Stealing an Immortal Back to the Demon Realm Chapter 32

For some reason, Mu Qiuhan suddenly, and very inappropriately, recalled the scene of her first meeting with Shang Ningye.
Shang Ningye, drenched and completely naked, had stepped straight out of that cold pool…
A burst of birdsong sounded from outside the window.
Mu Qiuhan coughed dryly twice, stopping the incredibly sensual scene playing in her mind.
When she looked up again, the fair skin on Shang Ningye’s chest was no longer visible.
She was still busy tidying the disheveled front of her clothes, but the faint blush behind her ears had not yet completely faded.
The moment Mu Qiuhan looked at her, Shang Ningye clutched her clothes tightly.
Then she said to her in a low voice, “Thank you.”
Mu Qiuhan hummed softly in response.
Her gaze unconsciously fell on Shang Ningye’s neck, but she quickly looked away.
“No need to thank me. You saved my life.”
She picked up the tea on the table.
Her wide sleeve fell, covering her eyes and blocking her line of sight.
Mu Qiuhan took a sip from the bamboo cup in her hand.
A cool sensation traveled down her throat, extinguishing the faint, rising heat in her heart.
She subconsciously toyed with the simple teacup in her hand.
“What kind of tea is this? It tastes so unique.”
“It’s Nine Flowers Jade Dew,” Chuxue answered before anyone else.
Seeing Mu Qiuhan’s interested expression, Chuxue said with some pride, “It’s made by collecting the morning dew from the spirit grasses in this garden at sunrise, then brewing it with nine kinds of herbs, including Qingling Grass and Eight-horned Lotus.”
The liquid in the cup was a faint green, and it was hard to tell if it was the color of the bamboo cup or the dew itself.
Just as she was about to ask more, Shang Ningye stood up.
“Do you want to know which nine spirit grasses they are? Come with me, I’ll show you.”
“Be careful…”
Mu Qiuhan tried to step forward to support Shang Ningye, but hesitated for a moment as she reached out.
That’s right, Shang Ningye is mostly recovered now. She doesn’t need support anymore.
So she silently withdrew her hand.
The two of them walked out of the small hut in silence.
Outside the hut, there was a large field of spirit plants. Though not as magnificent as those in the Fragrant Herb Garden, there were many varieties of spirit grasses.
Shang Ningye pointed out the plants to her one by one.
Like the spirit plants filling the garden, Shang Ningye’s clothes carried a faint scent of herbs and wood, which was particularly reassuring to smell.
Mu Qiuhan felt that perhaps because her own body also had a wood-attribute spiritual root, she always found herself unconsciously drifting closer to Shang Ningye.
By the time she realized it, she was only a step away from Shang Ningye, almost pressing against her.
She then carefully put a little more distance between them again.
Chuxue walked behind them, taking it all in.
It was genuinely happy for Shang Ningye.
Ever since that Snow Artemisia had clung to Little Ye like a deeply embedded nail, she had barely known a day of peace.
This poison not only weakened Shang Ningye’s body, making her unable to use her spiritual energy, but it also prevented her wounds from healing.
Fortunately, Shang Ningye had studied medicine for many years, and there were plenty of medicinal herbs on Jade Dragon Peak. This allowed her to keep the poison under control to a certain extent, so it didn’t affect her daily life.
But many disciples from Dongtian Peak on the ridge coveted what she had, and dangers lurked all around.
Shang Ningye had no choice but to live in seclusion, leading a life akin to austere cultivation. She only made occasional appearances at public sect events when required, avoiding solitary contact with those who harbored ill intentions.
Shang Ningye had a calm and serene temperament, and having transformed from a spirit wood, she didn’t truly find this life bitter.
Chuxue, however, was restless.
It often wandered around the sect alone. Sometimes, when bored, it would go to the back mountain to pick fights with other demonic beasts. It would also run down the mountain to visit the mortal world’s markets and occasionally bring things back.
