Ji Nanhong thought Chen Guan must have lost his mind—this was pure fantasy.
How could they possibly pretend? Shadow wasn't stupid. Whether their act would convince Shadow wasn't up to them.
"If you want to practice dual cultivation, just say so. Why bother with useless excuses? In the end, isn't this just about wanting to cultivate with me? It's not like I'm unwilling, so why the trouble? Can't men be straightforward and bold for once?" Ji Nanhong pursed her lips but remained silent.
"What do you think of my proposal?" Chen Guan proactively asked.
Ji Nanhong tugged down one side of her collar, revealing a smooth, fair shoulder. With a coy glance at Chen Guan, she affected a breathy voice: "My king, is this how we act?"
Seeing Ji Nanhong's picturesque features, liquid gaze, and alluring figure, Chen Guan froze momentarily.
"Excellent indeed." Recovering, Chen Guan pulled Ji Nanhong into his embrace.
Ji Nanhong stiffened slightly, her heartbeat accelerating as her cheeks burned. She tilted her head back to look at Chen Guan holding her.
From this angle, his eyebrows weren't fully visible, lending him a roguish handsomeness that made her increasingly shy, almost too embarrassed to meet his gaze directly.
That kiss ignited like lightning meeting wildfire, unstoppable as a breached dam.
"Ji Nanhong's background must be deeply connected to the Celestial Army. If I can shelter under her faction's protection, investigating my origins would become far more difficult." Numerous thoughts flashed through Chen Guan's mind, but ultimately couldn't withstand youthful passion's turbulence, the fire within him burning ever fiercer.
"My king..." A sultry moan shattered Chen Guan's remaining thoughts, making him abandon himself completely.
When they finally calmed, Ji Nanhong nestled against Chen Guan's chest, her eyes showing a newfound vulnerability.
"Seems we fooled Shadow," Ji Nanhong murmured, fingers tracing patterns on Chen Guan's chest.
"But we haven't even started acting yet?" Chen Guan said with an odd expression.
"What do you mean? We just completed the first step of dual cultivation. Though the movements weren't entirely standard, the acting should've sufficed..." Ji Nanhong's cheeks flushed again, her words trailing off. Barely twenty, just a year older than Chen Guan, despite her unconventional upbringing, she still retained typical maidenly sensibilities.
"The impersonation I meant wasn't about playing the Ancestral Emperor and Epang," Chen Guan clarified.
Ji Nanhong stared blankly. "Then how?"
"If Shadow had sight and hearing, our words and actions would've long exposed us. He must have his own verification method requiring specific actions from us," Chen Guan explained.
"Then what was all that just now? Why didn't you say so earlier?" Ji Nanhong bit her lip, phoenix eyes glaring as each word seemed forced through clenched teeth.
*Ahem.* "You seemed to enjoy roleplay, so I played along," Chen Guan coughed lightly.
"You... wonderful... excellent cooperation..." Furious, Ji Nanhong pinched Chen Guan's waist, nails scraping with each syllable.
Wincing, Chen Guan caught her hand and continued seriously: "I believe Shadow lacks five senses. Two possibilities exist—either he has targeted verification methods, or he wasn't left here by the Ancestral Emperor at all."
"If not left by the Ancestral Emperor, how could such a terrifying entity exist here? That makes no sense. I've explored this island—the strongest Mystical Spirits here are only level 10. Shadow couldn't be native to this island," Ji Nanhong argued.
Chen Guan nodded slightly. "Shadow definitely isn't native, but I suspect he wasn't deliberately left by the Ancestral Emperor either."
"Important ancestral sites like treasuries use multiple passwords and verification methods. Shadow lacks five senses and has only one verification method. If you were the Ancestral Emperor, would you choose such a guardian?" Chen Guan reasoned.
Ji Nanhong conceded the point but noted exceptions might exist.
Chen Guan continued: "We should ignore him and proceed normally. He likely won't attack us."
"You're certain?" Ji Nanhong asked through gritted teeth.
"Nothing's 100%, but 80-90% sure."
"So you think even if we climb the bone chain now, he won't attack?" Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn novel_fіre.net
"Then why didn't you say so earlier?!" Ji Nanhong seethed.
"I wasn't sure before. Only after our... activities provoked no reaction could I confirm my theory," Chen Guan said calmly.
"You..." Ji Nanhong gnashed her teeth. "Can we leave now?"
"Can't. As I said, I can't reach the bone chain."
"I'll lift you up." Exhausted, Ji Nanhong wanted no further discussion.
"The outside may be more dangerous than here. Let's treat your foot injury first." Risk-averse Chen Guan wouldn't gamble even on minute odds.
Ji Nanhong saw through him: "You're just afraid your guess is wrong."
Chen Guan smiled: "With the divine land unsettled and Mystical Spirits unvanquished, I must preserve this useful body to strive for peace and prosperity."
Ji Nanhong rolled her eyes at his empty platitudes, recognizing his teasing, and dropped the subject.
"So, treating your injury?" Chen Guan asked.
"Yes." Suddenly grinning, Ji Nanhong studied his face: "But first, one more thing."
"What?" Chen Guan frowned, drawing a blank.
"Time to trim your eyebrows." Ji Nanhong produced a delicate dagger, smiling sweetly.