Chapter 355: Old Loli, Farewell to Anping.
Chirp-chirp—
Kingfishers in the forest chirped, heralding the fish-belly white sky. Light snow fluttered down into the courtyard, covering the tiled roofs of the houses with a white cloak.
On the bed, Ye Anping’s eyelashes quivered. The moment his mind cleared, he felt refreshed. The excruciating pain from the first heavenly tribulation and the boiling blood caused by over twenty kinds of potent heavenly treasures had all dispersed. It was the first time in several days that he had slept so comfortably.
Ye Anping exhaled a cloud of white mist and opened his eyes. He turned his head to look at the table beside him. The table was still laden with heavenly treasures, many of which were extremely potent but came with severe side effects. Most of these treasures were pilfered from the Imperial Sect’s secret vault by Liang Zhu and Ye Wan’er. Lesser-known but still rare items like “Cold Snow Lotus” and “Mysterious Yellow Grass” had been acquired by them in the past few days from black markets or demonic beast lairs in the Western Regions. One could say that this simple wooden table held the wealth of a second-rate sect.
These heavenly treasures shared a common trait: they were all potent medicines with equally potent side effects and toxicity. Ordinary sects would need countless auxiliary herbs to dilute the efficacy and neutralize the toxicity of even one if they were to concoct it into medicine. Yet, Ye Anping had consumed nearly twenty types without any auxiliary herbs.
It could be said that if he and his junior sister hadn’t spent over half a year treating Gu poison like food to defeat a Grand Tutor named “Wu You” from the Gu Poison Sect, he would have likely vomited blood from all seven orifices and perished yesterday the moment he took the medicine. Ye Anping felt grateful to Wu You; without his provocation, he might not have reached his current realm… After he completed his Core Formation, he planned to return to Longxi Town and erect a tombstone for “Wu You” to repay this motivational debt.
“Hoo…”
However, as he reflected on this…
“Hm?” Why is my body so light now?
Ye Anping suddenly came to his senses. He sat up abruptly from the bed, clenched his fist, and found his arm full of strength. He then quickly focused his spiritual sense inward, examining the meridians within his body. Seeing the state of his meridians and spiritual sea, he almost couldn’t believe it, even pinching his face to see if he was dreaming.
—The meridians, which should have been injured by the heavenly tribulation, had completely recovered.
—The blood, which should have been occupied by the toxicity of heavenly treasures, seemed to have been dispelled. The toxicity was gone, leaving only the medicinal effects.
—The spiritual sea, which should have been depleted, was now overflowing with vitality.
…Everything was as if someone whose health bar was nearly empty had suddenly become full overnight, complete with a set of enhanced “Buffs.” If this were a game, it wouldn’t be surprising, as players aren’t carbon-based life forms. But this world was a real one. Ye Anping even began to wonder if this was a final burst of energy before death. He quickly used his spiritual sense to examine his body several more times. However, the conclusion was the same — he was at full health.
But why? How could this be? Ye Anping felt a touch of confusion. While the current situation was undeniably good, this sudden windfall made him extremely uneasy. Just like with heavenly treasures, the better the medicinal effect, the greater the probability of side effects. He didn’t know what kind of price he would have to pay for this benefit.
Ye Anping furrowed his brow and pondered for a while, immediately searching for reasons in his mind.
—Because of the Heavenly Scroll of the Dao, did he also gain the self-healing abilities of Feng Yu Die?
—Did those over twenty high-grade heavenly treasures, by some stroke of luck, transform into a medicinal agent that could replenish spiritual energy and repair meridians overnight?
—Does this place possess the Spring Aspect spiritual energy that nurtures all things?
… He came up with dozens of outlandish possibilities but couldn’t pinpoint any single one. After a moment of silence, Ye Anping decided to get out of bed and move his limbs a bit to further check his condition. However, as he lifted the covers to get out of bed… A sand-colored cloth strip in the shape of an hourglass slipped from the bed and fell to the ground. The strip was entirely black, made of what appeared to be cloud silk, commonly used for immortal robes, and was slightly transparent. Each side of the strip had a tie.
“…” Ye Anping was stunned. He picked up the ties, dangled it in front of his eyebrows, and stared at it for a while. Undoubtedly, it was underwear. However, the fabric was so small that if a girl wore it, her “white steamed buns” might show at the edges. Moreover, the material was somewhat transparent, making it almost as if she wasn’t wearing anything.
