When Wen Qiwu woke up, she felt a warm power seeping into her soul, soothing her tired spirit.
She opened her eyes. The room was familiar; it was her old room on Cloud Mist Mountain. The surrounding fire crystals kept the room toasty warm. The quilt on the bed felt as if it had just been sun-dried, soft and inviting, making her bones feel lazy.
On the low cabinet beside her bed sat a pot of pale blue flowers. A faint spiritual glow emanated from their stamens. The power that had just entered her soul came from these very flowers.
Wen Qiwu pulled the quilt up to cover most of her face, leaving only her slightly vexed eyes visible.
She had wanted to stay by her senior sister’s side a little longer, but her unruly body had fallen asleep again.
“A’Que? A’Que! Are you over here!” Hearing voices from outside, Wen Qiwu quickly sat up.
“Elder Lu, I’m in my room.”
“Then I’m coming in!” The door was pushed open, and a female cultivator in a water-blue dress entered, carrying medicine. Worry was etched in her bright eyes.
“It’s good that you’re awake. Drink your medicine quickly. I’ve added a new spiritual herb today, hoping it will be more effective.”
This was Lu Qiaoyi, the master of Myriad Elixir Mountain in the Wen Shen Sect, and a close friend of their master. She specialized in formations and medicine. The name “A’Que” came from Wen Qiwu’s childhood nickname, A’Que.
Wen Qiwu had been adopted by her master as an abandoned infant. She had been left out in the freezing snow, but fortunately, her master, who happened to be passing by, found her. Her master discovered that the infant possessed a rare, top-grade fire spiritual root, so she brought her back to Cloud Mist Mountain.
As there were no notes about Wen Qiwu’s origins in her swaddling clothes, her master allowed her to take her surname and named her Qiwu.
The nickname A’Que was given by her senior sister, Yun Heng. Wen Qiwu had been frail and sickly since childhood, and Yun Heng hoped her junior sister would be as resilient as the sparrows on Cloud Mist Mountain.
Wen Qiwu accepted the medicine bowl and thanked her. The medicine in the bowl was warm, just right to drink, but the bitter taste hit her immediately.
“Oh, right, drink it later. Your senior sister is making chestnut cakes in the kitchen; they should be ready soon.” As Lu Qiaoyi spoke, Yun Heng walked in, carrying a plate of pastries.
“Oh my, only A’Que can get the Sect Master to personally cook!” Lu Qiaoyi quickly snatched a piece and put it in her mouth. Indeed, it was soft, sticky, sweet, and incomparably delicious. Yun Heng’s culinary skills were unmatched.
She remembered when Yun Heng first entered the kitchen, she had nearly blown up the entire room, and the things she made were all black and unappetizing. It was hard to imagine that the “charcoal” of the past and the cakes of today came from the same person. She had put in so much effort just to coax her junior sister into taking her medicine.
The pastries were small. Lu Qiaoyi had eaten one and was still craving more. Just as she reached for another, a cold gaze fell upon her.
Without looking, she knew it was Yun Heng. The gaze was growing colder and colder. She was an elder! Was she only worth one chestnut cake? Not even one more?
Yun Heng remained silent, but her meaning was clear.
No.
Junior sister was afraid of bitterness. When taking medicine, these cakes were relied upon to add a touch of sweetness.
Lu Qiaoyi snorted inwardly. If she didn’t take it, she wouldn’t. After all, there were so many cakes; she couldn’t eat them all at once. A’Que was soft-hearted. After this “ice block” left, she would just ask her directly!
Wen Qiwu had been taking medicine since she was young and was accustomed to the bitterness. However, today’s medicine was different. It was both bitter and numbing, pushing the limits of her taste buds’ tolerance!
She downed it in one gulp, then quickly stuffed a chestnut cake into her mouth. The improved medicine was so bitter it made her mouth numb. She waited for a long time before the sweetness gradually reached her.
