Help, I’m Being Forced to Marry a Frail and Sickly Immortal Doctor! 53

Chapter 53: Plucking a Plum Blossom for Whom

But she likes Ning Ruoque.

The person who came was dressed in ordinary narrow-sleeved black clothes, her long hair simply tied up with a red string.

At first glance, her figure was similar to Ning Ruoque’s, but her temperament was completely different.

She had a romantic and passionate face, with long and narrow eyes, and the corners of her mouth naturally had a three-point smile, exuding a lazy air.

If Ning Ruoque was a green bamboo by a cold mountain stream, then the person who came was an aged wine by the Peach Blossom Pool.

The woman stroked her chin, squinted, and leaned in to look, as if she were very curious about the person in front of her.

Yin Buran’s face was expressionless, but in reality, her hands were clenched tightly.

“Senior is Ning Ruoque’s master?”

The woman smiled, which was a tacit admission.

She leaned against the table, took out a wine gourd, and took a few gulps.

The aroma of the wine became more and more intoxicating, and there seemed to be a fluctuation of spiritual energy in the surroundings.

Yin Buran frowned slightly.

After finishing the wine, the woman wiped her mouth and sized Yin Buran up and down.

Then she shook the wine gourd, a profound meaning in her eyes. “I haven’t seen you before. Are you the person Ning Ruoque brought back, or—”

“The person who brought Ning Ruoque back?”

Yin Buran’s eyes widened abruptly.

But only for a moment. She quickly lowered her eyes, hiding her emotions.

After politely getting off the bed and bowing, she said faintly, “Is Senior here to find Ning Ruoque?”

The woman admitted frankly, “Mm, but now I’m more interested in knowing your identity. Ning Ruoque has never brought anyone back to Mount Xuansu.”

Not to mention letting others lie on her bed.

One had to know that although her disciple had a good temper, she had an extraordinary possessiveness for her food and her own territory.

Her expression became more and more inquisitive. “What exactly is the relationship between you and Ning Ruoque?”

Yin Buran fell into silence.

Logically, Ning Ruoque had just gone to get a bowl of medicine. She shouldn’t have been gone for so long.

The only possibility was that a barrier had been set up nearby, which had disturbed Ning Ruoque’s judgment.

She didn’t think that Ning Ruoque’s master was a bad person, but she couldn’t be sure if the other would accept her.

After a moment of thought, Yin Buran looked up and met the woman’s eyes, speaking calmly, “I am Yin Buran from Azurefall Creek, Ning Ruoque’s fiancée.”

These words were said with such self-righteousness that Yin Buran’s face didn’t even turn red. The room was quiet for a few breaths, and the sound of the wind temporarily ceased.

After a long while, the woman squinted her eyes. Her gaze swept over the jade bracelet on Yin Buran’s hand, and she suddenly laughed out loud.

“Oh? She’s never mentioned you to me.”

Yin Buran stood with a proper posture and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, “It’s Ning Ruoque who has forgotten.”

Back then, Ning Ruoque had clearly said that her master knew about their relationship and did not object.

But Yin Buran was already used to it, used to the people around her not remembering this matter.

Regarding this, she didn’t mind introducing it a few more times, even if the other always doubted.

The woman took another sip of wine, and after a few smacks of her lips, she looked at Yin Buran with a faint smile. “So that’s how it is.”

“I was just saying, Ning Ruoque was so focused on practicing the sword back then. Why didn’t she cultivate the ruthless dao?”

As soon as her voice fell, the sunlight outside the window suddenly flickered a few times.

Even Yin Buran’s heart felt as if it had been clenched by something.

It was clearly still daytime, but it felt as if a cold, yin aura was crawling up her ankles.

Her movements became abnormally sluggish, and it was difficult to even move a finger.

Yin Buran still had a trace of strength to resist, but she just took a deep breath, trying to sort out the chaotic thoughts in her mind.

She asked seriously, “Does Senior want Ning Ruoque to cultivate the ruthless dao?”

“Me? I thought so not long ago,” the woman leaned against the edge of the table without any image and tapped it with her wine gourd. “Now…”

In her drawn-out tone, countless meanings seemed to be hidden.

The cold wind rose again outside the window, and the light spots on the floor trembled more and more violently, but the window actually did not move at all.

