Chapter 109: A Kiss to Confess (Third Update)

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Zi Qing—she softly murmured his name, carrying boundless longing in the sound.

"I am here." Hearing her whisper, he responded gently, and then, with perfect entitlement, issued his dismissal. "This king and his lady are seeking some intimacy—shouldn't you all take your leave?"

"In such a public place, King Ji seems to have chosen the wrong spot." Zuoqiu Liye quickly composed himself, one hand brushing his cheek as his eyes fixed on Xue Xue's retreating figure with growing intensity.

"The Dance Lord speaks sense. It is deep into the night, and indeed time to retire to one's chambers." With that, he made as if to carry Xue Xue away from the place.

His Xue'er truly possessed an endless charm. She was always being coveted by others, and it put him in a foul mood—he wished they would all simply disappear.

Xue Xue, of course, had no idea such thoughts were running through his mind. Her heart was instead weighed with concern for Ji Wuqing's condition. The thousand-foot poison in his body seemed not yet to have been neutralized, and she could faintly sense that his health was not as well as he appeared to let on.

"Is King Ji too eager? It has been some time since we last met; this lord would rather test his skills against King Ji in a friendly bout." Zuoqiu Liye spoke up to block his path.

"This king shares the very same sentiment." Ji Wuqing replied in a flat tone, his bearing one of ineffable distinction. Yet in the next breath, he changed tack. "However, I have not seen my lady in many days, and this king misses her dearly. I cannot bear to leave her to an empty chamber, so perhaps another day."

"King Ji, I believe there is no time like the present. Pray grant me your instruction." The one called Yunwu, standing off to the side, could no longer restrain himself. He had just witnessed Xue Xue's ability—she had not even deigned to acknowledge their lord. It was simply outrageous.

But she was the blind maiden their clan had sought for generations. For the sake of their lord, he too had to make an attempt. With that in mind, there was no way he would allow King Ji to take her away so easily.

No sooner had he spoken than he lunged at Ji Wuqing with his sword, moving at tremendous speed.

"What rank are you, to be so impertinent—" A faint, cold snort escaped Ji Wuqing's lips, his eyes not even blinking. Without the slightest change in expression, he drew the folding fan from his waist and gave a light flick. Yunwu vanished from sight entirely, sent flying clear out of the inn.

In the woods beyond, a flock of nameless birds burst into startled flight, their panicked cries filling the air in a frightful commotion.

Ji Wuqing's attendants looked upon it all with calm indifference. When their master struck, a man was either dead or crippled.

"Impressive skill, King Ji." Zuoqiu Liye watched with a smile, though his eyes were dark and brooding.

Even though Ji Wuqing's treatment of Yunwu had been a slap to his face, Yunwu had indeed been somewhat presumptuous.

Ji Wuqing offered only a faint smile, his expression as serene as a spring breeze. "Ah, this king forgot—when I entered the inn earlier, I encountered two esteemed guests. I shared a few cups of tea with them, but quite forgot to invite them out."

Ji Wuqing's attendants exchanged glances, and an old man with white hair was ushered forth.

The elder was utterly composed, calm and unhurried. The few strands of white at his temples only accentuated the irrepressible dignity and depth of his bearing, while his eyes betrayed a shrewdness born of long scheming and cunning.

This man was Elder Jin of the Dance Kingdom, head of the Jin clan. For generations, the Jin clan had served the monarchs of the Dance Kingdom, offering counsel and guiding the realm. This Elder Wu had served two sovereigns already; Zuoqiu Liye was the third monarch he had mentored—his third disciple, and perhaps his last.

"Your old servant pays respects to Your Lordship." Elder Jin performed a respectful bow, his presence commanding. Truly worthy of one who had served three reigns.

He raised his head to survey the people in the courtyard, his gaze passing over Ji Wuqing before settling on Xue Xue's back, tinged with a hint of scrutiny. His eyes lingered for a moment, then came to rest once more upon Lingyin.

Lingyin's skin was of a jade-white pallor. Under the slanting moonlight, his face seemed draped in a layer of radiance. The sleeve of his left arm was torn in one place, suggesting he had been wounded, yet the skin revealed was completely unblemished.

In the face of Elder Jin's appraising gaze, Lingyin remained as though he had noticed nothing at all, utterly still, as if devoid of life.

"Elder Jin, is it? Gongshen Ling'er is in your hands as well, I take it." Zuoqiu Liye narrowed his eyes. A patch of red had bloomed on his cheek—the exact spot where Xue Xue's fist had landed—like the color of a petal pressed against his skin, pink and quite striking.

"The Dance Lord considers himself clever, but he fails to see that this king is the one who has been biding his time. Or does the Dance Lord believe someone else was behind the sudden troubles that befell the Dan Kingdom? Had I not drawn away the Dan Crown Prince, how could you have reached your current position? Moreover, now that both your elder and your young master are in this king's hands, what chance do you truly have?" He didn't seriously think Ji Wuqing would deliberately let him go at this point, did he?

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That would be gravely underestimating his abilities.

"Is that so? We won't know until we try." Zuoqiu Liye replied dismissively, as though victory or defeat might be decided in the very next breath.

"The Dance Lord speaks boldly indeed." Suddenly a voice rang out—warm as jade, yet not lacking in authority.

The newcomer had brought quite a company, all of them martial arts experts.

He walked in from the entrance, a smile at the corner of his lips—one that was half-smile, half-not. He looked like a warm piece of jade, yet was in truth so noble and extraordinary as to make others dare not look directly at him. Step by step he drew closer, slowly tightening the circle around Zuoqiu Liye's attendants.

