"Don't you know that's a dagger? And you still reached for it?"
Zi Linling froze. In her panic, she hadn't thought anything through.
Now that Ye Lingyuan had caught her out, her previous confidence completely evaporated.
"Isn't it because of you?"
Zi Linling's tone weakened, but a hint of grievance crept in.
After all, a trace of lingering fear still remained in her heart.
When she saw Ye Lingyuan unhesitatingly plunge the dagger towards himself, Zi Linling's heart had leaped into her throat.
In that moment, the only thought that flashed through her mind was, *Fool, I trust you!*
Zi Linling's slightly aggrieved voice caused Ye Lingyuan's stern face to instantly crack.
He said helplessly, "Lin'er, no matter what happens in the future, you are not allowed to hurt yourself, understand?"
In that possessive tone, there was undeniable tenderness.
A warm current flowed through Zi Linling's heart.
Though his words were domineering, his affection was genuine.
But why did it feel strange? What was so strange about it?
Suddenly, Zi Linling's eyes lit up, and the emotion on her face gradually cooled.
How could the dignified Prince of the Underworld hurt himself so readily just because of her words?
"Ye Lingyuan, is this fun for you?"
Ye Lingyuan raised his eyebrows. She had seen through him!
However, being as cunning as he was, how could he admit that it was all part of his plan?
Thus, he feigned ignorance and asked, "Lin'er, what are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about?"
Zi Linling scoffed, "His Highness the Prince of the Underworld is truly a drama king. It would be a pity if he didn't win an Oscar!"
An Oscar?
Although Ye Lingyuan didn't know what this "Oscar" was, it didn't stop him from understanding the sentiment.
Alas, his Lin'er was too intelligent to be easily fooled. What was he to do?
"Lin'er..."
Ye Lingyuan's voice was laced with a maddening, syrupy allure.
But Zi Linling, her mind now clear, would no longer fall for his tricks.
Was Zi Linling angry at this moment?
Perhaps a little!
After all, being played for a fool, how could she not be angry?
But more than anger, there was sadness.
Because, the moment Ye Lingyuan had unhesitatingly plunged the dagger, she had realized that Ye Lingyuan had found a place in her heart.
It was a pity that while she had fallen for him, he had only been acting.
And this act, she had foolishly believed.
So now, as the lie was exposed, only heartbreak remained.
She closed her eyes with a self-deprecating sigh. When she reopened them, her dark eyes were as calm as a still lake.
She said softly, "Next time, I won't stop you!"
Then, she turned and walked away, a hint of loneliness and desolation in her retreating figure.
Ye Lingyuan was stunned.
Everything had been within his control, so why did he have such a bad feeling?
This feeling told him that if he didn't clarify the situation, his Lin'er would never speak to him again.
"Lin'er, I just..."
"No need to explain!"
A cold voice cut off Ye Lingyuan's words.
Ye Lingyuan's heart clenched.
Without a second thought, he chased after her and held her tightly from behind.
"Lin'er, I was wrong. I just wanted to know if you have me in your heart. I was wrong, I shouldn't have tested you. Please forgive me this once, alright?"
Zi Linling said coldly, "Let go!"
Ye Lingyuan held her tighter. "No!"
Not letting go, huh?
A wave of spiritual energy surged from Zi Linling, knocking Ye Lingyuan, who was caught off guard, away.
Ye Lingyuan was indeed caught off guard.
He hadn't expected Zi Linling to suddenly strike, especially when her spiritual energy was depleted and she couldn't recover it.
Although Zi Linling pushed Ye Lingyuan away, she hadn't used much spiritual energy.
Therefore, Ye Lingyuan merely staggered back a couple of steps before steadying himself.
He looked at the resolute Zi Linling with a mournful expression, and piteously said, "Lin'er, how can you be so heartless?"
Zi Linling's body stiffened, and the sternness in her eyes softened slightly.
At this moment, neither of them noticed that the blood Zi Linling had dropped on the ground had vanished.
As the blood disappeared, the shore orchids seemed to come to life, rustling.
Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan both tensed, looking behind them.
Behind them, the shore orchid Zi Linling had almost pulled out rapidly grew larger, while the other shore orchids withered.
A peculiar fragrance assailed their nostrils without warning.
Zi Linling gasped, quickly covering her nose and shouting to Ye Lingyuan, "Hold your breath!"
In fact, Ye Lingyuan wouldn't have let the fragrance enter his nostrils even without her warning.
Although he didn't know the scent had an aphrodisiac effect, he instinctively sensed something was wrong.
However, Zi Linling's reminder at this crucial moment indicated that her anger had somewhat subsided.
Ye Lingyuan felt a flicker of joy.
But at this moment, he had no time for such thoughts.
Because the previously calm Yellow Springs water began to churn violently, splitting in the middle to reveal a mountain of bones.
The largest shore orchid, which had absorbed the essence of the other shore orchids, slowly floated up and landed on the bone mountain.
At the same time, a demonic voice echoed, "Heh heh heh, I, Yue Hua, am finally free!"
As the voice faded, a beautiful woman in black slowly emerged from the giant shore orchid. The orchid then transformed into a teardrop shape and sank into the woman's eye.
However, when Zi Linling got a clear look at the woman's face, she was greatly shocked, as she realized the woman bore a striking resemblance to her, about sixty percent similar.
Strangely, she felt an inexplicable urge to get closer to this woman in black.
It was as if she were seeing a long-lost relative.
Equally shocked was Ye Lingyuan, who had appeared beside her without her noticing.
Ye Lingyuan was shocked because this woman was named Yue Hua!
After a period of laughter, Yue Hua's gaze fell upon Zi Linling. She frowned and asked, "What is your name? Why do you possess my bloodline power?"
Zi Linling's heart was filled with doubt.
Why did she feel an irresistible pull towards Yue Hua, despite the woman's body being shrouded in demonic energy?
And what was this bloodline power she spoke of?
However, despite the storm raging within her, Zi Linling maintained her composure and said, "My name is Zi Linling! As for the bloodline power you mentioned, I am truly unaware of it."