Ming Qi immediately wanted to run away; just because he could deal with that formidable lady didn’t mean he wanted to face Lu Chengsha!
However, he took a deep breath and then let it out slowly.
The feeling of being tightly stared at by Lu Chengsha made the back of his neck feel cold. Ming Qi shifted his legs a few times but didn’t have the courage to run!
Today was already quite deserted, and with Lu Chengsha’s arrival, no one else dared to come in. His fellow disciples around him gave him looks of “good luck” and then very unceremoniously left him behind.
Ming Qi could only brace himself, pretending to record something, his voice trembling as he said, “Y-You… where… where exactly can you not control yourself…”
Lu Chengsha gave a simple description, making Ming Qi’s eyelids twitch and the corners of his mouth spasm.
This… is really awkward!
If it were someone else, he would think the person was joking with him. But seeing the serious and confused expression on Lu Chengsha’s face, Ming Qi couldn’t help but believe him—he was genuinely asking.
The problem was, he had never even had a girl he fancied; why should he be the one to solve this kind of problem here!
However, Lu Chengsha didn’t care about his feelings. Seeing that he didn’t answer for a long time, Lu Chengsha’s intensely pressuring gaze became even more oppressive. Ming Qi was sweating profusely and had to clear his throat, saying, “It’s normal for men to have such reactions. It’s not an illness…” He carefully watched Lu Chengsha’s expression while choosing his words, “Young Hero Lu, do you want to… solve this problem? Then just stay away from that… uh, girl.”
Unexpectedly, Lu Chengsha said, “I tried.”
Ming Qi couldn’t help but ask, “And then? What was the result?”
Lu Chengsha said, “It didn’t work.”
Ming Qi said, “Hmm? What part didn’t work?”
Lu Chengsha said, “The physical reaction improved a bit, but my mind was still unsettled… and I don’t want to stay far away.”
His expression didn’t change, his eyes slightly lowered, showing a subtle emotion.
No, don’t do this…
Ming Qi’s heart felt like three thousand ducks were screaming inside. He didn’t want to hear Lu Chengsha talk about his budding romantic feelings here! It was really weird! Really strange! Really scary!
You weren’t like this before!
Lu Chengsha used to be strong and fierce, carrying a long sword, ruthless and arrogant, always ready to kill when encountering the Demon Sect, exuding a murderous aura. Even though they were both disciples of the righteous path, just mentioning Lu Chengsha made them uneasy. Among his fellow disciples, they all privately felt that Lu Chengsha was like the strongest weapon developed by Tingjian Manor, devoid of any humanity, distant and unfamiliar… Why would a weapon fall in love!
That strange sense of dissonance deeply enveloped Ming Qi at that moment.
Ming Qi slowly and deliberately said, “So, what exactly… do you want?”
Lu Chengsha looked at him and said, “I don’t know.”
Seriously, how could he say “I don’t know” so confidently!
Was he relying on him now?
Ming Qi thought, fine, one person clueless, and now both are clueless. Coming to find a single guy like him, what use is that! And that girl at least seemed somewhat perceptive, but this guy…
He sighed and said, “Alright, Young Hero Lu, wait here for a moment, I’ll go get something…”
Lu Chengsha stared at him intently and said, “Okay.”
Ming Qi immediately ran off. He really wanted to just run away completely, but Lu Chengsha was standing at the entrance of their valley’s consultation room like a guardian deity. If he just left him there, that clearly wouldn’t work either!
He turned his steps and entered the next room, closed his eyes and mustered up his courage, calling out, “Senior Sister, help me!”
Before long, Ming Qi returned with two small booklets. He fidgeted, feeling a bit guilty, and wrapped them in an outer cover, then handed them to Lu Chengsha. “Take these two books back and read them. How about that?”
Lu Chengsha, puzzled, asked, “Reading them will cure it?”
Ming Qi said, “If you can understand them, it will surely help!”
Lu Chengsha seemed somewhat skeptical, but he still left.
Ming Qi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
***
Not long after entering the valley, Lu Chengsha left alone, no one knew what he went to do.
At this moment, Hua Yan also wanted to avoid him. Although she couldn’t fully trust what Yu Ye had said, if there was even a slight chance that Xie Yingxian was really in Cixin Valley, she wanted to search for him.
