Su Kang took his brother towards his own residence, the silence between them heavy with unspoken questions.

Once inside, Su Kang turned to Su Ting, his expression serious. "Brother, Tell me honestly, what do you feel about Miss Yue?"

Su Ting hesitated, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. "I... I don't know," he mumbled, avoiding his brother's gaze.

"It's strange. I feel like I've known her for a long time. It's… a pull, a familiarity I can't explain."

"At the beginning I thought maybe she used some spells to charm me. But I don't think she is a demon cultivator."

"Brother, I don't know if this is fate or something else, but I'm drawn towards her."

Su Kang sighed inwardly. It was as he suspected. His brother likes her. He placed a hand on Su Ting's shoulder.

"Brother, if you truly care for her, you must tread carefully. Miss Yue is...complicated. We still don't know her true purpose for being here."

Su Ting's face clouded over. He knows that he could not put his family in danger for his feelings.

He is not even sure about his punishment, whether his brother lied or not.

"Mother will be so disappointed in me." Su Ting thought.

"I understand, brother. I will be careful." He left Su Kang's side after this, and then Su Kang started waiting for her to act.

Meanwhile, back in her guest quarters, Yue Mei's carefully constructed composure finally shattered. She took out the hairpin from her hair, her fingers trembling as she activated the communication array.

"Aunt… It's going wrong," she whispered, her voice desperate. "Su Kang, he knows something. He's testing me, playing games."

Her aunt's voice was tinged with concern.

"Yue Mei, calm yourself. Tell me everything. What happened?"

Yue Mei poured out the events of the morning, the veiled threats, Su Ting's acceptance of his 'punishment,' and the chilling awareness in Su Kang's eyes.

"He's suspicious, Aunt. I can feel it. And he is creating rifts between Su Ting and myself."

Su Ting will lose one of his limbs because of her. He will blame her for hiding her cultivation and betraying his trust. He will suffer this because of her.

Silence hung in the air as her aunt digested this information. "This is troubling," she finally said, her voice grave.

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"This Su Kang not only saw through your cultivation, despite it being hidden so well, but he also created troubles for us."

"You said his luck is good but nowhere near a genius from the Xuantian Empire; even Ting is better than him."

Yue Mei nodded after hearing this. Su Ting was not supposed to suffer this, but her cursed fate is bringing troubles for Su Ting as well.

"Aunt, I think we should apologize to Su Ting and go back. I don't want to suffer him because of me." Yue Mei said.

Her aunt let out a slow sigh. "Yue Mei, you know the risks. Your furnace body... If they found out its true nature, then even I wouldn't be able to protect you."

"I don't know why the heavens have created a cursed physique like yours and your mother's, but my divination technique has led us here. You said you felt some strange connection with Su Ting."

"Yes, but how can a man help me when men are the reason for my problems? Perhaps it's my bloodline that is somehow being affected by him." Yue Mei responded.

"We should leave this place. Aunt, I have already accepted my fate."

Her aunt's voice softened. "Yue Mei, listen to me. If it was because of bloodline, then you would have felt a similar connection with Su Kang as well. Just try to stay near Su Ting until you find a cure for your physique."

"I don't think they will really cut one of the limbs of Ting. Try to solve this situation peacefully; if not, I will take action personally."

"But Su Kang is like a wall. He isn't even affected by my charm, unlike others. Same goes for Su Ting, aunt. It's their lineage that has something special."

"Yue Mei, maybe it was our fault that we tried to hide too much. Let's try a more sincere approach; if you still fail to find a solution, then I will do something. We don't have any other choice."

Yue Mei didn't want her aunt to take action. She knows that her aunt is very strong even among Nascent Soul Realm. If she wanted to take Su Ting away with force, then she would do this for her sake.

Yue Mei nodded reluctantly. She decided to become sincere in her ways. For the next two days, she waited, expecting Su Ting to visit her again.

But Su Ting didn't come again. Perhaps because he was confined by Su Kang or perhaps he didn't want to see her anymore. Yue Mei couldn't monitor his situation through her spiritual mirror all the time because her cultivation was too low for such spiritual artifacts.

Yue Mei decided to leave. She doesn't know if the Su family will really punish Su Ting after this. She visited the residence of Su Kang. Soon she met him in the main hall.

"Young Master Su," she began, her voice soft but firm, "I apologize for any trouble I've caused your family. I'll be leaving now." She bowed deeply.

"Please tell your family not to punish him because of me. I will ask for forgiveness from them as well if you want me." She added.

Su Kang watched her, his gaze unwavering. "Miss Yue," he said.

"Your departure is sudden. And what about your search for rare herbs?" Su Kang asked, a hint of irony in his voice.

Yue Mei met his gaze; her face looked composed, but her smile was self-deprecating.

"That was a lie. I came here for... personal reasons. Reasons I can't share," she confessed.

A tense silence filled the hall. Su Kang studied her, his expression unreadable. He was not sure if obstacles in her way were the reason she came here. But she doesn't want to harm Su Ting.

"I want to apologize to Su Ting. Can I meet him?" She asked.

He nodded and left the main hall for them. Soon Su Ting came and saw her.

"Su Ting," she said softly, her voice thick with unshed tears.

"I'm leaving," she told him, her voice filled with sadness.

"I'm sorry for everything. For the trouble, for the deception."

"It's okay. The punishment was a lie..." he was interrupted by her.

"I know. I guessed it that much. You are loved by your family; people can see it through your actions." She smiled at him.

"You want to eat something; I will prepare it immediately." Su Ting asked in a heavy tone.

"No, it's fine. Your food was the best I've ever tasted. I guess you will reach the peak of culinary arts one day." She forced a smile as she tried to tease him.

"Yeah, I will try."His shoulders slumped, and his hands clenched into fists as he said.

"Why do I feel like I've known you for a long time?" he asked, his gaze searching hers.

Yue Mei's breath caught in her throat. She felt it too, that inexplicable sense of familiarity. It was as if their souls recognized each other, despite their brief acquaintance.

"I don't know," she finally admitted in a trembling voice.

Could he be the key to unlocking the curse of her furnace body? The thought sent a jolt of hope through her.

She didn't want to change her decision and decided to leave immediately. Her heart is shaking in his presence. She turned around and left.

"Will we ever see each other again?" She heard his voice coming from behind as he shouted.

She clenched her fist as she ignored him and left. As Yue Mei was leaving, exiting the manor,

"Miss Yue," Su Kang called out, his voice stopping her in her tracks. "Wait."

"Don't go. I was just checking if you're someone trustworthy." He sighed. He can't let her go after witnessing that farewell.

"I'm not sure your family will be safe because of me." Yue Mei answered as she looked at him. He saw pain, fear, and her unwavering resolve to leave in her gaze.

"I can help you; first let me know your reasons. It's up to me to decide after that." he said, his voice low and earnest.

"Tell me the truth, Miss Yue. I swear on my heart demons that I won't harm you or reveal your secret to anyone."

"How about this? Can we talk now?" He asked her.