Ye Lingyuan couldn't help but sigh, how could there be such a beautiful woman in the world?
Her icy aura, clearly not something her tender body could bear, yet it blended in so seamlessly, exuding a mature world-weariness.
Recalling the sensation of her fingertips brushing his lips just moments ago, Ye Lingyuan's heart felt as if it had been struck, pounding relentlessly.
A voice was clamoring, get closer to her! Get closer to her!
His feet inexplicably obeyed the innermost desire, slowly moving closer to Zi Linling.
"What do you want?"
Zi Linling's delicate brows furrowed, her eyes warily fixed on the approaching Ye Lingyuan. Her fists clenched, ready to strike at any moment; surrender was never her style.
Ye Lingyuan suddenly jolted awake, his brow deeply furrowed. Had he gone mad?
The world knew that within three meters of the Underworld King Ye Lingyuan was an absolute no-go zone, especially for women. For any woman who dared to enter this forbidden zone would meet a tragic end.
Little did they know, a significant secret lay hidden behind this. Of course, this secret was only known to the Underworld King's trusted confidantes.
That was, the Underworld King Ye Lingyuan was afflicted with the ancient potent poison, Moonlit Glaze. He would suffer unbearable pain whenever the full moon arrived.
However, if a woman approached, the Moonlit Glaze would instantly erupt, regardless of time or place, devouring Ye Lingyuan's sanity and transforming him into a demon who fed on human blood.
Therefore, all women who attempted to approach Ye Lingyuan would bleed to death, without exception.
But at this moment, Zi Linling had become an exception.
Ye Lingyuan clearly felt that the Moonlit Glaze not only did not act up but was remarkably calm. Moreover, the closer Zi Linling got, the calmer the Moonlit Glaze became, as if it were afraid, like encountering its natural predator.
This was the reason for the clamoring voice in his mind. What was going on? Ye Lingyuan couldn't help but stop in his tracks, deep in thought.
Seeing him stop, Zi Linling also breathed a sigh of relief.
Although this man was pleasing to the eye, he was too dangerous; it was best to keep a distance.
"Please, sir, leave! I need to rest!"
Ye Lingyuan, without any clues, felt a surge of frustration.
He looked at Zi Linling and saw her watching him warily, a hint of distance in her eyes, which only worsened his mood.
How many women had gone to great lengths just to get close to him? He had initially assumed this woman was like the rest of the buzzing flies, merely seeking to get into his bed.
But now, he had to re-evaluate this woman.
"Please, sir, leave!"
Seeing that he hadn't moved, Zi Linling issued the eviction notice again.
Ye Lingyuan's eyes turned cold. Did this woman hate him that much? Issuing eviction notices again and again.
He had his temper, too, didn't he? No, it should be said that his temper had never been good.
This damned woman!
He shot Zi Linling a hateful glare, said nothing, turned, and walked out, quickly disappearing into the night. The oppressive aura and pressure in the room gradually dissipated with his departure.
Only then did Zi Linling completely relax. This man was too dangerous. The mere oppressive aura just now was something few could withstand. Don't let her seemingly calm demeanor fool you; it was merely her struggling to hold on.
If he hadn't intentionally withdrawn some of his pressure later, she would have collapsed long ago. Even so, her clothes were now soaked and clinging to her body, making her uncomfortable.
She silently vowed that if she could avoid provoking this man in the future, she absolutely would. Of course, if he were to provoke her, she would make him understand her power, even if it meant her own destruction.
Zi Linling, dragging her weary body, walked to the door to close it and go to sleep. Only then did she discover that Xue Ying had somehow fallen asleep outside.
Without a doubt, this was the man's doing.
Only this unfathomable man could act so openly under her nose without her noticing.
Although autumn had just begun, the night was already somewhat cold. If Xue Ying were to lie on the ground like this all night, she would surely fall ill tomorrow.
Zi Linling helplessly crouched down to wake Xue Ying and sent her back to her room to sleep. She then returned to her own room and found a jade pendant and a note on the table, which had appeared at some unknown time.
That jade pendant was the one the man had taken from his waist earlier.
The note contained a single sentence: "Regardless, you saved this king. This jade pendant is for you; you may come to the Underworld King's Mansion at any time to claim your consultation fee."
This king? The Underworld King's Mansion?
These two pieces of information triggered memories in Zi Linling's mind, automatically bringing forth related fragments.
The Underworld King Ye Lingyuan, whose true face had never been seen, was a ruthless killer who forbade anyone from coming within three meters of him, especially women. Rumor had it that he was inhuman, no different from a beast, and enjoyed fresh human blood. Any woman who entered the Underworld King's Mansion would bleed to death.
Looking at it this way, the man she had saved must be the Underworld King Ye Lingyuan. But how was he different from the rumors?
Doesn't approach women? Heh! He broke into her boudoir and attempted to "harbor ill intentions" towards her. Is that called not approaching women? It seems rumors are also unreliable.
Never mind, no more dwelling on this. It was best to rest early; there were more important things to do tomorrow.
Zi Linling casually tucked the jade pendant into her embrace and then got into bed. Due to fatigue, she quickly drifted off to sleep.
Little did she know, after she fell into a deep slumber, a book slowly floated up from above her head, hovering in mid-air, and automatically opened to the first page.
Instantly, the room was filled with golden light, and the four resplendent characters, "Ren Huang Yao Dian" (The Human Emperor's Medicinal Codex), slowly emerged from the pages.
At the same time, a fragrant aroma filled the room, and a voice boomed in Zi Linling's mind.
"Before the separation of heaven and earth, chaos was one. One, two; two, three; three things. Thus, the ultimate numbers of heaven and earth begin with one, stand with three, flourish with five, complete with seven, and end with nine. The numbers of heaven are exceedingly high, and the numbers of earth are exceedingly deep. Heaven is ninety thousand li from earth..."
"Hearing the ultimate numbers of heaven and earth, it aligns with the circulation of blood and qi in humans, determining life and death. One is heaven, two is earth, three is man, thus multiplied by three, three times three is nine, corresponding to the nine regions..."
"Therefore, one follows the law of heaven, two follows the law of earth, three follows the law of man, four follows the law of time, five follows the law of sound, six follows the law of law, seven follows the law of stars, eight follows the law of wind, and nine follows the law of the wilderness..."
...
The aroma grew increasingly potent, even emanating from the Nine Spirit Ring.
Old Du, who had been sleeping, suddenly opened his eyes. Upon realizing that this fragrance could heal soul injuries, he began to inhale it voraciously.
Zi Linling, asleep, was enveloped in golden light, and her wounds began to heal at a visible rate.
Until the wounds scabbed over and fell off, leaving behind faint scars, the golden light slowly dissipated.
As the golden light faded, Old Du, who had been undergoing healing, also opened his eyes and murmured, "I never expected that the primordial treasure, the 'Ren Huang Yao Dian,' would be within this little girl's body. It seems she is also a person of great fortune. I underestimated her."