Chapter 5: Delivering Medicine

Ridiculous as it was, the news of Shi Luoyi’s worsening injuries and impending death spread across Mingyou Mountain in a single day.

Shi Luoyi, who had no idea she was supposedly on the verge of death, could only think: “….”

In her past life, when rumors about her spiraled out of control, she had never bothered to defend herself. She hadn’t realized that the more underhanded the tactics, the sharper the invisible dagger. In the end, they left her bloodied and isolated, abandoned by all.

Huixiang couldn’t help but comment, “Thank goodness you were alert this time. As long as the sect leader still cares about his reputation, he’ll have to tread more carefully from now on and won’t dare to openly target you anymore. Our situation will improve significantly.”

Shi Luoyi murmured, “No wonder the sect leader used this move against me.”

Huixiang thought to herself: Only when someone is on the brink of death do people start remembering their good qualities. Her former peers would inevitably reflect that, despite losing her father, Shi Luoyi was still a pitiable figure. Regardless of her flaws, Daojun Shihuan had sacrificed so much for the world. The death of Princess Nanyue and the impending fall of the Daojun—didn’t their daughter deserve better than this tragic fate?

“Miss can take this opportunity to recover properly. There’s no rush to clarify the matter,” Huixiang suggested.

After some thought, Shi Luoyi nodded, deciding to continue playing the role of a “dying person” for a few more days. Perhaps she could uncover who truly cared for her and who wished for her demise. However, at this moment, she could never have anticipated the series of strange events that would unfold because of this rumor.

The next day, a large batch of medicinal herbs was delivered to Shi Luoyi’s courtyard, and the sect leader himself came to visit her later that day.

He still looked exactly as Shi Luoyi remembered him—white hair, white beard, kind eyes, and a benevolent smile.

Shi Luoyi didn’t dare pretend to be ill in front of him, but fortunately, she was genuinely injured. With a pitiful expression, she complained, “Senior Uncle, Wei Senior Brother fought with me over Junior Sister Qingxuan, and I ended up grievously wounded by Chilis!”

The sect leader scrutinized her for a moment before chuckling softly. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to discipline Changyuan later. Since you’re injured, you shouldn’t have gone to the morning lesson in the first place. Rest well—there’s no need to rush. If you need anything, just let me know.”

He was like the kindest mentor, and Shi Luoyi obediently responded with a trusting gaze. After exchanging a few more words, the sect leader turned and left.

That evening, a cold-faced beauty arrived to examine her.

At the time, Shi Luoyi was nibbling on a flower brought by Huixiang, sipping its nectar. Before the visitor entered, she quickly hid the flower. The cold-faced woman wiped her mouth, then said emotionlessly, “Judging by your condition, you’re far from death.”

Shi Luoyi stared at her for a long moment, her heart swelling with emotion. Suddenly, she threw her arms around the woman and exclaimed, “Elder Hanshu!”

She was quite skilled at being affectionate toward those she cared for. Just look at how much Huixiang and Wei Changyuan once doted on her—she had been raised like a precious treasure, and when she wasn’t weathering storms, sweetness would radiate from her brows to her lips.

Hanshu was momentarily stunned, a rare flicker of surprise crossing her icy face. After a while, she pushed Shi Luoyi away with an impassive expression, placing her fingers on the girl’s pulse. With feigned impatience, she remarked, “Your energy is depleted, and your blood flow is weak, but these are merely superficial wounds. Take some Heart-Nourishing Pills, and you’ll be fine.”

Shi Luoyi nodded.

Hanshu furrowed her brow.

Hanshu was one of the few people in Hengwu Mountain who had watched Shi Luoyi grow up. In her memory, Shi Luoyi had always disliked her and remained wary of her. This sudden display of affection made Hanshu feel uneasy. Pretending not to care, she moved to fetch some pills for Shi Luoyi.

To everyone, Hanshu maintained her cold demeanor, keeping others at arm’s length. Many disciples of Hengwu Sect feared her and secretly called her “Extinction.”

Shi Luoyi had once disliked Hanshu as well. Even as a child, she knew that Hanshu had harbored feelings for her father for thousands of years. After her mother’s death, Shi Luoyi interpreted all of Hanshu’s care for her as attempts to usurp her mother’s place.

Hanshu was also Bian Qingxuan’s master and the current head of Hengwu’s Pill Pavilion. But unlike others, she was one of the few in the sect who didn’t favor Bian Qingxuan. She had once coldly criticized Bian Qingxuan, accusing her disciple of having an improper mindset and excessive cruelty!

