Su Bei staggered to his feet, only to fall back onto the pillow, his eyes wide with surprise as he looked at her.
For some reason, he felt a pull in his heart, a sensation that grew especially strong the moment he saw her.
He tried to suppress this inexplicable throbbing, repeatedly hypnotizing himself.
Damn it, why is that red thread tied to her? Su Bei, Su Bei, don’t be fooled by her stunning beauty. She’s actually old enough to be twice your age... Just one more step, and *she* could have helped you ascend to the ranks of immortals.
"Why has the Saintess come?"
"Is Elder Su all right?"
Both spoke at the same time.
Then, both fell silent at the same time.
"Um... Saintess, would you like to come in and sit for a moment? You even came especially to see me," Su Bei offered.
Ji Nanjue was also puzzled. At this time of day, given her lazy and home-loving nature, she should be eating candied fruit and reading novels...
Key Smoke, with her solemn and sacred demeanor, said indifferently, "I just happened to be passing by."
"To take a look on my way."
Wenren Pingxin asked with a puzzled expression, "Didn’t the Saintess say she followed because her niece wanted to come?"
Die Yi, standing behind her, stepped forward. She took out a bright red, bull’s-eye-sized pill that instantly filled the room with a fragrant aroma, and said boldly, "This is a... This is a First Grade Meridian Pill I concocted casually. It’s for Elder Su’s healing."
"It should have a significant effect on damaged meridians."
Everyone in the room stared oddly at this woman, who clearly had no cultivation, and at the pill she claimed to have personally concocted.
"Perhaps the Saintess would like to come in and sit down..." Wenren Pingxin, unsure what to say, poured a glass of water to hand to her.
"No need. Elder Su should rest well."
After glancing at Su Bei’s wounds, she turned and hurried away.
Die Yi tossed the First Grade Meridian Pill to Su Bei and followed hastily. Both figures departed as hastily as they had arrived, seemingly true to what Key Smoke had said.
"Taking a look on my way."
Su Bei wore a pained expression.
Such a waste! That’s a First Grade Pill, not a marble!
Die Yi quickly caught up with Key Smoke, a puzzled look on her face. "Aunt, why are we leaving so soon?"
Before she could finish her next sentence, she felt a THWACK on her head.
Now the two swollen bumps on her head were perfectly symmetrical—very even!
"I’m tired! I’m going to take a bath!" Key Smoke snapped.
With a fierce glare at Die Yi, she headed towards the Sacred Cold Spring. There was a secluded spot there, her special bathing place.
Her clothes shimmered like flowing moonlight, and the strange feeling in her heart suddenly intensified.
Yet she paid it no mind, or rather, she chose to ignore it.
Seeing Key Smoke leave, Ji Nanjue also stood up. He hesitated for a moment, then took Su Bei’s hand, his words bearing a deep meaning. "Brother Bei, after you ascend the Immortal Platform, don’t forget the promise between us!"
"At that time, I will reveal a secret to Brother Bei."
As he spoke, his ears turned imperceptibly pink before he turned and left with Lin Jinyu.
Lin Jinyu’s eyes flickered; it seemed Su Bei had winked at her.
Her mind raced, trying to decipher Su Bei’s subtle gesture. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by NoveI★Fire.net
Tap his arm three times? Did that mean the third watch of the night? And asking Wenren Pingxin to close the main door... did that mean he wanted me to use the back door!?
"Little brother, heal well. Your sister is leaving now..." Yu Hongxiu giggled. In truth, her sole purpose for coming had been to confirm a suspicion. Now that her purpose was achieved, there was no point in staying any longer.
Her red silk garment floated away, carrying a fragrant breeze.
Only a few people remained in the room.
Su Bei looked at the expressionless Dan Wulan, feeling terribly guilty.
Ji Nanjue, with his rumored preference for men; the ill-reputed Yu Hongxiu; the odd Key Smoke; and several of my disciples who harbor ulterior motives, always scheming to ’pluck this tender grass’—that’s me. And I’ve just confirmed my relationship with Wulan. With so many women buzzing around, all these ambiguous connections... she must feel terrible.
It seems I need to explain to her that my heart is very large; having just one person in it would feel far too empty...
"Um... I need to recover my meridians," he said with an awkward smile, holding up the pill Die Yi had given him.
"The Sacred Sanctuary has a cold spring. I remember there’s one right in the center... the Sacred Cold Spring..." Wenren Pingxin furrowed her brows slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said.
Su Bei struggled to get up. His right hand clutched the First Grade Meridian Pill, and in his left, he held a glass ball. The First Grass Creation Pill in his Dantian was still not fully absorbed.
"Um... Sister, would you mind carrying your junior brother for a bit?" Su Bei asked. "The more secluded the place, the better..."
Just then, a Sword Sect Disciple rushed in, whispering something to Wenren Pingxin.
Wenren Pingxin’s expression turned serious, but she quickly regained her composure and smiled at Su Bei, saying, "Bei Bei, you just focus on healing these next few days!"
"Once the Ascension Platform ceremony is over, we’ll head back to the sect."
"Wulan, take your senior brother to the Sacred Cold Spring. I have some matters to attend to."
"You three, come with me."
With that, she led Su Bei’s three disciples out of the room.
Finally, only Su Bei and Dan Wulan were left in the room. Dan Wulan stepped forward and said, "Hold onto my waist."
Su Bei carefully examined her slender waist and asked a somewhat foolish but thought-provoking question: