Chapter 182 – The Protagonist (20)

“Looks like you two were having quite a bit of fun,” Gongxi Yue finally broke the silence.

There wasn’t a trace of sarcasm in her tone—just a simple observation.

Though there were plenty of elders who doted on Qian and were willing to play with her, none of them had ever done so like Wen Xunzhen did.

Wen Xunzhen awkwardly avoided her gaze, her hands balling up the curtain she’d been wearing.

Then it hit her—something was off. She looked at Gongxi Yue again, startled. “You can see?”

“For now, yes. It won’t last long.” Gongxi Yue stood and walked toward Qian, who was bouncing up and down with her arms outstretched, calling for her mother.

“Can I check your pulse?” Wen Xunzhen asked quickly.

Gongxi Yue lifted Qian into one arm and extended the other toward her.

Wen Xunzhen barely needed a moment—her fingertips rested on Gongxi Yue’s wrist for only an instant before her eyes filled with something like reluctant admiration.

She’d actually done it—used sword qi to suppress the Medicinal Qi. How could anyone pull off something like that?

The impossible for others… she made possible. So this was the kind of genius that made even the Yunyin Immortal Sect proud.

No wonder so many people revered her.

Wen Xunzhen knew she was a prodigy when it came to medicine. She had a natural sensitivity to herbs and spirit plants, often able to concoct remedies not even recorded in the ancient medical texts, even without a teacher.

Her cultivation was lacking, but during her days on the run with Xiao Shou after fleeing Medical Valley, she’d used all sorts of pills to outwit and defeat cultivators far stronger than herself.

And yet… against Gongxi Yue, she hit a wall at every turn.

She had thought that even if she couldn’t control Gongxi Yue with medicine, at the very least she could make her cautious. Force her to think twice.

But looking at her now—this woman who could dream up a way to condense sword qi to suppress Medicinal Qi and was bold enough to attempt it—she realized Gongxi Yue wouldn’t fear her, even with the most dangerous, unsolvable poison in her veins. That kind of pride…

While Wen Xunzhen stood off to the side, lost in her tangled thoughts, Qian was already chattering away in her mother’s arms.

“Mother, you slept for three whole days again! You really love sleeping!”

“I’ve told you more than once, I wasn’t sleeping. I was cultivating.”

“Ohhh, but you cultivated sleeping for so long, and I didn’t disturb you at all.”

“Because you had someone else to bother.”

Qian dragged her mother over to show her the food she’d made.

On the table sat a chaotic array of cups, bowls, and plates, each holding misshapen or crumbled pieces of flower cakes.

Pointing proudly at the strange assortment, Qian announced, “These are dumplings!”

The sweet filling of the flower cakes had been scooped out and replaced with various other fillings before being pinched shut.

“And these—Zhenzhen and I made these tangyuan!”

The flower cakes had been rolled into round balls. The ones that looked like duck eggs—huge and with visible little finger dents—were obviously Qian’s work. The smaller, smooth, pellet-like spheres that looked almost like alchemy pills were Wen Xunzhen’s.

While Qian stood there with her chest puffed out in pride, Wen Xunzhen shifted her gaze away, nearly clawing holes into her sleeves out of sheer embarrassment.

She really didn’t want Gongxi Yue to see these “masterpieces.”

Thankfully, Gongxi Yue showed no reaction at all. After tossing out a few emotionless words of praise, she simply said she’d take them out to the herb garden to gather medicine.

Before leaving, Wen Xunzhen put on her veil—something she always did whenever they went out, a small effort to conceal her appearance.

Their destination was the finest herb garden for Jiaomu Flowers in the area. The steward informed them that it would cost one hundred Spirit Stones per person for entry into the regular garden, with Jiaomu Flowers priced separately at one hundred Spirit Stones per stalk.

“The highest-grade herb plot. Three people,” Gongxi Yue said.

The steward’s smile blossomed at once. “Thirty thousand Spirit Stones. If you want to select Jiaomu Flowers, this jade box can hold twelve stalks. That’ll be an additional thirty thousand Spirit Stones.”

Gongxi Yue handed over sixty thousand Spirit Stones without batting an eye.

It was only then that Wen Xunzhen truly felt—yes, this was someone from the Gongxi Family, rich enough to burn money without a flicker of emotion.

After accepting the payment, the steward cheerfully presented them with a jade box designed for storing Jiaomu Flowers. Only these specially-made containers could preserve them—ordinary storage bags would leave the flowers withered before they even left the garden.

There weren’t many people inside the high-grade plot. Everyone stayed far apart, the air thick with abundant spiritual energy and the sweet-spicy scent of Jiaomu Flowers.

