Chapter 26: The Imprisoned Phoenix

Beigong Qiyi slowly closed the brocade box, lifted his gaze to Qi Yong, and smiled lightly. “When I returned to the boat that day, the painting was already gone. I never expected that it was taken away by you, Palace Master Qi.” He drew the box into his arms, his eyes narrowing slightly. “But Palace Master Qi should know a saying: things that don’t belong to you are best left untouched.”

Qi Yong’s expression turned cold in an instant. He fixed his eyes on Beigong Qiyi. After a long, tense silence, he slowly smiled. “How would I know whether it belongs to me or not, if I never tried?” As he finished speaking, he suddenly leapt forward. The crowd only saw a shadow flash before their eyes; before they could react, Qi Yong was already in front of Beigong Qiyi.

Beigong Qiyi frowned, raising his hand to block Qi Yong’s grasp at the painting. Beigong Juechen sat calmly to one side, holding a brimming cup of wine, watching the scene unfold with great interest.

“Palace Master Qi, once a gift is given, there is no reason to take it back. Moreover...” Beigong Qiyi snorted coldly. “This item was mine in the first place!” As he spoke, his hand shot out toward Qi Yong’s throat. Qi Yong’s expression didn’t change; he pushed off the edge of the table with his left foot, his body swiftly returning to his original spot. He tidied his robes, lifted his eyes, and smiled. “Young Master, you too must have heard: what is yours will always be yours. Some things cannot be forced.”

Beigong Qiyi shifted position, reclining against his chair, gripping the brocade box tightly. “I return that very phrase to Palace Master Qi.” To the side, Beigong Juechen set down his empty cup with a smile. “I am rather curious to see what sort of painting could cause such a commotion between the two of you.” As he spoke, he reached for the painting.

But Beigong Qiyi slid the box back, smiling. “It’s nothing more than a crude sketch I did on a whim; I wouldn’t want to offend your eyes, brother.” Beigong Juechen’s brows twitched ever so slightly as he gave Beigong Qiyi a subtle glance. “If it’s your own handiwork, then I must insist on seeing it.” Qi Yong folded his arms, watching Beigong Qiyi as if he were enjoying a show.

Beigong Qiyi felt a jolt of alarm within, though not a trace showed on his face. He realized Qi Yong had set him up, yet there was nothing he could do but evade, saying, “If you wish to see it, brother, I can show you in private another time.” Beigong Juechen, always brash and unrestrained, simply nodded nonchalantly when denied. Beigong Qiyi had just breathed a sigh of relief when, in a sudden blur, the box was no longer in his hands.

“Brother!” Beigong Qiyi called out softly. Beigong Juechen glanced at him indifferently, then opened the box, drew out the scroll, and slowly unfurled it as Beigong Qiyi bit his lower lip, watching helplessly. Yet when his eyes fell upon the subject in the painting, he first froze, then finally relaxed.

Beigong Juechen looked at the striking woman in the painting and sneered, “She is indeed rather good-looking.” Beigong Qiyi quietly exhaled a sigh of relief and forced a laugh. “Now that you’ve seen it, may I have it back?” Beigong Juechen cast him a sly glance, smiled, rolled the painting up, and returned it to the box, handing it back.

Beigong Qiyi tossed the box aside and looked toward Qi Yong. He had a nagging sense that this man would not let him off so easily—and sure enough, Qi Yong produced another painting from his sleeve. He arched a brow at Beigong Juechen and smiled. “Master Beigong, the true beauty is actually in this painting.”

Beigong Juechen’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly as Qi Yong flicked his wrist and the painting unfurled before all. In Beigong Juechen’s dark green eyes, a chill glinted like frost.

Now the crowd’s collective gasp grew heavier, the surrounding air turning so cold that all present shivered involuntarily. Qi Yong, however, remained composed, standing tall and unmoving.

In the painting, a person lounged languidly on a soft couch, a dark green robe loosely belted to reveal a broad expanse of snowy-white chest. Long, black hair spilled carelessly over shoulders. Slender phoenix eyes lifted at the corners, bearing three parts wildness, six parts arrogance, and a touch of tenderness—yet altogether dazzling. Crimson lips slightly parted, evoking both supreme beauty and unyielding pride.

It was unmistakably... Beigong Juechen in his youth!

