Waving the banner of her Little Mother, Wen Qiwu thoroughly teased her senior sister. No matter how aloof and reserved her senior sister appeared on ordinary days, the moment Little Mother was mentioned, she would adopt a touch of restraint.
Wen Qiwu had originally only intended to tease her senior sister a bit, but that cold, reserved demeanor, faintly laced with temptation, stirred indecent thoughts in her heart.
She always felt like her senior sister was doing it on purpose, while she herself was the willing bird taking the bait. The atmosphere in the room gradually heated up until Wen Qiwu tasted a hint of blood, snapping her awake from her fanciful reverie.
This time, Wen Qiwu didn’t wait for her senior sister to say anything before contacting the Medical Immortal directly. When the Medical Immortal’s illusory figure appeared before them, the woman, who usually wore a perpetual scowl, clearly froze for a moment.
“Medical Immortal Senior! Please take a look at my senior sister!” Wen Qiwu briefly explained how the demon had schemed against her just moments ago. After understanding the situation, the Medical Immortal gave an awkward low cough.
“Let me see.” She stepped forward to begin the diagnosis. After the incident at the Phoenix Lord Tomb, the Medical Immortal had given Wen Qiwu a magical artifact to contact her specifically, to prevent Yun Heng—this troublesome patient—from running into more mishaps outside.
She just hadn’t expected them to be gone for only a few days before she was summoned. This Immortal Venerable was a bit too disaster-prone.
After a thorough examination, the Medical Immortal’s expression suddenly darkened. She gritted her teeth and cursed, “Despicable and shameless!”
“That person was targeting you with a vicious method.”
Although Wen Qiwu hadn’t detailed the demon’s actions, the Medical Immortal guessed them outright.
Yun Heng lifted her gaze to the Medical Immortal. Her expression remained calm and unruffled, but the Medical Immortal frowned upon hearing her transmission.
Wen Qiwu rarely saw the Medical Immortal look so troubled while treating a patient. This reaction chilled her to the bone, and she hurriedly asked about her senior sister’s specific injuries.
“It’s tricky—some filthy thing affecting the divine soul.” The Medical Immortal glanced at Yun Heng, then lowered her eyes in thought for a moment. Soon, her furrowed brows relaxed.
“But I have a general idea of how to break it. Those in the Demon Domain love dabbling in underhanded tricks. Immortal Venerable, the illusions you saw are tied to that vicious curse. Once the curse is broken, you won’t be affected anymore. Breaking the curse takes seven days, and I can’t get there in time. To avoid complications, you’ll perform the ritual for me.”
“Got it.” Wen Qiwu agreed immediately. The Medical Immortal’s confident demeanor put her heart at ease.
“But… there’s something I need to tell you first.” The Medical Immortal organized her words. Her gaze flickered between Wen Qiwu and Yun Heng before she transmitted a single sentence to Wen Qiwu.
Wen Qiwu’s face flushed crimson upon hearing it. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it again. She looked like she wanted to bury herself somewhere.
Yun Heng lightly gripped her hand. Seeing her junior sister somewhat distracted and unresponsive, she turned her cool gaze toward the Medical Immortal.
What did you say to A Que?
The Medical Immortal gave Yun Heng a somewhat helpless look after hearing the transmission. “Just some medical instructions. No need to be nervous.”
Wen Qiwu snapped back to attention from their exchange. Blushing, she pinched her senior sister’s palm to draw her focus.
“Senior Sister, I’ll tell you later.” Wen Qiwu never imagined she’d one day be reminded of such things by a doctor. Only now did she notice a faint red mark on her senior sister’s neck—it would probably fade completely soon—but the Medical Immortal was a Golden Immortal Realm cultivator with unparalleled medical skills. How could she not see what had just happened?
“I’ll head back to study it first and come before tonight. Have Immortal Venerable take three Soul Stabilizing Pills for now, and continue the other medicines as usual.”
“Three Soul Stabilizing Pills? That many…?” Wen Qiwu knew the Soul Stabilizing Pills weren’t ordinary drugs—they were supreme healing treasures for the divine soul, capable of salvaging one on the brink of collapse. And her senior sister needed three at once?
“Her condition isn’t an ordinary injury. The Soul Stabilizing Pills have limited effect, but there’s nothing better for now, so three it is. Luckily, Immortal Venerable stockpiled plenty for you over the years—no heartache in using them like this.” After a brief explanation, the Medical Immortal departed. She still needed to refine the treatment plan. If she wasn’t mistaken, Yun Heng would have a rough night ahead, so she had to hurry.
Once the Medical Immortal left, Yun Heng placed her hand on her junior sister’s face. Sure enough, it burned hot.
“What did she just say?”
Wen Qiwu’s face seemed to heat up even more. “Medical Immortal Senior said to be careful for this period—no big emotional fluctuations for you, Senior Sister.”
The words themselves sounded fine. With injuries to her divine soul and the Heart Demon’s interference, she should indeed maintain a stable Heart Realm. But judging from her junior sister’s reaction, the Medical Immortal’s advice was far from that simple.
Wen Qiwu sighed, then said in a tone of resignation, “Medical Immortal Senior also said you need to stay chaste and desire-free for this time. You spat blood because of intense emotional turmoil, so until the curse fully dissipates, you have to obey obediently, Senior Sister!”
