Pei Ji had a nightmare.

In the dream, he returned to the home where he used to live, the cellar where he lived throughout his childhood.

The cellar was narrow and cramped, without sunlight. His mother hated to see him, and whenever she was unhappy, she would lock him in that small room. When Pei Ji stayed there alone, the thick darkness seemed to be the whole world.

- In fact, for him, the cellar was a very fortunate relief. He was the only one there, and he would not be beaten or punished by his mother for no reason. As long as he curled up in a corner and closed his eyes, he could spend a quiet and peaceful time in his sleep.

And at this moment, he came to the cellar again.

It was still pitch dark and filled with a bone-chilling cold. The darkness and the cold air formed a web like a spider's web, silently enveloping him, accompanied by a suffocating sense of oppression.

Suddenly, the entrance to the top of the cellar was opened, and Pei Ji saw his long-dead mother.

The woman remained the same as when she died, but her once graceful face was no longer recognizable.

Her cheeks were a strange light red and brownish color, and her pupils were rolled up high, almost invisible in her eye sockets. One could only see the whites of her eyes mixed with red bloodshot, as if soaked in blood.

Her body twisted into an extremely unreasonable posture, as if every joint was broken and reassembled. As she approached him step by step, her bones made a clattering sound.

"You bastard! Demon!"

The woman's voice echoed in his heart again and again, like the long bell in the cold night, making people feel cold all over. The hatred and disgust on her face became stronger and stronger, and her voice became sharper and sharper, like a long knife slashing the eardrum: "Nothing good has ever happened to you, and you have dragged everyone down sooner or later. Disaster star, why don't you die?!"

He was suddenly startled.

Then he opened his eyes with a gasp.

Every corner of his body was filled with tearing pain, and the place where Xuanye had injured him before seemed to be burning with raging flames. He was used to the pain, but he still frowned subconsciously.

His head was buzzing with pain. The demonic energy and sword energy in his body finally calmed down, but the pain was still there, like millions of insects biting at his bone marrow.

In the world of immortal cultivation, killing people above one's level is not so uncommon. However, the gap between the Golden Elixir and the Yuan Infant should not be underestimated, not to mention that Xuanye was once a master of the Spiritualization Stage. If you want to defeat him, you must risk your life.

Unlike Ning Ning and others, Pei Ji has long been accustomed to struggling between life and death, so he is not afraid of a fight to the death. As long as he can kill the enemy, he would rather bet everything, including his life.

——Besides, his life is worthless and has no ties. Even if he really dies, no one will be harmed.

The young man's expression dimmed a little, and he looked up at the surrounding scene.

He lost consciousness after the battle with Xuanye, and should have been sent to the hospital for treatment.

The tip of his nose was surrounded by the smoky scent of herbs. Because he was lying flat on the bed, Pei Ji could see the dark brown beams. He tilted his head slightly and saw

someone sitting on the wooden stool beside his bed.

Pei Ji never thought that when he woke up, he would see someone by his side.

Whether he fainted from injuries, cold and hunger as a child, or was seriously injured and unconscious in battle later, he always gritted his teeth and endured it alone, and when he woke up, he found some herbs to heal his wounds.

The tree scent and medicinal smell on that person blended together, which greatly alleviated the bitterness that filled the entire space.

She was wearing a lavender dress, and her black hair fell obediently on her chest. Because she was holding a book to cover her entire face, Pei Ji could not see her appearance.

He could only see a few large words on the book.

"365 Days with Zhenxiao Sword Master".

Pei Ji endured the pain and said hesitantly, "... Junior Sister?"

Ning Ning didn't seem to expect him to wake up at this time. Her hands were waving back and forth in a panic. The book "365 Days with Zhen Xiao Jian Zun" was juggling up and down, constantly passing between her hands. Finally, she slammed it shut and threw it on the wooden table on the other side.

For some reason, her face turned red, as if she had done something shameful. She looked him in the eye with a calm look; Cheng Ying, who

would shout every time he saw her, also inexplicably shut up and was as quiet as a chicken.

Pei Ji didn't understand and frowned.

"You scared us to death!"