That day, Bian Qingxuan had run off crying, leaving her fellow disciples and seniors fretting over her.

In her past life, Shi Luoyi often got injured, and Hanshu had sent medicine to her many times. Even after Daojun Shihuan fell into slumber, Hanshu had always treated Shi Luoyi consistently.

For a time, Shi Luoyi had been confused. Why did those she thought were good people turn a blind eye to her struggles, while those she deemed villains showed her kindness?

Whenever she thought of Elder Hanshu later in life, she remembered the tenderness hidden beneath her cold exterior.

But Hanshu had died early.

She had died two months later in Qingshui Village, where the snow finally melted.

At that time, many people returned safely, and Bian Qingxuan was celebrated by all. But Hanshu, who sacrificed herself to save Shi Luoyi, remained forever buried in that snowstorm. This event became the final straw that broke the camel’s back. Shi Luoyi believed she was responsible for Hanshu’s death and was consumed by grief, triggering her second demonic episode, which she couldn’t control.

Thinking of this, Shi Luoyi felt a sharp pang in her heart.

Unaware of Shi Luoyi’s thoughts, Hanshu turned to look at her. Seeing the girl seemingly unharmed yet sweating profusely, she hesitated and asked, “Is there anywhere else you’re feeling unwell?”

Shi Luoyi shook her head. “Elder Hanshu, thank you for always treating me so kindly.”

Hanshu pursed her lips and gave a curt response.

Shi Luoyi found her utterly adorable.

This adorable Hanshu—she wouldn’t let anything happen to her this time.

At Shi Luoyi’s request, Hanshu tacitly agreed to temporarily conceal her “condition,” reporting instead that she was severely injured.

“Let’s wait a few more days,” Shi Luoyi mused. “The rumors will unravel on their own.”

The snow had stopped the day before, and hints of sunlight peeked through the clouds.

The wind stirred the paper kites hanging under the corridor. Ding Bai was organizing the pills Bian Qingxuan had sent over in the afternoon.

He muttered to himself, “How does Junior Sister Bian manage to be so skilled at alchemy? While others produce one batch, she manages three. It’s such a pity that Master doesn’t appreciate them. He even told me to feed these excellent pills to the dogs.”

Meanwhile, the “freak” who had been ordered to feed the pills to the dogs was currently sitting outside the red walls.

This was yet another strange occurrence that Ding Bai couldn’t comprehend. Although Bian Qingxuan had set up a barrier in the courtyard—through which neither cultivators nor outer disciples could easily pass—Bian Lingyu seemed to ignore it entirely, sitting under the corridor every day at the hour of You for a brief while.

But what was there to listen to? No matter how much he heard, it was always just idle chatter from disciples after their morning lessons and meditation sessions.

Ding Bai had taken care of Bian Lingyu for two years, but he still found him strange. The ten-year-old disciple thought to himself: When I grow up, I definitely don’t want to become someone so unpredictable and odd.

Though he was only ten and his cultivation potential wasn’t great—he might spend his entire life as an outer disciple—he aspired to become a powerful cultivator like Senior Brother Wei Changyuan one day!

He recalled how last year, he had eagerly volunteered to his senior sister: “Senior Sister doesn’t want Master to go out, but he goes outside every day at the hour of You. Should I try to stop him?”

At the time, his senior sister had given him a strange look and said, “Stop him? If you’re not afraid of dying, go ahead and try.”

She then added mockingly under her breath, “If he really gets angry, even I can’t stop him. Do you think you can? Let him be. He has this ridiculous attachment—it’ll fade sooner or later.”

Ding Bai didn’t understand her words, but he sensed danger and never dared to try stopping Bian Lingyu.

Now, Bian Lingyu sat outside the wall, the melted snow dripping softly from the eaves, blending with the murmurs of the disciples.

“Is there any major news in the inner sect today? I heard the seniors talking about that fairy from Buye Mountain again.”

Another disciple replied, “A few days ago, the young lady from the Shi family went missing. Did you hear about it?”

Their peer nodded. “Of course. I even followed the seniors to search for her in the middle of the night. It was freezing cold that night.”

“It was during that time that she fought Chilis and sustained severe injuries. They say she’s on the verge of death,” another disciple sighed. “It’s pitiful. If Daojun were still here, he would never let her die. A fairy without parents… it seems she doesn’t have it much better than us.”

“She’s still so young, just a Core Formation cultivator, and yet she managed to defeat Chilis alone! Even Nascent Soul disciples find that difficult. In that sense, it’s truly a pity.”

