Chapter 39 Part 3

“What is it?”

“It’s… it’s something left behind by Jiangying.”

Ancestor’s belongings? Li Jiangying was somewhat curious. She wondered what it would be, and whether she could glean information about Li Jiangying from it.

“Alright, if I have a chance to go back, give it to me then.”

“Mm.”

Li Jiangying sat for a while longer. The pile of bones beside her exuded a chilling aura from head to toe. Being at her side felt cool, but after a long time, the cold seemed to seep into her very bones.

Li Jiangying rubbed her arms and stood up. “It’s too late. I’m heading back first.”

“Mm.”

When Li Jiangying returned, Li Xiangshui was meditating cross-legged on the bed. But she probably wasn’t very focused, because the moment Li Jiangying pushed the door open, she noticed. Eyes closed, expression indifferent, she said, “You’re back. Hurry up and cultivate.”

Li Jiangying was shocked. “What did you say?”

“I said, hurry up and cultivate!” Li Xiangshui said impatiently. “If your cultivation doesn’t improve, I’m just doing useless work all day.”

“Fine, I’ve made a lot of progress recently, alright?” Li Jiangying shrugged and sat down cross-legged beside her.

Li Xiangshui said coldly, “Have you been taking shortcuts?”

Li Jiangying hadn’t lied. Her progress recently was indeed significant, because she had retained some of the Fire Affliction, not incorporating it into her dantian, but using it together with ordinary Fire Element Devil Qi for body tempering.

The Body Tempering Technique made her body strong and her skin and flesh tough. Although the process was excruciatingly painful, the results were truly good. However, body tempering had its drawback: she couldn’t use magic arts. That tiny bit of Devil Qi stored solely in her meridians was still too little.

Li Xiangshui, having a contract with her, could vaguely perceive her changes. But logically speaking, body tempering was inherently slower than magic cultivation. Li Jiangying had only been cultivating for a few days now and shouldn’t be showing noticeable effects.

“Are there shortcuts for body tempering?” Li Jiangying wondered. “I don’t even have a technique manual. I’ve been figuring it all out on my own.”

She treated herself like a piece of common iron, constantly heating and hammering it with fire, believing that one day it would turn into fine steel.

Li Xiangshui was taken aback for a moment. “It doesn’t seem like there are.”

Li Jiangying spread her hands. “So, this just proves I’m smarter than you!”

Li Xiangshui: “…”

Finally, the moment arrived to completely purge Tao Sanyu of the Fire Affliction within him. Li Jiangying sat on the ground, exhausted, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

Tao Sanyu sat cross-legged in front of her, slowly opening his eyes. “Little Friend Ying, this old man sincerely invites you to join the Tao Clan. The Fire Affliction may be cleared, but as long as the Tao Clan continues to refine artifacts in Flame City, we will continue to absorb new Fire Affliction.”

If they could invite this Ying Ying Suanli to be a Guest Elder of the Tao Clan, they would never need to worry about the backlash of Fire Affliction again.

Li Jiangying smiled bitterly. “I’ll think it over some more. The time isn’t right yet. Forgive me for not being able to give an answer.”

“Very well. Regardless, Little Friend Ying has saved my life. This favor, our Tao Clan acknowledges.” Tao Sanyu took out a small, exquisite token. The back was engraved with patterns of flames and coins, and the front bore a large character ‘Tao’.

He said, “With this token, you will receive discounts at any shop opened by the Tao family. If you encounter trouble, feel free to seek help from our Tao Clan members. We will absolutely not stand by and do nothing.”

Li Jiangying was overjoyed as she accepted it. “I won’t stand on ceremony for Senior’s kind intentions. Many thanks!”

Just after Tao Sanyu purged the Fire Affliction within him, he needed to properly circulate his energy and cultivate for a while. Tao Buluo once again saw Li Jiangying off for a portion of the way. He gave her the remaining four pills and said, “To tell the truth, I have another uncle whose condition is also very serious. When would Daoist Ying be free to treat him?”

This uncle was the true victim of Fire Affliction for whom the Tao Clan had released the rumors. As for Tao Sanyu, as the Clan Chief, even with severe injuries, he had to do his best to keep it hidden.

Li Jiangying thought for a moment and said, “In a few days.”

Tao Buluo smiled. “Very well. Daoist Ying, how about you tell me what reward you’d like first? I can use this time to seek it out.”

“In that case, I want a Body Tempering Technique.”

Tao Buluo was shocked by her once again. “You plan to practice it yourself?!”

“Indeed.” Li Jiangying nodded firmly.

After handing the pills over to Gu Qinglin, Li Jiangying found herself idle. She ate, drank, cultivated, and cultivated some more each day. Without the clingy snake demon, she actually felt that the small courtyard had become rather lonely and quiet.

The Fire Affliction she had retained within her body had been mostly absorbed by her physical vessel. Li Jiangying could clearly feel herself being gradually tempered and reborn, as if flames were slowly burning away her flesh and blood, replacing it with something else.

When the Fire Affliction filled every corner of her entire body, Li Jiangying inexplicably felt a stirring within her dantian. Although the stirring was very brief, it was enough to excite Li Jiangying.

The opportunity to test her current physical strength was given by Li Xiangshui. She was partial to occasionally throwing out a sarcastic remark. This day, it came again. “You look so ugly when you’re practicing. Always coming to my place to practice, are you afraid Yueying will see and be disgusted?”

Li Jiangying stared at her and suddenly asked, “The body of a Transformation Realm cultivator… the skin should also be quite tough, right?”

