Chapter 19.2

The bedroom was divided into inner and outer chambers. Passing through the outer area, the two arrived at the young master’s resting place. Xiao Xihe held her breath as she slowly moved forward, only to see layers of bed curtains hanging down, obscuring the figure on the bed—she could barely make out a silhouette.  

Fortunately, the next moment, a slender hand reached out from behind the curtains, gently parting the gauzy fabric.  

When the person’s face came into view, Xiao Xihe’s eyes widened in silent shock—  

Where was that disciple from earlier?! Let him come face her now! How could this delicate, sickly beauty possibly resemble that weaselly man from before?!  

“Cough… cough…” The frail beauty coughed twice, his slightly reddened eyes lifting as his lips parted unconsciously, his breathing slightly labored. Paired with his pale cheeks, the sense of fragility grew even stronger.  

“I am Zhao Shaoqing. Fellow Cultivators, you’ve traveled far—thank you for your efforts.” Even his voice was magnetic and pleasant.  

Xiao Xihe blinked, silently restraining some rather beastly thoughts.  

At critical moments, her second senior sister proved reliable. Liu An’an stepped forward to introduce them: “Young Master, I am Liu An’an, and this is A Si. We are both disciples of Liu Jiang, here specifically to examine your pulse.”  

“Your assistance is appreciated,” Zhao Shaoqing replied, straightening up in preparation.  

Liu An’an and Xiao Xihe exchanged a glance before stepping forward. Just as they were about to take his pulse, an angry female voice suddenly rang out from behind them: “Don’t touch him!”  

The two froze, and in the next moment, they were shoved aside. A strikingly beautiful woman rushed to the bedside, possessively shielding Zhao Shaoqing behind her as she bared her teeth in warning. “You’re not allowed to touch him!”  

Xiao Xihe stared at her overly sharp canine teeth, momentarily stunned. Before she could react, Liu An’an had already pulled her protectively behind her. “Demon Clan?!”  

“Fellow Cultivator Liu, don’t be alarmed. She won’t harm you,” Zhao Shaoqing quickly interjected.  

Liu An’an frowned deeply. “Young Master, why is there a member of the Demon Clan by your side?”  

Though relations between the World of Cultivation and the Demon Clan weren’t exactly tense, they weren’t friendly either—most cultivators avoided any association with them.  

“None of your business!” the woman snapped.  

Zhao Shaoqing frowned. “A Yu.”  

The woman bit her lip and turned to him. “Shaoqing…”  

“Behave,” Zhao Shaoqing chided gently. “These two Fellow Cultivators only wish to examine me. Don’t be rude.”  

The woman remained displeased. “But I don’t want them touching you. Why didn’t Medicine God Valley send a man?”  

“None of your business?” Liu An’an seized the chance to throw her own words back at her.  

“You—”  

“A Yu,” Zhao Shaoqing spoke again.  

The woman called A Yu huffed and turned away sulkily, though she remained seated stubbornly at the bedside.  

Xiao Xihe was torn between studying the demon’s appearance and puzzling over the nature of their relationship—her eyes and brain were nearly overwhelmed. Fortunately, reason prevailed at the critical moment, and she turned directly to Zhao Shaoqing. “Young Master, may we proceed with the examination now?”  

“Of course,” Zhao Shaoqing nodded slightly before turning to the woman. “A Yu, step outside for now. Don’t disturb the Medical Cultivators.”  

“I won’t—”  

“A Yu, behave.” Zhao Shaoqing frowned.  

The woman pouted, glaring resentfully at Liu An’an and Xiao Xihe. After sizing them both up, she finally pointed at Xiao Xihe. “Then I want her to examine you.”  

Xiao Xihe: Profoundly insulted.

The demon clan member named A Yu had chosen her clearly not because of the argument with the second senior sister, but simply because she looked safer.

Zhao Shaoqing didn’t overthink it: “Alright, you go out first.”

The woman was a bit displeased but obediently left.

When the sound of the door closing echoed, Zhao Shaoqing wore an apologetic expression: “I’m sorry. A Yu doesn’t understand proper etiquette and has offended you two Fellow Cultivators.”

