Borrowing Power

Inside the fragrant and elegantly decorated room, Gu Caihe gracefully rolled up her sleeves and performed a mesmerizing tea ceremony. She placed a steaming cup of spirit tea in front of Qin Gou, then picked up her own small cup and drank it in one go. Her voice was soft and sweet as she said, “Brother Qin Yue, you’re too kind to bring me such fine Enlightenment Tea leaves. Hmm? This flavor is quite unique—perhaps that’s the charm of truly good tea.”

Qin Gou smiled faintly, not touching his tea yet. “The Saintess’s exquisite tea-making skills have added an extra layer of flavor to the tea.”

“Brother Qin Yue flatters me,” Gu Caihe replied with a gentle smile. “Now that we’ve safely returned to the Mystic Maiden Palace, there’s no need to worry about unexpected incidents. Let me get straight to the point. The person who disguised themselves as Wu Qi and came to my room the other night—it was you, wasn’t it?”

—

Her tone was confident, and her sharp eyes studied Qin Gou’s face, as if searching for a flicker of shock or surprise to satisfy her vanity.

But she was disappointed.

“It was me,” Qin Gou admitted calmly, crossing his arms.

—

“You—you’re just going to admit it like that?!” Gu Caihe’s face was filled with disbelief.

“You figured it out so easily. How could I deny it?” Qin Gou raised an eyebrow.

“You even knew that!” Gu Caihe looked at him as if seeing him for the first time, scrutinizing him from head to toe. Inside, she was utterly shaken.

—

“It was just a small trick, nothing worth mentioning. But why did the Saintess summon me so late? What do you need from me?” Qin Gou asked.

Gu Caihe locked eyes with him, her tone serious. “Tell me your purpose. Why did you disguise yourself as Wu Qi? If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine—I have plenty of ways to make you.”

“No need. I’ll tell you. I noticed that the Saintess doesn’t just target male disciples but even her own female disciples. I was curious and wanted to investigate. What I found was… surprising,” Qin Gou said with a shrug. “From our conversation that night, I deduced something quite astonishing.”

—

“Oh? What did you deduce?” Gu Caihe asked, her gaze unwavering.

—

“The Mystic Maiden Palace is like a giant ant colony. Worker ants and soldier ants have their roles. Ordinary female disciples are nurtured by the sect, taught techniques, and given resources. They then use dual cultivation with cauldrons to balance yin and yang, rapidly advancing their cultivation. The nine Saintesses, however, don’t directly engage with cauldrons. Instead, they siphon benefits from the ordinary disciples through alternative methods. Finally, the Palace Master, Ye Qishuang, ‘greets’ the Saintesses one by one, absorbing their gains. It’s like a biological chain, with countless disciples continuously feeding the ‘queen ant,’ Ye Qishuang, allowing her to grow stronger at an astonishing rate.”

—

Gu Caihe listened intently, her eyes filled with admiration. Clapping her hands, she said, “Brilliant. Truly brilliant. Brother Qin Yue, your intellect is remarkable. With just a few words, you’ve uncovered the Mystic Maiden Palace’s greatest secret. Unfortunately, your intelligence is also your downfall. Now that you know so much, leaving the Palace will be nearly impossible.”

—

“So, I take it the Saintess didn’t summon me just to intimidate me with words?” Qin Gou asked, his tone playful.

“Talking to smart people is such a pleasure,” Gu Caihe said with a smile. “I could keep this matter a secret and not report it to the Palace Master. I could even ensure that you return safely to the Seed Demon Holy Sect. All I ask is for you to agree to a harmless little condition.”

—

“What condition?”

—

“The Enlightened Body is a rare and precious constitution. Would you allow my dear Wu Qi to ‘borrow’ some of your spiritual energy? If it works well, I have a few other female disciples who could take turns. You’d have your pick—plump, slender, you name it,” Gu Caihe said with a seductive smile. Her pure and innocent appearance made her words feel strangely profane.

—

“Oh? That’s quite the proposal, Saintess. I’d have a harem in the Mystic Maiden Palace, enjoy endless pleasures, and still return safely to the sect without becoming a permanent cauldron. Truly a generous offer!”

“So, does that mean you agree?” Gu Caihe asked, her smile widening.

—

“But I refuse!” Qin Gou’s tone turned cold.

—

“I, Qin Yue, despise being threatened. You think you can use such a trivial leverage to make me your pawn? Impossible. And a mere verbal promise from the Saintess? Laughable.”

—

“Is that so? Aren’t you afraid I’ll report this to the Palace Master? You’ll still end up as a cauldron, unable to ever leave the Mystic Maiden Palace!” Gu Caihe said, her voice icy.

“Go ahead. I won’t leave. And I’m not afraid of anyone trying to drain me. I trust that out of respect for the Saintess, no one would dare mess with me,” Qin Gou said meaningfully.

—

“What do you mean? Are you threatening me? With your meager cultivation as a mere Hidden Artifact Realm disciple?” Gu Caihe asked, bewildered.

“Yes, with me. With the fact that I’m a man. With the fact that this is the Mystic Maiden Palace, where the gender dynamics are skewed. And with the fact that I don’t care about saving face!” Qin Gou said, standing up and skillfully unbuttoning his shirt and belt.

—

Gu Caihe’s eyes widened. “Are you insane?! How dare you act so shamelessly in front of me?”

“You’re too naive, Saintess. Haven’t you realized what you just drank?” Qin Gou said with a cold smile. “That tea contained the essence of Lover’s Laugh, a Mysterious Grade spiritual plant. It induces confusion, rapid heartbeat, and profuse sweating. I disguised it as Enlightenment Tea and mixed it seamlessly with the real leaves. The effects are multiplied when consumed as tea!”

—

Gu Caihe’s face turned pale. No wonder she had been feeling so impulsive and restless. This wasn’t like her at all.

—

“You—you dare drug me?! How bold of you!”

“You’re mistaken again,” Qin Gou said, laughing. “I don’t want your body, Saintess. I want your influence. I want to borrow your power!”

—

Before Gu Caihe could react, Qin Gou bolted out of the room. His hair disheveled and his clothes in disarray, he amplified his voice with spiritual energy, his panicked cries echoing for miles.

—

“Saintess Caihe, please, no! Don’t be so rough! I’m still a virgin, and we’ve only just met. How could I do something so improper? I still need to return to the sect to marry my true love! I’m not a promiscuous man—please, Saintess Caihe, have mercy! No, don’t lick there! That’s a dirty place!”