But Shang Ningye did not.
It wasn’t convenient for her to go out, and she didn’t seem to like it either.
Chuxue had watched her live alone like this for so many years, and sometimes couldn’t help but see a trace of loneliness in her.
Now things were better; Mu Qiuhan had arrived.
Lively expressions would now appear on Little Ye’s face.
For example, just now, it had clearly seen a hint of shyness on her face.
That was truly rare.
Chuxue thought with amusement.
Seeing the two figures in front of it almost overlapping, Chuxue thought, Perhaps I should go out for a stroll.
“Little Ye,” it called out to the figure ahead, who was examining the growth of the spirit plants, “I’m going to the woods on the back mountain to see which way those people from the sect went.”
Before Shang Ningye could reply, it had already darted off like a silver streak of lightning, heading back towards the hut.
Shang Ningye turned around upon hearing this.
She watched the white figure disappear in the distance, her brow furrowing slightly.
“What’s wrong?” Mu Qiuhan noticed her expression and stepped forward, gently taking her wrist.
“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
“It’s nothing.” Shang Ningye withdrew her gaze and shook her head gently at Mu Qiuhan.
“I just feel it might not be safe for it to run off like that. The demons are still around, after all.”
“No need to worry too much,” Mu Qiuhan comforted. “It’s a descendant of the Bai Ze monster saint. The demons won’t do anything to it.”
A surprised expression appeared on Shang Ningye’s face.
“How did you know?”
Mu Qiuhan smiled slyly. “Guessed.”
“But if it’s a descendant of the Bai clan, why would it rather stay in an immortal sect than go back?”
Shang Ningye sighed softly. “I probably don’t know much more than you do.”
“Ever since I gained spiritual consciousness, Chuxue has been by Master’s side. Later, when I took human form and joined the sect, it never left either. I heard it left the Bai clan when it was very young and was raised single-handedly by my Master.”
Mu Qiuhan was still a little confused. “It has followed Perfected Dao You for so many years, so why can’t it take human form yet? I can see its cultivation level is far above yours; it should be able to transform.”
“It can, but it doesn’t seem to like human form, so it usually stays in its original form.”
Seeing Mu Qiuhan’s thoughtful expression, Shang Ningye seized the chance to turn her hand and gently grasp Mu Qiuhan’s hand that was on her wrist.
“Come, I’ll take you somewhere.”
As her palm was held by that soft hand, a completely unfamiliar emotion crept up Mu Qiuhan’s wrist and into her heart.
The delicate and soft touch made Mu Qiuhan focus all her attention on their joined hands.
Her mind went blank. She didn’t even think about where Shang Ningye was taking her, simply letting Shang Ningye lead her forward.
When she came back to her senses, Mu Qiuhan realized that if Shang Ningye had harbored even the slightest ill intent, she might have already led her into a dangerous place.
She wiggled her fingertips but didn’t pull away.
Shang Ningye led Mu Qiuhan for two or three li, arriving at a valley shrouded in thin mist.
After breaking through to the Soul Formation stage, Mu Qiuhan’s spiritual sense could already scan an area tens of li in radius.
She could clearly sense that at the bottom of the hundred-meter-deep valley, a clear stream flowed. The water cascaded over a large, protruding rock, creating fine splashes with a crisp, clear sound.
Beside the stream was a small, flat patch of land where several ancient, verdant trees stood. A gentle breeze rustled through, dappling light and shadow. The leaves and branches swayed, as if whispering an ancient secret.
Shang Ningye pointed towards it from afar. “That’s my birthplace.”
Mu Qiuhan turned to glance at Shang Ningye and saw her gaze fixed on the valley floor, filled with longing and tenderness.
An inexplicable impulse surged through her. Mu Qiuhan released Shang Ningye’s hand and wrapped an arm around Shang Ningye’s waist.
“Hold on tight.”
She formed a hand seal, summoned a cloud, then, holding Shang Ningye, flew down into the valley.
