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As the last golden needle was slowly withdrawn, the dark aura that had been persistently clouding Jing Ni's brows finally dissipated significantly, visible to the naked eye.
"Hoo..."
Jing Ni lay sprawled on the brocade quilt, letting out a long sigh of turbid air.
In that instant, she felt as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from her body.
The parasitic worms, which had been gnawing at her heart and veins every moment, now lay dormant, as if in hibernation.
Long-lost True Qi began to flow joyfully through her meridians. Though not yet fully recovered to her peak Heaven-Human Realm power, the sensation of regaining control over that strength left her somewhat dazed.
She tried clenching her fist.
Her knuckles were white, brimming with power.
If it were her now, even if pursued by Luo Net's "Heaven-Grade First Rank" assassins, she would have the strength to fight, rather than merely fleeing in a panic.
"How do you feel?"
Gu Liufeng's voice came from behind her.
Performing the "Nine Yang Divine Skill" combined with "Grandmaster-level Acupuncture" to extract the poison was no small drain on him either. At this moment, fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead as he wiped the silver needles with a white cloth.
Jing Ni said nothing.
She slowly rose, completely disregarding the ample display of skin on her back. Her first priority was to grab the red dress placed at the head of the bed and quickly wrap it around herself.
In that moment, the shy patient vanished, replaced by the cool, silent, and decisive top assassin.
She turned around, barefoot on the carpet, her gaze complex as she watched Gu Liufeng tidy up his medicine chest.
"The poison, it's suppressed."
Jing Ni's voice was still cold, but if one listened closely, a hint of an uncontrollable tremor could be heard:
"My internal energy... has recovered thirty percent."
"Only thirty percent? It seems the Heart-Devouring Gu is more stubborn than I imagined."
Gu Liufeng shook his head, seemingly a little dissatisfied, but then smiled:
"But it's enough. At least now, unless Luo Net's 'Yan Ri' or 'Xuan Jian' personally come, no one can easily take you away."
Jing Ni looked at his understated manner, but a storm raged in her heart.
He... he had already seen through her true identity?
This person... did he even know what he was doing?
He saved a Luo Net defector, which was equivalent to standing against the colossal Great Qin Luo Net organization!
"Why did you save me?"
Jing Ni suddenly asked. Her eyes were sharp as blades, as if trying to pierce Gu Liufeng's heart:
"You know who I am, and you know what trouble saving me will bring. Just to make me dance? That reason... I don't believe it."
In her world, human lives were like grass, and profit was eternal. No one would risk their life for so-called "appreciation."
Gu Liufeng's hand movements stopped.
He looked up, met Jing Ni's scrutinizing gaze, and walked towards her, step by step.
They stood very close, so close that Jing Ni could smell the reassuring herbal fragrance on him, and... the masculine aura of a man.
Gu Liufeng chuckled softly, then reached out, very naturally helping her straighten the collar of her dress, which she had hastily put on and was still a bit disheveled:
"In my eyes, Gu Liufeng's eyes, there are only people I want to save, and people who deserve to die. I told you, I just don't want to see beautiful things wither. Saving you was just a matter of convenience, nothing more."
Gu Liufeng withdrew his hand and held up a finger:
"Tonight was just the first time. To completely eradicate the Heart-Devouring Gu, I need to administer acupuncture seven more times."
"Seven times?"
Jing Ni was slightly stunned, then remembered the seductive and alluring treatment process just now. A blush reappeared on her pale face.
Seven more times... like that?
But soon, that hint of shyness was replaced by determination in her eyes.
She was a person who clearly distinguished between gratitude and resentment.
A small kindness repaid with a spring. How much more so for a life-saving grace?
"Good."
Jing Ni suddenly knelt on one knee.
This was an assassin's gesture of loyalty to their master, and it was the first time in her life she willingly bowed her proud head to a man.
"Young Master Gu."
Her voice was cold, yet it held a metallic firmness:
"Today, Young Master saved my life, like a parent reborn."
She looked up, Gu Liufeng's reflection in her exquisite eyes, and swore word by word:
"If, after seven days, Young Master can truly resolve this poison..."
"Jing Ni vows to disperse her killing intent. For this life and this world, I will be Young Master's personal dancer alone."
"My sword shall be drawn for you, my dance performed for you, and my life... is also yours."
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Bewitching Beauties Compendium's "Jing Ni" capture progress has significantly increased!]
[Reward: Killing Intent Perception (Passive skill, can sense hostility within a hundred-meter radius).]
Listening to the system's prompt and looking at the woman before him, proud and unyielding like a red plum yet willing to submit, Gu Liufeng's heart swelled with a great sense of accomplishment.
He reached out, not to help her up, but to gently cup her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
"Remember your words."
Gu Liufeng looked into her eyes, a possessive curve forming on his lips:
"Rise. Rather than kneeling, I prefer to see you on stage, looking so disdainful of everything, astonishing all."
Jing Ni obediently stood up, without retort, merely lowering her eyelids. Her previously icy-hard features completely softened in this moment.
"Yes... Young Master."
...
The next morning.
As Gu Liufeng, refreshed and invigorated, pushed open his door, he happened to see Huang Rong, sporting two dark circles under her eyes, emerging from the room next door.
"Morning, junior sister." Gu Liufeng greeted with a smile.
Huang Rong gave him a resentful look, then glanced at Jing Ni's tightly closed door, and said sourly:
"Elder Brother Gu, did you sleep well last night? I saw the light in that room was on all night."
"Healing and saving lives is hard work."
Gu Liufeng said, his face unchanged and heart unthumping, stretching:
"But the results are excellent. Oh, right, we'll linger in Hangzhou for seven more days. After seven days, we'll take Miss Ni'er with us to explore the martial world."
"Are you really taking her?"
Huang Rong grumbled, her sense of crisis exploding.
That woman, she's beautiful, skilled in martial arts, and can even dance to seduce people...
No!
This young lady must rise to the occasion!
"Um..."
Huang Rong suddenly became coy, turned her head away, and whispered:
"Elder Brother Gu, I'm going to buy some clothes later too."
"Oh? Going to buy men's clothes again?"
"I'm buying women's clothes!"
Huang Rong glared at him fiercely, then turned and ran down the stairs:
"I'll let you see what a true beauty looks like! So you don't get so enchanted by those vixen every day that you lose your way!"
Gu Liufeng watched Huang Rong's fleeing figure, then looked back at Jing Ni's room, the smile on his lips deepening.
This little girl, has she finally couldn't resist returning to women's clothes?