Chapter 286: Fear

“Mm.”

A moment later, Yun Ci had a Child bring over a long table with tea set upon it. She sat cross-legged across from Chen Qingyang, raised a hand, and said, “Sit.”

The seven candles still burned not far from her.

Chen Qingyang didn’t know what she wanted to say, so he just sipped the tea and waited for her to speak.

A single gulp went down like strong liquor, burning in his abdomen. This was followed by a gentle warmth that spread through his body, passed through his many acupoints, and finally settled in his Spirit Platform. Instantly, his Divine Soul felt clear and refreshed as heat radiated from his entire body.

Yun Ci leaned forward slightly. She seemed less like a Master and more like a friend. “So, what do you think? My tea is pretty good, isn’t it?”

It was the first time Chen Qingyang had interacted with a Master in such a way. “It’s very good. It gathers in the Spirit Platform and has the effect of clearing the mind and brightening the eyes.”

Yun Ci said, “I have about two taels left. Take it all with you when you go. The tea’s name is Ruyi Demon Suppression; it’s meant to suppress one’s Heart Demon. Once you reach Foundation Establishment, all your greed, anger, foolishness, and hatred will build up in your heart like an invisible demon, obstructing your Dao. Drinking this often is beneficial, and you must also stay away from greed, anger, foolishness, and hatred… Do you understand?”

‘Why does it feel like there’s a hidden meaning in her words?’ Chen Qingyang thought. ‘Still, this Spirit Tea is of excellent quality. If it were ranked among Immortal Grasses, it would be considered Top Grade.’

“Thank you, Master!”

Yun Ci waved her hand. “There’s no need to be so formal with me in the future. You’re not a yes-man, so you don’t need to put on such an act in front of me. Just be yourself.”

‘Why is she so different today?’

Chen Qingyang studied her carefully again, his gaze traveling down from her head to her feet. He felt that Yun Ci was exceptionally gentle and charming today. Finally, his eyes unconsciously came to rest on her exposed Jade Foot and the lower half of her calf. It was as translucent and flawless as jade, and he couldn’t help but steal several glances.

Yun Ci noticed Chen Qingyang’s actions. The warmth from just a moment ago vanished instantly. “Have… you had your fill of looking?”

Faced with this situation, even someone audacious enough not to be afraid would feel awkward. After all, he still had some face to save. Chen Qingyang hastily averted his gaze.

“Master, you misunderstand. I was just thinking about what you were going to say to me.” He said this impassively, with a perfectly straight face.

“Heh!” She snorted lightly, clearly not believing a word he said.

Right in front of him, her wide Daoist Robe billowed out and then settled, leaving not a speck of skin exposed except for her neck and hands. This time, she truly left nothing for him to see.

‘Sigh, she’s even this wary of an upright gentleman like me!’

Sitting across from her, Chen Qingyang felt like he was on pins and needles. Now he didn’t know where to let his eyes wander, so he could only stare at the teacup in front of him.

“I’ve noticed that aura on you has grown stronger again. It’s not something you should have. If this were in the past, I definitely wouldn’t have bothered with you, but now, you’ve done me a favor. I feel I should still remind you.” Her tone was, more or less, still a bit proud and standoffish.

It was because he had received the True Dragon’s Tendon that the aura Yun Ci mentioned had naturally grown stronger. Chen Qingyang wasn’t surprised she had noticed.

“What is Master reminding me about?”

Yun Ci grew serious. “This is definitely not something you could have cultivated yourself. It must be due to some external force. You should know that there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Since you’ve accepted its benefits, you will inevitably have to pay a heavy price. With your intelligence, you should understand this principle.”

Chen Qingyang thought for a moment. ‘She… besides sensing the aura of the True Dragon Fire, can she also sense the Divine Soul the True Dragon left behind?’

“I’m not sure what Master is referring to. Could you be a little more specific?”

Yun Ci gazed at Chen Qingyang. “Within that ball of fire, I can sense the will of a… thing. I say ‘thing’ because I can’t be certain what it is. But you must know in your heart. I wonder, will you tell me?”

Hearing this, Chen Qingyang was even more certain she was referring to the Divine Soul left by the True Dragon. Of course, he couldn’t tell her that. “Does Master have a way to remove it?”

“Hmph, you don’t even trust me enough to tell me!”

Yun Ci seemed to be glaring at him, which made Chen Qingyang’s heart skip a beat. Just as he was about to make up an excuse, he saw her expression turn strange, as if she had thought of something.

Then, she closed her eyes and tapped a finger on the table. “Hold out your hand, palm up!”

‘What does this mean? Does she not want to see me?’

Chen Qingyang did as he was told. Just as he laid his palm flat, the Master extended a slender, jade-like hand. A faint, cold white light hovered in her palm as it descended above his own.

