Chapter 291: I've Never Seen Such a Bold Xiaoqing

"It seems there's truth in that," Mu Chen replied.

"Exactly!" Xiaoqing smirked as her fingers continued tracing across Mu Chen's body. Her eyes glanced downward, noticing his reaction. Feeling triumphant, she wrapped her arms around Mu Chen's waist and gazed at him with feigned affection. "Tsk, tsk. Sister really has great taste, picking such an ideal husband for me."

"Ideal husband? You're mistaken. I haven't accepted you yet," Mu Chen said with a teasing smile.

Rustle, rustle.

The sound of light footsteps came from outside the temple—it was Xiaobai, returning from her brief moment away.

Both Mu Chen and Xiaoqing noticed her approach.

Without hesitation, Xiaoqing grabbed Mu Chen's hand and, in a shocking move, placed it directly on herself.

Mu Chen's eyes widened in surprise, clearly taken aback by her boldness.

Not stopping there, Xiaoqing took things further—she tripped Mu Chen with her foot, causing him to fall onto her. Now Mu Chen's body was fully pressed against Xiaoqing's.

"What… what are you two doing?!" Xiaobai exclaimed in shock, standing frozen at the doorway.

She was greeted by the sight of Mu Chen seemingly pinning Xiaoqing to the ground, holding her in a compromising position.

"Let go of me!" Xiaoqing cried out dramatically, feigning struggle and slapping at Mu Chen's chest. She turned her gaze to Xiaobai and whimpered, "Sister, it's not what it looks like! We were just talking, and he suddenly pounced on me! You have to stand up for me!"

Mu Chen remained silent, smirking at Xiaoqing with a look of amused disdain, as if mocking her futile scheme.

Xiaoqing met Mu Chen's gaze and felt a chill down her spine. His calm and composed demeanor made her doubt her own plan. Was this all part of his design?

For a moment, Xiaoqing wondered if she had just played herself.

Still, with Xiaobai present, she believed Mu Chen wouldn't dare escalate things further.

"Sister, please, you have to defend me!" Xiaoqing pleaded.

"Mu Chen!" Xiaobai called out sternly.

"Do you believe her?" Mu Chen asked calmly. His tone carried a playful edge as he looked directly at Xiaobai.

"I don't," Xiaobai replied without hesitation.

"Good." Mu Chen's response was lighthearted, but he still didn't move from atop Xiaoqing. Instead, he tightened his grip slightly, causing Xiaoqing to squirm uncomfortably.

True Qi +1800.

True Qi +2600.

True Qi +2000.

Xiaoqing's growing frustration generated substantial emotional energy for Mu Chen to absorb. Each time he applied pressure, he gained an average of 2,000 True Qi points.

"However, I do expect an explanation," Xiaobai added.

"Fair enough. I'll give you one," Mu Chen replied.

Slowly, Mu Chen rose from atop Xiaoqing, standing tall. As he did, a faint red glow emanated from Xiaoqing's body.

Heavenly Tier Skill: Energy Absorption Palm.

"Ah!" Xiaoqing groaned in pain, her face contorted as Mu Chen's skill took effect.

As Mu Chen straightened completely, a bright red object was forcibly expelled from Xiaoqing's body—a fiery scale shimmering with intense light.

"The Flaming Soulbreaking Scale!" Xiaobai exclaimed, recognizing the object immediately.

Her eyes turned to Xiaoqing, filled with confusion and concern. "Xiaoqing, why do you have Master's Flaming Soulbreaking Scale?"

Xiaoqing, however, was now glaring at Mu Chen in shock. She hadn't expected him to extract the scale from her body so easily. Without it, her plan was completely foiled. Xiaobai would no longer misunderstand the situation and might even feel grateful to Mu Chen.

Her plan in shambles, Xiaoqing was left seething, her frustration compounded by the fact that Mu Chen had taken advantage of her during the process.

"Well? Answer me, Xiaoqing!" Xiaobai pressed, her brows furrowed deeply.

"Sister, what did you just say?" Xiaoqing finally responded, casting a bitter glance at Mu Chen before turning her attention back to Xiaobai.

"I asked why you have the Flaming Soulbreaking Scale," Xiaobai repeated.

"Master was furious you didn't return and believed you had betrayed the sect by siding with humans. The senior disciples demanded action, so I volunteered to go find you. Master refused, so I begged her to grant me the scale to aid in my search," Xiaoqing explained.

"Xiaoqing, you're so foolish! Don't you know that if you can't find me within three days, the scale will shatter your meridians and kill you?" Xiaobai scolded, her tone filled with both anger and worry.

"I know," Xiaoqing admitted. "But Sister, we've depended on each other since we were young. If I can't have you, then I don't want to live either."

Moved by her sister's words, Xiaobai's eyes softened. "Then let's go back together and clear up this misunderstanding."

"I…" Xiaobai hesitated, glancing at Mu Chen.

"No," Mu Chen said firmly.

"If you truly love my sister, you should let her return. She needs to explain herself to Master and clear her name," Xiaoqing argued.

"No," Mu Chen repeated, shaking his head.

"Why not?" Xiaoqing asked, baffled by his refusal. Xiaobai, too, looked at him curiously.

"Your Master implanted this scale in you out of distrust. That alone proves she's begun to doubt you both," Mu Chen said, holding up the fiery scale. "And from what you've told me, the Imperial Priest captures snakes to absorb their True Qi. If his techniques come from the same lineage as yours, doesn't that mean your Master could do the same? Sending you back would be like throwing lambs to the wolves."

Xiaoqing and Xiaobai both fell silent, their expressions troubled. Mu Chen's reasoning was sound. If they returned, there was a real chance they'd never leave again.

Hiss.

Suddenly, a small snake's head emerged from Mu Chen's chest.

"A snake!" Xiaobai and Xiaoqing exclaimed in unison.

"Why so surprised? Aren't you both snakes too?" Mu Chen teased, glancing at the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python coiled around his arm.

The python had awakened from its slumber after digesting the pills Mu Chen had fed it earlier. It now extended toward the fiery scale in Mu Chen's hand, flicking its tongue eagerly.

"Hungry?" Mu Chen asked.

The python nodded.

"Then eat," he said casually.

Before the stunned eyes of Xiaobai and Xiaoqing, the python's body expanded, swallowing the Flaming Soulbreaking Scale in one swift motion.

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