Chapter 131 - 128: The Fox is Jealous
After the meal, Mo Xiao headed back to the Snake Clan, mainly to check if they had identified any suspects.
Su Mo gave him some medicinal powder to sprinkle along the border of the North Wing. Anyone from an outside clan who passed through would be immediately exposed.
It was a new gadget fresh from the System Laboratory.
With this, the investigation would be much easier.
Fei Yan had planned to accompany Su Mo to the Clan Leader’s home, but before they could leave, he was called away by some of his clansmen.
They said there was a matter that needed his attention. He glanced at Su Mo.
Su Mo frowned. "You go first. In a moment..."
Yue Ying immediately chimed in with a smile, "I’ll accompany my wife to the Clan Leader’s home in a moment."
Fei Yan nodded. "Alright."
Not long after he left, Su Mo and Yue Ying headed for the Clan Leader’s home.
Huang Ming was already there. When he saw Su Mo arrive, he immediately went to greet her.
He updated her on the current condition of the Clan Leader and his wife.
Su Mo examined their injuries and prescribed more medicine to counteract the toxins in their bodies.
Before leaving, she drew some of their blood to study back in the laboratory.
Then, she went to see the Third Young Master of the Tiger Clan.
Xuan Qing was as calm and composed as ever, his gaze landing on Su Mo as tranquil as still water.
But as his eyes swept over the faint marks on her neck, he looked away, an almost imperceptible flinch in his gaze.
Su Mo took his pulse, then pulled a pill from her pouch and offered it to him. "Third Young Master, if you trust me, please take this..."
Before she could finish, Xuan Qing had already taken the pill and swallowed it.
The medicine quickly took effect, spreading through his body. He frowned. "Thank you, Miss Su. My apologies. I just came out for a drink and ended up causing you so much trouble."
Su Mo wanted to roll her eyes.
’He’s saying all the right words, but there isn’t a hint of apology in his tone.’
She forced a smile. "As the proprietor, my hospitality was lacking, causing the Third Young Master to suffer. That wasn’t my intention at all. I should be the one apologizing."
A faint smile touched Xuan Qing’s lips. "Since Miss Su is so self-aware, I won’t say any more. Apologies aren’t necessary. Instead, please go to the trouble of concocting some effective medicine to heal my injuries quickly, so you can let me out."
Su Mo: "..."
’This man is unbelievably shameless! He was found covered in blood near the Clan Leader’s house for no reason, making him a suspect. That was his own fault for being careless and underestimating his enemy! How is this suddenly my fault?!’
Seeing Su Mo’s reaction, Xuan Qing chuckled again. "What does your silence mean, Miss Su? That you know you’re wrong but refuse to admit it?"
Su Mo gritted her teeth.
’Here he goes again! Don’t you dare try to lecture me!’
Su Mo’s eyes curved into a smile. "Perhaps you should just stay with the Tiger Clan next time, Third Young Master. With your knack for finding trouble, it’s hard to say who’s really to blame."
"True. My appearance did, after all, interrupt Miss Su’s... indulgences. My mistake, truly. This whole affair has been terribly timed."
"..." Su Mo gritted her teeth, her smile not reaching her eyes. "From your attitude, Third Young Master, I assume you’re in no rush to get out. You can just... wait. Once the investigation is complete, you will naturally be released!"
Xuan Qing nodded, his tone unnervingly calm. "I’m not in a hurry. You’re welcome to visit me often, Miss Su. Perhaps we could even find an opportunity to discuss the details of that book you gave me."
Su Mo bit her lip.
’Damn him, he really knows how to hold a grudge! All I did was give him a copy of the ’Heart Clarity Spell’! Was that really necessary?!’
Little Nine popped up with a DING. "Host, are you sure you gave him the Heart Clarity Spell???"
A guilty look flashed across Su Mo’s face. She blinked, remaining silent.
She had... altered the contents of the Heart Clarity Spell a little. But still, how could a grown man be so petty...
Yue Ying, who had been silent this whole time, was growing more and more irritated.
’What on earth did my wife give this Third Young Master?’
Fanning himself, he asked with feigned nonchalance, "I wonder what it is you wish to discuss with my wife, Third Young Master. Why not tell me instead?"