Although his junior sister’s clothes were bought by him, and he had several spare sets in his storage bag, he was certain he had never bought anything of this style. Thus, the conclusion was simple: someone had snuck into his temporary cave dwelling and left this cloth strip behind…
Ye Anping fell silent for a moment, then looked down at his own clothes, which were intact. He looked around the room again. There were no signs of an intruder in the room; the high-grade talismans pasted in the four corners had not been consumed, and the restrictions and minor formations showed no signs of damage… However, this cloth strip explained why he was at “full health” overnight. It was likely that uninvited guest had used some Dao-harmonizing technique to transfer their spiritual energy to him and helped him clear the toxins from his meridians…
But who could it be? His junior sister and Xiao Yunluo were hundreds of li away at Xuan Xing Sect. They should have started their Core Formation and were unlikely to come, and even if they did, they wouldn’t have left without a word. Li Longling and Yun Yiyi were even less likely; they were nearly a thousand li from Hundred Lotus Sect…
Ye Wan’er? No! Ye Wan’er had no reason to be here, and she should still be in the southern part of the Western Regions, retrieving the Five Elements Scorpion Poison for him… Xiao Die and Ating?
*Slap—*
Ye Anping slapped his forehead, feeling his thoughts becoming increasingly absurd. He cleared his mind, rubbed his temples… “Si Xuanji…” he murmured the name, but still with some uncertainty. Si Xuanji should be at Taibai Sect discussing matters of the Central Domain’s demon race with other Void Realm cultivators. How could she have come here…
Looking at the triangular cloth strip in his hand, Ye Anping fell silent for a while, then slowly brought the strip to his nose… “Sniff—” He took a deep breath. A gardenia fragrance, similar to Xiao Yunluo’s but richer, entered his olfactory senses. Besides that, there was a hint of the deep, subtle scent found in an old woman’s wardrobe… It was definitely Si Xuanji.
“…” Ye Anping’s face immediately darkened, his heart filled with mixed emotions. An old woman, thousands of years old, snuck into his room in the middle of the night and… violated him. Oh my!
Ye Anping hesitated for a moment, looking at the cloth strip in his hand, and couldn’t help but sniff it again. “Hmm… It’s definitely her.”
Just then… *Creak—*
Liang Zhu, wearing a bamboo hat and a cloak adorned with light accumulated snow, pushed open the door and poked his head in. Upon seeing Ye Anping sitting by the bed, he froze.
“…”
“…”
Their eyes met. Liang Zhu’s gaze drifted slightly downwards to the cloth strip held at Ye Anping’s nose, but his expression remained serious.
“Heh.”
“…”
Liang Zhu walked into the room, removed his bamboo hat and cloak, and hung them on a nearby coat rack. He then glanced at the cloth strip in Ye Anping’s hand: “Did you buy this kind of underwear for your junior sister?”
Ye Anping didn’t want to explain. He pouted, put the cloth strip into his storage bag, and asked, “Brother Liang, you’re back so soon?”
“Yes,” Liang Zhu nodded. He took out a glass jar from his storage bag and tossed it to Ye Anping. “This is the ‘Five Elements Profound Wind Powder’ you asked me to buy from the black market. Do you need anything else?”
“Brother Liang, just send me some spirit stones and ordinary Yuan Cultivation Pills every ten days or so.”
Liang Zhu heard this and only then noticed that Ye Anping, who should have been pale and weak, now had a ruddy complexion and had recovered considerably in energy. A few days ago, Ye Anping’s complexion had been almost that of a dead man. “What did you do? You recovered so quickly?”
Ye Anping gave a wry smile and shook his head: “Just received another stroke of luck.”
“So… the Heavenly Dao Golden Core succeeded?”
“Yes, I previously felt I only had a sixty percent chance. With this stroke of luck… ninety-seven percent.”
“…” Liang Zhu also seemed unfazed. He pursed his lips and sighed, “What a shame. I had already found a buyer, thinking you’d die under the heavenly tribulation in two days, and I’d immediately move out with Ating and Sister Seven.”
“Brother Liang is truly efficient.”
“Heh…” A slight smile inadvertently appeared on Liang Zhu’s poker face. He then turned and walked towards the outside of the room. “Don’t worry, I’ve already carved your tombstone and prepared your coffin. I’ll visit every ten days or so.”
Ye Anping stood up and cupped his hands in thanks: “Thank you.”
