Chapter 43: Chapter 42: Xiaxia is Injured
The leader of the Qig Mountain Academy students frowned and barked, "I’ll have you know, my cousin is a student at South Mountain! Give me the Seven Stars Grass now, and I’ll let you off the hook. How about it?"
"South Mountain, you say?" Wen Qingye said, his brow twisting.
Seeing Wen Qingye’s frown, the lead Qig Mountain Academy student felt a surge of delight and said impatiently, "Hurry up and give it to me. If I change my mind..."
WHAM!
The world blurred before the lead Qig Mountain Academy student’s eyes, and he was sent flying.
Everyone present stared at Wen Qingye in astonishment. No one had expected him to strike, and with such speed—so fast that none of them had time to react.
"You... you’re dead! What’s your name?" the lead Qig Mountain Academy student stammered, pointing at Wen Qingye.
He knew he was no match for the man before him, but he couldn’t stand the thought of Wen Qingye taking the medicinal herb.
Wen Qingye blinked. "My name is Wen Qingye."
The lead Qig Mountain Academy student froze for a moment, then sneered. "So you’re Wen Qingye. Just you wait. This won’t end well for you, you coward!"
With that, the lead student turned and left with the other Qig Mountain Academy students in tow.
Wen Qingye let out a soft chuckle, then walked over to the old man and little girl. He smiled and said, "Here is your Seven Stars Grass, returned to its rightful owners."
"Thank you, thank you," the old man said profusely. He then turned to the little girl beside him. "Yunshan, hurry and thank our benefactor."
"Thank you, benefactor," Yunshan said, looking up at Wen Qingye with her large, sparkling eyes.
Wen Qingye looked at the delicate little girl, smiled, and said, "You’re welcome. I should be on my way. It isn’t safe here, so you two should head back soon."
With that, Wen Qingye turned and departed.
Yunshan watched Wen Qingye’s receding figure, crinkling her little nose. "Grandpa, that big brother was amazing."
The old man chuckled. "Yes, he was. And once our Little Yunshan’s sickness is cured, she’ll be amazing too."
......
Wen Qingye gazed at the thatched hut ahead and let out a contented sigh.
As he approached the thatched hut, something felt off. He noticed that the medicinal field he’d had Xiaxia plant nearby looked like it had been turned over and replanted with new herbs.
’The herbs I had Xiaxia plant mature quickly, but not *this* quickly,’ Wen Qingye was puzzled.
Wen Qingye hurried into the house and immediately saw Xiaxia sitting in a chair, her arm held against her chest. Gao Yuerou stood gracefully beside her, wrapping a bandage around Xiaxia’s arm.
"What happened?" Wen Qingye asked, his brow furrowed.
Xiaxia’s heart leaped with joy at the sound of his voice. She scrambled to her feet and looked at him. "Master, you’re back!"
Beside her, Gao Yuerou’s lips curved into a smile when she saw Wen Qingye, but her eyes quickly revealed a hint of worry.
"Answer me. How did you injure your arm?" Wen Qingye demanded, his face stern.
Seeing Wen Qingye’s stern expression, Xiaxia stuck out her tongue. "A few days ago, a Gale Wolf came down from North Mountain. A Gale Wolf is a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Heaven Demon Beast, and I was no match for it. It didn’t just injure me; it also trampled and destroyed the medicinal field."
’A Demon Beast from North Mountain?’ Wen Qingye couldn’t help but recall what Lil Ya had once said to him. ’It seems there really is some mystery on that mountain. I’ll have to go take a look when I have the time.’
"Oh, right, Master," Xiaxia said, her face suddenly turning red. "An old man came by a few days ago. He asked who I was and what my relationship with you is."
Wen Qingye guessed at once that it must have been that old man, Lil Ya. ’Lil Ya rarely shows his face at Qig Mountain Academy, so it’s only natural Xiaxia wouldn’t recognize him.’
"What did you tell him?" Wen Qingye asked.
Xiaxia continued, "I said I was your apprentice. He didn’t ask anything else after that. Instead, he left behind some Primordial Stones and pills."
Wen Qingye nodded. "I see. I won’t blame you for not watching over the medicinal field this time. You can keep the Primordial Stones and pills the old man gave you."
"Really, Master?" Xiaxia said joyfully.
"Yes, really," Wen Qingye confirmed with a nod.
"Master, you’re the best!" Xiaxia said, beaming.
Seeing Xiaxia’s happy face, Wen Qingye knew Lil Ya must have left behind a considerable amount of Primordial Stones and herbs. He couldn’t help but smile as well.
Wen Qingye turned to Gao Yuerou. "Thank you for taking care of Xiaxia all this time."
He hadn’t expected that Gao Yuerou would be the one to look after Xiaxia while he was gone, especially after she’d gotten hurt.
Gao Yuerou quickly waved her hands. "It’s no trouble at all. I think Xiaxia is adorable, and I really enjoy spending time with her."
"I like Sister Yuerou, too!" Xiaxia chimed in from the side.
.....
After Xiaxia went to rest, Wen Qingye and Gao Yuerou walked slowly outside.
Gao Yuerou bit her lip and asked, "Qingye, did you hate me back then?"
Wen Qingye’s heart tightened. Back before he had confessed his feelings for Gao Yuerou, they had been on good terms, and she had always called him Qingye.
In truth, after the two souls had merged, the current Wen Qingye still held a lingering attachment to Gao Yuerou. It was something etched into his very soul, not easily changed.
Wen Qingye smiled. "Of course not. Why would I hate you?"
Hearing his words, Gao Yuerou couldn’t help but smile. "Thank you... for not hating me."
Wen Qingye looked at the woman before him and sighed inwardly. ’She really is a kind girl.’
Gao Yuerou said softly, "I should go now. Don’t walk me out, it wouldn’t look good if someone saw."
Wen Qingye rubbed his nose. "Is that right? I suppose it wouldn’t."
"No, that’s not what I meant! I mean, it wouldn’t be good for *you*. Never mind. I’m leaving now," Gao Yuerou said, then hurried away, gradually disappearing from Wen Qingye’s view.
In the days that followed, Wen Qingye took out the herbs he had acquired: the Sixth-Grade Star Mist Flower, the Seventh-Grade Ice Fire Vine, the Seventh-Grade Rain Dew Flower, two Fourth-Grade Herbs, Black Pearl, a small vial of Stone Milk, and a large quantity of Monkey Brew.
"I’m still missing a few medicinal herbs; otherwise, I could solve the problem with Xiaoyun’s face," Wen Qingye mused with a smile. The thought of Zhang Xiaoyun brought another smile to his lips. ’I wonder if she’s doing well where she is.’
After a moment of thought, Wen Qingye carefully put away the Rain Dew Flower and Black Pearl. These were for treating the marks on Xiaoyun’s face. As for the Ice Fire Vine and the other two Fourth-Grade Herbs, he planned to combine them with some common herbs to refine a Sixth-Grade Pill: the Ice Fire Pill.
The Ice Fire Pill was excellent for advancing one’s cultivation. Even for Wen Qingye, who had already reached the Refining Essence Realm, it would be extremely useful.
One day, as Wen Qingye was sitting by his door, basking in the sun, Luo Tang arrived.