Then, it continued downward until it was pressed flush against his.

‘A handshake? What is she doing?!’

The moment their palms touched, Chen Qingyang felt an icy chill, followed by a searing heat flowing out from his body, heading straight for the Master’s palm.

The instant the hot current slid out of his palm, his hand felt a strange discomfort. As if possessed, it reflexively clenched, grasping her slender, jade-like hand.

Although Yun Ci’s eyelids twitched, she didn’t open her eyes or even make a sound. She only snatched her hand back quickly.

Feeling the lingering coolness on his fingertips, Chen Qingyang thought, ‘This is bad. Now I’ve really been outrageously bold.’

When he tried to look at the Master’s expression, he saw that she had already turned her back to him. He could no longer see what she was thinking.

In any case, a moment of silence passed. Chen Qingyang didn’t dare to speak, let alone ask, so he just waited.

“Mm… this…” It was Yun Ci who broke the silence first.

“This thing is beyond my imagination. If it ever develops the intent of Possession, even if it can’t take your body, it could still Refine you into a puppet. From the first time I met you, I felt this aura was unusual. You, however, only said it was Li Yang Earth Fire. I didn’t believe you then.”

‘It wouldn’t be so easy for that dragon to Refine me into a puppet,’ he thought. He had even made a plan: he wouldn’t go back until he found a way to eliminate it.

After a pause, Yun Ci continued, “So, I suspect… that the Pill Institute’s Fire Dragon didn’t truly perish. A wisp of its Divine Soul must have survived. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have asked me about Jade Gold True Monarch. Plus, you also participated in the Separation Dragon Assembly… Did that Fire Dragon bewitch you, wanting you to do something for it?”

‘I was careless.’

He could lie through his teeth, but Yun Ci could still connect all the cause-and-effect relationships and make a strong deduction. Her eyes were just too sharp.

Chen Qingyang didn’t say anything else, only asking, “Does Master have a way to eliminate this will from my body?”

Yun Ci shook her head. “I can’t do it for now. But in the short term, you absolutely must not go see it again. No matter what it has promised you, don’t go. I will think of a safe method for you in the future.”

She paused for a moment. “There’s one more thing you must remember: just forget this matter entirely. If Jade Gold True Monarch finds out, you will be in a lot of trouble. In the future, even if that Fire Dragon escapes the True Dragon Cave, you must act as if none of this ever happened. Do you understand?”

Though her back was turned, her tone still held concern. Chen Qingyang said, “I understand. I wonder what kind of method Master is planning to use?”

“Break its power, and you can destroy its soul. Thanks to your Elixirs, my Cultivation is recovering quickly. If my Cultivation advances further, I will be able to break its power. As they say, water and fire are incompatible. It is of extreme heat, and I am of extreme cold; I can counter it.”

“Also… you need to understand one principle: to get rid of this kind of thing, you hit it with what it fears most.”

‘If I can really rely on her to get rid of the dragon’s will, that would be a good thing.’

“Mm, I’ll listen to Master. I just won’t go there for now.”

Of course, Yun Ci could only imagine that the True Dragon had gotten out, not that Chen Qingyang had gone in of his own accord. ‘Perhaps if I don’t carry the Conscious Fish with me in the future, there won’t be any problems.’

Chen Qingyang also placed the remaining seven Elixirs on the long table. “Master, here are the remaining seven Elixirs. It’s just that refining these Elixirs consumes a great deal of raw materials, and the requirements for them are quite high. Master will need to prepare some more.”

Yun Ci said, “Alright. But this time, you’ll have to come get them yourself. Let’s say seven days from now.”

Now that Chen Qingyang had Universe in the Sleeve, making the trip was naturally not a problem. “Yes. I wonder, how long will Master need to take these Elixirs?”

This time, Yun Ci thought for a moment. “Still one every three days. My Cultivation should be restored in two months.”

Chen Qingyang said, “Understood.”

A brief silence fell. Yun Ci didn’t know what to say, and he didn’t know how to start a conversation.

As he was leaving, Yun Ci rose to see him off again, walking him all the way to the top of the stairs.

After taking a step forward, Chen Qingyang glanced at her one more time.

Her snow-white Daoist Robe dragged on the floor, a holy aura floating about her body. Beneath the divine light, the lower half of her Jade Foot was once again revealed.

…

After leaving Four Golden Peaks, Chen Qingyang headed straight for Cyan Bamboo Peak. He then released the Conscious Fish, sending it toward the peak’s own Sumeru Secret Realm.

He was most familiar with this place, and it was the safest for this kind of task.

Yun Ci’s earlier reminder had made him suddenly understand: it was time to give that dragon a taste of what it feared most.