Chapter 54: Disguise

The small stove in the Moon-Dwelling Courtyard once again emitted white smoke.

Every day at this hour, the fire was lit and the medicine was brewed.

Even during the time Qin Xiyan was away, Gu Qing remained unwavering in this routine.

And so, another half-month passed.

Gu Qing’s body improved day by day.

He could feel his meridians being nourished and warmed daily.

It had to be said, the formation within this Moon-Dwelling Courtyard was truly remarkable.

Momo Hong also brought him some specially tailored elixirs every day, claiming they could prolong life.

Yet, Gu Qing felt something was odd, because these elixirs actually seemed to accelerate the repair of his meridians…

Whether it was good luck or deliberate arrangement, he couldn’t tell.

Finally, roughly over a month later.

On this morning, as the mist in the Moon-Dwelling Courtyard had yet to fully dissipate, the sound of footsteps reached Gu Qing’s ears.

Gu Qing was in his room organizing Su Li’s notes. Hearing the noise, the tip of the brush in his hand paused slightly.

His intuition told him: she was back.

Gu Qing put down the brush and pushed open the door.

At the end of the corridor stood a slender figure.

Qin Xiyan was dressed very warmly today.

Despite the courtyard being as warm as spring, she was wrapped in a specially made insulating spiritual robe.

Seeing Gu Qing emerge, her originally hesitant steps halted, and an extremely bright, almost deliberately bright smile immediately bloomed on her face.

“Gu Qing!”

She quickly ran over.

“I’m back!”

Her voice sounded high-pitched and lively.

“I finished handling things over there, it was so tiring! But I thought of you waiting for me here at home, so I hurried back.”

She stopped about three steps away from Gu Qing, her hands behind her back, tilting her head to look at him.

She seemed to be expecting something, yet also seemed afraid of something.

Gu Qing didn’t speak.

His gaze fell on her face.

Today, Qin Xiyan’s makeup was very heavy.

Normally, she was breathtaking even without makeup, but today she had deliberately applied rouge and lip color.

Like a flower blooming desperately to conceal its withering.

“Mm, it’s good you’re back.”

Gu Qing’s voice was very soft, not piercing through anything.

He stepped aside, making way.

“Let’s talk inside.”

“Okay!”

Qin Xiyan nodded vigorously and bounced into the room.

However, in the instant she brushed past him, Gu Qing keenly caught the slight tremor of her eyelashes, and the still somewhat stiff movement of her limbs.

And that familiar… chill.

Inside the room, the formation operated. Gu Qing deliberately raised the temperature a bit.

Qin Xiyan curled up in the armchair, holding a cup of hot tea Gu Qing handed her.

She didn’t take off the spiritual robe; instead, she seemed to shrink her whole body into it.

This chair was something Gu Qing had servants buy specially; it was very comfortable to sit in, almost giving a feeling of being back on Canglan Star.

She took a sip of tea, seeming to feel a bit more alive.

“Gu Qing…”

Steam curled up from the teacup, blurring her features.

“It’s been so long… do you… do you find me annoying?”

Gu Qing sat opposite her, holding a pair of scissors, trimming a pot of orchids on the table.

“I mean… suddenly getting sick, and then suddenly disappearing…”

Qin Xiyan lowered her head, her fingers touching the teacup.

She spoke for no reason, her voice even becoming cautious.

“Why would you say that?”

“Momo said I was very scary like that. The way I looked back then… was it very ugly?”

“Not really.”

The scissors in Gu Qing’s hand made a snip sound, cutting off a withered leaf.

She must have misunderstood.

Momo was afraid something would happen to Qin Xiyan, saying her illness was scary.

But Qin Xiyan thought her appearance at the time was ugly.

“It was dark that night, I didn’t see clearly.”

He lied.

The way she looked that day was still etched in his mind.

“Oh… it’s good you didn’t see clearly.”

Qin Xiyan let out a sigh of relief, then, as if remembering something, forced out a smile.

“Actually, it’s just… a minor ailment. It’ll be cured.”

