I quickly moved my knees and instinctively dodged to the side. Long Lin grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him. With his other hand, he opened his fan. Flipping his wrist, he held the teacup on the fan surface. The tea went back into the cup drop by drop without a spill.
Long Lin's handsome face wore a smile. He brought the fan to his nose and smelled the strong aroma of the tea.
"Fairy Dan Zhu, the tea is at just the right temperature. You can drink it now."
When Long Lin returned the tea to Dan Zhu, there was an extra night pearl the size of an egg on the fan. Its blue glow was accompanied by a faint white mist, looking extremely beautiful.
"Fairy, that's boiling water. A mortal body can't bear it. You know I'm a person who values looks. If you were to ruin this young lady's face, I don't even know what I'd do."
After Long Lin finished speaking, a smile returned to his face. He continued, "This night pearl is Lan Lan's little token of respect. Please accept it, Fairy Dan Zhu."
Dan Zhu lowered her eyes and looked at the tea and the night pearl on the fan. Her voice was laced with contempt as she said, "You like her?"
Long Lin didn't answer. He just tilted his chin slightly, indicating for Dan Zhu to drink the tea as an apology and not push things further.
Dan Zhu lowered her eyes, gave a soft snort, picked up the tea, and drank it in one gulp.
She picked up the night pearl and gently caressed it. Her voice was arrogant as she said, "Since Young Master Long has spoken, I'll reluctantly accept it."
She handed the night pearl to the maid beside her. Changing her posture, she asked, "You came uninvited. You didn't just come here specifically to apologize, did you?"
"Fairy Dan Zhu is as intelligent as she is beautiful. You've guessed our intention right away. Let's not beat around the bush. We already know about your deal with Gu Yuan. If you really take his inner core, he probably won't survive."
I lowered my voice and forced myself to continue, "So, do you think... is there any other way to replace his inner core?"
"Oh, it seems you found out a bit too late. Gu Yuan and I reached a deal a few days ago. To show his sincerity, he's already given me his inner core."
"You're his wife. Didn't you notice anything strange about him recently? I really don't know what he sees in you. Is it your thoughtfulness or your gentleness? I don't think you have either."
Fairy Dan Zhu lifted her chin, looking extremely proud. My mind was like it had been struck by lightning, completely in a mess.
No wonder Gu Yuan had been acting so strange recently. He always avoided me, and his magical power did seem to be weakening. It turned out he had already removed his inner core. I couldn't even imagine how much pain he must have endured.
It was still too late after all.
Fairy Dan Zhu leaned back on the beauty chair. Seeing my current expression, she looked extremely smug. Her voice was arrogant as she said,
"I gave him a second option, but Gu Yuan refused. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Besides his good looks, his inner core is the only thing that catches my eye. He's willing to give up his inner core so that a mediocre person like you can live. So even if he dies, it's his own choice."
If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed that such words could come from a celestial being. I always thought that fairies were kind and compassionate saints. I didn't expect there to be such a vengeful person.
If this celestial being weren't born with a celestial artifact, she probably wouldn't have been able to ascend to the celestial rank in this lifetime.
But for Gu Yuan's sake, I still had to humble myself and say, "Are you sure there's no other way?"
"Yes. Go back and persuade Gu Yuan to agree to dual cultivation with me. It's a win - win situation. Only by doing this can your life and his life be saved. Why not do it?"
Long Lin let out a loud laugh after hearing this. "I've heard that Fairy Dan Zhu is a well - known beauty who will only choose one person for dual cultivation in her life, to live and die together. If the incident in the bamboo building that day were to spread throughout the Three Realms, what do you think would happen?"
Dan Zhu's face darkened when she heard this. She quickly put on a smile and said, "I was going to find someone for dual cultivation anyway. If Gu Yuan doesn't want to, so what if I choose someone else?"
"Really? If his wife were to find out and report it to the Heavenly Court, what would you do then?"
Dan Zhu's body stiffened. Suddenly, she slapped the armrest of the chair with one hand and regained her composure. "You... you actually dared to investigate me?"
"Don't dare, don't dare. This is the only way when there's no other choice. If you don't give Lan Lan a way out, then I can only push you to your doom."
There was a strong sense of confidence on Long Lin's face. I really thought he had found out something. My tone also became tougher. "If there really is no other way, then there's nothing more to say. We might as well go down together."
After I finished speaking, I grabbed Long Lin's arm and walked out of the door without looking back.
"How did you know she had an affair with a married man?" I squeezed out a sentence through my teeth, so softly that only the two of us could hear.
"How could I possibly know? I was just bluffing her, but it worked." Long Lin fanned his fan and whispered back.
Just as a look of surprise appeared on my face and I thought it was all over, Long Lin squeezed out two words: "Calm down."
"Young Master Long, please wait. I just remembered there's really something I need your help with. If you can help me achieve it, I can spare Gu Yuan's inner core and help you carry the soul of Man Yue. How about that?"
I composed myself and exchanged a smile with Long Lin. Then I asked, "Please enlighten us, Fairy Dan Zhu."
"To be honest, carrying a broken spiritual body really requires a large amount of magical power. If you can seize the inner core of the Nine - Infant Demon Immortal from the East Sea for me, I'll agree to help you this time."
Long Lin got anxious as soon as he heard this. All his previous amiability was gone. He shouted angrily, "Are you kidding me? The Nine - Infant Demon Immortal is the last Nine - Headed Flood Dragon in legend. Even an ancient divine dragon might not be able to defeat him. Sending Lan Lan, a mortal, is no different from killing her."
"If it were easy, why would I ask you? I could just go and get it myself."
"You..."
Just as Long Lin was about to get angry, I quickly grabbed his arm and said, "Long Lin, don't be angry. We can discuss this."
"Sister Lan Lan, so do you agree or not? Compared to Gu Yuan's inner core, the inner core of the Nine - Infant Demon Immortal is still far inferior. I've already made a concession." Dan Zhu suddenly seemed to be thinking for me.
I kept biting my upper lip, struggling inside. In three days, it would be Gu Yuan's tribulation day. He was willing to give up his inner core for me. What could I do for him?
"Think it over. It's really a near - certain death situation." There was worry on Long Lin's face.
Dan Zhu clearly wanted me to back down, but I refused.
"Okay, I agree. I'll definitely bring back the inner core of the Nine - Infant Demon Immortal for you."
"Good. Then I won't see you out." Dan Zhu didn't expect me to agree so quickly. She was already fed up and didn't want to see me for another second.
I felt the same way. If it weren't for Gu Yuan, I'd never want to see her in my life.
After we walked out of the cave, Long Lin looked troubled. "I don't know if we can find out Dan Zhu's weakness. If we can, we won't have to go and seize the inner core of the Nine - Infant Demon Immortal."
"I'll ask." After I finished speaking, I quickly lit a talisman to send a message to Ji Xiang. Soon, Ji Xiang replied to me.
Their answer was that it was very difficult to investigate. That person was unfathomable, but they were still doing their best. They hoped to make a breakthrough in about three days, but we only had three days now. It wasn't enough time at all.
If only Gu Yuan knew. He must have a way. But now Gu Yuan didn't even have his inner core. If he knew, he'd definitely be furious and wouldn't agree to me going to get the demon core.
If things got out of hand and Dan Zhu got desperate and insisted on taking Gu Yuan's inner core, wouldn't we be back to square one?
Just thinking about this made me so upset. I didn't know what to do.
"Just give me a release. As long as I die, everyone will be happy." I didn't want to hold on anymore. Maybe death was the best ending for me.