In the second trial of the Jiuhua Sect, Shu Fu once again left everyone in the dust. With a sword held to the "patient's" neck, she was the first to leave Xianyun Terrace under the shocked and bewildered gazes of the crowd.
Faced with such a bizarre scene, the honest folks who had endured humiliation while being threatened with kitchen knives and had patiently reasoned with the patients were left dumbfounded, momentarily at a loss for where to even begin their complaints.
Fang Han led the protest: "This isn't fair! How can Jiang Ruoshui's treatment of a patient be considered benevolent? Can she even be called a healer?"
The Dongming Peak quickly responded: "Yes. With a disposition like hers, she is not only fit to be a healer but can also serve as a healer's enforcer and bodyguard."
Shu Fu: Thanks, but no thanks. Honestly, I've just seen too many 21st-century news reports about violent incidents against medical staff and felt a bit angry. I didn't really think about anything else.
The other examinees weren't fools either. Following Shu Fu's successful example, everyone quickly adopted the same method. The trial gradually devolved into a chaotic brawl between doctors and aggressors, the situation teetering on the brink of complete chaos.
At the same time, the Dongming Peak disciples playing the patients quickly calmed down and began organizing resistance in an orderly manner, forcibly pulling the battle to a stalemate where neither side could force the other to submit.
Finally, against the backdrop of both "doctors" and "patients" wielding blades and resorting to violence when talks broke down, the trial's theme ironically returned to medical skill itself. Before long, over half of the examinees had successfully prescribed remedies, cured the illnesses, and warmly and amicably escorted the patients out of the "hospital" with blades in hand.
The moment they passed, everyone wore brilliant, fake smiles, and the air was thick with the warmth of human compassion.
Shu Fu: "..."
Something feels off about the vibe, but since everyone passed, I guess it's a happy ending for all.
Surprisingly, after the second trial ended, the Jiuhua Sect gave the participants less than a quarter of an hour to catch their breath before immediately announcing the start of the third trial.
This didn't quite match the image of the merciful and soft-hearted Master Qiu. Shu Fu was initially puzzled, but her confusion vanished the moment she heard the content of the test.
The third trial was another extremely common theme in cultivation novels: the Heart Demon Illusion.
Since it was an illusion trial where examinees just had to lie down and sleep, naturally no rest or preparation was needed. Facing a completely unknown illusion, preparation probably wouldn't be of much use anyway.
"Everyone, my test is very simple."
The Sect Master, putting on no airs, explained kindly to the crowd, "The illusion varies from person to person; everyone will see a different scene. Within one hour, as long as you can leave by your own power, you pass."
An examinee below raised their hand to ask, "Excuse me, Immortal Master, what is the condition for leaving the illusion?"
"Apologies, but that is also part of the trial."
The Sect Master's tone was gentle, but his words were tight-lipped, "Regarding that, please explore and figure it out within the illusion yourselves."
Wow, it's an escape room.
Hearing the Sect Master's mysterious description, Shu Fu grew even more curious, feeling a long-dormant sense of challenge ignite. Armed with trust that "the Sect Master won't make it too hard for me" and confidence that "your Brother Fu has read countless stories and seen it all," she felt not a shred of unease or anxiety and entered the illusion with great enthusiasm.
Outside the illusion, however, Liu Ruyi and Si Fei were not as relaxed as she was, each more worried than the last: "Is Little Junior Sister okay?"
"The Sect Master's Heart Demon Illusion has always been the hardest hurdle in the entrance trials."
Liu Ruyi's thin lips were pressed tight, her willow-leaf eyebrows slightly furrowed, resembling a beautiful painting tinged with reproach and worry, "In the last trial sixty years ago, less than one or two out of ten passed; most cultivators failed here. Even if Junior Sister is clever and unconventional, I'm afraid she might..."
"...take half an hour to come out."
Jiang Xuesheng took over, pressing down on his disciples' heads with one hand each, "What, don't you trust Fu'er's mental fortitude?"
Liu Ruyi looked up with a bitter smile, "Master, it's not that I don't trust her. But you know the Sect Master values mental state; he never goes easy on this stage."
"Illusion, very scary. Little Junior Sister, worrying."
Si Fei, this time not in fish form, was soaking most of his body in the Yaoguang Pool. His curly black hair spread out like seaweed, and bubbles streamed from his lips, "Master, I am very worried."
Jiang Xuesheng smiled faintly, "Then you two keep worrying. I, for one, am not worried."
Liu Ruyi: "..."
Although long accustomed to her master's character, witnessing it each time still makes him seem a little... punchable.
Meanwhile, Shu Fu, who had been raring to go, woke up within the illusion and lay back down a second later, closing her eyes and pretending to be a corpse.
In that one second, she clearly heard the sound of alpacas stampeding across her heart.
Your Brother Fu has read countless stories, but this scene I really haven't seen.
Here's what happened.
The moment she opened her eyes, she found herself lying on a luxurious, opulent bed piled high with brocade. The bed curtains were warm, the crimson quilt was in disarray, and lying beside her was a man with no clothes on.
"..."
No, wait, that's not right either.
She has seen scenes like this in certain time-travel novels. Like Phoenix Something-or-Other.
But the problem is, this man with no clothes on... he, he...
He has Jiang Xuesheng's face!!!
"..."
Shu Fu lay on the bed with her eyes tightly shut. All the gears in her head were spinning so fast her skull began to heat up; she suspected her brain matter was about to spontaneously combust.
The scene before her wasn't hard to understand. She reached a conclusion in an instant: this so-called illusion was probably meant to bewitch the examinee, a "blissful life" designed to make one forget all thoughts of leaving.
