175: This damned hellhole

Qin Wushang abruptly released Lin Ziyao, recoiling half a step as if electrocuted, and subconsciously raised his hand to wipe the corner of his mouth.

Lin Ziyao's expression also shifted slightly, and she quickly straightened her disheveled dress.

However, the shock in her eyes quickly gave way to composure, and there was even a faint hint of provocation.

Both of them turned their heads simultaneously, looking toward the door.

There, space rippled like water, and a figure appeared, dressed in moon-white imperial robes with a face of breathtaking beauty, looking like a goddess from the moon palace descending from the Nine Heavens!

Chu Yuehua!

She stood at the doorway, her Phoenix eyes freezing over for miles. Her gaze first raked fiercely over Qin Wushang, whose clothes were slightly disarrayed, before pinning itself onto Lin Ziyao's face, where traces of passion still lingered at the corners of her eyes and brows.

The air in the room completely froze.

Chu Yuehua's cold gaze and Lin Ziyao's stubborn, provocative stare collided silently in mid-air.

Lin Ziyao applied a slight force to her arm, clutching Qin Wushang's arm even tighter.

Her entire weight leaned into him, presenting an extremely intimate posture that carried a clear sense of declaration.

She lifted her small face to look at the figure radiating cold air at the door, and in a voice that was not loud but clear, she called out.

"Your Majesty."

This single word was a greeting, a reminder, and a drawing of boundaries.

Here, she was acting as Qin Wushang's fiancée, not as a subject.

Feeling the force and the soft, warm sensation on his arm, Qin Wushang felt his scalp tingle again, but he could only bite the bullet and force a slightly stiff smile.

He said to Chu Yuehua in a low voice, "Revered Master, why... are you here?"

Chu Yuehua did not respond.

She just stood there quietly, her moon-white imperial robes fluttering without wind, as a terrifying chill permeated the air around her.

Her eyes fixed on the arm Lin Ziyao was holding, and the more she looked, the colder her Qi became.

Time seemed to stretch; every second felt like a year!

Qin Wushang felt completely uncomfortable under this gaze and cleared his throat, trying to ease the atmosphere, "Cough, cough..."

However, Chu Yuehua still did not speak!

Fine beads of cold sweat seeped from Qin Wushang's forehead. He spoke again, his voice tinged with cautious probing, "Revered Master... what is wrong? Did you... come to find me for something?"

Before he could finish, he felt Lin Ziyao's grip on his arm tighten, and she even pulled his arm further into her embrace.

The posture was just like a little female cat guarding its food, baring its teeth at an intruder.

Chu Yuehua's gaze finally moved away from their intertwined arms and landed back on Qin Wushang's face.

She finally spoke, her voice calm and without waves.

"I followed a strong stench of fox."

She paused, her gaze shifting back to Lin Ziyao, continuing with pointed intent, "I came specifically to capture that audacious vixen who goes around bewitching people."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ziyao was not afraid; instead, she lifted her chin slightly, meeting Chu Yuehua's gaze.

"Her Majesty the Empress truly possesses vast Divine Ability and is busy with the affairs of the state, yet you would trouble yourself to personally handle such a trivial matter as catching a demon, and... pinpointed it exactly to this inn?"

"There is no choice."

Chu Yuehua's tone remained calm, yet it was sharp and confrontational, "The territory of Great Chu is vast, and there are many talented people."

"There are always some Prodigies who are good at disguising themselves as humans, hiding deeply, with clever methods."

"If I did not come personally, I fear some little Cultivators with shallow Dao and insufficient willpower would be eaten until not even their bones remained."

As she said this, she looked at Qin Wushang again, admonishing him earnestly, "Rebellious Disciple, you must know that one can know a person's face but not their heart."

"Some people look obedient and clever, pitiful and moving on the surface..."

She glanced at Lin Ziyao as she spoke, "But in secret, they might be sinister, cunning, violent, greedy, and malevolent great demons."

"Your experience is still shallow, and your mind is pure. Do not be deceived by superficial appearances and sweet words, lest you go astray and regret it too late."

Qin Wushang felt like crying out in his heart.

It's over. This isn't demon-catching; this is clearly veiled criticism, a battle of hidden daggers!

These two ladies are completely at odds, and he is stuck in the middle, becoming the most miserable sacrificial pawn.

He hurriedly spoke up, trying to smooth things over and extract himself, "Revered Master, there is a misunderstanding!"

"I heard that Ziyao's grandmother wanted to see me, so I came to pay respects to an elder. I definitely haven't encountered any demons! Really!"

He specifically emphasized the word 'grandmother' and secretly gave Lin Ziyao a look, signaling her to cooperate.

Upon hearing this, a trace of smugness appeared on Lin Ziyao's face.

"Grandmother?"

Chu Yuehua raised an eyebrow and repeated the word, her tone playful.

"Oh? Is that so."

"Then... where is her grandmother?"

"Uh..."

Qin Wushang was choked by the question; his brain raced, and his eyes began to drift toward the door.

"She just left... Revered Master, when you came in, did you, did you not bump into her? Maybe... you just happened to miss each other?"

"I saw her."

Chu Yuehua nodded expressionlessly, and just as Qin Wushang breathed a sigh of relief, she added unhurriedly, "I saw a ghost."

Qin Wushang: "..."

Lin Ziyao: "..."

Chu Yuehua seemed not to see their instantly stiffened expressions and continued in her calm tone, "I must be ill-informed, as I did not know when the Old Madam Lin of the Southern General's Mansion crawled out of her coffin."

"To have such interest as to come to this private room at the inn to meet her granddaughter's fiancé alone?"

These words were sharp and biting!

Damn it! This happened too!

More cold sweat broke out on Qin Wushang's forehead; he felt as if he were being roasted on a fire.

Thinking quickly, he hurriedly waved his hands, "Not that grandmother! It's... it's a god-grandmother!"

"Yes! A god-grandmother!"

"Ziyao just recognized her! They are very close, so she wanted to introduce her to me!"

"Oh—?"

Chu Yuehua drew out the tail of her tone, sweeping her gaze back and forth between Qin Wushang and Lin Ziyao.

She thought to herself, "Rebellious Disciple! Keep making it up, keep lying; for every sentence you make up, you'll get a lash."

Suddenly, the corners of her lips curled into a faint arc, and she asked Qin Wushang in a gentle tone, "I see."

"Then, Rebellious Disciple... do you..."

"Do you want to meet Revered Master's grandmother as well?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Wushang was stunned, subconsciously opening his mouth, "Ah? Revered Master's grandmother? This..."

Before he could finish his sentence—

"Hum!"

An extreme chill suddenly descended!

Qin Wushang didn't even see how Chu Yuehua moved; he only felt the space around him tighten abruptly, and his vision was instantly filled with crystalline mysterious ice!

It's over! I've become an icicle again!

This was Qin Wushang's last thought.