Chapter 993: Get Her Drunk

Ye Wenxin was a bit puzzled but quickly realized Han Shanxue must have misunderstood something. “Master, I don’t intend to keep that appointment tonight,” she clarified.

Han Shanxue glanced at her before closing her eyes again, seemingly convinced. Ye Wenxin got off the bed and began stretching her limbs to better focus during her next cultivation session.

Then, she suddenly remembered Sister Hong and the others hadn’t returned yet, so neither she nor Han Shanxue had eaten dinner.

Ye Wenxin might not require food, but Han Shanxue still needed to eat to replenish the nutrients for normal human activity.

“Master, are you hungry?”

Han Shanxue gave no response. It seemed she didn’t feel hungry.

“I’ll go to the kitchen and find something to eat.” Ye Wenxin walked out the door.

Han Shanxue stood up and followed her.

Ye Wenxin didn’t think much of it. Maybe Han Shanxue was still worried that she’d sneak off to see Huang Hanyan.

She quickly found the kitchen, but there wasn’t much food left today.

The Fang family was quite frugal outside of entertaining guests. Still, she found some noodles, eggs, herbs, and spices, more than enough for a noodle dish.

“Master, I’m making noodles. Do you want some?” Ye Wenxin turned to ask Han Shanxue. Of course, it was mostly out of courtesy. Given her cooking skills, she had zero confidence in serving anyone.

But strangely, Han Shanxue nodded. Ye Wenxin couldn’t tell if she did so out of politeness or genuine hunger.

“Master, just to be clear—I don’t know how to cook,” warned Ye Wenxin. “I can’t guarantee the taste. At best, it’ll just be edible.”

Han Shanxue nodded again, her gaze fixed steadily on Ye Wenxin. She appeared unconcerned.

Ye Wenxin felt a little nervous. Ensuring they both could attend the recruitment tomorrow without issues, she didn’t add anything strange. She followed a simple noodles recipe with eggs, tomatoes, and seasoning tossed in.

After a taste, Ye Wenxin found the flavor lacking, so she added a few herbs.

She drew inspiration from the medicinal cooking Ling Jue had taught her, meant to regulate the body and enhance health. But Ye Wenxin didn’t dare go overboard. She only added herbs that promoted sleep and improved mood. One was called Aromatic Herb, its slightly sour taste making it blend well with the tomatoes.

Ye Wenxin scooped up the noodles and added the prepared tomato, egg, and other ingredients.

Han Shanxue had already taken a seat, her back ramrod straight. Still uneasy, Ye Wenxin tasted some first. After confirming nothing was odd, she finally served Han Shanxue a bowl.

Han Shanxue took one bite and began eating faster. Seeing she didn’t hate her cooking, Ye Wenxin served herself a bowl as well.

Tonight’s noodles were above average. When Ye Wenxin was halfway through, she noticed Han Shanxue had already finished hers and was staring at her. Even if emotionally cold, she differed from the completely emotionless Fairy Fengya.

“There’s still more in the pot, Master. I’ll get you another bowl.”

Han Shanxue didn’t refuse the offer. She ate her second helping quickly, too.

“Master, did you not eat enough at lunch?” Ye Wenxin asked. The feast at noon had served rare delicacies. But as soon as she said it, she remembered Han Shanxue mostly watching her and Huang Hanyan, barely touching her food.

“Those weren’t tasty.” Han Shanxue gave a short reply between bites of noodles. Since Ye Wenxin had already seen her face, she wasn’t wearing a veil now.

Ye Wenxin could tell from Han Shanxue’s refined manners that she had a good upbringing. For some reason, she felt like she’d once had a similar conversation with someone else.

“Then, what’s the best meal you’ve ever had?” Ye Wenxin asked, curious about Han Shanxue’s past with Immortal Lord Taohua and Feng Jiu. The more she understood, the better.

“My master’s wife cooked very delicious food,” Han Shanxue answered immediately. Then, afraid Ye Wenxin would overthink it, she quickly added, “Yours is good, too.”

Ye Wenxin smiled, propping her chin in her hand as she watched Han Shanxue.

Only in moments like this did Han Shanxue seem like a child. She had died so young, never having experienced mortal joys, her mind consumed by thoughts of revenge every day.

But Ye Wenxin quickly reminded herself that her sympathy was misplaced. She was using Han Shanxue to deal with Immortal Lord Taohua. She couldn’t afford to soften now.

“I appreciate the compliment, Master,” said Ye Wenxin, crushing the creeping guilt in her heart. “It’s an honor to receive similar praise you’d give your master’s wife.”

