Yan Zhao looked puzzled, her gaze falling on the unfortunate chopstick that had perished in Yan Yuanqing’s hand.
Yan Yuanqing snapped back to her senses and suppressed her fury.
When she turned to Yan Zhao, her angry expression instantly transformed into a gentle smile. The bamboo chopstick in her hand reverted to its original form with a shift of her will.
Yan Yuanqing put down the chopstick, picked up another piece of flower cake, and handed it to Yan Zhao. She asked softly, “Little Zhaozhao, have you used this technique on Snowball yet?”
Yan Zhao ate from Yan Yuanqing’s hand, her tongue stuck by the sticky cake, and simply nodded at Yan Yuanqing.
“You’ve already used it?” Yan Yuanqing drew a sharp breath, her brows furrowing with worry.
After a moment, she asked again, “Do you like Snowball very much?”
Yan Zhao nodded like a pestle pounding rice: “I do.”
Yan Yuanqing’s expression grew complicated. She rubbed her brow and sighed, “Since that’s the case, it can’t be helped. It’s already done… Ah… But that child—I mean Snowball—was she willing?”
Yan Zhao recalled how Snowball had struggled incessantly while she healed her. She pouted, “It resisted fiercely.”
“…” Yan Yuanqing suddenly clenched her fist, grinding her teeth.
Nangong Yin, you truly are a sinner!
Yan Zhao blinked, not understanding why Yan Yuanqing’s expression kept shifting from cloudy to sunny.
Yan Yuanqing instructed her, “Since Snowball is unwilling, you must not forcefully use this art on her again in the future. Just refine a few more batches of Soul Nourishing Pills and nurse her back slowly, it’s just as effective.”
The healing effect of Soul Nourishing Pills was naturally not as good as Dual Cultivation. Although Yan Zhao’s cultivation base was low, her innate Soul Power was formidable. Using this art, she could heal Snowball’s injuries with half the effort.
Despite the theory, this shouldn’t have been done so casually!
Yan Yuanqing was so angry her teeth itched. She mentally noted this grievance, planning to settle accounts with Nangong Yin thoroughly another day.
Yan Zhao had never wanted to force Snowball in the first place; she was just afraid Snowball would die from her severe injuries if she didn’t.
Hearing Yan Yuanqing’s words, she responded with an “Oh,” and nodded in agreement.
Yan Zhao ate and drank in the Cave Abode, while Ren Qingyue sat on the edge of the couch resting for a long while. She meditated and regulated her breathing for half an hour before the burning, restless sensation in her internal organs finally subsided.
Her thoughts turned to the chaos in the Sect Main Hall of the Medicine God Sect today.
The Immortal Alliance Deputy Envoy had suddenly appeared, declaring that Yan Yuanqing had stolen a supreme treasure of the Immortal Realm, and that the Heavenly Emperor had ordered an investigation into its whereabouts.
Daoling had publicly identified Yan Zhao, exposing a secret that Fuyun Sect had hidden for three hundred years.
Although the Immortal Alliance Deputy Envoy was killed on the spot by Nangong Yin, the news had already sprouted legs and run down the mountain.
Before long, everyone would know that Yan Zhao was Yan Yuanqing’s child.
Moreover, with the Deputy Envoy slain, the Immortal Alliance would never let the matter rest.
The mere connection between Yan Zhao and Yan Yuanqing, which could make Yan Zhao a clue to finding the Immortal Realm’s treasure, was enough to draw the Immortal Alliance’s attention.
Trouble was bound to be endless from now on, Ren Qingyue concluded. She thought to herself: Must prepare early.
Not only must she diligently supervise Yan Zhao’s cultivation, but she herself could not slack off. Before the Immortal Alliance’s arrest warrant came down, the key was to increase their strength as much as possible.
Taking a glance at Yan Zhao’s serene and obedient sleeping face, Ren Qingyue sighed inwardly.
Her own soul was damaged, a needle-pricking pain present at all times, so she should cooperate with Yan Zhao for proper healing.
