Ji Zhixing took a glance at Lu Qing’an lying on the ground, drew a deep breath, and forced herself to calm down.
Only now, after the panic had subsided, did she realize there were no marks on Lu Qing’an like she had imagined.
“I am sorry, Master. This disciple is willing to go to the Punishment Hall to receive my punishment.”
Ji Zhixing cupped her hands in salute toward the person before her, bowing deeply with her back held straight.
Qi Manmeng, however, did not seem to care much. She leaned back on that white jade chair once more, adopting the exact same posture as when Ji Zhixing had first come to find her.
The thin, soft fabric clung to her body, outlining her curves.
She waved her hand lazily. “No need. You may leave.”
Seeing that her expression was normal, Ji Zhixing quickly left, taking Lu Qing’an with her.
A moment after she departed, the Sect Leader suddenly appeared in Qi Manmeng’s room.
The Sect Leader casually found a place in the room to sit down. Just as he was about to speak about the news he had newly gathered, he acutely sensed that Qi Manmeng’s mood was somewhat off.
“What’s wrong with you?”
He cast a faint glance toward the spot where Lu Qing’an had been lying, his eyebrows knitting together in disapproval.
“You used your spiritual energy again just now.”
Qi Manmeng nodded, her lips bearing her usual alluring smile as her eyes fixed on the Sect Leader with immense charm. “Senior Brother, what brings you to my place?”
“You still have the nerve to ask! I begged high and low for half a day just to find this pill recipe, which can temporarily stop the spread of the toxic qi.”
He pulled a sheet of paper from his storage bag and handed it to Qi Manmeng.
It was taken by a fair, translucent hand adorned with rouge nail polish. Its owner quickly scanned it a few times before tossing it onto the table with indifference.
“It treats the symptoms, not the cause.”
Her nonchalant attitude nearly infuriated the Sect Leader.
“I went all the way to Yaowang Valley to beg for this! You know what kind of people live in Yaowang Valley.”
With a creak, the door opened automatically.
“Senior Brother, please.”
Qi Manmeng made a gesture to see him out.
The Sect Leader snorted. “You, Junior Sister, really have no conscience.”
Even so, he complied with Qi Manmeng’s wishes and left.
After he had gone, Qi Manmeng picked up the paper once more and studied it thoroughly and meticulously.
Eighteen medicinal ingredients were recorded on it, each extremely rare. At the very bottom, the method for refining the ingredients into a pill was written.
Qi Manmeng let out an imperceptible sigh.
Lu Qing’an was carefully placed on the bed by Ji Zhixing so she could rest.
Ji Zhixing quietly guarded her by her side.
Day turned to night, night to day, and another day passed.
Once Lu Qing’an regained a shred of consciousness, she exerted all her strength, only to manage raising a single finger.
Everything before her eyes was pitch-black, and her throat felt as though it were smoking, searing with a raw, scraping pain like blades.
Her lips parted, yet she could not squeeze out a single word.
Beside her, Ji Zhixing discovered with pleasant surprise that Lu Qing’an had moved. “Junior Sister, what do you need?”
Lu Qing’an squeezed out a sound that didn’t form a syllable. Hearing it, Ji Zhixing immediately fetched a teacup, carefully supporting the bottom of the cup.
Water flowed thinly from the rim of the cup into Lu Qing’an’s mouth.
Her thin lips were moistened by the water droplets, resembling a layer of transparent film and appearing as tenderly pink as peach blossoms.
Lu Qing’an greedily absorbed the hard-won water, and the teacup soon hit bottom.
Ji Zhixing went to fetch a second cup.
Perhaps because she had just finished the first cup of water, Lu Qing’an felt a bit of her strength return. She raised her hand, placed it behind Ji Zhixing’s hand, and applied a little pressure to allow the water in the cup to flow better into her throat.
Only after four or five cups of water went down did Lu Qing’an feel the burning sensation in her throat recede.
Lu Qing’an revealed a grateful smile toward Ji Zhixing. “Thank you, Senior Sister.”
