Chapter 894 - 697: Temptation
Outside the city, just when everyone thought Xue Yansi would not appear again, a mass of black fog suddenly surged forth.
Immediately afterward, a tall and slender silver-white figure stepped out from it—who else could it be but Xue Yansi?
Luo Ying’s face instantly lit up with joy; he finally emerged!
She knew it, that Xue Yansi still held her in his heart—how could he watch her die with open eyes?
Xue Xiaoyuan’s eyes flashed with a hint of dark light, but he did not move, only giving a signal to his trusted aide beside him.
The subordinate immediately led people forward to greet him respectfully, "Greetings, Young Master, I am here under orders to welcome you back to the clan."
Invite?
Xue Yansi casually glanced at the scene before him. How "grand" indeed.
However, the other’s tone was indeed courteous, their manner devoid of any offensive intent, as if that grand-scale manhunt earlier had never occurred, and now they were simply receiving a distinguished Young Master back home.
On the other side, Luo Ying had already been set free.
She paid no mind to the bruises on her wrist and happily stepped forward, "That’s great, Brother Yansi, you’re finally back! I’ve been so worried these days..."
She reached out to hold his arm, only to be gently waved aside by him.
"I’m fine." He only said those three words indifferently, then continued, "Let’s go."
Luo Ying’s smile froze for a moment, feeling that the man before her was particularly cold. But thinking that he had always been cold-natured and they hadn’t seen each other for a long time, she said no more.
With the goal accomplished, the Ghost Snake Clan’s army withdrew.
Shen Tang stood atop the city gate, watching the grand procession move away, then summoned a Beastman to whisper a few instructions and quietly disappeared as well.
...
After returning to the clan, the Ghost Snake Clan’s Family Head, Xue Xiaoyuan, did not turn hostile, not even mentioning the previous intent to kill Xue Yansi, only lovingly saying,
"Yansi, I have figured everything out! It was Xue Jianghan acting in secret, bringing shame to our clan; he got what he deserved, and the fault wasn’t yours."
He said, gently patting Xue Yansi’s shoulder, displaying an air of entrusting him with great responsibility,
"Now I have only you left as my son; you are the rightful heir to the Ghost Snake Clan, the future Family Head... Let bygones be bygones, stay well in the clan, the family’s hopes all rest on you."
If Shen Tang were here, he couldn’t help but sneer: This promise really paints a big picture!
In reality, Xue Xiaoyuan’s own son, whom he had cultivated for years, died at Xue Yansi’s hands—how could he swallow that?
He wished he could skin Xue Yansi alive!
But given Xue Yansi’s formidable current strength and talent, even if Xue Xiaoyuan took action himself, he might not prevail.
He dared not act rashly as before, better to stabilize the situation with a soft approach for now.
Just endure for a while longer until the Bone of Devouring matures completely—then would be the true time to act!
How could Xue Yansi not see through Xue Xiaoyuan’s affectionate facade? But he didn’t expose it, merely nodding faintly, going along with the act, "Alright, I understand, thank you, Father."
"As long as you understand, I’m just afraid you have resentment in your heart."
"Father overestimates; at the time, I had no other choice."
The two could be said to be acting their own parts.
Xue Yansi, tired of the pretense, directly said, "I will go into seclusion first."
The Family Head quickly responded, "Very well, very well, you may focus on your retreat, the clan will fully support you, ask for anything you need at any time."
After a few more words, Xue Yansi returned to his former residence.
Xue Xiaoyuan immediately signaled to Luo Ying, who quickly followed him.
Upon entering the room,
Luo Ying put on a pitiful and soul-stirring look of longing, her eyes reddening, tears welling up, "Brother Yansi, what have you experienced these days? How did you get involved with the Divine Fox Clan? I missed you so much, I’ve been worrying myself sick every day..."
If it were before, even if Xue Yansi had a cold personality, he would softly comfort her a bit.
But this time, the man just looked at her coldly.
His serene eyes devoid of any ripples, surprisingly making her instinctively feel a sense of pressure, she involuntarily stepped back half a pace.
Fortunately, he quickly shifted his gaze away, yet he didn’t give any explanation, merely saying indifferently,
"I need to go into seclusion, please leave."
"...What?" Luo Ying looked as if struck by lightning, incredulous, "Brother Yansi, are you—you telling me to leave?"
Xue Yansi’s voice remained aloof, like snow covering distant mountains, "Seclusion requires a still mind, it’s inconvenient to be disturbed by outsiders. If you don’t want to leave, you can stay here."
He paused, his tone even fainter,
"Just, don’t disturb me."
Finishing, he didn’t glance at her again, heading straight for the secret chamber.