“If Daojun ever wakes up and learns that his daughter is no longer among the living, who knows what will happen.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. The protective array around Buye Mountain has already dissipated. Daojun probably won’t wake up again. Even if Miss Shi dies, no one will care.”

…

As usual, Ding Bai went to push his master back inside, but he noticed that the veins on the back of Bian Lingyu’s hand gripping the wheelchair were bulging, revealing a hint of ferocity.

Ding Bai was startled and looked at his face, only to see it deathly pale.

“Mas… Master?”

Despite his ghastly complexion, Bian Lingyu’s expression remained eerily calm. He ordered, “Fetch me a knife, and also gather a few herbs I’ll name.”

Ding Bai was terrified of his master’s cold demeanor and hurriedly nodded.

The boy scrambled to gather all the ingredients, and once Bian Lingyu received them, he shut the door. Ding Bai waited outside, and soon he smelled a peculiar fragrance. He couldn’t quite describe it—it was enchanting, almost making his mouth water uncontrollably.

Just as Ding Bai was about to lose his senses and recklessly barge in, the fragrance abruptly vanished.

The ten-year-old child scratched his head, confused. What had just happened?

By the time the sun set, Bian Lingyu finally opened the door. His face was even paler, but his demeanor remained as icy as ever.

Ding Bai quickly straightened up. “Master.”

“Take me to Mingyou Mountain.”

During the day, sunlight illuminated the world, and tonight, the rare moonlight bathed the snowy landscape in silver. Ding Bai shivered in the biting cold as he glanced at Bian Lingyu.

Bian Lingyu wasn’t faring much better. His brows were frosted with cold, and his long, elegant hands were red from the frostbite.

His obsidian-like eyes gleamed like those of a lone wolf in the dark night. He coldly remarked, “Didn’t eat?”

Ding Bai flushed with embarrassment and pushed harder.

No wonder no one liked Bian Lingyu, Ding Bai thought. While Bian Qingxuan had such a gentle temperament, Bian Lingyu was like a blade without a sheath.

His eyes were completely at odds with his frail, deteriorating body—cold, sharp, and oppressive.

Bian Lingyu was one of the most unpleasant people Ding Bai had ever met. His temper was truly terrible.

After enduring countless hardships, Ding Bai was nearly exhausted, his lips numb from the cold, when they finally arrived at Mingyou Mountain.

Under the moonlight, the world was silent except for their presence. For some reason, the courtyard gate was open, casting a pale glow in the eerie quiet.

Bian Lingyu sat silently, unmoving for a long time.

By the time Ding Bai was nearly frozen stiff, he timidly called out, “Master.”

Only then did Bian Lingyu stir, wheeling himself into the courtyard.

________________________________________

Shi Luoyi lay on her bed, waiting for Huixiang to bring her some moonlight flowers.

The nectar of the moonlight flower was incredibly sweet, and Huixiang had mentioned that many sprites adored it.

Shi Luoyi loved it too—the sweetness of life, the vibrant energy of Huixiang, and the possibility of change.

From afar, she faintly heard the sound of wheels rolling. She paused, realizing it wasn’t Huixiang.

It sounded familiar, though, reminding her of the youth who had thrown the lock at her a few days ago. Could it be him?

Why would he come?

Curious about Bian Lingyu’s intentions, she quickly closed her eyes, maintaining her pretense of being on the brink of death.

The sound of the wheels grew closer until it stopped right in front of her.

Moonlight streamed through the window, and with her eyes closed, Shi Luoyi’s senses were heightened. She felt the biting cold of the snowstorm, the frigid air devoid of warmth, and a faint, pine-like fragrance.

She grew uneasy, feeling a sense of resistance.

Suddenly, a pair of icy, vice-like hands gripped her soft cheeks, forcing her lips apart.

At this point, Bian Lingyu froze, seemingly lost in thought. Even with her eyes closed, Shi Luoyi could feel his gaze lingering on her lips. The air grew still, and her heart raced as she tried to decipher his intentions.

Was he here to harm her? To take advantage of her weakened state and kill her? To exact revenge?

She felt utterly foolish, lying there with her mouth open, waiting to be fed like a helpless infant.

Should she wake up?

In the next moment, a pill was roughly shoved into her mouth. His hands were as cold as his movements were brutal.

She nearly choked, realizing that just moments ago, Bian Lingyu had been contemplating how to force her to swallow it.

Was he trying to kill her? Though her actions under the influence of her inner demon had hurt him, her crimes didn’t warrant death. She certainly couldn’t let him kill her without a fight!

Furious, she bit down hard on the youth’s finger with her pearly teeth, preventing the oversized pill from sliding down her throat. Her eyes snapped open.