Chapter 87: If Only Life Were as It Was When We First Met (Seventh Update)

“Big Sister Ling, your hearbeat went up a little, what’s the matter? Excited after not seeing your little sister in too long?” Ye Wenxin joked upon noticing Ling Jue’s nervousness.

Facing Ye Wenxin’s pure gaze, Ling Jue was suddenly at a loss on how to reply. She tried to calm her mind, desperately searching for a topic they could discuss at this moment.

“Oh, right, I forgot to give you this token last time.” And Ling Jue came up with one very quickly, taking out a token from her bag of holding.

It was bronze in color and luster, quite light in weight, but with a spell formation seal and the word [Beginner] written on it. Lifelike floral patterns were engraved on the side. It appeared to be some rank token.

“What token is this?”

Ye Wenxin held the token in her hand and examined it, sensing a certain power on the token.

“This is the Beginner Alchemist token, symbolizing the proof of your rank,” Ling Jue explained the token’s purpose. In this vast world, Alchemists were neither big nor small in number.

But those able to reach the pinnacle of Alchemy were few and far between. In order to unify the management of Alchemists, Medicine King Valley and Divine King Hall jointly developed this token.

If one arrived at the Alchemy Association in various regions, or places such as emporiums and the like, this token could be used as the symbol of one’s rank. Only the token’s owner would be able to open the identification badge, which was an artifact.

“I see. Then what principle is used to make this token?”

“It needs material from the person’s body. I used your hair.” From Ling Jue’s explanation, she felt this token was similar to a fingerprint recognition system, but more versatile in comparison.

If Ye Wenxin was to walk around with token, it would be very convenient.

“It’s really very convenient, but Big Sister Ling, I’m already an Intermediate Alchemist now, can this token be replaced?” Ye Wenxin asked tentatively, feeling that she must understand the workings of the Alchemist System so she would know what to do in the future.

“Even though I’m from Medicine King Valley, I can only give you Beginner privileges. The higher ranks require assessment. Originally, there was no such rule, but some individuals took advantage of the Alchemist title to deceive others. Therefore, the Valley Master issued a recall order for the tokens and initiated re-examinations. If I recall correctly, the Alchemist Association conducts advanced exams annually. For Intermediate rank, it’s usually conducted in various localities.”

Ling Jue elaborated on the Alchemist Association’s assessment system, which reminded Ye Wenxin of her past examinations. However, upon careful consideration, without such a testing system, there would be too many unqualified individuals, and Medicine King Valley would not only fail in unifying the management of Alchemists, they would even tarnish their own reputation.

“Could I ask you to find out when the next assessment will be held? I’d like to obtain the Intermediate token in advance. With that token, I can directly sell pills at the market stalls.” The Azure Wings Sect might be a decent trading place, but the income there was not substantial.

Rather than selling to Azure Wings Sect people, entrusting unmarketable pills to an emporium would be much more suitable. And at this time, Ye Wenxin needed a rank.

“Indeed, that’s a valid method. Entrusting intermediaries to sell can also yield more profits.” Ling Jue also realized Ye Wenxin’s intention. Indeed, compared to selling internally within the Azure Wings Sect, directly circulating the pills in the market was more efficient.

This way, with the money coming back, Ye Wenxin could keep things moving and continue producing third-grade pills.

“I’ll have my subordinates to ask around and give you an answer soon.” After a moment of thinking, Ling Jue agreed to the request. Ye Wenxin energetically caught Ling Jue’s hand, seeming to have completely forgotten about checking Ling Jue’s pulse.

“Thank you so much, Big Sister Ling.”

“You’re also half my disciple. It’s only natural for me to do this,” Ling Jue sighed with relief, thinking she had escaped Ye Wenxin’s scrutiny. However, despite Ling Jue having diverted the conversation earlier, Ye Wenxin had already begun to calculate things in her mind.

Compared to Xiao Zhang’s accumulated internal injuries, Ling Jue’s injuries were more troublesome, requiring multiple treatments to resolve the toxins accumulated in her body. Ye Wenxin intended to discuss the treatment plan with Ling Jue, but Ling Jue suddenly withdrew her hand.

“It’s getting late. You should go back first.” This was also the first time Ling Jue had issued an order for Ye Wenxin to leave. From her expression, her exhaustion was evident.

After a few seconds of consideration, Ye Wenxin decided to comply. Ling Jue had come to find her immediately upon returning to the Azure Wings Sect; her physical exhaustion was apparent. She was in a weakened state and unable to withstand the dominance of the Soul Suppressing Eighteen Needles at the moment.

“Take care and get some rest, Big Sister Ling.”

“You too. I’m a bit tired today, so I won’t see you off.” Ling Jue sat on the chair, watching Ye Wenxin open the door and leave.

Until the door closed, Ling Jue made sure Ye Wenxin had gone far before undoing the Yin-Yang Transformation.

In an instant, her handsome face softened, her features delicate, but her complexion was terribly unpleasant. Ling Jue gasped heavily, feeling the pain in her abdomen unbearable.