But that healing technique was far too improper. Nangong Yin had teased her; how could she let her succeed? If in the future she clarified the master-disciple relationship with Yan Zhao, how would Yan Zhao cope?
She couldn’t just sit and wait for death.
Making up her mind, Ren Qingyue rose and left the inner chamber. She went to the writing desk in the outer room, spread out Xuan paper, ground some ink, and began to write.
She had to tailor a cultivation plan specifically for Yan Zhao. They could no longer be as indolent as before.
As dawn broke, Yan Zhao was awakened by a slap from Little Fox.
She opened her eyes groggily, feeling the room was still pitch-black, so she rolled over, closed her eyes, and continued sleeping.
A slap to the forehead proving ineffective, the fox’s little paw moved to press down on Yan Zhao’s nose.
With her nose blocked, Yan Zhao maintained her side-lying position and opened her mouth to breathe.
Little Fox: “…”
Being too gentle truly didn’t work.
Just as Yan Zhao was about to fall asleep, a sudden pain shot through her palm.
She opened her eyes abruptly. Little Fox was hanging from her hand with practiced ease.
“Why are you bothering me?” Yan Zhao asked in confusion. “It’s not even light out yet.”
Little Fox released its mouth and dropped to the ground. It caught Yan Zhao’s hem in its teeth and pulled her towards the outer room.
Though its body was small, its strength was considerable. Yan Zhao was nearly pulled off the edge of the couch.
Yan Zhao’s drowsiness was thoroughly dispelled. She scooped Little Fox from the ground and stroked its small head. “Is it because your wound hurts, so you can’t sleep?”
Remembering Yan Yuanqing’s instructions, Yan Zhao brought out the Soul Nourishing Pills, poured one out, and offered it to Little Fox. “Take your medicine.”
Little Fox obediently swallowed the pill in one gulp.
Yan Zhao held it close, lowered her head, and kissed its forehead. “I hope you get better soon.”
Little Fox’s eyes flickered.
Yan Zhao’s kiss was like a breeze, gently blowing into the depths of her heart.
The strange sensation was like a feather landing on the water’s surface, sending light ripples spreading, faintly visible.
Little Fox took a deep breath, shook its head to dispel the strange thoughts, jumped down from Yan Zhao’s arms, and continued tugging at her trouser cuff.
Having no choice, Yan Zhao could only follow it out.
There was a piece of paper on the desk. As Yan Zhao approached and made out the handwriting on it, she let out an “Eh?”
Immediately, she looked down at Little Fox. “Eldest Senior Sister came by? You saw her? Did you hide?”
Little Fox nodded.
Yan Zhao felt relieved. “That’s good.”
Little Fox: “…”
Yan Zhao then picked up the Xuan paper from the desk and carefully deciphered its contents.
Ren Qingyue’s handwriting was elegant and delicate. Considering Yan Zhao’s limited literacy, she had written the schedule in the simplest language possible.
One hour of calligraphy practice in the morning, one hour of alchemy, and all remaining time in the afternoon and evening devoted to cultivation.
The calligraphy copybooks and low-grade medicinal pill categories that could assist cultivation had also been sorted out and stacked on the desk.
Yan Zhao finished reading and let out a yawn.
She casually tossed the timetable aside, turned, and headed back into the room. “I’m tired, I’m going back to sleep.”
Little Fox was so angry the fur on its tail puffed up. It quickly grabbed Yan Zhao’s trouser leg, refusing to let her slack off.
The standoff between one person and one fox lasted a while until the sky outside brightened.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock came from outside the courtyard gate. Then a Male Disciple’s voice drifted through the door crack: “Junior Sister Yan, I’ve brought your breakfast.”
With food arriving, Yan Zhao’s sleepiness vanished. She strode towards the courtyard gate and took the tray from this Senior Brother.
Lin Hui rubbed his hands together and smiled at Yan Zhao. “Junior Sister, it’s quite cold this morning. I even saw frost on the grass and trees on the way here. Could I come in and wait until you finish eating, then take the dishes back?”
Little Fox’s ears perked up. It glared fiercely at him.