Wen Xunzhen’s eyes lit up at the sight of so many rare, high-quality medicinal plants. She carefully examined each stalk, moving from one to the next, choosing with great care.

Her selection process was painfully meticulous—examining the petals and leaves, occasionally even brushing away soil to inspect the roots.

Gongxi Yue followed behind her with her sword in hand, while Qian squatted off to one side, happily playing with the dirt along the garden’s edge.

Each Jiaomu Flower was planted separately, surrounded by low-growing companion grass that bore small, thumb-sized red berries.

To any observer, Wen Xunzhen seemed absorbed in her flower-picking. But as her fingers brushed over those tiny red fruits, her heartbeat quickened slightly.

These were Danhong berries—a plant that only grew alongside Jiaomu Flowers. It was a medicinal ingredient she’d been trying to collect ever since leaving the valley. Something that could help her alter her deformed body.

After selecting one Jiaomu Flower, she casually plucked a few Danhong berries.

“The prescription you’re using to treat my eyes doesn’t call for that,” Gongxi Yue’s voice came from behind her.

Wen Xunzhen stayed calm. “I’m just curious about this companion grass. Thought I’d study it a bit. The Medicinal Qi and Medicine Worm in your body won’t resolve overnight. This herb might be useful down the line. Besides, the garden doesn’t forbid people from taking some companion plants.”

Gongxi Yue stared at her for a long moment. “There’s no need. You just focus on the Jiaomu Flowers.”

Wen Xunzhen froze, then slowly let go of the berries still within reach. “…Fine.”

With Gongxi Yue watching her like a hawk, there was no way she’d get her hands on the Danhong this time.

No matter. There would be other chances. Wen Xunzhen took a deep breath, forcing herself not to show a trace of frustration.

They continued gathering Jiaomu Flowers in silence when, all of a sudden, a group of people appeared not far off.

A pair of nearly identical twin boys led the way, followed by several men and women dressed in blue robes. The group was deep in conversation about the spirit herbs in the garden.

“Every single Jiaomu Flower in our top-grade plot has its own dedicated caretaker. I dare say the best Jiaomu Flowers in all of Le’er City are right here!” one of the boys boasted.

A middle-aged man in blue robes nodded with satisfaction. “Indeed. Each stalk is a rare treasure.”

A woman in blue robes behind him added, “It’s a pity Jiaomu Flowers only grow in Le’er City.”

Leading them onward, the twin boy laughed and said, “If you folks from Medical Valley ever need more, you’re always welcome to come harvest them yourselves. No trouble at all.”

Hearing the conversation nearby, Wen Xunzhen instinctively reached up to cover the veil on her face and turned her back to them.

Those men and women in blue robes were disciples of Medical Valley. The man and woman leading the group were her Senior Disciples, people who had seen her before.

They mustn’t see her! If they did, she’d be dragged back for sure! Wen Xunzhen’s face went pale as she clutched the jade box tightly in her hands.

Remembering that Gongxi Yue knew she was the Valley Master’s daughter, Wen Xunzhen couldn’t help but glance up at her, wondering if she’d turn her over to the Medical Valley people.

But just as she moved her head, Gongxi Yue reached out and pressed it down, then casually stepped aside to hide behind her, using Wen Xunzhen’s body to shield herself from their line of sight.

Wen Xunzhen: “…”

I wasn’t even planning to hide behind you… and now you’re hiding behind me?

“Lonely Moon Sword Monarch, what’s the meaning of this?” she whispered.

Gongxi Yue’s expression remained calm. “Those two boys are the City Lord of Le’er City’s sons. They once sought to become my disciples at the Yunyin Immortal Sect, but I refused.”

Of course, it hadn’t been that simple. Back then, those two had indeed been sent to Yunyin Immortal Sect, hoping to become her disciples. After she refused, they went to see her again, only to suddenly lose their minds and start shouting about wanting to become her Dao Companions.

If it had been anyone else, Gongxi Yue would have long since kicked them down the mountain. But these two were the nephews of her late Uncle Qingyue’s Dao Companion. Uncle Qingyue had adored them, and they were both young and weak in cultivation—she couldn’t just kick them aside.

They’d pestered her for years, and she’d had no choice. Even as a genius Sword Cultivator, all she could do was avoid them whenever possible.

Wen Xunzhen didn’t know the details, but she understood now why Gongxi Yue had been so low-key since arriving in Le’er City—clearly, it was to avoid those two.

“Mother! Zhenzhen! Look!”

Just when both Wen Xunzhen and Gongxi Yue were silently hoping to stay unnoticed, that troublesome child, Qian, came running over, her loud voice instantly drawing the other group’s attention.

Before Wen Xunzhen could even see what Qian was holding, she reacted on instinct, scooping her up and conveniently using her chubby little body to block her own face.