Shang Ningye seemed startled.
She looked up at Mu Qiuhan.
Sunlight fell on her face, revealing a faint blush.
The corners of Shang Ningye’s lips tilted up unconsciously.
A moment later, the two of them landed steadily on the ground, like birds.
Mu Qiuhan, with a hint of inexplicable reluctance, released the person in her arms and surveyed their surroundings.
This place was indeed an excellent auspicious land; the spiritual energy from all around was channeled by the valley’s terrain, converging entirely here.
The moment Shang Ningye landed, the surrounding trees seemed to sense her presence, their leaves rustling.
Shang Ningye went forward and embraced them one by one, then bent down to touch the earth beneath her.
Mu Qiuhan stood quietly to the side, not disturbing her.
After staying here for only a short while, Mu Qiuhan felt the overflowing fullness within her dantian becoming difficult to suppress.
No wonder Perfected Dao You used to love cultivating here.
This was definitely a place where cultivation yielded twice the results with half the effort.
Mu Qiuhan tried her best to steady her mind and once again used a secret technique to compress the restless spiritual energy in her dantian.
Only when the spiritual energy in her body became orderly again did she have a moment to look at Shang Ningye.
Shang Ningye had already returned to her side. At this moment, she was staring at her with extreme nervousness, not daring to make a sound.
Shang Ningye could feel the spiritual energy that had suddenly surged within Mu Qiuhan just now. For a moment, she thought something had gone wrong.
She quickly stepped forward, wanting to check, but found that Mu Qiuhan seemed to be forming some kind of hand seal.
Dark clouds were slowly gathering in the sky.
Shang Ningye realized they were thunderclouds. She didn’t dare to disturb Mu Qiuhan, so she could only wait patiently.
When Mu Qiuhan suppressed the restless spiritual energy, the dark clouds in the sky also dispersed. Only then did Shang Ningye breathe a sigh of relief.
“You…”
Her gaze shifted, moving from between Mu Qiuhan’s brows to meet her eyes.
Their eyes met.
Mu Qiuhan saw the worry in her eyes and explained, “I’m afraid I can’t suppress the spiritual energy in my body for too much longer. The heavenly tribulation might be coming soon. It’s safer for me to go into the Dream Floating Life sooner.”
As she spoke, she took out that magic artifact from her storage ring and held it in her hand.
“You…”
Shang Ningye suddenly grabbed her hand.
“Hm?”
Mu Qiuhan knew she had something to say, so she listened quietly.
But Shang Ningye looked at her for a long time, and finally just lowered her head and said, “Be careful. The heavenly tribulation for the Void Refinement stage is probably not as easy as before.”
Mu Qiuhan stared at her doubtfully, feeling as if Shang Ningye still had something left unsaid.
She glanced at Shang Ningye, then at the magic artifact in her hand.
Shang Ningye’s hand was still holding hers, covering the magic artifact as well.
Mu Qiuhan’s heart stirred.
She used her free hand to gently pull Shang Ningye closer, then into her embrace.
“Don’t worry. I’ve even witnessed a Mahayana stage heavenly tribulation.”
“Mm.”
Shang Ningye suddenly hugged her tightly.
Her arms wrapped around Mu Qiuhan’s waist, holding her very tightly.
Mu Qiuhan felt Shang Ningye’s hair against her chin, her entire being filling her embrace.
But for some reason, her heart felt even emptier.
“You…”
Shang Ningye hugged her for a long time, and finally couldn’t hold back anymore.
She lifted her head and looked deep into Mu Qiuhan’s eyes.
“Don’t stay in that magic artifact for too long. That artifact can affect one’s mind.”
When Shang Ningye said this, her whole body seemed to be trembling.
“Hm?”
Mu Qiuhan frowned upon hearing this but quickly smoothed her brow.
“It’s alright. I’ll come out after I pass the heavenly tribulation. I won’t stay inside for long.”