Help, I’m Being Forced to Marry a Frail and Sickly Immortal Doctor! 75

Chapter 75: A Past Dream in the Mortal World

“I like you very much.”

Ning Ruoque decisively refused, “It’s too dangerous. You just wait for me here.”

How could she let a medical cultivator fight alongside her?

But Yin Buran did not let go and still insisted, “At a time like this, why do you have to be so particular with me? I’m also very powerful now. I can protect myself and even help you.”

“But it’s too dan—”

Before Ning Ruoque could finish, Yin Buran squinted her eyes and punched her on the shoulder.

Ning Ruoque: “…”

It actually hurts.

Yin Buran tilted her head to observe her expression. Seeing that Ning Ruoque did not make a sound, she held her head high and said.

“I told you, I’m very powerful.”

After another long hesitation, Ning Ruoque reluctantly agreed to take her along, but they had to set some ground rules first.

She reminded Yin Buran, “When we’re killing the Zhuyan later, you should hide far away and conceal your aura.”

Finally, her tone suddenly softened. “Don’t be nervous. It will be over soon, just like the last time I took you to hunt the deer demon.”

After all, this was Yin Buran.

Ning Ruoque had no relatives or friends in the cultivation world, and no sect behind her. Only Yin Buran could be considered half an old acquaintance.

It was very difficult for her not to be soft-hearted towards Yin Buran.

Yin Buran smoothed a stray strand of green silk behind her ear, her tone teasing. “Then after we’ve killed the Zhuyan, will you cook me mushroom soup again?”

“…No.”

Ning Ruoque clenched the hilt of her sword, the tips of her ears bright red. “I’ll treat you to barbecue.”

Since there was no disagreement, the two of them immediately prepared to set off.

However, before they had even left the camp, they heard someone call out to them from behind. “Fellow Daoist Ning, wait! You’re going to kill the Zhuyan, right? Take me with you.”

This voice was so loud and ostentatious that it was hard for people not to notice.

The person who came was also very conspicuous, with slightly curly long hair, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing her strong and sturdy arms.

Even though she was being stared at by Ning Ruoque with a blank expression, she still smiled brightly. “I heard that old man asked you to kill the Zhuyan. Take me with you. I happen to be short of a Zhuyan’s tooth for refining.”

Then she clapped her hands. “I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Chu Xuan, from the Forging Fire Sect. This is a greeting gift. Come, come, take it.”

After speaking, she ignored everything else and stuffed a few protective talismans into each of their hands, her familiarity was terrifying.

Ning Ruoque frowned imperceptibly. She was used to being alone and would not cooperate with others unless necessary.

Normally, she would have definitely stuffed the talismans back and refused Chu Xuan.

But Yin Buran suddenly said softly, “It’s good to have one more person. We can help each other, and it will naturally be safer.”

So Ning Ruoque thought for a moment and felt that it was indeed so.

It was good to have one more person. Yin Buran’s safety would have another layer of protection.

She said concisely, “Alright.”

Chu Xuan snapped her fingers crisply. “Got it!”

So the original two-person trip became three, and killing the Zhuyan was also as Ning Ruoque had expected, with danger but no harm.

The only “danger” was that after Ning Ruoque had forced the Zhuyan into a corner, the furious demonic beast had suddenly turned and rushed towards Yin Buran.

Ning Ruoque didn’t have time to stop it and could only watch helplessly as Yin Buran gracefully dodged the Zhuyan’s attack and then raised her hand and slapped it.

It seemed to be a soft and weak slap, but it had actually made the demonic beast spit out a mouthful of black blood, and its movements had also slowed down a lot.

Ning Ruoque followed closely behind, her sword like a swimming dragon, bringing with it countless whistling long winds.

Before the Zhuyan could react, its heart was pierced by a sword, and its life was ended.

Chu Xuan put away her giant axe and clapped her hands. “Beautiful! Miss Yin’s slap was truly like a divine soldier descending from the heavens, a peerless heroine!”

Yin Buran nodded politely to her, then unhurriedly walked up to Ning Ruoque.

She didn’t speak, just stared at Ning Ruoque with her pair of beautiful glassy pupils.

Ning Ruoque performed a dashing sword flourish and sheathed her sword.

She was a little bewildered by Yin Buran’s stare and thought that the other was asking her for help, so she asked, “Are you injured anywhere?”

Yin Buran shook her head.

At this time, Chu Xuan was sizing up the Zhuyan’s corpse. “Oh my, such a big one. Do you want it?”

It was a common practice for cultivators to use demonic beasts to refine artifacts and medicine, but not all demonic beasts were useful.

So Ning Ruoque asked Yin Buran again, “Do you also want that Zhuyan?”

This time, the latter said directly, “Fellow Daoist Chu, this Zhuyan is yours.”

Chu Xuan happily dragged the Zhuyan to the side to deal with it.

Now Ning Ruoque was even more bewildered. “Then you are…”

She was actually not good at guessing other people’s thoughts and still preferred a more direct way of communication.

Yin Buran lowered her eyes and also glanced at Chu Xuan in the distance.

