Qin Changqing paced back and forth inside the room. Quite some time had passed, yet Luo Qingyi still hadn’t awakened.
He didn’t dare call any maids to attend her, so he had no choice but to handle everything himself.
Walking to the bedside, he looked at the woman lying there. Her face was deathly pale, without the slightest trace of color. He reached out and touched her forehead—it was ice-cold, clearly due to the cold poison.
He took a warm towel and placed it gently on her. Having no experience caring for others, he could only treat a desperate situation with desperate measures.
Luo Qingyi… Qin Changqing searched his memory for information about her. A genius seen once in a century, the chief disciple of Sword Pavilion, and the future heir to its sect master.
Looking at the jade-like beauty lying on the bed, his heartbeat quickened, and an inappropriate thought almost surfaced in his mind.
“No! Qin Changqing, what are you thinking!”
If he touched her even once now, everything he had done before would be wasted.
Though he was a villain, he was not a low-level one. He couldn’t indulge in momentary pleasure. He needed to think long-term.
He stepped back half a pace and sat on a round stool, pressing a hand to his chest as he calmed the restless storm within.
Luo Qingyi’s long eyelashes trembled faintly under the candlelight. Her cold, aloof aura made it difficult to even breathe in her presence.
The scene inexplicably reminded Qin Changqing of that limited-edition card from the game—“Sword Soul, Ice Heart.” It was almost identical.
The candlelight flickered in the room.
His gaze involuntarily slid to her slightly open collar. Her faintly visible collarbone shimmered softly under the candlelight, even more exquisite than the illustration in the game.
Stay calm. You must stay calm!
At this moment, the role he was playing was her savior. He absolutely could not act like some frivolous lecher.
He suddenly pinched his thigh hard.
Now was not the time to stare blankly at her collarbone. If she suddenly woke up and saw him like this…
He had to suppress that rising impulse and restlessness, and present himself as steady, reliable, and full of righteousness.
Luo Qingyi suddenly let out a faint murmur, her fingers unconsciously clutching the brocade quilt.
Qin Changqing watched as his sleeve was wrinkled tightly in her grasp, and his throat suddenly felt dry.
If he held her hand now, she probably wouldn’t notice, right? After all, she was unconscious…
Her eyelashes trembled twice, as if she were about to wake.
Idiot! She’s a Xiantian Realm sword cultivator—her senses aren’t gone!
Qin Changqing bit his lower lip. The metallic taste of blood snapped him back to clarity, suppressing the swirling desires with deeper calculations.
Seems my self-control still isn’t strong enough.
He relit a candle and deliberately let the glow fall across her face.
The sleeping fairy frowned slightly at the brightness, her fragile state stirring a dangerous urge to shatter that perfection.
He wondered what kind of expression would appear on that eternally cold face if it were tainted with something else…
When the night wind lifted the bed curtains, Luo Qingyi’s skirt slipped off the edge of the bed.
Qin Changqing stared at her snow-white neck, took a deep breath, and forced away distracting thoughts, placing the bowl of medicine beside her pillow.
The air within the curtains filled with the bitter medicinal fragrance of the thousand-year blood ginseng. Luo Qingyi leaned against a soft pillow, her fingers lightly brushing the maid’s skirt Qin Changqing had tossed to her.
“If the fairy finds it too plain, I also have a set adorned with golden phoenix feathers. Take your pick,” Qin Changqing said with a smile, leaning against the screen.
He understood Sword Pavilion cultivators well. These sword cultivators always valued simplicity, never caring for luxurious garments.
What they pursued was the true essence of the sword, not worldly extravagance.
To them, coarse cloth and fine silk were no different. What mattered was the advancement of their inner cultivation.
A faint smile curved his lips. His already handsome face now carried a hint of roguish charm, and his eyes revealed a trace of playful curiosity.
His gaze locked onto Luo Qingyi, as if trying to see through her exterior into the depths of her heart.
He wondered to himself—if this woman were to live a life of luxury, surrounded by fine clothes and delicacies, attended to by servants day and night, would she still be able to preserve that pure and steadfast heart she once had?
Or would she gradually lose herself amid endless wealth and indulgence?
The thought filled him with curiosity and anticipation.
A faint blush appeared on Luo Qingyi’s pale face. “If Your Highness continues to speak nonsense, I won’t mind turning a dandy into a cripple.”
“That’s more like it.” Qin Changqing chuckled. “A cold-faced fairy suits you far better than pretending to be a meek maid.”
“However, I do have a question… though I’m not sure if I should ask.”
“Speak.” Luo Qingyi was sparing with her words.
“Why did you appear in the royal palace? Are you truly here to assassinate the emperor, as those guards claimed?”
Qin Changqing finally voiced his doubt.
To infiltrate the enemy’s stronghold for an assassination… surely this fairy wasn’t that foolish.
Luo Qingyi lowered her head and remained silent.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Changqing continued, “Today was the emperor’s grand banquet for the officials. What exactly was your purpose?”
“Was it a feint—to draw attention away while stealing the thousand-year blood ginseng?”
“Or do you hold a personal grudge against the emperor?”
He raised both hands and laughed awkwardly. “Debts should be settled with the one responsible. If you have a grudge against the emperor, go find him. Don’t drag me into it!”
Luo Qingyi snorted coldly. “Ask no more!”
After saying that, she no longer looked at him.
Seeing that she had no intention of continuing, Qin Changqing lost interest as well.
“If the fairy is unwilling to speak, then I won’t press further.”
The corners of his lips lifted into a mischievous smile. “Tomorrow, I’ll have to trouble the fairy to help me tidy this messy hair.”
“After all, as the personal maid of a dandy young lord, lacking some delicate skills wouldn’t be convincing.”
Luo Qingyi replied calmly, “Sword cultivators only know how to wield the sword to kill enemies. As for grooming and adornment, I know nothing.”
Qin Changqing shook his head. “Fairy, we are now in the same boat. We should both make some sacrifices. If you wish to leave the palace safely, you must listen to me.”
“I went to great lengths to obtain the medicinal herb for you and will find a way to escort you out. Surely the fairy won’t refuse to contribute even a little?”
“This small request of mine—I hope the fairy can agree.”
Luo Qingyi clenched her teeth, glaring at him. This man was truly shameless!
Just to take advantage of her, he could say anything. Who was he trying to fool with such exaggerated acting?
She was no naive newcomer to the martial world. She could clearly see he was acting.
“You…”
She was both angry and unable to refute him.
“If Your Highness does not mind my clumsiness… then I can try.”
Qin Changqing smiled in satisfaction. “As long as the fairy is willing to help, that’s enough. With your intelligence, you’ll surely pick it up quickly.”
With that, he casually sat down on the edge of the bed, causing it to sink slightly.
Luo Qingyi’s body stiffened. The comb in her hand froze midair, and the blush on her face deepened.
Though Qin Changqing had his eyes closed, the smile at the corner of his lips could not be suppressed.
This flustered and helpless look from the Sword Pavilion fairy was far more vivid and interesting than when she held a sword.
“Enough, enough.” He suddenly stood and waved his hand. “I understand your intention. I won’t make things difficult for you.”
As he turned away, he caught a glimpse of her unconsciously relaxing fist and nearly burst into laughter.
He knew that was enough. If he teased her any further, this fairy might become so embarrassed and angry that she would stab him without hesitation.
Luo Qingyi also let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Seeing her earlier mix of anger and helplessness, Qin Changqing couldn’t help but find her rather endearing.
This fairy… seemed to have gained a faint touch of mortal warmth.