Chapter 1: Jealousy

Chapter 1: Jealousy

Mo Ran frowned, looking behind him. A few people were standing scattered about, and he couldn't help but feel a hint of impatience. "Young Master, if you aren't going to look, then let's go. I've been working all day and wish to return early to rest."

"It seems you don't believe I will tear down your medical clinic?"

The mysterious man gave a leisurely smile. A chill, like the waters of a deep pool, gradually deepened around him. Suddenly, Mo Ran felt the entire table trembling. In the next second, Mo Ran felt as if the diagnostic table he had used solidly for many years was about to leave him.

*Clack...*

A rose-red hairpin was thrust unerringly between the man's fingers. In an instant, all presence vanished.

Lifting her eyes, Jing Yue'er, dressed in a rose-red gown, danced gracefully down the stairs amidst the cold wind. Upon her jade-like face, a pair of eyes as brilliant as diamonds shone with a unique, profound light. One look was enough to be deeply captivated.

"No matter how many princes or nobles come here, none dare insist that I must treat them. What are you making a fuss about?"

Jing Yue'er narrowed her eyes, gripping the stairs as she walked down step by step.

The mysterious man's expression flickered. Seeing that rose-red figure descend for a long time, he finally let out a cold laugh. "I have been here for two hours. Why haven't I seen you, Miss?"

"I didn't want to see you!"

Her answer was crisp and decisive.

"Then what must I do to secure an appointment to have you personally check my pulse?" the mysterious man asked, maintaining his patience.

"You are terminally ill; there is no need for treatment. Therefore, there is no need to check your pulse."

Jing Yue'er smiled faintly and turned to leave.

"Even if I were to die here today as a corpse, I must meet with you alone once," the mysterious man said relentlessly. "I don't mind, but I fear this large medical clinic of yours will suffer for it."

"Using my clinic to trade for your life? Do you think that is a good deal?" Jing Yue'er asked indifferently.

"If it can threaten you, no price is too high," the mysterious man replied softly.

Clearly, the man's persistence succeeded in bringing a trace of impatience to Jing Yue'er's forehead. "What do you want?"

"I want you to personally conduct my consultation."

The mysterious man pulled out the hairpin and held it in his hand, preparing to hand it to Jing Yue'er. However, Jing Yue'er acted as if she hadn't seen it. She turned around, walked over, and sat in Mo Ran's seat.

This time, the mysterious man obediently placed his hand on a cloth bundle on the table. However, Jing Yue'er did not immediately check his pulse; instead, she placed a silk handkerchief over the man's hand. It was obvious that Jing Yue'er immediately saw the strangeness and dissatisfaction emanating from those eyes.

"Since you are a man of noble status, a commoner like me naturally cannot make direct contact. I fear I might soil your hands," Jing Yue'er said blandly.

The mysterious man said nothing, merely watching Jing Yue'er's every movement in silence. Of course, he knew very well whether she was afraid of him dirtying her hands, or afraid of her dirtying his. Or perhaps, Jing Yue'er was simply keeping her distance.

Thinking of this, a flash of tenacity suddenly crossed the mysterious man's eyes. He sneered, "Miss, you joke. Indeed, distance should be maintained."

Her eyes were tightly closed while she checked his pulse, but they flickered slightly upon hearing those words. After a moment, she released her hand from his pulse. "There is poison in your body, and its toxicity is great."

"Oh?" The mysterious man raised an eyebrow.

"The Frost Ice Poison. If I am not mistaken, it has been present for three years," she stated decisively. "But in truth, you have long since grown accustomed to its existence, haven't you?"

"Does Miss have a way to remove it?" the mysterious man asked.

"I do!" Jing Yue'er gave a low, calm laugh. "Discard all your martial arts. Naturally, you will no longer feel like you are dying every time the moon reaches its dark phase!"

The mysterious man's surroundings turned cold as he abruptly withdrew his hand. Jing Yue'er had no intention of staying for even a moment. She stood up and turned to leave.

"Is there no other way besides that?" the mysterious man asked with a low laugh.

"The poison has entered the bone; it is incurable. The only way is to save yourself."

With those words, she flicked her sleeves and left Kang Yu Tang. "I have seen you, and your wish is fulfilled. I hope you will not trouble my clinic again. Otherwise, this Palace is certainly not to be trifled with."

Her red silks were as pure as snow; the sight of those flowing fabrics left the mysterious man's eyes filled with a thousand lingering thoughts. It was only when the woman entered her carriage that he snapped back to reality.

"Master, this clinic is far too arrogant. Why don't we destroy it..."

"We're leaving!"

"Yan Nu, we are leaving."

"Uh, Master!"

For the first time in his life, Yan Nu felt that his master was being uncharacteristically submissive today. Having been bullied like this, he actually accepted it obediently and turned to leave.

***

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study

"Are you certain that person is not from the Kingdom of Long Yan?" On the dragon throne, a man rubbed his brow and stood up to speak.

"Yes, Your Majesty," an undercover guard answered faintly.

"He wore a veil. Given the Empress's martial arts, you couldn't even measure that person's internal strength?" Jun Lanfeng asked again.

"Yes. It appeared the person had no intention of harming Her Majesty. He only used a bit of internal strength to counter, as if he were playing with her," the guard said.

