Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Wen Qiao traveled daily between Heavenly Cloud Peak and Jade Gathering Peak to practice alongside her master's wife, Liu Ruozhu.

After a month, Liu Ruozhu left due to some matters, leaving Wen Qiao to practice on her own. She still went to the peak of Heavenly Cloud Peak every day to practice her punches, endlessly repeating the monotonous routine.

The disciples of Heavenly Cloud Peak all thought that their new junior sister was truly obedient. However, upon witnessing the empty stone shattered by her punch, they wisely kept their distance.

Though Junior Sister was both sweet and gentle, her combat strength was too formidable. It was best to maintain some distance.

Aside from that, Sheng Yunshen hadn't shown up again.

Two weeks ago, his condition worsened as the toxins resurfaced, causing grotesque lumps to cover his body. To avoid frightening others, he secluded himself, allowing only a few close ones to visit while turning away all others.

As the sun set, a radiant glow from the dusk enveloped the mountain.

After finishing her punches, Wen Qiao flicked her sleeves, brushing off the mountain mist and evening hues. Picking up Wen TuTu, who was nibbling on fruits atop the empty stone, she descended the mountain.

Arriving at the grand hall near the middle of Heavenly Cloud Peak, Wen Qiao didn't find the couple, the sect leaders, who usually attended to sect affairs there. Thus, she made her way to the back hall.

The rear hall was a row of antique chambers, the residence of the Sect Master and his spouse.

Sheng Yunshen currently resided here.

Arriving in front of one of the chambers, Wen Qiao knocked on the door. A raspy and unpleasant voice echoed from inside, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Senior Brother Sheng," she replied.

There was a moment of silence within the room before the voice continued, "It's Little Junior Sister. I don't look too presentable right now, and the air inside isn't great either. Please don't come in."

Wen Qiao hummed in response, then said, "In I go, then."

Sheng Yunshen: "..."

The room was dimly lit, with an unpleasant stench lingering in the air, reminiscent of that small residence in Cangwu Town. Wen Qiao entered composedly and immediately spotted Sheng Yunshen, sitting in a corner, his demeanor lifeless and gloomy.

Sheng Yunshen is typically a cheerful and laughter-loving young man, with a candid and easygoing nature, brimming with a strong sense of justice. He is incredibly approachable and easy to get along with, unless one harbors ill intentions or possesses a vile temperament – it's rare for anyone to dislike him otherwise.

Yet at this moment, Sheng Yunshen was the same as when they first met in Cangwu Town, with a resolution to meet his end.

Not that he wished to die, but he refused to burden the entire sect because of himself.

Although he had never been to the Netherworld, he was aware of its dangers. For a living person to enter it was a perilous journey with a slim chance of survival. Seeking the rare Thousand-Year Heart-Eroding Grass would only multiply the risks. He, Sheng Yunshen, would not accept others sacrificing their lives for his sake; his life wasn't so precious.

"Wen Senior Brother, do you want some spirit pills?" Wen Qiao asked, producing a pill bottle and pouring out several supreme-grade spirit pills. She stuffed one into Wen Tuttu's mouth and offered another to him.

Sheng Yunshen glanced at her cautiously. Half of her face was shrouded in shadows, her scarred skin marred with black bumps, resembling a ghostly visage.

Taking the pill gingerly without touching her, he said as he popped it into his mouth, "Supreme-grade spirit pills are hard to come by. You shouldn't bring them here anymore."

"It's fine, my husband can refine them."

Sheng Yunshen choked again, feeling exhausted from conversing with his junior sister.

After sitting together for a while, they finished the bottle of spirit pills, and Wen Qiao rose to leave.

With a stony expression, Sheng Yunshen—who had unknowingly consumed several supreme-grade pills—pondered the purpose of her visit. Was it simply to sit with him and consume spirit pills?

Exiting the rear hall, Wen Qiao was about to depart from Heavenly Cloud Peak when she noticed someone flying towards them on a spiritual artifact. The individual's speed was breathtaking, their trailing spirit light slicing through the sky like a dazzling streak.