Dangshan Sect had already divided the disciples into several groups to search.
Disciples from other sects, however, were like headless flies, searching everywhere. Hua Yan mingled among them, and without Lu Chengsha by her side, she didn’t draw much attention.
As the steward of Cixin Valley had said, the valley was indeed very large, almost like a mountain city. Due to the suitable climate, various flowers and medicinal herbs were planted everywhere.
Hua Yan casually recognized a few rare flowers and plants, and there were even more uncommon medicinal herbs.
These were just the ones casually planted by the roadside. Hua Yan had heard that there was a large medicinal field at the back of Cixin Valley, tended by herbal farmers, and every year they purchased a large number of precious medicinal herbs.
This made Hua Yan extremely envious.
Their Zhengyi Sect was situated in a remote location where they could only grow cacti and other hardy plants, relying heavily on purchasing herbs, which was inconvenient to transport. Moreover, since the main base of Yufeng Hall was not within the Demon Sect territory, Yu Ye often had to go there to handle affairs. Consequently, the medicinal herbs available in the sect were already limited, with even fewer available for indulgence.
She was envious!
Additionally, the climate in Cixin Valley was warm, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers. There were also sweet springs and snacks readily available by the roadside.
Hua Yan took a piece of pastry and put it in her mouth, immediately tasting a burst of sweetness and fragrance. Her mouth was filled with a rich, floral aroma, as if she were surrounded by blooming seasonal flowers. She couldn’t help but mumble, “Delicious!”
A senior sister from Cixin Valley standing nearby smiled and said, “Delicious, right? These are freshly made flower pastries from yesterday, made with freshly picked petals. If you like them, take a few more.”
Hua Yan didn’t hesitate to pack a few more pieces, thinking she could let Great Hero Lu taste them later.
Happily packing away the flower pastries, Hua Yan continued her stroll.
Although Cixin Valley was large, the disciples moved about in an orderly manner, each seemingly knowing their tasks.
The outermost layer consisted of about ten rooms for treating patients. Today there weren’t many people, but Hua Yan had heard that during seasons with many injuries and illnesses, the valley entrance could be crowded with people seeking medical help.
The seemingly endless courtyards behind were for patients who came from afar or those with severe injuries. Many disciples from other sects were searching for people there as well. With so many unfamiliar faces, it was difficult to check identities, so they had to look at everyone to avoid missing anyone.
Further in were the residences of the valley’s doctors and disciples, along with various facilities such as dining rooms and bathhouses.
Because the valley master, Nian Yi, loved cleanliness, doctors and disciples were required to bathe at least every two days, and the pools even had hot spring water… Hearing this made Hua Yan even more envious. The other day on the mountaintop of Tingjian Manor, she hadn’t had the chance to soak properly because Lu Chengsha had left.
In short, after wandering around for half a day, although she hadn’t found Xie Yingxian, Hua Yan felt she really wanted to stay there.
So, Hua Yan found a gentle-looking senior sister from Cixin Valley to chat and inquire.
The senior sister smiled and said, “We recruit people every year, but because so many apply, the recruitment has become quite strict in recent years. At the very least, applicants need to know some basic medical skills and recognize herbs… and pass the valley’s examination.”
Hua Yan’s eyes lit up, “An exam on medical skills?”
She could do that!
The senior sister nodded and added, “Besides medical skills, there’s one other important aspect.”
Hua Yan asked, “What is it?”
The senior sister said, “It’s about character. We study medicine to do good and save lives. Before officially joining the valley, we investigate their background to see if they’ve committed any wrongdoings, such as recklessly treating people with limited medical skills or using poison to harm others.”
Hua Yan: “…”
Oh no, she couldn’t qualify!
The senior sister continued with a smile, “I joined the valley when I was five or six. My parents already had two daughters and sold me to Cixin Valley. At that time, the valley was not as crowded as it is now, and the medical skills were taught personally by the valley master. He told us that a healer must first have a compassionate heart. One must first heal their own heart before healing others. The name ‘Cixin Valley’ was chosen to remind the doctors to have compassion. The valley master is truly a good person.” As she spoke, a look of admiration appeared in her eyes.
Hua Yan immediately became curious, “Who is your valley master’s wife?”
