Chapter 390: The Villain's Trap! Melting the Iceberg Doctor!
Xu Ruoxue was extremely exasperated, her cold demeanor cracking under the pressure of being restrained. The heat radiating from the man behind her was overwhelming, triggering her instincts as a hidden martial artist.
She bit her silver tooth and was about to struggle with all her might, ready to unleash her hidden [Grandmaster] cultivation to blow this assailant away.
"Be good and don't move!"
A deep, magnetic voice commanded, carrying an unquestionable authority that momentarily stunned her.
At this moment, the man turned his body with the fluidity of a predator. His tall, broad figure completely enveloped Ruoxue, shielding her petite frame within his embrace. He positioned himself deliberately, his back facing the gaping maw of the Ji Family safe.
Ruoxue's beautiful almond eyes widened. For a split second, her entire being was stunned. Then, a surge of fury rose within her. 'Who is this scoundrel? How dare he treat me like a child? Unforgivable!'
However, just at this critical millisecond...
Click.
The mechanism inside the safe triggered.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The dark, frantic sound of tearing air echoed in the cramped secret chamber. From the shadows of the Ji Family safe that Ruoxue had just cracked open, a series of darts shot out. They were sudden, silent, and terrifyingly swift.
Time seemed to slow down in Ruoxue's vision. She could see the faint, icy blue glow coating the tips of the needles—a clear sign of highly potent neurotoxin, likely the 'Blue Sea Sand' poison that could melt a throat in seconds.
In Ruoxue's astonished and shocked gaze, those poisoned darts did not hit the wall. They slammed directly into the man's broad back.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of metal hitting flesh—or rather, hitting something incredibly tough beneath a layer of fabric—rang out.
"Young Master Shen??"
Ruoxue gasped; her voice trembling. She looked up at the man shielding her in disbelief.
Under the dim light of the secret chamber, the man's features were illuminated. His face was sculpted like white jade, his eyebrows sharp as swords, and his eyes held a depth like the starry sky.
At this moment, Ruoxue finally recognized him. This was the most distinguished guest of the banquet, the man who stood at the apex of Yanxia's hierarchy—Shen Anyu, the Young Master of the Yanxia Shen Family.
He was the same man whom Ji Meilan and the other Ji family elders had bowed to at Jiangjing Manor like servants meeting an emperor.
At this moment, Ruoxue's mind was in chaos. Too many questions and too much shock flooded her heart like a tidal wave.
'Why? Why is he here?'
'Why would Young Master Shen appear in the deepest secret chamber of the Modu Ji Family?'
'Young Master Shen actually possesses martial arts? And judging by his reaction speed, he has the strength of at least a Great Grandmaster!'
But the loudest question pounding in her chest was: 'Why would Young Master Shen save me? Why would he use his noble, golden body to protect a humble servant like me?'
She was a martial artist. She knew the lethality of that trap.
If Young Master Shen had not intervened to save her, those poisoned darts—the hidden weapons designed to kill thieves instantly—would have struck her body.
At such close range, barely half a meter away, and with such unnatural, terrifying speed, even if Ruoxue had the strength of a [Grandmaster Middle Stage], she would have definitely been hit without any warning. Her护体真气 (Protective True Qi) wouldn't have deployed in time. She would have been a corpse.
[Ding! Detected Destined Heroine Xu Ruoxue's favorability +10! Destiny Points plundered: +30,000!]
[Ding! Detected Destined Heroine Xu Ruoxue's favorability +10! Destiny Points plundered: +30,000!]
[Ding! Detected Destined Heroine Xu Ruoxue's favorability +20! Destiny Points plundered: +60,000!]
[Ding! Destined Heroine Xu Ruoxue is immensely grateful. Destiny Points plundered: +9,999!]
The system notifications didn't stop there. The butterfly effect of this embrace rippled through the web of destiny.
[Ding! The Child of Destiny, Xu Ping'an's, emotional plot undergoes a major change. Destiny Points plundered: +66,666!]
