The Divine Healer Valley was silent, and the noise of the disciples collecting herbs and grinding medicines had quieted considerably.
Nangong Zhu had specifically sent a message, asking them to remain quiet during these days and to guard the gates of the Divine Healer Valley well.
The Beast Realm had sent people to guard the area nearby, so there would be no outsiders entering the valley. Liu Lixue stepped off the mustard seed boat, his red clothes, adorned with peacock feathers, trailing on the snow but not catching a single flake.
He held a bamboo umbrella, his fingers as white as jade, the knuckles pale, while his other hand held a wooden box.
Liu Lixue arrived at the gates of the Divine Healer Valley. The barrier here did not set up any defense against him. He walked in as though entering a Beast Palace.
He made his way to the small courtyard where Ying Heng resided. Upon seeing the spiritual power protection barrier outside the courtyard, Liu Lixue realized that Nangong Zhu had not yet finished.
He stood outside the courtyard with his umbrella, waiting.
The fine snow had fallen throughout the night. The Beast Realm was quite cold at this time, but demon cultivators generally had higher body temperatures. The scattered snowflakes landed on the umbrella, some even drifting onto his face, yet Liu Lixue did not mind.
He quietly held the wooden box, waiting for Nangong Zhu, from the day until evening. After nightfall, the barrier surrounding the small courtyard disappeared.
Only then did Liu Lixue move, shaking the snow off his clothes and looking up.
There was a rustling sound from within the courtyard, and then the tightly closed wooden door was opened from the inside.
Nangong Zhu still wore that emotionless face, not sparing a glance for Liu Lixue, turning instead to walk into the courtyard.
Liu Lixue followed behind him.
Under the ancient tree in the courtyard, a stone table had been set up. Because the courtyard had been under a spiritual protection barrier, no snow had fallen inside.
Liu Lixue placed the wooden box on the table and glanced toward the house. The door was closed, and he could see nothing.
“How is the Immortal Lord?”
“Nothing.”
Nangong Zhu’s face was very pale. He hadn’t rested for several days, and his spiritual energy had been exhausted to the point that he could only sustain himself with pills. At this moment, he couldn’t even pour tea, his wrist weak, his hand trembling, spilling much of the tea.
Liu Lixue could not bear to watch. He stepped forward, took the tea from Nangong Zhu’s hand, and poured a cup for him.
Nangong Zhu did not thank him, but he obediently took the tea and sipped it lightly.
Liu Lixue sat down and continued, “I’ve brought the things you wanted. Is the Immortal Lord’s body still alright?”
Nangong Zhu looked up at him: “Why are you so concerned about him?”
Liu Lixue gave him a look: “What do you think? He is the teacher of our respected lord’s wife. If something happens to Immortal Lord Ying Heng, and the respected lord’s wife is upset, our respected lord will naturally not be happy.”
Nangong Zhu chuckled a few times, though it was unclear if it was mocking or sincere. He only said, “I originally planned to merge a section of spiritual root for him every ten days. But he insisted on merging as soon as possible. Now, after twenty-seven days, I have fully merged his two spiritual roots today. My own spiritual power is completely exhausted, and now I can’t even pour tea.”
Liu Lixue gave him another look and took the empty tea cup from his hand, pouring more tea: “If you want me to pour tea, just say so. Why beat around the bush and speak in riddles?”
Nangong Zhu did not speak, but took the tea he had poured without hesitation. He was parched, and if Liu Lixue hadn’t been there, he probably would have grabbed the teapot and started drinking.
“Ying Heng has fallen into a deep sleep. After the two spiritual roots are merged, his three senses should be able to recover. I’m not sure which three senses, but his spiritual power will recover significantly, though his memories might not all come back.”
Liu Lixue asked, “But he will remember some things, right?”
“Yes,” Nangong Zhu replied.
Liu Lixue asked, “If the Immortal Lord’s spiritual roots are fully restored, will all those memories come back?”
“Yes. His memory loss is mostly due to the loss of his spiritual roots. Some of it is because he has slept for so long that he became muddled and forgot. Once his spiritual roots are restored, the damage to his soul will be easier to heal, and you can help him with that.”
Liu Lixue nodded. His medical skills were quite proficient, though not as advanced as Nangong Zhu’s. However, restoring a soul was something he could manage.