Ever since she woke up, she could feel a different kind of power coursing abundantly throughout her entire body.
Lu Qing’an knew that was spiritual energy.
Thinking of this, Lu Qing’an revealed a genuine smile.
A few strands of Ji Zhixing’s hair fell loose, veiling the look in her eyes, with only that gentle curve on her lips remaining. “Junior Sister, you should also go and thank Master.”
Lu Qing’an was unaware of what had happened afterward; after she fainted, she could perceive nothing besides the pain.
After listening to Ji Zhixing explain the entire process in detail, Lu Qing’an immediately got out of bed, wanting to go pay her respects to Qi Manmeng.
She was stopped by Ji Zhixing.
“Your body is weak right now. Go after you have recovered.”
Lu Qing’an also felt that made sense.
Over the next few days, Lu Qing’an received meticulous, highly attentive care from Ji Zhixing.
When she was thirsty, a cup of water would be brought to her lips the next moment; when she was hungry, meals would be delivered right to the small table by her bed; when she was bored, storybooks were placed right at her hand.
This was simply better than living at home.
Lu Qing’an felt a bit overwhelmed by it, mainly because the person taking care of her was Ji Zhixing.
“Senior Sister, my body has already recovered. Look, if you don’t believe me.”
With a swift carp-flip, she sat up from the bed.
She stepped out of bed, stood on the floor, and easily performed a set of basic fist techniques of the Liuyun Sect.
Having finished practicing, she looked at Ji Zhixing, waiting for Ji Zhixing to praise her.
After all, she had learned this set of techniques after reading the manual only two or three times.
Yet she never expected to see worry and guilt in Ji Zhixing’s eyes.
Not expecting such a reaction from her, Lu Qing’an came to Ji Zhixing’s side and asked cautiously, “Senior Sister, what’s wrong?”
Over these past few days, a gentle and graceful smile had constantly rested on Ji Zhixing’s lips, no different from usual.
Lu Qing’an had also assumed that Ji Zhixing was fine.
Thinking back now, if she were truly fine, how could she have looked after Lu Qing’an as if she were something fragile? Holding her in the palm of her hand, terrified she might fall to the ground, taking care of her to the point of not even letting her step out of bed.
It was all because she hadn’t noticed Ji Zhixing’s unsettled emotions.
She stepped forward and hugged Ji Zhixing. “Senior Sister, I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
Ji Zhixing instinctively wanted to shake her head in denial, but she was held even tighter by the other girl.
“My body getting injured has nothing to do with you; you don’t need to blame yourself.”
“On the contrary, I really should thank you, Senior Sister. If you hadn’t gone to find Master, who knows what would have happened to me by now.”
She released her from the embrace, cupped Ji Zhixing’s chin, and held her head, which was trying to turn away, fixed in place. She forced her to make eye contact and look into her eyes filled with guilt.
“Senior Sister, you really took such good care of me.”
Lu Qing’an tapped her own cheek, which was rosy, plump, and healthy. “Look, I’ve even gained weight recently.”
Tears suddenly fell from Ji Zhixing’s eyes.
Even while crying, Ji Zhixing wept quietly, hardly making a sound.
Lu Qing’an attentively wiped away her tears from the side without saying another word.
For the past few days, Ji Zhixing had been blaming herself in her heart.
If she hadn’t told Lu Qing’an to draw qi into her body, then Lu Qing’an wouldn’t have been injured.
Especially during those two days when Lu Qing’an was lying in bed with a pale face, she could barely feel Lu Qing’an’s breathing.
Therefore, even though Lu Qing’an had woken up, Ji Zhixing’s anxious heart still hadn’t settled down.
Self-reproach and guilt tormented her deeply.
Ji Zhixing’s eyes were red from crying, the tip of her nose flushed crimson, and her voice sounded muffled. “Thank you.”
Lu Qing’an hurriedly waved her hands. “No need, no need! This is all what I should do.”
Seeing that she had sorted out her emotions, Lu Qing’an was likewise genuinely happy.
