Chapter 17

“Achoo!” Xiao Xihe shivered and glanced back suspiciously.  

…No one was following her. So why did she suddenly feel a chill down her spine? She rubbed her temples, chalking it up to hearing too much about Xie Zhaixing’s recent visit to the Union Sect—she was probably just being paranoid.  

She exhaled softly, steadied her nerves, and looked ahead at the rather shabby gate before her. She knew she had found the perfect sanctuary—  

Medicine God Valley, an Immortal Sect dedicated solely to Medical Cultivators.  

In the World of Cultivation, people rarely fell ill, and most injuries could be healed through self-recovery. Moreover, the current cultivation atmosphere was restless, with everyone eager for quick success and lacking the will to save others. As a result, fewer and fewer cultivators were willing to join an Immortal Sect to study medicine. Nowadays, Medicine God Valley had dwindled to just three or four members, including the valley master and his disciples.  

Xiao Xihe had chosen this sect for two reasons. First, its members devoted themselves entirely to medical research, living in near-isolation except for necessary medical excursions. Hiding here, she wouldn’t be easily discovered. Second, though the original novel only mentioned this sect in fewer than three hundred words out of its five hundred thousand, it revealed a crucial detail—  

The master of Medicine God Valley had once saved the life of Xie Zhaixing’s father, Xie Wuyan, the Lord of the Demon Realm.  

Xiao Xihe knew that Xie Zhaixing had lost his mother young and was raised single-handedly by Xie Wuyan. Though his temperament was volatile and ruthless, he held deep respect for his father. Meanwhile, Liu Jiang, the current master of Medicine God Valley, was famously protective of his disciples. If she could become his disciple, then even if her identity were exposed and Xie Zhaixing came for her, Liu Jiang might plead for mercy on her behalf to Xie Wuyan.  

And Xie Zhaixing… would surely listen to his father, wouldn’t he?  

Xiao Xihe took a deep breath, straightened her expression, and stepped forward to knock three times on the gate.  

Soon, the door opened, revealing a middle-aged woman around forty, who greeted her warmly. “Are you here seeking treatment or medicine?”  

“I’m here to become a disciple,” Xiao Xihe answered quickly.  

The woman paused, seeming hesitant.  

…Shouldn’t Medicine God Valley, perpetually short on hands, be overjoyed to have someone willing to join? Why did she look so troubled? Xiao Xihe’s heart began to pound. “Is there a problem?”  

“No, nothing’s wrong… Come with me first.” The woman lowered her head and led the way inside.  

Xiao Xihe hurried after her.  

Medicine God Valley was nestled among mountains, with a long river running through its center. At first glance, it resembled Shady Valley, but the environment was vastly different. Here, most of the plants were flowers and shrubs—the thickest no wider than a bowl, the tallest no more than three to five meters—so they didn’t block the sunlight. The air was warm and dry, carrying a faint sweetness.  

The more Xiao Xihe saw of this place, the more she wanted to stay.  

As they walked further, the sweet fragrance gave way to the bitter scent of medicinal herbs. Xiao Xihe craned her neck and spotted a large courtyard ahead, its ground covered with herbs laid out to dry. White smoke curled from the kitchen on the left, where a figure moved about, likely brewing something.  

The woman stopped in the courtyard and turned to her. “Wait here. I’ll ask the valley master for his decision.”  

“Alright,” Xiao Xihe agreed with a nod.  

The woman gave a slight bow of her head before heading into the kitchen.

Xiao Xihe stood alone in the courtyard, quietly surveying her surroundings. Though she had spent the past six months in hiding, she had gained considerable experience. Compared to other Immortal Sects, Medicine God Valley was indeed pitifully poor. Forget grand towers or jade palaces—there were only a few tiled houses at most. The largest one had its door open, revealing glimpses of medicine shelves inside.

As she was lost in thought, an irritable voice suddenly erupted from the kitchen: “I said I won’t take her in, and that’s final! Don’t try to persuade me!”

“Keep your voice down!” came a woman’s voice.

Xiao Xihe turned to look.

The irritable voice grew even louder: “I won’t keep it down! Don’t think I don’t know what these people are after. When other Immortal Sects won’t take them, they come here as a last resort. Once they’ve had their fill of spiritual medicine and built a solid foundation, they’ll run off to join someone else. They’re playing their schemes loud and clear—do they take me for a fool?!”

“Oh, you’re really… making judgments before even meeting her, isn’t that too hasty?” the woman chided helplessly.

The man snorted coldly. “I’ve seen plenty of her kind. Send her away now. Medicine God Valley will never be a stepping stone for others!”

“At least meet her first. What if she suits your fancy?” the woman persisted.