Han Shanxue reached out, and she stiffened. Despite her lower cultivation, her actual power far exceeded it. Ye Wenxin feared that Tundra Demesne could freeze her solid, even her blood.

But Han Shanxue only wiped away a tomato sauce smear at the corner of her mouth.

Ye Wenxin blinked blankly. Han Shanxue had already retracted her hand. “You need to maintain cleanliness.”

“Thanks, Master. But just tell me next time.”

Ye Wenxin let out a quiet breath. The moment had been a bit too intense for her. Yet, it gave her a strange sense of déjà vu.

She thought it might be an aftereffect of being ejected from Han Shanxue’s dream last night. She planned to consult White about it.

“Master, I’m going to the privy. Practice without me if you get bored.”

After eating her fill, Han Shanxue didn’t stay by Ye Wenxin’s side. On her way to the privy, Ye Wenxin called out the furballs.

To avoid any communication issues, the furballs quickly transformed into Liuli. Her violet eyes sparkled with joy as she hugged Ye Wenxin.

Ghost Mother grumbled a few curses at the scene, still recovering in the umbrella sword. Ye Wenxin soothed her with a few sweet lines. Eventually, she got some privacy to ask Liuli about the strange déjà vu.

“I don’t know either, Master.”

Liuli’s answer was simple and direct. She didn’t dream and thus couldn’t help with Ye Wenxin’s human problem.

Ye Wenxin set the matter aside and discussed how to enter Han Shanxue’s dream again. She was far too curious about the truth from a thousand years ago.

Liuli looked visibly troubled by the request.

“Master, Han Shanxue’s mental defenses are too strong. But yesterday, I sensed another familiar power within her body.”

Although they couldn’t re-enter the dream, Liuli pointed out something strange she’d noticed.

“Do you know whose it is?” Ye Wenxin asked.

Liuli considered it before answering with some certainty. “I believe Lady Snow’s, the one we met at Moonview Mountain.”

Ye Wenxin froze. “You mean… Han Shanxue ate her?”

“More accurately,” Liuli clarified, “she absorbed her.”

Ye Wenxin recalled the aura Lady Snow had given off back then. The fact that Han Shanxue could absorb the immortal made her shudder.

If Han Shanxue were already capable of something like this, she’d become a female lead on par with Fairy Fengya.

Ye Wenxin could never allow Han Shanxue to develop feelings for Immortal Lord Taohua.

But the recruitment was tomorrow. Knowing Liu Churan, she would surely get in on the action and cause trouble.

What worried Ye Wenxin more was Han Shanxue potentially going berserk upon seeing the peach blossom demon’s face.

“Is there really no way for me to enter her dreams?” Ye Wenxin asked Liuli again. She had to understand Han Shanxue better and use her weakness against Immortal Lord Taohua.

Liuli furrowed her brow, wracking her brain for a solution.

Suddenly, Ghost Mother’s weak voice came.

“Just have drinks with her and talk about the late Gu Youchou. With her personality, Han Shanxue will crack in no time.”

Ghost Mother’s suggestion gave Ye Wenxin a bit of hope. However, she still wanted to hear Liuli’s opinion.

“What Mistress said is also workable, but if you enter Han Shanxue’s dream that way, you won’t be a bystander. Since Han Shanxue controls the dream, you’ll also become a part of it,” Liuli explained in detail. But because this method carried risks, she preferred that Ye Wenxin didn’t go through with it.

First, killing someone in a dream was entirely possible.

Second, because dreams involve other people’s consciousness, one could easily be influenced by the dream’s roles. They’d even mistake themselves for someone else.

No cultivation method or technique was flawless, and there were always hidden loopholes. Illusions were the same. Illusions couldn’t just make the target lose their mind. If the caster had too many stray thoughts, the negative emotions could corrupt them and make them lose control.

Ye Wenxin began to waver. She was already feeling that influence. But Immortal Lord Taohua’s matter weighed too heavily on her mind. She wanted to take the risk, to eliminate this peach blossom demon and make Immortal Lord Taohua’s resurrection nothing more than a myth.

Liuli stepped forward and hugged her. “Master, I will support whatever you choose. No matter what you become, I’ll follow you.”

Her murmured words sounded almost like a final farewell.

Ye Wenxin patted Liuli’s head, ultimately giving up for now. “Forget it. Let’s wait and see how things go tomorrow. Maybe it won’t be as bad as I imagined.”

Liuli smiled at her. She happily hugged her again, as if sharing her joy with Ye Wenxin.