Chapter 19: The Bodyguard's Loyalty Remains Uncertain

  "What’s the matter? Have you not realized your mistake?"

  Elder Wu looked at the divine maiden’s unusual expression with some confusion.

  "No... It’s true that I was too hasty."

  Ye Xueyi fell silent for a moment before admitting her mistake.

  The truth was too shameful to speak, so she had no choice but to take the blame.

  Just like before when her attempt failed, she merely claimed that he had some treasure to resist the Soul Summoning Bell.

  Once the bell rang, he immediately lost consciousness, which was why she failed to extract any information.

  "Hmm, I came here just to remind you not to let him come over these next two days."

  Elder Wu nodded with satisfaction.

  Ye Xueyi: "..."

  Didn’t he say before leaving that he wouldn’t be coming over for the next two days?

  This scoundrel actually knew how to take things step by step. How… considerate of him!

  She almost gritted her teeth in frustration, but she managed to keep her expression in check.

  "Did you manage to extract any important information?"

  Elder Wu continued to ask.

  Ye Xueyi shook her head in silence.

  Not only did she fail to get any information, but she had also paid a steep price herself.

  "That’s to be expected. He is, after all, the Empress’s favored minister. He must have some cunning."

  "Don’t be discouraged. He won’t be able to withstand our methods forever."

  Elder Wu offered words of comfort.

  "...Elder, perhaps you should take the sect members and leave. It’s too dangerous to stay here."

  "You should leave quickly. I will handle everything here."

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  Ye Xueyi hesitated for a moment before speaking with urgency.

  If the sect members left, she would have no more concerns and wouldn’t be used as leverage.

  "No, Xueyi. Since we came together, we must stand and fall together."

  "As long as we work together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish."

  Elder Wu shook her head firmly, refusing to leave.

  Ye Xueyi saw the determination in the elder’s expression, and her heart sank with helplessness.

  Doomed!

  Staying here only meant being used as leverage against her, offering no real help.

  Everyone had been exposed!

  But since she wasn’t in the decision-making role, she couldn’t change the elder’s mind.

  So... was she just doomed to suffer even more?

  The divine maiden felt that her future had truly turned bleak.

  What could she do? What choices did she have?

  If she hadn’t faced him a second time, she might still have confidence in dealing with that scoundrel.

  But now, all that confidence had long been shattered.

  He could always find her weaknesses and suppress her perfectly.

  At this moment, she even started to admire those demonic women from the Devil Sect.

  Manipulating and completely controlling a man was no easy task!

  Lost in thought, Ye Xueyi failed to notice the complicated expression in Elder Wu’s eyes.

  In truth, staying wasn’t just an excuse—she had a mission that even the divine maiden didn’t know about.

  Meanwhile—

  Su Qing was preparing to meet his beloved Empress for their daily interactions.

  But before that, he needed to bathe and change.

  He couldn’t meet his Empress while carrying strange scents.

  Otherwise, that would be disrespectful.

  Truly, he was such a clean and considerate man!

  He arrived at the bathhouse, sat by the edge for a moment, and stretched lazily.

  Then, feeling a slight strain, he held his waist and decided to rest before entering the water.

  Despite his enhanced physique, the past two days had been exhausting.

  He felt that Ye Xueyi’s endurance far surpassed that of an ordinary person—perhaps due to her unique constitution.

  The shadows flickered, revealing a slight disturbance.

  Clearly, the person hiding inside had encountered some trouble.

  "Shenyue, come out."

  Su Qing took the opportunity to connect with his bodyguard.

  Upon hearing his command, a tall figure clad in leather emerged before him.

  Her usually emotionless eyes now carried a hint of complexity.

  She said nothing, but it was clear she felt uneasy.

  "Do you look down on what I’ve done?"

  Su Qing took the initiative to ask.

  "No matter what orders you give, I will carry them out unconditionally."

  Shenyue responded in a neutral tone.

  Though she said this, the underlying meaning was evident to anyone who listened.

  But to Su Qing, this level of obedience was far from enough.

  As someone who knew the plot, he was well aware of the hidden dangers.

  In the game, he had likely been oblivious, blindly committing questionable acts.

  And with each event, his supposedly loyal bodyguard became increasingly uneasy.

  In the end, she defected to the enemy—something that had been foreshadowed during this period.

  Since Su Qing was aware of this hidden risk, he wouldn’t let it develop unchecked.

  The process of taming his bodyguard had now officially begun!

  "Ah, Shenyue, I thought you’d understand. After all, you also lurk in the shadows."

  "We should have a shared understanding. Our beliefs should align."

  "Even if it means descending into eternal darkness, I will carve out new lands for the Empress!"

  "If I don’t do this, who else will? Who else can truly realize the Empress’s dream of peace?"

  "How can you not understand? Why do you not understand?!"

  Though Su Qing was subtly manipulating her, his emotions grew increasingly intense, and he even stood up.

  Was he merely indulging himself?

  No! This was infiltrating enemy ranks in a special way to gain strength!

  Couldn’t she see how hard he was working? Couldn’t she see how much his power had increased?

  This was no different from diligent cultivation!

  "...I understand your noble intentions, Master. But could you release me first?"

  After a brief silence, Shenyue finally spoke.

  From the moment she started speaking, Su Qing had been closing in on her.

  She instinctively retreated until she was backed against the wall.

  And Su Qing, showing no restraint, executed a perfect *kabedon*.

  To be trapped against the wall by a bare-chested, handsome man—especially in such close proximity—was a bit much, even for Shenyue.

  With her heightened perception, she could even hear his heartbeat.

  The sensation was… unsettling.

  Su Qing studied the composed woman before stepping back.

  For all her cold demeanor, she was unshaken even when he got this close.

  It seemed like he could do anything to her, yet her gaze remained steady, unfazed.

  Clearly, she had yet to place her full trust in him.

  Shenyue was undoubtedly loyal to the Empress, but that didn’t mean she fully trusted *him*.

  She had her own thoughts and judgments.

  To truly win her over, words weren’t enough—he needed solid proof.

  Fortunately, Su Qing knew exactly what would pique her interest.