The First Summoner - Chapter 46

Hongri struggled to suppress her delight.

Her eyes shone.

“Then your engagement to Nangong Yu has ended automatically!”

“It should have.”

“That’s wonderful!”

The cheer escaped before Hongri could stop it.

Her smile froze.

She looked at Shen Yan with sudden caution and hurried to explain.

“Miss, Hongri didn’t mean anything improper. I only think Nangong Yu was never worthy of you…”

“I understand.”

Using the serving chopsticks, Shen Yan placed a piece of braised pork in Hongri’s bowl.

Under the maid’s surprised gaze, she continued calmly.

“You can show your happiness here with me. Don’t reveal it outside. If someone uses it against you, you may not escape with your life.”

Hongri’s heart jolted.

“Yes, Miss. I will never speak carelessly in public.”

“Mm. Eat.”

Although Nangong Yu was dead, Shen Yan still needed her father to visit Prince Chen’s residence and formally dissolve the engagement.

The thought of Shen Tianhao made her uneasy.

He had been gone for so long without sending word.

Was he all right?

…

Late that night, Shen Yan entered her spatial domain with the Blood-Devouring Pearl.

She met Feng Xingyao’s gaze.

“I brought the pearl. You can remove the poisonous seal from my Core Spirit Bone now.”

Feng Xingyao had intended to make her sit on the floor, where it would be easier for him to circulate power.

The moment he saw her, he changed his mind.

He lounged against the couch, indolent and careless, a trace of seduction forever lingering in his eyes.

He lifted one hand and patted the space beside him.

“Sit here.”

Shen Yan hesitated, then approached and sat beside him.

Ninefold was hiding in a corner.

Feng Xingyao caught sight of him.

“Get back into the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.”

Ninefold folded his arms in fury.

Why was he not allowed to watch?

Feng Xingyao arched a brow.

“Mm?”

Ninefold raised two tiny fists and glared at him.

In the bravest possible voice, he gave the most cowardly answer imaginable.

“Fine! I’ll do whatever you say!”

Ninefold dissolved into mist and returned to the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

Feng Xingyao turned back to Shen Yan.

His gaze lingered for a moment on her pale face.

“Give me the Blood-Devouring Pearl.”

Shen Yan remained wary.

But he might be the only person capable of removing the poisonous seal.

She placed the pearl in his palm.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll keep it?”

Shen Yan looked directly into his eyes.

“Too much caution can be harmful. This time, I choose to gamble.”

Her voice remained steady.

“I choose to trust you.”

Feng Xingyao stilled.

Then his expression eased.

He leaned closer.

Their breaths mingled, turning the air between them intimate.

“Then I’ll let you take advantage of me—just this once.”

Shen Yan frowned.

Before she could react, a powerful arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her against him.

Her hands came up instinctively against his chest.

A shadow fell across her vision.

Sharp teeth sank into her neck, piercing flesh.

Pain shot through her.

“Mm…”

A muffled groan escaped her.

Her body went weak. Strength vanished so completely that she could not push Feng Xingyao away.

His other hand covered her eyes.

He was biting her neck.

“What… are you doing?”

Anger colored Shen Yan’s pale face.

Then her entire body went rigid.

Something warm brushed the wound at her throat.

Had he just kissed it?

Feng Xingyao raised his head.

Her blood stained his full crimson lips, making him look even more bewitching and otherworldly.

One bewitching brow lifted.

Shen Yan’s heart missed a beat.

He lowered his eyes.

“Preparing to remove the poisonous seal from your Core Spirit Bone, naturally.”

Then he released her.

Shen Yan’s breathing had lost its rhythm.

Feng Xingyao raised the Blood-Devouring Pearl.

Crimson light burst from it and poured into the wound on her neck.

Shen Yan quickly gathered herself.

An invisible force entered her body with a violent impact.

The bone near her heart erupted in agony.

It felt as though her heart itself were being carved away.

Her lips went white.

Feng Xingyao rose from the couch.

His smile was unreadable.

“If you endure the pain of having the poisonous seal stripped away, you will finally become a cultivator.”

Shen Yan forced herself to look up through the agony.

“All right.”

Something shifted in Feng Xingyao’s eyes when their gazes met.

He left her alone on the couch and walked behind an empty shelf with his back to her.

He touched the blood remaining on his lips.

Only after wiping it away did he see the small cut in his own lip.

He had bitten himself deliberately.

Without Shen Yan noticing, he had mingled his blood with hers to increase the chance that the seal would be removed successfully.

Feng Xingyao stared at the blood on his fingertip, his gaze darkening.

He had given his blood for an insignificant human.

How utterly…

Absurd.

He turned slowly and looked at the human girl with eyes deep as the sea.

Once he recovered twenty percent of his strength, he would leave.

He concealed the coldness in his eyes.

The cut on his lip was already healing.

…

Shen Yan endured torment.

Cold sweat poured from her body.

The pain felt like a giant axe striking her Core Spirit Bone again and again, each blow sinking into the marrow.

Crimson light from the Blood-Devouring Pearl drew the poison from the bone a little at a time.

“I will… survive.”

Her face was white as paper.

Blood ran from the corner of her mouth.

Half-collapsed on the couch, she clenched her fists with all her strength.

As the poison diminished, the seal began to collapse on its own.

Six hours passed.

Shen Yan looked as though she had been dragged from the water. Sweat soaked her clothes, and weakness hollowed her face.

The Blood-Devouring Pearl floated in the air.

Its glow slowly faded.

The poisonous seal was gone.

The heaviness that had always pressed against Shen Yan’s heart vanished.

Her chest felt clear and open for the first time.

Feng Xingyao’s voice reached her.

“Try absorbing spiritual energy.”

“Mm.”

Shen Yan answered weakly.

She tried to rise from the couch so she could return to her room and absorb the energy outside.

Her legs gave way.

Just before she hit the ground, a large hand caught and steadied her.

Before she could regain her balance, Feng Xingyao frowned and withdrew it.

Thud!

Shen Yan landed hard.

She hissed as one of her wounds split open.

Then she raised a glacial stare toward him.

Feng Xingyao looked away with the faintest trace of guilt.

His explanation came awkwardly.

“You’re sweaty. It’s dirty.”