343: hesitate

"You... what's wrong with you?"

Wan Xiangyu spoke hesitantly, her feet unconsciously taking half a step forward, her gaze falling on Situ Jun's flushed face:

"Did you encounter an enemy, or... did your Cultivation go awry?"

Situ Jun wanted to nod, but his body was completely unresponsive, only able to let out faint groans.

He could feel that the lust poison within his body was rapidly invading his Sea of Consciousness. In his eyes, Wan Xiangyu before him gradually transformed into a "cure" to alleviate his torment. Reason and instinct waged a fierce war in his mind, causing him such agony he nearly roared out.

Seeing him unable to speak, the hesitation in Wan Xiangyu's heart grew stronger.

She recalled her father once saying that if a Cultivator's Cultivation goes awry and isn't treated promptly, the mildest consequence is the complete loss of Cultivation, while the most severe is death by bodily explosion.

The person before her was able to fly in here, clearly a high-level Cultivator. If he died in her room, it would likely bring catastrophic disaster upon the Wang Family.

"Forget it..."

Wan Xiangyu gritted her teeth, quickly walked to Situ Jun's side, crouched down, and reached out a hand to help him up:

"Get up first, I... I'll find some healing medicine for you."

But the moment her hand touched Situ Jun's arm, she snatched it back as if scalded.

The temperature on Situ Jun's body was frighteningly high, his skin scalding hot like red-hot iron. Even the temperature in the air seemed to have risen a few degrees.

What startled her even more was the sudden change in Situ Jun's gaze—the last traces of clarity completely vanished, replaced by a dense crimson hue and madness. Like a beast out of control, he stared fixedly at her.

"You... don't come any closer!"

Wan Xiangyu was so frightened by this gaze she retreated two steps, her back bumping into the dressing table with a crisp sound.

Seeing that Situ Jun was just lying on the ground in pain, Wan Xiangyu felt a wave of relief and said:

"You... don't be anxious, I'll go call someone to help you right now!"

As she spoke, Wan Xiangyu turned and was about to run towards the door.

"Don't... don't go!"

Situ Jun urgently spoke, a trace of desperation in his voice as he continued:

"There's no time... only you... can save me..."

He knew that if Wan Xiangyu left and returned with others, he would likely have already lost his sanity, turned into a monster.

Wan Xiangyu's steps halted. She turned her head back, looking at Situ Jun with confusion:

"Me? I'm just a Qi Refining First-Layer Cultivator, how could I possibly save you?"

Situ Jun took a deep breath, struggling to keep his voice clear:

"I... I have an imbalance of Yin and Yang within my body, needing to borrow Gentle Yin Power to harmonize it... You possess a Gentle Yin Constitution, you only need... only need to assist me in circulating spiritual energy for a moment... to alleviate..."

As soon as his words finished, he could no longer hold on. Darkness fell before his eyes as his consciousness plunged completely into darkness. His body slumped softly onto the carpet, only the faint rise and fall of his chest proving a breath of life remained.

Borrowing Gentle Yin Power to harmonize Yin and Yang—the words sounded simple, but how could she not know the peril involved?

The slightest misstep could not only fail to save the other party but likely plunge herself into danger as well.

Madame Xiangyu stood beside the dressing table, her fair hands unconsciously twisting the tie of her rosy-hued silk skirt. The entwined lotus pattern embroidered at the hem rippled with soft, beautiful arcs of light from her subtle swaying.

She was born with an extremely enchanting appearance—eyebrows like distant mountains tinged with green, eyes like autumn waters shimmering. The rouge-colored mole beneath her eye added a third part of charm. Yet at this moment, those soul-stirring eyes were filled with hesitation and struggle, even the dark tresses falling by her temples seemed tinged with melancholy.

She understood the Laws of the Cultivation world better than anyone. The rule of the strong preying on the weak was carved into bone and blood.

The Wang Family residence she dwelled in was considered the pinnacle of opulent grandeur in the eyes of Mortals in Qingshan Town.

Vermilion gates with gleaming bronze rings, upturned eaves with carved beams and painted rafters. The Taihu Lake rocks and koi ponds in the courtyard complemented each other interestingly. The servants and maids coming and going wore splendid attire, truly a scene of lavish luxury.

But in the eyes of Cultivators, these high walls and deep courtyards were merely a cage made of paper—without Formation protection, without spiritual energy barriers. Any Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator seeking trouble could trample this place flat as easily as crushing an ant.

Situ Jun was now in a semi-conscious state from the pain, veins bulging on his forehead, yet he endured without letting out a groan of agony. His pale face carried a hint of stern righteousness, more like a Righteous Path Cultivator who had been secretly ambushed.

To save, or not to save?

This thought had just surfaced when it was suppressed by reason.

She was merely at Qi Refining First-Layer, her Cultivation so lowly it didn't even count as dust in the Cultivation world. And whoever could injure such a Cultivator of considerable strength must possess formidable power.

If she rashly intervened and the enemy came seeking, not only would she be unable to protect herself, but the entire Wang Family above and below could be implicated.

But just as she turned to leave, the clamor from the front hall drifted over through the layers of courtyard walls.

It was her husband, Steward Wang, once again feasting and reveling with a group of disreputable friends. The laughter, curses, and vulgar jokes amidst the clinking of cups and goblets were like poisoned needles, densely piercing Madame Xiangyu's eardrums.

Her fingertips grew slightly cold, her spiritual energy unconsciously stagnating in her Meridians for an instant.

Ten years since marrying into the Wang Family, she had endured from that young girl who entered with Family expectations and dreams of Cultivation, to the current Madame Xiangyu, neglected and forgotten in this deep mansion.

Steward Wang had long since cast her aside. After the initial novelty of the marriage wore off, he became immersed day and night in wine and women, lingering among flowers.

This vast mansion was not a home to her, but a gilded and bejeweled cage.

During the day, she witnessed the fickleness of human relationships; at night, she kept the empty chamber alone. Day after day of loneliness clung to her like parasitic vines, entangling her limbs and bones. Even when circulating spiritual energy to Cultivate, she felt a heavy Death Qi permeating her Meridians.

She had been stuck at the barrier of Qi Refining First-Layer for a full eight years. It wasn't due to dull Aptitude, but because this stagnant, lifeless existence had long since worn away her Dao Heart.

Perhaps, saving this person could smash a crack into this stagnant, lifeless existence.

"Forget it..."

As these thoughts ran through her mind, Madame Xiangyu let out a soft sigh, a touch of softness adding to the alluring charm at the corners of her eyes.

She quickly stepped forward, stopping beside Situ Jun and crouching down.

The skirt of her dress spread out as she crouched, like a blooming cloud of rosy mist.

A strand of jet-black hair slipped from her temple, falling beside her jade-white cheek, making those almond-shaped eyes appear even more dewy and clear.

The moment her fingertip touched the pulse at his wrist, a searing force suddenly rebounded, like a red-hot branding iron scorching her fingertip, the stinging pain instantly spreading.

Immediately after, a strand of sinister energy followed her fingertip and drilled into her Meridians—chilling yet frenzied. It made her whole body tremble. She hurriedly focused her spirit and held her breath, circulating the only gentle Yin spiritual energy remaining within her. Like a trickling stream, it washed through her Meridians. It took considerable effort to force that Yin-Evil Energy out of her body, fine beads of cold sweat already appearing at her temples.

"Is it... lust poison?"

Madame Xiangyu's face abruptly changed color, her eyes filled with shock. Her cherry lips parted slightly, revealing delicate white teeth.