A moment later, the woman emerged, leading a white-bearded old man. Xiao Xihe instantly locked eyes with him and offered an awkward smile.

The old man snorted and glared at the woman. “I’ve seen her. Now can you send her away?”

Xiao Xihe: “…”

“You didn’t even ask her anything!” the woman retorted, glaring back.

The old man’s imposing demeanor faltered slightly, but he remained impatient. “What’s there to ask? Even her face is fake. Do you really think someone like her is here to sincerely become a disciple?!”

Xiao Xihe’s heart skipped a beat. “How did you know?” When she had first left Shady Valley, she had used her real face. But after hearing that Xie Zhaixing had gone to Union Sect, she had adopted an entirely new one.

This face was deliberately plain and unremarkable—far more believable than the striking beauty she had first crafted. How had the old man seen through it at a glance?

This was her first exchange with him, yet the old man couldn’t even be bothered to look at her properly. Still, he grudgingly explained, “A person’s appearance, height, and build are all interconnected. The texture and contours of your face clearly don’t match your bone structure. I suppose you planned to use a fake name to become a disciple too?”

Xiao Xihe had indeed intended to use a pseudonym. She laughed awkwardly in response.

The old man ignored her and turned to scold the woman. “Stop bringing just anyone here! At a glance, she’s clearly someone who’s gotten into trouble and is looking for a place to hide. Other sects would avoid someone with such dubious origins, yet here you are, bringing her to me without even asking questions!”

“I just thought you could use the help, given how short-handed you are,” the woman argued, frustration creeping into her voice.

The old man sneered. “You’re always finding people, but what kind of people have you brought me? Has even one of them been usable?”

“Maybe it’s your terrible temper that drives them all away!” the woman shot back, her tone turning sharp.

Hearing her criticize his temper, the old man nearly exploded. “Who are you calling terrible-tempered?!”

“Please, don’t fight…” Xiao Xihe hastily intervened. “I—I won’t become a disciple. It’s not worth arguing over.”

“You don’t need to interfere. I’ve been putting up with this old man for ages, always looking like someone owes him money. Who does he think he’s scowling at?!” The woman planted her hands on her hips.

The old man retorted indignantly, “How am I scowling?”

“You’re scowling right now!”

Xiao Xihe: “…” Someone save her, please!

She never expected that her simple attempt to become a disciple would not only fail but also ignite an internal conflict within the sect. Now she had no choice but to awkwardly try to mediate.

Unfortunately, the argument only grew fiercer, escalating to the brink of a physical fight. Xiao Xihe’s head throbbed as she debated whether to slip away, when suddenly, the sound of crying approached from outside the courtyard.

All three turned to see a girl of about fifteen or sixteen running in, tears streaming down her face. She threw herself at the old man. “Father! Mother! Senior Sister is dying—you have to save her!”

Father? Mother? Xiao Xihe glanced between the old man and the woman, her lips twitching. She had assumed the woman was the old man’s disciple, marveling at her audacity to talk back to her master like that. Turns out, they were married.

“I told you half an hour ago—the baby is too large, and she’s in difficult labor. We can only save one: the child or her. You insisted on saving both, and now we might lose both,” the old man said grimly.

The girl sobbed harder. “B-but Senior Sister doesn’t want to harm the baby.”

“Then she’ll have to be the one sacrificed,” the old man said with a frown.

“That’s my senior sister! How can you just sacrifice her so easily?” the girl wailed in protest.

Before the old man could respond, the woman cut in sharply, “Can’t you at least go check on her? There might still be a chance! Lian’er has been with us for years—have you no compassion at all?”

Xiao Xihe nodded silently in agreement.

“Compassion? I warned her she was too old for childbirth, but she insisted on having a child and even sneaked out to… couple with that wild boar! Now that things have gone wrong, you want me to show compassion?” The old man was livid. “If I could save her, do you think I’d say we can only save one?!”

Xiao Xihe’s expression turned odd at his words… Wasn’t the Valley Master of Medicine God Valley known for doting on his disciples? How could he speak so coldly when his disciple was on the brink of death? Even if he couldn’t save her, the least he could do was visit her. And his insults were downright cruel—calling her husband a wild boar?

“I don’t care! I want my senior sister! I want her!” The girl collapsed to the ground, wailing uncontrollably.

The woman glared at the old man, who was both furious and helpless, not daring to argue further now that his wife was angry. Just as he was stewing in frustration, his eyes locked with Xiao Xihe, who had been quietly observing the drama.

Xiao Xihe: “?”

“You!” The old man scowled. “Didn’t you come here to become a disciple?”

Xiao Xihe: “…Uh, yes.”

“Go save Lian’er. If you can bring her back, I’ll allow you to join our sect.” With that, he turned on his heel and stormed off.