[Ding! The Child of Destiny, Chu Yun (Asura Demon King), emotional plot undergoes a major change. Destiny Points plundered: +66,666!]
While Ruoxue was puzzled and overwhelmed, her favorability towards Shen Anyu rose rapidly like a rocket.
Even her previous shame and anger from being restrained vanished instantly, replaced by a deep, surging gratitude and a strange, fluttering affection.
After all, Young Master Shen had just saved her life! He had taken a hit meant for her!
Shen Anyu held her trembling body, his face calm, but his inner thoughts were calculating and cold.
'Favorability is already sixty. Not bad, not bad. The plan worked perfectly.'
A hint of a predatory smile flashed in the depths of Shen Anyu's eyes, then disappeared before Ruoxue could notice.
The truth was far more sinister.
These poisoned darts were indeed hidden weapons from the Modu Ji Family's safe. If opened incorrectly, they would burst out. However, the original mechanism was old. With Ruoxue's [Grandmaster Middle Stage] strength and reflexes, she could have easily twisted her body to avoid them, or at most suffered a scratch.
So why were they unavoidable?
Because Shen Anyu cheated.
The reason these poisoned darts were so swift was largely due to Shen Anyu secretly activating his [God-level Telekinesis].
In the split second the mechanism clicked, Shen Anyu's mind power wrapped around the darts and boosted their velocity, increasing their speed by five or six times!
In the small, confined secret chamber, after being boosted by Shen Anyu's telekinesis, the poisoned darts' speed soared to Mach 3 or 4—breaking the sound barrier instantly.
At that speed, they were unavoidable even for a [Martial Dao Grandmaster]. Even a [Great Grandmaster] would be hard-pressed to dodge at point-blank range.
So, in Ruoxue's perspective, this was a death trap, and Young Master Shen Anyu had truly saved her life by sacrificing himself!
Otherwise, let alone these poisoned darts, even unpoisoned, such kinetic energy could easily penetrate her heart and kill her instantly!
'Borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha... creating a crisis to be the savior. I really am a villain,' Shen Anyu mused, feeling the "sting" on his back.
Of course, with his [God-Level Steel Body] at the [Heavenly Human] rank, the darts didn't even pierce his skin. They merely ruined his limited-edition Italian suit.
'However, the destiny harvest is fascinating.'
Shen Anyu analyzed the system logs.
'The Child of Destiny Xu Ping'an, the fake Young Master who relies on the System... and the Child of Destiny Chu Yun, the Asura Demon King of the Blood Skull Mercenary Group. Both of them suffered major emotional damage.'
Destiny is truly interesting.
According to Shen Anyu's knowledge of the original plot, Chu Yun, the leader of the ruthless Blood Skull mercenaries, was originally a cold-hearted killer. He had no romantic inclinations other than seeking revenge on the Ji family for a past grievance.
That was until he met Xu Ruoxue.
In the original timeline, Chu Yun would sneak into the Ji family, clash with Ruoxue, and be captivated by her cold, pure temperament. Their destinies would intertwine, transforming him from a 'No Heroine' character to a 'Pure Love' protagonist who would burn the world for her.
Unfortunately for him, he encountered Shen Anyu.
Shen Anyu is the "Pure Love Hunter." He doesn't just steal women; he steals the very pivotal moments that define a protagonist's growth.
"Young Master Shen... are you... are you injured?"
At this moment, Ruoxue's cool voice came, breaking Shen Anyu's train of thought. Her voice was uncharacteristically soft, clearly a bit shy and laced with panic.
After all, Young Master Shen had not let go of Ruoxue from just now until now.
They were pressed together tightly in the narrow space. Ruoxue could feel every contour of his muscular chest through his shirt. She could feel Shen Anyu's heart beating—strong, rhythmic, and reassuring—thumping along with her own racing heart.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
It felt as if an electric current swept through her body, starting from where their chests touched and zapping down to her toes. A tingling sensation numbed her scalp.
Ruoxue had never experienced such a strange feeling. She had spent her life training in medicine and martial arts, keeping her heart cold as ice. But now, the ice was melting rapidly under his heat.