By his side was a young woman with long brown curls and pale blue eyes, her delicate features carrying an exotic air. At that moment, the girl was tilting her head, peering toward Ji Wuqing. "King Ji, you've finally come! Sister has been waiting for you."

Ji Wuqing exchanged a glance with the man beside her, and the two seemed to nod in acknowledgment.

Yueying watched the silent exchange between them and found it momentarily strange.

"I didn't expect the Regent of Cheng Kingdom to grace us as well." Zuoqiu Liye had naturally noted their exchanged look, and his narrow phoenix eyes now revealed a flicker of inquiry and contemplation.

"This king is here in search of his wife as well. The Dance Lord's habit of abducting another man's lady is hardly proper conduct. Should you not offer some explanation?" Cheng Feng raised his gaze toward Zuoqiu Liye, his eyes as gentle as jade, as though he truly only sought an explanation.

"That's not quite right—an explanation alone would hardly suffice." Ji Wuqing continued.

The two were clearly singing from the same hymn sheet, and from the looks of it, the situation was turning quite unfavorable for Zuoqiu Liye.

"It would seem, then, that this matter cannot be resolved so simply." Cheng Feng nodded, the smile on his face receding.

All seemed to fall still. The three parties stood in confrontation, two against one—the outcome was already decided before it began.

"The dew grows heavy in the deep night. Do as you please." At such a critical moment, Ji Wuqing cast down these words and carried Xue Xue upstairs, apparently leaving the entire affair for Cheng Feng to settle.

Xue Xue lay in his arms, drowsy and languid. She looped her arms around his neck and buried her face against his chest. "Is it appropriate to leave now?" She leaned in close to his ear and asked in a soft whisper.

The situation was in their favor, was it not? If they subdued Zuoqiu Liye in one stroke, the war between the two kingdoms could be resolved smoothly as well.

"Isn't Xue'er cold?" Ji Wuqing was already carrying her up the stairs.

Zuoqiu Liye's face was shrouded in gloom, but there was nothing he could do now—he could only watch helplessly as Ji Wuqing carried Xue Xue away.

She was borne into a room where candlelight flickered gently, casting a particularly warm and cozy glow.

Ji Wuqing carried her inside and closed the door behind them. In the next instant, Xue Xue was pressed against the door. Ji Wuqing leaned heavily upon her, and the atmosphere in the room shifted in that moment.

"Ji Wuqing?" Xue Xue frowned in confusion. She suspected he had exhausted his strength—had the thousand-foot poison in his body been neutralized or not?

Ji Wuqing simply rested his head against her shoulder, not making a sound.

"What's wrong?" Xue Xue, flustered, cupped his face in both hands, pressing her small palms against his cheeks, then, as if steeling her resolve, pressed her lips to his.

His lips were cold, yet soft.

Ji Wuqing was briefly startled. He felt those warm lips gently brush against his with a hint of awkward uncertainty, and in the next moment he seized control. His large hand gripped Xue Xue's waist as his lips nibbled at the warm, delicate softness of hers—like a bee lingering over a flower's pistil, tender and entangled.

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Xue Xue responded clumsily, somewhat dazed.

How had his strength suddenly grown so great?

A sharp sting on her lip—Ji Wuqing let out a small tearing sound as their lips parted. A faint trace of blood spread across her tongue.

"Xue'er, why did you bite me?" His voice came out in a plaintive murmur, laced with lingering, intimate warmth.

"You tricked me." Xue Xue's face was red, yet her words remained composed.

His poison must have been cured, right? Otherwise, how could he have such strength?

"When did I ever trick you? What a tremendous injustice!" Ji Wuqing protested with feigned grievance, gazing at Xue Xue's flushed little face. He couldn't help leaning closer. "Besides, this was Xue'er's own doing—I did nothing at all." He whispered by her ear, a hint of teasing in his tone.

"Oh? You did nothing? Then was I kissing a corpse?" Xue Xue felt rather embarrassed. She had assumed Ji Wuqing's thousand-foot poison was still unresolved, and her blood contained the antidote...

She hadn't expected to have misread the situation entirely.

"Look at how sharp-tongued my Xue'er is—your husband is most pleased." Ji Wuqing let out a low chuckle, his voice deep, with a hint of huskiness.

He reached out, tilting up her chin, and gazing at those translucent lips, he kissed her again—this time with no room for refusal.

His tongue teased lightly at her lips, tracing them with careful tenderness, as though savoring a taste of sweetness.

Xue Xue pushed against his chest in resistance, but Ji Wuqing chose that moment to carry her toward the bed. Startled, she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, passively receiving the gentle, lingering kiss.

The world spun, and Xue Xue found herself pressed into the soft bedding.

"Xue'er, you truly are delicious." He leaned close to her neck, breathing raggedly as he inhaled her scent.

Xue Xue's heart pounded fiercely, almost bursting from her chest.

"I've already had hot water prepared for you. Would you like a bath?" Ji Wuqing rose to his feet and lifted her into his arms, cradling her.

"Are you trying to say I smell?" Xue Xue demanded, putting on a coy, girlish air.

"It was prepared before you even returned. Take a hot bath, lest you catch a chill tomorrow." Ji Wuqing explained patiently, then, seeing the faint look on Xue Xue's face, couldn't resist a low, teasing murmur. "Besides, Xue'er's natural fragrance is lovely—how could there be any question of your smelling?"

Xue Xue was set down beside a wooden tub wreathed in rising steam. Ji Wuqing crouched down, intending to remove her soaked stockings. Xue Xue instinctively drew her foot back, but he caught it in his grip, allowing no refusal.

His hand was very warm, holding her foot. Or perhaps it was because her foot was so cold that his hand felt so hot.

Xue Xue knew—he was displeased.

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