In the blink of an eye, the figure had already arrived at Heavenly Cloud Peak.

Wen Qiao found herself face to face with the stranger without any preparation.

It was a male cultivator, dressed in snow-white robes and with ink-black hair. His features were refined, and his eyes seemed to hold a frosty glint. Upon seeing Wen Qiao, a hint of confusion flickered in those icy orbs.

Wen Qiao observed him silently before stepping forward to bow. "Greetings, Second Senior Brother."

This was Sheng Zhenhai's second disciple, Yi Xuan. He had been away searching for the Millennium Heart-Eroding Grass and couldn't make it back for the apprenticeship ceremony. So engrossed was he in his search that he had paid little attention to the happenings within the sect, leaving him momentarily bewildered when a pretty young girl addressed him as her Second Senior Brother.

Fortunately, a hurried Inner Sect disciple from Heavenly Cloud Peak came to their rescue, calling out joyfully to Second Senior Brother while explaining Wen Qiao's identity.

Warmth suffused Yi Xuan's handsome countenance, and he nodded slightly. "So you're my little junior sister. Are Master and Madam around?"

"Neither of them is here. Only Senior Brother Sheng is present."

Upon hearing this, Yi Xuan said, "Little Junior Sister, we can postpone the meeting gift for another time. I'll go look for Master and Madam first."

"Take care, Second Senior Brother."

Yi Xuan departed hastily, his snow-white garments billowing in the wind, speckled with traces of blood. It was evident that his journey had been anything but smooth, and he might have even engaged in a fierce battle.

After watching Yi Xuan leave, Wen Qiao went to Heavenly Spirit Peak to meet her husband.

Ning Yuzhou had spent all his time on Heavenly Spirit Peak lately, working alongside Fei Yubai to study Sheng Yunshen's poison. Their dedication was so intense that they neglected sleep and food.

Although they possessed the Second-Turn Yin-Yang Pill, the scarcity of the Thousand-Year Heart-Eating Grass made it impractical to rely solely on it. Thus, the duo shifted their focus to researching alternative detoxification pills. Even if these pills couldn't cure Sheng Yunshen, they could still be useful against future encounters with demonic cultivators, preventing disciples from being left to their fate.

All the peak leaders supported this endeavor.

Crimson Heaven Sect was the leading force among righteous cultivators and, as such, a prime target for retaliatory attacks by demonic cultivators. When disciples ventured out for training, clashes with these malevolent beings were inevitable. Demons were cunning, often resorting to underhanded tactics and proficient in using poisons. Their toxins were potent and not all detoxification pills were effective against them. Countless disciples had perished due to the inability to counteract demonic poisons.

With a potent detoxification pill, the safety of the sect's disciples would be better assured when confronting demonic cultivators.

Wen Qiao arrived at Fei Yubai's alchemy lab and waited for Ning Yuzhou, who eventually emerged looking exhausted. He said, "Sorry for keeping you waiting. Let's head back."

Wen Qiao acknowledged him and allowed him to lead her away. During the journey, she shared with him about encountering her second senior brother, Yi Xuan, on Sky Cloud Peak. "...It seemed like he was looking for Master and Lady Master, but then he left in a hurry."

Ning Yuzhou seemed lost in thought. "Could it be that he found the trace of the Thousand-Year Heart-Eroding Grass?"

"Were they really able to?" Wen Qiao looked at him in surprise.

"It's likely. But with his strength alone, he couldn't retrieve it. So, he returned to seek help."

According to Qin Hongdao and the others, Yi Xuan was an Ice-Type Primordial Spirit Root cultivator with an Empyrean Realm cultivation. Despite his cold demeanor like snow, he had a soft heart and cared deeply for his only junior brother, Sheng Yunshen. Upon learning that his junior brother had been poisoned and needed the Thousand-Year Heart-Eroding Grass, he immediately set out to find it, returning after nearly half a year.

"If we can locate it, Senior Brother Sheng will have a chance," Wen Qiao said. "I visited him today, and he looks terrible. It's as if he has accepted his fate."