Even the slightest movement felt like a thousand needles piercing her.

She did not want Ye Wenxin to see this ugly side of her, so she had always maintained her masculine appearance. Ling Jue sighed heavily, struggling to move on the bed, cold sweat breaking out. She hugged herself, forcing herself to enter the realm of dreams…

“It seems I can’t afford to delay this illness any longer,” Ye Wenxin muttered to herself from a distance, using her Divine Sense to probe Ling Jue’s condition. Only when Ling Jue’s breathing stabilized did she retract her Divine Sense and continue forward along the path ahead.

At this point, it was already dark. Ye Wenxin made her way to the dining hall, ate some simple dishes, and then took a stroll nearby. She checked to see if anyone blind was coming to cause her trouble.

But the night was too peaceful, Ye Wenxin walked around for quite some time, found no targets, and instead encountered one of her little brothers, who told her that ‘Sister-in-law was looking for her’.

Ye Wenxin had a premonition that today’s visit from Xiao Zhang was a farewell.

“Big Sister, even though we’re all outsiders, Sister-in-law is really nice. Can’t you try to persuade her to stay?” Although feeling a bit scared seeing Ye Wenxin’s expression, the little brother plucked up the courage to express his thoughts.

“It’s ultimately her own decision,” Ye Wenxin replied helplessly. She had already told Fatty to remind everyone not to show too much sadness. But unexpectedly, the most saddened person turned out to be herself.

The little brother fell silent, perhaps sensing Ye Wenxin’s sadness.

“I’ll go find Xiao Zhang first then. Thanks for letting me know,” Ye Wenxin lightly patted the little brother’s shoulder, a simple gesture on Earth.

But in this world, where there were distinctions between men and women, the little brother was taken aback by the pat, his face instantly turning red.

Ye Wenxin hesitated, thinking of explaining that it was just a habit. But after a moment’s thought, she decided against it. She bypassed the path in front of her and walked towards the backyard as mentioned by the little brother.

There were still many Dao couples around, inseparably affectionate, which made one envious. Ye Wenxin kept her eyes straight ahead, bypassing the rock garden in front of her, and spotted Xiao Zhang leaning on the stone bridge ahead.

Xiao Zhang was propping up her chin, staring at a couple wrestling in the distance, lost in thought.

Ye Wenxin approached quietly, not wanting to disturb Xiao Zhang’s viewing, nor did she want to warn Xiao Zhang of her appearance. However, having recovered her abilities, how could Xiao Zhang not be aware of her presence?

“You came.”

“Mm, I’m here.”

After this brief exchange, Ye Wenxin leaned on the railing next to Xiao Zhang, watching the wrestling performance that Xiao Zhang was watching. Perhaps because of the sudden appearance of an audience, the movements of the wrestling couple stuttered for a moment, and then resumed with vigor.

“What’s the matter? Thinking of spring¹?” Ye Wenxin’s gaze remained calm, focused entirely on Xiao Zhang.

Xiao Zhang chuckled. She had only casually noticed the intense wrestling between the couple and intended to tease Ye Wenxin about it. However, she was surprised by Ye Wenxin’s directness.

“Yeah, I am,” Xiao Zhang replied with ease. She then looked at Ye Wenxin with interest, curious about her reaction to her candid admission.

But Ye Wenxin also had her chin propped up, simply watching Xiao Zhang, her expression calm and seemingly unaffected by Xiao Zhang’s confession or the scene unfolding before them.

“Wenxin, sometimes I really don’t think you’re like a child at all.” Xiao Zhang recalled the past few months, feeling like she had been dreaming.

Everything in the dream was very ordinary, but for Xiao Zhang, it was beautiful.

“I’m not a child to begin with, it’s just that you always treat me like one,” Ye Wenxin smiled helplessly. According to the average person’s age, she was already in her fifties.

In the time to come, Ye Wenxin had countless fifty-year periods to spend, but then, she knew not what role she would be playing, or where she would meet someone.

“Still not a child? I heard you’ve been skipping classes lately.” Xiao Zhang shot her a glare, her playful pout particularly lovely. In just a short time apart, Xiao Zhang blossomed even more beautifully, like a delicate rose. Tonight, she seemed to have dressed up carefully, wearing her own casual clothes for once.

“Xiao Zhang, you’re truly a vision,” Ye Wenxin hastily changed the subject, but Xiao Zhang responded with an even more dissatisfied huff.

“Don’t change the subject, you’re not a child anymore.” Xiao Zhang’s expression grew more serious, her worry for Ye Wenxin’s future palpable.

If she left, what would Ye Wenxin do?

How could she survive in this complicated Azure Wings Sect?

But Xiao Zhang could not stay. The Eldest Princess had ordered her to return to the Golden Age Dynasty to assume the position of Secret Guard Commander. It had been her father’s dream all along, and hers as well.

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1. Yearning for love, romance, and other things related to the spring season ↩︎