Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 9: Physical Mutation! The Fetal Feeding Force Can See Through Things?

In the following days, the Cold Palace felt like an airtight prison.

Although Wang Fu did suffer from diarrhea for two days because of the food that had been spiked, and was so angry that he jumped up and down in the yard cursing,

But he didn't dare to barge in directly again—the injury on his wrist hadn't fully healed yet.

He was still somewhat intimidated by Shen Qingci's swift and decisive bone-twisting technique.

But the surveillance became even tighter.

The two burly eunuchs worked in shifts almost every twelve hours, their eyes fixed on the doors and windows of Shen Qingci's room like searchlights.

Even when Lian Jinshu went out to empty the chamber pot, he would be searched from head to toe.

Shen Qingci wasn't in a hurry.

She took her medicine on time every day—the herbs were hidden in a secret compartment under the bed, a mechanism that Eunuch Li had conveniently modified for her when he came to inspect the three herbs that night.

It's very ingenious. From the outside, it looks like an ordinary bed board, but if you press the right position, a small drawer will pop out.

The medication is still effective.

She could feel the toxins in her body being scraped away little by little by something.

Although it was slow, the chilling sensation of internal organs being eroded was indeed lessening.

The more noticeable change comes from the lower abdomen.

The fetus was already more than two months along, and it shouldn't be showing yet, but Shen Qingci could feel a slight bulge there.

It's not fat, it's a kind of... vibrant fullness.

Fetal movements are becoming more and more frequent.

It was no longer that faint throbbing at first, but a clear, rhythmic beat.

Sometimes, when she calms down, she can even "hear" a very faint sound, like a heartbeat or the sound of flowing water, coming from deep within her lower abdomen.

And that warm current will appear every time the fetus moves.

It was no longer the scattered feedback she had experienced before, but rather a regular flow along a certain path—like a meridian, but not any of the conventional meridians she knew.

Shen Qingci tried to guide it.

Initially, it was just a matter of following her mind, letting the warm current flow along with her consciousness.

But she soon discovered that this warm current had its own "ideas"; it would automatically avoid some blocked or stagnant places and choose the smoothest path.

Over the course of a few days, a unique cyclical system has begun to emerge.

No, it's not "formed".

It's this warm current... that's helping her repair and rebuild her meridians!

This discovery shocked Shen Qingci.

She had met those so-called "masters of ancient martial arts" within the organization during previous missions.

I also learned about the basic principles of internal energy cultivation—it's nothing more than drawing qi into the body, opening up the meridians, and storing essence.

But those require decades of arduous practice, along with specific breathing and mental techniques.

But now, she hasn't done anything.

She just took medicine every day to nourish the fetus, and then this warm current of nourishment from the fetus was automatically transforming her body!

What exactly is going on?

On the third night, things changed.

Shen Qingci sat cross-legged on the bed as usual—a habit she had as an assassin.

Even while sleeping, you must maintain a posture that allows you to get up and fight at any time.

A warm current is circulating within my body, very gentle, like a hot spring flowing through my limbs and bones.

Suddenly, a sharp jolt went through my lower abdomen!

The fetal movements were more intense than ever before.

Immediately afterwards, the warm current seemed to be ignited by something, and it exploded with a "boom"!

It wasn't pain, but rather... an extreme feeling of fullness.

It felt as if every cell in my body had been infused with vitality, and my vision suddenly brightened—

No, it's not that things suddenly became brighter.

She "saw" it.

Not with the eyes.

Instead, it is through some kind of... perception.

She could "see" the structure of the house: the thickness of the walls, the wood grain of the beams,

Even the details of the little mouse munching on grass seeds in the corner's mouse hole, with its whiskers twitching, are clearly visible.

She could "see" outside the window: the two eunuchs on night watch, one of them was dozing off, his head nodding.

The other one was secretly pulling out an oil paper package from his pocket, inside which was half a roast chicken.

She could "see" further: deep within the withered trunk of the old locust tree in the yard, there was still a faint glimmer of life struggling.

Four guards patrolled outside the wall, each with a sword at their waist, their footsteps varying in pace...

She could even "see" Jinshu turning over on the small bed in the outer room, muttering something in her sleep.

Everything was within her "eyes".

Like... perspective.

No, it's more refined than perspective.

It provides 360-degree, three-dimensional perception, capable of detecting even the slightest breath, temperature, and vibrations.

Shen Qingci's breath hitched.

