing at her chin.
"There's one more thing, that your subordinate finds rathe fishy." Ye Sha said.
"What is it?"
"Your subordinate felt a very strange energy within the Heavenly Cloud Chambers. That surge of energy reminds your subordinate of the Soul Return Palace among the Twelve Palaces. The Soul Return Palace had always excelled in manipulating spirits to turn things to their advantage. If your subordinate's gut feeling is right, within the Heavenly Cloud Chambers, there should be a certain spirit tool from the Soul Return Palace in use." Ye Sha said.
"Did you manage to find out what it was?"
"I did not. I did not have enough time. The other three people from the Soul Return Palace were on that level and your subordinate was unable to investigate further into it without alerting them."
Jun Wu Xie nodded. At least she knew that their opponent was the Soul Return Palace.
.....
Back in the Heavenly Cloud Chambers, all the favoured men had been chased out and sent to the second level, and the way upstairs was guarded.
On the seventh level, Qu Xin Rui sat in front of the dressing table, looking at her own beautiful countenance in the copper mirror. The alluring features were reflected inside the copper mirror but the expression did not show the slightest trace of joy or admiration.
Qu Xin Rui's brows were creased up tightly together, and her eyes stared hard into the copper mirror as they swept over the reflection of her eyes, brows, lips and nose before she lowered her head to look at her own wrist.
Around her wrist, wrapped under the smooth skin, a piece of crinkled up flesh was showing. That palm sized area when compared to the smooth and fair skin in the other areas, had lost its original elasticity, and the skin had turned a dark yellow, filled with wrinkles all over, where some faint brown spots were even seen scattered over that portion of her skin.
Qu Xin Rui's eyes were filled with fear and panic. She kept reaching her hand out, wanting to wipe away that piece of old and aged skin, but it was to no avail. Caught up in distraught and anxiety, she suddenly swept everything upon the dressing table onto the ground!
The clear and loud clatter of the fallen items rang out within the Heavenly Cloud Chambers deep in the night.
Chapter 1045: "Invite (1)"
On the second day after Qu Xin Rui's birthday banquet, a group of people gathered outside the Heavenly Cloud Chambers at dawn. They were all female and their looks varied across all levels, dressed in all different clothes, but on their faces, they all looked just as sorrowful.
They all stood outside the Heavenly Cloud Chambers, their gazes fixed longingly upon their family members who had sent them here, not knowing when the next time they would be seeing their family.
People came out from within the Heavenly Cloud Chambers and there were ten horse carriages stopped outside as well. The men from the Heavenly Cloud Chambers then hastened the womenfolk onto the horse carriages, completely severing all the last vestiges of longing from their minds.
As the wheels trundled to move along, all the other people crowded around the Heavenly Cloud Chambers could do nothing but watch on as their wives and children gradually moved further away from them, and no matter how much they hated what they were forced to bear, there wasn't anything they could do about it.
Ten horse carriages rolled out through the gates of the Thousand Beast City as they slowly moved towards the mountainous forests. They went past a little swathe of woods and were passing through a little village of the Thousand Beast City's.
"Look! They're here." A plainly dressed youth said as he tapped his companion lightly on the shoulder.
The youth who was eating turned his head around and through the little window of the inn, he saw a convoy of horse carriages.
"Innkeeper, keep the change!" The youth wiped his mouth hurriedly with the back of his hand, and threw down a nugget of silver on the table before the two companions picked up their legs and swooshed outside.
"Their timing is right on the dot." Qiao Chu said as he stared at the row of horse carriages, his eyes slightly narrowed. They had waited at this village outside the Thousand Beast City for a rather long period of time and their target had finally appeared.
"Inform Brother Hua and the others, that they do not need to watch the other gates anymore." Qiao Chu turned his head to say to Rong Ruo.
The five of them had split up and had been watching the four city gates of the Thousand Beast City from the villages just outside and Qiao Chu had been waiting here in this one with Rong Ruo.
Rong Ruo released her Hell Butterflies soundlessly and several Hell Butterflies fluttered their wings under the sunlight before flying off in different directions while Qiao Chu and Rong Ruo followed behind the team of horse carriages, quickly disappearing into the woods.
"Those people have moved out." Xiong Ba had woken up very early today. He had not rushed or hurried himself to go attend to the matters of the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall, but had instead come to Jun Xie's room.