Li Xiangshui: “What do you mean by that!”

Thud! Li Jiangying clenched her fist and rapped her on the forehead. Very quickly, a shallow, red little bump swelled up. Li Xiangshui’s eyes glistened with tears as she shot daggers at her. “Just you wait!”

Li Jiangying blew on her hand. “Tsk, that really hurts.”

Gu Qinglin hadn’t given a specific timeline, so Li Jiangying could only wait aimlessly. But this day was bound to arrive eventually.

First was the sky, where heavy layers of clouds suddenly gathered. Then came the wind, howling through every corner, sobbing and dancing wildly in the Alchemy Valley of the Gu Residence. The wind brought Wood Element Devil Qi. All things—flowers, grass, trees—as if bathed in sweet rain, were invigorated, bursting with green vitality.

A heavenly phenomenon was about to appear. However, at the critical moment, the wind suddenly stopped. The thick, layered clouds in the sky scattered with a crash, and the pure Wood Element Devil Qi that had mysteriously gathered also gradually dispersed.

Li Jiangying’s expression was solemn. She ran into the house and pulled out the small bundle she had long since packed from under the bed. With a grave face, she handed the bundle to Li Xiangshui. “Be smart. If you see something wrong, immediately run to find the Tao Clan people.”

Li Xiangshui was forced to carry the terribly tacky bundle, her face showing disgust. “What’s going on?”

“Cut the nonsense. Just remember that if I die, you won’t live either.”

After instructing Li Xiangshui, Li Jiangying immediately headed for the Alchemy Valley.

Her timing was coincidental. The door of the Medical Hall opened, and a woman walked out gracefully. It was Li Yueying.

Beautiful, elegant, and proud, Li Yueying was composed and unhurried, absolutely nothing like the little madwoman who disregarded her image. The snake tail had vanished, replaced by human legs. The sharp claws were also gone, turned into slender, graceful hands.

The first moment she stepped out of the Medical Hall, she saw Li Jiangying.

It was very clear that she was completely lucid now. Her long hair was neatly combed. She raised her hand and used her jade-like, slender fingers to brush the stray strands behind her ear. Her lips carried a smile, and she looked at Li Jiangying with an expression of complete control.

“Why didn’t you run, Jiangying?”

Li Jiangying scrutinized her without saying a word.

Li Yueying then walked toward her with deliberate, unhurried steps. Her long, narrow eyes slightly narrowed, she tilted her head, reached out to caress Li Jiangying’s face, and then slowly traced along her chin to her neck.

She was particularly fond of this gracefully curved, fair neck. “Li Jiangying, could it be that you’ve finally accepted your fate?”

Accepting her fate was impossible. It would never be possible in this lifetime.

“Or perhaps, you wish to beg for mercy, hoping I’ll let you go?” She revealed a mocking smile, both alluring and cold. “It’s not impossible. Why don’t you give it a try?”

Li Jiangying spoke. “That won’t be necessary. I just wanted to tell you…”

Seeing Li Jiangying’s gaze drift downward, Li Yueying instantly recalled the horror of being dominated by you’re not wearing pants. Her expression turned icy, and she said stiffly, “This time, This Venerable One is wearing pants. Do you have anything else to say?”

Li Jiangying chuckled lightly. “I was just remembering the way you used to wrap your tail around people, how a single tease could make you shed golden beans. You were much more adorable back then.”

“Taking advantage of This Venerable One’s vulnerable state during an episode… Li Jiangying, you are truly despicable and shameless.” Li Yueying looked at her coldly.

Li Jiangying scratched her head with a trembling hand. “It wasn’t that despicable, really. Actually, I quite like you.”

A chilly gust of wind blew past. The hand gripping her neck tightened slightly, and a sense of suffocation rose within her. Li Jiangying uncomfortably grabbed her hand, struggling weakly. She coughed softly a few times before feeling a burning, searing pain. She couldn’t help but suspect her throat had been injured again.

Fortunately, she didn’t continue applying force, or Li Jiangying’s neck would have been crushed to mush.

Like a cat toying with a mouse, Li Yueying’s lips bore a playful smile, her eyes filled with icy hatred. “What, do you still want to drive me mad like before?”

Li Jiangying was shocked. “How did you know? You really have gotten smarter!”

Her eyes betrayed her thoughts. Li Yueying let out a cold laugh, grabbed her and suddenly pulled her close. Leaning in front of her face, she said sinisterly, “What a terrible pity then. This Venerable One is currently… very lucid!”

Just at this moment, Gu Qinglin and Liu Ruyi, who had finished clearing up the aftermath and regulating their own energy, came out. They saw, under the blue sky and white clouds, amidst the green trees and red flowers, Li Jiangying and Li Yueying standing so close, so intimately—like a pair of young lovers impatient to show off their affection. Even someone as cold and tough as Gu Qinglin couldn’t help but reveal a gratified smile, like a doctor feeling parental pride, at this beautiful scene.

“Li Jiangying, I have done as I said and treated the Moon Shadow Devil Venerable’s injuries to a satisfactory degree. The remaining minor ailments and lingering injuries, she can heal on her own.”

The sunlight was so bright, yet Li Jiangying felt waves of chill. The reason was that Gu Qinglin added another line: “Oh, right, I conveniently helped the Moon Shadow Devil Venerable soothe her Heart Devil somewhat. In her current state, she can spend most of each day lucid. No need to thank me. Haha!”

Li Jiangying: Is it still too late to call the Tao Clan father and son now?