“Senior sister, the medicine got more bitter again.” Wen Qiwu looked like a wilted, pathetic A’Que after being rained on, her gaze seeming to plead for her senior sister’s caress and affection.
At times like these, a cool palm would always land on her head and gently stroke it.
“Ahem, it can’t be helped. The Spirit Condensing Flower is bitter. I’ve already tried to remove some of the bitterness.” Lu Qiaoyi coughed lightly. The person who made the medicine for you is right here. Even if you stare at your senior sister, she can’t make the medicine not bitter.
“Here, let me see how the medicine is working.” Lu Qiaoyi injected her spiritual energy into Wen Qiwu’s body to check. Then, she exclaimed with surprise, “The Spirit Condensing Flower is indeed effective!”
Yun Heng’s usually stoic expression also gradually brightened.
“The Spirit Condensing Flower is effective, but its effects are limited. The supreme treasure in the Illusionary Spirit Secret Realm in the Canghai Domain has the same effect as the Spirit Condensing Flower, but its potency is tens of times greater. It might be the key to breaking this illness!” Lu Qiaoyi said excitedly.
“I’ll go get it when the secret realm opens.” It was a shame that the secret realm wouldn’t open again for another year. Yun Heng tapped her right index finger on her sword hilt, looking slightly anxious. The waiting process was undoubtedly the most torturous.
Wen Qiwu had been disappointed too many times, but hearing this news still made her heart pound a few extra beats. Did her illness really have a chance to be cured?
If she truly had a chance to live for a long time, would she then be worthy…
Wen Qiwu glanced at her senior sister, then lowered her head, hiding the affection and bitterness in her eyes.
But it wasn’t just lifespan that stood between them.
“I’ll go discuss new treatment methods with that person from Medical Immortal Valley. You must take your medicine on time when I’m not here!”
“I’m not a child anymore!” Wen Qiwu mumbled, her face being pinched by Elder Lu.
“Thank you for your trouble, Elder.” Yun Heng spoke politely, but her gaze remained fixed on Lu Qiaoyi’s hand.
“You’re too kind. Your master is gone, so naturally, I have to help her take care of you. A’Que, remember to come back and stay with me once you’re feeling better.” Lu Qiaoyi withdrew her hand, which had turned cold.
“Elder, I…” Wen Qiwu tightened her grip on the quilt. She didn’t want to go back.
She used to live on Cloud Mist Mountain, but later Elder Lu said the ice spiritual vein’s spiritual energy was not beneficial for a fire spiritual root cultivator’s condition, so her senior sister had her move to Myriad Elixir Mountain where the elder resided.
After moving, she saw her senior sister much less frequently.
A faint, unreadable mist seemed to cover Lu Qiaoyi’s eyes. For a moment, her expression was peculiar, but in the next instant, Elder Lu smiled again. “I know our A’Que is the most attached to the Sect Master. Once you’re well, you can hug your senior sister and sleep all day if you want!”
Wen Qiwu’s most secret thoughts were exposed, and her face instantly flushed. She instinctively glanced at her senior sister.
W-what do you mean, sleep while hugging! Elder Lu, why do you say such things out loud!
Lu Qiaoyi, laughing, quickly made an excuse about returning to prepare medicine and disappeared. As she walked away, she still quietly transmitted her voice to Wen Qiwu, asking her to save two pastries for her.
Wen Qiwu sighed inwardly. Fine, just two. Not even one more. She hadn’t even had enough for herself.
As she pondered, Wen Qiwu suddenly felt cool fingers touch her face where the elder had just pinched it. She looked up and saw her senior sister very close, her gaze focused on her face. A faint, cool fragrance enveloped her without her realizing it.
“The elder is hundreds of years old and still so rash. Did she hurt you?” Junior sister’s skin was delicate, and a pinch made it slightly red. Yun Heng gently rubbed her cheek.
As for the other words, Yun Heng paid them no mind.
“It doesn’t hurt.” Wen Qiwu only felt her senior sister’s cool hand on her burning face, which was very comfortable.