Every month at this time, this mournful scene of sad and tearful parting would play out at the Thousand Beast City where long separated family members who had been reunited for merely one short month would have to be forcibly separated once again.
"Young Master Jun. Are you really confident that you would be able to find out the location of the place our people have been imprisoned?" Xiong Ba asked of Jun Xie. After arriving at the Thousand Beast City, Jun Xie had not taken much action here. Although he knew that Jun Xie's companions had split up and parted from them just before they came into the city proper, to make their respective preparations, Xiong Ba could not help himself but feel highly anxious about the whole thing at that moment.
If they did not succeed this time, they would have to wait one whole month. And within that one additional long month, it was not known how many more issues might come up.
Since Qu Xin Rui fully intended to win Jun Xie over, it was expected that she would take action quite soon.
"Mm." Jun Wu Xie nodded, acknowledging as expressionlessly as she always did.
Xiong Ba was on the other hand on the edge of his nerves, pacing around the room endlessly.
Which almost drove Jun Wu Xie dizzy.
"You're worried?"
Xiong Ba froze a moment. "This..... I can't help being worried..... Better to resolve it quickly before more problems crop up."
"There is no need for that." Jun Wu Xie said: "Whether it succeeds or not, is not something you and I can change now. With Dumb Qiao and the others out there, we will naturally have to leave it in their hands to deal with it. Since it is something we cannot do anything about, why should we get ourselves all flustered about it?"
Thinking too much about it might not be a good thing. Considering other options within your power wouldn't be wrong, but when things are in the hands of others, no matter how much one worried about it, would be of no use, but only mess up your mind together with your emotions.
Chapter 1046: "Invite (2)"
As she spoke, Jun Wu Xie poured Xiong Ba a cup of tea and Xiong Ba drank it up in a single gulp. It was rather strange, but the anxiety and nerves were seemingly slowly soothed by the fragrance of the tea and Xiong Ba managed to calm down quite a bit. He took a seat on a chair at the side and looked like his raging emotions had settled quite a bit.
But before Xiong Ba was able to completely calm himself down, Qing Xu came running, in a worried fluster.
"People from the Heavenly Cloud Chambers are here." Qing Yu said with a deep frown on his face.
Xiong Ba shot to his feet from the chair. "What are people from the Heavenly Cloud Chambers here for?"
Qing Yu's gaze fell upon the figure of Jun Xie.
"Qu Xin Rui would like to invite Young Master Jun for a visit to the Heavenly Cloud Chambers."
Xiong Ba's face immediately darkened. He had just been worried that Qu Xin Rui would take action soon to poach Jun Xie and it had now resulted in this. They had just met last night and Qu Xin Rui had already sent people here bright and early in the morning to invite Jun Xie over there.
Jun Wu Xie stood up and said: "I'll go."
"You cannot!" Xiong Ba was immediately displeased. The terror that Qu Xin Rui was in his heart made Xiong Ba not dare to have Jun Xie come into such close contact with Qu Xin Rui.
Jun Wu Xie swung her gaze over to Xiong Ba and said: "Do you wish that I go over voluntarily or to see me forcibly dragged over there by the people from the Heavenly Cloud Chambers?"
Qing Yu then added: "One of Qu Xin Rui's close aides came this time."
Xiong Ba was immediately speechless.
All of Qu Xin Rui's close aides possessed the power of the Purple Spirit and if Jun Xie refused the invitation, the other party might very well do it by force.
What was really depressing was the fact that they would not be able to defeat him!
"You have to be very careful. Qu Xin Rui is really not a good person." Xiong Ba said, looking at Jun Xie very seriously.
Jun Wu Xie nodded and stood up to leave.
A tall man was standing at the main doors of the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall and that was the man that Jun Wu Xie had seen at the birthday banquet last night. He was the man who had dragged Lin Feng out from the banquet. According to Ye Sha's observations, this man's powers, was the strongest among the four people together with Qu Xin Rui.
"Young Master Jun." A smile came upon the man's face when he saw Jun Xie, but within that pair of sharp eyes, there was a tiny hidden tinge of disdain.
Jun Wu Xie acted as if she did not notice the disdain that the man tried to hide and nodded expressionlessly to him.
"We will like to trouble Young Master Jun to make a trip to the Heavenly Cloud Chambers. Miss Qu said that she had not had a chance to have a good chat with Young Master Jun about some things and she asked us to come invite you to go over." The man's mouth was smiling as he spoke, and his tone was highly respectful, but those eyes of his did not show the slightest bit of sincerity.
