After provoking the holy maiden of Miao territory, she was infected with a love curse.

So weak that he couldn't even stand up.

Yin Huaixi stared at Sang Che with resentment, but when she saw her face, she couldn't bring herself to utter any harsh curses.

"You...you're going too far..."

"Sang Che, once my second sister finds you, your hiding place will be exposed..."

Sang Che hid in the remote Miao village of Fengming Mountain because she needed to recuperate from her illness.

The Miao King is currently in conflict with the imperial court and is hoping that Sang Che can recover from his illness and become the "Gu King".

This was done to intimidate the imperial court.

To receive more preferential treatment.

Sang Che is now a tiger with its teeth pulled, a snake that has shed its skin.

If the government finds out where she is hiding, the authorities in Lingshui City will probably take action.

Not to mention this bandit stronghold, even Phoenix Cry Mountain could be turned into ruins.

Yin Huaixi lacked confidence and could only use the imperial court as leverage to intimidate Sang Che.

She knew that Sang Che needed to hide because he had something difficult to say.

The Miao region has a tradition of using witchcraft.

It is indeed terrifying.

But the imperial court was not to be trifled with.

Hearing Yin Huaixi's panting like a kitten, Sang Che slowly moved forward. Xiao Ya'er pointed out the direction for her, and Sang Che groped her way to sit on the bamboo chair in the darkness.

At this moment, a maid brought in an oil lamp and a pot of tea, illuminating the dark room.

After finishing her work, the maid stepped back, and the door was closed again.

In this pitch-black place, only the two of them remained.

The candlelight illuminated Sang Che's face as she slowly poured herself a cup of tea.

Some tea spilled onto the table, and Yin Huaixi's throat tightened. She had been hungry since waking up and hadn't had any water in her throat.

I'm dying of thirst.

Seeing Sang Che leisurely sipping his tea, Yin Huaixi was extremely envious.

"You want a drink?"

"Then come over here."

Hearing Sang Che's alluring voice, Yin Huaixi walked over.

The chain dragged on the ground, making a rustling sound.

"You just said that the imperial court would be coming, but didn't you consider how I knew that?"

Sang Che listened to the commotion on the other side, still smiling faintly.

She wrapped her injured thumb with a handkerchief embroidered with a butterfly, which was fluttering gracefully.

He hurriedly swallowed the tea.

Yin Huaixi pressed further: "You knew all along... didn't you?"

Sang Che nodded; she did not deny it.

As if thinking of something, Yin Huaixi gripped the teacup tightly, as if a little too much force would shatter it into pieces.

"Are you trying to mess with me, or are you trying to use me... to drag my sister into this?"

Faced with Yin Huaixi's anger, her tone was slightly playful.

Sang Che: "I had no intention of hurting anyone, but if they insist on making things difficult for me, why should I tolerate it?"

"Take a Gu worm for example. If someone bites you, you have to bite back... otherwise, you can't become a Gu worm."

Thinking of the old chieftain's serious expression when he mentioned Sang Che on the boat that day, Yin Huaixi gripped the corner of the table.

She was about to speak when Sang Che interrupted her first.

"Huaixi, I know what you're thinking, you don't need to guess."

"I've been keeping the government officials in separate custody... They're strong and healthy, and they've been training for years, making them perfect vessels for refining Gu poison."

Hearing this, Yin Huaixi took two deep breaths and forcefully suppressed the urge to argue with Sang Che.

We must not be irrational...

Otherwise, it will only harm Second Sister's subordinates!

After reflecting on the pain, I calmed my mind.

Her tone softened, sounding gentle and soft as she said, "Sang Che, could you please not touch them?"

I don't know if they genuinely don't understand, or if they're pretending not to.

Sang Che then asked, "Why?"

"If I let them go, they'll surely tell everyone what they saw and heard. Who would do something so foolish?"

This oil lamp is not very bright.

It seemed like it could be extinguished at any moment.

Yin Huaixi looked at her and, considering Sang Che's best interests, advised her: "If you offend the people of the imperial court, they will track you down here. If they find out that you killed the imperial soldiers, things will not be so simple."

Knowing Yin Huaixi's intention in saying that, Sang Che didn't care: "Do they even know how they found out here?"

"Huaixi, I know why you're trying to persuade me like this."

With a flick of her long sleeves.

The glittering silver ornaments were so bright in the firelight that they hurt the eyes.

"You're just worried that I'll turn those people into puppets... You Han people are really... united?"

"Should I say that?"

Her little scheme was exposed.

Yin Huaixi gritted her teeth and glanced at the shackles on her feet again, her anger gradually subsiding.

She began to think about how to persuade Sang Che to release her second sister's men.

Sang Che then said, "Huai Xi, if you want to beg me to release them, I'll give you that chance."

"But you also need to think carefully about what I really want."

Set the teacup down.

Sang Che braced his hands on the table, bringing his face close to Yin Huaixi's. Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Yin Huaixi turned her face away instinctively.

The tip of her nose was brushed by a stray hair from Yin Huaixi's temple, and Sang Che paused. She knew that Yin Huaixi was avoiding her approach again.

"You're always like this..."

He murmured, a sickly smile appearing on Sang Che's "innocent" face.

"Huaixi, let me tell you, if they really have the ability to take you away, I won't chase after them."

"But they are a bunch of good-for-nothings. They were discovered by my Gu worms before they even entered the village."

With his fingertips pressed against Yin Huaixi's chin, Sang Che forcefully turned her around, forcing Yin Huaixi's eyes, which had been avoiding his gaze, to look at him.

"Tell me... why should I give these people a chance?"

"What do they have to do with me?"

Their red lips were about to touch, and Sang Che breathed hot air into each other. Her voice was laughing, but it was cold to the bone.

"And you are my destined one."

At such close range, Yin Huaixi had no way to escape, and she knew there was nowhere to run.

"You and I were destined to be together. The red thread that bound us together in our past lives... we still can't untie it now."

"Huaixi, I really don't want to use Gu on you. Even if I create Gu, it can't escape the nature of Gu... It will devour your body, control your desires... and make you only devoted to me."

"Let your senses belong to me, and let my senses belong to you."

A butterfly, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, circled around Yin Huaixi and landed on Sang Che's shoulder; its beauty was eerily captivating.

The powdery patterns on butterfly wings seem to bewitch the soul and hypnotize people.

With his thumb released, Sang Che leaned forward and lightly kissed Yin Huaixi's lips, like a butterfly gathering nectar.

Yin Huaixi, who originally wanted to push Sang Che away, suddenly felt weak all over and could only endure the kiss.

The body is not under the control of reason.

Follow the feeling that Sang Che gives you.

"Sang Che...stop..."

Unwilling to become Sang Che's prisoner in such a humiliating way, Yin Huaixi weakly called out Sang Che's name.

Instead of Sang Che restraining himself, he became even more outrageous.

Her body trembled, and Sang Che only released Yin Huaixi when she was on the verge of collapse.

"Huaixi, I know you need something from me."

"Are you trying to say... I should release your sister's men?"

Sang Che traced the shape of Yin Huaixi's lips with his thumb, not minding the dirt, and gently wiped them.

Her shattered reason came together again. Yin Huaixi's eyes were blurry with tears as she breathed heavily, her throat bobbing.

"What will it take... to release them?"

Sang Che moved closer again, her eyelashes almost brushing against Yin Huaixi's face.

"It's very simple."

"You listen to me... or you beg me."

"Please beg me properly."

"I let them go so my baby wouldn't eat them."

"how?"