My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

"Get out! Out!"

Qin Qingluo propped herself up with force, growling in hatred like a wounded beast.

Chen Yi, however, remained unhurried. He casually pulled out a chair, sat down, and gazed cheerfully at the tall woman.

She placed her hands on the edge of the bed, half-supporting her body, resembling a giant serpent raising its head, poised to strike. Her arched brows showed unmistakable killing intent, yet the flush on her cheeks and an indomitable heroic aura combined to form an appealing beauty that one felt compelled to conquer.

Her snake-like pupils were chaotic and unfocused, missing the commanding dignity she once wielded over the Southern Border. Her lips were tightly pressed together, her clothes disheveled, revealing a large expanse of snowy-white skin. Her sturdy frame made this striking allure even more overwhelming.

Qin Qingluo stared with boundless hatred at the man she loathed deeply, while he returned her gaze with playful amusement.

Chen Yi leisurely picked up the bottle from the table, uncorked it, and said, "Jade Spring Balm. Tsk tsk, for such an ointment, even the supporting ingredients require something like the Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus, the Scarlet Refining Vine, all manner of rare treasures. The main ingredient, of course, must be a Heavenly Material or Earthly Treasure only found in the mountains. Initially, the effects are subtle, but gradually, it ignites unbearable lust. This drug… most likely came from the palace."

Qin Qingluo gripped the mattress and rasped hoarsely, "I don't care where the drug came from. Just leave."

"Come now, we're an old married couple. What's there to fret about?" Chen Yi said nonchalantly.

Qin Qingluo's eyes burned as she shouted, "Leave!"

Chen Yi chuckled, "Ah, I almost forgot, you and Zhu E are the actual old married couple. As for me… I'm just your neighbor, Old Chen."

"I… will kill you!"

Qin Qingluo clenched her silver teeth to the verge of shattering, veins bulging on her arm. Leaning on the bedframe with one hand, she threw a punch with the other.

The ferocity of the punch shook the tea cups and bowls on the table, creating explosive sounds. Chen Yi's robe sleeves fluttered in the wind, but he remained unmoving.

The punch, seemingly wild and ruthless, had a chaotic technique. By the time it reached Chen Yi, the lethal force of the blow dissipated into the air.

Compared to the killing intent in her eyes, the punch might as well have been a tickle; it also revealed that Qin Qingluo's energy was already disrupted.

Chen Yi, still relaxed in his chair, propped up his face, admiring the humiliation and defiance of this 'rouge stallion.'

He chuckled lightly, "Feeling restless now, aren't you?"

As his words landed, the breathless Qin Qingluo suddenly regained a trace of reason, tugged her lips upward, and resisted with a smirk, "Heh... there's strength left yet."

"Impressive self-control." Chen Yi raised a thumb in praise.

"Naturally impressive..." Qin Qingluo's lips trembled as she smiled with difficulty.

Chen Yi glanced at the tea in his cup, then at the Yanling Saber mounted on the weapon rack. Realizing where he was, he understood the sense of familiarity he felt entering the room—it was Dong Gong Ruoshu's boudoir.

At the moment, Chen Yi ceased worrying. He calmly stood up, rummaged through the cabinet, found a small tea cake, broke off pieces of tea leaves, casually tossed them into the teapot, pulled out a firestriker, and began brewing tea.

"Western Jin people are different from us in Great Yu. Instead of whisking tea, they steep it. The tea water is brewed directly, with its color bright red and crystal clear. The process is extremely simple; hence they are often mocked by us as 'Western Barbarians' for their drinking methods."

Chen Yi poured out a bowl of tea, sipped it lightly, and spoke about tea rituals leisurely,

"Still, this method of drinking has its charm. The tea is thirst-quenching after fermentation, clean and refreshing, unlike the thick texture of whisked tea."

Qin Qingluo's face darkened as she struggled to comprehend the meaning behind Chen Yi's actions.

After drinking, Chen Yi poured another bowl of tea, carefully carried it over, and said:

"Have some tea to temper your fire."

Qin Qingluo lunged with claw-like fingers, aiming to shatter both the bowl and Chen Yi's hand.

Before her strike landed, Chen Yi had already retreated half a step, dodging the blow with precision. The tea water swayed, yet not a drop was spilled.

Chen Yi sneered coldly, "I'm kindly offering tea to cool your rage, and this is your response? Believe me, Zhu E will regret it afterward."

Qin Qingluo's face stiffened as she clenched the bed sheets tighter.

Chen Yi held the tea bowl closer and continued, "Do you think I'm so impatient? Still here in Jinya Pavilion, do you think I can't discern priorities?"

Qin Qingluo fixed her gaze on him, suspicion, hesitation, and hatred each occupying a third of her eyes.

Chen Yi abandoned his earlier playful smile and spoke earnestly, "If you can endure, I naturally won't act rashly. I, at least, am still a figure of some renown. I wouldn't stoop to exploiting someone's plight. Besides, with your martial arts prowess as the Prince, conquering mere aphrodisiacs shouldn't pose a problem."

Qin Qingluo's face displayed complex emotions as she hoarsely asked, "Then why have you come?"

"For Aunt Zhu's appeal. She cares about you, and I couldn't refuse her request," Chen Yi replied, letting out a low chuckle before defiantly remarking, "I, Chen Zunming, for all my roamings in Jianghu, live by certain loyalties. Though we share blood feud, she does not. My feelings for her... are genuine."