"I've caused you trouble." Jun Wu Xie said.
"Young Master Jun is too courteous. My name is Shen Chi, and I shall be escorting Young Master Jun there." Shen Chi said with a smile, while his eyes measured the tiny figure of Jun Xie.
[This puny one here is the Emperor of the mightiest country of the Lower Realm?]
Jun Wu Xie's gaze then turned to stare at Shen Chi.
Shen Chi retracted his contemptuous gaze and smiled: "Is anything the matter, Young Master Jun?"
"Your surname is Shen?" Jun Wu Xie asked, frowning slightly.
Shen Chi smiled and nodded his head.
Jun Wu Xie did not say anything more and just followed Shen Chi to make their way to the Heavenly Cloud Chambers.
The main door of the Heavenly Cloud Chambers opened for Jun Wu Xie without the slightest obstruction and Jun Wu Xie went straight up to the top floor.
On the top level, the sweet smell was thicker and more intense than it was last night and lightly clothed men were sitting and kneeling upon the soft and plush floor rugs while Qu Xin Rui lay upon the long lounge chair like before, her half narrowed eyes looking at Jun Xie as he slowly approached. Her posture was highly alluring as her pair of endlessly long smooth legs peeked, partly invisible below her dress.
"Little Young Master Jun, you're here. All of you are dismissed." Qu Xin Rui said, waving her hands nonchalantly at the favoured men around her.
Chapter 1047: "Invite (3)"
The favoured men obediently retreated from the room and in the hall on the top floor, only Jun Wu Xie, Qu Xin Rui and Shen Chi were the only three people left. Jun Wu Xie sat down upon a chair at the side while Shen Chi just stood on one side.
"I was overcome by the alcohol last night and had to go rest early, where I had not been able to have a good chat with little Young Master Jun, which I found to be a great shame." Qu Xin Rui said, looking mournfully at Jun Xie, her mannerisms seductive. "I had intended to chat a little bit more with Young Master Jun last night but Lin Feng had unexpectedly spoiled the entire mood. Lin Feng is from our Thousand Beast City and he had been extremely discourteous to little Young Master Jun. I hope that little Young Master Jun would not take offence towards it."
Upon saying that, Qu Xin Rui lifted her chin towards Shen Chi to signal to him. Shen Chi immediately turned and went downstairs, returning in a short while as he dragged a shabbily clothed youth as he walked in.
All four of the youth's limbs had been forcibly broken by people and were twisted up at odd angles. As he was dragged in by Shen Chi, the blood from the youth's body drew a red trail behind him over the snow white fox furs on the ground. The bright scarlet blood trail appeared especially striking against the pure white and it was seen that a metal ring had been locked around the youth's neck. A thick chain of two finger width was attached to the metal ring that was gripped in Shen Chi's hands on the other end. With both legs broken and unable to walk and both hands twisted up behind his back, the youth could only lie helplessly upon the ground as he was dragged over the floor by Shen Chi to come become Jun Xie.
"Lin Feng is almost about to turn eighteen and is no longer a child. If he commits a wrong, he would naturally have to take responsibility for his actions. I wonder if little Young Master Jun is satisfied with the punishment I have given him?" Qu Xin Rui said, swinging her feet down to the ground and walking to come right before the youth, before lifting up his chin with the tip of her foot.
With his head raised, Jun Wu Xie was able to see clearly the youth's face.
That youth was not anyone else but the one who had angered Qu Xin Rui last night, Lin Feng!
But at that moment, Lin Feng looked completely different from the way he had yesterday!
{{ The face which had been considered to be rather good looking was now streaked with blood, both his eyes sewn shut with thread, his dry lips split and his mouth agape, with blood dried at the corners of his mouth. With his mouth open, it could be seen that his teeth had been smashed and broken pieces of the roots showed still lodged in his gums, and that his tongue had been pulled completely out! }}
If not for the fact that his facial features had not changed, who would have ever linked this barely half alive person to the Young Chief of the Icy Frost Clan?
Jun Wu Xie looked indifferently at the wretched state that Lin Feng had been reduced into. It had only been one night and Qu Xin Rui had already gotten Lin Feng tortured to such a state. At that moment, Jun Wu Xie finally understood why Lin Que had fallen into such despair the very moment he saw Shen Chi appear.
