In the back mountain of the Luoxian Sect, beneath a blooming crabapple tree.
A gentle breeze blew faintly from the valley, rustling the crabapple blossoms overhead.
Leng Shuxue had changed into a clean, crescent-white long robe, sitting in his wheelchair with a cold, noble elegance.
By his hand was a cup of lukewarm tea.
She had said she would come today.
It was already noon, yet he still had not seen her figure.
Leng Shuxue pressed his lips together slightly, his gaze involuntarily turning toward the entrance of the valley once more.
Amidst the verdant mountain forest, it was so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.
There was no one.
Yuan Shu still had not arrived.
Perhaps it was still early?
After all, noon had just passed not long ago.
Or perhaps she was busy with her cultivation and had forgotten.
She wasn't anyone special to him; why would she drop everything just for his sake?
Leng Shuxue lowered his eyes, the frost on his aloof, otherworldly face seeming to deepen.
He picked up the tea by his hand, drank it in one gulp, took a deep breath, and was just about to turn his wheelchair back to his cave dwelling when a soft, delicate call came from behind him.
"Fourth Martial Brother!"
Leng Shuxue's hand on the wheelchair armrest paused slightly before he turned the wheelchair back around.
He saw Yuan Shu walking up the small bluestone path.
Her delicate, oval face bore a bright and radiant smile, making her long, beautiful phoenix eyes look even more enchanting.
"Seventh Martial Sister," Leng Shuxue's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. His expression remained as usual, his tone calm.
Only his hand gripping the wheelchair armrest was slightly pale from exertion.
Yuan Shu did not notice these details.
Because Leng Shuxue was a man whose hands were as white as his face, as white as snow—so extremely pale that the blue veins on the back of his hands were faintly visible.
Whether his fingertips were pale or not, Yuan Shu couldn't tell.
She only knew that Leng Shuxue was not repulsed by her right now, which meant that the acupuncture and massage she gave him yesterday had been effective.
Last night, he must have experienced it and acknowledged it!
Yuan Shu's lips curled into a smile. This way, it would be much easier to negotiate terms.
"Did Martial Brother sleep well last night?"
Yuan Shu spoke with a cheerful smile, sitting down familiarly at the stone table beside him and reaching out to pull up his pant leg.
Leng Shuxue's expression stiffened slightly, and he reflexively pushed his wheelchair back a little.
Yuan Shu glanced at her evaded hand and raised an eyebrow. "Is Martial Brother... hiding his illness for fear of treatment?"
As she spoke, Yuan Shu was about to withdraw her hand, but Leng Shuxue drove his wheelchair forward again, moving his leg into Yuan Shu's palm.
"I'm sorry, Seventh Martial Sister. I just wasn't used to it a moment ago. I'm not... not hiding my illness."
Leng Shuxue's aloof expression showed a hint of embarrassment.
It was his subconscious physical reaction.
He was not very accustomed to such intimate contact with others, especially when the other person was a woman.
Yesterday... it was because he had been drugged and had no strength to resist.
Yuan Shu smiled faintly. "It's fine. I don't mind."
Saying so, she leaned over and gently rolled up Leng Shuxue's pant leg, her warm fingertips lightly stroking his calf.
As the warm touch transmitted from her palm, Leng Shuxue's cold eyes trembled. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his entire body tensed uncontrollably.
However, the leg in Yuan Shu's hands ultimately did not pull away again.
He really, really wanted to stand up again!
He truly wanted to cure this demonic poison and cultivate properly!
Yuan Shu examined him carefully, and after a moment, she put his leg down.
"Martial Brother's condition must have improved quite a bit last night, right?"
Leng Shuxue hadn't answered this question when she asked it earlier.
Hearing it again now, he hurriedly nodded. "Yes, it didn't hurt as much as before. The pain only lasted for about a quarter of an hour."
"Last night was the only full moon night in all these years where my legs didn't ache."
He spoke very earnestly.
Because of this, he was willing to let Yuan Shu touch his legs today while fully conscious.
What if Yuan Shu really could heal his legs? What if he actually had hope of standing up again?
Just what if?
Leng Shuxue's hands clenched tight again. "Seventh Martial Sister, is there really hope for my legs to be cured?"
"Naturally!" Yuan Shu nodded, replying with absolute certainty.
"Are you serious?" Leng Shuxue's eyes widened slightly, his face showing disbelief and shock.
Over the years, both he and his master had sought out many physicians, but none had dared to guarantee that he would be able to stand again.
Those people couldn't even reduce his pain!
Most of the pain-relieving pills were just psychological comfort; they didn't do much.
This was the very first time someone had told him so firmly that his legs could be cured!
How could he not be shocked?
Even if the person before him was just a martial sister rumored to be arrogant and domineering!
"Fourth Martial Brother, yesterday I gave you an antidote, massaged you, and applied acupuncture, which resulted in last night's effects. Why would I lie to you?"
"I just checked your legs. Within half a month, they will definitely be fully healed!"
Half a month?
Leng Shuxue's eyes widened, and for the first time, shock appeared on his usually cold and unearthly face.
Yuan Shu had even stated an exact timeframe.
She was truly confident!
She could make him recover in half a month?
Leng Shuxue's emotions surged, and an eager look appeared on his face, mixed with a hint of apprehension.
He forced himself to calm down, took a few deep breaths, and promised in a deep voice.
"Seventh Martial Sister, if... if you can help me stand up, whenever you need anything in the future, I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation!"
Yuan Shu's eyes curved into a smile.
She had to admit, this Fourth Martial Brother was quite straightforward to deal with. What she wanted was exactly this simple sentence.
However...
"There's no need for the future, Fourth Martial Brother. I don't want much, and you can give it to me right now."
"What is it?" Leng Shuxue looked up in surprise.
Suddenly, as if realizing something, he hurriedly took out his spatial pouch, opened it, and placed it on the table.
"Seventh Martial Sister, if you are after magical artifacts and spiritual treasures, take a look. These are all things I've accumulated over the years. You can take whatever you like!"
"Or, you can take them all, as long as you can make me stand again!"
Nothing was more important than him being able to stand up again!
If the demonic poison was cured, with his talent, he would soon break through the Foundation Establishment stage and become a Golden Core cultivator, or even higher!
Wealth and magical treasures were mere worldly possessions; if they were gone, he could earn them back.
Almost instantly, Leng Shuxue made his choice.
His usually calm and unruffled eyes were now filled with expectation toward Yuan Shu.
He hoped that Yuan Shu would fancy his reward and heal his legs.
Yuan Shu casually glanced at the exquisite silver spatial pouch. Her smile did not fade, but she slowly shook her head. "I don't want these."
"Then what do you want? As long as I have it, it's yours! Or even if I don't have it, just say the word, and I can get it!"
"Even if I don't have it now, I can search for it for you!"
Yuan Shu tilted her head, her lips curving slowly. Watching the handsome man get anxious, her eyes curved into a brilliant arc.
Suddenly, she leaned close to Leng Shuxue, her voice soft and delicate. "Fourth Martial Brother, I can help you cure the poison and successfully stand up, and I don't want any of those things of yours."
"However, I have one condition."
"That is... give me a kiss."
