Another Dead End

Upon receiving the news, Night Owl felt a mix of complicated emotions.

As the ruler of the Poison Mist Island, she should have been disappointed and disheartened by the failed poison trial. Yet, for some reason, she felt a faint thrill and even a hint of relief.

"My lord."

A guard's voice sounded from outside the door.

"What is it?"

Night Owl toyed with the lizard in her hand as she responded in a low voice.

"Yi Feng, the volunteer, requests an audience," the guard said respectfully.

Hearing this, Night Owl paused her stroking motion. Like a flash of light, she darted across the room, hastily hiding the undergarments she had just changed out of—and hadn’t yet tidied away—under her pillow.

With lightning speed, she then straightened up the few other messy spots in the room, ensuring everything appeared immaculate on the surface. Only after confirming this did she sit back down.

Glancing sideways at her reflection in the mirror, she finally prepared to let Yi Feng in.

But just as she was about to speak, she remembered something else and quickly stashed the lizard she had been playing with under the bed.

Once satisfied, she instinctively smoothed her raven-black hair before leisurely calling out, "Come in."

Moments later, Yi Feng strode in, clad in white robes.

He glanced at her but didn’t bother with a greeting, simply plopping himself down on a seat.

This time, Yi Feng had come with a plan.

The poison masters had devoured his "poisonous chicken soup" and were now working on the toxic mist with frenzied enthusiasm. But after the first failed trial, Yi Feng had grown deeply skeptical of their capabilities.

Thus, he couldn’t pin all his hopes on the poison trials alone.

The other desperate path was to rely on the Poison Mist Island’s infamous ruler—a woman even the sages feared.

Truth be told, Yi Feng had already considered this last time.

As for why he hadn’t been poisoned then, he had given it some thought.

First, his identity played a role.

After all, he was a volunteer for the poison trials. If Night Owl poisoned him before he even got started, it wouldn’t make sense.

Moreover, his act of wiping the tea stain last time, while somewhat presumptuous, had been well-intentioned. Night Owl had no reason to kill him for that.

In fact, even if he had been poisoned, she would likely have secretly administered the antidote.

So, on his way here, Yi Feng had already decided what to do.

He needed to provoke Night Owl.

Even better, he needed to behave in a way that was outright hostile toward her.

From the moment he entered, Yi Feng deliberately acted with extreme rudeness, not even bothering with a greeting.

This would immediately leave a bad impression, setting the stage for further provocation.

Yi Feng mentally patted himself on the back for his cunning strategy.

"No tea?"

After sitting in silence for a while, Yi Feng impatiently broke the quiet.

"Oh, my apologies. That was an oversight on my part."

Night Owl snapped out of her thoughts and hurriedly began preparing tea.

"Her patience is impressive..."

Yi Feng observed Night Owl’s expression, surprised that his tone hadn’t elicited even a hint of displeasure from her.

Logically, people of her stature usually had terrible tempers.

"Judging by Yi Feng’s demeanor, he must still be upset about the failed poison trial. Such dedication to the greater good!" Night Owl remarked as she poured his tea.

Mid-sentence, she noticed the lizard she had hidden under the bed scuttling out and making its way beneath the table.

She kicked it back under the bed without batting an eye, her expression unchanged.

After finishing the tea, she continued, "Since you seem so troubled, I have a suggestion. Why not take a couple of days to explore the surroundings? Consider it a chance to unwind. What do you think?"

Yi Feng turned his head sharply, his face stern as he retorted, "Are you telling me what to do?"

"Mind your own business."

With that, he picked up the teacup and took a sip, only to immediately spit it out in disgust.

Beside him, Night Owl stared blankly at Yi Feng’s scowling face.

He…

He actually dared to scold her?

Her heart pounded wildly.

From childhood, Night Owl had been cursed with the Misfortune Body. Everyone who saw her would flee in terror.

To put it crudely, people wouldn’t even dare to relieve themselves within three fields of her, fearing for their lives.

Even the revered sages of the Cloud Star Realm avoided provoking her, let alone speaking to her in such a tone.

Yet this Yi Feng was the only one who defied convention, treating her differently.

"Yi Feng truly lives up to his reputation—unyielding, proud, and utterly admirable!"

"Did you know? Everyone on Poison Mist Island respects you deeply. They all say you’re a man of integrity, driven by righteousness, willing to risk your life for humanity."

Night Owl spoke softly, her voice carrying a hint of coyness.

Hearing this, Yi Feng’s lips twitched, and he clenched his buttocks in disbelief.

Not only was Night Owl not angry, but her tone had taken on an oddly affectionate quality.

Yi Feng shuddered, goosebumps rising all over.

Clearly, the persona he had built on the island was too perfect.

Everyone saw him as a paragon of virtue, noble and unyielding.

Even someone like Night Owl couldn’t help but extend him extra tolerance.

In that case…

He’d have to escalate things.

With this in mind, he shifted his demeanor, a wicked smirk curling his lips as he fixed Night Owl with a predatory gaze.

"Night Owl, have you ever tasted a man before?"

Yi Feng’s voice dripped with provocation as he posed the question outright.

By his reasoning, such a question should earn him a slap—or at the very least, be met with outrage.

"Why would Yi Feng ask such a thing?"

The infamous Poison Mist Queen blushed at his words.

"Hmm?"

"What’s wrong with asking?"

Yi Feng sneered, slowly advancing toward her.

Seeing him approach, Night Owl instinctively stood, watching him nervously.

The next moment, a firm hand seized her wrist, while another wrapped around her slender waist.

Night Owl shuddered, her entire body tensing as she stared wide-eyed at the man before her.

This person…

So bold, so direct, so domineering.

He didn’t even give her time to react.

Yet… it was strangely hard to resist.

Truly, he was unlike any ordinary man.

No wonder the fortune-teller had said I’d meet my destined one at three thousand years old. Back then, I didn’t believe him and smacked him dead. Now I see how rash I was.

"Night Owl, care to try me out?"

"I, Yi Feng, am the Golden Spear Prince, the White Dragon of the Waves, the one they call Zhao Ritian!"

As Yi Feng’s words reached her, Night Owl’s body stiffened further, her breathing quickening. Her delicate hands clutched the hem of her dress, her mind blank.

The next instant, a forceful motion sent her tumbling onto the bed.

A knee pressed firmly against her abdomen.

"Well?"

Yi Feng continued with a smirk, his grin stretching ear to ear.

No woman could endure such brazen advances without fury, right?

With this move, the righteous hero persona he had built would surely crumble, replaced by the image of a lecherous rogue.

And what was the best way to deal with a rogue?

Death, of course.

"Kill me, kill me now. Use the deadliest poison, the kind that leaves no chance of survival..." Yi Feng muttered to himself, eagerly awaiting death.

But after a long wait, Night Owl showed no sign of action at all.

Unable to resist, Yi Feng glanced downward.

What he saw left him stunned.

The air seemed to freeze in that instant...