Transmigrating into the world of Jade Dynasty, I was targeted by the female lead in a reverse romanc

After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Almost simultaneously, Poison God and Yu Yangzi glanced at Ghost King, their eyes revealing a clear message: the bigger picture is more important.

Ghost King's chest heaved. He stared intently at Jiang Xiaochuan, at the forced composure on his face, at his slightly trembling fingertips, and at his stiff profile as he dared not look down at the person in his arms.

After a few moments, the Ghost King suddenly twitched the corners of his mouth. The smile was cold, filled with undisguised mockery and anger. He turned to Dao Xuan, his voice deepening, each word like an ice bead hitting the ground:

"Dao Xuan Zhenren, is this the good disciple your Qingyun Sect has produced? Acting so shamelessly and despicably, taking a weak woman hostage? Is this the righteous spirit you claim to uphold? It truly has broadened my horizons."

Dao Xuan sat cross-legged on the futon, his eyelids slightly lowered, his voice calm and even: "In extraordinary times, extraordinary things must be done. The Ghost King Sect Master led his troops to attack the mountain and kill my disciples. Is this the behavior of a gentleman? Xiao Chuan's actions were merely for self-preservation and to protect my sect. If we are talking about the word 'shameless,' the Ghost King Sect Master is probably the one who deserves the title."

"Hmph!" The Ghost King snorted heavily through his nose, no longer looking at Dao Xuan, and fixed his gaze on Jiang Xiaochuan's face again.

He took half a step forward, closing the distance, his eyes sharp as knives, as if he wanted to cut open Jiang Xiaochuan's flesh and see into the deepest part of his heart.

"Jiang Xiaochuan," the Ghost King's voice was low, carrying a strange, almost bewitching power and an unquestionable certainty.

"You know in your heart how Yao'er has treated you. In the Dripping Blood Cave, in Xiaochi Town, in Changhe City... Her feelings for you are as clear as day. I don't believe that you really have not a single bit of sincerity or affection for her. I don't believe that you could really do such a thing."

He stared into Jiang Xiaochuan's eyes, speaking slowly and clearly, word by word: "Put down your gun. In the name of the Ghost King Sect Master, I guarantee that as long as you put down your gun and don't interfere in today's events, I will never make things difficult for you, nor will I allow anyone to harm you in the slightest. In fact... if you're willing, once my Holy Sect conquers Qingyun, I can offer you the position of Vice Sect Master of the Ghost King Sect, or even the next Ghost King. What do you say?"

The words were soft, carrying both a coaxing tone and an irresistible pressure. The Ghost King was gambling, gambling that this young man was not entirely without feelings for Biyao, gambling that he couldn't bring himself to be ruthless, gambling that he... was just a child pushed to the brink, all bark and no bite.

Jiang Xiaochuan's hands trembled even more violently.

Not only her hands, arms, and legs, but all the muscles in her body were trembling slightly uncontrollably. Biyao in her arms seemed to sense it. Her body stiffened for a moment, and then began to tremble even more subtly. The two tremors were transmitted through their pressed bodies, and it was impossible to tell whose was which.

Jiang Xiaochuan could smell the faint scent of soapberry in Biyao's hair, feel the delicate warmth of her neck skin, and feel the heart in her chest pounding wildly and chaotically through their clothes, making his arms go numb.

It's all fake, he told himself. She was the daughter of the Ghost King, an enemy, a bargaining chip. If he softened his heart now, he and countless fellow disciples of the Qingyun Sect would die.

But another voice screamed: She is Biyao, the Biyao who cried in your arms in the Dripping Blood Cave, the Biyao who fought with you for candied hawthorns in Changhe City, the Biyao who cried in the cave just now, saying she wanted to elope with you, find a place to farm, raise chickens, and have children—she's only sixteen! She knows nothing! She just likes you! What did she do wrong?!

Two voices battled in his mind, making his temples throb and his vision go black. He clenched his teeth so hard that blood seeped from the roots of his teeth, but he forced a smile onto his face.

"……Really?"

Before he finished speaking, his hand holding the gun moved forward almost imperceptibly by half a step.

It was just half a fraction, very light, and very quick.

"laugh--"

It was a very faint sound, like a needle piercing a ripe fruit.

The dark red spear tip pierced the delicate skin on Biyao's neck, and a tiny speck of bright red emerged, starkly contrasting against her fair skin. It was very small, only the size of a grain of rice, but it was undeniably blood.

Jiang Xiaochuan shuddered violently! As if burned by that red spot, his hand holding the gun jerked back, then froze firmly.

He could feel Biyao's body tense up instantly, stiffening like a stone, and then begin to tremble more violently and uncontrollably. Large, icy drops of water fell onto his arms that were wrapped around her waist, quickly soaking his sleeves.

She was crying, silently, devastated.

Jiang Xiaochuan's vision blurred, not from tears, but from blood rushing upwards.

His mind was buzzing, with only one voice echoing, screaming, and crashing wildly: I'm sorry...

She's just a sixteen-year-old girl.

Biyao was also trembling, tears streaming down her face like a burst dam, blurring her vision.

She could feel the stinging pain on her neck and the sensation of warm liquid sliding across it. It wasn't very painful, but the fear of the cold, sharp liquid pressing against her vitals, and the despair of being hurt by the person she trusted and loved most, were more heart-wrenching than any other pain.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but only broken sobs escaped her throat.

She looked up, her eyes blurry with tears, at Jiang Xiaochuan's pale profile so close to hers, at his tightly pursed, bloodless lips, and at his eyes that were fixed straight ahead, not daring to look down at her.

Why, Jiang Xiaochuan?

She asked herself silently.

You said you had feelings for me, you said it.

Why... why did you raise a gun at me again?

Why could it pierce my skin?

Why are you making me bleed?

Just for your fellow disciples?

For your cold and aloof Senior Sister Lu?

For this damned righteous stance that's locked in a life-or-death struggle with my father?

Then what am I?

Jiang Xiaochuan, what am I to you?!

Poison God and Yu Yangzi glanced at Ghost King again, their eyes filled with even more urging and impatience.

The Ghost King's heart skipped a beat, knowing he couldn't delay any longer. He suppressed his surging anger and heart-wrenching worry, and quickly turned his gaze to the Three Wonders Fairy standing quietly to the side, his eyes filled with pleading.

The Fairy of Three Wonders remained silent, standing quietly with a cold and beautiful face devoid of expression, like a jade-carved Guanyin. Receiving the Ghost King's gaze, her eyes shifted almost imperceptibly, her gaze landing on Jiang Xiaochuan's face.

The Hehuan Sect's secret technique, the Bewitching Art, is activated silently.

His gaze was indifferent and cold, unlike the blatant seduction of ordinary charm techniques. Instead, it possessed a cool and aloof quality, like a snow lotus in the mountains.

But beneath that cool and aloof exterior lies a deeper, more subtle allure and seduction, like a cold pool under the moonlight, seemingly calm but with turbulent undercurrents that can unknowingly draw you in.

Jiang Xiaochuan glanced back at her subconsciously.

Eyes facing each other.

The Three Wonders Fairy's body trembled slightly, but Yu Yangzi, who was standing beside her, still noticed it and looked at her with a puzzled expression.