Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 399 385: "Secret Investigator" Jiu, Caught by Peng Sword Immortal

"Hmph. You demonesses only know how to use sweet-talk to fool outsiders. Why should I believe that you haven't cultivated the Yin Yang Dao and taken men's lives?"

Faced with Pei Yuhang's cold accusation, Jiu, wearing the Red Lotus Mask, fell silent for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle. Her voice, crisp as a spring bubbling over stones, carried a hint of provocation:

"What's wrong? Do you need to inspect me yourself, Pei Sword Immortal?"

"..."

Jiu's retort left Pei Yuhang stunned.

'He was a respectable, married Sword Immortal! How could he possibly inspect something so private on this masked woman!'

Jiu noticed Pei Yuhang's discomfort, and a silent smile touched her lips beneath the mask.

She deliberately leaned forward, the Red Lotus Pattern on her mask catching the moonlight with a bewitching gleam. "What's the matter, Pei Sword Immortal? Don't you dare?"

Pei Yuhang clenched his fists, his voice coming through gritted teeth:

"Hmph. Just what I'd expect from one of Shang Miaoyan's women. Utterly shameless and depraved!"

Despite his words, Pei Yuhang slowly released his grip on Jiu.

"Are you still not going to talk? Why were you spying on my estate in the middle of the night? What information does Shang Miaoyan want?"

Jiu tilted her head. Beneath her Red Lotus Mask, her lips curved into a faint, teasing smile.

She leaned lazily against the wall. Pei Yuhang had struck her acupoints, leaving her limbs numb and limp as noodles. Escape was impossible.

But she was also banking on his mercy—the moral baseline that would prevent him from resorting to torture for a confession.

'Might as well just give up.'

'I won't say a word. What can a mere Little Sword Immortal like you do to me?'

'In the end, you'll just have to meekly let me go.'

'Just like how you always bow to the Holy Daughter, climbing into bed and obediently waiting for her to grace you with her presence.'

'Pei Yuhang, you're just that kind of person: seemingly stubborn, but in reality, all too willing to compromise.'

WHOOSH—

The cold wind howled through the snowy night, whipping up fine ice crystals that etched a frigid path between them.

Facing the silent Jiu and her nonchalant attitude, Pei Yuhang's brow furrowed even deeper. His knuckles turned white as he fought to suppress his rage.

"Pei Sword Immortal, let me go. There's no point in dragging this out... And rest assured, the Holy Daughter didn't send me here to do anything bad.

I won't harm you... I just came to see how you were doing, now that you've become a Void Refining Great Cultivator."

Jiu's voice was slightly hoarse as she tried to persuade Pei Yuhang to end the pointless stalemate.

However, hearing Jiu speak with such confidence that he wouldn't harm her only made Pei Yuhang more agitated.

"Are you really not afraid of me at all? I'm a Void Refining Cultivator. A single thought from me could end your life."

He silently unleashed his Void Refining Suppression. A vast Sword Dao Domain instantly manifested, and in Jiu's eyes, the soft, fragile snowflakes filling the sky transformed into countless blades suspended in the air.

And Pei Yuhang was the Master of Ten Thousand Swords. With a single thought, he could make the blades rain down and execute the helpless woman on the ground by a thousand cuts.

"Are you scared now? Do you understand the gap between us? Even if your master Shang Miaoyan were here, she would have to kneel before me," Pei Yuhang said coldly.

He looked at the masked Jiu. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he sensed a pair of perfectly calm eyes beneath the mask.

'This woman... she still isn't afraid of him.'

'Is she looking down on me?'

Pei Yuhang suddenly grabbed Jiu's arm and, as if hoisting a sack of grain, threw her over his shoulder.

Surprisingly, although the woman looked tall, she was exceptionally light, almost weightless.

"What are you doing? Let me go! I belong to the Holy Daughter! If you do anything to me, the Holy Daughter won't spare you!"

Draped over Pei Yuhang's shoulder, Jiu finally started to panic.

She indignantly flailed her limp arms, beating against Pei Yuhang's back in protest.

If it weren't for the mask on her face, she might have opened her mouth and bitten his ear or neck.

Her slender feet kicked wildly in the air. Though she had no strength, her flailing still scuffed his white robes, leaving them smudged with dirt.

"You woman! Can't you stay still!"

Annoyed at the sight of his dirtied robes, Pei Yuhang instinctively raised his hand to discipline her according to the rules of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion.

SMACK—

The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the lonely, snowy night, injecting a lady's shameful blush and burning ears into the frigid air.

"Ah—!"

Jiu let out a cry of humiliation, her body trembling as if shocked.

Beneath the mask, her cheeks instantly grew scalding hot, and even the tips of her ears were stained a shameful crimson. Biting her lip, she spoke, her voice trembling slightly:

"Pei Yuhang, you're done for... The Holy Daughter won't spare you..."