"Because he doesn't want to burden others," Ning Yuzhou explained.

Wen Qiao looked at him in surprise. "Why would he think that? If anything were to happen to him, Master and Madam would be devastated. As long as there's a glimmer of hope, they wouldn't wish for him to die."

"But if Master and Madam were to encounter danger while searching for the Thousand-Year Heart-Eroding Grass for him, he'd rather die himself."

Upon hearing this, Wen Qiao's expression softened, and she fell silent.

Ning Yuzhou suddenly pulled her into his embrace, speaking warmly, "Ah Chuo, don't overthink it. You'll understand eventually."

No one knew better than him the environment in which the young girl in his arms had grown up, and how it had shaped her. At their first encounter, she appeared to be a cool and composed maiden, level-headed and composed. But wasn't this aloofness a result of her isolation from the world?

Born frail and beset by illnesses, she lacked the care and upbringing of parents; the Wen family only ensured her basic well-being but offered no excess affection. Over the course of a dozen or so years, a brief span in the life of cultivators who always hunger for more time to hone their skills, why would they invest heavily in a sickly girl destined for an early death? It was deemed wiser to keep a distance, lest attachment grows, only to be met with the inevitability of her demise—a tragedy too heartrending to bear.

She grew up alone, fell sick alone, and bore her illnesses alone. Everything was a solitary experience for her.

Thus, when the Ning family sought to honor the long-standing betrothal, the Wen family raised no objections, allowing the Nings to take her away under the pretense of marriage.

Thus, it could be said that she had severed all emotional ties and karma with the Wen family.

Influenced by her surroundings, she was ignorant of many social intricacies, as innocent as a blank slate.

Therefore, he had to nurture and guide her with utmost care, imparting both the good and the bad. For her better development, he would exhaust all his efforts to create a conducive environment for her.

His Wen Qiao would grow into an excellent person.

And he would be her guiding light, leading her to a more vibrant and magnificent world.

Wen Qiao reached out to embrace his waist, her voice gentle and soft, "If you get hurt, I'll also find a remedy for you. Even if... I won't regret it."

"That won't do, Ah Chu must live on," Ning Yuzhou said, recalling the incident at Lintai Hunting Valley when she had faced life and death before his eyes. If not for her transformation into a demonic form, she might truly have perished.

His heart ached slightly, and his expression darkened, but his voice remained gentle as he said, "Ah Chu, promise me that you won't risk your life so easily for anyone else in the future. You must live on well. Only by staying alive can one have hope, can one attain what they desire."

"Alright, I understand," she replied obediently.

Ning Yuzhou concealed the emotion on his face, not wanting her to witness his gloom. When he looked at her again, his demeanor returned to its usual calm and composed self. He caressed her head and led her back to Jucui Peak for some rest.

The following day, Wen Qiao went to visit Sheng Yunshen once more.

The Sect Leader and his spouse were still absent, and for the time being, some trivial matters within the sect were being handled by a few Inner Sect disciples from Heavenly Cloud Peak.

Though not directly apprenticed to the sect leader, these inner disciples held considerable sway on Skycloud Peak, symbolizing the peak as a whole. In times when the sect leader and his spouse were absent or preoccupied with other matters, it was they who attended to the trivial affairs of CrimsonSky Sect, ensuring the smooth operation of the entire order.

Upon seeing Sheng Yunshen, Wen Qiao pulled out a vial and the trio – two humans and one rabbit – began consuming spirit pills.

"Second Senior Brother returned yesterday," Wen Qiao said.

"I'm aware." Sheng Yunshen spoke while chewing on a spirit pill. "But he left quickly without even meeting me once." At this point, he sounded a little resentful, perhaps feeling that, as he was nearing death, he wished to see his family one last time.

"He's very busy, probably searching for the Millennium Heart-eating Grass," Wen Qiao remarked.

Sheng Yunshen paused in his chewing of the spirit pill, ignoring his current disheveled appearance as he turned to look at her, startled. "How did you know?"

"It's what my husband said."

