Qin's Moon: I'm really not the Holy Lord of the Demonic Sect

Chapter 76 The Real Beauty Trap

As Yang Che remained vigilant, the progress of the Extinction of Emotions Path mission in the Heavenly Demon Strategy began to decline, which relieved him but also gave rise to a strange feeling.

What, could this progress value be converted into Zhao Ji's covetousness value?

If that's really the case—

Before Yang Che could continue thinking, his heart jumped again, because the progress value of the Extinction of Emotion Path suddenly soared, heading straight for 50%.

This change only made Yang Che's heart pound with fear.

Although Zhao Ji is a bit old, this world is not a purely historical one. There are many ways to maintain one's appearance. Even if Zhao Ji is seventy years old, let alone not being forty, Yang Che has the ability to restore her appearance to that of a twenty-year-old. In addition, she is a beauty that is one in a million, and she also has the added advantage of being the Empress Dowager.

The combination of Empress Dowager and beauty is something that few in the entire world could match. It can be said that if Zhao Ji were to develop feelings for someone, it would be an immense honor for that person.

But Yang Che is definitely not included in this list.

Among the many inheritances of the Heavenly Demon Strategy, Yang Che never took the initiative to establish the Path of Extinguishing Emotions. Although he liked women, he did not do so in the way of the Path of Extinguishing Emotions.

Moreover, Zhao Ji had too many pitfalls, and Yang Che did not intend to completely tie himself to the Qin state. Therefore, Zhao Ji's most attractive power was irrelevant to Yang Che.

Of course, most importantly, Yang Che had no interest in becoming one of Zhao Ji's men.

"I have seen the Peach Blossom Painting by the Han envoy; it is very well painted." Zhao Ji withdrew her gaze from Yang Che, her expression unchanged, and began to explain the purpose of summoning Yang Che.

Yang Che breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"The reason I summoned the Han envoy here is to ask him to paint some portraits of me," Zhao Ji continued.

Originally, it was just a portrait drawing. Hearing Zhao Ji's words, Yang Che's mind started to wander again. This trip to Qin was going even more smoothly than he had imagined.

Moreover, painting a portrait? Yang Che's gaze swept over Zhao Ji's body. Her mature and voluptuous figure, and her rounded yet delicate and beautiful features, were exactly what the successors of the Flower School loved to paint.

"I have no other hobbies in my life but painting beautiful women. It is my honor to paint a portrait of the Empress Dowager." Without the threat of the Extinction of Emotions, Yang Che, with his Flower School style, returned to the stage.

Zhao Ji was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected Yang Che's answer to be so straightforward. How long had it been since she had heard a man praise her beauty?

Thinking of this, Zhao Ji's phoenix eyes curved into crescents, and the demeanor she had deliberately maintained melted away like the first clear day after snow, turning into a bright smile. She said, "The Han envoy seems quite different."

Oh no, the progress of the Extinction of Emotions Path mission has increased again.

"Today, the Han envoy will paint my portrait. If he satisfies me, I will reward him handsomely." In high spirits, Zhao Ji did not notice the momentary stiffness in Yang Che's expression, and was even more satisfied with him.

"Yes." This time, Yang Che was much more cautious.

We can't let the Flower School's habits continue, or Yang Che will start to doubt whether he'll be able to leave the Qin Palace today.

"Is there anything I need to do to paint your portrait?" Zhao Ji leaned forward slightly, clearly looking forward to what was to come.

Yang Che glanced around. The magnificent hall was filled with beautiful women seated in high positions, and the atmosphere was quite pleasant. So he said, "Your Majesty, you only need to sit here. The rest will be handled by your ministers."

"Alright, but let's get back to the point. If your portrait doesn't satisfy me, I won't let you off the hook." Zhao Ji said, emphasizing the words "I won't let you off the hook," as if it were a threat, yet it also carried a different meaning.

