With those words spoken, neither Xu Yuan nor Zhou Chen spoke any further.
Zhou Chen sipped his wine while focusing on driving the carriage.
Xu Yuan turned his gaze toward the interior.
Whether Mister Qin had targeted him for such reasons, Xu Yuan could not say for sure, but he now had a few clues as to why his cheap old man wanted to move against the sects.
The carriage interior was lavishly decorated: a jade-like cushioned divan, soft pillows woven of fine silk, and a dedicated tea tray from which a faint, delicate fragrance continually diffused into the air.
Within Xu Yuan's sight, an ethereal woman born with bewitching charm knelt before the tea tray, pouring tea.
Her eyes were cast downward, wearing an expression that could evoke pity from anyone.
Xu Yuan lifted a finger slightly to activate the sound-dampening formation array installed inside the carriage, then glanced at her.
"Did you hear what was just said?"
Su Jinxuan slowly lifted her gaze.
"The young master did not avoid the subject, so Jinxuan naturally heard."
Her tone still held a touch of alluring charm, yet it lacked the subtle ripples that had previously stirred people's emotions.
She was considerably better behaved, but not entirely so.
With that thought, Xu Yuan gave her a meaningful look.
Su Jinxuan had changed her clothes.
A silk gauze dress blending shades of cyan and white clung to her curvaceous figure, her snow-white skin faintly visible beneath the thin gossamer, while a pair of white, translucent silk stockings hugged her straight, slender jade legs flawlessly.
This woman understood men very well, and understood just as well how to leverage the advantages of her body.
Ever since getting into the carriage, she had been subtly teasing and tempting him.
Even now, she was still hoping to turn the tables.
Had she started with this approach from the very beginning, Xu Yuan might have lost the entire game over a momentary impulse.
Unfortunately for her, she had not; she had chosen instead to forcibly control him using those bizarre spore particles.
Now, her Bewitching Soul Fiend Physique was already exposed.
Zhou Chen had also warned him that the deeper the physical contact, the easier it seemed for the woman's Bewitching Soul Fiend Physique to ensnare one's mind.
Putting himself in harm's way for the sake of experiment was best avoided.
Still...
To think this world actually had white stockings.
Tsk, tsk.
Reining in his thoughts, Xu Yuan casually asked, "Jinxuan, I heard Madam Yue say that Mister Qin brought you here in person. I'm quite curious about how you and Mister Qin met. Would you care to tell me?"
It was phrased as a question, but spoken in a tone that brooked no refusal.
Keeping Su Jinxuan around was meant to confuse Mister Qin and mislead him into believing the plan had succeeded.
Once the carriage arrived at the Jingjiang Xu Manor, the woman would be handed over to Ying'er for interrogation.
Ying'er hailed from the Chancellor's Manor's Black Scale Guards—known to outsiders as the Shadow Guards.
Torture and forced confessions were right in her line of work.
That did not stop Xu Yuan from finding out a few things beforehand, however.
Su Jinxuan's beautiful eyes flickered. After a moment, she said softly, "More than ten years ago, my family fell into ruin and our enemies came seeking vengeance. As our family fled, Mister Qin rescued me and has raised me ever since."
Fleeing disaster?
Adoption?
Along with the peerless Bewitching Soul Fiend Physique.
Such a cliché plotline instantly called a great many things to Xu Yuan's mind.
Pondering for a moment, Xu Yuan put on an act and sighed. "My apologies... I touched upon a painful memory of yours, Jinxuan."
Su Jinxuan lowered her eyes and let out a faint sigh. "Thank you for your sympathy, Young Master. Jinxuan was still young at the time, and that is already long in the past."
Xu Yuan shook his head and asked offhandedly, "Do you still remember who your enemies were, Jinxuan? If they are still alive, I could help you avenge that blood debt."
"The young master is very kind, but Jinxuan does not dare trouble you."
"You don't need it?"
"Jinxuan's vengeance has already been exacted."
"All of them?"
"...Yes."
"......"
Xu Yuan stared into Su Jinxuan's eyes with a look of deliberate realization, smiling faintly. "So Mister Qin already silenced all your enemies in secret, did he?"
"......"
Su Jinxuan froze slightly at those words.
As soon as she grasped the implication, the fragility in her eyes was promptly replaced by a trace of indignation. "Third Young Master, please do not make wild speculations."
Seeing this, the amusement in Xu Yuan's eyes deepened.
He was very satisfied with Su Jinxuan's reaction.
He had no idea of her exact circumstances, nor did he even know whether Su Jinxuan was lying and acting right now, but none of that prevented him from spinning wild conjectures off the cuff.
Even if he failed, it would cost him nothing more than a few minutes of breath.
If it succeeded, however, even if he couldn't convince her, planting a seed of doubt in her heart would already be a tremendous win.