This perception fluctuated instantly, like a stone breaking the surface of water, and the "vision" suddenly contracted back into the body.

She opened her eyes; her back was already soaked with cold sweat.

This ability...

too frightening.

That's too dangerous.

If someone had noticed that moment...

"Your Majesty?" came Jinshu's groggy voice from outside. "Are you awake?"

"It's nothing," Shen Qingci forced her voice to remain calm. "I had a dream."

Jinshu gave an "oh" and fell asleep again.

Shen Qingci leaned against the wall, her hand pressed against her rapidly beating heart.

That feeling just now... was it internal energy projected outwards? Or was it mental perception?

No, it doesn't resemble either.

It was more like some kind of innate ability of the fetus, which was briefly shared with her through that warm current of reciprocation.

Her current body, weakened by long-term poisoning, has meridians that are like a blank sheet of paper, making it more susceptible to this kind of "modification".

Is this a blessing or a curse?

Just as I was thinking this, my lower abdomen moved slightly again.

This time, it was very gentle. As if reassuring her: Don't be afraid, Mother, this is a good thing.

Shen Qingci gave a bitter smile.

She looked down at her still flat stomach, her voice so soft only she could hear, "What... kind of little monster are you?"

Of course, the fetus won't answer.

But the warm current began to flow again, this time more gently, as if helping her recover from the exhaustion and shock.

Shen Qingci closed her eyes and began to try to actively control this perception.

It can't erupt suddenly like before; that's too dangerous. It should be like breathing—natural, subtle, and inconspicuous.

She imagined gathering that warm current between her eyebrows—the legendary "third eye" location.

It was difficult at first.

The warm current was like a naughty child, disobedient at first. But gradually, it began to obey her will and slowly gathered together.

Then, a very subtle sense probed out.

Like antennae.

First, the scene inside the house: Jinshu's breathing had become steady; she was fast asleep. The mouse in the corner had finished gnawing on the grass seeds and was now grinding its teeth. A spider was spinning its web on the roof beam…

It's under very good control.

No one was alerted.

Shen Qingci continued to peer outside.

Through the wall, I "saw" a dozing eunuch outside the window, drool dripping down his collar. Another eunuch had already finished his roast chicken and was licking his fingers.

Further out, there were withered trees in the yard, cracks in the wall...

That's the limit.

It covers an area of ​​approximately ten zhang (approximately 33 meters).

Further away, perception begins to blur, and the warm current becomes unstable.

Shen Qingci took it back.

I opened my eyes; it was still dark.

But she knew she had another trump card up her sleeve.

The ability to perceive three-dimensional objects within a ten-zhang (approximately 33 meters) range is an incredible reconnaissance capability in an era without surveillance cameras.

But... it can't be used often.

The exertion was too great. In just a short while, she already felt quite tired, and the fetus in her womb had quieted down considerably, as if it were resting.

Moreover, excessive use may attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.

"Be careful..." Shen Qingci murmured to himself.

Just as I was thinking this, my senses suddenly activated automatically—

It wasn't under her control.

It is a fetus.

The warm current spontaneously "pointed" in one direction.

Shen Qingci followed her senses and looked in that direction.

It's outside the window, in the corner of the yard, in the direction of that withered locust tree.

What's there...?

She focused her mind and released a sliver of her senses once more.

This time, we were more careful and focused only around the locust tree.

Then, she "saw" it.

At the base of the locust tree trunk, near the roots, there is a very well-hidden tree hole. The entrance is covered by withered vines and weeds, making it completely invisible from the outside.

Inside the tree hollow, there was a small cloth bag.

The cloth bag was a very dark color, almost blending into the tree hole. Without sensory perception, it would be completely undetectable to the naked eye.

Shen Qingci's heart skipped a beat.

This is……

Where did Eunuch Li hide it?

Or someone else?

She subtly withdrew her senses, lay down, and pretended to continue sleeping.

But my mind is already rapidly analyzing the situation.

I need to figure out how to get that cloth bag tomorrow.

At this moment, in the shadows of the Cold Palace walls.

The hunched figure stood quietly, his cloudy eyes fixed on the direction of Shen Qingci's house. After a long while, the corner of his mouth twitched very slightly.

It looked like... he smiled.

Then he turned around and disappeared silently into the night.

It was as if it had never existed.

All that remained was that withered tree and the secret hidden in its hollow for who knows how long.

Waiting to be discovered.

Waiting... to change everything.