These last words struck Qin Qingluo deeply. She bit down hard on her teeth and spat, "Fine."

Chen Yi handed over the tea bowl with assurance, "Rest easy, I just brewed it. There's no poison inside."

Qin Qingluo accepted the bowl, drank it fiercely in one swig, a single bead of tea dribbling down her neck to her collarbone, disappearing beneath the embroidered 'Twin Dragons Playing with Pearls' corset.

Chen Yi, observing decorously, took back the bowl and poured another.

Qin Qingluo drank again without a word of thanks. Chen Yi wasn't bothered.

Hours had passed since the encounter, during which she hadn't had a sip of water. Coupled with the effects of the Jade Spring Balm stirring her vitality, she was parched. After consuming five or six bowls, she slightly quenched her thirst.

When Chen Yi poured the seventh bowl, Qin Qingluo had already adjusted somewhat to the drug's effects, regaining some clarity.

Her face, though still red, appeared slightly more composed as she accepted the tea, her eyes locked onto Chen Yi.

The perennial lecher of a man suddenly resembled a proper gentleman, sitting steadfastly while sipping tea with all the manners of propriety.

Seeing her condition improve, Chen Yi asked, "Is the medicine's effect subdued?"

"Naturally." The female Prince challenged boldly, "Not everyone succumbs as readily as you, a lecherous ghost."

Chen Yi waved dismissively, his gaze devoid of malice, and responded, "If I truly were that kind of ghost, you'd already have suffered. I had ample opportunity to leave you in the Capital City, to let fate take its course. Wouldn't you still have ended up in my hands then?"

"..." His words were true, leaving Qin Qingluo momentarily speechless. After a pause, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "You… have an ulterior motive?"

Chen Yi didn't respond directly but countered, "Whether I have motives or not, shouldn't you reflect on why you act so recklessly?"

Qin Qingluo froze briefly at his words, then chuckled mischievously, "Chen Zunming, are you… concerned about me?"

Chen Yi glanced casually at the hairpin in her locks and replied, "A world without a rouge stallion such as yourself would be a pity."

Realizing his focus, Qin Qingluo grabbed the pin from her hair, twisted her wrist, and hurled it!

Swoosh!

With a sharp break of air, the golden pin shot like lightning, piercing through Chen Yi's hair before embedding deeply into the wall, its impact leaving hideous cracks radiating outward.

Chen Yi remained expressionless.

And the female Prince proclaimed, word by word:

"The reason I kept this pin was solely to kill you one day."

Turning away, Chen Yi retrieved the golden pin from the wall, cleaned off its dust, and approached steadily.

"Then take good care of it. This Shi Fengxuan-crafted pin costs hundreds of silver taels each."

Chen Yi pinched the pin in his left hand, casually inserting it back into her hair.

His right hand rested flat against his abdomen as Qin Qingluo half-supported herself, her golden snake-like eyes half-lowered while letting him replace it motionlessly.

The process was tranquil.

Qin Qingluo pressed her hands against the bedsheets, slightly craning her head as if a serpent preparing to strike, ready to attack if Chen Yi showed the slightest opening. Yet from his calm approach to the act of replacing the pin, each movement was executed flawlessly, full of controlled stability.

She sought the perfect moment, and when Chen Yi stepped back as though admiring his work, her fingers began to part from the bedding, hinting at a subtle change.

However, the hand Chen Yi had kept on his abdomen lifted slightly by an inch.

This meant he had seen through each of her movements, sealing off her attempts.

If she made a move, he would respond in kind, snapping the arm extended toward him with bone-cracking force.

In martial arts proficiency, greatness lies equally in overt clashes and covert turbulence.

One can never predict which move will end their life.

Chen Yi took away the emptied tea bowl and poured a small half-bowl of tea, saying,

"You still haven't told me—why be so reckless?"

Qin Qingluo accepted the tea, using its bitter taste to distract herself, suppressing the drug's effects, and replied indifferently, "A matter of 'striving.'"

"Yet this is merely playing with fire," said Chen Yi.

"Without striving or gambling, what talk is there of achieving a kingdom? Emperor Gaozu of Han and Emperor Wu of Song alike."

Chen Yi shook his head, "But you lack their capabilities. Why strive? Why gamble?"

Qin Qingluo maintained her composure, "Without striving or gambling, how could I ever gain their capabilities?"

Suddenly, Chen Yi raised his gaze, staring sharply at Qin Qingluo. She, in turn, proudly lifted her chin, leaning against the bedpost, her eyes brimming with disdainful dominance.

This female Prince, attempting to swallow dragons like a serpent, remained uncompromising and filled with unwavering arrogance, no matter the humiliation.

Her pride seemed unbreakable.

Chen Yi, intrigued, crossed his legs and leaned forward, asking, "Honestly, I'm curious why a woman like you is so obsessed with pursuing the kingdom."

Qin Qingluo, meeting his gaze head-on, countered, "Honestly, I'm more curious why a man like you has no ambition or foresight at all."

Chen Yi, amused, asked, "Do you wish you were a man?"

"I resent that men like you exist," Qin Qingluo replied coldly.

With that, she gulped down another bowl of tea. As Chen Yi went to retrieve the bowl, Qin Qingluo flicked her finger, sending the bowl into the air in a graceful arc before it landed perfectly in front of the teapot.

Chen Yi paused mid-step, staring straight at her.

She curved her lips, her aura regal, and said:

"Serve tea to me, the Sovereign."