Yang Che's expression froze instantly. He was worried about the mission of the Extinction Path again. Zhao Ji, seeing this, clearly misunderstood Yang Che. She thought that Yang Che was frightened by her. In that instant, she even found Yang Che somewhat cute, which reminded her of her teenage years. The smile in her eyes deepened.

After the palace maids prepared brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and various pigments, Yang Che began to lie down on a large table and paint furiously.

As his cultivation of the Flower Wanderer technique deepened, his eyes became increasingly adept at observing beautiful women. With just a fleeting glance, he could memorize even the most subtle changes in a woman's appearance.

Therefore, Yang Che painted extremely quickly, while Zhao Ji watched him paint. Unconsciously, she rested her cheek on her hand and just looked at Yang Che. Her expression showed no joy or sorrow, but rather a deep thought, as if she was thinking about something.

After about fifteen minutes, Yang Che put away his paintbrush, then bent down and blew on the still wet ink to make it dry quickly.

At this moment, Zhao Ji had already stood up and walked to the painting table. When she saw Yang Che's actions, she was slightly taken aback. On the canvas, there was a completely different version of her, lifelike and realistic. Even the fleeting smile in her eyes was captured in the painting.

However, while Zhao Ji was overjoyed, she saw Yang Che blowing on her reflection in the portrait. From her perspective, it seemed, it seemed—

In a daze, Zhao Ji felt her face flush. She was already attracted to Yang Che's appearance, and now that she saw the portrait, she was even more excited than before.

For some unknown reason, Zhao Ji inexplicably imitated Yang Che and blew air into the portrait.

Because of Zhao Ji's actions, Yang Che almost subconsciously raised his head, and what came into view was a face exactly the same as the one in the portrait.

No, there's something different. The portrait is cold, but the face so close to his face is vibrant. Yang Che can even feel the warm breath from that face on his skin, carrying a faint fragrance and an alluring quality.

Looking at that face so close to his, Yang Che felt for a moment that since he was the master of the Heavenly Demon Strategy, the task of destroying emotions should have been completed by him.

Zhao Ji had only acted on a whim without much thought, but now, looking at the young and clean face in front of her, she became playful and actually opened her mouth slightly and blew a breath at Yang Che.

As the fragrant breeze wafted towards him, Yang Che's face instantly turned bright red.

Seeing this, Zhao Ji was overjoyed, finding Yang Che in front of her extremely interesting. Almost instantly, an impulse arose in her heart.

In Yang Che, she saw her own long-lost youth. She was no longer young, and she had become the most powerful woman in the world. She had everything, but the passage of time left her with a heavy sense of powerlessness.

However, at this moment, Zhao Ji had a strange feeling about Yang Che: perhaps time could be reversed.

"If I don't go to hell, who will? Besides, this hell doesn't seem so bad." These were the thoughts that Yang Che was having at that moment.

The progress value of the Heavenly Demon Strategy has increased once again.

Seeing Yang Che's stunned expression, Zhao Ji's mind raced. If her teasing earlier was just a momentary impulse, then her next move was a carefully planned provocation.

Zhao Ji reached out and affectionately pinched Yang Che's cheek, saying in a suggestive tone, "The painting is quite good, but one painting isn't enough. You'll stay here today and continue painting portraits for me."

Faced with Zhao Ji's intimacy, Yang Che was so frightened that he forgot to dodge and dared not break free, only stammering, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty—"

"Why is the Han envoy so panicked? Do you think I would eat you?" Yang Che's performance pleased Zhao Ji even more, and her words became more unrestrained.

If Yang Che had acted with ease, Zhao Ji would have become wary, fearing that what lay before her was a trap. But Yang Che's panicked state gave Zhao Ji the illusion that she was the one in control in this situation, and that the one in control could do whatever she wanted.

At this moment, the progress of the Extinction of Emotions Path mission was heading straight towards 70%, which left Yang Che speechless. Could it be that he really had that attribute and was the destined successor of the Extinction of Emotions Path?