When Cold Fragrance had moved a little further away, Wen Qiwu exerted all her effort to keep any reluctant or lingering expression off her face. She leaned into her Senior Sister’s embrace, and from this angle, she had a perfect view of her Senior Sister’s cherry-red lips.
The patient who had just awakened averted her gaze. No matter what, her Senior Sister could never imagine that the usually obedient her was thinking about how to kiss her. She had to carefully hide that thought away and not anger her Senior Sister again…
Right! She still didn’t know if her Senior Sister had calmed down.
Wen Qiwu’s heart tightened, and she subconsciously grasped her Senior Sister’s hand.
“What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?” Yun Heng asked hurriedly. Now, even the slightest anomaly from Wen Qiwu made her tense up.
Wen Qiwu shook her head, then lifted her gaze cautiously. “Senior Sister, are you still angry?”
Yun Heng was rendered speechless. The Junior Sister who had just struggled back from the brink of life and death was most worried about whether she was angry. Regret deepened in her heart.
Yun Heng gently touched her Junior Sister’s pale face. After this ordeal, her Junior Sister had lost a lot of weight again—she seemed like she might shatter at a mere touch. She softly assured her Junior Sister that she wasn’t angry. To be precise, she had never truly been angry at Wen Qiwu. Most of her anger had been directed at Zuo Lan, with a small portion stemming from her own inexplicable emotions.
She didn’t explain the latter part to Wen Qiwu, but Wen Qiwu could see her Senior Sister’s mood in those eyes. Deep within that cold pool was only tenderness, none of the unease-inducing emotions from before.
Wen Qiwu’s lips curved upward uncontrollably, her entire body radiating joy. Paired with her pale and frail appearance, it made the Immortal Venerable feel even more pity for her.
As long as her Senior Sister wasn’t angry, that was fine. She could just stay away from Zuo Lan in the future. After all, in Wen Qiwu’s heart, her Senior Sister naturally came first.
Who would have thought that Yun Heng, who had been so resolute before, would be the first to yield.
“I shouldn’t interfere with your friendships. As long as the other party isn’t a treacherous sort, you can associate with that saintess.” Yun Heng seemed to soften her stance, but her view of Zuo Lan hadn’t changed. She had already given prior notice to the Jade Xi Sect Sect Master—Zuo Lan couldn’t leave her sect now.
She had figured it out: she couldn’t let that saintess’s matter weigh on her Junior Sister’s mind while she recovered. Thus, the Immortal Venerable had quietly made her move against the other side in secret.
Wen Qiwu blinked her somewhat dazed eyes. Her Senior Sister’s change in attitude surprised her. Things… probably weren’t that simple, right?
But Yun Heng glossed over the matter lightly, as if she truly had no intention of bringing it up again.
“A Que, next month is your birthday.” Yun Heng had been counting the days. Since their master didn’t know when her Junior Sister was born, they treated the day she was found as her birthday.
“You need to recover quickly. Elder Lu said we’ll make it lively this year to celebrate.” Everyone had been on edge for over a month. Elder Lu insisted they needed a big celebration to shake off the fright, and Yun Heng had agreed.
“My birthday is next month already?” Wen Qiwu had been in a coma for over a month, so she had no idea how much time had passed outside.
She had always enjoyed her birthdays. Every year, her Senior Sister prepared thoughtful gifts for her. Even if her Senior Sister was in seclusion, she would prepare the birthday gift in advance.
So, what would this year’s gift be?
Wen Qiwu wheedled her Senior Sister to give her a hint, but her Senior Sister was determined to surprise her, so she got nothing out of it. Her curiosity itched at her heart. Wen Qiwu stared at her Senior Sister’s storage pouch, tempted to rummage through it!
Her thoughts were practically written on her face, so her forehead received a gentle flick from her Senior Sister.
“The gift isn’t ready yet. You’ll know on your birthday.” The spot on Wen Qiwu’s forehead that had been flicked was then gently rubbed.
“Mm… alright.” Her Senior Sister was being so secretive this time—Wen Qiwu looked forward to next month’s birthday even more!