Pausing, Xu Yuan pressed on relentlessly:
"Just tell me yes or no, Jinxuan.
"Mister Qin never let you see any surviving member of those enemies alive, did he?"
The carriage fell silent for a moment.
Xu Yuan felt a hint of surprise in his heart.
*Wait, really?*
*Could the storybook trope I just made up actually be true?*
Su Jinxuan glared at Xu Yuan, a sharp canine biting gently into the corner of her lip. "Jinxuan knows she is already the young master's prisoner, but I must ask the young master not to slander Mister Qin's character."
"Refusing to answer directly means I hit the mark, doesn't it?"
Xu Yuan leaned against the soft divan, resting his cheek on one hand with keen interest as he continued to stir the pot:
"Mister Qin was able to raise you all the way to this day. I'd wager it's because your parents also died during that 'flight,' didn't they?"
Xu Yuan deliberately emphasized the word "flight."
"Have you ever thought about it, Jinxuan? After your parents died, Mister Qin just happened to run into you, someone bearing the Bewitching Soul Fiend Physique, and stepped in to rescue you. Isn't that a little too convenient?
"You should know your own body better than anyone. A unique constitution capable of imperceptibly controlling the minds of others—how enticing is that? So long as someone knew beforehand, who wouldn't be tempted?
"Especially for an 'important figure' like Mister Qin. Wiping out your whole family wouldn't take more than a word from him, and what he got in return... even this young master was nearly brought under his control through you."
"......"
Su Jinxuan's jade-like hands trembled slightly as she poured the tea, the anger in her eyes plain to see.
"Not everyone in this world shares the young master's temperament. Mister Qin has always treated me like his own sister. Coming here this time was my own decision to share his burdens."
Xu Yuan seemed oblivious to her indignation, chuckling as he spoke:
"You say he treats you like his own sister?"
Xu Yuan laughed out loud and waved his hand.
"Fine. I'll put out word right now saying I've captured you and am preparing to execute you.
"Why don't you guess whether your Mister Qin will vanish without a trace to save his own skin, or come storming into my Xu Manor to rescue his precious sister?"
"......"
A long silence followed. Su Jinxuan took a deep breath, the sheer fabric over her chest rising and falling. Saying nothing, she quietly resumed pouring the tea.
Xu Yuan could tell her mind was unsettled; she was trying to use the ritual of pouring tea to calm herself.
He did not disturb her, quietly watching as Su Jinxuan handled the tea set with practiced ease.
Scalding the pot, measuring the tea, warming the cups...
A beauty preparing tea—each step of the process was a feast for the eyes.
When it was all done, Su Jinxuan slowly stood up and offered a cup of clear tea to Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan took it casually, his eyes fixed on hers as he pulled her down to sit beside him. Tilting his gaze, he asked, "There's one thing I'm very curious about. Could you help clear it up for me?"
By now, Su Jinxuan had regained her composure, once again charming and enchanting. Hearing this, she offered Xu Yuan a radiant smile. "Whatever the young master asks, Jinxuan will naturally answer."
Xu Yuan lightly wrapped an arm around her boneless, delicate waist. Savoring the fragrance of the tea, he asked softly, "Mister Qin rose to fame more than ten years ago, and his current strength is likely unfathomable. Why would someone like that never teach you methods of cultivation?"
Su Jinxuan covered her mouth with a soft chuckle, her words impossible to distinguish as truth or lie: "Heh... Jinxuan dislikes fighting and killing, so I never cultivated."
Without a second thought, Xu Yuan countered, "If you dislike fighting and killing, why did you cultivate the secret art of this fiend physique?"
"That Jinxuan does not know. Those things from earlier seemed to come naturally to me from birth."
"What a fine 'come naturally from birth'!"
Xu Yuan smiled.
Even with his Innate Dao Body, he needed to cultivate an art before his intent-soul could leave his body. And yet her Bewitching Soul Fiend Physique was entirely self-taught?
If nothing else, without cultivating a secret art, one couldn't even manage the most basic internal vision.
And without internal vision, how could she manipulate an intent-soul, let alone those countless spore particles?
Straightening up, Xu Yuan pinched Su Jinxuan's fair chin and pulled her close.
"Jinxuan, deceiving me is one thing, but deceiving yourself is another.
"It was Mister Qin who gave you only the secret art for the Bewitching Soul Fiend Physique, wasn't it?"
"......" Su Jinxuan said nothing.
They stared at each other at close range, but Xu Yuan could see none of the expressions he was looking for in her eyes.
The moment of confusion had passed; she was putting up her guard again.
Xu Yuan gave a slight shake of his head, released her, and finally asked:
"One last question. I hope you'll answer truthfully."
"Please ask, Young Master." Su Jinxuan smoothed her dress.
Xu Yuan asked casually:
"Do you know someone named Qin Mo?"
Chapter 49