After confirming that the other couldn’t see, she grabbed Ning Ruoque’s sleeve. “Did I help you just now?”

It seemed to be a question, but in reality, there was a strong sense that if she didn’t get a satisfactory answer, she wouldn’t let go.

Ning Ruoque: “…”

So she’s asking for credit.

She was speechless for a moment.

But she quickly pressed her lips together, suppressed the curve of her mouth, and instead answered with sincere feeling, “Mm, you’re very powerful. Thank you.”

Yin Buran snorted lightly. “I’ll treat your injuries.”

When they were killing the Zhuyan earlier, Ning Ruoque’s shoulder had been torn open by the demonic beast’s sharp teeth.

The flesh was torn, and blood was dripping, looking extremely gruesome.

Ning Ruoque had originally wanted to say that it was not necessary.

But it was clear that Yin Buran knew her very well, so much so that she didn’t let go at all. The sentence just now was just a notification.

A cold, yin spiritual energy immediately traveled along her skin, causing the wound to slowly heal.

Ning Ruoque couldn’t help but frown again.

Yin Buran’s treatment was just like burning her flesh with fire. It was even more painful than when she had been bitten by the demonic beast.

But the person before her still asked in a soft voice, “Does it hurt a lot?”

Ning Ruoque’s expression was as usual, and her hand did not even tremble.

“It’s fine.”

When the last of the wound had healed, Yin Buran sighed softly. “Sorry, this is the price of practicing the art of poison and gu-sorcery.”

She stuffed a bag of things into Ning Ruoque’s hand. Inside were exquisite medicine bottles and several boxes of ointment.

“If you don’t mind, you can also come to Suwen Peak to find me when you’re injured in the future.”

Ning Ruoque still wanted to refuse. “It’s too much trouble for you.”

She had gotten a pile of wound medicine for free without doing anything. She always felt that she did not deserve it.

As soon as her voice fell, Yin Buran punched her, pushing Ning Ruoque back half a step.

And the culprit covered her mouth with her sleeve and coughed a few times, and then gently persuaded her, “Didn’t I also treat your injuries in the past? There’s no need to be so polite between us.”

“Besides, I want you to accompany me—”

Her voice came to an abrupt end, and a fluffy head suddenly came in between the two of them.

Chu Xuan slapped one of their shoulders and grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. “What are you two doing? Do you want to go for a drink to celebrate?”

Ning Ruoque was unmoved. “I’m going to cultivate.”

An ordinary person would have politely left at this time.

However, how could Chu Xuan be an ordinary person? She forcefully pushed the two of them forward, her mouth still chattering non-stop.

“Since you’re here, this is a rare good weather. You can even see the stars. Don’t be shy. I’ll treat everyone to a special barbecue.”

She did as she said. She rolled up her sleeves and began to build a campfire, humming a happy tune.

Leaving Ning Ruoque standing to the side, silent.

Her peripheral vision glanced at the smiling and gentle Yin Buran, whose joy and anger could not be seen. “Yin Buran, what did you want to say just now?”

Yin Buran’s expression did not change. “It’s nothing.”

Seeing that she did not want to say, Ning Ruoque naturally changed the subject.

“By the way, this is for you.”

She actually took out a palm-sized block of ice from her storage bag, and inside was a blue-purple lotus flower.

The petals were as thin as a cicada’s wings, and the texture was clearly visible. The stamen was a delightful tender yellow, which was really strange.

Yin Buran exclaimed in a low voice, “A blue lotus flower, so beautiful. Did you bring it back from Kunlun?”

“Mm, it’s a return gift for you. Thank you for the mooncakes.” Ning Ruoque thanked her seriously again.

She felt that this lotus flower suited Yin Buran.

The wind had stopped at some point, and the setting sun in the ancient battlefield was like blood.

Yin Buran held the lotus flower, her eyes as if reflecting the thousands of rosy clouds, her smile even sweeter than the flower.

And in this pair of gentle eyes, Ning Ruoque saw her dazed self.

“Kunlun is very dangerous. You must be very careful when you’re out alone in the future.” Yin Buran gently and carefully held Ning Ruoque’s hand.

The moment the sun fell below the horizon, her face and voice became mottled and unclear.

But Ning Ruoque knew what she had said at that time.

“When you come to see me, it doesn’t matter if you don’t bring anything. To be able to reunite, I am very happy.”

Her temple suddenly throbbed, and a sharp hum sounded in her ear.

The memory ended here, leaving only some broken images and sounds whose time and place could not be distinguished.

Ning Ruoque unconsciously held the person in her arms tighter, until she heard a few impatient low moans.

She was holding her too tightly, and Yin Buran was not sleeping comfortably. So she stretched lazily and then grabbed Ning Ruoque’s lapel and rubbed her head against it a few times.

Ning Ruoque’s heart was like a steamed bun soaked in sweet soup, softening again and again.

Yin Buran is stretching in her arms.

Yin Buran is so cute.

She couldn’t help but rub Yin Buran’s face with the pad of her finger. It was soft and smooth, and the feel was as good as ever.

So Ning Ruoque rubbed it once, and then rubbed it again.