Nangong Zhu drank several cups of tea, the dryness in his throat subsiding significantly. Only then did he have time to look at the wooden box on the table.
He asked, “Is this the vine that split off from the original one?”
Liu Lixue nodded. “Yes, this vine ate quite a few loose cultivators in Linglong Town. As you know, loose cultivators have many impurities in their bodies because of their cultivation methods, and their Four Sufferings are intense. This vine likes to consume those things.”
Liu Lixue had already explained to Nangong Zhu what the Four Sufferings were.
Nangong Zhu asked, “This vine won’t harm Sang Dai?”
“Correct.” Liu Lixue’s hand gently touched the wooden box, his voice deep as he continued, “Miss Sang placed a seal on it before she left and entrusted it to me for investigation. I haven’t been able to fully uncover what it is. In our Peacock clan, many are skilled in medical cultivation. I’ve checked all the medical books passed down over the years, but none of the plants resemble it.”
Nangong Zhu asked, “Can I open it?”
“Yes.”
Nangong Zhu slowly opened the wooden box. When he saw the vine lying inside, his expression darkened instantly.
Liu Lixue noticed the change in his demeanor—he seemed both shocked and as if he had expected this.
“Do you recognize this?”
Nangong Zhu spoke coldly, “Before my mother died, she left behind a note.”
“A note?” Liu Lixue asked.
Nangong Zhu’s expression grew grim, and a coldness appeared in his eyes. He stood up and waved his sleeve as he walked out.
“Wait for me here.”
Not long later, he returned from outside the courtyard, carrying a small wooden box that appeared to be a jewelry box for earrings.
“This is…”
Nangong Zhu opened the box. “This is my mother’s jewelry box. When they found their bodies, my father was dead in the yard, and my mother died inside the house, holding this box. Inside the box was this note.”
The note was very small, rolled into a bundle. Nangong Zhu took it out and unfolded it. There were faint traces of blood and fingerprints visible on it.
He placed the note on the table, setting it beside the wooden box that contained the vines.
On the box, there were rough strokes that formed a picture.
As a healer who needed to identify many spiritual herbs, Liu Lixue’s painting skills were also quite impressive. He was able to quickly sketch the image in just a few moments.
Although the drawing was vague and smudged by bloodstains, it was still clear enough to discern the subject.
Liu Lixue picked up the vine from the box, which had been dormant due to the protective seal.
The root was deep green, with faint golden patterns spiraling around it. The vine bore seven flowers, their petals a vibrant red with serrated edges.
This was clearly the vine from the drawing.
Liu Lixue set the vine down and understood why Nangong Zhu had reacted so strongly.
“Your mother drew this before she died, which means they must have encountered this vine before their deaths. But if this vine truly is the murderer of your parents… why would it leave the bodies intact?”
Liu Lixue paused, his expression growing somber. “You might not know, but when we were at Linglong Town, this vine killed many rogue cultivators, yet it left nothing behind—no bones, not even fragments.”
Nangong Zhu lowered his gaze and coldly stared at the vine in the box, his jaw tightening. His previously handsome features now had an added sharpness.
“I don’t know, but it is somehow involved.”
Liu Lixue sighed and returned the note to the box, his expression neutral as he glanced at the closed door. “Some things… perhaps Lord Ying Heng will provide an answer when he wakes.”
Nangong Zhu sat beside him, his eyes fixed on the door, his posture indicating he was ready to wait for Ying Heng’s awakening.
Liu Lixue understood.
What he was truly waiting for was an answer.
—
The fierce Hellfire within the cave no longer scorched, and Su Xuan, even without taking the Purple Yin Pill, could still control the Hellfire.
Sang Dai lay on the main couch, holding the little fox’s tail in her arms. She almost wanted to snap off its tail, feeling that this person was always so uncontrollable.
She had just woken up not long ago and already felt weak. The little fox had woken up earlier than her, but Sang Dai didn’t even have the strength to speak or refuse. In her blurry vision, there was only the flickering Hellfire.
Su Xuan noticed she had woken up, propped himself up, and leaned close to her. His sword cultivator’s gaze was scattered, unfocused. Even though he was in front of her, it felt as if he wasn’t there at all.
