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“Qingcheng, how are you feeling?”
The cramped room was now crowded with Shui Ruohua and others all looking worriedly at Chu Qingcheng, sitting cross-legged on the bed.
The floating light green traces from her body made her body tremble and her face contort in pain.
Xuan Shaoyu gnashed his teeth as he cursed, “Those repulsive demonic cultivators even resorted to sneak attacks, and heavy-handedly too!”
“We don’t even know if sister Qingcheng will be alright. She took so many pills and antidotes, but none of them worked.” Dan’er shouted in anger.
Everyone gave a nod of worry.
Only Elder Yun waved his hand, his voice calm. “It’s fine. You guys don’t need to make such a fuss. I inspected Qingcheng and found her life wasn’t in danger. This is Double Dragon Manor. How can anyone just resort to murder? Just that these days, Qingcheng will be in suffering and pain.”
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“Humph, damn those demonic cultivators, making junior sister Qingcheng suffer so much. I will never forget this!” Xuan Shaoyu gnashed his teeth.
The rest were just as angry.
“Young master, elder, Xie Tianshang of Sword God Sect has paid a visit!” A shout came from outside the house.
“The first middle three sects?” The two looked at each other, then wondered, “What is someone from the first middle three sects doing here?”
While they were wondering, the pained Chu Qingcheng opened her eyes. She had a faint smile as she said, “Show him in. He is an old friend from Tianyu. He must want to see me.”
[Another old friend?]
Xuan Shaoyu’s mood darkened.
[Not another shady pursuer, is it?]
He said, “Junior sister Qingcheng can’t receive guests in her state. It’s better if you don’t see him.”
“Wait, young master!”
Elder Yun spoke first, advising, “A simple old acquaintance of Qingcheng could be sent off, but he has the Sword God Sect behind him. We can’t ignore them. It’s best to receive him still.”
Xuan Shaoyu was annoyed by Elder Yun’s idea but could only nod, even as his mind was frantic.
Xie Tianshang brought Yun Shuang and Yongning along. After greeting Elder Yun, he noticed Chu Qingcheng sweating and pale.
He cupped his hands, “Edifice Lord Chu, it’s been a long time. Have you been well?”
“Enough of your crap. Can’t you see she isn’t well at all?” Dan’er rolled her eyes as she grumbled.
The others fell silent.
[He only said that in passing, yet you got annoyed so fast.]
Chu Qingcheng patted her shoulder.
Xie Tianshang chuckled and bowed again, “Forgive me for my crudeness. Edifice Lord Chu, I have witnessed how you got poisoned, and I have brought a secret antidote from my sect that should alleviate the pain.”
Xie Tianyang presented the vial.
Chu Qingcheng’s eyes lit up and she nodded, “Thank you for your kindness, young master Xie.”
“Please, we have the same homeland. There’s no need for that.” Xie Tianshang smiled and handed it over.
Shui Ruohua gave it to Chu Qingcheng, who was still trembling in pain. “Young master Xie, Qingcheng had taken many pills, but none helped. Could it be that this…”
“It will work!” Xie Tianshang smiled with conviction.
Chu Qingcheng smiled as well, “I believe so as well.”
She opened the vial and took the pill.
She remained cross-legged, meditating quietly. The others were still looking at her nervously, but after fifteen minutes, something magical happened. Chu Qingcheng’s trembling stopped. Her face became rosy, and the green energy around her slowly faded away.
“Young master Xie, your pill is amazing. It actually worked.” Dan’er’s eyes lit up.
Xie Tianshang simply smiled in reply, while Xuan Shaoyu and Elder Yun were amazed by the middle three sect’s power.
[I don’t know what that poison was, but it was removed so easily. Is this a universal antidote, I wonder?]
Chu Qingcheng revealed the answer soon enough.
She opened her eyes and smiled, “Ha-ha-ha, he’s still the same, never wanting to take credit for anything.”
“You knew?”
