Chapter 41: Desire Trap

  Natalie listened quietly and said in a low voice: "This is the military song of the 19th Division. The lyrics roughly translate to: Oh our great motherland, we are willing to give everything for you, we don't need your care or concern, just grant me a handful of yellow earth after I die, so I can rest peacefully in your arms. We fly over raging fires, we fly over icy coldness, we are the fiery birds soaring through the skies, if one day my feet touch the ground, that's when I'll be resting in mother's embrace..."

  Yang Shuang listened quietly, unable to help but feel a little moist in her eyes, with waves of emotions surging up and down, until the singing voice completely dissipated, before absent-mindedly saying: "Didn't your grandfather leave any information behind?"

  Natalie shook her head and said sorrowfully, "No. In the past, although he followed General Yue to fight battles and his whereabouts were uncertain, he would still write us two letters every year. But since Tianyuan 1708, we haven't received any letters from him."

  Yang Shuangfeng thought for a moment and said: "Tianyuan 1708... That was just the year before General Yue's death."

  Natalie shed tears sorrowfully and choked with sobs, "Yes, soon after Grandfather lost contact, General Yue also passed away, so we didn't have any way to investigate Grandfather's situation. We are still searching for his whereabouts now, but I am very clear in my heart that perhaps we will never see Grandfather again."

  Yang Shuang also felt that the hope was not great, after all, nearly twenty years had passed, and could only comfortedly say: "If there is an opportunity, if your grandfather is still alive, you may be able to see each other again."

  A faint scent of fragrance suddenly wafted through the gentle breeze, vaguely reminiscent of peach blossoms and a woman's perfume. The subtle and elegant aroma lingered in the courtyard, refusing to dissipate. It was a refreshing scent that seemed to melt Yang Shuangfeng's gloomy mood, making him feel invigorated and carefree. The cold wind seemed to be slowly receding, replaced by the warmth of spring.

  Yang Shuang said in surprise: "Where did this fragrance come from?"

  Natalie blinked her eyes, looked around, sniffed lightly and said suspiciously: "What fragrance?"

  Yang Xuanfeng took a deep breath, searching for the source of the fragrance, and said with certainty: "You smell it again, there's really a faint scent, smelling like peach blossoms, but also like a woman's body...". Suddenly, he let out a loud sneeze, which further confirmed his suspicion. He walked back and forth in the courtyard, suspicious and puzzled, but found nothing.

  Natalie jumped down from the railing, tiptoed past Yang Shuang's back, and whispered: "Where is..." Suddenly, she reached out and lightly touched the back of Yang Shuang's neck. Yang Shuang was stunned, then slowly fell limp, but was caught by Natalie and gently placed beside a rock in the artificial hill. She slowly withdrew her fingers, on which a diamond ring on her ring finger emitted an almost imperceptible azure glow.

  "Natalie said in a soft and apologetic tone: 'General Yang, I'm sorry, but my master is coming to see you.'"

  Behind him, a wisp of smoke suddenly enveloped, and when the smoke dissipated, a woman in all white appeared beside Natalie. Her slender figure was draped in a pure white silk embroidered robe that outlined her beautiful curves, making it hard to gaze directly at her; her eyes were deep and clear like autumn water, her fragrant skirt fluttering as if she were a heavenly being, her hair flying about as if she were flying through the air; her waist was impossibly slender, delicate enough to be grasped in one hand, soft and boneless; her full and rounded hips inspired fanciful thoughts; her feet were as white as jade, dainty and beautiful, without a single blemish, like clear spring water, fresh and untouched by the mundane world.

  Natalie bowed her head respectfully, holding her breath, and spoke cautiously: "Master, that person is him."

  A pale woman floated over silently, stretched out her weak and boneless fingers, opened Yang Suofeng's left palm, and quietly observed it.

  "Natalie whispered: 'Master, I can swear that he really did draw three Death Gods in a row.'"

  The white-clothed woman still didn't speak, but something in her eyes flickered slightly. She was carefully observing Yang Su's palm when she suddenly heard Yang Su let out a loud sneeze, as the fragrance on her body had stimulated him, and even in his sleep, his nostrils couldn't tolerate such stimulation. His sneeze apparently embarrassed the white-clothed woman, for she instantly floated back three feet, but still, an unavoidable speck of dirt stained her white silk robe. In that instant, her fingers stretched out, a divine light flashed in her eyes, and her face turned cold, only to change again into a radiant whiteness like jade.

