“Silly child. Gu Qingxue treated you like that, and you were still worried about her safety. How could that possibly be your fault?”
Lan Yun said through clenched teeth.
“The ones at fault are Qin Yuan and Gu Qingxue! If Qin Yuan hadn’t bewitched Qingxue, she would never have done something so insane.”
Su Fan felt a flicker of joy in his heart. It seemed Lan Yun had completely come to hate Qin Yuan.
He immediately said carefully, “Please don’t say that. Perhaps Senior Brother Qin Yuan also has some unspeakable difficulty. Maybe there’s something we don’t know.”
That single sentence fanned the flames completely, further solidifying Qin Yuan’s guilt.
Lan Yun said angrily, “What unspeakable difficulty could he possibly have? I think he’s simply vicious at heart. He’s jealous of your talent, so he’s been trying every way possible to target you.”
“No matter what, he is still my Senior Brother,” Su Fan said with a bitter smile. “I’ve been reflecting a lot recently, wondering what I did wrong to make Senior Brother dissatisfied with me.”
“Silly child, you are truly too pure and too kind. He harmed you like that, and you still speak up for him.”
Lan Yun felt even more heartache. “Stop overthinking. Everything is Qin Yuan’s fault! Don’t worry. With me here, I won’t let him act recklessly. And I certainly won’t let him harm you.”
Lan Yun continued, “Stay here and recover properly during this time. Don’t let your thoughts wander.”
“Yes, Master.”
Su Fan replied gratefully.
Lan Yun nodded, then turned to Nangong Liuli.
“Liuli, I’ll trouble you to take good care of this foolish disciple of mine during this period.”
“Don’t worry, Fifth Elder.”
Nangong Liuli inclined her head slightly.
After Lan Yun left, Nangong Liuli said to Su Fan, “Junior Brother Su Fan, you have been seriously injured twice in succession. Your foundation has already been affected. You must rest well during this period. Otherwise, if you leave lingering issues, it may affect your future cultivation.”
“Yes, Senior Sister.”
Su Fan said shyly, “I’m truly sorry for causing you trouble.”
“It’s no trouble. This is part of my duty.”
Nangong Liuli’s favorable impression of Su Fan continued to rise. In contrast, the Qin Yuan who once drew her attention had now become domineering and lawless, completely devoid of the demeanor a genius should possess.
Nangong Liuli smiled gently at Su Fan.
“I’ll go prepare the medicine. Rest first.”
“Alright. Thank you, Senior Sister.”
Su Fan watched her leave, a trace of burning desire flashing in his eyes.
“Senior Sister Liuli… I will definitely obtain you.”
Su Fan muttered softly.
Back then, after he came to the Supreme Profound Sect for Gu Qingxue, he realized just how vast this world truly was.
And how many breathtaking beauties it contained.
Nangong Liuli was one of the first beauties he noticed after arriving at the Supreme Profound Sect.
Unlike Gu Qingxue’s proud and icy temperament, Nangong Liuli was serene and ethereal, quiet and elegant, like a poem, like a painting.
Simply looking at her made him lose himself in fascination.
From the very first meeting, he had already regarded Nangong Liuli as one of his targets.
After entering the Supreme Profound Sect, he would occasionally find opportunities to approach Nangong Liuli. He would bring her medicinal herbs or offer unique insights regarding pill refinement. Gradually, this fairy-like woman, seemingly untouched by the mundane world, began to treat him as a friend.
Now that he was staying in the Infirmary Hall to recover, it was the perfect opportunity to grow closer.
He had to use this time to make substantial progress in his relationship with Nangong Liuli.
Su Fan made his resolve silently.
…
…
“Earth Spirit Grass, Purple Crystal Jade, Mystic Ginseng…”
Nangong Liuli entered the pharmacy room to prepare medicine for Su Fan’s recovery.
As she measured the herbs, she consulted ancient texts. Her movements were elegant, her expression focused. In the dimly lit, antique-scented pharmacy, she formed a scene as beautiful as a classical painting.
“Five Elements Wood, Green Jade Milk…”
Soon, Nangong Liuli prepared the herbs according to the prescription. But she frowned slightly.
“These herbs are enough to treat Junior Brother Su Fan. However, if a small piece of Purple Cloud Stone were added as a catalyst, the effect would multiply… Only a little would suffice. Unfortunately, the sect currently does not have any Purple Cloud Stone.”
“Wait. Purple Cloud Stone?”
Nangong Liuli seemed to recall something and began searching through her spatial ring.
After a moment, she took out a fist-sized purple stone. It was crystal clear and radiated a brilliant glow.
It was indeed Purple Cloud Stone.
Yet as she looked at it, there was no joy in her expression. Only melancholy.
Because this Purple Cloud Stone had been given to her by Qin Yuan.
That year, Qin Yuan had just arrived at the Supreme Profound Sect.
Back then, Qin Yuan had been graceful and refined, gentle as jade, unmatched in presence.
Even she, who rarely engaged with others, could not help but be drawn to him.
“Hello, Senior Sister. My name is Qin Yuan. I look forward to your guidance in the future.”
“Hello. I am Nangong Liuli.”
That had been their first meeting.
He was courteous and refined. She had smiled warmly.
Yes.
It had been a good beginning.
As their exchanges deepened, she discovered that Qin Yuan was not only extraordinarily gifted in cultivation.
He was also unfathomably skilled in the path of alchemy.
From then on, she and Qin Yuan often cultivated together and studied the Dao of alchemy.
Though it was called studying together, in truth, it was Qin Yuan guiding her.
She admired his talent and deeply respected his insights in alchemy.
“What’s wrong? Why are you frowning?”
Several months later, she had been troubled over a pill formula.
Qin Yuan appeared.
She wore plain clothing, serene and elegant.
“You taught me to refine the Essence Restoration Pill yesterday. When I prepared the ingredients today, I found that the sect doesn’t seem to have Purple Cloud Stone.”
“That’s all?”
Qin Yuan laughed heartily and gently patted her head.
“Leave it to me.”
“Mm.”
She had nodded with flushed cheeks.
So… she had once blushed too.
One day later, Qin Yuan placed a fist-sized Purple Cloud Stone before her.
She had been overjoyed, smiling brightly.
“Thank you!”
…
Her thoughts returned to reality. Nangong Liuli let out a soft sigh.
It could not return.
Nothing could return.
She held the Purple Cloud Stone in her palm and gazed at it for a long time. In the end, she placed it back into her spatial ring.
Thump—
At that moment, Nangong Liuli felt her heart pound violently.
It hurt.
A piercing ache.
“What’s happening?”
She was startled. Her body, in theory, should not experience such a condition.
Thump—
Another violent beat.
It hurt even more.
Thump—
This time, even her breathing became difficult.
“W-what’s happening to me?”
Nangong Liuli clutched her chest, breathing rapidly. Pain and shock flickered in her eyes.
Thump—
Another violent pulse, as if even her mind trembled with it.
“Mm…”
“What exactly is going on? What… is happening to me?”
Nangong Liuli felt dizzy, unable even to stand steady.
[Is there any regret in your life?]
In a hazy moment, such a voice echoed in her mind.