Chapter 41 The Suppressed [Duchess of the Night, Night Phoenix]

Just as Gu Ye released the [Furnace], a cold voice, clear as the sound of shattering jade, suddenly rang out in the room.

"It's out!"

But upon hearing this voice, which felt both familiar and strange, Gu Ye’s expression suddenly hardened. The excitement he had just felt completely vanished, his fingertips tightened involuntarily, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

"Is it you?"

"Kid, you finally released this furnace." Before the voice finished, a dark green stream of light shot out from the mouth of the [Furnace]. In Gu Ye’s stunned gaze, the stream of light swirled and condensed, transforming into a slender dark green figure.

A dark green dress trailed on the floor, its hem adorned with intricate, subtle patterns, as if the night itself had been woven into velvet.

Night Dwelling Phoenix lowered her eyelids. Deep within her black pupils, an innate arrogance inadvertently revealed itself, accentuating the cold allure of her features. She looked like a high-ranking Night Countess, possessing a natural, untouchable aura of nobility.

"You... how did you come out from inside!"

Night Dwelling Phoenix raised her eyes to look at him, a flicker of annoyance unconsciously flashing through her ink-colored pupils. She parted her red lips, which were painted with light green lipstick, and spoke in a tone as indifferent as ice: "Kid, you have two choices now. First, I kill you and take this furnace; second, you destroy your own Life-Bound card yourself."

Upon hearing this, Gu Ye’s mouth twitched violently, and he felt utterly speechless. Was there any difference between these two choices! Just as he was about to retort to Night Dwelling Phoenix, the [Furnace] suddenly transmitted information. After processing it, Gu Ye finally understood what was going on, and his expression immediately turned strange.

Seeing him suddenly calm down with a strange expression, Night Dwelling Phoenix knew he had already understood the whole story.

She then walked with her long legs toward a single sofa nearby and lay on it with a lazy expression. She gently lifted the hem of her skirt with her toes, hooking the overly long hem up to her knees. A pair of plump and shapely legs were hidden beneath the dark green skirt, and her fair, white ankles appeared and disappeared, adding a touch of alluring charm to this aloof countess.

Her ink-black hair was scattered casually over the cushion, and Night Dwelling Phoenix stared blankly at the ceiling with her cold, beautiful eyes. She hadn't expected that a mere split-second decision would cost her her entire life. Her ten rounded toes wiggled unconsciously, and her tender, slender fingers tapped lightly, revealing the turmoil in her heart.

"How can I send you back?" Gu Ye’s puzzled voice broke the brief silence. Night Dwelling Phoenix swept her gaze over him, her eyes slightly narrowed, and her tone was calm: "Why should I go back!"

"You..."

Gu Ye rubbed his brow in a headache. He was very helpless now. According to the information just fed back by the [Furnace], the moment Night Dwelling Phoenix entered his consciousness, she was perceived by the [Furnace] and directly and forcefully suppressed.

Perhaps the [Furnace] sensed Night Dwelling Phoenix's strength, or perhaps something else, and felt she was still useful, so without Gu Ye’s consent, it forcibly signed a [Soul-Binding Covenant] between the two of them. They were now in the same boat.

However, this [Soul-Binding Covenant] had been completely altered by the [Furnace]. Night Dwelling Phoenix was subjected to a pile of strict restrictions: she was forbidden for life from inflicting any form of harm on Gu Ye, and even the slightest malicious attack would be countered by the contract.

At the time, Night Dwelling Phoenix was unwilling to be controlled and threatened the [Furnace] with a "fish dies, net splits" stance. The [Furnace] also modified other conditions: Gu Ye could not order her to do anything, nor could he harm her.

In reality, the [Furnace] only had the strength to suppress her at most; otherwise, if she dared to threaten the original [Furnace], it could have made Night Dwelling Phoenix’s soul scatter and perish.

The most core clause of the contract made Gu Ye breathe a sigh of relief: if Gu Ye died, Night Dwelling Phoenix would inevitably perish with him; but if Night Dwelling Phoenix died, Gu Ye would remain completely unharmed.

The greatest function of the [Soul-Binding Covenant] was actually that Night Dwelling Phoenix was forced to become Gu Ye’s Soul card, an existence as important as his bloodline card, so the question of her dying didn't really exist anymore.