  Natalie's face changed greatly, and she anxiously cried out: "Master, don't! He has a five-pointed star on his palm!"

  The pale woman slowly withdrew her hand.

  "Natalie said cautiously: 'Master, we've been searching for six or seven years to find someone who meets the conditions. If you kill him, we'll have to start all over again and there's no guarantee we can find another one. Look at his palm, the lines on it indeed form a faint five-pointed star shape, which is extremely rare, a once-in-a-century occurrence.'"

  The pale woman finally spoke, her voice extremely weak, as if only a thread of strength remained. Except for Natalie, no one else could hear clearly. She said in a gentle tone, "This person's appearance is ordinary, with no martial arts foundation, although he has the Death God's aura, but it's far from our requirements. With his inability to even grasp a chicken, how can he protect himself in this chaotic world? If he were to lose his life soon, wouldn't that be a waste of our only Sacred Spirit Dan? By then, even if we find another suitable person, there won't be any Sacred Spirit Dan left to control him. Wouldn't you and I become the eternal sinners of Xiangxuehai?"

  Natalie's eyebrows drooped and she didn't dare speak.

  A pale woman thought for a long time, her facial expression changing several times, unpredictable like the weather. After who knows how much time had passed, she finally made up her mind with a look of exhaustion, weakly took a deep breath and slowly said: "Alright, let's put our hopes in him then. May Prometheus' spirit in heaven protect the prophecy of Tarot cards from failing."

  She slowly finished speaking, her hands crossed over her chest, soothing the turmoil in her heart. She slowly operated her internal energy, weaving a strange gesture with her hands. Her face gradually changed from pale to flushed, as if a pink glow was about to emanate from within. With an extremely pious, calm, and gentle yet powerful voice, she slowly said: "I, You Ruo Zi Luan, the 11th generation leader of Xiang Xue Hai, guided by the mysterious prophecy of Tarot cards, following the intentions of our predecessors, have chosen this man as the future guardian of Xiang Xue Hai. I undertake the heavy responsibility of leading Xiang Xue Hai to reclaim its former glory. May the boundless power of our ancestors in heaven condense into a five-pointed star in his palm, protecting his life from harm and allowing me to lead Xiang Xue Hai back to its former splendor 150 years ago. Amen."

  She finished her vow, gently closed her beautiful eyes, slowly leaned forward, and kissed Yang Shuofeng's mouth with her thin, tender red lips. Yang Shuofeng, who was in a coma, had no idea that good fortune had arrived, and only instinctively struggled for a moment, murmuring vaguely.

  Natalie had long since quietly avoided her, waiting until the white-robed woman had completed all the procedures and regained her usual cold and proud demeanor. Only then did she tiptoe over, not daring to look at Yang Shuangfeng for fear of provoking the white-robed woman's anger. However, the white-robed woman seemed a bit dispirited, standing silently for a long time without speaking or making any movement.

  Suddenly, Yang Suofeng, who was in a coma, called out something unclear, which made the white-clothed woman, who was lost in thought, come back to her senses. She had completely restored that icy expression that kept people at bay, and she coldly glanced at Natali, causing Natali to involuntarily take a few steps back. However, the white-clothed woman didn't make any moves to deal with her, but instead looked back at Yang Suofeng with a complex expression, revealing a hint of sorrowful helplessness in her eyes.

  "Natalie, do you want to say something to me?" The plain white woman suddenly said, but her eyes were wandering and looking at the carp in the water, which were darting back and forth in the water, creating ripples.

  Natalie hesitated, but finally plucked up the courage to say: "Master, can I stop pretending to be a Gypsy? I'm worried that one day I'll be exposed. There's someone named Cai Bingxia by his side, her eyes are very sharp, if I have even a slight flaw, she'll see through it."