But Lin Hui’s attention was on Yan Zhao; he didn’t even see the cold glare the fox threw his way.
Yan Zhao didn’t care. She nodded her head and went back inside with the food tray.
Lin Hui’s expression relaxed, a smile reaching the corners of his eyes. He strode lightly, following Yan Zhao into the courtyard.
Arriving at the door, Yan Zhao went in first. Lin Hui lifted his leg to cross the threshold, but suddenly—Bang!—the door slammed shut in his face, nearly smashing his nose flat.
“…”
Yan Zhao heard the noise and turned around, discovering the door had closed by itself.
“The wind is really strong today,” she murmured. She placed the tray on the table and took a small bowl to ladle some food into it.
Little Fox ran over from the door and jumped lightly onto the table.
Yan Zhao placed the small bowl in front of it.
Little Fox’s large tail swished. Its emerald-like eyes darted around cleverly, glancing at the sneaky shadow on the door.
Yan Zhao portioned some food for Little Fox, then officially began her own meal.
After a period of practice, she had become somewhat skilled with chopsticks. Although she couldn’t use them as smoothly as an extension of her own arm yet, her ability to pick up food had improved greatly.
The spiritual meals of the Medicine God Sect were perfect in color, aroma, and taste—the best food Yan Zhao had ever eaten so far.
For this point alone, she was willing to stay and live long-term in the Medicine God Sect.
Little Fox was unaware of the twists and turns in Yan Zhao’s mind. It endured its headache and finished its own portion of breakfast. Just as it was pondering how to smoothly advance Yan Zhao’s study plan, it suddenly heard a strange sound.
Squeak, squeak, squeak.
It sounded like some animal screaming.
It turned its head towards the source of the sound and found the shadow cast on the door had bent over.
Then, a palm-sized rat squeezed through the door crack and scrambled frantically under Yan Zhao’s table.
Lin Hui had released the rat inside and soon heard a series of crashes and bangs from within.
Counting the time, he figured the commotion was loud enough to be impossible to ignore. Lin Hui yelled, “Junior Sister Yan! What happened?!”
Before his voice even faded, he pushed the door open and entered.
Before entering, he had already imagined a heroic rescue scene in his mind.
This was how the storybooks in the Immortal Market teahouses always went. A delicate, obedient girl like Junior Sister Yan would surely be terrified of snakes, rats, insects, and the like. As long as he appeared in time to vanquish the demon beast, he would undoubtedly win Junior Sister Yan’s favor.
Thus, he could reap the advantages of proximity.
Unexpectedly, the moment his front foot stepped through the door, he froze in place.
Inside the room, Yan Zhao crawled out from under the table. In her right hand were the chopsticks, and in her left, she dangled a rat by its tail.
The lively, jumping rat was still struggling desperately in her grasp.
The image was too impactful. Lin Hui stood rigid by the door, his smile awkward. “Wh-Why is there a rat? Junior Sister Yan, you’re actually not afraid?”
“What’s there to be afraid of?”
Yan Zhao expressed her confusion, holding the rat by its tail and shaking it vigorously.
The rat squeaked, squeaked, and squeaked, incessantly calling out.
Lin Hui drew a sharp breath, his facial muscles twitching, followed by a shudder in his calves.
Little Fox crouched on the table, casting a cold glance at Lin Hui, a trace of smugness in its fox eyes.
You dog of a man, you miscalculated!
Yan Zhao was not like ordinary women.
But Little Fox’s smugness didn’t last long, because Yan Zhao casually tossed the bad rat that had interrupted her meal towards the Pill Furnace.
Having never found a chance to contribute, the Pill Furnace, which had been itching for action, leaped three feet into the air. Its lid flipped open, and it swallowed the rat in one gulp.
The Pill Fire leaped, its tongue of flame wrapping around the rat, devouring it mercilessly.
The room was instantly filled with the rat’s miserable, piercing screams.
Little Fox: “…”
Yan Zhao was supposed to use this furnace for alchemy later, including the Soul Nourishing Pills for it to eat!