"With the Empress's cultivation, she would have been invincible in the past. Even though she was poisoned later and has been using internal strength to nurture her body, her martial arts are still among the best in the world. What kind of person could..."

Jun Lanfeng stepped down from the dragon throne and gazed at the cold moon in the sky. "Forget it. You may withdraw."

The guard responded and vanished.

***

At night, Jing Yue'er sat on the roof, feeling bored. When Jun Lanfeng entered and saw her, he shook his head helplessly.

"Girl, who gave you permission to sit on the roof?" he scolded with a smile.

Jing Yue'er said nothing.

Jun Lanfeng opened his arms and gave her a gentle smile. In response, she tapped her toes and landed lightly in Jun Lanfeng's arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her body quickly leaned against him. This was a tacit understanding they had repeated many times.

In fact, the most gratifying thing for him every day was being able to carry Jing Yue'er back into the room like this. In moments like these, it felt as if all the day's troubles had vanished.

"Yue'er, actually, I have always wondered. What kind of charm do you possess that makes me feel as if I am addicted to you?" Jun Lanfeng shook his head and leaned down to give her lips a light kiss. He turned and carried her back to the room.

"Actually, I am the same, Lanfeng."

She hid in his embrace, her silken hair brushing against his snow-white, almost transparent chest.

Jun Lanfeng sighed toward the sky and, with a sense of profound satisfaction, carried Jing Yue'er into the room. "Yue'er, you are playing with fire again."

"I am not..." Jing Yue'er's face flushed. "It is your own impure thoughts."

Hearing this, Jun Lanfeng inhaled sharply. He had been decisively outmaneuvered.

"However, Lanfeng, I met someone today."

Jing Yue'er felt her body lying softly on the couch. She rolled over and pulled a quilt to cover her almost transparent clothing.

Jun Lanfeng smiled without answering. Instead, he directly removed his outer robe and lay down on the bed.

"Although that person was covered in thick black cloth, why do I feel a faint sense of familiarity? It's as if I've met him before."

After she finished speaking, she realized her body felt cold. Her outer garment had fallen to the floor. She looked at Jun Lanfeng speechlessly. "What's the rush? I haven't finished talking yet."

"A sense of familiarity?" Jun Lanfeng frowned, suddenly asking seriously, "You have met him? When? Why didn't I know?"

"Uh..." Jing Yue'er finally saw his ice-cold face. "Why are you getting so jealous? How would I know when I met him? It's just a mysterious feeling of familiarity. And more importantly, that person's martial arts were terrifying. It was as if he carried a world-destroying power; his skill was frighteningly high."

"Yue'er, actually, I don't want to care about anything right now," Jun Lanfeng gave a wicked smile. "At this moment, the only thing I want to care about is... the delicious feast before me."

"Hey, what are you doing? What are you trying to do?" Jing Yue'er felt a tickle on her body and tried to dodge.

"What do you think I'm doing?" Jun Lanfeng gritted his teeth, looking like a wild wolf. "You dared to check a man's pulse for me outside? Let's see how I deal with you!"

"Hehehe... No. Jun Lanfeng, I told you to sto—"

Outside the Dragon Ceremony Hall, the spring breeze blew gently. Inside the hall, the curtains fluttered and the red drapes rolled, amidst a rain of fragrant sweat. It was a long, passionate bout!

***

Under the same moonlight, in the most luxurious room of a certain tavern in the capital of the Kingdom of Long Yan, the mysterious man raised his head to gaze at the frost-like cold moon. Only his eyes were visible through his face covering, and those pitch-black, deep eyes carried a trace of evil. From time to time, he could not help but pick up the rose-red hairpin in his hand, looking at it once, and then again.

"Master, it is time for bed," Yan Nu said, nodding and bowing with a smile.

"Mm!" A voice as faint as if unheard rang out.

"Since I have followed you, Master, I have never seen you interested in any woman. If you are interested in that lady, can't you just snatch her away?" Yan Nu couldn't help but wonder. "Or, if you ask Emperor Lan for her... for the sake of peace between the two nations, what is one woman?"

"Get out!"

The man's voice was raspy and evil, devoid of any emotion. He never offered explanations.

"As you command." Yan Nu closed his mouth and prepared to walk out.

"I told you to get out, did you not hear me?" The mysterious man flicked his sleeves and turned around, bringing a sweeping cold wind with him. "Do not attempt to challenge my patience, otherwise, you will die a miserable death!"

Yan Nu looked at the floor and immediately dared not say another word. Holding his head, he rolled out of the room like a ball.

After watching Yan Nu leave, the mysterious man frowned. With a sweep of his large sleeve, the entire room was tightly sealed.

"Snatch!?"

The lips beneath the black cloth curled slightly. "They say if one cannot endure small things, one will ruin great plans. However, indeed, one must use force to snatch!"

***

Two days later.

On this day, the entire Imperial Palace was busy. The Kingdom of Long Yan's Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony occurred once every four years. At that time, envoys from the three kingdoms and various smaller nations would all send representatives. Of course, many of these envoys were there to spy on the national situation, taking the opportunity to find the weaknesses of Long Yan to find a way to defeat them.

Because of these factors, Jun Lanfeng took this matter extremely seriously!

But no matter how serious he was, after completing all the preparations, Jun Lanfeng personally came to receive Jing Yue'er and comb her hair.