Yin Buran coughed a few times, and without caring about her wind-tousled hair, she asked in a hurry, “Senior, you actually believe me?”

The woman tilted her head lazily. “Believe, why wouldn’t I believe? I know her too well.”

The moment she admitted it, Yin Buran’s whole body stiffened, unable to move at all.

She could only watch helplessly as the woman came over, grabbed the wrist with the jade bracelet, and examined it carefully.

“You should have a strand of Ning Ruoque’s sword qi on you, so your memory has not been erased.”

Yin Buran wanted to break free, but her body was completely out of control.

Seeing this, the woman chuckled. “But, this strand of sword qi will be worn out sooner or later.”

“Bang!”

Several more gusts of wind hit the window. This time, a crack finally appeared on the windowsill, and a lot of the wine’s aroma was also blown away.

The woman still held the thin jade bracelet, as if with a little force, the smooth and delicate green jade would shatter.

Ignoring Yin Buran’s weak struggle, she opened her lips slowly.

“Ning Ruoque’s path is special, and the dangers in it are far more than an ordinary person’s. It’s difficult for anyone to walk the same path as her. Why are you so persistent?”

“Why don’t you give up? It’s better for everyone.”

Just then, a gust of wind suddenly hit the window, and the latter instantly shattered, and even the space here was constantly distorted.

Countless noisy sounds came from by Yin Buran’s ear. She finally had the strength to break free from the woman’s hold and carefully protected the bracelet in her arms.

She opened her mouth, “I…”

Her voice was torn to pieces by the wind, but the woman seemed to have understood.

The latter put her hands behind her back and walked towards the window, still with a smile as she passed by Yin Buran.

“Since you have answered so, I might as well tell you that nothing can disappear without a trace.”

“And…”

The voice sounded in Yin Buran’s mind, and she was instantly stunned.

Before she could ask, the woman had already leaped onto the windowsill. “Since you’ve accepted this favor from me, don’t forget to bring me a good pot of wine in the future.”

The next second, the barrier here collapsed with a roar.

After a dazzling flash of strong light, Yin Buran opened her eyes again, and the setting sun was gently falling on the mountains and fields.

There was no wind in all directions, and the window was also fine.

The only difference was that Ning Ruoque was holding her sword, her hair disheveled, and her face full of nervousness as she stared at her.

It was clear that she had been persistently trying to break the barrier just now.

She didn’t even have time to calm her breathing and hurriedly asked, “Ranran, are you alright?”

Yin Buran did not make a sound. With a blink of her eye, a teardrop uncontrollably gushed out of her eye and slid down her cheek.

Her whole person was listless, completely devoid of her previous proud appearance.

This really frightened Ning Ruoque. She hurriedly sheathed her sword and approached to check on Yin Buran’s condition.

“Did my master bully you?”

Heaven knows how flustered she was when she came back with the medicine and found the barrier in the courtyard.

She was afraid that her master didn’t know Yin Buran and would not hold back, thus injuring her.

She didn’t expect that even though she had rushed, she was still a step too late.

Yin Buran wiped her face forcefully, the corners of her eyes were red, and she said in a muffled voice, “If I say yes, will you stand up for me?”

Ning Ruoque answered without thinking, “I can’t beat her now, but I can in the future.”

No matter what, to set up a barrier without distinguishing between right and wrong, and even to bully someone until they cried, her attitude was really terrible.

Her master had never been proper, either drinking or sleeping.

When she was drunk, she would tease cats and dogs everywhere, not only scaring away the animals on the mountain, but also always stealing her food, or grabbing her to compete with swords, which was very scary.

Of course, Ning Ruoque was more inclined to Yin Buran.

She said with a straight face, “I’ll go and get her to apologize to you.”

Yin Buran shook her head. “I’m just teasing you. Your master is very good. She didn’t bully me.”

Ning Ruoque’s expression was suspicious. That teardrop was still on Yin Buran’s chin. How could she believe this statement?

Yin Buran was still too kind. In order not to make things difficult for her, she chose to swallow her grievances herself.

She kept this kindness in her heart and still planned to find her master for a fight after her cultivation had improved.

She hesitated to speak, and before she could, Yin Buran casually wiped away that teardrop.

Her cheeks were clean again, and her expression was indifferent, as if nothing had happened.