“Look at me now, aren’t I fine? I can still run and jump.”

Saying this, to prove she was in great health, she even deliberately waved her little fist.

But the movement was just a bit too forceful.

A cough could no longer be suppressed.

“Cough… cough…”

Qin Xiyan’s expression changed, and she quickly covered her mouth, trying to hold back the cough.

But how easy was it to control the body’s instinctive reaction?

The violent cough made her whole body curl up.

The teacup in her hand shook, and scalding tea splashed out, spilling onto the back of her hand.

Yet, she seemed not to feel the heat, just desperately covering her mouth, not wanting Gu Qing to see her in such a state.

“Xiyan!”

Gu Qing put down the scissors and strode to her side in a few steps.

He didn’t pat her back because he knew it was an internal injury; patting wouldn’t help.

He simply took the teacup from her hand, placed it on the table, then pulled out that handkerchief from his sleeve and gently wiped the tea stains from the back of her hand.

Where he touched, it was icy cold.

Even after being splashed with scalding tea, her skin was still cold as ice.

The tea hadn’t scalded her; instead, it had cooled down instantly.

The coughing gradually subsided.

Qin Xiyan lifted her head, tears hanging at the corners of her eyes.

Her makeup was ruined.

The rouge was washed away by tears, revealing the glistening white skin beneath.

That momentary disguise had completely collapsed.

“I’m sorry…”

Qin Xiyan flusteredly tried to cover her face with her sleeve, her voice choked with sobs.

“I… I shouldn’t have come back… I should have waited until I was better…”

“Gu Qing, don’t look… it’s really ugly…”

She wasn’t afraid of being ugly.

She was afraid of being disliked.

She was afraid that if Gu Qing saw this sickly, possibly dying appearance, he would regret this marriage, would think she was a burden, would look at her with that same pitying yet wanting-to-distance gaze like others did.

He was her only “peer.”

She didn’t want to lose this last bit of warmth.

Seeing her flustered, evasive look, Gu Qing felt as if something had tightly clenched his heart.

He didn’t pull at her sleeve. Instead, he very naturally reached out and took hold of her icy cold hand.

Qin Xiyan’s body stiffened abruptly.

“Hiding what?”

Gu Qing’s voice was steady.

“We are betrothed, aren’t we?”

These words were like a binding spell.

Qin Xiyan slowly lowered the sleeve covering her face, revealing that little face smudged like a kitten’s, staring blankly at Gu Qing.

“Be… betrothed?”

“Yes.”

Gu Qing crouched down, bringing his eyes level with hers.

He didn’t disdain the coldness of her hand.

Instead, he cupped both hands together, enveloping her small hand in his palms, trying to warm her with his own body heat.

Though it was like trying to put out a burning cartload of firewood with a cup of water.

“Since we are betrothed, we are people who will spend a lifetime together.”

“Since we are to spend a lifetime together, then birth, aging, sickness, and death are all things we must face together.”

“If you are sick, I will take care of you. If you are in pain, I will accompany you.”

Gu Qing looked into her eyes, his words carrying no sense of reluctance, only a matter-of-factness.

“If, because of your health, you get sick, or even become ugly…”

“Would I then not want to see you?”

“Then wouldn’t I be a terribly failed fiancé?”

Qin Xiyan listened, stunned.

These words held no grand vows, no sweet nothings.

But each word was like a heavy hammer, shattering the thick layer of ice in her heart.

She had always thought Gu Qing had to marry her because of the family’s order.

She had always thought she had to act obedient, healthy, and cute to keep this man.

But now…

Qin Xiyan’s lips trembled.

“But… but I’m a cripple, and a short-lived one at that… I’ll hold you back…”

“What a coincidence.”

Gu Qing smiled, a smile tinged with self-mockery and a touch of nonchalance.

“I’m a cripple too, and might not even live as long as you.”

“The two of us, six of one and half a dozen of the other.”

“Let’s not dislike each other, and just make do, alright?”

