TGPSAC 08

Chapter 08

The Temptation of the Spirit Spring

Qin Qi removed the restriction.

Xuanyuan Yu hadn’t expected the restriction to be broken so easily. He rushed inside, nearly crashing into the mountainside.

The flute player also put away his flute.

But it was as if he hadn’t seen Xuanyuan Yu at all. With a flicker of his figure, he vanished.

Xuanyuan Yu and Gu Feng were both stunned.

Gu Feng said, “Is this how they treat their guests?”

Xuanyuan Yu replied, “Let’s go. There’s a cave dwelling ahead. We’ll take a look. Perhaps the person we came to see is inside.”

Xuanyuan Yu and Gu Feng approached the cave.

The entrance was overgrown with weeds, but faint footprints suggested that someone had passed through recently.

Master and servant hesitated over whether to enter directly. Deep in the mountains, there could easily be strange beasts lurking inside the cave.

Just then, a pleasant female voice drifted out from within.

“Young Master, come in alone.”

Xuanyuan Yu froze.

The Divine Physician!

He remembered her voice.

Yet it also sounded remarkably like someone else…

“Gu Feng, wait here.”

Gu Feng looked uneasy.

“Young Master…”

Xuanyuan Yu knew what he was worried about.

“Go contact our men. Have them wait a hundred paces away.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Xuanyuan Yu entered the cave alone.

The cave was dimly lit, though not completely dark. A shaft of light streamed down from somewhere above, illuminating a pool of spring water.

A woman was bathing in the spring.

Out of courtesy, he immediately turned around.

Xuanyuan Yu’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

Although he had turned away quickly, he had already seen her.

Her face, flushed like peach blossoms through the mist.

Her eyes, glistening like spring water.

And her smooth, fair shoulders, shimmering with droplets.

Qin Ziguang chuckled softly.

“Young Master Xuanyuan, didn’t you climb three mountains just to see me? Why are you standing so far away?”

Xuanyuan Yu’s breathing grew uneven, but he quickly steadied himself.

“I never imagined that the Divine Physician was actually Princess Ziguang. May I boldly guess that you deliberately lured me here?”

Qin Ziguang raised an eyebrow.

The young man was rather clever.

But she had no intention of admitting it so readily.

“Tell me. How exactly did I lure you here?”

“First, at the palace banquet that night, someone set both of us up. You knew perfectly well that nothing happened between us.

Yet you misled everyone into misunderstanding our relationship.

Why? Was it because you wanted to use me to reject your marriage into the Imperial Family? But you knew His Majesty would never allow the heads of the civil and military factions to become in-laws.”

Qin Ziguang replied, “I was a victim that day too. I didn’t mislead anyone. I simply told the truth.

Young Master Xuanyuan, what did I do that made you misunderstand?

I never shouted that you had ruined my innocence, nor did I cling to you and demand that you take responsibility.

Besides, didn’t you explain everything afterward? Everyone now knows we’re innocent. So how exactly did I lure you?”

Qin Ziguang blinked her large, innocent eyes.

Xuanyuan Yu was momentarily speechless.

Her explanation did make sense.

Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that this woman wanted to latch onto him.

Could it be that she intended to use the Xuanyuan family against the Emperor?

She was thinking too far ahead.

The Xuanyuan family had no intention of rebelling at present, so they would never ally themselves with Prince Qin’s Manor.

“If you weren’t trying to lure me, then why are you in this state while inviting me inside?”

Qin Ziguang smiled.

“You already barged in. If I hadn’t allowed you in, would you really have stayed outside?”

Xuanyuan Yu fell silent.

She was right.

Even if she had shouted for him not to enter…

He still would have come in.

After all, he had no idea she was bathing.

“You could have warned me that you were bathing! Then I wouldn’t have barged in.”

“Oh? So you’re quite the gentleman.”

“Then go back outside.”

Xuanyuan Yu took two steps toward the exit before asking,

“How long will your bath take?”

“Half a month.”

“You’re going to stay in the spring the whole time?”

“I came here specifically to soak in this spring. I’ll be here for half a month.

So you’ll just have to wait outside for half a month.”

Xuanyuan Yu was speechless.

He had never met such an impossible woman.

“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

“You certainly are suspicious.”

“Is this really the attitude of someone asking another person for help?”

“I’m risking my reputation by meeting you while I’m bathing, and you’re still dissatisfied?”

Xuanyuan Yu had no idea how to deal with her anymore.

After thinking for a while, he asked,

“What’s so special about this spring that makes it worth soaking in for half a month?”

“It’s very special.”

“I simply like this spring very much.”

Xuanyuan Yu was once again left speechless.

“So tell me. Why exactly did you come looking for me?”

Xuanyuan Yu stopped beating around the bush.

“I came because of the First Prince. I want to know whether your medical skills can cure him.”

“I don’t know.”

“I haven’t examined his pulse, so I can’t say.”

“But I’ve heard the First Prince has always been extremely frail. The weakness came from the womb.”

“You seem rather concerned about the First Prince.”

“I’m interested in everyone connected to that old Emperor.”

“Including you.”

Xuanyuan Yu immediately turned around to face Qin Ziguang.

Since she didn’t care about her own reputation, there was no need for him to worry about it either.

He stared directly into her eyes, looking deep within them.

“Qin Ziguang, what exactly are you after?”

“Why are you paying so much attention to me?”

“And your attitude toward me in the palace that day…”

“I have every reason to be suspicious.”

Qin Ziguang smiled.

“And what about you?”

“What are you after by climbing three mountains just to find me?”

“I simply want you to treat the First Prince.”

“Other than that, I have no ulterior motives.”

“Oh?”

“Then wait until I return from the mountains.”

“My maid should have told you that I’ll be back in the capital in half a month.”

“Young Master Xuanyuan, can you really not wait even half a month?”

“You rushed over three mountains just to see me.”

“Are you sure you’re only here for the First Prince?”

“What else would it be?”

His intentions had originally been completely pure.

But after hearing her say that, it almost sounded as though he truly had some ulterior motive toward her.

This was clearly a verbal trap.

He couldn’t fall into it.

“I don’t really believe you.”

Qin Ziguang wrinkled her nose playfully.

Her eyes sparkled with life, charming and alluring.

Xuanyuan Yu’s breath caught for a moment before he looked away.

“Then… why do you think I came to find you?”

“In general, any man who chases after me is interested in me.”

“Young Master Xuanyuan, are you interested in me?”

Xuanyuan Yu was speechless.

This woman…

Did she have no shame at all?

Where was a lady’s modesty?

He coughed twice.

“Princess, I cultivate the Golden Armor Technique. I cannot pursue romance.”

“As far as I know, cultivating the Golden Armor Technique only means you can’t lose your virginity.”

“Why can’t you fall in love?”

“Or are you thinking of doing something to me…”

“Something to me… hmm?”

She blinked at him seductively, her meaning unmistakable.

Xuanyuan Yu felt his blood surge.

This woman…

Could she at least put on some clothes before talking?

Was she really planning to stay in the spring the entire time?

And keep looking at him with those bewitching eyes?

Didn’t she know that men were all beasts?

Suppressing the primal instincts surging within him, he picked up her clothes and tossed them over her head.