Chu Qinghuang practiced the techniques of Willow Dark Flowers Bright over and over again until she had mastered them thoroughly. Only then did she take out the Ice Sealing Art and Snow Moon Flying Flowers. The Ice Sealing Art worked by summoning water to strike the enemy; as long as water touched the opponent's body, the caster could chant the incantation to freeze them for three seconds. As for Snow Moon Flying Flowers, the caster used an incantation to conjure snowflakes, blending them into a tempest to assault the enemy, a process that could last for over ten seconds.
Chu Qinghuang placed the two books, Ice Sealing Art and Snow Moon Flying Flowers, side by side, rubbing her chin as she pondered whether these two spells could be used in combination. She could trap the enemy with the Ice Sealing Art and then attack with Snow Moon Flying Flowers, except that the freezing duration was too short, and chanting the incantation to summon snowflakes also took time. Hmm... what if she reversed the order? Using Snow Moon Flying Flowers first, followed by the Ice Sealing Art—this way, with the enhancement of Snow Moon Flying Flowers, the success rate of using the Ice Sealing Art would be vastly increased.
Chu Qinghuang felt she was simply too clever. Grinning from ear to ear, she studied the hand gestures and incantations for the Ice Sealing Art and Snow Moon Flying Flowers, wanting to merge them seamlessly. To use them together, her familiarity with the gestures and incantations had to be so absolute that they rolled off her tongue effortlessly.
For several days running, Chu Qinghuang remained in the legacy hall, practicing these three spells without rest until she was completely satisfied and felt ready. Only then did she follow the path back out into the cave.
It was the dead of night when Chu Qinghuang emerged from the legacy grounds. Lowering her head to sniff herself, she curled her lip in disgust; having gone unwashed for days, she had begun to smell. Consequently, she left the cave to search for a secluded water source to freshen up.
Chu Qinghuang found a pool sheltered by two large boulders. The pool was small, measuring only about a dozen square meters. After casting a glance around to survey her surroundings and seeing no one in sight, she quickly stripped off her clothes, took a swift bath, and changed into fresh garments.
As she was dressed and making her way back to the cave, Chu Qinghuang faintly heard voices, and the conversation even involved the Chu Family. Her eyes narrowed as she stealthily moved toward the speakers.
"Young Miss, we just received a message. Our people searched the Chu Family once more, but still found nothing. However, this time they discovered that the valuables in the Chu Family's storehouse and secret chambers are all gone, and the corpses of several core members of the Chu Family are missing as well."
Chu Nanxi looked in confusion at her maid, Hupo: "Missing? The valuables are one thing—it's hard to prevent people from taking things amidst the chaos, and our Chu family isn't short on such items. But who would want corpses?"
Hupo mused with equal puzzlement: "Young Miss, do you think people on good terms with the Chu Family secretly buried the bodies?"
Chu Nanxi gave a sarcastic laugh: "Hmph, so what if they buried them secretly? They're just corpses, they can't stir up any major waves. Never mind them. Since the things can't be found, call our men back. Stop searching; perhaps there never were any treasures to begin with."
"Understood. Young Miss, there is one more thing: today the maid inadvertently overheard Prince Duan and the others discussing that two years from now, the major palace gates seem to have an opportunity to venture out for training in some continent. Not just anyone can go, though; the palace gates seem to be holding a competition, and only those whose strength reaches the required standard can participate. The maid doesn't know the exact requirements."
Chu Nanxi kneaded the handkerchief in her hand as she pondered this matter. Since Prince Duan had said so, he must have set his heart on going. She was currently only at Innate Stage 5, whereas Prince Duan was already at Innate Stage 8; the gap was indeed rather large. No, that treasure of Kongming Palace her father had mentioned must be obtained, otherwise the distance between her and Prince Duan would only grow further and further.
After Chu Nanxi and Hupo left, Chu Qinghuang emerged from beneath a large tree in the distance, a wicked smile playing on the corners of her lips as she took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands. She had just slipped Diarrhea Powder and Beast-Attracting Powder onto Chu Nanxi; those people would find themselves with no chance of rest tonight.
Just as Chu Qinghuang was about to return to the cave, she turned around and bumped into the white-robed man who had rescued her a few days prior, seated on a tree branch behind her. He had watched her entire poisoning process from start to finish. Without a shred of awkwardness, Chu Qinghuang offered a faint smile: "Many thanks to you, Young Master, for saving my life the other day. The hour is late, so I shall take my leave."
The white-robed man glanced at Chu Qinghuang and said disdainfully: "Instead of skulking about and poisoning people here, you'd do better to improve your own strength and stand before your enemies in broad daylight."
Chu Qinghuang rolled her eyes and let out a snort: "What do you know? The enemy in the light and us in the dark is the ultimate attacking strategy. Only a fool would engage in hand-to-hand combat when they can use the easiest method. Humph..."
With that, Chu Qinghuang waved her hand and walked away, leaving the white-robed man sitting on the tree branch staring in exasperation: "Utterly unreasonable."
After leaving, Chu Qinghuang changed direction and stealthily followed Chu Nanxi and her maid, finding a large tree to hide behind while quietly waiting for the medicinal effect to take hold.
The effect of the Diarrhea Powder took a bit longer; the one that manifested first was the Beast-Attracting Powder. Chu Qinghuang regulated her breathing, hiding in the tree to watch as wolf packs gradually gathered around them, along with several wild boars. Being on the outer perimeter, there were naturally no high-level Mystic Beasts.
The wolf packs launched their attack. Prince Duan drew his sword and charged into the wolf pack first, followed closely by Chu Nanxi, who joined the fray. Vigorous exercise on Chu Nanxi's part accelerated the activation of the Diarrhea Powder stuck to her body. After trading blows with the wolves for only a short moment, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. Clutching her stomach, she stopped in her tracks. Mistaking her pause for an injury, Prince Duan hurriedly flew to her side and drove away the surrounding attacking wolves.
"Nanxi, how are you? Where are you hurt?"
With a flushed face and a look of utter mortification, Chu Nanxi looked at Prince Duan: "Brother Ying, I... I suddenly have a stomachache. I want to... to go relieve myself."
By the end of her sentence, Chu Nanxi didn't even dare to meet Prince Duan's eyes. This was the first time she had ever lost such face in front of the man she loved.
Prince Duan looked around and frowned: "You can't get out in this situation. Why don't... you hold it in a bit longer?"
Chu Nanxi bit her lip, raised her head, and looked around; leaving was indeed impossible. With no other choice, and enduring her abdominal pain, she nodded. Chu Nanxi retreated toward the rear and stopped participating in the battle. However, while abdominal pain could be endured, the urge to relieve oneself could not. Even standing completely motionless in her spot, Chu Nanxi felt goosebumps erupt all over her body. Her current state could no longer be described as days feeling like years; every second felt like a year.
Staying a few trees away from them, Chu Qinghuang watched with relish, especially enjoying the sight of Chu Nanxi suffering from trying to hold it in without any way to relieve herself—it provided a modest vent for her own pent-up anger.
Keeping a close eye on the battle around her, Chu Nanxi seized the moment when the fighting eased slightly to slip out through a gap. Clutching her stomach, she ran while searching for a suitable spot. Having finally finished relieving herself and wanting to return, she hadn't even made it halfway back when that familiar abdominal pain struck her once more, forcing her to clutch her stomach and turn back.