Chapter 5: Treasure Hunting (Part 1) Part 1

◎If she’s uncomfortable, then I’m comfortable.◎

As the Number One Immortal Sect, the Divine Zenith Sect had the greatest reputation, naturally attracting disciples from all across the land.

And to accommodate the different tastes from various regions, the dining hall had several head chefs, offering all kinds of dishes. It could be called a low-budget version of the “Manchu Han Imperial Feast.”

A sign stood propped right at the dining hall entrance, bearing a few lines:

Fresh flavors, balanced meat and vegetables. Rich in nutrition, fair in price.

All of it was true.

But right now, Yun Jinxue, holding her meal tray, passed by serving window after serving window. Although the aroma of food was clearly enticing, she had absolutely no appetite.

In the end, she selected two golden corn buns and sat down in a corner of the dining hall to eat them.

With no one passing by and no need to maintain an image, she propped her forehead on her hand, sighing as she nibbled the corn bun.

It wasn’t that she needed to lose weight; this body was perfect and well-proportioned enough, no need for that.

The reason she was so troubled now was still the matter of burning down the Jiang family residence some time ago.

She was a person who easily developed psychological shadows. If hurt by an object or event, she would remember it for a long time and be unable to forget.

A tragedy that happened right before her eyes naturally greatly affected her appetite.

So currently, she couldn’t touch meat or fish, and vegetable dishes tasted like nothing.

She could only make do with sweet corn buns, ensuring she wouldn’t become the first Cultivator to starve to death.

Staring at the corn bun, the sweet corn scent in her mouth, yet the image of the raging fire in her mind still couldn’t be erased.

Sighing, Yun Jinxue simply hit rewind, shifting the timeline backward.

Blood splattering on white walls, dark-colored roof tiles, the backyard, the pig shed, the bundle, the paper scrap…

Blinking, Yun Jinxue put down the corn bun. She pulled out that little bundle from her sleeve and unfolded the paper scrap to look again.

Her fingertip traced the little girl’s face, recalling the heartache she felt upon realizing the girl’s experiences, and the anger that made her want to seek justice for her.

And now, seeing how the situation had turned out, it left her feeling somewhat at a loss.

Just as she was immersed in her thoughts, she heard someone calling her.

“Immortal Lord! Dao Rhythm Immortal Lord!”

Looking up, across a dozen or so tables, the Little Villain was looking for her.

Putting away the paper scrap, Yun Jinxue carried her tray over and asked, “What is it?”

Jiang Yanyu said, “Immortal Lord, I was just flying a kite, and it got stuck in a tree. Can you help me get it down?”

Yun Jinxue was taken aback. Flying a kite?

Even if her family, who tormented her, had been completely wiped out in this way, did it not affect her at all?

Moreover, she was still injured.

Yun Jinxue frowned slightly and asked somewhat seriously, “How can you just run off to play? Have your injuries gotten better?”

When they returned that night, she discovered the Little Villain was covered in blood.

She had assumed it was all monster blood, but when rolling up her sleeves, she found fine wounds all over her arms.

And those wounds were somewhat peculiar.

It seemed like her blood vessels couldn’t withstand an excessive force and had burst, forming fine cracks, causing the blood to flow uncontrollably.

When asked, she simply said the Demonic creatures caused it.

Although Yun Jinxue didn’t understand how those Pig Demons that directly attacked with teeth could cause such wounds from the inside out, there were already too many things she didn’t understand about this world, so she didn’t press further.

And an injury of that degree, though not as fierce as before, should still require at least some recovery time.

Yet, having barely recovered, she was already running around freely, even capable of flying a kite.

It seemed that as long as one was a main character, they all had a bit of protagonist’s halo.

Jiang Yanyu clasped her sleeve and pulled it up, revealing a pale pink arm. “All healed now.”

The maiden was at the most charmingly youthful age, and with such good looks, even any small gesture could melt hearts, let alone deliberate coquettishness.

The seriousness on Yun Jinxue’s face faded, unconsciously replaced by a gentle smile.

Putting down her tray, she pressed her fingertips along the girl’s arm several times, confirming there were no problems, before nodding.

“Alright, take me to see where the kite is stuck. I’ll help you get it.”

“Okay, thank you, Immortal Lord.” Jiang Yanyu sprang up on her tiptoes, then turned and scampered off.

Watching her figure, Yun Jinxue felt the gloom that had lingered in her heart for days dissipate a little more.

If there was one most comforting thing right now, it was that after the Jiang family’s destruction, the Little Villain’s attitude towards her was vastly improved compared to their first meeting.

Now and then, she acted coquettish or joked; sometimes she’d lie across the table watching her; sometimes she’d tug on her sleeve calling for Immortal Lord.

The coldness in her words had mostly been shaved away, leaving only a maiden’s softness.

She must have gained a bit of favor, right? It made the insomnia and nausea of this period somewhat worthwhile.

As she followed the young girl out of the dining hall, Yun Jinxue belatedly recalled something.

In the original work, after the Senior Sister saved Jiang Yanyu and healed her injuries, she originally intended to send her home.