“Let’s not dwell on that for now, Young Sect Master. My junior sister isn’t very skilled in diagnosis and might not be able to treat you,” Liu An’an said slowly.

Just as Zhao Shaoqing was about to respond, Xiao Xihe suddenly interjected, “But the Young Sect Master already agreed to her request. If you go back on your word now, wouldn’t it harm your relationship as a couple?”

Zhao Shaoqing was momentarily stunned before chuckling: “Fellow Cultivator, you’ve misunderstood. A Yu and I aren’t in that kind of relationship—we’re just friends.”

“But from what I saw, her feelings for you seem to go beyond friendship,” Xiao Xihe remarked nonchalantly.

A faint smile flashed in Zhao Shaoqing’s eyes, making him appear even more refined and gentle: “A Yu is inexperienced in the ways of the world, so it’s natural for her to rely on me. But we truly are just friends.”

Ah, so it’s unrequited love—the maiden is smitten, but the gentleman remains indifferent. Xiao Xihe silently sighed in relief, thinking it was good they weren’t mutually in love. She couldn’t bring herself to be a homewrecker.

Now that she had confirmed Zhao Shaoqing was currently single, Xiao Xihe felt much better. She turned and winked at Liu An’an, who then stepped to the bedside, composed herself, and summoned a wisp of Spiritual Power. Xiao Xihe watched as the Spiritual Power at Liu An’an’s fingertips seeped into Zhao Shaoqing’s Crown of the Head, her expression gradually turning grave. Xiao Xihe’s heart clenched in worry.

After a long while, Liu An’an withdrew her hand.

“How is it?” Xiao Xihe asked urgently.

Liu An’an replied via Secret Sound Transmission: “His pulse is like a lamp running out of oil. Even with careful treatment, he won’t live past two months.”

Xiao Xihe paused, still processing her words, when she heard Liu An’an say cheerfully to Zhao Shaoqing, “It’s not too bad. You’ll just need some extra time and care to recuperate.”

Zhao Shaoqing remained calm: “Thank you both for your trouble.”

After the diagnosis, the disciple who had escorted them hadn’t yet returned to fetch them, so the two had no choice but to stay in Zhao Shaoqing’s room a while longer, making small talk with him.

Eventually, the conversation turned to the woman from earlier.

“Young Sect Master, since you rarely leave the sect, how did you come to know someone from the Demon Clan?” Liu An’an asked curiously.

Xiao Xihe mentally gave her a thumbs-up.

Zhao Shaoqing smiled: “It was just a coincidence. A few days ago, I finally stepped out and happened upon her while she was injured. I had her brought back to recuperate, and she seemed to take a liking to the Sword Mastery Sect, so she’s stayed until now.”

“Quite the heroic rescue,” Liu An’an remarked, then added, recalling the woman’s unpleasant attitude, “Though it’s a shame the Young Sect Master is the hero, but the one rescued isn’t a beauty. You should send her away sooner rather than later—who knows, she might end up hurting you one day.”

Despite Liu An’an’s bluntness, Zhao Shaoqing remained good-natured, even apologizing again for A Yu’s rudeness. His courteous demeanor eventually made even Liu An’an feel a little embarrassed.

Xiao Xihe quietly observed Zhao Shaoqing, and the more she watched, the more she regretted—

Regretted being too hasty in her judgment, relying solely on the information from the book to seek out Xie Zhaixing without considering that beyond the novel’s plot, there might be other pleasant surprises.

Like the one right in front of her.

If only I had sought his help from the beginning—someone so beautiful and kind-hearted would surely have been willing to assist. I wouldn’t have had to serve like a nursemaid, nor would I need to live in constant fear of being thrown into the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons afterward.

At this thought, Xiao Xihe couldn’t help but sigh.

The two people chatting nearby turned to look at her in unison.

Xiao Xihe’s lips twitched. Just as she was about to pretend to join the conversation, the disciple who had escorted them earlier finally arrived, albeit late: “The guest rooms are ready. Please follow me.”

“In that case, we won’t disturb the Young Master’s rest any longer,” Xiao Xihe promptly stood up.

