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nEditor: Sahloknir

nThe night was quiet, especially at the foot of the mountain. Not even an insect dared to chirp in the immortal sect’s territory.

nShi Qing quietly appeared at the foot of the mountain.

nDespite building his foundation using pills, as an Immortal at the Amalgamation stage, he was still able to beat up a bunch of people.

nUpon seeing this picturesque scenery, he couldn’t help but sing.

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nThe System hesitated: Host, you’re off-key.

nShi Qing: I know. It’s a miracle that I can remember the lyrics at all.

nThe System carefully looked around at the surrounding darkness and asked: Host, why are we here in the middle of the night?

nBecause this was a cultivation world, obviously there weren’t things like streetlights. If Shi Qing’s high cultivation didn’t give him enhanced senses, it would be really difficult to find this road at night.

nShi Qing smiled: We’re going to deliver medicine, ah.

nOtherwise, Rong Jue might be dead before the end of the month.

nThe System suddenly realized something, but it only grew more confused.

nWhy not deliver it during the day to lower the animosity value? Isn’t he asleep now…?

nShi Qing: You don’t understand. Sometimes, the more you hide from the other party, the stronger the effect will be.

nThe System still didn’t understand.

nShi Qing coaxed it: Be a good boy and go learn the song I just sang. You can sing it to me the next time you’re bored with meditation.

nIt immediately left obediently.

nThe immortal in white could see that the small wooden hut was still lit by candlelight. Rong Jue was on his back on the bed with his eyes tightly shut. The next second, Shi Qing appeared in the house.

nHe waved his hand silently, taking out a stick of incense from his spatial ring. His fingertip skimmed over the top and lit the incense.

nSmoke began to rise.

nThe immortal turned around and placed this incense on the wooden table.

nBehind him, the seemingly resting Rong Jue slightly opened his eyes to look at that familiar back. He knew based on smell that this was a special calming incense. Based on his current level of cultivation, it would render him unconscious until the sun rose.

nWhat was Shi Qing up to now?

nDoes he think that my current state isn’t bad enough?

nUnderneath the blanket, Rong Jue’s hands clenched into fists. He held his breath with his eyes closed. Luckily, he still has some spiritual energy left, so he could regulate his breathing unlike regular mortals.

nHatred surged in his heart. He hated how helpless he was, how he couldn’t resist others manhandling him at all.

nHis nails were already biting into the flesh of his palm.

nRong Jue couldn’t see what was happening, but he sensed the bed dip somewhat.

nShi Qing was sitting on the edge of the bed.

nRong Jue appeared to still be sleeping peacefully, but his body under the blanket had tensed up. He was wary of every action from his Shizun who had oppressed him so much.

nWhat was Shi Qing going to do to him?

nAfter destroying his cultivation, was he going to destroy his very marrow?

nOr did he find a new way to torture Rong Jue…

nWith his eyes closed, Rong Jue could only use his intuition to guess what Shi Qing was doing.

nHe could hear the sound of rustling clothes. He could sense Shi Qing’s hand hovering above him.

nAt this rate, he wouldn’t even be able to scream if Shi Qing wanted to kill him.

nRong Jue’s grip tightened.

nBut that hand gently landed on his forehead instead.

nIt very lightly and carefully tidied his scattered bangs.

nRong Jue was stunned.

nThis hand was soft and somewhat warm. Its movements were so light that Rong Jue didn’t need to open his eyes to feel the tenderness of the other.

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nHe almost wondered if he was mistaken about who this was.

nWas this really his Shizun, who barely smiled at him since he was little and reprimanded him all the time?

nThis was even more incredible than the ascension of a demonic cultivator.

nRong Jue’s heart was filled with confusion, but his guard was still up.

nAfter tidying his hair, that warm, soft hand paused on the right cheek of his eldest disciple.

nThere was a cut there.

nIt was a small wound that had been inflicted by the opponent’s sword energy during the fight. If Rong Jue’s cultivation hadn’t dispersed, it would have healed in less than a breath’s time.

nBut now that he had become an invalid, he could only let this wound be.

nThe shifting air currents indicated that someone had sighed. Rong Jue felt his cheek being brushed by Shizun’s hand, bringing a slight itching sensation. Soon, the ever-present stinging pain on his right cheek was gone.

nApparently, Shi Qing had healed this tiny wound for him.

nThen the immortal’s hand travelled down to Rong Jue’s abdomen. Dense spiritual energy continued to enter his body, repairing the various hidden wounds in his first disciple’s body.

nRong Jue could clearly feel his aching meridians slowly relax as Shi Qing healed them.

nBut instead of being overjoyed, he was instead filled with caution.

nIf a person who has always brought you harm suddenly came to your aid, who could believe that the other party truly had good intentions?

nBesides, this so-called help was really just like bandaging him up after cutting off his arms and legs.

nSending one’s spiritual energy to another person to repair their meridians wasn’t an easy task. His Shidi had tried to slow down the dissipation of Rong Jue’s spiritual energy like this earlier, but he could only maintain it for less than half a stick of incense.

nEven for such a short period of time, his Shidi needed to rest for an entire day.

nBut Shi Qing stayed by Rong Jue’s bedside for the entire night.

nRong Jue could feel the other party’s hand gradually begin to tremble. It seemed that even Shi Qing found it hard to channel spiritual energy for a long time.

