The rustling of grass behind her made Ye Ziling’s heart tighten.
Looking around, the plants and trees here were eerily familiar. Memories flooded her mind like a tidal wave.
When she first arrived in the Heavenly Court, Qing Bai had personally painted a landscape for her, which was hung on the wall in the main hall.
The few large trees before her were exactly the same as in that painting.
She hadn’t paid attention to the painting earlier, and now she had been sucked into it. It was obvious Qing Bai had begun to distrust her then, creating a barrier within the painting, intending for her to walk right into a trap.
How laughable. She had poured so much effort into helping Qing Bai seize the imperial throne, and he had already planned to deal with her then.
Ye Ziling reached out and touched her hand, finding that the sensation in her palm was slowly fading. If she couldn’t get out, she feared she would become one with the painting, turning into a true person within the picture!
She carefully reviewed the scenery and pathways within the painting, but due to the passage of time, she couldn't recall the exit.
A rustling sound came from the dense bushes, and Ye Ziling abruptly turned her head towards the source of the noise.
A nimble crimson ghost wolf emerged from behind a large tree, seemingly wary of her. It didn't pounce directly but took two steps back, cocking its ears and growling at her a few times.
The beast's growls seemed to warn her of something, its eyes filled with murderous intent. Its tail, like an unfurled umbrella, suddenly stiffened!
Ye Ziling narrowed her eyes slightly, gripping her silver sword tightly. She gathered her immortal energy and attacked the crimson ghost wolf. It couldn't evade in time, its flesh torn by the silver sword, instantly bleeding profusely.
Perhaps sensing the intense pressure from her, the crimson ghost wolf dared not confront her directly. It wagged its tail, its body flickered, and it vanished from her sight.
Suddenly, a Xuan bird swooped towards her when she was not paying attention, its sharp beak piercing her chest.
Ye Ziling grunted, clutching her wound in pain.
The pain made her dizzy, but the scene before her made her surprisingly clear-headed.
Gritting her teeth, she drew her sword and swung it at the Xuan bird. The sword tip carried a cold glint as it slashed down at the bird.
The Xuan bird’s wing was severed by a fierce sword energy, and it fell to the ground, crying out in pain before falling silent.
The wound throbbed intensely. Ye Ziling looked down and realized that black blood was oozing from her chest wound.
It seemed the Xuan bird’s talons were venomous.
Not long after, she was already sweating profusely. The wound seemed to be draining her strength, and the barrier within the painting continued to corrode her body. She could feel herself rapidly turning into a paper figure.
“Damn it…”
She leaned on her silver sword, trying to find an exit. Unexpectedly, the sensation in her wound felt like burning magma, causing her to be unable to muster any strength.
Finally, she collapsed onto the cold ground.
A tall figure slowly emerged from the shadows. He was clad in a white robe, his hem moving slightly, resembling moonlight.
The only regret was that Ye Ziling closed her eyes before she could get a clear look at his face.
Ling Xi’s robes billowed in the wind, his white attire accentuating his handsome face, which was like that of a banished immortal.
He crouched down, his fingertip brushing over her blood-stained lips, slowly wiping away the bloodstains.
Looking at her pale, paper-like face, Ling Xi’s gaze deepened, and his brows furrowed slightly.
Suddenly, he noticed the claw marks on her chest and the flowing black blood, his eyes darkening.
Was this—a wound from a Xuan bird?
【System: Lord Ling, stop looking and save her quickly!】
“I don’t have an antidote for the Xuan bird’s poison on me,” Ling Xi said in a deep voice, his brows tightly knit as he looked at Ye Ziling’s pained expression.
He surveyed the surrounding scenery, realizing the strangeness of the place.
It was clearly autumn, yet the scenery here depicted spring. The trees were so dense; it was all an illusion.
“Where is this?” Ling Xi asked, his tone tinged with melancholy.
【System: It’s within Emperor Qing Bai’s painting. If you don’t leave promptly, you’ll become a person in the painting! Now that the superior has been severely injured, even if you leave now, you might not last until then!】
Ling Xi stared at Ye Ziling’s lips, which were gradually turning pale. Without hesitation, he untied her sash, revealing skin as white as fine porcelain.
【System: Beast! Taking advantage of the situation at a time like this!】
【Ding—Host requests shutdown—Shutdown complete.】
The system’s scolding disappeared. Ling Xi ignored it. He gazed at the scar on her chest for a moment, then his thin lips covered it, sucking out the black blood, and spitting it out mouthful by mouthful.
Ye Ziling’s eyelashes trembled slightly. The pain in her chest subsided a little, replaced by a gentle touch.
Her body began to regain sensation. A fiery heat rose in her abdomen, making her feel somewhat feverish.
She struggled to open her eyelids, seeing a blurry figure leaning over and kissing her chest. His hair lightly brushed against her collarbone, sending a wave of ultimate numbness through her.
No, this was not her subconscious; it was her body acting out!
She panted lightly, wanting to open her eyes, but she lacked the strength even to lift her eyelids. The light seemed a bit too bright.
“Presumptuous… Insolent!”
Ye Ziling gritted her teeth and weakly exclaimed.
In broad daylight, to be treated with such disrespect!
Hearing her weak cry, Ling Xi looked up and gazed at her. Seeing her eyes tightly shut, her eyelashes fluttering, he reached up and untied his hair ribbon, covering her eyes.
If she knew he was still alive, she would undoubtedly spare no effort to kill him.
“Blame me then,” he said, his voice not loud but carrying an undeniable authority.
Ye Ziling felt his voice was somewhat familiar, much like an old friend’s.
But she quickly dismissed the thought.
She had personally seen Ling Xi’s corpse lying in a coffin and had closed the lid herself.
He was a mortal; he couldn’t possibly be resurrected.
Perhaps it was her weakened state making her delirious.
Seeing the blood on her chest gradually turn crimson, Ling Xi took out some medicinal powder and applied it to her wound.
A sound like tearing silk reached her ears. Ye Ziling realized he was bandaging her.
She peacefully fainted.
After Ling Xi had treated her wound, his brow relaxed slightly, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking at her disheveled state, he remembered that he had been a bit hasty when untying her sash, making it easy for people to assume this was… intentional molestation.
Looking at her exposed skin, his mind couldn't help but recall the scenery beneath her gauze clothing, his earlobes warming slightly.
Reliving the previous moment, Ling Xi’s handsome face flushed crimson, and the light in his eyes grew even more fervent.
The scent of blood mingled with the strong fragrance of balloon flower, as if bathing in a sea of flowers.
His Adam’s apple bobbed abruptly. He suppressed the surging emotions within him, immediately interrupting his thoughts, and bent down to tidy her clothes, tying her sash.
【System: Lord Ling, why did you shut me down just now? Did you want me to miss something?】
“If you don’t shut down, I’ll gouge out your eyes?” Ling Xi’s icy tone made the system tremble all over.
【System: But I’m a woman too!】
“So what? You’ll still be blind,” Ling Xi narrowed his eyes, his gaze growing more ominous.
If Bai Yu were to take such advantage, he would probably chop off his head and soak it in wine.
【System: ...】
Ling Xi scooped up the person on the ground in his arms, a cold glint in his eyes. “Why are you dawdling? Hurry and transfer.”
【System: Alright, my dear Lord Ling!】