The senior sister was taken aback for a moment and then said, “The valley master is still single. It is said that he once had a wife, but she passed away long ago, and no one has ever seen her.”
Although unexpected, it made sense.
Hua Yan recalled the valley master she had met earlier. Although he was gentle and peaceful, there was an aura of loneliness about him.
He reminded her a bit of Lu Chengsha when she first met him.
Hua Yan thought for a moment and said, “I think you and your valley master are quite compatible.”
The senior sister quickly covered Hua Yan’s mouth, blushing, “Don’t say such things. How could I be worthy of the valley master? Besides, if Auntie Xi hears this, she might get angry.”
Huh?
“Who is Auntie Xi?”
Hua Yan soon found out.
She hadn’t finished exploring when she heard a loud voice from a woman outside a courtyard: “Are you done yet? I’ve told you, there’s no Demon Sect leader here! You’ve come down in three waves, searched three times, and still want to look again? Do you want to ruin our lives here at Cixin Valley? Is Xue Tingshan out of his mind letting you in?”
The woman stood with her hands on her hips, exuding an imposing aura as she pointed at the disciples from other sects who were just about to enter.
She appeared to be in her thirties, with a clean and neat appearance. Although she wore the white robes of Cixin Valley, she had none of the gentle demeanor expected; her face practically screamed, “I’m not happy.”
The disciples who were scolded showed embarrassed expressions and said, “We’re just doing this for the sake of the righteous path…”
“I don’t care about your righteous path! Get out!”
“But…”
The woman glared and retorted, “Are you leaving or not?”
Just as the argument was reaching a peak, a person in white robes walked out from the courtyard. His tone was calm and unhurried, yet the moment he spoke, the surrounding noise fell silent: “Xi Wu, don’t argue. Let them search.”
The woman had to comply, though she looked as if she was ready to explode but restrained herself.
Hua Yan realized that this was Nian Yi’s residence. The courtyard looked almost identical to those of the other disciples, with no indication that the master of Cixin Valley lived there.
As the disciples filed in, Xi Wu coldly said, “Are you tired of living and want to die sooner? Get inside now!”
Nian Yi stood at the gate with his hands hanging down, saying, “It’s fine.”
His voice was soft, and he seemed so light that a gust of wind could blow him away.
Xi Wu was choked by his words and, filled with anger, said, “Do you think I want to manage you? It’s just that you can’t die yet! Go inside and stay put! We shouldn’t have listened to Xue Tingshan and let them in to search.”
Nian Yi replied, “I know.” But soon after, he started coughing uncontrollably, covering his mouth with his hand, and blood seeped through his fingers.
Hua Yan was stunned, realizing that the master of Cixin Valley was indeed critically ill.
Xi Wu stopped arguing with him and quickly went over, taking out a medicine bottle from her pocket and feeding him a pill.
Seeing that he had stopped coughing and had recovered a bit, Xi Wu said with a complex expression, “If this continues, you’re really going to die soon. What will we do then?”
Nian Yi took out a handkerchief, his face still pale, and wiped the blood from his lips and fingers before saying, “I’ve survived this long; I won’t die that easily.”
Hua Yan, who had been watching the scene intently, was caught off guard when Xi Wu suddenly turned to her and said, “Have you seen enough? If you want to search, go in and search. If not, get out.”
Hua Yan: “?”
How did she end up getting scolded just for watching from the roadside!
This person was so fierce, and to think she had briefly thought these two looked quite compatible!
“He’s so gravely ill, and it’s not my fault! Why are you so fierce?” Hua Yan snapped, “Fine, we’ll search!”
Upon entering, she felt even more convinced that this couldn’t be the valley master’s residence. It was extremely simple, with nothing but various medicinal herbs, manuscripts on the desk, and an incense burner on a small table. Hua Yan even lifted the palm-sized incense burner to sniff it, but found nothing unusual.
The disciples inside tapped on the floor tiles and pressed the walls, trying to find hidden passages, but to no avail.
As Hua Yan followed them out, she overheard their conversation.
“Was that really where their valley master lives? It’s too extreme.”
“I agree. If he lived like that decades ago when the valley was just founded, it would make sense. But now, Cixin Valley certainly isn’t short on money. Why doesn’t he upgrade his living conditions, and why doesn’t he have anyone to serve him?”