Zhao Shaoqing smiled faintly. “You’re too kind, Fellow Cultivator.”

“Rest well. My junior sister and I will discuss and prepare a prescription for you,” Liu An’an also rose to her feet.

Zhao Shaoqing nodded. “I appreciate your efforts.”

The two took their leave and settled into the guest quarters near Zhao Shaoqing’s residence.

The Sword Mastery Sect clearly held them in high regard, providing rooms nearly as lavish as Zhao Shaoqing’s, furnished with only the finest amenities. Since arriving in this world, Xiao Xihe had spent most of her time in relatively confined spaces, while Liu An’an rarely left Medicine God Valley. Upon entering such opulent accommodations, both couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.

“They actually use Dragon Serpent Grass to repel mosquitoes! I’ve only ever dared to use mugwort,” Liu An’an gasped.

Xiao Xihe rushed to the bed, running her hands over the blankets. “What kind of brocade is this? It’s so soft!”

Liu An’an leaned in. “Hard to tell, but it must be expensive. The Sect Leader of Sword Mastery is truly generous.”

And yet, all Xiao Xihe could think about was sleeping with his son. After three seconds of guilt, she steered the conversation back to business: “Earlier, you mentioned his pulse was like a lamp running out of oil. What exactly did you mean? Zhao Wuchen’s message to Master didn’t mention anything like that.”

“I’m not sure either, but that’s the pulse I detected. Only my father can confirm the specifics when he arrives,” Liu An’an frowned.

Liu Jiang often criticized her medical skills as lacking—though only by Medicine God Valley’s lofty standards. Outside, she was more than capable. Something as basic as pulse diagnosis shouldn’t be wrong. After a moment’s consideration, Xiao Xihe asked, “So he’s beyond saving?”

Liu An’an pressed her lips together. “With proper care, he might last two or three months. But if he can’t eat, as the disciples said, even with Spiritual Power sustaining him, he’ll only hold on for about ten more days.”

Xiao Xihe frowned. “Managing the plague is complicated. Master might not make it here in ten days.”

“Exactly! That’s why it’s good you’re here,” Liu An’an grinned. “Your cooking is delicious—you’ll surely restore his appetite. We’ll add some nourishing supplements to the meals, and that should buy us enough time for my father to arrive.”

Xiao Xihe sensed something off but was dragged along before she could dwell on it. “The sooner, the better. The patient is starving—no need to wait for mealtime.”

“Slow down,” Xiao Xihe sighed.

After leaving their quarters, they encountered a cleaning disciple and asked for directions to the kitchen. Mistaking them for aspiring cooks, the disciple led them there while grumbling, “Weren’t you told not to wander around? What if you offend an important guest?”

Liu An’an raised an eyebrow. “How do you know we’re not the important guests?”

“You two?” The disciple glanced at them and laughed. “Forget it, hurry up and leave.”

“You—”

“Second Senior Sister.” Xiao Xihe quickly pulled her back.

Liu An’an snorted lightly, choosing not to argue with him.

The disciple continued leading the two forward. As they passed through a courtyard, the sound of clattering and banging reached their ears. Xiao Xihe was just beginning to feel puzzled when, upon turning the corner, she saw the source of the noise and was utterly stunned.

Ahead, on a vast open ground, dozens of stoves were neatly arranged in rows. The cultivators who had been queuing outside earlier were now bustling about, frantically cooking. At a glance, it looked like a rural banquet.

…No, it was even more spectacular than a rural banquet—at least the chefs at such banquets didn’t make vegetables wash themselves.

“This… this… is there still an open spot?” Liu An’an gaped in astonishment.

The disciple gave her a glance. “Find your own spot. Each stove has fish, meat, and vegetables. You have half an hour. After cooking, the sect master will personally taste the dishes. Only those whose flavors meet the standard can stay.”

Xiao Xihe: “…” It felt like a cooking competition.

With that, the disciple turned and left. Liu An’an was at her wit’s end. “If it’s too much, I can arrange for a private kitchen just for you.”

“No need.” Xiao Xihe spotted an empty corner and walked straight over. “Second Senior Sister, help me light the fire.”