Gongxi Yue, ever adaptable, immediately shifted to hide within the blind spot created by the two of them, reaching out to yank Wen Xunzhen’s veil off and tie it over her own face.

Wen Xunzhen: ?

Left veil-less, all she could do was bury her face into Qian’s soft belly.

Qian, thinking she was playing, laughed and wrapped her arms around her head. The bug she’d been holding slipped from her fingers and fell right down the back of Wen Xunzhen’s collar.

“Ah!”

The two boys and the Medical Valley disciples, seeing only a woman holding a child and another person mostly obscured, assumed it was just a family out on an outing. Without a second glance, they turned back to their discussion about the herb garden and slowly walked away.

Once their voices faded into the distance, Wen Xunzhen immediately set Qian down and reached behind her back.

“What is this?” She felt an itch along her spine.

“My bug! It went inside! The one I dug up!” Qian cried, tugging at Wen Xunzhen’s collar, trying to shove her arm inside to retrieve it.

Goosebumps broke out all over Wen Xunzhen—not because of the bug, but because of Qian’s little hands.

“Qian, don’t move,” Wen Xunzhen said through gritted teeth.

Gongxi Yue stepped in, pulling Qian away. “Let me.”

With a single palm strike, she slapped Wen Xunzhen’s back, squashing the wriggling insect flat inside her clothes, leaving a smear of bug guts printed on her lower back.

“There. It’s not moving anymore,” Gongxi Yue said.

Wen Xunzhen froze, stiff-backed and motionless, staring at the perfectly innocent and upright mother and daughter in front of her. Her expression must have been too ridiculous, because Gongxi Yue suddenly turned her head to the side and let out a laugh.

She still had Wen Xunzhen’s veil on her face, though unlike Wen Xunzhen’s elegant, airy way of wearing it, Gongxi Yue had simply tied it tight around her mouth and nose, looking for all the world like a masked bandit.

The soft fabric shifted with her smile, making the curve of her lips beneath it unmistakable.

Wen Xunzhen stiffly averted her gaze, stiffly picked the remaining pepper-eye flowers, and stiffly left the herb garden.

Since she needed to use a pill furnace for the next step, Gongxi Yue booked them into an inn with an attached alchemy room.

This time, the rooms were slightly bigger, partitioned into three sections.

Outside the screen, Qian was crouched over Wen Xunzhen’s discarded clothes, searching for her bug’s remains and proudly holding them up to show her mother.

Inside the screen, Wen Xunzhen silently scrubbed herself clean.

Well… what more could she expect? At least there was a screen this time.

When she was done washing up, she went straight into the alchemy room to start processing the herbs.

Gongxi Yue and Qian followed her in.

Knowing there was no chance of driving them out, Wen Xunzhen could only grit her teeth and get to work.

To counter the Medicine Worm’s Medicinal Qi, she’d need to use hundreds of different herbs this time, divided across multiple refining sessions. It was going to be a long, complicated process, likely taking several days.

So that she could use spirit fire for the refining, Gongxi Yue temporarily removed the Spirit-Locking Ring fastened around her neck.

Seeing Gongxi Yue sitting cross-legged in the corner of the alchemy room, eyes closed in meditation, Wen Xunzhen knew her internal Medicinal Qi was flaring up again—she was likely blind once more.

“Zhenzhen, can this fire be used to roast pastries?” Qian squatted beside the furnace, cupping her face in her hands.

“Of course not!”

“Oh.” Qian stared at the dancing flames for a while, then asked again, “Can it roast sweet potatoes?”

“No.”

“What about fish?”

“…”

“Bugs?”

“…”

By the second day of refining, Wen Xunzhen had completed her first batch. Wiping sweat from her brow, she caught sight of Qian nearby, playing with a box of beads. Among the pearls and gold beads, there were a few red ones mixed in.

If she wasn’t mistaken… those were the Danhong fruits she’d failed to collect from the herb garden.

Wen Xunzhen: !!!

“Qian, where did you get these red fruits?”

“Hmm? I picked them while Zhenzhen and Mother were talking.”

She thought the bright red berries looked pretty, so she picked a whole bunch and stuffed them into her storage bracelet… then went off digging for bugs.

Wen Xunzhen cautiously asked, “Qian… can I have a few of these red fruits?”

“Sure!” The child agreed without hesitation, carefully picking out the red ones for her, including two rubies and a couple of coral beads.

“I’ve got lots more!” she said cheerfully, digging out another handful of Danhong fruits from her storage bracelet and dumping them into Wen Xunzhen’s hands.

“…Thank you, Qian.” Wen Xunzhen pressed her lips together, then, taking the initiative, reached out and pulled her into a hug.