However, there were benefits for Night Dwelling Phoenix as well. Now, she could unscrupulously absorb the divinity within Gu Ye’s body and the mysterious energy overflowing from the [Furnace], allowing her to advance to even higher tiers.

Gu Ye stared at her blankly. You could say the [Furnace] had found Gu Ye a powerful backer! But it would be good enough if the backer didn't despise you.

"Forget it, we're in this state anyway." Gu Ye waved his hand and continued the Refinement of the card.

"I want a drink of water!" Night Dwelling Phoenix’s voice came.

"Can't you pour it yourself!"

"You go! Otherwise, I will interfere with your cultivation!" Night Dwelling Phoenix’s eyes were threatening, her chin slightly raised, and her gaze swept over him indifferently. The task of pouring water seemed like a favor she was bestowing upon Gu Ye.

"You..." Gu Ye stood up helplessly, poured a glass of water, and placed it on the coffee table. Gu Ye felt that the [Furnace] had brought him an ancestor.

"I wanted warm water!"

Hearing this, Gu Ye had black lines on his forehead. He also threatened with a similar expression: "If you continue like this, I will have you go back. I do have that right."

Night Dwelling Phoenix snorted upon hearing this. Gu Ye’s threat clashed with her, making her very unhappy. Perhaps Gu Ye’s words had an effect, and she didn't say anything more.

Seeing that she had finally stopped making trouble and had reined in her arrogant nature, Gu Ye continued his work. He reached out and threw the card into the [Furnace] for Refinement.

Then he immersed himself in his consciousness. Sure enough, a card was hanging there, red and white, resembling a piece of high-quality Hetian jade.

Gu Ye beckoned, pulled the card over, and held it in his hand, his fingers rubbing against the edge of the card. At the same time, Night Dwelling Phoenix in the outside world suddenly felt as if her fingers had been touched by someone, a tingling sensation, followed by a tingling feeling on her legs.

"It's like an ice pop!" In his consciousness, Gu Ye felt strange. The card felt cold to the touch, with the texture of jade.

Suddenly, a strange thought arose in his heart: "Should I lick it and see?"

Immediately, he shook his head violently: "That's too perverted. I'd better check Night Dwelling Phoenix’s information!"

On the face of the card was Night Dwelling Phoenix wearing a dark green dress, her eyes sweeping over everything, with a look of disdain for the world. On her shoulder stood the gray bird he had seen before. Gu Ye moved his thought, and Night Dwelling Phoenix’s information appeared before his eyes:

card: [Night Countess · Night Dwelling Phoenix]

Rank: [Silver Tier 1] [Soul]

Category: [Specter]

Characteristics: @ ...# ￥ %# ￥ @ ￥ ...

Skills: # @ ￥ # @ ...# @ %..

The characteristics and skills were all garbled, and Gu Ye didn't know why. What Gu Ye couldn't understand the most was whether Night Dwelling Phoenix counted as a card or a monster.

Her information lacked the quality exclusive to cards, containing only the rank belonging to monsters, which left Gu Ye very confused.

Gu Ye exited his consciousness and slowly opened his eyes, looking at Night Dwelling Phoenix lying on the sofa. Her cheeks still retained a trace of the flush caused by the tingling sensation just now. Even though he had seen beauties like Yan Shuangling and Mu Xuefei, Gu Ye was lost in a daze again upon seeing Night Dwelling Phoenix’s appearance at this moment.

He quickly snapped back to his senses, his eyes drifting elsewhere. His tone carried a slight tremble as he said: "Let's talk!"

After all, the two of them were considered tied together from now on. Gu Ye needed to understand Night Dwelling Phoenix’s situation to decide how to treat her in the future.

"Very well." Night Dwelling Phoenix lifted her jade-like legs and slowly placed them on the floor, her soft dress sliding down to cover her ankles.

"Are you my card now, or do you still have your original identity?"

Night Dwelling Phoenix pondered with narrowed eyes and shook her head: "I don't know what my status is now, but you can ask your furnace; it should know."

"It would be nice if it could respond when asked." Gu Ye couldn't help but complain in his heart. The [Furnace] was like a cold, aloof fairy; no matter how Gu Ye asked, it showed no reaction.

Seeing his expression, Night Dwelling Phoenix also knew that neither of them could possibly know the answer to this question.