The snow outside the corridor had thinned slightly, and a few tiny grass sprouts emerged from the cracks between the stones. But Cold Sword Peak had always been desolate, so no one paid attention to this anomaly. As soon as the wind and snow stopped, the mountain path would soon open.
Xu Ning was packing his bags.
During these days, he had hardly slept. The crack near Lu Hanyi’s heart meridian was extremely dangerous. He could only rely on the faint wood spiritual power within him, combined with the acupuncture and herbal medicine he had learned in the past, to slowly warm and nourish her meridians.
Lu Hanyi stood in the shadows outside the room using a technique to conceal her presence, watching him coldly. The most dangerous crack near her heart meridian had been wrapped in a strand of green energy and was no longer expanding.
In the short term, she wouldn’t die.
And precisely because of that, according to their agreement, he could leave now.
Lu Hanyi appeared indifferent on the surface, but inwardly she was already shocked. Although she didn’t know how this mortal had done it, she didn’t ask. But Xu Ning had indeed saved her. Now, technically speaking, she had signed the divorce papers. It was only natural for Xu Ning to leave Cold Sword Peak now. She knew she had no right to be displeased. Yet as she watched Xu Ning eagerly packing his bags, that bit of irritation at the bottom of her heart finally could not be suppressed.
Lu Hanyi never prided herself on her appearance or talent. But she also knew that there were never few people in this world who wanted to get close to her. She was too cold yet too beautiful. Her features were carved like cold jade, her skin perpetually bloodless, yet her lips were light, and a trace of coldness at the corners of her eyes was enough to make people unable to look away. Outside Cold Sword Peak, countless people had sent visiting cards, just hoping for a single glance from her. She had never taken it to heart, never treated anyone with kindness. But Xu Ning was different—he feared her like a venomous snake, as if he couldn’t bear to stay even a moment. That realization was more uncomfortable than the cold miasma in her meridians.
Suddenly, the clouds and mist beyond the peak stirred.
Lu Hanyi’s eyes snapped up.
A gentle spiritual pressure descended upon Cold Sword Peak.
“Master…”
The next moment, a woman in plain clothes appeared before the corridor. She had gentle features, dark hair wound high, and only a white jade hairpin. She moved without any hint of worldly smoke or fire, yet she was not as cold and harsh as Lu Hanyi.
Shen Yuwei.
Golden Core True Person of the Taiwei Immortal Sect.
Lu Hanyi’s master, who was both a teacher and a mother.
As soon as she stepped onto Cold Sword Peak, Shen Yuwei’s steps hesitated. Within the peak, snow accumulated year-round, and the spiritual power had always been icy like a blade. But now, a remarkably clear and pure vitality of plants and trees had appeared in the peak. Even the injuries within her own body had improved slightly.
Shen Yuwei’s gaze flickered. Following the spiritual power, she walked into the outer room and saw Xu Ning tightening his bundle. That spiritual power actually originated from this mortal.
“Xu Ning.”
Xu Ning paused in his movements and looked up. He bowed.
“Master Shen.”
Shen Yuwei glanced at his bags, then at his pale face.
“What are you doing?”
Xu Ning replied, “Master Lu’s injuries have taken a turn for the better. She promised earlier that if I could save her, she would let me leave.”
Behind the screen, Lu Hanyi heard the address “Master Lu” and her gaze turned cold.
Shen Yuwei revealed a delighted expression.
“Han Yi’s injuries have taken a turn?”
Xu Ning nodded.
Shen Yuwei looked utterly surprised and glanced toward the corner of the room. Although she was curious about what the two were doing, she did not expose Lu Hanyi’s hiding spot. Instead, she let out a joyful sigh.
“You’ve worked hard all these years I’ve been away.”
Xu Ning was silent for a moment.
“The cause and effect are now settled. There’s no need to speak of hardship.”
Shen Yuwei shook her head. She took a jade bottle from her sleeve and placed it on the table.
“Take these ten Nourishing Origin Pills.”
“You’ve taken care of Han Yi for years, and your deficit is severe. These pills can’t fully restore your vitality, but at least they’ll nourish your body a little.”
Xu Ning did not take them. He simply bowed.
“Thank you, Master.”
Shen Yuwei said warmly, “However, you cannot leave now.”
Xu Ning looked up.
“Back then, Han Yi was ambushed and injured by someone. The mastermind behind it is still unknown. Previously, with the Cold Sword Peak’s formation to cover it, outsiders only thought Han Yi’s life force was near its end and wouldn’t act rashly. Now that her injuries have shown improvement, if that person is still within the Taiwei Immortal Sect, they will eventually trace it back to you. Since you can improve Han Yi’s injuries, I’m worried you will become a target.”
Shen Yuwei’s tone remained gentle, but the meaning behind her words was undeniable.
Xu Ning’s brow twitched.
Before his eyes, pale green characters appeared.
[Detected Cause and Effect: The person who once plotted against Taiwei Immortal Sect true disciple Lu Hanyi knows the plan has failed and has been investigating the reason up to now.]
[Resolution Conditions: Resolve the matter of Lu Hanyi’s ambush, or receive Shen Yuwei’s protection for one year.]
[Cause and Effect Reward: Three thousand Nourishing Origin Pills.]
Looking at the last line, Xu Ning’s eyelid twitched slightly.
Three thousand.
Just a moment ago, when Shen Yuwei took out ten, he still found immortal pills precious. Now the system opened its mouth with three thousand, making the jade bottle on the table seem shabby. But he soon calmed down. The more it was like this, the more it proved that this cause and effect was not simple. A trouble worth three thousand Nourishing Origin Pills would definitely not be just hiding beside a Golden Core True Person and eating idle food for a year.
