Chapter 35: Where Do You Wear Your Ring?

This must be the seal He Yimo mentioned earlier, solidifying the acupoint on my sole.

But why does this mark feel alive, like it’s taking root and growing in my acupoint, making my heart itch…

And that ointment he used—it’s so strange. Sure, it’s great for pain relief, but why does the skin he applied it to feel so warm and sensitive? Even a slight breeze feels icy and tingly…

Honestly, it’s such an indescribable feeling!

Jiang Jinyue couldn’t help but cover her foot with her hands, her thoughts wandering uncontrollably. For a moment, she felt a chill on her sole and a strange sense of loss in her heart. The treatment had been brief, but to her, it felt like an eternity. Now that He Yimo had let go of her foot, she found herself missing the warmth and comfort of his touch.

“What’s wrong? Does it still hurt?” He Yimo asked from a distance as he stood up, pouring water from a gourd to wash his hands.

Seeing him wash his hands, Jiang Jinyue felt too embarrassed to ask him to warm her foot again. “No, it’s just that my foot feels a bit sensitive after the ointment. I’m not used to it…”

“That’s normal. Your foot was completely numb before, meaning the nerves were paralyzed and damaged by the poison. Now that you’ve recovered, with new nerves forming, sensitivity is expected. You’ll get used to it in time,” He Yimo explained matter-of-factly, his cold eyes narrowing slightly.

He quickly changed the subject. “By the way, Jiang Jinyue, what happened to you?”

“Aren’t you the Fox Clan’s ‘Destined Daughter’? How did you end up injured and hiding on the roof from that giant worm?”

As he spoke, He Yimo casually pulled out a dagger and began scraping scales off the Breeding Worm. While collecting his spoils, he continued chatting with Jiang Jinyue.

Hearing this, the fox demon girl’s expression darkened. She lowered her gaze and hugged her pale pink feet as she replied helplessly:

“Honestly, someone like you—who can defeat the Breeding Worm without a single mistake—is the real anomaly…”

“That thing is massive! How could anyone predict its every move perfectly and exploit every opening to strike its weak points?”

As she spoke, Jiang Jinyue’s tone grew more aggrieved. Before He Yimo arrived, she had already fought several rounds with the Breeding Worm. It was clear she had been at a disadvantage.

The Breeding Worm was a biological weapon created by the Miyue Sect. It lacked the basic consciousness of intelligent beings, rendering Jiang Jinyue’s advanced illusions ineffective against it. She could only rely on basic techniques like creating clones to confuse it or disrupting its senses to make it bite its own tail.

While these tricks bought her time, they were far from a solution. Without physical attacks, she couldn’t deal any real damage to the worm.

Unlike He Yimo, Jiang Jinyue couldn’t find the precise angles needed to exploit its weak points. The worm’s rapid movements and sharp scales made it nearly impossible for her to land a decisive blow. And without targeting its weak spots, she couldn’t penetrate its armor-like scales.

Under normal circumstances, Jiang Jinyue wouldn’t even need to fight herself. She could use illusions to control a few Core Formation cultivators and sit back while they did the work. But in this sealed dungeon, her illusions were practically useless.

For Jiang Jinyue, this battle was unwinnable. Even if the Breeding Worm stood still and let her attack, it would take years of effort just to scratch its surface.

Eventually, Jiang Jinyue ran out of options. With her spiritual energy nearly depleted from using illusions to distract the worm, she decided to use her remaining energy on herself instead. She concealed her presence and quietly circled the dungeon several times in search of an escape route.

But there was none.

Desperate, she climbed onto the roof, hoping to find an exit above. She also discovered that hiding on the roof had another advantage—the Breeding Worm’s eight compound eyes were mostly directed downward. Even if she relaxed her illusions slightly, it would struggle to detect her overhead.

And so, Jiang Jinyue found herself in a stalemate with the worm. She didn’t dare move for fear of being discovered, while the worm couldn’t sense her presence. They remained locked in this tense standoff in the dark dungeon.

As time passed, despair began to set in for Jiang Jinyue. As a member of the Witch’s Tea Party, she had life-saving measures at her disposal. But calling for help from her fellow witches in the distant Western Region over something so trivial would be humiliating. If word got out, she’d never live it down.

She could already imagine those ill-tempered women mocking her around their round table for the rest of her life!

Just when Jiang Jinyue was at her lowest point, a sudden flash of white light caught the Breeding Worm’s attention.

At first, she thought about helping when she saw a lone boy confronting the worm. But soon enough, Jiang Jinyue was completely captivated by He Yimo’s performance.

His seamless combos, fluid dodges, and precise counterattacks—it was like watching an artistic display of skill!

Jiang Jinyue even felt that joining in would only disrupt He Yimo’s rhythm.

She had seen powerful cultivators before but never someone with such dazzling technique.

He Yimo wasn’t a traditional powerhouse—his weapons and cultivation level were unremarkable. Yet he seemed to possess foresight, predicting every move of the Breeding Worm with uncanny accuracy.

The worm could afford countless mistakes, but He Yimo’s mortal body couldn’t afford even one. And yet, despite such dire circumstances, he managed to kill the Breeding Worm without taking a single hit.

That was what left Jiang Jinyue utterly stunned!

Even as the worm took its final breath, it hadn’t touched He Yimo once—not even splattering his pristine white robes with its black blood!

Elegant—so elegant…

Jiang Jinyue couldn’t help but see He Yimo in a new light. Her gaze now sparkled with admiration—not just trust or affection but genuine respect and awe for his skill.

“According to books, Breeding Worm scales are valuable for crafting soft armor,” He Yimo remarked casually as he tossed a silver ring toward Jiang Jinyue. “Here’s your share.”

Catching it mid-air, Jiang Jinyue cradled the ring in her hands like a treasure. She didn’t know how much storage space it held but understood its immense value. It was her first time receiving such an extravagant reward from dividing spoils!

Smiling at He Yimo gratefully, she obediently slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

“Wait—you…” He Yimo started to say something upon noticing where she placed the ring but stopped himself. Realizing this world lacked his past life’s Western customs regarding rings, he dismissed it as overthinking.

Instead, he cleared his throat and said nonchalantly: “I mean… That ring is expensive. Make sure you return it later.”

“Oh… So it’s not mine…” Jiang Jinyue muttered as realization dawned. She nodded obediently.

Thinking He Yimo had finished collecting his spoils, she prepared to leave. But as she turned around, she froze at the sight of what remained—a massive pile of Breeding Worm scales.

“Wait… What about all this?” Jiang Jinyue asked hesitantly, swallowing nervously as question marks filled her mind.

Clearing his throat again, He Yimo replied seriously: “Don’t worry—I’ll pack up the rest myself. Nothing will go to waste.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jinyue’s earlier joy vanished instantly as her expression stiffened.

Noticing her reaction, He Yimo frowned slightly and puffed out his cheeks in mock annoyance: “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’ve already been generous enough! Your contribution to defeating that worm wasn’t even ten percent!”