Ning Ning spoke in a deep voice after a short silence, but because of the light powder on her face and the slightly flustered tone, the whole sentence seemed less intimidating: "You actually introduced the evil spirit into the sword... If you don't control it properly, let alone dealing with Xuanye, you can't even save your own life, do you know!"

Pei Ji's eyes showed a trace of mocking sneer, and he perfunctorily replied: "Yeah."

Ning Ning is a delicate flower that has been carefully cared for since childhood, so Pei Ji will not, and does not want to waste time telling her, he has long been accustomed to this kind of thing.

There is no way out, no one to rely on, if he does not try his best to gamble, he will be the only one to die.

"Your 'hmm' is too perfunctory."

Ning Ning didn't like to hide her feelings when she spoke. She made a sound similar to a low hum, turned her eyes away from him, and said in a somewhat stiff tone: "It was the same before in the ancient forest. You always rushed to the front alone... and we were there."

Pei Ji was slightly stunned.

"I know you used to be alone, but now it's completely different from that time."

She seemed to be very uncomfortable saying such things. She looked very awkward. In the end, she simply gave up and looked straight into Pei Ji's eyes: "In short, a junior brother should behave like a junior brother. Don't always think about being a hero. Occasionally, you should give the seniors a chance to show off! Your senior sister is not weak. Even if I am powerless, I can still protect you!"

At this point, the tone softened again: "...But I still have to thank you this time, the one who helped me stop Xuanye. Thank you, I'll treat you to a big meal when I go back - you still have to share some of your trust with us in the future, don't always think of yourself as alone."

Pei Ji never thought that Ning Ning would say such a thing.

It turned out that she didn't want to scold him from a high position for not knowing how to cherish his life, but she was angry that he deliberately excluded himself from the group and always walked alone.

No one has ever told him that he doesn't have to rush forward alone at all costs, I can also protect you.

He had grown up alone in the mire for many years, and could endure all malice and suffering without any expression. But when he heard these words, he felt a little helpless for the first time and didn't know how to respond.

The pale-faced boy finally showed some signs of confusion, and there was still mist in his black pupils, which completely concealed the gloom and coldness from not long ago.

Seeing that his expression had softened, Ning Ning snorted with a bit of pride: "I'm not stupid! It's just because you stole the show like this and made me, a senior sister, very embarrassed."

Cheng Ying finally spoke: "Did you notice? Every time Ning Ning cares about you, she makes some silly excuses , to break up the relationship with you. In fact, her intention is so obvious that everyone can see it."

After saying that, she couldn't help but laugh: "She is so cute. You must not expose her, Pei Xiaoji."

As soon as she finished saying this, a strong herbal smell suddenly came into the room.

A female doctor in white pushed the door open, holding a porcelain bowl filled with medicine. Following closely behind her was an elegant young man, exuding a scholarly air.

Ning Ning exchanged a glance with them and introduced them patiently: "These two are Miss Xie and Doctor Chen from the clinic. Thanks to them, you have barely managed to survive."

"The young master is finally awake."

After hearing Pei Ji's thanks, the female doctor smiled faintly and glanced at Ning Ning who was sitting next to him: "Miss Ning Ning has been staying by your bed without eating or drinking since she sent you to this clinic. If you don't close your eyes again, I will be worried about her." Ning Ning's

eyes suddenly widened: "I just, just want to go on a diet and lose weight! Can dieting be called 'losing appetite'?"

She paused for a moment after she finished speaking, as if she remembered something, and took out a few colorful, round and round little things from her storage bag. Pei Ji looked carefully and found that it was a pile of candies.

"I went ashore with my senior sister today and bought some candies. Anyway, I can't finish them all by myself, so I might as well share some with you - I heard that this medicine is very bitter."

Somehow, the female doctor and the doctor beside him laughed at the same time.

Pei Ji hesitated for a while and shook his head gently: "I am not afraid of bitterness, so

I don't need this." "Young master, just accept it."

The female doctor smiled ambiguously and covered her lips with her free left hand: "This is Miss Ningning's kindness after all. If you refuse, she will be sad."

The doctor was also mysterious: "This medicine is indeed very bitter. You will not suffer any loss if you eat candies."