Xu Ning was silent for a moment, then asked, “What does Master Shen mean?”
Shen Yuwei said gently, “Stay on Cold Sword Peak. I will protect you. Once I find the mastermind, I personally will escort you down the mountain.”
Xu Ning shook his head.
“Master Lu and I have already signed the divorce papers. It’s not appropriate for me to remain on Cold Sword Peak.”
Shen Yuwei looked at him.
“Divorce papers?”
Behind the screen, Lu Hanyi instinctively turned her face away.
Shen Yuwei’s peripheral vision swept past that shadow, and she understood most of it. She gently chided, “All these years, Han Yi hasn’t known how to treat people. That is her fault.”
Lu Hanyi’s fingers suddenly tightened.
She wanted to refute. But as the words reached her lips, she suddenly remembered the winter night last year when Xu Ning’s hands were chapped from the cold. What had she said then? She said, don’t look at her with that annoying gaze. At that time, he already had the divorce papers in his arms.
Lu Hanyi suddenly felt a tightness in her chest. She kept her face taut and did not appear.
Xu Ning did not use Shen Yuwei’s words to blame Lu Hanyi. He only said, “Master Lu has already signed. This matter ends here.”
Shen Yuwei watched him, her gaze gentle as water.
“Since you are unwilling to stay on Cold Sword Peak, I won’t force you.”
Xu Ning did not relax. Sure enough, Shen Yuwei’s next words were, “How about going to Zhaoyue Cliff?”
Behind the screen, Lu Hanyi’s expression changed slightly.
Zhaoyue Cliff was Shen Yuwei’s cultivation grounds. Even disciples of Cold Sword Peak were not allowed to set foot there casually.
Xu Ning was also stunned.
“Master Shen, that is even more inappropriate.”
Shen Yuwei said warmly, “Life and death are at stake. There is nothing inappropriate. You saved Han Yi. It is only proper that I repay the debt for my disciple.”
Xu Ning insisted, “Master Lu would not agree to this either.”
Lu Hanyi in the shadows watched him coldly. He refused so quickly—clearly it was his own unwillingness, yet he used her as an excuse. He didn’t even care about the immortal opportunity his master had offered. Truly discourteous.
Shen Yuwei smiled slightly.
“I will explain things to Han Yi myself.”
Until she understood that dense wood spiritual power, there was no way she could let him leave.
“Let me first take a look at your body’s deficit.”
As she spoke, she stepped forward and easily grabbed Xu Ning’s wrist.
The distance suddenly closed.
Xu Ning smelled a very faint fragrance. Like magnolias after rain, light and clean, pressed into her sleeves. But beneath that fragrance, there was a faint hint of medicinal odor mixed in.
Xu Ning frowned and tried to pull back.
“Master, truly there’s no need.”
“You have been burdened by Han Yi. How can I feel at ease letting you leave like this?”
As soon as the words fell, Shen Yuwei suddenly grunted softly. A warm, clear vitality surged through the point of contact into her meridians. Her originally gentle and composed complexion instantly paled.
Sensing the abnormality, Xu Ning stopped his attempt to break free.
“Master Shen?”
“Support me.”
Shen Yuwei’s voice dropped, and her brow was full of pain. The scorching fire that had been suppressed deep in her meridians suddenly surged, almost breaking through the spiritual power she had forcibly suppressed.
Xu Ning hesitated for a moment, then reached out to support her.
But Shen Yuwei staggered, and using his arm, she leaned forward. The white jade hairpin at her temple loosened by half an inch, and a strand of black hair fell, brushing against Xu Ning’s neck.
Xu Ning’s back stiffened.
“Master, what’s wrong with you?”
Shen Yuwei closed her eyes, suppressing her disordered energy.
“To the couch.”
Xu Ning’s brow jumped.
“The couch?”
“My injuries… I can’t suppress them anymore.”
These words shocked Xu Ning. He could only support her as she moved to the couch.
As soon as Shen Yuwei sat down, the scorching fire in her body surged again. She instinctively grabbed Xu Ning’s hand and pressed his palm against the area below her heart.
Xu Ning’s expression changed, and he immediately tried to retreat.
“Master Shen!”
But Shen Yuwei held his wrist, her voice low and hoarse.
“Don’t move.”
Her eyelashes trembled, and she knew the posture was improper. But the pain being soothed by his spiritual power in her meridians was too intoxicating, making her momentarily unwilling to let go.
Shen Yuwei said quietly, “There is a spiritual power in your body that can help me suppress my injuries.”
Xu Ning looked at his hand pressed by hers and felt a twitch at his temple. He had never imagined that the Qinghua Spiritual Root he could not even use yet would have such an effect on a Golden Core True Person. But if this continued, it would be too improper.
He was about to pull back and retreat.
“Master.”
A cold voice suddenly sounded.
Xu Ning paused.
Shen Yuwei also endured the pain in her meridians and looked up.
Lu Hanyi walked out of the shadows, her face pale and almost transparent.
At this moment, Shen Yuwei’s long hair was loose and disheveled, and Xu Ning had her almost entirely cradled in his arm. She had just heard Shen Yuwei say that from today onward, she would personally protect Xu Ning.
The three of them looked at each other.
The room was deathly silent.
“Disciple…”
Shen Yuwei immediately sobered up.
But Lu Hanyi acted as if she hadn’t heard. Her voice, forced out with difficulty, was cold as snow falling on a sword’s edge.
“The shelter you mentioned just now… is this what it looks like?”