Chapter 81: Chaos

“So fast.”

In less than a breath, Yun Tianxin’s expression, calm and indifferent, had drawn close to Chen Qi’s face. Her hands were about to descend, reaching for his cheek.

Chen Qi’s pupils contracted swiftly to the size of a needle’s tip; he didn’t even have time to show fear on his face, nor could his body react.

At this critical moment, instinct compelled Chen Qi to call out:

“Sister Yun, it’s me!”

The palm, as white as jade, approached ever closer, marked with eerie dark blue veins. It was about to grasp Chen Qi’s face.

Sadly, Chen Qi no longer had any appreciation for the hand’s beauty. Instead, he was overwhelmed by the spiritual pressure emanating from it, unable to summon even a hint of resistance.

“Sister, save me!”

Knowing his end was near, Chen Qi shouted one last time and then closed his eyes.

He never dreamed he would die like this—at the hands of someone he never suspected, in such a humiliating manner.

But then again, to die beneath a peony flower is to be a charming ghost...

With this final thought, his large face finally came into contact with the palm.

“Huh?”

Feeling that his head hadn’t shattered like a watermelon, Chen Qi opened his eyes again.

Before him still stood that beautiful woman, but her eyes had changed color, the piercing blue light gradually dimming.

The terrifying grasp transformed into a gentle pat, lightly touching Chen Qi’s right cheek with barely any force—a lover’s tender caress.

“Sister…”

Chen Qi had barely uttered two words when Yun Tianxin’s expression turned cold and stern, cutting him off.

“Listen carefully! I can’t maintain this lucid state for long. Quickly bind me with this Spirit-Sealing Cloud Chain!”

Before she finished speaking, Yun Tianxin produced a cloud-white iron chain as thick as an arm, each link connected by a dark green rune—clearly no ordinary item.

The moment Chen Qi touched the chain, the aura it emitted caused his blood flow to falter, disrupting even his normal breathing rhythm.

“This…”

Holding the extraordinary chain, Chen Qi’s heart was conflicted as he looked at the familiar figure before him, about to speak.

Yun Tianxin’s lovely face turned colder, interrupting him again:

“Press the first rune on the left end, quickly!”

As she spoke, her delicate brows furrowed tightly, as if suppressing something. The blue light in her eyes flickered repeatedly.

Recalling Yun Tianxin’s ruthless demeanor, Chen Qi dared not delay. Trembling, he bound the cloud-white chain around her slender body, including her arms, then pressed the activation rune.

The rune glowed red, spreading to the surrounding runes and then along the entire chain.

Soon, the entire chain was activated, tightening just right around Yun Tianxin’s loose cyan robe, perfectly outlining her graceful figure.

Moreover, the power of the dark green runes unleashed a sealing force that gradually weakened Yun Tianxin’s vast aura until she appeared like an ordinary person.

Her body stiffened under the chain’s seal, then she collapsed softly to the ground.

Watching closely, Chen Qi reacted swiftly, catching her slender waist and supporting her so she wouldn’t fall.

Under the seal, Yun Tianxin’s expression twisted in pain; the blue light again spread across her pupils.

She reverted to that indifferent look, struggling to break free but remained firmly bound by the cloud-white chain, unable to move her upper body.

After failing to escape, a trace of annoyance surfaced on her face—like a child whose emotions show clearly—her charming nose even letting out an angry snort.

“Sister Yun?”

Chen Qi’s face filled with sympathy. He tried calling her name softly, hoping to bring her back to herself.

But Yun Tianxin seemed not to hear, still grappling with the chain binding her arms and chest, ignoring Chen Qi entirely.

Helpless, Chen Qi looked up at the sky.

After this delay, the sunlight above the thick fog dimmed to a yellow hue; dusk was falling, and night was near.

Realizing they were still at the foot of the Plague Demon Mountain, Chen Qi dared not linger. He retrieved the long sword shimmering with purple light from where Yun Tianxin had fallen.

Again, his gaze returned to her.

Following the cloud-white chain, he noticed a clear bulge pressed tightly at her chest, the proud curves usually hidden beneath her loose robe marked by the chains’ indentations. Through the robe’s collar, Chen Qi caught a glimpse of pure white fabric.

Even worse, the chain pressed the fabric askew, and with his sharp eyes, he saw hints of flushed skin beneath.

Chen Qi blushed deeply, immediately withdrawing his gaze. Yet wicked thoughts surfaced uncontrollably, and his body involuntarily leaned closer to Yun Tianxin.

“Should I… touch a little? Just to care for Sister…”

Ahem. Chen Qi coughed lightly, then shakily reached out.

Don’t misunderstand! He grabbed the cloud-white chain with both hands and, applying slight force, loosened the chain binding her chest, sliding it down to her abdomen.

He wasn’t about to let such beauty get damaged!

Freed from the chain’s constraint, her proud curves bounced slightly—almost hitting his hands.

Chen Qi’s hands trembled again, and some mysterious force compelled him to inch closer.

Suddenly, Chen Qi caught sight of Yun Tianxin’s face at that moment.

Bound by the iron chain, her upper body moved uncomfortably. Perhaps due to her loss of strength, the anger between her brows faded, replaced by a pitiful vulnerability.

Chen Qi’s hands froze instantly; guilt surged in his heart, and he closed his eyes in pain.

Deeply influenced by the core values of the modern youth, he nearly committed such a beastly act—truly unfilial!

When Chen Qi opened his eyes again, his brows were clear and calm, with not a trace of wickedness.

“But how to take Sister Yun away?”

Seeing Yun Tianxin’s uneasy stance, Chen Qi’s expression grew troubled.

Time was slipping away, and pursuers could appear at any moment from behind. He made up his mind.

“Sister Yun, I’m sorry.”

Muttering solemnly, Chen Qi reached out and scooped Yun Tianxin into his arms.

Instantly, he felt their skin touch, her delicate figure exuding a faint fragrance, ethereal and profound as the clouds on a celestial mountain.

He didn’t linger on the scent, pondering briefly before adjusting his hold.

To move more easily, Chen Qi shifted from a princess carry to a shoulder carry, slinging her across his left shoulder instead of the right.

Grasping her smooth thigh with one hand, Chen Qi’s mind cleared; harnessing his blood qi, he burst forward at full speed, covering several yards in an instant.

A faint thrill of alarm stirred in his heart—he dared not delay any longer.

Of course, this posture wasn’t an excuse to fondle her thigh. Rather, it protected Yun Tianxin’s body with his blood qi shield, preventing any scratches from branches during their rapid flight.

Yun Tianxin, draped over his shoulder, felt the swift movement, her body swaying and once more struggling in defiance.

Suddenly, she stopped and, with those glowing blue eyes, fixed her gaze on the nape of Chen Qi’s neck, a spark of interest flickering like a child discovering a fascinating toy.

Trying to twist her neck, Yun Tianxin’s lovely face drew closer to Chen Qi’s neck.

A mischievous smile appeared, and she bit down lightly, leaving her pristine white teeth marks on Chen Qi’s slightly yellowish skin.

“Ah, Sister! That hurts!”

Caught off guard, Chen Qi’s sharp scream echoed abruptly through the quiet forest.

…