Volume 1, Chapter 33: Ling Qingxue’s Composure Shatters

"Fine."

Seeing Zhao Wujiang loosen his grip slightly, Ling Qingxue found a bit of space for her upper body and immediately reached out to snatch the sword.

Finally, she was going to get it! Once she had the blade, she would shove this scoundrel Zhao Wujiang away and run him through! All the humiliation she had suffered would be avenged. With this thought, her fingers brushed against the hilt.

But at that very moment, Zhao Wujiang suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist and, with a swift motion, flipped her over.

"Ah—" Ling Qingxue gasped in shock. "What are you doing?"

She was nearing her breaking point. She had been so close! Just a hair's breadth away from securing the Heavenly Sword!

Zhao Wujiang spoke with a deadpan expression, "What's wrong? Have you forgotten our usual habits?"

That single sentence left Ling Qingxue feeling stifled and aggrieved. So, even though Li Yunrui and Zhao Wujiang weren't married yet, they were already playing such twisted games?! She gritted her teeth, her patience pushed to the absolute limit. She prepared to confront him.

But Zhao Wujiang suddenly patted her waist. "Be patient. I’ll let you see the Heavenly Sword in a moment—I’ll even give it to you."

These words drained the fight out of her for a second. Seeing her soften, the corners of Zhao Wujiang’s mouth curled up.

*You foul woman, you really thought you could trick me with that 'Mirror Flower, Water Moon' illusion? Fine, since you’ve delivered yourself to my doorstep, how could I possibly refuse? Long Zhan, oh Long Zhan, if it weren't for the fact that destiny favors you, both Heavenly Swords would be mine! But never mind, for the sake of your senior sister delivering herself to me, I’ll let you off the hook this time!*

Zhao Wujiang reached down, preparing to undo his trousers. Suddenly, Ling Qingxue reverted to her true form and struck out with a palm toward his chest!

"Whoa!" Zhao Wujiang crossed his arms to block the blow, though the force sent him stumbling back. He watched as Ling Qingxue dropped the pretense, her eyes filled with such rage and humiliation that she looked ready to devour him alive.

"You bastard! You saw through me all along!"

If she hadn't overheard his inner thoughts, she would have been truly deceived, allowing herself to be taken advantage of. While she would never have let him go all the way, the mere thought of a man like him touching her felt like an unbearable stain—a profound humiliation.

"You enjoyed pretending to be my fiancée; why should I have exposed you?" Zhao Wujiang replied with a look of feigned innocence.

Seeing this, Ling Qingxue was even more incensed and lunged forward to seize the Heavenly Sword by force.

"Truly a dedicated senior sister, what a pity," Zhao Wujiang shook his head.

The moment Ling Qingxue grasped the sword, a blood-red, eerie light erupted. The sword aura was like flowing blood, illuminating the entire guest room. Startled by the intense radiance, Ling Qingxue retreated rapidly. Though she sensed the danger and moved quickly, the crimson light still scorched her eyes, drawing a trail of blood-tinged tears.

"What's the matter? Can't see anymore?" Zhao Wujiang curled his fingers into claws, and the red sword flew into his hand. He prepared to finish her. Since he couldn't sleep with this woman, he would kill her to prevent future trouble.

Already severely wounded, Ling Qingxue’s eyes were now ruined, adding injury to injury. "Zhao Wujiang, you just wait!"

Refusing to engage further, she crushed a bead in her palm. A cloud of pink mist instantly filled the cramped room. By the time Zhao Wujiang swiped his sword to clear the air, Ling Qingxue was gone, leaving behind nothing but an open window.

"She runs fast—even with her vision gone, she still managed to fly off."

Zhao Wujiang turned his attention to finding Li Yunrui. Ling Qingxue had only entered the inn shortly before him, and since she had been busy hunting for the sword, she wouldn't have had time to hide Li Yunrui elsewhere; she had to still be in the room.

Sure enough, he found Li Yunrui inside the wardrobe. She was still in a deep sleep, which was the natural state for someone drugged. Zhao Wujiang had been suspicious from the start; he had knocked her out and dosed her with sleeping powder. It was impossible for her to wake up on her own so quickly. Furthermore, knowing Li Yunrui's personality, if she had seen him return, she would have slapped him for not bringing her along to the Sword Casting Bureau for some excitement. The "Li Yunrui" that Ling Qingxue had mimicked was far too virtuous and gentle, which was exactly what gave her away.

Zhao Wujiang pulled out an antidote and held it under Li Yunrui’s nose. After a few moments, she stirred. She looked dazed at first, but her sharp demeanor quickly returned. "What time is it? Has the Sword Casting Bureau opened yet?"