“Of course, such a specialized antidote can only come from the poisoner himself.” Chu Qingcheng was filled with happiness.
Shui Ruohua asked curiously, “Qingcheng, you said the antidote belongs to the poisoner. Does that mean it’s Demon Scheming Sect’s Lu Xie…”
“Yes, it’s his. Though I bet he wasn’t so keen on giving it.” Xie Tianshang spoke like she knew everything.
Xie Tianshang smiled and nodded, “Edifice Lord Chu, it’s like you’re him to know him so well. Just as I went to see him, he was beating up the guy to force him to give the antidote. But you know his style. He would never admit to doing such a kind act.”
“He’s just as stubborn as always behind that cold face. I’ve seen him do it too many times in the Esoteric Debate…” Chu Qingcheng’s gaze wondered, recalling the fond memories.
The girls were even more puzzled. Dan’er asked, “Senior sister, you can’t mean that Zhuo Fan gave you the antidote, can you? He had even been scolding you on stage to be crueler and forget the past.”
“And? He only did it because he pitied me, not wanting me to be in danger again. In fact, I was quite happy to hear him say that. As for his coldness, ha-ha-ha, he’s always been like this.” Chu Qingcheng did not mind it in the least.
The girls were speechless.
[What is it between these two exactly? It just feels more complicated by the day.]
Xuan Shaoyu was very hateful right then. The antidote came from him again. He would’ve surely stopped it if he knew. He could never allow the two to contact each other, even if it meant offending Sword God Sect.
Xie Tianshang nodded and sighed, “Edifice Lord Chu, you have changed over the years. You used to be so forceful and tough. Sometimes you’d be so scared by that arrogant and almighty Zhuo Fan you’d never see him.”
“Really?” Dan’er looked intrigued at Chu Qingcheng, but she flicked the girl’s nose, gave her a deep look, and the girl shied back.
Chu Qingcheng sighed, “I used to want an explanation from him at all cost, but after I saw how far he went for Ning’er, I knew. This man has his own path, and I should let him take it…”
“Ning’er?”
Chu Qingcheng was roused by the voice and looked at Yongning, “You know Ning’er? Then you aren’t Sword God Sect disciples either.”
Xie Tianshang smiled, “Let me introduce you. She is Tianyu’s princess, Yongning, and this is Tianyu’s Holy Maiden, Yun Shuang. They are both Edifice Lord Chu’s main rivals. You should be careful.”
Yongning and Shuang’er were put on the spot. Chu Qingcheng simply smiled at Xie Tianshang, “Who’d have thought the great martial fanatic of yesteryear would crack jokes?”
Then she looked deeply at Yun Shuang, “You’re Shuang’er? Peony Overseer said in her messages that Zhuo Fan declared in front of everyone that he wanted you. I must say, with your pure look, you sure bear a striking resemblance to Ning’er.”
“No, no, no, please don’t say that.” Shuang’er panicked, her face going beet red. Then she said quietly, “I was only his pawn. Nothing actually happened…”
[A pawn?]
The girls looked at each other, and anger appeared on their faces.
[To treat such a nice girl as a pawn, that Zhuo Fan is a cold bastard!]
Xuan Shaoyu used this chance to fling dirt, “Hear that? That vile demon only knows how to deceive innocent girls. Qingcheng, you must see him for who he is and not buy into his lies. He first had you injured and now sent someone with the antidote. He clearly wants to get to you. You must not let him.”
“I know him far better than you ever will.”
Chu Qingcheng sneered, her smile icy, “Besides, as long as he is safe, I don’t care if I become his pawn. What I fear is that he’ll abandon me without even finding a use for me.”
The girls watched Chu Qingcheng in shock.
This prideful ice queen wanted to become someone’s pawn, forever by his side. Was this still the same cold and determined beauty of before?
While Elder Yun shook his head, Xuan Shaoyu was fuming mad because of this.
[The poor lass had fallen victim to a vile demonic cultivator…]