But the Little Villain indicated she had no home to return to, then demonstrated her nimble hands, her skill at chores, and her excellent cooking ability.

Only then did the Senior Sister let her stay as a little servant to take care of her daily needs.

But looking at the current situation, the Little Villain showed no intention of demonstrating her skills at all. She just naturally stayed.

Could it be because of the Jiang family incident?

Or was it that she herself hadn’t proposed sending her away?

Never mind. If she didn’t want to show off, then so be it. This probably wasn’t an important plot point anyway.

“Here, this is it.”

Pulled back to her senses by the voice, Yun Jinxue stopped walking. Following where the girl pointed, she looked.

It was a camellia tree about eight or nine meters tall. Stuck in the topmost branches was a swallow-shaped kite, its tail feathers trembling in the wind.

She instinctively glanced around. Pavilions, rockeries, lush bamboo groves. Not spacious, but brimming with green vitality.

This seemed to belong to the rear kitchen area. From beyond a white wall not far away came the sounds of woks shaking, stir-frying, and the fragrance of cooking rice.

Why come fly a kite here?

Jiang Yanyu tugged her sleeve. “Immortal Lord, help me, will you?”

Looking into those dark, shining eyes, Yun Jinxue couldn’t help but reach out and stroke her head. “You don’t always need to call me Immortal Lord.”

Jiang Yanyu’s eye twitched slightly, but she said normally, “Then what should I call you?”

Yun Jinxue pondered for a moment. “Call me whatever you like.”

The moment she said it, she recalled how, in the original work, the Villain had addressed the Senior Sister during the torture and torment.

Sometimes respectful, sometimes insulting, indeed with many variations, every one piercing the heart.

Her heart couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

It’s alright, it’s alright. Currently, the Little Villain is still just a cute younger sister who acts spoiled.

Jiang Yanyu said, “If I can do as I please, I want to call you… Senior Sister.”

Yun Jinxue was startled. Did she remember being called Junior Sister back at the inn?

Seeing she didn’t answer immediately, Jiang Yanyu lowered her head and stole glances at her.

In a small voice, she asked, “Am I reaching too high… an immortal like you…”

“No,” Yun Jinxue immediately said, “Whatever makes you happy. Then call me Senior Sister.”

Just a little inattentiveness, and this little one was steeped in inferiority again.

Ah, after all, she grew up like that.

Anyway, she would have to call her Senior Sister later on. Getting used to it in advance wasn’t a bad idea.

Hearing this, Jiang Yanyu brightened again. “Senior Sister!”

Yun Jinxue: “Mm.”

Jiang Yanyu: “Senior Sister, Senior Sister!”

Yun Jinxue chuckled. “Mm~”

Sunlight filtered through the branches, falling on Yun Jinxue’s face. Such fractured light and shadow, yet they outlined an exceedingly gentle feminine countenance.

Jiang Yanyu’s eyes sparkled. Pointing up the tree, “Senior Sister, I want my kite!”

“Alright.”

Yun Jinxue raised her left hand and blew a wisp of Spiritual Power from her fingertip. It transformed into a little person that bounced up onto the treetop, then hugged the kite and jumped down.

She caught the kite and handed it to the girl. “Hold it carefully.”

Jiang Yanyu hugged the kite, which was almost half her size. “Thank you, Senior Sister.”

The little Spiritual Power figure hopped around on the branches. Then, bending its knees, it leaped out with power, hugging a camellia flower and spiraling down.

Yun Jinxue caught the flower. With a helpless smile, she offered the bloom to the girl. “This is for you too.”

That camellia was in perfect bloom, its petals luxuriant, brilliantly fiery red. Against her fair fingers, it looked like a corner of a vivid painting.

The smile on Jiang Yanyu’s face paused for a split second. Only after a long moment did she accept the flower.

She brought the handful of brilliance close to her nose, but its scent was light and subtle.

Rather fitting for the person before her.

Seeing the little one only focused on sniffing the flower and ignoring her, Yun Jinxue prepared to head back.

Just as she was about to say goodbye, she suddenly heard a conversation from two passing disciples in the grove nearby.

“It really appeared?”

“Absolutely true. The Spiritual Fruit ‘Awakening Orifice’ has appeared in the world. It’s said that after eating it, you can directly reshape your meridians!”

“Such an amazing effect!”

“Yes, but too bad that as soon as the Spiritual Fruit ripened, it was snatched away by a bird Demon. And that demon died in the Nether Prefecture Ghost City. Who dares enter a place like that? Such a pity.”

“Isn’t there another one?”

“Yes! But this time, obtaining the ‘Luo River Fruit’ will likely be even more difficult.”

Over the past period, because of her lingering psychological shadow, Yun Jinxue had basically not left her room, causing her to completely miss this piece of information.

Confirming with “Mi Ba,” she learned this was indeed true.

Rumor had it that at the source of a great river, there was a fruit tree gathering heaven and earth’s Spiritual Energy and nourished by the essence of the sun and moon, which grew two Spiritual Fruits.

One was called “Awakening Orifice,” capable of repairing severely damaged meridians, even fundamentally reshaping them from the root, achieving a marrow-cleansing effect.