A faint smile appeared in Yun Heng’s eyes. This gift was indeed special. If all went well, her Junior Sister wouldn’t have to live in fear anymore…
Yun Heng stayed with Wen Qiwu a while longer, but unfortunately, she couldn’t remain too long. Before even the time it took for one incense stick to burn had passed, an elder from the sect came to fetch her.
Wen Qiwu had lain in bed too long—her bones felt like they were falling apart. After her Senior Sister left, she propped up her somewhat feeble body, sat up, and prepared to get out of bed and walk around.
Her residence was as quiet as ever. Elder Lu wasn’t next door, and she didn’t know where she’d gone.
Wen Qiwu had only meant to step out for some fresh air, but as she walked, she suddenly heard the sound of a child crying nearby.
She followed the sound and parted the bushes to find a little girl whose eyes were red from crying. The girl looked no older than six or seven, dressed in an inner sect disciple’s robes that were somewhat disheveled. A few leaves stuck to her messy hair.
“A Yue?” Wen Qiwu recognized the child. Her name was Dong Shiyue, and her parents had been inner sect disciples of the Ask God Sect too. Unfortunately, they had been killed by demons a few years ago, leaving her an orphan.
Dong Shiyue had good talent. An elder from the inner sect had taken pity on her plight at such a young age and accepted her as a personal disciple. Wen Qiwu had taught her at the school on Hearing Dao Mountain before.
“Elder Wen…” Dong Shiyue sobbed, her eyes swollen like walnuts.
“Did someone bully you?” Wen Qiwu comforted her. “Don’t be afraid. Tell the elder what happened.”
Her comfort seemed to backfire—the child hugged her and cried even louder. It took a good while before Dong Shiyue managed, between sobs, “Shizu is gone, waa… They said Elder Wen was about to die too. Those bad kids dared to curse you. When I get back, I’ll stuff Thunderclap Talismans in their mouths, waa…”
The child alternated between crying and tough talk. While keeping vigil for her shizu, she had overheard kids from other mountains saying that after Elder Jin’s fall, Shang Qing Mountain had no successor and would soon decline. They also said Wen Qiwu was on the verge of death, and the Ask God Sect might need another funeral soon. She didn’t believe it and had fought those kids.
Unfortunately, she lost. Next time, she’d remember not to fight barehanded.
Then she had come to Myriad Medicine Mountain, but it was hard to find where Wen Qiwu lived, and she got lost.
Shizu? A Yue’s shizu was Elder Jin—he had fallen?! Wen Qiwu showed a shocked expression. Yun Heng hadn’t told her about all the upsetting events that had happened during this time.
Wen Qiwu took Dong Shiyue to Shang Qing Mountain. The main hall was draped in white banners, and the personal disciples’ eyes were all red-rimmed. Lu Qiaoyi, whom Wen Qiwu hadn’t seen earlier, was there too.
“Junior Sister Wen.” Dong Shiyue’s shizun hurried over to take her little disciple. Fatigue was hard to hide in her eyes. “Thank you for bringing the child back.”
She then turned her gaze to her little disciple, her tone sharpening. “You got into another fight?”
“They disrespected Shizu and cursed Elder Wen, so I had to fight back!” Dong Shiyue refused to admit fault.
Dong Shiyue’s shizun knew her little disciple wasn’t the type to start trouble, but with Shang Qing Mountain lacking even an Earth Immortal now, they were naturally inferior to the other mountains. Those kids’ masters were Earth Immortals or even Golden Immortals. Even she had to weigh her options before seeking justice for her disciple.
The kids who had fought Dong Shiyue hid behind their elders. Some stuck their tongues out at her mockingly, unaware that someone had approached silently.
“Since these disciples disrespected their elders, send them to the Punishment Hall.” Lu Qiaoyi, usually kind and lively, showed a chillingly frightening expression with her back to Wen Qiwu and the others. No one had seen her like this before—the previously arrogant kids burst into tears, startling even their elders.
“Elder Lu… These children meant no harm. We’ll discipline them properly back home—no need for the Punishment Hall, right?” The elder who had bullied without backup finally spoke.
