Hearing this, Ji Yun froze. Before he could react, waves of piercing pain suddenly surged through his body.
He gasped in a breath of cold air, staggered up, and met Yuan Shu's gaze.
Realizing what was happening, he quickly turned over and pulled Yuan Shu into a tight embrace.
...
"The Withered Bone Desire-Locking Grass is a spiritual plant that only disciples of the Joyous Union Sect can cultivate using their union powers. It is considered a rare existence even within the Joyous Union Sect. Where did you get it?"
Yuan Shu panted softly and bit down on Ji Yun's shoulder.
Time loses its meaning during dual cultivation.
She had toiled away for an entire afternoon and night just to barely awaken his consciousness.
Even so, she couldn't afford to be careless. It was still too early for him to be fully cured!
Ji Yun winced from the bite, but he didn't dare make a sound.
Feeling the changes in his body at this moment, his face looked extremely grim.
The effects of that drug were simply too fierce!
And just now, in a mere span of a dozen breaths, his body had experienced that unusual, piercing pain. It clearly told him that he couldn't leave Yuan Shu right now!
"I-I'm sorry, it-it was given to me by someone else. I didn't know it was this potent."
Ji Yun's entire body was burning hot, his cheeks flushed red with shame and embarrassment.
Yuan Shu lowered her eyes, silently circulating the Yin-Yang Joyous Union Art to its absolute limit.
During this agonizingly long process, she tried her best to increase their level of comfort.
Otherwise, it would be far too unbearable!
Of course, by doing this, Ji Yun also benefited.
...
After returning from the Purple Sun Hall, Yuan Shu went straight to bed and slept for a whole day and night.
She only groggily opened her eyes when the morning sunlight streamed in.
A momentary daze washed over her expression; her thoughts still seemed stuck on Ji Yun's face hovering above and below her.
Yuan Shu was a bit speechless.
For a poison master to take the wrong medicine and reduce himself to such a half-dead, ghastly state—only Ji Yun could manage that.
Sometimes, Yuan Shu even suspected that the guy had done it on purpose!
But remembering how Ji Yun hadn't touched her when she passed out from exhaustion, only holding her hand to help out a bit, she figured he probably wasn't capable of doing something like that intentionally.
Yuan Shu got out of bed, popped a Vitality Pill into her mouth to regulate her blood and qi, stretched lazily, and walked out the door.
Yun Sheng had left her a message saying he had gone into the mountains to cultivate for the next two days, so he wouldn't be in the courtyard, and no one would be cooking.
After some thought, Yuan Shu decided to check out the sect's cafeteria. She heard there was a chef there with excellent culinary skills, especially renowned for his Five-Spirit Chicken.
...
"One portion of Five-Spirit Chicken, one shredded pork with green peppers, and one water bamboo... That will be all, thank you."
In the sect cafeteria, a tall, slender young disciple with a handsome face and a perfectly polite smile took his tray of food.
However, before he could even turn around, a large hand slammed down onto his tray with a loud bang, pinning it against the counter.
"Xiao Li, eating such fine food now, have you really struck it rich? Hmm?"
A gruff, somewhat flippant voice sneered. The hand pressing down on the tray didn't move an inch, making it clear that the newcomer was looking for trouble.
Xiao Li glanced at the soup and food splattered across the back of his hand, a chilling glint flashing through his lowered eyes.
But he quickly concealed the coldness in his gaze, curving his lips into a faint smile as he turned to look at the man.
"Ah, if it isn't Brother Wei Bao. It's an honor to run into you in the cafeteria."
"Has Brother Wei taken a liking to this meal? There's no need to be angry. Just say the word, and I'll offer it up with both hands!"
"Heh... Who would want your pig slop?" Wei Bao sneered, leaning in close to Xiao Li and lowering his voice.
"I heard you've been getting quite close to Wu Yun'er lately. Xiao Li, Wu Yun'er is the woman I'm going to marry. Do you have a death wish?"
Wei Bao's tone was thick with heavy threats.
Wu Yun'er was the granddaughter of Elder Wu from the Beast Taming Garden, and she had indeed been seeking him out frequently as of late.