"Really? Did Junior Brother Ning really say that?" Sheng Yunshen probed further.

Wen Qiao nodded and recounted Ning Yuzhou's words from the previous day to him.

Sheng Yunshen immediately grew agitated. After the initial excitement subsided, he was overcome with worry. Deep down, he didn't really want his parents to take such risks, but he knew he couldn't dissuade them. In their hearts, they would rather die than see him suffer.

But wasn't it the same for him? He would rather sacrifice himself than put his parents in harm's way.

"Don't overthink it. Senior Mother is incredibly capable, she'll be fine," Wen Qiao reassured him, slipping a spirit pill into his mouth.

Sheng Yunshen nearly choked, rolling his eyes for a moment before swallowing the pill weakly. "Little Junior Sister, don't just shove spirit pills into my mouth like that again. At least give me a heads-up next time."

"Oh, I see."

Wen Qiao responded with a cold indifference, then promptly fed a spirit pill to Wen Tuttu. The latter promptly swallowed it without hesitation.

Then Wen Qiao cast him a glance.

Sheng Yunshen: "..."

Do you think everyone is like Wen Tuzi, a mutated monster beast with a craving for spiritual pills?

Recently, Wen Qiao has made it a daily routine to visit Sheng Yunshen atop the mountain after finishing her boxing practice in the evenings. Regardless of Sheng Yunshen's refusals, she insists on entering his quarters, where they would then, along with Wen Tuantuan, consume spiritual pills together. Once a bottle of these pills is finished, she departs, carrying Wen Tuantuan with her.

From initial helplessness to profound gratitude, Sheng Yunshen experienced a full range of emotions.

How could he not know that his junior sister was worried about him being alone with his thoughts, and thus came specifically to keep him company?

She offered him spirit pills to alleviate his physical suffering.

In this world, how could there be such a kind and considerate junior sister? He finally understood why "junior sisters" in the world always won the affection of elders and senior siblings. No wonder Mu Shan had developed such a disposition. He even found himself wanting to nurture his own junior sister similarly, ready to shield her from any consequences of her mischiefs.

Forget it, he would no longer look down on Mu Shan of the Qingyun Sect.

As Sheng Yunshen's time to succumb to the poison drew closer, alchemists from Crimson Cloud Sect stationed themselves on Heavenly Cloud Peak, even the peak's Ancestral Master, Emperor Yuan Yun, personally intervened to suppress the poison for Sheng Yunshen, demonstrating the great value they placed on this disciple's life.

With an Emperor Realm powerhouse suppressing the poison, its spread within Sheng Yunshen's body slowed significantly, allowing them another two weeks of respite.

Fei Yubai and Ning Yuzhou also arrived.

Each of them conducted an examination on him.

The other alchemists couldn't help but secretly size up Ning Yuzhou out of curiosity.

The lowest rank among these alchemists was a Earth Rank Alchemist, so Ning Yuzhou, who still carried the title of a Yellow Rank Alchemist, seemed rather insignificant. However, the fact that even Fei Yubai would occasionally consult with him made these Earth Rank Alchemists not only refrain from looking down upon him, but also treat him with great respect.

They had no choice; their own peak master had openly referred to this man as his "honorable younger brother." How could the alchemists of Heavenly Spirit Peak dare to disrespect him?

After examining Sheng Yunshen, Ning Yuzhou suggested to Fei Yubai, "Let's add some Inkleaf Lotus."

Fei Yubai's mind worked quickly, and he immediately grasped Ning Yuzhou's intention. "Inkleaf Lotus is a ninth-grade demonic lotus with icy poison. It can perfectly counteract the heat-based poison. Good idea."

Fortunately, there happened to be an Inkleaf Lotus in the sect's pill storage room, sparing them the trouble of going outside to collect it.

Now, their every action was geared towards prolonging the onset of the poison as they awaited the return of the Sect Leader and his wife.

Just as the atmosphere on Heavenly Cloud Peak grew increasingly somber, the Sect Leader and his wife finally returned, accompanied by Qin Hongye and Yi Xuan.