Chapter 40: Bloodstains and Treatment Part 2

Lu Mingyi knew the Spirit-Devouring Gu was tricky, but she hadn’t expected the treatment itself to torment patients like this.

She asked further, “How long does one session delay it?”

“It’s symptomatic relief, not a cure. The first few times work best, but after a year at most, the gu develops resistance, forcing us to weaker methods,” Yun Xu said flatly. “Fellow Cultivator Qi has regressed from Golden Core Mid-Stage to Golden Core Early Stage. With consistent treatment, she should hold at Golden Core for this year.”

Staving off a drop from Golden Core Stage might be the best outcome. But only for a year.

Lu Mingyi’s frown deepened, her heart aching more as she watched Qi Yinxue gasp through the pain. The impact hit harder now.

Yun Xu, channeling the spell, caught every nuance of Lu Mingyi’s expression with her peripheral vision.

The session lasted nearly an hour. When Yun Xu finished, she was drained, swaying as she stood.

“Careful!”

Lu Mingyi swiftly steadied her and fetched a stool for her to sit, then quickly withdrew her hand.

Sensing the warmth of the other’s palm, Yun Xu blanked for a moment before her eyes rippled with seductive charm. “Thank you, fellow cultivator. Otherwise, I might have fallen.”

Lu Mingyi: “…”

It wasn’t that dramatic!

She silently resolved to keep even more distance from Yun Xu in the future.

Qi Yinxue, still on the bed, panted softly. Though not the caster, she looked far more exhausted than Yun Xu.

Seeing her like this, Lu Mingyi let out a faint sigh. She pulled up a stool to the bedside and said softly, “…How do you feel now? Any better?”

At Lu Mingyi’s voice, Qi Yinxue slowly opened her eyes, misted with pain. Her voice was hoarse: “…Much better.”

Lu Mingyi sighed inwardly again, desperate to find a solution for the Spirit-Devouring Gu. She continued, “I came today to ask… about that fox we saw in the Jiangxia Secret Realm. Did you notice anything special about her?”

At the mention of the fox, Yun Xu’s long lashes trembled slightly from her seat farther back.

“Fox? I remember her… being strange, like she had high intelligence… a demonic beast above Nascent Soul Stage,” Qi Yinxue said, blinking as she tried to recall.

But thinking tugged at her weary body, sending a stab of pain through her head.

“Sigh! Alright, alright, don’t think about it anymore.” Seeing the pain more evident on Qi Yinxue’s face, Lu Mingyi hurriedly grasped her wrist and soothed, “It’s about what I expected. This lead really is hard to track down. But don’t worry—I’ll handle it. You focus on recovering first.”

Qi Yinxue’s wrist was cool to the touch, while Lu Mingyi’s palm was warm. The soft, gentle warmth transmitted from her hand made Qi Yinxue’s breathing quicken a little.

She parted her lips, wanting to say something, but Lu Mingyi had already withdrawn her hand.

A pang of loss surged in Qi Yinxue’s heart, though nothing showed on her face. She only murmured softly, “Be careful… yourself.”

“I know. Don’t worry. Right now, your health is the most important thing.” Lu Mingyi let out a light chuckle, her tone gentle and relaxed.

Truth be told, she still had a few questions she wanted to ask. But at this moment, to let Qi Yinxue rest better, she hesitated for a second and decided not to press.

If she had to put it into words, the conflict between her and Qi Yinxue in her previous life hadn’t been all that deep.

After all, they’d only known each other for less than a month. In terms of closeness, it was naturally Jiang Liuzhao—who had brought her back to the Taiqing Sect, taken her as a direct disciple, and taught her the Crimson Sky Sword Art—who held more of Qi Yinxue’s trust and reliance.

Qi Yinxue following Jiang Liuzhao’s arrangements and surveilling her alongside Tingyu could, all things considered, be called perfectly reasonable.

Now facing Qi Yinxue, Lu Mingyi could only let out a sigh.

She wouldn’t get close to this little junior sister from her past life again. But she did hope to resolve the Spirit-Devouring Gu issue soon, sparing her—and all the other afflicted cultivators—from this suffering.

Just as Lu Mingyi prepared to bid Qi Yinxue farewell and let her rest, a knock sounded at the door.

Before Lu Mingyi could even turn around, she heard Yun Xu opening the door and greeting respectfully:

“Greetings, Long Rainbow Sword Venerable.”

In an instant, the curve at Lu Mingyi’s lips stiffened. All those questions about the mystery of her death flooded back.

Even the hand at her side clenched instinctively.

“No need for formalities. This Venerable has come to visit my disciple. Has today’s treatment concluded?”

A clear, crisp voice mingled with the faint patter of rain drifted bit by bit into Lu Mingyi’s ears.

“Yes, it has ended. Sword Venerable, please come in. I’ll take my leave now…”

Amid Yun Xu’s steady, even tone, Lu Mingyi slowly and gracefully rose and turned, gazing at the woman who entered against the light.

