Back in his room, Wei Zhao sat on the bed and began circulating the internal-energy heart method of the second level of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art. Only tonight he was paying especially close attention to the sounds and movements throughout the villa. Xiaoshu had been far too strange today — above all, that Succor Grass in the food. Wei Zhao meant to find out exactly what Xiaoshu was up to.

Once he had set the second-level heart method of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art in motion, Wei Zhao suddenly discovered that tonight's cultivation efficiency seemed remarkably high! Though he had split off part of his attention to keep watch on the villa, tonight's cultivation achieved twice the result with half the effort — as if Wang Xinyan were cultivating at his side. The speed left Wei Zhao clicking his tongue in astonishment!

But a little reflection made it clear to him. Before cultivating the second level of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art, one was supposed to require this Succor Grass in the first place. Wei Zhao had not used it; he had substituted other things instead — and the result was that he had suffered a deviation and lost control of his qi.

He had recovered afterward, true, but once recovered, his body still lacked the Succor Grass. So now, having suddenly ingested it, the herb produced its original effect, letting him circulate the second level of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art all the more smoothly!

In fact, this was the very herb one took the first time one circulated the second level of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art — taken to make the process safer and to reduce its side effects. But by now Wei Zhao's circulation was thoroughly practiced, so after taking the Succor Grass, the result was twice the effect for half the effort.

Of course, he guessed that it would work only this once; afterward the Succor Grass would produce no such effect. After all, the secret manual of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art never claimed that Succor Grass could assist cultivation indefinitely — it mentioned the herb only once.

What followed was that the Succor Grass's effects far exceeded even Wei Zhao's expectations! He had only just broken through to the peak of the mid-Earth Rank. By rights, consolidating that strength and pushing on to the great consummation of the mid-Earth Rank's peak should have taken a very long time — at least, that was how it had always been before!

Even though, thanks to several fortuitous opportunities during his trials and the aid of Wang Xinyan's body fragrance, the leap from mid-Earth Rank to the great consummation of the mid-Earth Rank had gone far faster than usual, Wei Zhao had never imagined that taking Succor Grass could carry him in one bound from the peak of the mid-Earth Rank all the way to great consummation!

Now only a hair's breadth separated him from the late Earth Rank! This stroke of fortune left Wei Zhao not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Whoever had put that Succor Grass there, whether deliberately or not, had indirectly helped him, instantly consolidating his cultivation realm.

"This feeling is just too good!" Wei Zhao let out a long breath. This rate of cultivation was like riding a helicopter! But he knew as well that such chances came by luck and could not be sought; if he took Succor Grass again in the future, it would likely have no such effect — after all, his was a special case.

A glance at the time told him it was already midnight. He had not noticed the hours slipping past. Wei Zhao sensed the situation in the villa's living room once more: all still quiet, not the slightest sound or movement.

But the stillness was brief. A moment later, Wei Zhao heard clear footsteps! Xiaoshu's footsteps! Having lived in the villa so long, Wei Zhao could easily tell Xiaoshu's footsteps from Yaoyao's. Though Xiaoshu was already treading very softly, in the silent night — and with Wei Zhao sensing from within the jade-pendant space — he heard her perfectly clearly.

Wei Zhao hesitated a moment, then chose to close his eyes and lie quietly on the bed, breathing evenly and letting out soft snores, as though fast asleep...

After a while, his door was gently pushed open. In the villa, Wei Zhao naturally had no habit of locking his door. From the jade-pendant space he could see that the newcomer was indeed Xiaoshu! It did not surprise him — and yet, in a way, it did...

The usual mischief and sweetness were gone from Shen Yushu's face, replaced by a faint, pale sorrow and tension. Standing in the doorway, she seemed to be weighing something. She considered for a long while, sighed softly, then took a step and walked into Wei Zhao's room...

In Shen Yushu's hand was a sharp knife, glinting with a cold blue light under the moon. She crept silently to Wei Zhao's side and looked at him sleeping there, a complicated look flashing through her eyes, as though she were waging a final struggle within herself...

On the surface Wei Zhao still feigned sleep, but in truth he had been watching Shen Yushu's every move. When he saw her come over with the knife in hand, he could not help but start inwardly!

Not, of course, out of fear of the knife in her hand — he was shocked rather than frightened. What had Shen Yushu come to do with a knife? In fact, he could more or less guess: was Xiaoshu going to kill him?

Surely that was the only explanation — otherwise, why would Shen Yushu appear in his room at this hour with a sharp knife? Especially with that Succor Grass, a sleeping drug, hidden in the chicken-leg rice earlier!

Shen Yushu drew a deep breath and silently raised the knife. Her heart was pounding violently, her breathing rapid and uneven, so that the hand gripping the blade trembled without cease. One could see how fierce the struggle inside her was!

"Hoo..." At last Shen Yushu could bear the inner torment no longer and lowered the knife again, gasping for breath, staring blankly at the sleeping Wei Zhao!

Only after a long while did Shen Yushu compose herself. Once more she slowly raised the sharp knife and leveled it at Wei Zhao's chest!

By now Wei Zhao was certain at last: Xiaoshu meant to assassinate him! But for what reason? Wei Zhao could not work it out — truly could not work it out!

If it were said that Xiaoshu liked him, Wei Zhao would believe it. But if it were said that Xiaoshu could assassinate him, Wei Zhao truly found that hard to believe!

All along, Shen Yushu's behavior and the relationship between the two of them had made such a thing all but impossible. Yet the very thing that could not happen had happened, just like that?

Wei Zhao thought of the smell he had caught on the floor earlier — something like the smell of poison. Though it had been wiped clean, a faint residue remained. He had not been certain, and he could hardly lick the floor to check, but at this moment Wei Zhao guessed that the tea earlier had probably been drugged by Xiaoshu as well!

Otherwise, Xiaoshu could not have behaved so strangely: pouring him tea, then snatching it back, then reaching out to knock it over when Gu Mengyao wanted to drink. That proved how conflicted Xiaoshu was inside — and it matched the scene before him now perfectly.

Xiaoshu's heart must be torn; she must have some compelling reason she could not help but obey!

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