She was addicted for a moment and didn’t notice that Yin Buran had already frowned, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

Until she was about to touch it for the last time, the person in her arms suddenly got up and gave her a fierce punch.

Then she threatened coolly, “You’d better have something to find me for.”

It didn’t hurt at all, but Ning Ruoque became obedient.

She first silently condemned herself. So unrestrained! How could she get carried away and touch her so many times?

Then she awkwardly found an excuse.

At this time, it was already afternoon, and the rain on Suwen Peak had stopped.

She put an outer robe on Yin Buran and said slowly, “Ranran, I suddenly remembered something very important.”

“In the Mirage Sea Realm, I found that a part of my memory had been replaced. I thought that my wish was to raise a small cat, but in fact…”

In fact, the person she wanted to go hunting and eat roasted persimmon cakes with was Yin Buran.

She had remembered all the words that Yin Buran had said, but they had been changed beyond recognition.

But it was undeniable that this kind of forged memory made it very difficult for her to find any clues.

Ning Ruoque couldn’t help but frown. It was hard to believe that the Heavenly Dao could actually do such a thing.

She observed Yin Buran’s expression from time to time and quickened her speech.

“Later, I raised a white cat. It would curl up on my lap when I was cultivating, eat the steamed buns I made, and go to the place where I practiced my sword to sleep.”

Yin Buran’s face was unhappy. “Do you think that white cat is actually me?”

Ning Ruoque paused and muttered in a small voice, “Xiao Bai seems to also catch mice, and the time doesn’t match…”

The next second, she was grabbed by Yin Buran’s collar and questioned in a cold voice.

“So all those grass dragonflies and grass butterflies in your pocket are for teasing cats? What do you mean by giving these to me? Do you think I’m a little pet?”

Seeing that the person was about to bristle, Ning Ruoque quickly tried to remedy the situation. The first step was to coax her with a stammer.

“Ran… Ranran, can I kiss you?”

She was still not used to those intimate actions. When she said this, her face was burning hot.

If a pot of water were poured on it, it would probably even emit white smoke.

Yin Buran: “…”

Yin Buran actually fell for this.

Her bit of morning temper instantly vanished, and she held up her small face, waiting for a kiss.

Then she got a light kiss on the center of her brow, like a dragonfly touching the water.

If it weren’t for the fact that Ning Ruoque was actually covering her face and turning her head away, her gaze wandering, she would have thought it was an illusion.

Yin Buran’s expression was blank, and her heart was also without a ripple. “You don’t have to ask me next time you kiss my face.”

“Alright… alright.”

Ning Ruoque obediently agreed.

She poured herself a cup of cold tea, and while calming down, she also moistened her slightly hoarse throat.

Only then did she explain, “I used to weave these when I was a child to coax my younger sisters. There weren’t many toys in the charity home. I learned it from the matron.”

Yin Buran lifted her eyelids to look at her. “What about the cat?”

“I sent it away.”

Ning Ruoque’s voice was low and slow. “At that time, the demon race was active. I was busy chasing and killing monsters, and it was difficult to take good care of it.”

“Once, when I returned to Mount Xuansu, it had somehow broken its leg and couldn’t hunt, so it was meowing with hunger. It was also dirty, and its fur was not shiny.”

“When it saw me come back, it even dragged its injured leg to rub against me and showed its belly for me to rub.”

“Later, when I was about to set off for the ancient battlefield, I sent it to a mortal little girl.”

That was just an ordinary little cat, and its lifespan was not long. So after this parting, Ning Ruoque had never seen it again.

But she had remembered it for a long time.

As long as the lone smoke in the great desert and the setting sun over the vast sea that she had seen, and as long as the famine and the people’s suffering that she had experienced.

It was not the first time Ning Ruoque had sheltered a small life. Before she had adopted the little cat, she had already sheltered many people.

But that little white cat was too clingy.

So clingy that it had to be by Ning Ruoque’s side at all times. When Ning Ruoque left, it would meow to send her off, and when she came back, it would eagerly welcome her.

As if Ning Ruoque was an extremely important part of its life, and it liked Ning Ruoque with all its heart.

Ning Ruoque had never encountered such a thing, so she didn’t know how to deal with it.

Her master had said to her with a straight face, “It likes and depends on you. You should be responsible for it.”

Ning Ruoque deeply agreed, so for the sake of being responsible for the cat, she sent it away.

Then, when she came back from the ancient battlefield, she was beaten by her master for half a month.

Halfway through the beating, her master had taken a sip of wine, laughed a few times with an ambiguous meaning, and then had left, swaying.

Now that she recalled this matter again…

Ning Ruoque had a little regret about her choice back then, so she lowered her eyelids, hiding the loneliness in her eyes.

Just then, Yin Buran said out of the blue, “I’m not a cat. Wherever you go, I can always follow.”

She gently grabbed Ning Ruoque’s sleeve. “The martial arts stage at Azurefall Creek is very lively now. Do you want to go and see it with me?”

Ning Ruoque instantly came back to her senses and crashed into a pair of gentle eyes.

Before answering this question, she leaned over and carefully kissed the corner of Yin Buran’s eye.