Lin Que must have already known at that moment, what the result of having Lin Feng falling into Shen Chi's hands would be.
All four limbs broken, eyes unable to see, mouth unable to speak, Lin Feng lay weakly in a hapless heap upon the ground, moans and groans of pain escaping faintly from his dry and hoarse throat.
Qu Xin Rui secretly observed Jun Xie's reaction and only discovered that Jun Xie's reaction was a lot calmer than she thought. After seeing the state Lin Feng was in, Jun Xie had not shown the slightest trace of shock or horror and that pair of eyes had just remained as cold and as indifferent as ever, without one single ripple of emotion.
"Miss Qu invited me to come here just to let me see this?" Jun Wu Xie turned her head coldly, not the slightest bit of sympathy for Lin Feng in her heart, nor the tiniest sliver of fear towards Qu Xin Rui's cruel and vicious methods.
Qu Xin Rui held her hand close to cover her mouth and gave a light laugh: "Of course not. That was just to show little Young Master Jun a little bit of my sincerity that's all."
Chapter 1048: "Cradle Snatcher (1)"
An eyebrow lifted up on Jun Wu Xie's face.
"Sincerity?"
Qu Xin Rui said: "Has little Young Master Jun forgotten what I said to you yesterday? Although an Emperor possesses the highest authourity in his lands, but he would finally still be unable to escape the deterioration brought about by time. If little Young Master Jun is willing to lend support to my goals, you will be able to wipe that biggest worry of ruling Emperors from your mind. I showed Lin Feng to little Young Master Jun because I just wanted little Young Master Jun to know, that I am truly sincere in cooperating with you. If you agree to it, you and I will be seen as one, and anyone who disparages you will be my enemy, even if he is one of my men, no one will be spared." Qu Xin Rui said as she leaned her body over towards Jun Xie.
Her body was curved in all the right places and dressed very lightly in very thin clothes as she leaned into Ju Xie's body, her alluring eyes looking highly coquettish.
Jun Wu Xie did not react but just looked coldly at Qu Xin Rui who had stuck herself to her.
"Little Young Master Jun. Have you finished thinking about it since yesterday? Are you willing to cooperate and work together with me?" Qu Xin Rui said, looking at Jun Xie.
Jun Wu Xie frowned slightly. There was a strange fragrance coming from Qu Xin Rui's body and from what she could smell, that scent was slightly overpowering. Jun Wu Xie slightly shifted her body to move away from Qu Xin Rui.
"I wonder what kind of help does Miss Qu expect from me?"
Qu Xin Rui noticed Jun Xie avoiding her and she was feeling rather displeased, but her attention was quickly drawn away by Jun Xie's questions right after that.
"I hold a map in my hands, and on that map is marked a humongous treasure, but the map is however incomplete. I only have a rough indication of the location of the treasure and am unable to find it's exact location. If little Young Master Jun is willing to use the Fire Country's might to help me search for the treasure's exact location, even before the deed is done, I will teach little Young Master Jun how to turn into the Purple Spirit and after finding the treasure, I am also willing to share the treasures with Young Master Jun."
Jun Wu Xie looked at Qu Xin Rui, with her honeyed mouth and belly filled with swords and Jun Wu Xie laughed coldly to herself in her heart. Treasure? That must be the cheap trick the people in the Twelve Palaces were using to fool the people in the Lower Realm. The treasure they mentioned with their mouths was actually the Dark Emperor's tomb and when they actually say they would share the exploits just made it sound like a bigger joke to Jun Wu Xie.
The Twelve Palaces had in order to fight for the Dark Emperor's tomb, not even been willing to work with the other palaces. Among them, they held almost a complete set of the map but in seeking to hog the entire treasure to themselves, they had been willing to spent that much more time and expend that much more effort but just refused to gather themselves to work together.
If they really manage to locate the treasure, the first thing they would do would be to silence everyone else. There would be no chance of them really honouring their words to split the treasure with anyone.
Qu Xin Rui's words were just so highly laughable to Jun Wu Xie and she really could not understand how so many powerful pugilists across the lands could be hoodwinked by such childish words of foolery from the Twelve Palaces, willing to sell their lives for the Twelve Palaces so foolishly?
They thought that they had stumbled upon a chance to gain unimaginable wealth and unparalleled power, not knowing in the end they would not even be alive.
In regards to the intelligence to those people, Jun Wu Xie really could not find the words to describe them.