She suddenly asked, “Where do you usually put your particularly important things?”

Ning Ruoque answered honestly, “I carry them with me.”

Yin Buran then opened her hand to her. “Let me see your storage bag.”

“…”

These words sounded very impolite, no different from “I’m going to rob you.”

Ning Ruoque hesitated for a moment, but she still obediently handed over her storage bag.

Yin Buran sent her spiritual sense in to search.

It had to be said that Ning Ruoque’s storage bag was just like her home, one could see everything at a glance.

Inside were only some spirit stones, commonly used artifacts, and all sorts of worthless little things.

Yin Buran rummaged for a moment and took out a grass-woven grasshopper from inside.

With a poke, the grasshopper jumped onto Ning Ruoque.

Before the latter could catch it, Yin Buran directly reached out and snatched it, and put it into her sleeve with a calm expression.

She threw the storage bag back to Ning Ruoque. “Is there no other place to hide things?”

“Hmm… I don’t have anything so important that it needs to be specially stored.”

Ning Ruoque was not annoyed at all. It was just a grass-woven grasshopper. It was not worth arguing with Yin Buran over, and she even really wanted to rub the other’s head.

She had already understood. Yin Buran was looking for the gift she had once given her.

Unfortunately, just like those damaged letters, withered flowers, and the tree that had been struck by lightning, it was destined to be fruitless.

Unable to find what she wanted, Yin Buran sat back on the bed without a word and began to flip through Ning Ruoque’s pillow and straw mat.

Naturally, there was nothing there either.

The person was already not very happy, and now her face was as dark as a deep pool. One touch and she would immediately bristle.

Ning Ruoque tentatively reached out, and as expected, was fiercely slapped away by Yin Buran.

Just as she was about to say something, Yin Buran stood on her tiptoes and fiercely pinched Ning Ruoque’s face.

After venting her anger, she walked out the door with a grave expression.

Ning Ruoque stood there in a daze, the feeling of being “kneaded” still lingering on her cheek.

After a few breaths, she finally chased after her. “Wait, you still haven’t taken your medicine!”

Yin Buran snorted coldly and went straight onto the flying boat.

She had originally wanted to bite someone.

But when she thought of how this person had tried so hard to save her, striking at the barrier without stopping, she mercifully changed it to pinching her face.

She hated dull-witted sword cultivators.

But she likes Ning Ruoque.

So, she will remember. No matter what, she will not, and does not want to, forget the past.

*

The flying boat traveled for two days and finally arrived at its destination.

While the north was covered in heavy snow and the hundred herbs of Azurefall Creek were withered, Yazhou was still as warm as early autumn.

On the cliff by the sea stood a large white palace and several high towers.

The tallest was a full hundred zhangs, almost touching the sky.

It was just morning, and the first ray of sunlight shone on the glazed tiles, making the entire palace shine.

And when the last star disappeared from the sky, a melodious and ancient bell sound echoed, and the originally brightly lit Heavenly Eon Palace suddenly quieted down.

Ning Ruoque carried Yin Buran and leaped off the flying boat, and saw a woman with a purple veil and a hood waving at them with great effort.

She was wrapped up so tightly that not even a single strand of white hair could be seen.

“You’re here!”

Chu Xuan had arrived earlier than them and was already standing beside Si Mingyue in a carefree manner.

When Ning Ruoque got closer, Si Mingyue urged, “Hurry up, hurry up. Today, after we’ve attended the secret realm ceremony, we’ll sneak in.”

The medicine she had been taking recently had a sleeping component. Yin Buran yawned, her eyes half-closed with sleepiness.

Ning Ruoque glanced at her and asked Si Mingyue in a low voice, “Do you have any plans?”

Si Mingyue shook her head. “No.”

Chu Xuan also asked, “Destination?”

Si Mingyue still shook her head. “I’m not sure.”

Chu Xuan was bewildered and frowned. “Then what are we setting off for today?”

Si Mingyue clapped her hands, the corners of her mouth turning up, her smile as soft as the fluffy clouds in the sky.

“Because I did a divination this morning, and it’s a great fortune.”

Ning Ruoque, who was planning to set off later, after dinner: “…”

Ning Ruoque did not dare to make a sound.

Why did she always feel that this time would be a great misfortune?