Chapter 29 (Part 2)

He raised his head but didn’t refute her claim. Instead, he turned to the Hengwu Immortal Lord leaning against the bamboo fence. “Hengwu Immortal Lord is skilled in medicine. Perhaps he could examine their injuries.”

Hengwu Immortal Lord gave Rongshang a meaningful look. They had been pecked by eagle-headed vultures; applying ointment and resting for a few days would suffice. There was no need for him to intervene.

Uncertain of Rongshang’s intentions, he followed his lead and pulled out two porcelain bottles from his Qiankun bag. “Apply this twice daily for two weeks, and the injuries will heal.”

Rongshang’s lips curved into a smile. “What about her? She doesn’t look well either. Perhaps you should check her condition as well.”

The “her” he referred to was Yu Jiangjiang.

Yu Jiangjiang immediately waved her hands. “No need—I’m fine…”

Rongshang cast her a cool glance, silencing her entirely. She froze mid-motion, unable to even complete her protest.

The Hengwu Immortal Lord, skilled in medicine from years of dealing with ailments, only needed a brief glance to discern her condition.

He stated plainly, “She’s just holding in gas. Once she releases the polluted air, she’ll be fine.”

Rongshang chuckled. “I see. Well, then, don’t hold everyone up. Go ahead and release it so we can move on.”

Yu Jiangjiang: “…”

Her face flushed red with embarrassment. She wished she could disappear on the spot, lacking even the courage to meet Xiao Yuqing’s eyes.

Passing gas might be natural for mortals, but she was akin to a celestial maiden in the eyes of others. How could a celestial maiden possibly pass gas?

Besides, with so many people watching, if she let it out, her reputation in the cultivation world would be utterly ruined.

Yu Jiangjiang’s face turned pale. She channeled her Qi to her dantian, took a deep breath, and clenched tightly, managing to let out a loud, resonant belch instead.

Not only was it loud, but it carried a faint unpleasant odor.

The Hengwu Immortal Lord looked at her in amazement. “How did your gas get lost?”

Yu Jiangjiang’s face turned an even darker shade. Doubling over, she began to retch but still managed to force out a defense, albeit with a grimace. “I’m already at the Golden Core stage and have long since reached the state of fasting. How could I release such impure air? My stomach just feels uncomfortable these past couple of days.”

The Hengwu Immortal Lord said no more but subtly shifted his left leg further away from her.

Yu Zhengzheng seemed to realize something, her face betraying a gloating expression that she couldn’t hide. Her earlier gloomy mood was instantly lifted, and a delighted smile tugged at her lips.

Yu Jiangjiang took two steps toward Xiao Yuqing, but he instinctively sidestepped, muttering, “It’s getting late, and I’m feeling a bit tired.”

Her face turned pale, tears brimming in her eyes. “I truly have stomach issues…”

Xiao Yuqing nodded. “I know. And I’m genuinely tired.”

With that, he hurriedly pushed open the wooden gate of the small courtyard and entered one of the bamboo houses inside.

Yu Zhengzheng followed, but not before passing by Yu Jiangjiang with a cheerful grin. “Sister, did you eat garlic these past two days? That… uh, burp was quite something.”

Not giving Yu Jiangjiang a chance to reply, she joyfully stepped into the bamboo house.

After a long and exhausting day, both physically and mentally, Yu Zhengzheng found herself surprisingly in a good mood, perhaps due to the earlier incident. She even hummed a little tune to herself.

She retrieved some spirit herbs, a hen, and the boiled egg she had cooked earlier from her storage bracelet. Placing the hen on the ground, she allowed it to roam and breathe in some fresh air.

The storage bracelet was a high-tier treasure, one of the few mementos left by her late mother.

Back when her mother passed, most of her belongings were seized by Madam Lu. The bracelet, however, had been spared because it required a blood bond to recognize its owner.

The bracelet could store small living creatures, and she had kept the hen inside earlier when riding on the sword with Shanshui, as it was inconvenient to carry the bird around.

The hen nestled obediently at her feet, not wandering far and behaving quite well.

The egg sat on the table. Though she wasn’t hungry just yet, she planned to eat it before sleeping.

Crouching down, Yu Zhengzheng gently patted the hen’s head and, in high spirits, began watering the spirit herb. “You’re the best! Grow up quickly, my little darling. I’ll always take care of you…”

She continued muttering sweet nothings to the plant when a low voice interrupted her musings. “What are you doing?”

Startled, Yu Zhengzheng turned around to see Rong Shang standing there in white robes. “Watering it,” she replied simply.

Rong Shang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze indifferent. “And all that chatter?”

Perhaps because he had inadvertently helped her earlier, Yu Zhengzheng smiled at him, explaining patiently, “Speaking kind words to the spirit herb helps it grow faster.”

Rong Shang glanced at the sprout-sized herb and was momentarily speechless.

His long lashes lifted slightly, and his gaze inadvertently landed on the gentle curve of her lips. For a fleeting moment, his eyes flickered with an emotion he couldn’t name.

She… really wanted to cultivate?

Rong Shang pressed his lips together. “You haven’t applied medicine to your foot yet.”

Yu Zhengzheng hummed softly, a warm smile still playing on her lips. “I’ll do it after I’m done watering.”

Rong Shang’s gaze lingered. The cold porcelain bottle in his hand seemed to warm slightly under her radiant smile.

He spoke, his voice calm yet deliberate. “A single primordial soul could directly elevate you to the Nascent Soul stage.”

Reaching the Nascent Soul stage meant being just a step away from ascension after facing tribulation.

Yu Zhengzheng propped her chin on her hand, responding with a light nasal hum. “Mhm.”

Rong Shang narrowed his eyes, puzzled.

Just a simple “Mhm”?

As a wood-spirit-root cultivator, this was the simplest, most effective method for her to advance. He had even mentioned it outright. Was she not the least bit tempted?

His thoughts mirrored his words as he asked directly.

Yu Zhengzheng’s expression didn’t change. “Would you be willing to give me your primordial soul?”

The answer, naturally, was no.

Since he wasn’t willing, why did he keep asking such pointless questions?

Even Hengwu Immortal Lord couldn’t take his primordial soul. She, a powerless novice with no spiritual energy or courage to speak of, could hardly dream of doing so.

Rong Shang’s lips curved faintly, his mood inexplicably lifted. “There’s actually another way. It could also help you cultivate.”

Yu Zhengzheng noticed his serious demeanor and couldn’t help feeling a flicker of interest. “What way?”

Rong Shang leaned down, loosening the jade belt at his waist. He rested a slender, well-defined hand on the bamboo table for support.

A faint smile graced his lips as he gazed at the woman now trapped within the circle of his arms. “Dual cultivation.”