Yun Heng paused, her expression somewhat bewildered.
“It’s… actually fine.” Yun Heng tried to refute the doctor’s words, but her junior sister was utterly obedient to medical advice.
Wen Qiwu pressed her index finger to her senior sister’s lips. “Be good and follow the doctor’s orders.”
“Follow them, and it’s seven days. Ignore them, and who knows how much longer it’ll drag on.”
Helpless, Yun Heng could only nod silently.
“Don’t be upset. How about I let Senior Sister pet the feather?”
Yun Heng’s eyes finally brightened a touch.
To cheer her senior sister up, Wen Qiwu simply transformed into her Little Phoenix form.
The tiny fluff ball fit perfectly in her palm, its feathers soft as clouds. In this form, she had a healing effect even on cracks in the heart.
Yun Heng carefully cradled the Little Phoenix, gently kneading the little dumpling. Her technique was good—the Little Phoenix instinctively nuzzled her hand, letting out a crisp chirp.
It was bird instinct, but once Wen Qiwu realized it, she felt shy. She turned her tail toward her senior sister and buried her head in her palm.
Yun Heng coaxed her for a good while before the Little Phoenix turned back around.
She leaned down slightly to kiss the fluffy head of the little dumpling, earning an affectionate nuzzle in return.
After closing and barring the door, Yun Heng held the fluffy Little Phoenix in the room, casting all other matters aside. Those outside racked their brains to send her a message, only to be bounced back by her barrier.
“She won’t be in trouble, right? Yu Lan, I can’t get away—go check.” Bai Jiao’s ambitions extended beyond Merfolk Moon City; her goal was the entire Cang Sea Domain. Now that she had transformed into a dragon, bolstered by years of prestige, it was the perfect time to absorb the Water Clans’ forces. Visitations from various powers nearly buried her in greeting cards, and one Demon King after another pestered her, leaving her no time. Thus, her old friend’s matter fell to Yan Yulan.
But after waiting ages with no reply from Yan Yulan, Bai Jiao grew suspicious. One person ignoring her might mean they didn’t want to talk, but two… Had her transmission technique failed?
While conversing with those Demon Kings, Bai Jiao quietly checked her transmission art. It was fine.
Finally, a curt reply came from the innkeeper: “Got it.”
Bai Jiao sensed something off in Yan Yulan’s mood. Her smile faded, and the surrounding Demon Kings gradually felt a suffocating pressure.
“I know what you’re proposing. Go back for now.”
The Demon Kings exchanged glances. With the true dragon’s emergence, at minimum the underwater demon forces of the Cang Sea Domain faced a reshuffle. They wanted to carve out the largest territories early.
“I’ll let you know once I’ve considered it.” Impatience crept into Bai Jiao’s smile. Fearing her wrath, the Demon Kings dared not linger and took their leave.
Once those scheming Demon Kings departed, Bai Jiao headed straight to the inn. Due to the Dragon Gate chaos, much of Merfolk Moon City lay in ruins. After she had taken dragon form to quell the unrest, her subordinates began repairs, and now nearly everything was restored.
Bai Jiao overlooked the entire city. The “key” in her hand—the Crescent Moon Jade Pendant—allowed her to control every blade of grass and tree. She shook the pendant on her wrist, and a miniature illusory projection of Merfolk Moon City appeared before her.
Unfortunately, a layer of gray mist shrouded the projection, obscuring the interior.
It must have been that demon Yun Heng mentioned, setting up the barrier to block their view and prevent tracking!
But as long as he stayed in Merfolk Moon City, she would find him—it would just take extra time.
Unknowingly, Bai Jiao had arrived at the inn. She grabbed a passing waiter and asked if Yan Yulan was there, only to learn the innkeeper had gone to the City Lord Mansion—with the Immortal Venerable, no less. They must have just missed each other.
Bai Jiao thanked him briefly, then rushed to the City Lord Mansion. She thought Yan Yulan would place Yun Heng in the main hall, but surprisingly, she found them at the entrance to the private vault!
Yun Heng gently stroked the fluffy dumpling in her hands bit by bit. Yan Yulan’s eyes had lit up when she first saw Wen Qiwu—so obedient, well-behaved, and finger-nuzzling; such a little white dumpling was too lovable!
But the Immortal Venerable wouldn’t even let her touch it. Staring too long earned a sneaky hide-away.
“You helped the City Lord and all of Merfolk Moon City—your grace is etched in our hearts. The thank-you gift we promised is here. Pick something you like.” Yan Yulan reluctantly shifted her gaze from Wen Qiwu.
“If I recall correctly, this is Bai Jiao’s private vault.” Yun Heng wasn’t visiting the City Lord Mansion for the first time; these were all Bai Jiao’s treasures.
“You saved the City Lord, so the gift naturally comes from her private vault.” The innkeeper explained earnestly. Truth be told, the real reason was that Bai Jiao hadn’t considered her feelings at all when risking her life for that opportunity—and even now acted heartless. So, she intended to make the City Lord feel some pain.
Yan Yulan lowered her voice to Yun Heng. “Pick the expensive ones.”