Luo Ying’s smile thoroughly vanished from her face.
She never expected that Xue Yansi would actually say such things!
If it were before, even if he was in seclusion and couldn’t be disturbed, he would have tactfully said, "I would be distracted with you here," rather than directly calling her an "outsider."
In his heart, had she become an outsider?
No... This was different from before.
Luo Ying belatedly realized that ever since she returned this time, Xue Yansi’s attitude towards her had become much colder, and she couldn’t see a trace of the affection from the past in his eyes.
Although he had always been aloof by nature, he ultimately treated her differently from others. But now, in his eyes, she seemed no different from anyone else.
Luo Ying clenched her hands tightly, alarmed in her heart. Could it be that the power of the Bone of Devouring had increased again?
She gritted her teeth. No, her plan was just one step away from success; she couldn’t give up now!
So, she secretly ordered her trusted aide to go to the black market and purchase a special potion.
This potion could induce females to enter estrus early, and its scent was several times stronger than usual, having a lethal attraction to males.
It might even cause those with poor self-control to lose all reason and transform into beasts!
Without hesitation, Luo Ying drank the potion and headed to the secret room.
Xue Yansi heard the commotion and opened his eyes. Seeing it was her, he frowned slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes, "I told you, do not disturb me while I’m in seclusion."
Luo Ying seemed oblivious to the chill in his words, still smiling sweetly and softly, as she walked closer, "I just have some things to ask you, don’t be so fierce."
Her voice was plaintive, "Ever since you came back this time, you’ve seemed like a different person, so unfamiliar to me..."
As she approached, a sweet and intense scent overwhelmed him, enough to stir the most primal desires in most males.
But for Xue Yansi, this scent was too pungent.
He had once encountered a different, lightly fragrant aroma, which had deeply captivated him. Compared to it, the overpowering sweetness before him only instinctively induced a sense of repulsion and aversion.
But he remembered Shen Tang’s reminder, that he had to maintain his character and not reveal himself, so he remained expressionless on the surface, showing no trace.
Yet this silence, in Luo Ying’s eyes, became tacit approval.
Her smile grew brighter as she walked to his side and bent down on one knee, wrapping her hands around his arm.
She wore a creamy white long dress, and from beneath the hem, a dark green snake tail slowly emerged, gently coiling around his leg and waist.
She leaned close to his ear, her breath soft as orchids, "Brother Yansi, I can’t wait any longer... let’s become mates tonight."
Saying this, her hand moved towards his chest.
Proud females rarely actively seek pleasure; Luo Ying at this moment could be said to have exhausted all her means, even revealing her true form during estrus, attempting to entice him.
One must know that the true form of a beastman from the same clan has an extremely strong impact on the opposite sex, enough to trigger the most primal lust.
She didn’t believe that after going to such lengths, she still couldn’t win Xue Yansi over.
However, just when her fingertips were about to touch his chest, Xue Yansi’s eyes turned icy cold, and he suddenly pushed her away!
Even without using much force, a casual swing from a Primordial Beast Tier Beastman was enough to send Luo Ying flying several meters, crashing heavily against the wall, a metallic taste welling up in her throat.
Luo Ying let out a sharp scream, her face instantly turning pale, shocked and furious, "You, you actually dared to hurt me?!"
Xue Yansi slowly got up, walked to her, and looked down at her from above.
In those eyes, there was no longer any trace of past tenderness, only cold disgust, with a hint of killing intent.
"If you want to die, you can try again."
The powerful and icy pressure crushed down, without even moving, he had already made Luo Ying’s whole body stiffen, and a bone-chilling fear surged in her heart, nearly causing her to faint.
The blood drained from her face, and she was extremely horrified—how could Xue Yansi treat her like this?
If she had only doubted before, now she was completely certain—
Xue Yansi had completely lost all feelings for her!
Why didn’t he love her anymore? Could it be... he had fallen for someone else?
Luo Ying suddenly recalled that these days Xue Yansi had been staying with the Fox Clan.
The Fox Clan was renowned for its beauties and was more skilled in the art of charm. Had he fallen in love with someone from the Fox Clan?
No wonder he stayed in the Divine Fox Clan for so long and was unwilling to return!
So he already had someone else!
Overwhelmed by towering jealousy and anger, Luo Ying’s face almost twisted, "Since you are heartless, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"
Suddenly, she lifted her sleeve, revealing a faint petal-shaped mark on the inside of her wrist.
As she chanted an obscure incantation, the mark suddenly blossomed with a green light!
Xue Yansi’s expression changed dramatically, letting out a muffled groan as he fell to one knee, supporting himself on the ground, breathing painfully.
What was this thing?!