The Punishment Hall was no pleasant place. A charge of disrespecting elders meant those young disciples would likely get a few lashes.
Wen Qiwu rubbed Dong Shiyue’s little head, with no intention of letting the matter drop lightly.
“Children… indeed, how could children say such things? They must have picked it up from those around them, right?” Wen Qiwu coughed lightly twice, looking fragile as a willow in the wind—utterly harmless. But her words sent chills down spines. “It seems Elder Zhu is eager for my death.”
“It’s a misunderstanding!” Elder Zhu denied hastily. Though he had said it, he absolutely couldn’t admit it. If word reached the sect master, he was done for!
Lu Qiaoyi suddenly laughed upon hearing Wen Qiwu’s words. The terrifying aura dissipated, and she returned to her usual lively, smiling self.
“Qiwu is right. They weren’t taught properly—it’s your greatest failing. You all go to the Punishment Hall together.” As Lu Qiaoyi finished speaking, the Punishment Hall Master in black robes walked in.
That Elder Zhu’s face turned ashen. “Why are you here?”
The Punishment Hall Master rarely appeared unless…
The Punishment Hall Master said expressionlessly, “By the sect master’s order, please come to the Punishment Hall for a visit.”
Lu Qiaoyi held a Messaging Jade Token that flickered faintly.
“Take them back directly.” Yun Heng’s cold, emotionless voice came from the token.
“The sect master?!” Elder Zhu clearly wanted to curse Lu Qiaoyi as despicable.
“It’s just children’s careless words… Fine, we’ll go.” Elder Zhu now wanted to give his wailing grandson a beating—who let him spout nonsense outside! He had finally outlasted that Jin fellow, but before he could divide up his assets, he ended up in the Punishment Hall himself. Whatever—it wouldn’t be too severe. He’d just take the blame for poor discipline.
The Punishment Hall Master saw through Elder Zhu’s calculations and sneered inwardly. She had come personally to arrest him—did he really think it was minor? As the sect master predicted, with Elder Jin gone, the sect’s ghosts and snakes had jumped out. She’d be busy for a while.
But this Zhu fellow was too bold, privately cursing the sect master’s precious Junior Sister to die early. The sect master hated that most, and the Hall Master could hear the anger in her tone just now. Among those arrested, he’d suffer the worst.
The Hall Master lit an incense stick for Elder Jin, then left with the Punishment Hall disciples, taking Elder Zhu and the children.
“Sun Senior Sister, even though Elder Jin is gone, Shang Qing Mountain belongs to the Ask God Sect. If there’s trouble, tell the sect master—she won’t let you be wronged.” Wen Qiwu said softly.
Sun Senior Sister paused, then smiled gratefully. “Junior Sister Wen is right.”
The sect master was just—that was Shang Qing Mountain’s fortune.
“Elder Lu, please look after Qiwu. Don’t let her stay out too long—make sure she rests early. I’ll be back before she takes her medicine tonight.” Yun Heng didn’t cut the connection immediately. She softened her tone with concern.
“Don’t worry, Little Que has me.” Lu Qiaoyi replied twice before ending the communication, then beckoned to Wen Qiwu. “Little Que, come here.”
Wen Qiwu said goodbye to Sun Senior Sister, then went to Lu Qiaoyi’s side.
“Elder Lu, how did Elder Jin…” Wen Qiwu hadn’t dared ask the people of Shang Qing Mountain, fearing it would touch their sorrow.
“He met with an accident in the secret realm. Your Senior Sister doesn’t know the details either—possibly encountered the True Immortal Realm tomb owner. Life and death are fated; we can’t force it.” Lu Qiaoyi sighed, but her eyes held little emotion for a fellow sect member.
“He was unlucky not to run into the sect master. Unlike the Azure Luan Clan’s princess and the Dry Moon Sword Sect Sect Master’s only daughter—they were saved by your Senior Sister. Especially that Dry Moon Sword Sect Sect Master’s daughter…” Lu Qiaoyi flashed a playful smile amid Wen Qiwu’s increasingly grave expression. “That one’s been clamoring every day about repaying your Senior Sister’s life-saving grace.”