So obedient, so cute, Su Xuan smiled and kissed her several more times. His lips were a little glistening, and Sang Dai immediately knew what Su Xuan had done. He liked to use this way to make her accept things she couldn’t bear but also couldn’t refuse.
Sang Dai had seen this scene too many times before. She used to cry out of embarrassment, but now she just turned her head away, no longer facing him. Since he didn’t mind, she had nothing more to say.
“Good girl, you’re awake,” the little fox kissed her red ears. “Our Dai Dai is so cute, I can’t help it.”
Sang Dai muttered, “It’s already the 30th day. You’re clearly fine, you’re just doing this on purpose, shameless.”
Su Xuan nibbled on her a few times, grinning, “I like Dai Dai, being close to her feels so refreshing. I need to conserve my strength to cross the tribulation, the clouds outside the Zhenhua are already here.”
Their meridians had been boiling for quite a while now, and the tribulation was subtly approaching. Thick clouds had already gathered above the Beast Palace, waiting for the two of them to break through the barriers before striking.
It was a decree to kill Sang Dai, and also to kill Su Xuan.
“Dai Dai, I’ll continue,” Su Xuan propped himself up, intertwining their fingers. His voice lowered, coaxing her, “Stay with me, don’t close your eyes.”
Sang Dai didn’t close her eyes or speak, knowing he wouldn’t let her go so easily. Sure enough, the little fox started doing his own business.
She couldn’t help but speak, “Su Xuan, wait.”
“Dai Dai, don’t be afraid,” he generally wasn’t too rough at the beginning, knowing that Sang Dai needed time to adjust. Until the sword cultivator actively climbed onto his neck and embraced him, Su Xuan knew this was the right moment, and the sword cultivator quickly became dizzy.
Su Xuan kissed her while using the marriage contract to draw the power of the Guixu spirit energy within her sea of consciousness.
This was also something they discovered after practicing. There was a marriage contract within their sea of consciousness, binding their souls together. Su Xuan could use the marriage contract to draw upon the Guixu spirit energy within Sang Dai’s sea of consciousness.
Previously, Su Xuan had often been out of his mind during his mating cycle, so most of the time, Sang Dai had to forcefully maintain her consciousness to control the spiritual energy.
Now that his mating cycle was almost over, he no longer lost his senses, and Sang Dai could finally relax and allow him to control the Guixu spiritual energy to help them cultivate together.
They were both on the brink of crossing their tribulation, and perhaps tomorrow would be the day of the tribulation.
On the 30th day, Su Xuan finally held the sword cultivator’s body tightly, finishing the act. Sang Dai closed her eyes, her forehead covered with sweat, looking extremely tired.
Su Xuan rested for a while, brushing aside her sweaty temple hair, holding her wrist with his spiritual energy to test Sang Dai’s meridians. He sensed her deep spiritual power.
It was a sign that the tribulation was approaching.
“Dai Dai,” Su Xuan whispered, “Let’s bathe. The tribulation is soon upon us.”
“…Mm.”
Su Xuan carried the sword cultivator to the hot spring. After bathing, he took out a Qiankun bag and retrieved a new outfit, a beautiful blue dress that he had prepared earlier.
The little fox helped her put on the clothes. Sang Dai sat on a stone by the hot spring while Su Xuan stood behind her, arranging her hair. His hands, with their distinct knuckles, worked through her hair and fashioned an exquisite hairstyle.
He also pinned a nine-cord hairpin into her hair and hung a silver feather at her waist, turning her into a beautiful sword cultivator.
Sang Dai touched the nine-ring hairpin on her head, making sure it was secure and wouldn’t fall off midway. Still, she wasn’t completely at ease, so she softly asked, “The thunder tribulation won’t break this, will it?”
After all, it was a tribulation thunder, and its power was far beyond that of the Ascendant stage. She was always worried it might destroy the hairpin.
Su Xuan pinched her face and smiled softly, “No, Dai Dai, don’t worry. It absolutely won’t break.”
His words always had a convincing effect. After hearing Su Xuan’s reassurance, Sang Dai finally relaxed.
After helping the sword cultivator get ready, Su Xuan also changed into new clothes, a set of expensive, exquisite black robes.