  A white-clad woman carelessly waved her hand, and the carp in the water suddenly seemed to be enchanted, freezing in place. The emerald green pool water also stopped all movement instantly, even the ripples froze in an instant. The white-clad woman waved her hand again, and everything returned to normal. The carp continued swimming, the ripples continued rippling, but Natalie's face turned ashen.

  A pale woman said faintly, "No way, you can only continue to approach him with the identity of a Gypsy. He now has leverage on us, and you don't need to be afraid at all. I just fed him the Holy Spirit Dan personally, if we don't give him an antidote within a month, his lust will surge extremely, and he will eventually become depraved and die from exhaustion. Even if Cai Bingxia finds out, I'll have a way to shut her up."

  Natalie said cautiously: "Does Master Bo know about this?"

  A pure white woman suddenly changed her face, becoming extremely red, and said in a sharp voice: "Yu Huan-yu? What qualifications does Yu Huan-yu have to manage Xiang Xue-hai's affairs? She is not even your senior master. The good Ice Jade Skill was not practiced, but instead went to learn those side doors and left paths, unwilling to cultivate the heart and nurture nature, but fell into the red dust. Such a person will only bring shame to our Xiang Xue-hai! I don't have such a sister, you don't have such a senior master, if you mix with her together, I'll kill you immediately!"

  Natalie was suddenly as silent as a cicada in winter.

  A white-clothed woman, still seething with anger, spoke harshly: "She's probably in this Bao Ying Fu. Don't let me run into her, or else I'll have to kill her. A person like that will only tarnish the honor of our sect."

  Natalie didn't dare to make a sound, and after a long time, she carefully observed the pale woman's face, seeing that her anger had subsided, before cautiously speaking with a pleading expression: "Master, is it really appropriate for us to treat him like this?"

  A pale young woman let out a faint sigh, her eyes gazing at the rising sun, and said softly: "I don't know."

  Natalie said cautiously again: "So you'll come every month to give him an antidote?"

  The pale woman looked at him and said coldly: "I will decide whether to give him an antidote based on his performance."

  Natalie's eyes fell and she was silent for a while before daring to speak: "What if he doesn't behave?"

  A pale woman sneered and said indifferently: "Then he has no way out but death."

  Natalie didn't dare say another word.

  A white-clothed woman stood quietly for a moment, then coldly said: "We, Xiang Xuehai, don't want him to do anything difficult. We just hope that our power can expand with his territory. In fact, we are also being forced into a desperate situation by the Holy Temple and Huahua Palace, so we have no choice but to take this step. If he cannot recover Menis or falls in battle, all our hopes and plans will be wasted, and Xiang Xuehai will disappear from the world. So, you must find an opportunity to teach him the Shengyang Gong incantation as soon as possible, and let him practice on his own. This skill may not be useful for defeating enemies, but it is a good catalyst for his body, allowing his body to become stronger and stronger."

  Natalie pinched the hem of her skirt and whispered: "But that sacred spirit pill is still very harmful to him..."

  A pale woman said indifferently: "As long as he takes the antidote on time, Sheng Ling Dan is harmless to him and can not only enhance his sexual ability but also strengthen his physique, strengthen his muscles and bones, clear his liver and brighten his eyes. I don't know if his body is suitable for practicing Sheng Yang Gong yet, but even if he can't practice it or make no progress, with the help of Sheng Ling Dan, he won't be as weak as ordinary people who get sick every day. Abundant energy and physique are essential for achieving his career, who can say that Sheng Ling Dan has no benefits to him?"

  Natalie bit her lip hard and said with difficulty: "But, no one has ever taken the Holy Spirit Dan before, that's just our speculation about its effect, who knows what kind of actual effect it will have..."

  A pale woman sneered and said, "Can't you tell by following him around? However, he just took the Holy Spirit Dan, which may cause temporary sexual desire disorder. You'd better stay away from him for a few days, lest he mistakes you for an outlet when the medicine takes effect. Whatever you do, don't provoke him, or else he'll lose his rationality and build his pleasure on your pain. Remember."

  Natalie suddenly swallowed her voice and nodded woodenly.

  A white-clad woman had a sleeve rolled up, a wisp of smoke enveloped her vicinity, and when the smoke dissipated, she was gone.

  The courtyard is as quiet as if nothing had ever happened.

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