Chapter 140: Poisoned

How could Bai Shengyun possibly have failed to see that? Xu Xiaosheng had certainly recognized Xie Yingying, and he knew exactly why they had come. Yet he had not exposed them. Most likely, he intended to use their hands to obtain the Snowchanting Sword.

Bai Shengyun narrowed his phoenix eyes dangerously. His flawless profile was so pale it was almost translucent. Pressing his lips tightly together, he gave a derisive laugh. “So what? He has gone to such lengths to set all these traps. If I simply withdraw now, he’ll start thinking himself invincible.”

Though Bai Shengyun’s tone was utterly unyielding, his brows remained tightly furrowed.

The person who had assassinated Xie Yingying had most likely been sent by Xu Xiaosheng, and his purpose was none other than the Heavenly Fox’s Primordial Essence within her.

With the Snowchanting Sword and Xie Yingying’s Heavenly Fox’s Primordial Essence in hand, he would be able to suppress the Heavenly Fox clan, unify the Immortal Sect, and become the supreme ruler beneath the heavens.

By then, whether it was Xie Yingying or the Heavenly Fox clan, they would all be meat upon the chopping block, left at the mercy of others.

He absolutely could not allow such a thing to happen.

Seeing how resolute he was, Bai Qirui knew there was nothing he could say to change his mind. He could only sigh helplessly.

“Forget it. You’ve always been stubborn, ever since you were a child. Once you’ve made up your mind, not even eight oxen could drag you back. I won’t try to persuade you anymore.”

A trace of worry crossed Bai Qirui’s face, followed by hesitation. “But after this failure, Xu Xiaosheng certainly won’t let the matter rest. He’ll take advantage of the opportunity to find a way to frame you. You must be careful.”

Bai Shengyun knew that his third brother was concerned for him, so he nodded. “I know. I’ll be careful. Don’t worry.”

Bai Shengyun was meditating when, all at once, his emotions surged and a wave of heat rose from his dantian. Pain appeared on his face, and he suddenly spat out a large mouthful of blood.

Bai Qirui was badly startled. He hurried to his side and supported him, anxiously examining him from head to toe. “What happened? Why did you suddenly vomit blood?”

As his gaze swept across the ground, he suddenly noticed that the blood was black and gave off a foul stench.

His face filled with shock. “Shengyun, the injury on your body is extremely strange. What exactly happened?”

Bai Shengyun calmly wiped the blood from his lips. His face had grown even paler, making the cinnabar mole on his forehead appear as bright as a flame.

He curled his lips into a seductive smile that could enchant all living things. “It’s nothing.”

“You still say it’s nothing?” Bai Qirui was furious. “Look at the state you’re in, and you’re still pretending to be strong. Do you know how important you are? If anything happens to you, what will become of the Heavenly Fox clan in the future? Do you understand?”

A smile so faint it was almost imperceptible touched the corners of Bai Shengyun’s lips. “Don’t worry. I won’t die.”

After saying this, Bai Shengyun clasped his hands before his chest and slowly resumed meditating. He used his divine sense to inspect his body and saw black energy swirling around his arm.

He slowly opened his phoenix eyes, a chill flashing within them. With a derisive laugh, he said, “I never expected this. I was truly careless. I was accidentally wounded by a concealed weapon during the fight earlier. The wound healed quickly, but those people had hidden poison inside the weapon. This poison is different from ordinary toxins. It remained dormant in my body until now before finally taking effect. I suppose I’m lucky to still be alive.”

He had never imagined that he, the dignified Young Emperor, would be attacked from behind. It was utterly humiliating.

“And you’re still laughing?” Bai Qirui saw that even after being poisoned, Bai Shengyun still did not take the matter seriously. His anger nearly made his heart seize. “Can you force the poison out?”

“It will indeed take some time.” Bai Shengyun’s expression remained indifferent, as though nothing in the world could stir even the slightest ripple in his mood.

That meant he could not force it out!

Bai Qirui’s heart sank. What kind of poison could be so formidable?

It had remained hidden in Bai Shengyun’s body for so long that even the Eight Lake Elders had failed to detect it. How dangerous was it, then?

Bai Qirui immediately pulled a handful of pills from his robes and stuffed them directly into Bai Shengyun’s mouth. “I refined these antidote pills myself. I don’t know whether they can suppress the poison in your body, but something is better than nothing.”

Bai Shengyun stared at the pills, the corner of his mouth twitching involuntarily as his face darkened considerably.

But in his current condition, he was no match for Bai Qirui. Before he could say a word, his mouth was stuffed full of pills. They tasted utterly wretched.

With an expression of complete despair, Bai Shengyun finished swallowing them and continued meditating. Bai Qirui stood guard over him. Fortunately, after taking the pills, Bai Shengyun’s complexion improved considerably.

Bai Qirui finally relaxed. He even moved two medical texts over and began searching for the origin of the poison while staying nearby to care for Bai Shengyun.

Bai Shengyun, however, kept a dark expression throughout and showed not the slightest appreciation.

Before they knew it, night had fallen. Xie Yingying had rested only briefly before hurrying back to care for Bai Shengyun.

When she saw that his complexion was even worse than before, she assumed that his injury had worsened again. It never occurred to her that Bai Shengyun had been poisoned.

Xie Yingying’s heart sank straight to the bottom of the sea.

When Bai Shengyun saw that she looked as though she were about to cry, he felt deeply uncomfortable. He pressed his lips together and spoke in an extremely harsh tone.

“Who are you making that miserable face for? If someone else sees you, they’ll think I’ve been bullying you. What will become of my reputation?”

Startled by his voice, Xie Yingying sniffed and lowered her head, looking pitiful. “I’m sorry.”

Guilt immediately surged through Xie Yingying’s heart.

Bai Shengyun had seen her covered in blood yet refusing to bow her head. He had seen her shameless and brazen side, but he had never seen her act so cautiously, so timidly, as though she were afraid to make the slightest sound. He felt even more at a loss.

Could he really have spoken too harshly?

A strange feeling rose within Bai Shengyun as he watched the guilt on Xie Yingying’s face. Yet he was the Young Emperor—how could he bring himself to lower his pride?

He could only maintain a dark expression and stare fixedly at Xie Yingying. To an outsider, that look would have made him seem like a creditor come to collect a debt, utterly devoid of affection.

Seeing the two of them locked in this awkward stalemate, Bai Qirui could finally bear it no longer. He hurried over to them.

“All right, Bai Shengyun. Don’t treat Yingying like this. You’re both supposed to hold a wedding banquet soon, so how can you still behave so willfully?”

Bai Shengyun fell silent.

Did he not understand what kind of arrangement this wedding banquet truly represented? Why was he saying such things?

Bai Qirui completely ignored Bai Shengyun’s stare and turned toward Xie Yingying, his voice gentle and soothing. “Yingying, don’t listen to his nonsense. He’s clearly the sort who is hard-mouthed but soft-hearted. He’s simply very worried about you.”

Bai Qirui could tell that his younger brother treated Xie Yingying very differently from anyone else. In order to save her, Bai Shengyun had been poisoned and thrown into such a dangerous situation.

Now that the girl had come to care for him, he was instead using his sharp tongue to drive her away. If he lost someone he truly cared for, he would certainly regret it for the rest of his life.