Qiao Jingwu received the elixir like a treasure, fully satisfied, while Su Chengyu pocketed all the medicinal materials prepared by the Qiao family. In addition to the thousand-year-old ginseng, there were many other precious medicinal materials, enough to refine two more high-grade Heavenly Pills.
With these elixirs, he could break through to the third level of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
If he gained more at Nine Peaks Mountain, he could face Zhao Tai’an head-on upon his return to Jiangyang city. With the added support of Qiao Jingwu, who was a Ninth Grade expert, crushing the Black Dragon Commerce Association of Jiangdong was within reach!
"I never thought that Mr. Su was a cultivator. No wonder he could easily cure my illness! Cultivators, mastering the Dao of Heaven and Earth, are indeed extraordinary," exclaimed Qiao Yuanting.
"This is also an opportunity for the Qiao family. If we can tie our fates to a cultivator, the Qiao family can thrive for a thousand years! Yuanting, spare no effort and spare no expense in collecting medicinal materials. My breakthrough to the Martial Marquis Realm and even higher, attacking the Martial King Realm, depends entirely on Mr. Su! He is our benefactor!"
Qiao Jingwu now attached great importance to Su Chengyu, full of future hope. He would not have to hide in the attic waiting for death, being at a high realm but only lingering on weakly!
Leaving the Qiao family, Su Chengyu returned to his hotel, took the elixir and began the challenge of the third layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Su Chengyu absorbed all the Heavenly Pills he had refined at Jiang Qi’s house. However, his mana did not increase much. The further he advanced in his cultivation, the more difficult it was to upgrade.
Even a Heavenly Pill refined from a thousand-year-old ginseng combined with other medicinal materials was not enough to elevate him a realm now.
Luckily, he had obtained quite a lot of medicinal materials from the Qiao family. When he refined two more batches of elixirs, it should be enough for his breakthrough.
Su Chengyu changed his clothes, hopped into his car and went to Xia Ruolan’s house. He was also planning to leave Huaizhou and head towards Yi An.
This was probably his last meal with Xia Ruolan. On the way, Su Chengyu specially bought a bouquet of flowers that Xia Ruolan liked.
Xia Ruolan opened the door with an apron tied around her, "please sit in the living room for a while. I just have one last dish to make."
Xia Ruolan prepared a table full of delicious food, including two signature dishes of Lin Jiang, which showed her thoughtful preparation.
"You’ve worked hard, Teacher Xia, preparing so much food by yourself."
"You’ve helped me so much, and there’s nothing I could do to repay you. These two signature dishes of Lin Jiang were learned from a video. I hope you won’t mind," Xia Ruolan said.
"How can you say that you haven’t repaid me? Didn’t you fulfill my dream?" Su Chengyu joked.
"Stop it. We are not talking about that again."
Xia Ruolan gave Su Chengyu a reproachful look, unable to hide her shyness. "Su, I’m truly grateful for you. I’ve thought about it, and if it weren’t for you, the consequences of these situations I’ve encountered would’ve been unbearable, terrifying. Having a student like you in my life is a blessing."
"And I’m also blessed to have such a beautiful teacher," Su Chengyu responded.
"Your words are always so smooth. You are so capable yet so handsome, I don’t dare to imagine how many girls you’ve troubled," Xia Ruolan laughed.
Su Chengyu replied earnestly, "When it comes to relationships, I am very serious. Teacher, you mustn’t slander me!"
"Don’t even start! Last time you dined at my house, you admitted to being surrounded by many women, a full-fledged Casanova! Even me - you dared to flirt and steal a kiss from. Are you planning to seduce your teacher as well?"
Xia Ruolan, who had drunk a bit of wine, spoke more freely. She winked her beautiful eyes and took her glass of wine.
Su Chengyu didn’t avoid the question.
The two looked at each other, unknowingly drawing closer, hearing each other’s breath, seeing the pores on each other’s face.
Xia Ruolan’s red lips moved slightly, opening attractively. Su Chengyu swallowed, and Xia Ruolan closed her eyes.
Su Chengyu, now an old hand at such things, got the signal and gently landed a kiss on Xia Ruolan’s lips.
This time, it was not a quick taste, but a deep, passionate kiss.
Xia Ruolan’s hands curled around Su Chengyu’s neck, and they slowly moved from the dining room to the bedroom, everything happening naturally.
Just at the last step before they would completely relinquish control to their desires, Xia Ruolan suddenly opened her eyes, with one hand blocking Su Chengyu’s advance.
"Su, this isn’t right. We’re a teacher and student," she said.
At that point, Su Chengyu was already excited and persistent, hardly willing to be discouraged. He softly said beside Xia Ruolan’s ear, "Teacher Xia, it’s very normal for teachers and students to be involved nowadays, moreover, I am no longer your student."
Xia Ruolan, who still had some inhibitions that were not entirely overcome, murmured, "I... I’m not mentally prepared yet, and I’m still not divorced. Let’s wait till after I get divorced tomorrow, okay?"
After such words from Xia Ruolan, Su Chengyu naturally couldn’t force it. So he got out of bed, got dressed again, and Xia Ruolan also sat up silently hugging him from behind.
"I’m sorry, I really... can’t do it. It feels like... cheating..."
"It’s okay, Teacher Xia. I understand, I was impulsive," Su Chengyu said.
Su Chengyu was understanding towards Xia Ruolan. As a teacher, she was very traditional concerning these aspects, even somewhat rigid, insisting on holding herself to a high standard. There was nothing wrong with that.
"Then... will you feel uncomfortable?" Xia Ruolan asked with pursed lips.
"Yes, I’m going to take a cold shower to calm down," and with that, Su Chengyu went into the bathroom.
Xia Ruolan got dressed, her mind tangled with complicated feelings.
After a while, Su Chengyu came out of the bathroom, Xia Ruolan was sitting on the edge of the bed with her head down. Su Chengyu said, "Teacher Xia, go take a bath, and then I’ll treat your ailment."
Xia Ruolan got up and entered the bathroom. Su Chengyu had suppressed his lustful thoughts. After Xia Ruolan was done bathing and came out, Su Chengyu had her lie on the bed, covering her upper body with a bath towel. His hand gently pressed on her lower abdomen, healing her damaged ovaries with his mana, so she could return to being a normal woman.
Xia Ruolan’s body was somewhat stiff. She could feel the warmth of Su Chengyu’s broad palm clearly. The tranquility she had regained was once again stirred with waves of emotions.
Treating infertility was easy for Su Chengyu, and he was done in about ten minutes. Then he moved onto treating Xia Ruolan’s breast cancer.
Su Chengyu carefully explained to Xia Ruolan that to treat the cancer, his hand also needed to touch her body so that he could use his mana to eliminate the cancer cells.
Even though Su Chengyu was continuously reciting his Calming Incantation in his mind, the sight of her white peaks before him again stirred his heart.
The treatment this time was a great torment and test for both of them.