“Got it!” Liu An’an hurried after her.

Xiao Xihe rolled up her sleeves and began washing rice. The other stoves were all clustered together, but this one stood alone, with no fellow competitors nearby. As the two walked over, no one even bothered to glance up, each too absorbed in their own tasks.

…It seemed the sword Sword Mastery Sect had put up as a reward was truly important to them.

Though she had started consciously using her cultivation for tasks over the past year, when it came to cooking, Xiao Xihe still trusted her hands more. She did everything herself, never relying on Spiritual Power.

“Little Junior Sister, what are you making?” Liu An’an asked curiously.

Xiao Xihe kept her head down. “Just some congee.”

“…Everyone else is making elaborate dishes. Won’t we lose if we just make congee?”

As soon as Liu An’an asked, Xiao Xihe gave her a look of exasperation, and she suddenly realized. “Ah, right. We’re not here to compete.”

Xiao Xihe laughed helplessly, adding water to the white rice and pouring it into a clay pot. She used her Spiritual Power to keep the fire at a gentle simmer.

“That’s it. Let’s go check on the young master again and ask if he has any dietary restrictions. We can add ingredients once we know.” Xiao Xihe said.

Liu An’an nodded eagerly and pulled her along to Zhao Shaoqing’s room.

Zhao Shaoqing seemed to have just woken up, his eyes still tinged with red. The slightest movement made his robes hang loosely, revealing how thin and frail he was.

Xiao Xihe sighed inwardly at the tragedy of beauty’s fleeting nature, then smiled and stated their purpose.

Zhao Shaoqing pondered for a moment. “Since childhood, Shaoqing has only…”

“He eats light foods and doesn’t seem to have any particular dietary restrictions.”

“No special preferences?” Xiao Xihe pressed.

Zhao Shaoqing smiled slightly: “I suppose not.”

“How can someone have no personal preferences? Think carefully,” Xiao Xihe guided.

Zhao Shaoqing chuckled: “Truly, none.”

Xiao Xihe sighed: “You must think harder. Even naming just one thing would help. If you remain this indifferent to desires, your anorexia will be difficult to cure.”

Zhao Shaoqing froze: “Anorexia?”

Xiao Xihe was equally startled by his reaction: “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t have anorexia,” Zhao Shaoqing frowned slightly, “Though my appetite is poor, I still eat three meals a day.”

Xiao Xihe stared at him blankly before suddenly springing to her feet moments later: “Understood. Please rest, Young Master.”

With that, she grabbed Liu An’an and hurried out the door.

“Why are you in such a rush?” Liu An’an asked curiously.

Xiao Xihe’s mind was in turmoil as she muttered to herself: “How could I have missed it? Such an obvious trap and I didn’t see it…”

Now it made sense! If they were just hiring a chef for anorexia treatment, there was no need to publicize his Full Yin constitution! This was clearly a trap set specifically for her! If her guess was correct, Zhao Wuchen’s distinguished guest must be Xie Zhaixing! How did those two even get involved with each other?!

Countless questions swirled in Xiao Xihe’s mind as she desperately tried to leave.

Liu An’an trotted after her: “Junior sister, what exactly is happening?”

“No time to explain, second senior sister! We need to leave immediately!” Xiao Xihe declared, stepping one foot out of the courtyard—only to nearly collide with someone standing outside.

Liu An’an quickly pulled her back. Xiao Xihe stumbled two steps backward before regaining her balance. When she looked up, her mind went completely blank.

“Are you two Valley Master Liu’s prized disciples?” The middle-aged man she’d almost bumped into spoke amiably, his demeanor bearing some resemblance to Zhao Shaoqing’s.

Xiao Xihe swallowed hard, forcibly tearing her gaze away from the figure behind him: “…Indeed, Sect Leader Zhao.”

At her words, a certain someone lifted his gaze. His indifferent stare seemed capable of piercing straight through one’s soul.

“From Medicine God Valley?” he spoke slowly, his voice carrying an edge of cold lethality.

Like the winter winds of Shady Valley, the chill in his words nearly made Xiao Xihe shiver.