[Ding! Detected Destined Heroine Xu Ruoxue's favorability +1! Destiny Points plundered: +3,000!]
However, Ruoxue quickly forced herself to come to her senses. Her professional instincts kicked in. She looked at his back, terrified that the poison had entered his bloodstream.
Those poisoned darts were so swift that even a Martial Dao Grandmaster could be injured. Ruoxue was extremely worried, not knowing how potent the Ji Family's secret poison was.
Shen Anyu saw the concern in her eyes. He decided to act a bit more.
He put on a slightly pale face—controlling his blood flow to drain color from his cheeks—coughed twice softly, and furrowed his brows in suppressed pain.
"Cough... It didn't penetrate my [Protective Aura] fully... but the kinetic impact... my internal organs received some shock."
He took a ragged breath, leaning more of his weight onto her petite frame.
"It caused my Qi and blood to churn violently. It's a bit uncomfortable... I need to rest for a while. I can't move my True Qi for now."
"Alright! Don't talk. I'll help you regulate your breathing."
Ruoxue didn't think too much. She didn't suspect him at all.
Such swift poisoned darts, carrying kinetic energy more powerful than anti-armor sniper rifle bullets, could penetrate meters of alloy steel plate.
The fact that Shen Anyu said they didn't penetrate his [Protective Aura] had already surprised Ruoxue, making her secretly admire Young Master Shen's powerful, unfathomable strength.
But receiving such a huge impact? Causing internal organs and Qi and blood to churn? That was perfectly normal. It was no less than being hit by a heavy truck moving at full speed, with all that force concentrated on three small points.
Although Xu Ruoxue had a cool, proud, and somewhat willful personality, she was actually very kind deep down, just like her gentle twin sister, Xu Ruoshui.
At this moment, Ruoxue disregarded her shyness. She forgot about the boundaries between men and women.
She placed her slender, fair hand directly on Shen Anyu's chest.
Buzz.
She began circulating her own [Martial Dao True Qi], guiding it gently into his body to help Shen Anyu regulate his breathing and calm his "churning" Qi and blood.
Her True Qi was cool and refreshing, possessing the healing properties of her unique cultivation method.
And Ruoxue could indeed feel that Shen Anyu's Qi and blood were turbulent. The pulse was chaotic, the meridians were vibrating—clearly indicating serious internal injury, not faked.
This discovery made Ruoxue feel both grateful and immensely guilty. 'He is hurt because of me...'
But in reality?
With Shen Anyu's [Divine Rank Steel Body] at the [Heavenly Human Realm], let alone these poisoned darts, even artillery shells or missiles could not harm him in the slightest. His skin was tougher than diamond.
The "chaotic pulse" she felt?
Using the [Nine Cycles Divine Needle] knowledge, Shen Anyu simply manipulated his own acupoints to create a false pulse and reversed his meridian Qi flow slightly to simulate an injury.
It was simply too easy for Young Master Shen.
If Ruoxue knew that all of this was faked by Shen Anyu—that he boosted the darts, blocked them with invincible skin, and then faked a pulse to get a free massage—she would probably deliver a deadly scissor kick to crush Young Master Shen's head in rage.
Of course, for Shen Anyu, who possessed a Steel Body, that would probably just be another form of reward.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the secret room shifted from danger to ambiguity.
It was Shen Anyu who was no longer calm.
With a soft, fragrant beauty in his arms, her body pliable and warm, and a slender, fair hand gently caressing his chest, injecting cool, tingling energy into him... any normal man would find it hard to resist.
Let alone Young Master Shen, who possessed the vigor of a Steel Body and a healthy appetite for beautiful women.
Shen Anyu took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising heat in his heart caused by her touch.
As he inhaled, between his nostrils, he suddenly caught a scent.
It wasn't perfume. It wasn't the smell of cosmetics.
It was a faint, elegant fragrance, like blooming orchids in a quiet valley. It was very pleasant, intoxicating even.
'Could it be... her natural body scent?'
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