"If it is about something like this, why would Miss Qu need me for? The might of the Thousand Beast City should be more than ample to deal with that wouldn't it?" Jun Wu Xie replied, without giving any affirmative reply.
Qu Xin Rui would naturally not deride her own people and said: "The Thousand Beast City might be enough to complete the task, but woe befell me when I unintentionally saw little Young Master Jun's portrait! Although little Young Master Jun is still rather young but your aura of eminence as a ruler was extraordinary which really moved my heart."
Chapter 1049: "Cradle Snatcher (2)"
The little black cat who was being carried inside Jun Wu Xie's arms had upon hearing Qu Xin Rui's words, almost exploded in rage.
[What in the hell!]
[This goddamned old hag who has lived too long was actually thinking of seducing its Mistress!]
[How decadent!]
[This old hag was obviously a disgusting cradle snatcher!]
If not for the fact the current moment wasn't suitable for them to retaliate, the little black cat would just loved to leap onto Qu Xin Rui's face and scratch an entire chessboard out from it.
Qu Xin Rui had been so blatant and straightforward with her words and regardless how dense Jun Wu Xie could be with these things, she would still be able to detect Qu Xin Rui's undisguised hint.
In both her past and present life, this was the first time someone had confessed their liking for her and it had even been an old hag, which did not exactly let Jun Wu Xie feel any of the joy one felt from a "confession" of love.
"Little Young Master Jun, why aren't you saying anything? Don't tell me Young Master Jun does not think I am good enough?" Qu Xin Rui asked, looking forlornly at Jun Xie, the expression on her face showing hurt, but in her heart, she was highly confident of herself. Her looks in the entire Thousand Beast City was one of the most attractive and Jun Xie was merely a immature and inexperienced little kid. Even though he had ascended to become a ruler, he would still not have much experience and with the tricks she had up her sleeve, which man could escape her clutches?
Jun Wu Xie had initially thought of dragging it out with Qu Xin Rui but for some unknown reason, she suddenly felt that she did not want to continue on with these sham gestures of politeness with Qu Xin Rui anymore.
She stood up suddenly and stared at the limp and languid Qu Xin Rui to say: "In regards to Miss Qu's suggestion, I will seriously consider it. I still have some things to attend to and if there isn't anything else, I'll be going back now." Upon saying that, Jun Wu Xie did not wait for Qu Xin Rui to reply and wanted to leave.
Shen Chi was suddenly blocking her way right in front of her, the same hypocritical smile hanging upon his face.
Qu Xin Rui was surprised for a moment. She had not thought that with her having tried to seduce the youth so openly and invitingly, Jun Xie still did not react to her in the slightest, and had even..... even showed that he could not wait to a moment longer to avoid her.
Having always had complete confidence with her own charms, it was quite a while before Qu Xin Rui recovered from the fact of what just happened. She raised her head up and stared at Jun Xie who had his way blocked by Shen Chi and a trace of rage flashed in her eyes.
Never had a single man even once disregarded her beauty so completely!
Qu Xin Rui walked slowly to come beside Jun Xie and both her arms raised up slightly, to fall and hold Jun Xie upon the shoulders.
"Jun, my love, you're leaving just like that? Do you really hate talking to me all that much?" Qu Xin Rui said, looking sadly at Jun Xie, looking like she would stick her entire body against Jun Xie's back next.
She was taller in stature than Jun Xie and with her having hugged Jun Xie from the back, Jun Wu Xie was able to clearly feel the shapely curves of a woman's body.
A cold chill shot through Jun Wu Xie's body and she forced herself to calm down.
"I have things to attend to." Jun Wu Xie said coldly.
Qu Xin Rui blinked her eyes and leaned upon Jun Xie's shoulder. Like thunder that hits before you can cover your ears, Qu Xin Rui planted a kiss firmly on Jun Xie's cheek.
Jun Wu Xie froze in her spot at that moment.
Qu Xin Rui looked at Jun Wu Xie's stunned expression and a smile bloomed in her heart. As she had expected, the kid was still very green.
"It's alright, since my man has something to attend to, I shall not hold you back anymore. You should think through it clearly fast, and not make me get too anxious waiting." Immediately upon saying that, Qu Xin Rui released her grip and lifted her chin in a gesture to Shen Chi.
