Time seemed to stop for Fan Li. His mind remained clear, but he had lost all control over his body. Han Yue's lips still pressed against his, and the sliver of spiritual energy that had entered his forehead now coursed through his veins, exploring every corner of his inner world.

Inexperienced.

That was Fan Li's assessment of Han Yue's kiss, based on his limited experience. Then, he realized the absurdity of the situation. At a time like this, why was he evaluating her kissing technique?

What was she trying to do? Fan Li wanted to scream, but he couldn't utter a sound.

"Ding!"

"System has detected an anomaly. Host, you are being probed by the Heart-Snatching Mirror. The caster is attempting to uncover your deepest secrets."

The Heart-Snatching Mirror?

Fan Li was grateful for the system's timely warning. He finally understood Han Yue's intentions. She wanted to uncover his secrets?

He had many – the Fan Clan's hidden wealth, the Great Jin kingdom's true strength, his own identity as a transmigrator. But his greatest secret was the Number One Traitor System itself.

"System, can you help me?" Fan Li asked mentally.

"Apologies, Host. According to the system's operational principles, any significant assistance requires a corresponding price, such as completing a mission. Your current situation hasn't activated any missions. Therefore, I am unable to assist you."

Fan Li rolled his eyes. Unable to assist? Was this something a system should say? What happened to being all-powerful? Where was his golden finger?

"System, aren't you worried about being exposed as well?" he demanded.

"Negative. Rest assured, Host. I can completely shield myself from the Heart-Snatching Mirror's probe. Even memories and information related to system rewards are protected."

Fan Li was both amused and exasperated. So, every man for himself?

Abandoned by his own system at such a crucial moment?

He felt the Heart-Snatching Mirror's energy probing his heart. What was Han Yue looking for? He had assumed she would search his memories, stored within the hippocampus, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, diencephalon, and cortex of his brain.

He initially thought Han Yue, unfamiliar with modern medicine, didn't understand the brain's function, and had thus targeted the wrong organ. But he quickly realized he was mistaken. The Heart-Snatching Mirror, despite finding nothing within his heart, stubbornly remained there, coiled like a serpent. The only change was that Han Yue's kiss deepened, becoming more passionate. What was she trying to accomplish?

Stolen story; please report.

…

From Han Yue's perspective, she saw her. A woman of noble birth, breathtakingly beautiful, her allure capable of toppling empires. Liu Man, Princess Chang Le of the former Han Dynasty, now Empress of Great Chu. Also a disciple of Qing Qiu, the most promising talent the Brahma Sound Pure Land had seen in generations.

If she had remained within the Pure Land, Princess Chang Le would have been the undisputed successor, a position Bai Rong could only dream of. She was beautiful, intelligent, her cultivation talent unmatched, her cunning even more profound. And she was the first woman to leave a mark on Fan Li's heart.

Han Yue gazed at Princess Chang Le's image, a flicker of resentment in her eyes.

"You scoundrel, not even a princess is safe from your charms."

There was no pretense, no attempt to conceal her thoughts. Her inner voice, amplified by the Heart-Snatching Mirror, echoed in Fan Li's mind.

The technique had opened his heart, but it had also revealed Han Yue's feelings for him. The probe, it seemed, was a two-way street. Fan Li, still being kissed, blushed crimson. He wanted to defend himself, to explain that he wasn't a lecherous fiend. It had been the princess who had…

"The Imperial Noble Consort of Great Chu?!" Han Yue discovered a second woman's image within Fan Li's heart. She recognized Lu Fubao instantly, her expression shifting. A mixture of resentment and understanding. "So, you've emptied Emperor Xiang Ning's harem as well," she murmured.

Fan Li's blush deepened. He knew the women in his heart weren't limited to just two. He felt a deep sense of embarrassment, like a schoolboy whose diary had been discovered. He wished the earth would swallow him whole. But Han Yue wasn't finished.

"And who is she?!" She found a third image, blurry and indistinct, shifting between male and female attire, sometimes dressed in imperial robes, sometimes in the garb of a palace servant.

Han Yue hadn't paid much attention to Xiang Ning in the past. It took her a moment to recognize her. "You… aside from the Empress and the Imperial Noble Consort, you've even seduced the Emperor herself…"

Fan Li remained silent, though he couldn't have spoken even if he wanted to.

"Surely there are no more?" Han Yue's inner voice, though seemingly a question, felt like a slap in the face.

No more? Unfortunately, there was one more.

As the fourth image appeared, Han Yue's composure seemed to crumble. "You… you and Qing Qiu… when did this happen?!"

She recognized Qing Qiu instantly. They were too familiar. Years spent together in the Brahma Sound Pure Land, even with their aloof natures and limited interactions, their connection was undeniable. Fan Li imagined he could hear the grinding of Han Yue's teeth, though the kiss continued unabated.

"No more?" Yes, no more! Fan Li sighed with relief. He wanted to declare proudly: Just four! No more! I, Fan Li, may be a man of many affections, but I am not indiscriminate!

"Truly no more?" Han Yue's voice was filled with disappointment. Fan Li was puzzled. Then he heard her inner voice: "Truly… there is no… me?"

He was speechless.

Had he misunderstood? Or had she?

Why had she used the Heart-Snatching Mirror?

Was the Fan Clan's wealth not impressive enough?

Was the Great Jin kingdom insignificant? He felt both slighted and strangely flattered.

Then, amidst the chaos of his thoughts, a single, startling realization emerged: Did Han Yue truly love him?

Before he could dwell on this revelation, Han Yue's kiss deepened, becoming a passionate outpouring of emotions long suppressed, a torrent of feelings she now unleashed upon him, regardless of whether he reciprocated.

Love was a dye, leaving its mark wherever it spilled. And so, as time flowed, a change occurred. A new image, though fainter than the previous four, now resided within Fan Li's heart.

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