But her threat lacked any force. She sounded more like a badly bullied cub, baring its teeth in a bluff.

At first, Pei Yuhang felt a little awkward for having accidentally spanked her.

But when he saw Jiu trying to use Shang Miaoyan to intimidate him, like a child tattling to her parents, a fire ignited in his heart.

"Shang Miaoyan? You can't possibly think that woman is omnipotent, can you? Even if she came here herself, I'd humiliate you right in front of her!"

SMACK—

Another slap landed.

Jiu, her behind now sore and numb, struggled even more violently.

But her resistance was met with an even fiercer "lashing" from Pei Yuhang.

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

The succession of crisp slaps played in concert with the whining of the cold wind.

Finally, in the face of constant pain and humiliation, Jiu recognized her reality. She lay obediently over Pei Yuhang's shoulder, no longer daring to protest.

"Hmph. And here I thought you were truly indomitable. It seems you know how to submit after all, don't you?"

Pei Yuhang sneered, deliberately patting her backside again. The blow wasn't heavy, but it still made the sore and swollen Jiu groan in pain.

It was sufficiently humiliating.

"Struggle again, and there's worse to come," Pei Yuhang threatened.

"..."

Jiu said nothing more, simply allowing Pei Yuhang to carry her through a deep corridor and into a bone-chilling underground chamber.

Frost coated the icy stone walls, and wisps of white mist floated in the air, making it seem as if one's very breath could freeze.

When Pei Yuhang set her down, Jiu stumbled but quickly regained her footing. As she looked up, her hoarse voice from beneath the mask still carried its familiar, mocking tone.

"Are you going to imprison me? I never realized you were such a pervert."

"Perhaps I should suggest to the Holy Daughter that she try this... interesting role-playing game with you next time."

Pei Yuhang's brow twitched. He leaned close to Jiu's mask, his breath forming a white mist in the frigid chamber as he spoke word by word.

"Enough! Stop trying to provoke me with Shang Miaoyan!"

"And I'm not playing some stupid role-playing game with you!

This is detention! Don't you dare judge me by the filthy standards of your Sect! And you've stalked me many times. I'm not letting you go so easily this time.

The moment you tell me your purpose for coming to the Cold Palace Sword Mansion is the moment I let you go."

Jiu tilted her head slightly, her long, high ponytail sliding over her shoulder and obscuring half of her mask.

Her voice was low and hoarse, as if coming from a great distance:

"My purpose... I've already told you twice."

She paused, her voice tinged with an imperceptible softness. "I just... came to see you... to see if you sustained any hidden injuries after your breakthrough to Void Refining."

However, Pei Yuhang failed to notice the subtle emotion in her words.

In his eyes, the woman before him was merely a pawn sent by Shang Miaoyan, and every word she spoke was a carefully woven lie.

'She couldn't be trusted.'

"Hmph."

Pei Yuhang scoffed, the wariness in his eyes not diminishing in the slightest. "Did you think such sweet words could fool me?"

He leaned in, his lips almost touching her ear, and said deliberately, "It's impossible for you Witches from the Yin Yang Sacred Land to fool me!"

"..."

Beneath the mask branded with the bewitching red lotus, a pair of thin, cherry-pink lips curved into the faintest, almost silent smile.

"...Idiot Sword Immortal. You deserve to have your body and heart tricked away by a bad woman."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. Since you're imprisoning me, just wait for the Holy Daughter to come settle accounts!"

Jiu's voice had turned cold again.

She turned her head, ignoring Pei Yuhang completely.

Watching this defiant woman, Pei Yuhang suddenly recalled a Bedroom Technique recorded in the Yang Emperor Heart Scripture.

It was specifically designed to tame fiery-tempered "Rouge Horses."

Of course, this Secret Technique wasn't as nefarious as those from the Yin Yang Sacred Land; it was even a bit mischievous.

The technique allowed one to inscribe a Curse Seal anywhere on a woman's body. With a single thought from the caster, the sealed spot would become intensely itchy, even making the person laugh uncontrollably...

This woman before him was so cold and aloof, and seemed so loyal to Shang Miaoyan.

Pei Yuhang thought it would be quite interesting to plant that Itchy Curse Seal on her.

'Hmph. Since I can't get revenge on Shang Miaoyan right now, I'll take it out on her loyal lapdog first!'

Just as Pei Yuhang was about to cast the curse.

BUZZ—BUZZ—

The Transmission Token buzzed urgently.

Pei Yuhang glanced at it—it was from his head disciple, Qing Yueqiu.

'What does Yueqiu want in the middle of the night?'

Pei Yuhang was puzzled. He glanced at Jiu, who was curled up in the corner like a small fox, and said viciously,

"Hmph. Consider yourself lucky."

With that, he left the chamber, casting several Restrictions to seal it completely before he departed, his mind finally at ease.

Jiu watched Pei Yuhang's rapidly retreating back and let out a long sigh.