As the saying goes, the beauty's boudoir is the hero's grave. To craft an enticing, beautiful illusion, besides fame, fortune, and power, a "beauty" is an indispensable element.
And the number one beauty in Shu Fu's heart just happened to be Jiang Xuesheng.
Shu Fu: Damn it, I haven't even officially entered the sect, and I've already committed such a transgression against my master in an illusion.
You might not believe it, but the illusion started it.
Brother, I am innocent towards you!
Well, not in this illusion. To protect her reputation and image, she had to find a way out, fast.
By the way, this illusion doesn't have surveillance, does it???
Despite being a beautiful illusion meant to induce indulgence, Shu Fu felt as if she were in a horror movie. In the blink of an eye, she broke out in a cold sweat, and goosebumps rose layer upon layer. She felt she didn't even need clothes; she could just go out wearing her goosebumps.
Too terrifying, damn it, just too terrifying!
That's Jiang Xuesheng!
Even if she really liked Jiang Xuesheng's face, she wouldn't dare... okay, if he agreed, she might dare, but that's not the point here.
Anyway, this is way too fast... Wait, what is she thinking???
Shu Fu, shocked to find her mind in complete chaos, hurriedly closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and forced herself to calm down.
"..."
Truly worthy of the Jiuhua Sect Master's illusion. It disrupted her tempered mental state in an instant. How terrifying.
Shu Fu: Outwardly steady as an old dog, inwardly panicking like crazy.
But no matter how flustered she was, the first order of business was to get up. Even if she wanted to find the exit from this illusion, she couldn't hide under the covers forever.
Shu Fu trembled like an old woman on her last legs as she shakily got up, feebly pushed back the quilt, and tried to get out of bed without waking "Jiang Xuesheng."
She failed within a second.
"Jiang Xuesheng" woke up.
Not only did he wake up, but he also lazily opened one eye halfway, propped his head up with a hand on his temple, and gazed sleepily at Shu Fu.
"Madam, you're up quite early today."
""
Shu Fu placed a hand over her heart, secretly heaving a long sigh of relief inside.
Thank goodness, this illusion didn't replicate Jiang Xuesheng's personality as well. Otherwise, if he were to open his mouth and call her "Fu'er," she might just be struck dumb on the spot.
No illusion could outdo Jiang Xuesheng's own brand of outrageousness.
Even so, the lazy expression, casual tone, peach-blossom eyes still hazy with sleep, and the glimpse of snow-white shoulder and back peeking out from under the brocade quilt still made Shu Fu feel extremely uneasy.
Shu Fu: Oh no, oh no. A perfectly decent, clean story, and I've gone and gotten the chapter locked again.
Please, beautiful man, put some clothes on before you speak.
She thought it, and she also said it out loud: "I mean, first— no, brother— wait, not that either. Sir, how about you put your clothes on first?"
Before the words had fully left her mouth, she had already spun around like a shot, raising her hands high above her head. "Call me when you're dressed! I promise I won't look back!"
Her behavior was undeniably odd, but the man with Jiang Xuesheng's face seemed completely oblivious. He let out a soft laugh and seamlessly continued the act. "Madam is so shy. We've been married for so many years, yet you're still just like you were on our first day as newlyweds, acting like a young girl."
Shu Fu: Damn, it's actually an old married couple setting.
I admit, when I ship couples, I do like this kind of thing.
But I never imagined shipping myself into it!
No offense, but who wrote this NC brother's lines? The Sect Master?
Just how many novels has the Sect Master read?!
Shu Fu almost knelt before this NC, but the pride of an aspiring Dragon-Phoenix Female Lead, supported by a nearby carved wooden table, allowed her to painfully straighten her spine.
A Dragon-Phoenix Female Lead must not go weak in the knees before her own harem!
...Probably.
Shu Fu steadied herself with one hand on the table and pressed the other against her forehead, continuing to act her part in a faint, breathless voice. "Sir— I mean, husband, your wife would like to go out for a bit. No need to see me off, just let me go out for a stroll by myself."
The man didn't stop her, offering a tolerant, magnanimous smile instead. "Go ahead, Madam. No matter how long you're gone, I'll be right here waiting for you to return."
"Okay, okay, okay, I'll definitely be back. You wait here nicely for me, and whatever you do, don't follow!"
Shu Fu babbled a string of hasty agreements, not daring to look back at him, and eagerly pushed the door open to leave. "Well then, I'll be taking my— whoa!"
The moment she pushed the door open, a girl who looked about ten years old came rushing straight at her, crashing into her arms and wrapping her in a tight hug without a word. "Mother!"
Shu Fu: ""
Holy crap, you've got to be kidding me.
She had always been the type to pale at the mention of pregnancy. Not only did she not want children herself, but she wasn't particularly fond of "having buns" in the stories she read either—unless the main couple's child came free with a phone card, or unless the male lead was the one to give birth.
How come, after just one nap, her child was already old enough for elementary school?
This illusion was off! It didn't align with her innermost fantasies at all!
Faced with this sudden "instant motherhood" plot twist, Shu Fu was massively shaken. With one arm holding the daughter who seemed to have come free with a phone card, she instinctively blurted out a question:
"This... I gave birth to this?"
The gentle voice of "Jiang Xuesheng" came from behind her. "Something as difficult as childbirth, how could I ever ask Madam to do it? If Madam is unwilling, I would never force you."
"This child, I gave birth to her."
Thud.
Shu Fu toppled straight backward down the steps.
,,Remember to bookmark the site or keep the URL in mind. The site is free, no anti-theft, no anti-theft. Report errors in chapters, ask for books, find books, and chat with fellow book lovers here.