“Tap, tap…” Just then, a faint tapping sound came from the window.
Yun Heng raised her hand and controlled the window to open a gap. Then, a paper crane flew in.
The paper crane flew to them and dissolved into specks of spiritual light. Immediately, a voice emerged from it.
“Sect Master, the people from the other nine sects have all arrived at the Grand Council Hall…”
“Is today a special day? Why are people from other sects here?” Wen Qiwu asked her senior sister curiously.
“The Solar Eclipse Secret Realm is about to open. They’ve come to discuss this matter.”
Wen Qiwu suddenly remembered. She had almost forgotten about it.
Yun Heng was also about to head to the Grand Council Hall. She reminded Wen Qiwu to wear the outer robe from last night and not to catch a chill.
“I know.” Her senior sister always treated her like a child. After Yun Heng left, the smile on Wen Qiwu’s face gradually faded.
She put on her clothes and pushed open the door. Not far away was the spiritual field planted with exotic flowers and plants. As she walked among the flowers, she noticed that neither the spiritual items nor the ordinary plants showed any signs of wilting; they were all vibrant and full of life.
Wen Qiwu assumed her senior sister was very good at tending to these plants. After all, she couldn’t have imagined that her usually steady senior sister, because a fallen flower on her had bad omens, would recklessly clear away all the withered leaves and flowers.
Cloud Mist Mountain was exceptionally quiet. Wen Qiwu tightened her robes slightly. Without her senior sister, Cloud Mist Mountain was indeed desolate.
Wen Qiwu knew about the Solar Eclipse Secret Realm. It contained the tomb of a powerful cultivator from the True Immortal realm and only opened once every hundred years. Every time, the major sects would argue for a long time over many issues. Today, she likely wouldn’t see her senior sister return.
If she wasn’t back by nightfall, Elder Lu would surely nag her. However, she could go to the Grand Council Hall and check. If things finished there, she would know immediately.
Wen Qiwu returned to her room, packed the remaining chestnut cakes, along with the plate, into her Mustard Seed Space, and then used the Divine Movement Technique to go to Mount Wendao, where the main hall was located.
Mount Wendao was indeed bustling today. Various immortal vessels and spiritual beasts soared through the sky, heading straight for the Grand Council Hall.
Wen Qiwu strolled aimlessly around. The sect’s academies were also located on Mount Wendao, so she occasionally saw a few children in the back mountains. Wen Qiwu was known throughout the sect for her good temper, gentle nature, and kindness. The children dared to approach her and ask for guidance.
After the children had all left, most of the day had passed. Just as Wen Qiwu was preparing to leave, she keenly sensed a gaze watching her from the shadows.
“Who’s there!” Wen Qiwu conjured a ball of fire with her fingertip and flung it towards the nearby bamboo forest.
A water curtain rose from the bamboo forest, blocking the fire. Behind the water curtain, a woman emerged. She smiled charmingly, her fox-like eyes carrying a hint of seductiveness. “I have no ill intentions. I simply got lost by accident. I saw Fellow Daoist teaching those children just now and didn’t want to disturb you.”
Upon seeing the woman’s face clearly, Wen Qiwu recognized her identity – Zuo Lan, the Saintess of Yu Xi Sect.
There were many rumors about this Saintess. Most said she had exceptional talent and was already a cultivator at the Dao Integration stage at such a young age. However, beneath these praises were also whispers that the Saintess favored women and had accumulated many romantic debts in the Cangwang Realm.
The bell hanging from her waist let out a crisp sound. Hearing it, Wen Qiwu felt a moment of daze, but she quickly realized the bell’s sound was problematic. She immediately broke free from her stupor, and at that moment, the Saintess had already approached her.
“Fellow Daoist doesn’t feel well? Do you need me to support you?” The person’s tone sounded worried, but a trace of cunning glinted in her eyes.
Nooo! Too suspicious
Thanks for the chapter