Watching Liang Zhu close the door and leave, Ye Anping closed his eyes to calm his emotions. With his dual spiritual root aptitude, even with the vast heavenly treasures from the Imperial Sect’s secret vault and various places in the Western Regions, and the innate spirit sword inherited from Yun Jian Shang Xian, he couldn’t guarantee a one hundred percent chance of forming the Heavenly Dao Golden Core. But now, with Si Xuanji covering his back, he no longer needed to worry. Even if he ultimately failed to overcome it, Si Xuanji would likely intervene to save his life… The only question now was how to repay Si Xuanji for this life-saving kindness?
“Hoo…”
Ye Anping pondered for a moment, then took out the small cloth strip from his storage bag. He prepared a basin of hot water, personally washed Si Xuanji’s cloth strip, and then dried it with the Fire Element talisman script. Afterward, he took out paper and brush. After careful consideration, he wrote on the paper with a powerful and firm hand:
“This junior dares to ask for senior’s esteemed name. Thank you for your assistance earlier. I have specifically prepared some high-grade pills and tribute flower fairy tea. I hope senior will accept them.”
After finishing, Ye Anping placed a bottle of pills and a can of tea, both from the Imperial Sect’s secret vault, on the paper as a paperweight. He then folded the small cloth strip and placed it aside. Afterward, he went into the Spirit Gathering Array in the corner of the room to prepare for the second Core Formation heavenly tribulation.
…
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
*Roaring—*
A golden heavenly lightning bolt split the heavens and shook the earth, cleaving through day and night in the starry sky. Cultivators within a radius of several hundred li heard the commotion and knew someone was undergoing tribulation, so they all detoured. Soon, the dark clouds that had gathered over the unnamed mountain peak were dispersed by the golden light. A heavy rain followed.
Drip… Drip…
*Huala Huala—*
The downpour, accompanied by rolling thunder, swept through the surrounding mountain forests. Si Xuanji, dressed in purple immortal robes and holding an oil-paper umbrella, slowly approached Ye Anping’s temporary cave dwelling.
*Creak—*
She raised her hand and gently pushed open the wooden door. The room was dimly lit, with no lamps. The table was still cluttered with various heavenly treasures, just as it had been when she visited twelve days ago. Ye Anping was currently prostrate by the bed, his robes tattered, with glowing golden cracks on his neck that crackled and sparked.
“This idiot…” Si Xuanji bit her lip and cursed upon seeing him. She immediately quickened her pace with her small feet and rushed to his side, crouching down to pick him up, cradling him in her arms. Then, she infused her spiritual energy into Ye Anping’s body, helping him suppress the residual power of the heavenly lightning strike.
“Why must you do this? To suffer so much for a Heavenly Dao Golden Core.” Seeing Ye Anping gritting his teeth even in his unconscious state, she sighed softly and flicked her cloud sleeve.
*Creak—*
The door slowly closed. Si Xuanji’s eyes revealed a hint of dissatisfaction. She suddenly noticed a bottle of pills, a can of tea, and the small cloth strip she had left behind last time on the table.
“…”
After placing Ye Anping on the bed, Si Xuanji walked to the table and gently picked up the letter Ye Anping had left for her, reading it. Her Yin-yang heteromorphic eyes scanned the lines. She pursed her lips and complained, “A can of tea and a bottle of pills are meant to dismiss me?”
But then she chuckled. It seemed Ye Anping hadn’t guessed who had helped him. Si Xuanji slightly pursed her lips and looked at the unconscious Ye Anping lying on the bed: “He’s usually quite smart, but so foolish at a time like this.”
Si Xuanji thought for a moment, a hint of a smile appearing in her eyes. She took out paper and brush from her storage bag, deliberated over her wording, and wrote:
“I happened to see someone undergoing the Heavenly Dao Golden Core tribulation here and came to take a look, only to find a life-risking brat. Your appearance is quite handsome, so I lent you a helping hand. We each take what we need. Whether you can successfully overcome the tribulation and form your core depends on your own destiny!
—True Lord Tian Ji.”
Si Xuanji reread it carefully after writing. She felt this writing style was very heroic and nodded in satisfaction. Then, with a wave of her hand, she put the pills and tea from the table, along with her small panties, back into her storage bag. After pressing down the paper with something, she turned to look at Ye Anping on the bed and waved her hand to close all the windows in the room. She went to the bedside and gently helped Ye Anping undress.
*Ding-a-ling…*
*Ding-a-ling…*
A rhythmic, pleasant tinkling sound emanated from the room. It wasn’t until the dark clouds in the sky dispersed and the heavy rain stopped that this ethereal sound finally faded. Then, the forest returned to its peace and silence. Quietly, Si Xuanji departed. Just as quietly as she had come. With a wave of her sleeve, she took away the youth’s Yang Energy.
…