Hearing this, Xiao Li's expression remained unchanged. He reached up and gently pulled Wei Bao's hand off his shoulder, maintaining his placating smile.
"I'm afraid Brother Wei has misunderstood. Why don't we step outside to talk? It will give me a proper chance to explain everything to you."
Wei Bao cast a disdainful glance at Xiao Li, who still didn't dare fight back despite being bullied to his face. He scoffed and slapped Xiao Li hard on the back with a loud smack.
"Let's go, we'll talk outside!"
Xiao Li stumbled from the heavy blow, an icy chill sweeping through the depths of his eyes.
Yet, he quickly adjusted his expression, left his food behind, and submissively followed Wei Bao out with a smile.
In a corner of the cafeteria, Yuan Shu, who had been burying her face in her Five-Spirit Chicken rice bowl, took a bite and glanced up at Xiao Li's retreating back.
...
About the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Xiao Li returned. With indifferent, downcast eyes, he picked up his plate of food—which had been sitting there for quite a while and was growing cold—and sat down in a corner.
Yuan Shu's gaze paused for a moment on the hem of Xiao Li's robes.
There were a few inconspicuous specks of blood there.
Perhaps Yuan Shu's stare was too direct, as Xiao Li, who had sat down opposite her, sensed it. He looked up, and his eyes met hers.
Xiao Li's expression blanked for a second.
He recognized Yuan Shu!
She was the female cultivator who had won the betting match during the grand sect tournament, and she was now a guest elder of Medicine Cloud Peak!
Yuan Shu recognized him as well. The wretched little disciple who used to wear coarse cloth and always looked miserable now seemed to be doing quite well for himself.
Not to mention being able to afford fresh food from the cafeteria, even the material of his clothes and his overall aura had completely transformed!
It was as if he had been reborn!
Yuan Shu smiled at him.
Xiao Li's Adam's apple bobbed, and he lowered his gaze in a slight panic.
When Wei Bao came looking for trouble earlier, had Yuan Shu seen it?
Did she see him lead Wei Bao out of the cafeteria?
After hesitating again and again, Xiao Li picked up his food, stood up, and walked over to Yuan Shu.
Yuan Shu watched as Xiao Li sat down across from her and raised an eyebrow. "Is there something you need?"
Xiao Li explained, "Miss Yuan, I just wanted to thank you."
"That day, you helped me get back my wagered spirit stones and stood up for me. I should have visited you personally to express my gratitude, but I never had the chance."
"So now that we've run into each other, you want to thank me?" A faint smile played on Yuan Shu's lips. Having finished most of her meal, she set down her chopsticks.
She casually picked up the soup bowl next to her and took a couple of sips.
"Ahem, yes. I sincerely thank you," Xiao Li coughed lightly and said earnestly.
Yuan Shu remained noncommittal. She audibly gulped down a few mouthfuls of soup before speaking in a slow, leisurely tone.
"The body... did you dispose of it cleanly?"
The sudden question caught Xiao Li off guard. A flash of shock crossed his face. "What did you say?"
"I said, the body you just took out of the cafeteria, did you handle it properly? Murdering a fellow sect member will get you... purged."
Yuan Shu looked at him with a half-smile.
Xiao Li's expression shifted drastically, a dark, murderous aura surging from his body. But in just a split second, he regained his composure.
He stayed silent, his Adam's apple bobbing. Only after a long pause did he ask, "Is Miss Yuan going to report me?"
Yuan Shu chuckled softly. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, stood up, and walked over to Xiao Li. Pausing her steps, she took out a small bottle of black liquid and placed it on the table.
Bending down, she leaned close to his ear and spoke slowly, "Corpse-Dissolving Water. Just a little bit can melt a body into a puddle. I think you'll need this."
As she finished speaking, Yuan Shu raised her hand, her fair and tender fingertips lightly brushing past Xiao Li's cheek.
"Next time you make a move, clean yourself up a bit better. You got blood on your clothes."
With those words, Yuan Shu gave his shoulder a gentle pat, let out a soft chuckle, and walked out of the dining hall.