“Maybe he’s trying to set an example of thriftiness?”
“But I searched the steward’s room, that Xue guy. He had a Baobao Liuli vase, a Bai Niao Chaofeng screen, and Qingxiu curtains. Tsk tsk…”
Hua Yan’s curiosity took a different direction. She poked her head in and asked, “This big Cixin Valley has only been around for a few decades?”
One disciple’s eyes lit up upon seeing her and he eagerly replied, “Yes, Cixin Valley was established by Nian Yi himself. It’s not like the Five Great Sects with centuries of heritage. Anything else you want to know, little sister?”
Hua Yan was quite surprised. “So there weren’t any large medical valleys like this before?”
The disciples exchanged looks and thought for a moment before one said, “Not really, though there were always some medical families… but their small scale made it hard for them to survive… like the Yin family back then…”
Hua Yan pressed further, “Hmm?”
“Well, they might have offended the Demon Sect at some point. The whole family was poisoned to death by the Demon Sect, in a very gruesome way.”
“Yes, the poison that wiped out the Yin family could only have come from the Demon Sect. My uncle once sought medical help there, but ended up helping with their funeral…”
???
Alright, once again they were blamed.
Hua Yan had never heard her mother mention this incident, and it seemed odd. Why would the Zhengyi Sect go through the trouble of poisoning a group of defenseless doctors? Why not just attack them directly?
Though their sect had a notorious reputation, they should at least clear up misunderstandings when they weren’t responsible!
Hua Yan felt helpless.
But then, she remembered something else she was curious about. “Do you know who the valley master’s deceased wife was?”
“Their valley master was married?”
This question left the disciples puzzled.
“Not sure… never heard of it.”
Nobody around seemed to know, not even rumors.
“Little sister, if you want to know, I can ask around for you later…”
“Ah, it’s getting dark. We should hurry and continue searching for the Demon Sect leader. Little sister, which sect are you from? Want to join us?”
“No need,” Hua Yan thought for a moment and said, “Just temporarily consider me from Tingjian Manor.”
The disciple beside her couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re funny, little sister. You’re not wearing the black sword robes of Tingjian Manor, and your sword doesn’t have their tassel. How could that count? If you don’t want to say, we won’t force you.”
Hua Yan froze, then fumbled in her pocket and pulled out a blue hair tie that Lu Chengsha had given her and hadn’t taken back. “Uh, does this count?”
The other disciples were taken aback upon seeing the blue hair tie, then one said, “Little sister, where did you buy this hair tie? It looks so real.”
Hua Yan: “…”
It’s real!
Why doesn’t anyone believe her?
Before she could respond, the disciples’ eyes suddenly widened, and they instinctively stepped back a few paces.
“Uh… sorry.”
“Apologies…”
Hua Yan: “?”
Someone tapped her shoulder from behind, “Let’s go.”
Hua Yan turned around to see Lu Chengsha standing beside her, the sunset casting a warm orange glow on his face. He seemed different, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint how.
A thought popped into her mind again with a “bang”.
—He likes me.
It felt as if something had filled her heart. Hua Yan smiled, forgetting all about the disciples behind her. She pulled out the flower pastries she had stored and handed them to Lu Chengsha.
“Try these.”
As they walked back, Hua Yan noticed Lu Chengsha was holding a book.
At first, she thought it was a martial arts manual, but it was densely packed with text, and Lu Chengsha was reading it very slowly, as if studying each word.
She couldn’t help but be curious. “What are you reading?” She thought for a moment, getting excited. “Could it be the ‘Hero’s Chronicle’ I gave you?”
Lu Chengsha paused and said, “No…”
“Hmm?” Hua Yan immediately leaned over and saw a line.
—”The woman laughed coquettishly and was about to throw herself into the man’s arms, causing his cheeks to flush, unable to look directly at her.”
Hua Yan: ??? What on earth is Great Hero Lu reading?!
Without another word, she snatched the book from Lu Chengsha’s hands and flipped through it, finding it increasingly inappropriate. She tore off the outer cover and saw the title “The Romantic Adventures of Lady Yan and Handsome Gentleman.”
???
Lu Chengsha definitely wouldn’t choose to read this on his own. Who on earth gave it to him?