The girl, realizing he had just fled, shrieked, “Father!”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry—I’ll drag him back,” the woman reassured before hurrying after him.

The girl continued to sob hysterically. Xiao Xihe stood there awkwardly for a long moment, about to quietly slip away, when the girl suddenly looked up at her.

“…Why are you looking at me? I don’t know the first thing about medicine.” She was just a cook, after all.

But the girl clung to her leg as if she were the last lifeline. “My father said you could save her, so you must be able to! Please, I’m begging you…”

Xiao Xihe’s lips twitched. “He was just making up an excuse, and you actually believed him?”

“Waaahhh…”

“…I really don’t know how to deliver babies,” Xiao Xihe said, exasperated.

“Waaahhh waaahhh…”

A girl of fifteen or sixteen usually had the most crisp and pleasant voice, but once she started crying, it was as piercing as nails on a chalkboard. Xiao Xihe immediately felt her head throb. “Stop crying first!”

The girl instantly held back her sobs, sniffling as she looked at her. “Then go check on Senior Sister.”

“…Fine.”

As soon as Xiao Xihe agreed, the girl scrambled up from the ground, dusted off her bottom, and headed out of the courtyard. Xiao Xihe silently followed. The two walked one after the other through a narrow path and a grove of flowering trees, eventually arriving at the entrance of a cave.

“Senior Sister is inside,” the girl said tearfully.

Xiao Xihe nodded and was about to follow her in when a pig-like grunt suddenly came from inside the cave.

“…Is someone else in there?” Xiao Xihe asked with difficulty.

The girl looked confused. “No, just Senior Sister.”

“Then your Senior Sister… must be in a lot of pain.” Enough to squeal like a pig.

Xiao Xihe swallowed hard, looking at the cave as if it were some kind of terrifying beast. She had never seen a woman give birth in either of her lifetimes, but she could imagine the bloody scene inside. Just thinking about it made her shiver.

“Big sister…” the girl urged.

Xiao Xihe glanced at the girl’s red, swollen eyes and steeled herself to step into the cave.

The cave wasn’t large, but it was clean and bright. As soon as she entered, she was hit by a strong, metallic stench of blood. Suppressing her discomfort, Xiao Xihe followed the sounds ahead—and then saw a… pig.

A pig…

Her eyes widened in shock. “Oh no, your Senior Sister is gone!”

“Gone where?” The girl looked bewildered, turning toward the pile of dry grass on the ground. “Isn’t she right here?”

Xiao Xihe froze, suddenly realizing something was off. “Your Senior Sister… is a pig?”

“Her name is Lian’er,” the girl explained seriously. “She’s not an ordinary pig. She’s a pig with spiritual intelligence, practically a low-level Demon Beast.”

What difference does that make! Even if she ascended to immortality, she’d still be a pig! And she calls her Senior Sister… So that old man would rather take a pig as his disciple than accept me?! Xiao Xihe took a deep breath, trying her best to stay calm.

While they were talking, the pig on the ground was already struggling to breathe. The girl looked like she was about to cry again. “Big sister, please save Senior Sister!”

Xiao Xihe hesitated. “I don’t know how to help…”

“Just go over there!” The girl pushed her forward.

Reluctantly, Xiao Xihe approached. The pig—Lian’er—stirred uneasily at her presence. The girl quickly stepped forward to comfort her. “Senior Sister, don’t be scared. This big sister is here to help you.”

Xiao Xihe suddenly felt the weight of responsibility. She shuffled closer and tentatively touched Lian’er’s swollen belly. “…The piglets are still moving. They must still be alive.”

“But she can’t give birth,” the girl began wiping her tears again. “My father said they’re tangled up inside. To save the babies, we’d have to cut open her belly… But Senior Sister is already over thirty years old. If we cut her open, she probably won’t survive.”

Lian’er silently gazed at her, as if trying to comfort her in her own way.

Xiao Xihe looked at the girl and the pig, sighing softly. “But I can’t help you.”

“But my father…”

“Your father lied to you, I really don’t know anything,” Xiao Xihe said helplessly. “Think about it—if even he couldn’t save her, how could I possibly do it unless I were more skilled than him? Why would I come here to seek apprenticeship otherwise?”

The little girl was left speechless.

The cave fell silent for a moment until Lian’er suddenly let out a weak whimper and began convulsing. The girl panicked immediately: “Senior Sister, Senior Sister…”

“If you don’t make a choice soon, it’ll truly be two lives lost,” Xiao Xihe said, glancing at the distraught girl before crouching down to look at Lian’er. “What about you? What do you want to do?”

“Oink oink…” Lian’er whimpered weakly.