Qin Xiyan finally couldn’t hold back and laughed through her tears.

“Pfft…”

Though tears still fell, the smile was from the heart.

“Who… who’s six of one and half a dozen of the other with you?”

She sniffled, giving him a somewhat coquettish glare.

“I am the Third Young Lady of the Qin Family, I’m very rich!”

“Yes, yes, the Third Young Lady is as rich as a nation. I’ve overreached myself.”

Gu Qing went along with her words, but didn’t let go of her hand, still holding it tightly.

“So, Third Young Lady, will you still pretend in front of me in the future?”

“No… no more pretending.”

Qin Xiyan shook her head, her voice soft and gentle.

“And this makeup…” Gu Qing pointed at her face.

“I’ll go wash it off!”

Qin Xiyan stuck out her tongue, somewhat embarrassed.

“Actually, this rouge smells really strong, I don’t like it either.”

“After you wash up, we’ll eat together.”

“Go on.”

“Mm!”

Gu Qing released her hand and stood up.

Qin Xiyan nodded vigorously, jumping down from the chair.

Though her steps were still a bit unsteady, her retreating figure was much lighter than when she arrived.

Gu Qing watched her back as she entered the inner chamber, the smile in his eyes gradually fading.

He looked down at his own palm.

That chill had even invaded his body, making him somewhat uncomfortable.

The situation was worse than he imagined.

Why did it feel…

Like something was devouring her vitality?

What exactly was this illness that even a behemoth like the Qin Family was helpless against?

He touched his chest.

There lay the origin spiritual energy left by Lin Qingyue, and the spiritual power left by Su Li for cleansing his meridians.

‘If… if I could cultivate to a higher realm…’

‘If I could master “Shattered Jade” to its peak, or find other methods…’

‘Could I save her?’

Gu Qing sighed, feeling he was being too naive.

What could he do about an illness even the Qin Family couldn’t cure?

Time flowed like water, and in the blink of an eye, another half-month passed.

Life in the Moon-Dwelling Courtyard returned to peace, even more harmonious than before.

Qin Xiyan no longer deliberately hid her weakness.

When tired, she would lean on Gu Qing’s shoulder and sleep for a while.

When in pain, she would whimper and ask Gu Qing for candy.

Gu Qing seemed to have become a full-time caretaker.

Apart from cultivation and studying notes, the rest of his time revolved around this sickly fiancée of his.

But he found joy in it.

Meanwhile.

Tianquan Star, the Jianmu Divine Palace.

Within the enormous council hall, countless communication jade talismans shuttled back and forth like shooting stars—these were family affairs from various places.

Qin Tianheng sat on the violet-gold throne symbolizing supreme authority, his brow furrowed as he reviewed a battle report regarding conflicts at the star domain borders.

Though the Qin Family was powerful, in this dog-eat-dog cultivation world, there was never a truly peaceful day.

“Family Head.”

An aged voice sounded outside the hall.

Qin Tianheng put down the vermilion brush in his hand and rubbed his temples.

“Enter.”

The Medicine Elder pushed the door open and entered, looking hurried, with a hint of barely concealed excitement.

“What is it? Has something happened to Yan’er?”

Qin Tianheng’s heart tightened, and he stood up abruptly.

Now, the worst news he feared hearing was bad news from the Moon-Dwelling Courtyard.

“Not the Third Young Lady, it’s…”

The Medicine Elder took a deep breath, lowering his voice.

“It’s that person.”

“Which person?” Qin Tianheng didn’t catch on immediately.

“That mysterious person who took down the bounty notice, claiming they could cure the ‘Divine Punishment’!”

The Medicine Elder’s voice trembled slightly.

“She… has arrived.”

“Where is she?”

Qin Tianheng asked gravely.

“In the reception hall. The Grand Elder is personally keeping her company.”

The Medicine Elder said quickly.

“That person… is very strange.”

“In what way?” Qin Tianheng asked as he strode out.

“A female cultivator, wearing a veil.”

“Her cultivation… seems very low.”