Chapter 176: Explanation

Bai Zhi looked toward the door and asked, "What is it?"

There was no sound from outside.

Bai Zhi walked over and opened the door. A robot stood at the entrance, holding a tray with some food on it—fruit, pastries, and a tube of nutrient liquid.

Hu Yan also took a look at the situation outside through Bai Zhi’s eyes.

’Since the room Bai Zhi is in is on the first floor, there isn’t much to see. The residence is quite large, but from this vantage point, it’s impossible to tell where it is. There are many mansions like this on the Main Star. I’ll need a wider view or some kind of landmark to figure out the exact location.’

Bai Zhi took the tray from the robot, went back into the room, and closed the door again.

Hu Yan asked, "Have you been outside? Do you know where this is?"

Bai Zhi shook her head. "I wasn’t conscious before you entered my spirit sea. I must have been under someone’s control. My last memory is of us playing cards at home. Then Zelda arrived, and after that, I saw..."

As she spoke, Bai Zhi suddenly paused, her lips pressed tightly together. She remembered what she had seen in the Illusion Realm. ’Reason tells me it was all probably fake. And even if it were real, it would be normal for someone of Hu Yan’s status.’

But Bai Zhi still felt an indescribable discomfort.

’Honestly, feelings like this would be fine in the modern world, but here... I have several Beast Husbands myself. What right do I have to blame Hu Yan?’

Hu Yan keenly sensed the change in Bai Zhi’s emotions and asked, "Saw what?"

Bai Zhi shook her head. "Nothing. I have no memory after that. I just remember someone was constantly talking to me."

Hu Yan asked, "Tell me, what did you see? You hesitated just now. Was it about me?"

He looked at her seriously and said, "The Enchanting Heart Worm can read memories to confuse people’s minds and infinitely amplify negative emotions. If you don’t tell me, that feeling will linger. I’m right here now. If you have any questions, you can ask me face-to-face. As long as you ask, I’ll tell you everything without holding anything back."

Bai Zhi was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Hu Yan to be so perceptive. She had only paused for a moment, yet he had noticed something was wrong and pointed it out so bluntly.

Meeting his serious and earnest gaze, Bai Zhi pursed her lips and said, "I saw what you said to Zelda on Blue Star—that you stayed by my side for the blueprints and the Blue Soul Stone. I also saw you promise your mother you would try things with other females, and I saw..."

She had also seen him holding another female.

As Bai Zhi spoke, she found she didn’t want to continue.

Hearing this, Hu Yan could guess that the Enchanting Heart Worm had likely shown Bai Zhi a mix of truth and lies. He explained with a helpless sigh, "It’s true that I initially stayed by your side for the Blue Soul Stone. After your father—no, to be precise, the father of this body—saved me, I was severely injured. Not only had my spiritual power dropped to A-level, but the Insect Clan, the Eldest Prince, and various other factions were all looking for me."

"To evade them, and also for the Blue Soul Stone you possess, I made an agreement with him. If I became your Beast Husband and protected you, he would give me the Blue Soul Stone once you recovered, and we would then dissolve our marriage. During that period when your personality changed so drastically, I did consider taking the Blue Soul Stone and returning to the Main Star. My plan was to arrange for your treatment afterward. As long as you didn’t cause trouble, I could guarantee you’d be well-cared for for the rest of your life. It was my way of repaying your father for saving me."

Hu Yan sighed helplessly again. "You probably don’t know this, but when you first arrived, I noticed a scent on you that I’d never smelled before. I felt something was off, but I thought it was just because I was in a frenzied state and overly sensitive. Later, I realized you had completely changed and were acting strangely, which confirmed you weren’t the same Bai Zhi as before. I was probably attracted to you even back then, I just didn’t realize it myself."

"As for promising to get involved with other females, you’ve truly wronged me there. First of all, my mother has always respected my wishes in these matters. And now that I have a mate, why would I possibly get involved with others? The Enchanting Heart Worm must have used your memories of Zelda to deliberately make you resent me. It could then use that resentment, amplify your emotions, and control you."

"If you don’t believe me, we’ve actually captured the Enchanting Heart Worm. Yue Junxiao has it. When you get back, you can ask it what really happened, or have it retrieve my memories for you to see. If you still don’t believe me, I can swear an oath to the Beast God. I have never been with any other female, let alone secretly met with one. If I’m lying, then may I be punished by..."

Before Hu Yan could finish, Bai Zhi quickly reached out and covered his mouth.

The moment the palm of her hand touched his lips, Bai Zhi looked up. Hu Yan’s expression was soft, his eyes lowered to look at her. The instant their gazes met, Bai Zhi’s heart began to race.

THUMP, THUMP...

She was certain now. The upsetting scenes she had witnessed in the Illusion Realm had all been fake.

Because she discovered that the way Hu Yan looked at her seemed different than before.

Just one look made her feel like she was sinking into them.

Hu Yan had beautiful eyes—the kind that seemed full of deep affection even if he were just looking at a puppy.

But Bai Zhi knew now that was only because she had never seen the look in his eyes when he truly loved someone.

The kind of look that was filled with nothing but you, a single glance that could pull you in so deep you couldn’t escape.

’No wonder they say you can’t hide it in your eyes when you like someone.’

Before, Hu Yan’s gaze had held warmth and amusement, but never this feeling that made her blush and want to hide after just one look.

But now, she felt it.

Bai Zhi pursed her lips, avoided his gaze, and said softly, "I know."

Hu Yan’s lips moved. "Are you sure I don’t need to explain further? Any other questions? You can ask them all now."

As he spoke, Bai Zhi felt a warmth in her palm where his lips touched her skin. She instantly snatched her hand back and hid it behind her. "No, it’s fine. I know it was all just the Enchanting Heart Worm’s tricks."

’Thinking about it carefully now, some of Hu Yan’s actions and his tone of voice in the Illusion Realm had indeed seemed off.’

’It was just that she had been swept up by the illusion at the time, her emotions stirred up against her will.’

’Even though she knew she shouldn’t have felt that way, she just couldn’t help it.’

Hu Yan saw her movement, his eyes brimming with amusement. "We’ve kissed countless times. Why so nervous from just a touch of your hand?"

As he spoke, he deliberately reached out and took her hand. Bai Zhi struggled for a moment but couldn’t break free, so she let him be.

’Her earlier feeling that Hu Yan had become clingy definitely wasn’t just her imagination.’