The night wind whispered; the bright moon hung high.
Within Lingxiao Hall, all was silent.
This was Immortal Venerable Helian’s private dwelling; few ever came here.
Helian Chuxue took a glazed firefly lamp and handed it to Su Yanqing, telling her to follow the winding path behind the hall down to the hot spring, while he turned and went to the medicine room to prepare the herbs for her medicinal bath.
Su Yanqing carried the lamp and carefully made her way to the hot spring.
All around were rocks, flowers, and trees, wreathed in mist, with fireflies now and then giving off faint specks of light.
Where the winding path led to a secluded spot, the hot spring lay deep among flowers and trees.
Su Yanqing was dazzled by the beautiful scene before her and forgot what her Master had told her before leaving.
She impatiently stripped off her outer robe and, in a thin undergarment, slowly stepped into the water.
“Wow, so comfortable! This really is a medicinal hot spring!”
The naive Su Yanqing did not know that the hot spring needed special herbs to bring out its medicinal effects.
She submerged her whole body in the water, leaving only half her face above the surface, and closed her eyes, silently enjoying it.
“System, that Ancient Lingxu Sword Art you gave me last time… can I practice it?”
『Host, the sword art can only be cultivated after you establish your foundation. You already have a Mutated Ice Spirit Root, so establishing your foundation won’t be difficult.』
“Ah, this place is really nice… beautiful and quiet, and Master treats me well too. If only I could live here forever after establishing my foundation!”
『Host, do not indulge in pleasure. Growing stronger is our goal.』
“I know, I know. Once my injuries heal, I’ll go cultivate right away, all right? Don’t bother me… let me have some peace.”
The hot spring’s surface was thick with mist, the night hazy, and the lush flowers and foliage around her concealed most of her figure.
Half-dazed, Su Yanqing heard a set of soft, unhurried footsteps. She instinctively opened her eyes toward the sound, and through the swirling mist, a man’s tall, slender figure seemed to appear and vanish.
“Su Yanqing…?”
The man’s voice was magnetic and gentle, but to Su Yanqing’s ears it struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
Why had Master come over?!
She raised her eyes and saw her Master’s figure drawing closer, outlining his faint, distant silhouette.
Bright moon, clear breeze; his immortal bearing was like snow.
“Didn’t I say to wait until I brought the herbs before soaking?” His gaze was clear and untroubled. Though there was a hint of surprise, there was no bashfulness on his face.
“I… I forgot, hehe.” Su Yanqing gave an awkward smile. Fortunately, her whole body was submerged, or it would have been terrible if Master mistook her for having ulterior motives.
Judging by Master’s calm, unruffled manner, he clearly did not regard her as a girl.
Helian Chuxue gazed at the girl in the mist, and ripples stirred in his heart. His steps halted at once.
He noticed that the girl’s gaze toward him was pure and clear, full of trust, not treating him as a man but as a respected elder.
At this thought, his brows furrowed slightly, and he gazed at the girl. “Are you dizzy from soaking?”
Su Yanqing nodded hurriedly, her eyes glistening with faint light.
Helian Chuxue’s heart softened instantly. “I will turn around. You put the herbs into the spring yourself. From now on, whether it is me or anyone else, you must understand that men and women are different. Do you understand?”
Her Master’s voice was soft and gentle, which made Su Yanqing like him even more: Boo-hoo, Master is so gentle… not cold and aloof at all.
But she was fully dressed… why did Master have to bring up the barrier between men and women?
When Su Yanqing stood up, she realized that the white garment, soaked in the spring water, was indeed…
A bit revealing.
She hastily scooped up the herbs by the spring and tossed them all in at once.
Then with a splash, she jumped back into the spring, sending up a spray of water that wet the hem of her Master’s robe… though she was completely unaware of it.
“Master, I’ve done it all!”
The girl’s voice was crisp and sweet, like the melodious call of an oriole.
Helian Chuxue closed his eyes and turned around. His long, jade-like hands slowly reached into the hot spring, channeling gentle spiritual energy into it.
Su Yanqing, in the hot spring, felt a steady stream of spiritual energy rise from her dantian, slowly healing the injured part of her right foot.
Helian Chuxue’s cold, magnetic voice sounded again. “Has the medicine taken effect?”
“Master, my foot really doesn’t hurt anymore!” the girl exclaimed.
“The medicinal bath is good, but do not soak too long. After one hour, go rest in the guest room on the second floor. Tomorrow at the hour of mao, I will teach you the mental cultivation method to help you establish your foundation as soon as possible.”
After giving his instructions, Helian Chuxue turned and left. But when he opened his eyes, he stole a glance at the girl from the corner of his eye.
The girl’s fair, jade-like skin and soft, damp hair made him unconsciously press his lips together, and he withdrew his gaze.
The girl in the hot spring heard her Master’s departing footsteps and sighed softly.
Tomorrow at the hour of mao… wasn’t that 6 a.m.? She would have to get up and cultivate!
But at the thought of the rich rewards after establishing her foundation, she perked up again!
Su Yanqing took a deep breath and enjoyed the healing of the medicinal bath.
Unknowingly, she sank into a half-conscious state and had a distant dream.
In the dream, when she first entered the sect, it was her gentle, refined senior brother who taught her hand-in-hand, guiding her in Qi Condensation and drawing qi into her body.
Even though she often slacked off and skipped lessons time and again, her senior brother never once gave her a sour face.
Until one day, Murong Yi went missing during a mission. Frantic with worry, she stole her father’s Yuehun Lantern, hoping to use the soul lamp to find Murong Yi, only to be caught red-handed by her senior brother.
That was the first time she had seen her senior brother angry… could even be said to be furious. He scolded her for not knowing her limits, for being rash and reckless, and absolutely forbade her from leaving the mountain, locking her in the disciple quarters.
But in the end, she still used a magic treasure to break the seal and secretly went down the mountain to find Murong Yi. By the time she found him, she herself had fallen into a desperate situation.
In the end, it was her senior brother, following close behind, who saved them both.
Three months later, her senior brother no longer spoke to her with his former gentle words. Instead, he disciplined her strictly, which made her resentful.
She gradually grew distant from her rule-bound senior brother, becoming ever more infatuated with Murong Yi’s unrestrained, dashing, sunny and handsome looks.
When Su Yanqing woke, she found herself lying on the guest bed in Lingxiao Hall.
“Strange, wasn’t I taking a medicinal bath?” She sat up and touched her dry clothes… even her hair was completely dry. “Could Master have brought me back?”
She instinctively glanced at the wound on her calf… it was completely healed. Then she looked at the sky. It was already the hour of yin!
Su Yanqing suddenly rose, took the Dragon-Binding Rope from her storage pouch, pushed open the door, and went downstairs.
The system was shocked: 『What are you doing?』
Su Yanqing gave the soft rope a flick. “Cultivating!”
『It’s not even the hour of mao yet!』
She shook her head. “A life without involution has no future! If you want to grow stronger, you have to pay a greater price and work harder than ordinary people!”
“Not bad. It seems Mu Yunci taught you well.”
Her Master Helian, as cold and aloof as snow, wore a gratified expression. “I will teach you the oral formulas and mental cultivation methods now. The spiritual energy in Lingxiao Hall is abundant and rich. I believe you will be able to establish your foundation within half a month.”
“Thank you, Master.” Su Yanqing smiled awkwardly. She had only been unable to sleep and wanted to come out for some fresh air.
That speech just now had only been to brush off the system!
How was it that, by sheer coincidence, she had run into her Master who had come out for a stroll?!
Now there was no choice but to cultivate obediently.