The dim light of the rainy day cast shadows across Jiang Liuzhao’s icy jade-like features, making them flicker between light and dark. She was as otherworldly and upright as ever, as aloof and indifferent as always.

The only difference was—perhaps because she’d come to see her disciple—the chill that usually kept everyone at arm’s length had completely dissipated from around her.

Lu Mingyi swiftly glanced her over, then schooled her face into a hypocritical mask of humility. She bowed her head slightly, cupped her fists, and smiled in greeting:

“Greetings… Long Rainbow Sword Venerable.”

Lu Mingyi’s calm composure stood in contrast to Qi Yinxue on the bed, who grew tense. She struggled to sit up, panting, “M-Master… you’re here?”

Jiang Liuzhao strode over quickly, brushing past Lu Mingyi. She steadied Qi Yinxue and helped her lie back down, then gazed down at her and murmured softly, “Rest for now.”

As she moved, a faint sandalwood scent carried on a hint of dampness wafted into Lu Mingyi’s breath.

Lu Mingyi’s brow twitched faintly. She couldn’t help rubbing and turning the Storage Ring on her finger, tempted to just leave right then.

But with Jiang Liuzhao, Qi Yinxue, and Yun Xu all present, she couldn’t show any sign of unease.

So, Lu Mingyi suppressed the displeasure in her heart and spoke up proactively: “Since the Long Rainbow Sword Venerable is here to visit Fellow Daoist Qi, this junior won’t intrude. Senior Sister Yun, I’ll walk out with you.”

Yun Xu’s brow arched, a flicker of amusement in her eyes, but she quickly smiled and agreed: “Sure!”

Just as Lu Mingyi was about to step out the door, a “Wait” came from behind her.

The voice was a bit low and muffled, but due to its uniquely distinctive timbre, Lu Mingyi heard it clearly.

“Master…” Qi Yinxue sounded surprised too. Her voice trembled as she glanced tentatively at the woman before her.

Jiang Liuzhao’s eyes were half-lidded. She turned her body slightly, as if looking at Lu Mingyi’s retreating back. But even the closest Qi Yinxue couldn’t discern the emotion in her eyes—only noticing how she gently rubbed the glossy white ring on her slender finger.

“Fellow Daoist Jing.” Jiang Liuzhao’s lips moved as she said, “I’ve heard about the Nine Provinces Secret Realm from my three disciples. The Taiqing Sect was at fault first. On behalf of my disciple, I apologize to you. Additionally, regarding compensation…”

“You’re too polite, Long Rainbow Sword Venerable.” Lu Mingyi didn’t even turn her head, her voice carrying a smile as she audaciously cut Jiang Liuzhao off. “I’ll claim the apology and compensation from your disciple myself. After all, every grudge has its culprit, every debt its debtor, right?”

No further sound came from behind. Lu Mingyi didn’t linger either.

Jiang Liuzhao stood motionless in place until that tall figure vanished completely from sight. Only then did she slowly withdraw her gaze.

“Master, you… her…” Qi Yinxue had a flood of questions in her heart. Though she knew Jiang Liuzhao wouldn’t answer, she still blurted out a few words.

Jiang Liuzhao sat lightly on the edge of her bed. Only with her movement could one notice that the sect leader’s robes, meant to be form-fitting, hung quite loosely on her.

She didn’t answer those half-spoken questions from Qi Yinxue. She only murmured softly, “It was my mistake…”

After leaving Qi Yinxue’s room, Lu Mingyi silently recited the Quiet Heart method several times, casting aside her scattered thoughts until her breathing steadied.

What rotten luck! Absolutely rotten luck!

She chalked up this string of run-ins with people from her past to sheer bad fortune for the moment and pondered whether she should find a temple to burn some incense.

“Fellow Daoist, no need to walk so fast~?”

But a sudden soft, coquettish laugh from behind made Lu Mingyi’s vision go black.

She’d figured it out—Yun Xu put on a steady front in public, but she was clingy as hell in private!

Lu Mingyi forced a smile, trying to appear casually distant: “Senior Sister Yun, is there something else?”

“Hey, it’s rare to run into you—let’s chat!” Yun Xu seemed oblivious to Lu Mingyi’s standoffishness. She sidled right up and hooked her arm through hers. “That was the Taiqing Sect back there! And you just turned down their offer of compensation like that?”

A clear softness pressed against her forearm, warm body heat seeping through, nearly startling Lu Mingyi into jumping away.

Her ear tips flushed faintly as she extracted her arm from Yun Xu’s embrace. Hearing “Taiqing Sect” mentioned made her head throb even more. She opened her mouth to retort—

But Yun Xu continued on her own: “Hmm… Though, there’s an upside to handling it that way. Never underestimate the power of regret and guilt. Keeping that emotion alive in them might prove even more useful down the line?”