Finally having escaped from Qu Xin Rui's claws, Jun Wu Xie slowly blinked her eyes, her gaze looking a little dazed. After Shen Chi moved away, Jun Wu Xie carried the little black cat in her arms as she walked down the stairs without any expression on her face.
The little black cat curled up within Jun Wu Xie's arms and lifted its head to look at its Mistress whose expression on her face was looking rather queer.
[It's over, all over!]
Its pure and untainted Mistress, had been taken advantage of by an old hag!
.....
Chapter 1050: "Cradle Snatcher (3)"
When Jun Wu Xie walked out from the Heavenly Cloud Chambers, there wasn't a trace of an expression on her face. Her consciousness had seemed like it had been frozen and her gaze just stared straight ahead in front of her.
Little Black was a little panicked. It lifted its tiny paw and pawed at Jun Wu Xie's hand.
"Meow."
[Mistress, what happened to you? Do not scare me like this!]
Jun Wu Xie did not reply and only hastened her steps and walked quickly towards the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall.
Inside the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall, Xiong Ba and Qing Yu were waiting for Jun Xie to return and when they finally saw Jun Xie coming in completely expressionless after having waited so long, they were all ready to ask Jun Xie what Qu Xin Rui had spoken to him about.
In the end, before they could even open their mouths, Jun Xie had been just like a gust of wind that whirled past them and then disappeared from before their eyes.
The two men were left standing at the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall's main doors staring dumbly, completely flabbergasted.
"What is wrong with Jun Xie? He seemed to be acting a little strange." Xiong Ba said still standing dumbly by the doors. Seeing Jun Xie acting like this, Xiong Ba was thinking that something bad must have happened. He had immediately wanted to immediately go after the youth in pursuit but was stopped by Qing Yu pulling him back.
"What?" Xiong Ba asked.
Qing Yu sighed and then said: "I think that Young Master Jun would not wish for anyone to go disturb him at this moment. Even if anything really happened, we should wait till..... later in the afternoon and see."
Jun Xie always had a cold expression on her face, but today, Qing Yu had noticed that Jun Xie's expression did not look right, thinking it was cold and rather frightening. Instinct told her that it was better not to go ask Jun Xie about it for the moment.
Xiong Ba contemplated on it for a while before he decided to listen to Qing Yu, while cursing at Qu Xin Rui another million times in his heart.
Jun Wu Xie walked back quickly into her room and slammed the door shut with a loud bang. Lord Meh Meh and the Sacrificial Blood Rabbit wobbled over to adorably ask for cuddles but were both completely ignored by Jun Wu Xie. She put the little black cat down at the side and turned to go into the washroom to scoop out a ladle of water from the wooden bucket, before pouring it into the wooden basin.
Jun Wu Xie applied some medicated water upon her face and changed back to her original looks. She immediately scooped out the icy cold water and splashed it upon her face. Spring had not yet broken and the weather was still cold. The water was like ice and its chill was bitingly cold. But Jun Wu Xie did not seem to take any notice of it and just continued to scoop up the water to scrub at her fair snowy white face.
The snowy white skin very quickly turned slightly red under the biting chill of the icy water, but Jun Wu Xie still did not seem to want to stop.
"Meh....." Lord Meh Meh stared at the abnormal actions of its feedstress and it fell back a step in fear. Its sharp animal instinct had made it feel that Jun Wu Xie's aura didn't feel right.
Even the Sacrificial Blood Rabbit did not dare to kick up a fuss but just hugged its big floppy ears and stood there looking up at Jun Wu Xie.
The little black cat gritted its teeth and with a swoosh, leapt onto the shelf beside Jun Wu Xie.
"You cannot continue to wash yourself like this." The little black cat called out anxiously. The water was too cold and if Jun Wu Xie continued on like this, her face would really get frostbitten.
Jun Wu Xie stared completely unaware at the wooden basin in front of her, the action of her hands still not stopping in the slightest.
The only emotion she was feeling at that moment was disgust.
So disgusted was she that she wished fervently she could peel her entire face off to wash it thoroughly.
The little black cat's incessant pleas were of no use and it could do nothing but groan anxiously at the side.
It knew Jun Wu Xie's personality better than anyone else. She had always hated to have any physical contact with other people the most and needless to say when she was thoroughly kissed by such a loathsome and disgusting old witch! Jun Wu Xie who had always been almost freakishly obsessed with cleanliness must really be on the very verge of going mad at this moment!
"Little Xie, didn't you promise me that you would take good care of yourself?"