At his words, Su Mo instinctively turned her head to look at him.
’This damn fox really knows how to bring up a sore subject! Why is he getting involved?!’
Before she could speak, she heard Xuan Qing say calmly, "The book is titled Heart Clarity Spell. As for the contents... why don’t you tell him yourself, Miss Su?"
"..." Su Mo’s eyes widened slightly, her guilt showing. "It’s nothing much. It just teaches one to restrain desire and be indifferent to fame and fortune! The Third Young Master is so pure and free of worldly desires, the very picture of a saint. A book like that... is perfect for him!"
Xuan Qing raised an eyebrow, chuckling softly. "Mm, it is a good book. But I think it suits you more than it suits me, Miss Su. To refrain from pride and desire is a lifelong pursuit. Just don’t get so lost enjoying the company of all your handsome men that you forget who you are."
Su Mo’s smile was stiff.
’Is this damn Third Young Master mocking me for my hedonistic lifestyle? Our fates must be completely incompatible. Why else would he make these veiled accusations every single time we meet?!’
Yue Ying’s guarded gaze swept over the Third Young Master. He curved his lips into a faint smile. "Wife, let’s get back to business."
Su Mo forced a smile. "Give me your hand. I need to use a needle!"
Xuan Qing chuckled and held out his wrist.
Su Mo took out a silver needle. But before she could insert it, he clenched his fist again. "You don’t feel guilty and are now taking this opportunity for revenge, are you, Miss?"
His voice was low and smooth, calm as a deep, quiet stream, yet it easily made Su Mo grit her teeth in frustration.
’Forget it. I’m not going to argue with someone so petty!’
Once Su Mo had administered the needle, Yue Ying quickly hurried her out of the room.
The memory of the Third Young Master’s meaningful gaze made his chest tighten with unease.
Now, Yue Ying was pestering Su Mo, having asked her for the eight-hundredth time what was actually in the book.
Pestered beyond endurance, Su Mo shot him a glare. "If you keep nagging me about it, I’ll... I’ll just ignore you from now on!"
’It’s just a book. Does he have to be so curious? I only swapped the contents of the Heart Clarity Spell with ’The Thirty-Six Stratagems for Chasing a Wife.’ The material is just a little... explosive, that’s all.’
’I mean, it’s Xuan Qing’s own fault for acting so high and mighty, putting on this air of being above it all, pure and free of desire, as if everyone else is just a common mortal beneath him. I just wanted to see if I could get a rise out of that frosty face of his... Who knew he’d be so vindictive!’
"Wife, you!" Yue Ying’s eyes widened in anger.
Su Mo gave him a quizzical look. "What about me?"
’This damn fox is getting angry for no reason again... I didn’t even do anything to him.’
"!!!"
Yue Ying was so furious he was speechless. From his perspective, her giving that kind of book to Xuan Qing was basically teaching the Third Young Master how to woo her!
He frowned. "Go get that book back! I want to read it!"
Su Mo frowned and shook her head. "No!"
"Go get it!"
"I will not."
’You can’t just take back a gift! Besides, the whole point was to annoy Xuan Qing...’
Yue Ying and Su Mo continued to bicker all the way back to their courtyard. From a distance, Su Mo spotted a white figure squatting by the side of the path.
She stopped in her tracks, puzzled.
’Didn’t that cat leave? Why is it back?!’
Before she could give it another thought, Yue Ying swept her into his arms and whisked her away to his room.
Su Mo found herself trapped against the headboard as he leaned down and kissed her fiercely.
She struggled to pull away, asking breathlessly, "Wh-what are you doing?"
The corners of Yue Ying’s eyes were red as he asked plaintively, "Are you going to get that book back or not?"
Su Mo pressed her lips together and shook her head, trying to squirm out of his grasp.
But with a flick of his fox tail, she was easily pulled back into his embrace.
Yue Ying frowned at her. "Wife, you’re being so naughty. You need to be punished!"
Su Mo’s eyes widened in astonishment. She wanted to tell him he was completely out of line!
But before she could get the words out, he leaned down and sealed her lips with his.