After being intimidated by Xiao Yan, Lin Jing finally shut her mouth obediently, though inwardly she kept cursing him as a heartless scoundrel. What she didn't know, however, was that with Xiao Yan's current level of soul power, he had already reached the level of mind-reading. Simply put, he could clearly hear every single curse she muttered in her heart, word for word.
"Right, Miss Lin Jing, take this pill." Xiao Yan suddenly remembered something and casually tossed a pill to her.
Lin Jing looked at the pill in her hand with a miserable expression. "Can I not take it?"
"What do you think?" Xiao Yan maintained his usual gentle smile, but his tone allowed no refusal.
"Sigh..." Lin Jing sighed and resignedly swallowed the pill. Although Xiao Yan didn't explain what it was for, she didn't need to guess—it was probably one of those poisons that would kill her on the spot if she didn't get an antidote in time.
But in truth, the pill Xiao Yan gave her wasn't poison at all. It was infused with a trace of Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, crafted to purge and cleanse the impurities in her body that had been tainted by Yimo energy. After all, this girl was his bargaining chip for ten billion Xuan Yuan Pills. If something happened to her because of that energy, that would be a major loss. So Xiao Yan figured he might as well do a good deed and help her out.
As soon as the pill entered her body, Lin Jing felt a warm current flow through her. Before she could understand what was happening, she noticed streams of dark, filthy impurities being expelled through her meridians and sticking to her skin—making her feel extremely uncomfortable. Her clothes became filthy as well, a horrifying ordeal for someone who prided herself on cleanliness.
This felt oddly similar to the "cleansing of marrow and purification of meridians" her aunt Qing Tan had once spoken of. Her body did feel significantly lighter. Could this be the pill's effect? 'That guy actually gave me something this good?'
"Take a right and walk a thousand meters. There's a small pool there. Go wash up, but don't wander too far." Knowing that the expelled impurities would make her uncomfortable, Xiao Yan allowed her to bathe.
Lin Jing agreed on the surface, but the moment she stepped out of the cave, she bolted in the opposite direction. 'Such a golden opportunity to escape—I'd be a fool not to use it!'
Unfortunately for her, Xiao Yan wouldn't have let her out unless he was absolutely sure she couldn't escape. The pill he gave her wasn't just for cleansing.
Lin Jing didn't know where she'd been taken, but it didn't seem far from the Yang Yuan Mine. If she could just find something familiar, she might be able to alert her aunt.
Sadly, reality quickly crushed her hopes. She hadn't gone far before she heard a savage roar. Looking up in alarm, she saw a massive black panther leap from the forest and swipe her to the ground in an instant.
Although she had practiced some physical techniques, the beast's strength clearly outclassed her. It nearly tore her open with one claw. As someone at the Creation Realm, the fact that she was gravely wounded proved the panther was at least a peak Creation Realm beast. Pain surged through her, draining color from her face.
This was the first real combat she had faced in her life. With Qing Tan's protection, she had never been in danger before, and now that she was suddenly attacked, panic overwhelmed her. She didn't even think to fight back.
Just as the beast opened its maw to bite her, a flash of energy pierced through the air and blew its head to pieces in one strike. The bloody scene churned Lin Jing's stomach, but she held back the urge to vomit and looked fearfully behind her.
Xiao Yan stood calmly at a distance, his gaze indifferent. When he saw her looking at him, the corner of his mouth curled slightly. "Didn't I tell you not to run too far? And yet you still wouldn't listen."
"…"
"The pool is that way. Go wash up." Xiao Yan glanced at the blood on her clothes, then tossed over a jade bottle. "Also, apply this while bathing. It'll help prevent scarring. It'd be a shame to ruin your pretty face."
"Oh…" Perhaps still rattled from the attack, Lin Jing didn't resist this time. She obediently went to the pond, bathed, and applied the medicine he'd given her. It did feel cool and soothing, and the pain in her wound eased considerably.
When she returned to the cave, she found Xiao Yan crouched over a large iron pot, cooking something. A savory aroma wafted from it. When he saw her return, he smiled. "I butchered that beast we ran into. Want a bowl to calm your nerves?"
Lin Jing originally planned to refuse him outright, but her stomach growled at the worst moment. In the end, she had no choice but to accept the bowl of broth and took a cautious sip. To her surprise, it tasted pretty good.
The warmth from the broth spread through her, and strangely enough, the lingering fear in her heart began to fade. 'Could this really calm the nerves?' With that thought, she ended up drinking several bowls in a row—until she was hugging the pot and refused to let go.
Watching this, Xiao Yan couldn't help twitching at the corner of his mouth. 'Why does this girl eat like Zi Yan? I only got one bowl out of that pot and she finished the rest… Could she be some kind of beast in disguise? No… her aura is definitely pure human.'
Perhaps because he had saved her, or maybe because she'd just eaten his food, Lin Jing wasn't scolding him internally this time. When she looked at him, her gaze even seemed a bit softer.
"Miss Lin Jing, don't tell me you're developing Stockholm Syndrome. That'd be very troublesome," Xiao Yan said with a chuckle, noticing her expression.
"Stock… what?" Lin Jing blinked, unfamiliar with the term. "Is that some kind of illness? I've never heard of it before."
"Stockholm. It means a hostage falls in love with their captor," Xiao Yan said with exaggerated sincerity.
"Pah! As if!" Lin Jing immediately shot to her feet, eyes blazing. "Even if I starve to death, die outside, or throw myself off a mountain, I'd never fall for someone like you!"
(End of Chapter)
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