nBut this immortal who always had a bone to pick with Rong Jue didn’t withdraw his shaking hand until the roosters crowed.

nRong Jue’s eyes remained closed.

nHe could sense that Shi Qing stumbled a few steps and almost fell after getting up. Maybe he held onto a table to barely steady himself.

nThe immortal put away the burned out incense on the table and sat back down on the edge of the bed.

nHe didn’t do anything, just staring quietly at the ‘sleeping’ figure of his eldest disciple. It wasn’t until Rong Jue suspected he wasn’t there anymore that he heard the sound of shifting clothes.

nHis Shizun raised his hand again, but it landed on the blanket this time. He pulled it up and tucked Rong Jue in.

nRong Jue couldn’t believe that Shi Qing was capable of such a tender gesture.

nIf he wasn’t still pretending to be asleep right now, Rong Jue would almost certainly have a sneer on his face.

nWhen had his ‘wonderful’ Shizun ever cared for him since he was a child?

nPretending to be nice right after harming him, was his Shizun trying to show that high and mighty immortals had a merciful side as well?

nThe sound of light footsteps came from outside before someone knocked quietly on the wooden door and spoke. It was Qiao Lingyu.

n“Da-shixiong, are you awake?”

nRong Jue could feel Shi Qing’s hand on the blanket recoil in shock. The next second, the immortal sitting by his bedside disappeared.

nOnly until he was sure that Shi Qing was gone did the man who pretended to be asleep for an entire night slowly open his eyes.

nIn a raspy voice, he said, “I’m awake.”

nQiao Lingyu pushed the door open and came in. “I’ve discussed this with second Shixiong. Shizun just said we couldn’t invite a doctor or give you medicine, but he didn’t say we couldn’t use our spiritual energy to stabilize your foundation. So from now on, second Shixiong and I will take turns to heal you.”

nShe tried to sound more relaxed, “Da-shixiong, you’re exceptionally talented. I’m sure you’ll recover your cultivation in the future if your core is stabilized.”

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nRong Jue remained silent. Then he asked Qiao Lingyu, “Was Shizun at his residence last night?”

nQiao Lingyu shook her head blankly, “Shizun didn’t show up last night. Is Shixiong trying to meet with Shizun?”

nWhen Rong Jue didn’t reply, Qiao Lingyu didn’t think much of it and went forward to heal him. However, she exclaimed in surprise as soon as her spiritual energy touched Rong Jue.

n“Shixiong, it’s only been one night, but your injuries are actually half healed already!”

nShe didn’t know that Rong Jue’s dantian had foreign spiritual energy that was preventing him from cultivating, so she happily thought aloud, “This is great! I just knew that someone as talented as Da-shixiong would be fine. As long as your meridians recover, you’ll definitely be able to cultivate to new heights in the future.”

nRong Jue silently lowered his eyes.

nHis body was indeed no longer in pain. If he hadn’t been unable to sleep last night because of the pain or able to hold his breath afterwards to avoid the sleeping incense, he would have been like Qiao Lingyu and thought that his body repaired itself.

nBut he had been wide awake.

nRong Jue clearly remembered that it was Shi Qing who repaired his meridians all night long. He remembered the hand that tenderly brushed across his forehead, his stumbling footsteps, and also his compassionate sigh.

nIf Shi Qing only healed his meridians because he still had use for Rong Jue, then why would he put on that act last night?

nIf Shi Qing really cared about him like he showed last night, then why was he so cold and antagonistic for the last twenty or so years?

nRong Jue slightly lowered his head to hide his dark eyes.

nWhile Qiao Lingyu continued to chatter about how he’ll soon be back to tip-top shape, the handsome man on the bed suddenly spoke.

n“I would like to request an audience with Shizun.”

nQiao Lingyu wasn’t annoyed by the interruption. She nodded in agreement, “You should see Shizun soon. If you’re apologetic enough, maybe he won’t be angry with you anymore.”

nShe was about to move forward to assist Rong Jue, but he avoided her, insisting that he get up from the bed by himself. His steps were slightly uncertain, but he was able to manage.

nThe once proud youth who was beloved by the heavens went to the hanging bronze mirror and examined his reflection.

nHis hair disheveled, his face was pale, and there were still blood stains on his abdomen.

nHe looked like a wretched mess.

nAnd this was all thanks to Shi Qing.

nThe him in the mirror lifted a hand to touch his cheek.

nThat place that should have a scar so small that it was unnoticeable was now completely smooth.

nQiao Lingyu looked at Rong Jue in confusion, “Da-shixiong?”

nRong Jue looked away and withdrew his hand. With mockery held in his eyes, he said softly, “Let’s go.”

nHe was the first to leave the house. Startled, Qiao Lingyu could only watch in a daze as he left..

nHesitation gradually clouded her mind.

nWhy did Shixiong seem…so different from before?

nThe scene just now even scared her a little.

nIn front, Rong Jue seemed to sense the doubts of his Shimei. He turned with his customary sunny and warm smile.

n“What are you waiting for? I don’t have any cultivation right now, so I’ll have to trouble you to take me up the mountain.”

nQiao Lingyu’s doubts were completely dispelled by this disarmingly familiar smile. She quickly caught up to her Da-shixiong.

nHow strange.

nShe had a water spiritual root, so her intuition was very sharp.

nBut it seemed like she was wrong today.

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