Ningning seemed a little angry and looked at him angrily, but she was angry but didn't say anything, and she still looked careless on the surface.

So Pei Ji had no choice but to nod, and she immediately forced a candy into his palm. He heard Ning Ning's dry voice: "Try it first and see how it tastes."

In fact, he seldom eats candy.

When he was a child, Pei Ji was afraid of bitterness and pain, but later he got used to it, and no matter how bitter the medicine was, he could hold his breath and swallow it in one breath. Although there will still be a lot of unpleasant tastes left in his mouth, he can always grit his teeth and endure it slowly.

As long as he gets through the most bitter and painful time, it will be fine.

He clumsily opened the paper wrapped around the candy and saw a small milky white ball. This is a soothing color, like thick mist or sweet milk, melted into a ball without any impurities.

Pei Ji took a quick look at Ning Ning and put it into his mouth.

The sweet aroma of milk swept across his tongue, with a hint of honey. There was a faint smell of blood in his throat, but under this fragrance, it disappeared silently, leaving behind the refreshing milk fragrance.

His pupils were often filled with dark hostility, but now they seemed to be quietly dissolved by the fragrance, turning into a pool of quiet water, and finally had the appearance of an ordinary teenager, appearing gentle and harmless.

Ning Ning frowned, her eyes and tone were indifferent: "How is it?"

"...very sweet."

Pei Ji nodded: "Thank you, senior sister."

She seemed to be planning to curl the corners of her mouth, but as soon as her lips were raised, they were forced back and turned into a thin straight line: "That's good. You have good taste."

"Miss Ningning, I heard from the monsters in the city that several elders from the Xuanxu Sword Sect have come here and are waiting for you to come."

The doctor's smile never stopped from beginning to end, and now she emphasized: "We will help you take good care of the young master, don't worry."

Ningning stuffed a handful of candies to Pei Ji again, and frowned when she heard it: "Sister, what do you mean by 'help me take care of him', I'm not worried about him at all."

After she finished speaking, she hurriedly said goodbye, and before leaving, she did not forget to remind: "Don't forget these candies! I bought them with my private money. They are all your senior sister's hard-earned money. You must treat them well!"

Pei Ji had no choice but to nod.

"Young Master, don't believe what Miss Ningning said."

After her figure disappeared from sight, the doctor smiled softly and said, "The young city lord showed up recently, and the elders were taken to the interrogation hall for public trial. There were so many things, big and small, that we didn't have time to go to the shore to play. That candy was bought by Miss Ningning herself on the shore for you."

"I heard that she got lost in the city on the shore. After finally wandering out of the city, she got lost in the woods again. Don't think she's stupid. When Miss Ningning returned to Galan City, she was too tired to move, and all the bandaged wounds on her body were broken."

The doctor at the side also laughed: "She said our medicine smelled too bitter, so she bought a lot of candy for you. She sat in front of the clinic and tasted them one by one. Several of them were so sour that her teeth hurt. Is the one you are eating now sweet? They were all selected by Miss Ningning one by one."

Pei Ji did not respond, but just hummed softly, then took the porcelain bowl expressionlessly and lowered his head to drink the medicine.

Without warning, a thin red rose up at the base of his ears, like a light stroke of ink, gently and softly dotting the young man's fair skin.

How strange.

The taste of the medicine that he once hated so much was no longer so unpleasant to him when he took it.

The female doctor pursed her lips and smiled, with an expression of "I understand, you don't need to say anything", and stepped on tiptoe to whisper to the doctor: "The young master is shy. Let's stop teasing him."

The latter nodded in understanding and responded leisurely: "It's good to be young, it's good to be young."

"Oh, oh."

Chengying tried hard to hold back her laughter, and used a very exaggerated broadcasting tone, just like reciting an elementary school student's composition with emotion: "It is the tongue that tastes the candy, but in fact the heart is the sweetest, am I right?"

After a pause, she burst into an even more unscrupulous laugh: "Did you laugh secretly just now? Was it? Don't deny it! Wow! He blushed! Pei Ji can actually blush! Oh my God!"