Chapter 29: I Trade My Heart for This Lifetime

“Hahaha.” Ding Chunqiu fixed his gaze on Yun Zhonghe, as if looking at a fool, and burst into uncontrollable laughter.

This was without a doubt the funniest joke he had heard in his entire life.

Even Ding Chunqiu himself was helpless against the poison in Yun Zhonghe’s body. If he had not spent years dealing with deadly toxins and cultivated an immunity to all poisons, his grave would have long been overgrown with grass.

Yet now, Yun Zhonghe was claiming that the poison within him would be automatically neutralized in less than an hour.

It was utterly absurd.

Did he think everyone could achieve immunity to all poisons?

Ignoring Ding Chunqiu’s ridicule, Yun Zhonghe’s expression remained unchanged throughout. He smiled calmly and said, “Whether it’s true or not, you’ll see when the hour passes.”

“I’ll see for myself the miserable state you’re in when the poison takes your life,” Ding Chunqiu said, as if he could already picture Yun Zhonghe’s death.

Yun Zhonghe had no intention of wasting further words on Ding Chunqiu; he simply sat down beside him.

Ding Chunqiu was confident in his own poison, convinced that Yun Zhonghe was only bluffing. He kept his eyes firmly fixed on Yun Zhonghe, eager to see what tricks he might pull in his final moments.

Under Ding Chunqiu’s watchful gaze, Yun Zhonghe slowly closed his eyes, his mind sinking inward to summon the system.

Before him appeared a progress bar, visible only to himself.

The system was sweeping through Yun Zhonghe’s body; once the process was complete, the deadly poison would naturally be cleansed.

He owed this to the palm strike Ding Chunqiu had delivered earlier, which activated the system’s detoxification process.

Otherwise, even if Yun Zhonghe survived, the poison would have tormented him terribly.

After waiting for roughly the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the system’s progress reached one hundred percent.

Yun Zhonghe opened his eyes, raised his hand, and saw that the black lines that had been creeping toward his fingertips had vanished from his arm.

A’zi had been watching Yun Zhonghe closely, noticing every movement he made.

Following his gaze, she saw the black lines on his hand disappear, confirming that the poison within him had indeed been removed.

“How did you manage that?” A’zi asked in astonishment.

She felt that Yun Zhonghe was full of secrets.

Yun Zhonghe looked at Ding Chunqiu and smiled. “I told you, I’m immune to all poisons. It’s your own fault for not believing me.”

“Impossible, impossible,” Ding Chunqiu muttered. He could not accept that, after more than ten years mastering poisons, Yun Zhonghe could neutralize his toxins so easily in such a short time.

“There’s nothing impossible about it. Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It only shows how limited your experience is.”

Yun Zhonghe’s words reminded Ding Chunqiu of the time at the inn when Yun Zhonghe had withstood a palm strike from him. He had simply assumed Yun Zhonghe had strong internal energy, nothing more.

Little did he know, Yun Zhonghe possessed a constitution immune to all poisons.

Realizing this, Ding Chunqiu’s face showed defeat.

If even his poisons were powerless against Yun Zhonghe, and now that he himself was crippled, killing him would be as easy as killing an ant.

With this thought, Ding Chunqiu closed his eyes in despair.

His senior brother hated him to the bone; if he fell into his hands, his fate would be no better than it was now.

Yun Zhonghe was unaware of Ding Chunqiu’s thoughts. He was busy pacifying A’zi, trying to coax her out of her anger.

Having witnessed her ruthless methods, he knew very well never to provoke a woman—especially one with a cruel heart.

One wrong move, and a gentle haven would turn into a field of carnage.

“Don’t be angry. I promise I’ll never deceive you again. If I do...” Yun Zhonghe began to utter a few strong words to appease A’zi, but she waved her hand impatiently, saying, “Don’t try to fool me with sweet talk. I know you men prefer those delicate, fragile types, and you’re terrified of women like me, with a ruthless streak.”

Unexpectedly, A’zi knew herself quite well.

His mind stirring, Yun Zhonghe showed nothing on his face, and took A’zi’s hand.

A’zi tried to resist, but Yun Zhonghe’s grip was like iron pincers; she could not break free with her strength.

After all, she thought, this man had already kissed and embraced her—she might as well let him be.

Seeing A’zi gradually give up resistance and adopt a nonchalant expression, Yun Zhonghe felt a headache coming on.

He sighed inwardly: a woman’s heart was more elusive than a needle at the bottom of the sea.

If A’zi were to shout, cry, and make a scene, it would mean she was not truly angry. A few sweet words would suffice to calm her.

But the worst was now, when she neither argued nor protested—this meant the matter was truly serious.

“I know you’re angry with me—for deceiving you again and again and making you worry needlessly. I promise you, from now on, whether it’s something big or small, I’ll never lie to you again.”

Since tricks were useless, he would offer his true heart for a lifetime.

Though Yun Zhonghe spoke with sincere words and a genuine expression, A’zi would not forgive him so easily.

Things obtained too easily are seldom cherished by men.

She had fallen for Yun Zhonghe after his heroic rescue, and had since been repeatedly duped by his sweet words.

After pouring out his heart, Yun Zhonghe watched A’zi’s face closely. Though she said nothing, her expression softened noticeably, and he knew his words had worked.

I, Yun Zhonghe, will never betray A’zi in this lifetime. If I do, let Xu Zhimo die a terrible death, never to find peace!

With that vow, he seized the moment, drawing A’zi into his arms. She felt the strength of Yun Zhonghe’s heartbeat and relinquished her feminine reserve, closing her eyes to savor this rare moment.

Under the moonlight, the two figures nestled together, their shadows mingling as one.

After a night’s rest, Yun Zhonghe continued the journey the next day with A’zi and Ding Chunqiu, heading toward the site of the Zen Chess Game.

Having absorbed the internal energy of both Jade Master and Ding Chunqiu, Yun Zhonghe’s power had soared.

Their travel speed was now several times faster than before.

He had feared they would not arrive in time for the Zen Chess Game, but now those worries were gone.

What once would have taken three days’ travel could now be accomplished in just a day and a half.

And that was with him deliberately slowing down for A’zi and Ding Chunqiu.

If he hurried at full speed, it would be even faster.

Even so, when Yun Zhonghe and his companions arrived at the Zen Chess Game, the place was already crowded with martial artists.

Among them, Yun Zhonghe recognized many familiar faces.

Not least among them was the man reputed in the entire “Eight Dragons” saga as the one and only top devotee in the realm.

Affectionately called “Young Master Duan” by the “Fairy Sister.”