The next day, Lu Qing’an stood before the small courtyard where Qi Manmeng resided.
After pacing back and forth at the entrance for a long time, to the point where the soles of her shoes felt a layer thinner, Lu Qing’an still did not dare to knock on the door.
Ji Zhixing had told her that it was Qi Manmeng who saved her.
Lu Qing’an had long wanted to come thank her in person, and incidentally see if she could become her disciple.
After letting her thoughts run wild in her head for half a day, Lu Qing’an steeled her heart, raised her arm, closed her eyes, and knocked on the door.
The next instant, what her knuckles met was not the solid, cold touch of a wooden door, but a delicate, warm feel akin to skin.
Lu Qing’an froze for a moment, bewildered in her heart: Even Master’s door is so unique?
Opening her eyes, she stood rooted to the spot in a daze. Qi Manmeng was standing in front of her, and her hand had knocked right against her collarbone.
No wonder it didn’t hurt.
After her thoughts flew astray for a split second, Lu Qing’an realized what the situation was in the next instant. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she pulled her hand back as if scalded.
Lu Qing’an wanted to explain, but after half a day, she could only pop out two words like popping beans: “Mas… Master.”
Qi Manmeng rested her hand on the spot Lu Qing’an had just touched, her brows softly knitted, and her eyes filled with sorrowful reproach.
“So that day, I actually saved a rogue.”
Though feigning sadness, her eyes were filled entirely with teasing playfulness.
Lu Qing’an stood frozen for a long time, the red on her face deepening three shades darker than before, as if steam were rising from the top of her head.
“I didn’t do it on purpose, I…”
Before she could finish her sentence, a finger was suddenly pressed against Lu Qing’an’s lips, stopping her remaining words.
“Shh.”
The woman exhaled like orchids, speaking softly in a low voice, “Say no more. I know.”
Her finger had not yet been withdrawn, leaving Lu Qing’an’s head unable to move. She could only widen her eyes and speak silently in her heart:
It’s good that Master understands.
She had merely wanted to knock on the door just now, but she hadn’t expected Qi Manmeng to open the door and appear so suddenly.
She had her eyes closed at that moment and didn’t see, which was why her hand had knocked against her.
Master must surely understand that this was just a misunderstanding.
Despite a whole mountain of thoughts whirling in her mind, Lu Qing’an couldn’t say a single word out loud.
Qi Manmeng withdrew her finger, turned around, and walked into the room, her hem drawing an arc in the air.
Today, she was dressed in red attire once again. The light robe was loosely draped over her shoulders, offering a faint, fleeting glimpse of her shoulder before it was covered up the next instant.
It was hazy and alluring, evoking endless imagination.
Following behind Qi Manmeng, Lu Qing’an took all of this in, thinking to herself instinctively.
“What brings you to me?”
Qi Manmeng opened her red lips slightly. Sitting on the chair, she rested her chin on her palm, tilting her head to look at her.
A few curly strands of hair cascaded down around her temples and forehead, adding a few more touches of charm to her presence.
Lu Qing’an pulled up her robes and knelt down on both knees. “Thank you for saving my life.”
She kowtowed to her, her forehead hitting the ground heavily with a loud thud.
When she raised her head, a red patch had already formed on Lu Qing’an’s forehead.
The person sitting in the high seat let out an “Mm,” no distinct emotion appearing in her eyes.
Lu Qing’an bent her body down and delivered a second kowtow.
Qi Manmeng’s eyes fell upon her slender waist.
The clothing of the person before her was overly soft; at this moment, the fabric clung snugly to her skin, revealing the owner’s waistline in full view.
The moment Lu Qing’an raised her head, the person sitting in the upper seat withdrew her gaze once again.
“No matter what price I must pay, I wish to take you as my master.”
She then thought of the conditions Qi Manmeng had for taking in a disciple, which Ji Zhixing had mentioned.
Her gaze was firm and clear, her dark eyes holding a light as her thin lips uttered a few words:
“I will do my utmost to make you happy and win your favor.”