“Free pickings are free pickings,” Tian Fangfang said righteously. “Those materials are all good stuff, especially Emperor Shengning’s two eyeballs. Take them to Huajin Tower and they’re worth at least several hundred Spirit Stones.”
“That may be so,” Zanxing coughed lightly, “but won’t the ruler blame us?”
“Probably not.” Mu Cengxiao’s voice came from outside the door. “The royal scandal is now known to sect cultivators. Although Li’er Kingdom’s commoners don’t understand the truth, the royal family will probably be too ashamed to boast about Emperor Shengning’s ‘achievement’ of killing demon merfolk again.”
Zanxing looked up as Mu Cengxiao and Meng Ying walked in.
When did these two start going everywhere together? Just as she was thinking this, Zanxing heard Meng Ying ask: “Junior Sister Yang, do you feel any discomfort?”
“No.”
“You were too impulsive,” Mu Cengxiao reproached. “A demon’s primordial spirit simply cannot be endured by a mortal body. At best, it damages cultivation, and in serious cases, it can even cause death. You were lucky last night, only falling unconscious.”
“Has your cultivation regressed?” Mendong asked with concern.
Zanxing circulated the Yuanli within her body. Not only did she feel no discomfort, but her Yuanli was abundant, and her whole body felt light. Somewhat surprised herself, she said: “Not at all. Last night’s events don’t seem to have affected me.”
“Better be so,” Gu Baiying said irritably from the side. “If there were effects, I wouldn’t save you.”
This man was like he’d eaten gunpowder today, finding fault with everything. Tian Fangfang moved close to Zanxing and whispered, “Master Uncle is upset about Yinli’s matter. Junior Sister, please bear with him.”
Zanxing understood.
She changed the subject: “Master Uncle, when will the secret realm reopen?”
“Tonight.”
“Tonight?” Mendong asked. “Why so early?”
“It was Chihua Gate’s suggestion,” Tian Fangfang said. “That bastard Tan Tianxin wants to enter the secret realm first while disciples from other sects are injured, to seek opportunities without sharing the spoils. Cunning.”
Zanxing: “Master Uncle agreed?”
“Why not?” Gu Baiying scoffed. “Taiyan Sect’s people aren’t affected anyway.”
Zanxing remained silent. Although they had all sustained injuries to varying degrees last night, they were all light wounds that wouldn’t affect their ability to enter the secret realm.
And so the matter was settled.
Since Zanxing still needed rest, Meng Ying and the others left first. After they went out, Gu Baiying entered his room, and Mendong slipped in after him.
As soon as he entered, Mendong pulled Gu Baiying to sit in a chair and grasped his wrist.
Gu Baiying shook off his hand: “What are you doing?”
“You can fool others, but not me,” Mendong said, looking at him. “Master Uncle, fighting the merfolk last night made your spiritual qi stagnation much worse.”
Gu Baiying said nothing.
“Master Uncle!” Mendong became anxious. “This trip was originally planned because there wasn’t supposed to be anything in Li’er Kingdom’s secret realm requiring your intervention—that’s why Sect Leader Master allowed you to come along. Who knew we’d encounter such a powerful demon upon arrival? The more violently you circulate Yuanli, the larger the wounds in your spiritual meridians become. Nothing will happen for now, but if you act again next time, it will be very dangerous. You…”
“I know,” Gu Baiying interrupted him. “I just won’t act, then.”
Mendong sighed: “Why don’t you find a way to dual cultivate with Yang Zanxing?” He spoke with a worried expression. “Anyway, Ying Ying already made your scandal public that day. Now all the major sects know our Taiyan Sect’s standards are improper—we’ve lost all face. Might as well embrace the fall…”
Gu Baiying kicked him out the door: “Get lost!”
Mendong scrambled away in panic.
The youth sat in his chair, his vermilion hair ribbon as vivid as always. He looked down at his palm.
Where spiritual qi circulated, threads of pain were beginning to seep through.
…
After this, nothing particularly special happened.
Li’er Kingdom’s ruler was no longer as warm and enthusiastic toward the cultivators as initially, becoming somewhat distant. Zanxing could understand—anyone who suddenly had their family’s scandals exposed wouldn’t be able to face the other party naturally.
In the evening, Nie Xinghong from Yinfeng Sect came.
This person handed a small box to Zanxing, smiling: “This is a special Recovery Pill made by an elder from our sect. Last night, thanks to Fellow Cultivator Yang’s intervention in defeating that merfolk and saving our sect’s disciple from dire straits. When I heard last night that Fellow Cultivator Yang had fallen unconscious, I was very worried. We’re about to enter the secret realm soon, so I specially brought this Recovery Pill, hoping Fellow Cultivator Yang can recover her Yuanli quickly.”
Zanxing was polite: “Not at all, not at all. It was just a small effort, no need for such courtesy.”
“Not everyone has Fellow Cultivator Yang’s courage to let a demon’s primordial spirit possess them,” Nie Xinghong said sincerely. “Such righteousness makes me ashamed.”
Since he insisted so much, Zanxing was too lazy to refuse and accepted it: “Then I’ll respectfully accept rather than decline.”
Seeing Zanxing accept the pill, Nie Xinghong still wouldn’t leave. He opened his fan with a flourish and said suavely: “I previously knew that Fairy Meng Ying of Taiyan Sect was devastatingly beautiful, but seeing Fellow Cultivator Yang now, you’re naturally gorgeous too, picture-perfect in every way… Could I call you Junior Sister Yang in the future? You can call me Senior Brother.”
Zanxing: “…”
Before Zanxing could speak, the door beside them “banged” open. Gu Baiying’s face was so dark it could wring out water. He snatched the box from Zanxing’s hand, pushed Zanxing inside the door, and sarcastically mocked: “Late at night, talking about brothers and sisters—how disgusting?”
Nie Xinghong smiled and began: “Fellow Cultivator Gu, I…”
Gu Baiying threw the box at his face: “Get lost, lecher!”
With a “bang,” the door was shut again.
Nie Xinghong’s desolate figure lingered outside the door for a moment before slinking away.
Inside the room, Zanxing turned around to look at Gu Baiying, who was pouring and drinking tea at the table. He seemed quite angry, or perhaps genuinely disgusted by Nie Xinghong, drinking two consecutive cups.
Zanxing looked thoughtful.
As soon as Gu Baiying looked up, he met Zanxing’s gaze. He frowned: “What’s that expression? Yang Zanxing, I’m telling you…”