Somehow, Xiao Xihe understood. She pursed her lips and turned back to the girl. “Call your father over to help with the delivery. This is your senior sister’s choice—you need to learn to accept it.”

“But I—”

“This isn’t the time for your stubbornness,” Xiao Xihe said firmly.

The girl froze, meeting Xiao Xihe’s gaze before tears welled up again. This time, however, she didn’t cry aloud. Instead, she wiped her eyes roughly and dashed out of the cave without another word.

Now alone in the cave, Xiao Xihe sat down on the dry straw bedding beside the pig. “Hang in there, Lian’er. You have to make it.”

“Oink…”

Xiao Xihe yawned, waiting for the girl to return with help while pondering where she could go after leaving Medicine God Valley. The World of Cultivation was definitely no longer an option, the Demon Realm was out of the question, and the demon tribes weren’t even worth considering—with her level of cultivation, she’d be nothing more than prey. The only place left was the mortal world… unless she abandoned her cultivation altogether.

If it came down to it, so be it. Being a mortal wasn’t so bad—she had been one before, after all. The only pity was losing the two hundred years of lifespan she’d worked so hard to gain.

Just as Xiao Xihe was deep in thought, the pig beside her let out a sudden, agonized squeal, its entire body convulsing. Startled, Xiao Xihe quickly reached out to pat its face, trying to keep it conscious. The pig, agitated by the patting, accidentally bumped her with its snout.

“Ouch…” Xiao Xihe’s hand was grazed by its teeth, and blood immediately welled up, trickling down her palm before dripping into the pig’s mouth.

A faint glimmer of light flashed between the pig’s brows, followed by a pained squeal. Xiao Xihe missed the glow but looked up just in time to see a tiny piglet being squeezed out.

…This was terrifying—AHHHHH!!!

“I told you to make a decision earlier, but you refused! Now that Lian’er’s on the brink, you come running to me? At this point, it’s probably too late!”

“Waaah…” The girl continued sobbing.

“Enough with the harsh words. If you didn’t care about Lian’er at all, why would you have been waiting outside this whole time?” a woman reasoned.

“I wasn’t waiting! She was the one who refused to let me help earlier, and now she comes running to me? The best window for saving her has already passed!”

The old man’s grumbling grew louder as hurried footsteps approached. Soon, all three family members appeared at the cave entrance.

Xiao Xihe stared blankly before looking up at them. “Mother and… child. I don’t know the gender, but they’re both safe. Also…” She swallowed hard. “I think it’s a wild boar.”

The trio fell silent.

“Oink…” Lian’er weakly confirmed she was still alive.

The girl burst into tears and rushed over to hug her.

Xiao Xihe turned to the old man. “So… can I join Medicine God Valley now?”

“…How did you even do this?” the old man asked, exasperated.

Xiao Xihe blinked in confusion. “I have no idea.”

The old man’s lips twitched. Just as he was about to speak, the woman beside him suddenly laughed, “Didn’t you say before that to become an outstanding Medical Cultivator, medical skills alone aren’t enough? One also needs a bit of good luck. Skills can be acquired, but luck is rare. Seems like you’ve found yourself a decent disciple this time.”

The old man snorted lightly and reluctantly said, “Follow me.”

Xiao Xihe perked up and quickly followed.

Fifteen minutes later, the two returned to the courtyard.

“I’ll ask you a few questions. Answer truthfully. If you dare hide even the slightest detail, we’re done talking,” the old man said casually as he took a seat on a stool.

“Yes,” Xiao Xihe straightened up and stood respectfully before him.

“What’s your name, and which sect did you originally belong to?”

“My name is Xiao Xihe. I was from the Union Sect,” Xiao Xihe answered.

The old man raised an eyebrow, “Xihe? That’s quite an ambitious name.”

Xiao Xihe immediately realized his misunderstanding, “Not the Xihe that represents the sun. It’s the ‘Xi’ for sunset and the ‘He’ for seedlings… though I suppose it still has some connection to the sun.”

The old man nodded slightly and asked again, “Why are you hiding from the world?”

Xiao Xihe hesitated, unsure whether to tell the truth.

The old man narrowed his eyes.

…Well, I’ve already revealed my background. Might as well go all the way. Xiao Xihe took a deep breath, “I offended Xie Zhaixing.”

The old man paused, then understood, “No wonder you came to Medicine God Valley. So you want me to be your shield.”

Xiao Xihe gave an ingratiating smile but didn’t deny it.

After some thought, the old man finally spoke slowly, “From today onward, you’re no longer Xiao Xihe. You’re now a disciple of Medicine God Valley. There are three before you, so you’ll be the fourth. From now on… you’ll be called A Si.”

Xiao Xihe: “…” What a half-hearted name.

“Not willing?” the old man asked.

Xiao Xihe: “I am!”