Beigong Qiyi’s eyes turned icy cold as he flew toward Qi Yong. Qi Yong carefully stowed the painting away, then finally met Beigong Qiyi’s fierce attack head-on. As their palms collided, every wine cup and teapot in the hall shattered at once. Qi Yong narrowed his eyes, stamped his right foot, and increased the force of his palm.

Beigong Qiyi gritted his teeth. He knew he wasn’t Qi Yong’s match and considered withdrawing his hand, risking a backlash, but Qi Yong withdrew his inner strength first. Beigong Qiyi looked at him in surprise, but the man only gave him a strange smile before vanishing from sight. Alarmed, Beigong Qiyi whirled around to see Qi Yong holding Beigong Juechen tightly in his arms. Beigong Juechen’s face remained calm, but Beigong Qiyi saw that his hands hung loosely together—clearly, he was utterly powerless.

Hidden within the wide sleeves, Beigong Juechen’s hands were clenched together. Beigong Qiyi stared coldly at Qi Yong and said in a chilling tone, “Let him go.” Sitting in the seat Beigong Juechen had just vacated, Qi Yong held the man firmly with one arm while filling a cup with the other. He sneered, “Let him go? How could I possibly let him go?” He placed the cup at the man’s lips and murmured, “I know that drug can’t hold you for long, so drink this...”

Beigong Juechen looked at him coldly, his pride undiminished. Qi Yong sighed, sounding almost resigned. “I knew you wouldn’t cooperate...” With that, he poured the wine into his own mouth, seized Beigong Juechen’s jaw, forced his mouth open, and let the wine flow into him. Pressing the tip of his tongue to the root of Beigong Juechen’s tongue, he did not release him until every drop had been swallowed.

Everyone in the hall watched, not even daring to breathe, terrified that a single misstep would draw attention and doom them.

Beigong Qiyi’s dark eyes grew even colder. He took a step forward, only to hear Qi Yong’s low chuckle. “Don’t come any closer...” Beigong Qiyi half-narrowed his eyes, his voice icy. “Li Manor has countless experts. Do you really think you can leave with him?” But Qi Yong only laughed. “There’s nowhere in this world I cannot go.”

Beigong Qiyi knew that Qi Yong’s skill was no less than Beigong Juechen’s. He could only steady his breathing, trying to buy time for Beigong Juechen to recover his strength. “Palace Master Qi, you’re truly remarkable. To be able to poison someone in such a brief instant, in front of so many people, and deceive us all.”

Qi Yong saw through his stalling, but smiled indifferently, his hand gently caressing Beigong Juechen’s smooth cheek as he spoke softly, “Actually, the poison was always on the Young Master.” Beigong Qiyi’s expression changed. “The painting?”

Qi Yong nodded, then shook his head. “Not just the painting. The painting itself is harmless, but when I fought you for the painting, I used ‘Induction’ on you.” At this, Qi Yong laughed. “Come to think of it, ‘Induction’ is also not poisonous. You’ve been familiar with poisons since you were a child—using poison in front of you would be like showing off before an expert.”

The painting was harmless; ‘Induction’ was harmless. Only together did they form the poison. Beigong Qiyi stared coldly at the hand stroking Beigong Juechen’s face, wishing nothing more than to chop it off and feed it to the dogs. He took two deep breaths and said in a low voice, “Since both are used on me, why am I unharmed?”

Qi Yong raised his eyebrows and chuckled. “Who said you’re unharmed?” Beigong Qiyi’s heart clenched as he secretly gathered his strength—only to find his inner force bound, unable to release even a fraction. Qi Yong watched him, then smiled again. “Are you puzzled as to why only your inner strength is sealed, while he is rendered completely powerless?”

Beigong Qiyi said nothing, his gaze fixed on Qi Yong.

Qi Yong stood up, still holding Beigong Juechen. The man lay quietly in his arms, his long, powerful arms limp, fingers showing like pale scallions from the wide sleeves. “You know the Hundred Venom Palace is famed for its poisons, but you don’t know it also has the greatest poison makers in the world.” Staring at Beigong Juechen, Qi Yong gave a wild, triumphant smile. “This was something I spent ten years creating, made solely for you. I even gave it a name—Phoenix in Chains!”

Beigong Qiyi’s eyes narrowed sharply.

Phoenix in Chains—Seeking the Phoenix...