Gray mist was seen rising from the surface of the pool, baring its fangs and claws, like a giant tentacled monster in the deep sea. Gu Suihan was surrounded by it, beads of sweat the size of beans oozing from his forehead. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, his expression of forbearance.
"Does it hurt, Sui Han?" Her voice trembled slightly.
"Nothing, it's just a little...burning." Gu Suihan blurted out word by word. Shen Qingmang quickly told him to stop talking and concentrate on keeping his balance.
However, after a few breaths, he couldn't help wincing in pain. With a "gulp", the young man sank into the pool. Shen Qingmang was so scared that he broke into a cold sweat. He didn't care about being embarrassed or not. He ran over and grabbed the edge of the pool and shouted: "Sui Han! Sui Han!"
"Cough cough cough!" Gu Sui Han floated up with difficulty, gave her a smile, and wanted to say something to comfort her, but ended up coughing violently again.
Shen Qingmang gritted his teeth, untied his belt, took off his outer robe, put it together with his, then took off his silk shoes and stepped into the pool barefoot.
When she was in college, her school made swimming a compulsory course, supposedly to prevent accidents and cultivate survival skills. Shen Qingmang muttered, "Those who drown are those who can swim," but she still took it seriously.
At this moment, Gu Suihan's blurred vision saw a butterfly dancing lightly on the water. Its outstretched arms stirred up ripples in the water, stirring up the lake of his heart.
Shen Qingmang swam to the center of the pool, holding his arm with one hand and gently patting his back with the other. "Did you choke on the water? This herb is really torturous."
The feeling she had while soaking in the pool was like her tongue being surrounded by ginger tea, with a slight spicy and painful sensation. Gu Suihan, who was already very weak, must have felt it even worse.
"It really hurts, Master..." Gu Suihan said aggrievedly, "Can you please stop soaking?"
"No." She frowned. "Good medicine tastes bitter, but it helps the disease."
"I'd rather have it bitter. Right now I feel like I'm being roasted on a fire." Gu Suihan put his arm around her waist. "Master, let me lean on you for a moment. I'm really feeling miserable."
"Go ahead, go ahead." Shen Qingmang said magnanimously, "I came here to serve as a wooden stake for you."
"A wooden stake can't be this fragrant and soft." Gu Suihan snorted.
"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll kick you into the bottom of the pond and make you a turtle." Shen Qingmang glared at him.
He immediately shook his head and hummed twice, indicating that he would not speak again.
The world suddenly fell silent. Shen Qingmang occasionally reached out to wipe away the sweat on Gu Suihan's face, but it quickly condensed again. His arms around her tightened and loosened, and he would cry out when the pain became unbearable. She caressed his cheek lovingly, trying to comfort him.
Half an hour finally passed. Shen Qingmang asked Gu Suihan to hold her neck and swim ashore with him. Both of them were wet. She cast a spell to evaporate the moisture in an instant.
Gu Sui Han put on his outer robe and helped her dress diligently. Shen Qingmang was tired of dragging a big man who was heavier than herself ashore, so she let him serve her until she felt that his hand was dishonest and patted it gently.
"After being tossed around like this, you still have the mind to think about other things? Do you want to soak for another half hour?"
Gu Suihan quickly shook his head. "No, no, go back and rest."
They teleported back to the courtyard, and soon a disciple brought some nourishing medicinal food. The master and disciple smelled a scent similar to that of the turnip pond, looked at each other, and neither of them picked up their chopsticks first.
"The master has instructed that Fellow Daoist Gu must eat these dishes. These dishes will help Fellow Daoist regain his normal sense of taste." said the disciple who delivered the food.
"Okay, thank you." Shen Qingmang gave him a kind smile. After he left, she looked at Gu Suihan with a smile: "Eat it. It's good for your health."
"Master..." Gu Sui Han looked at her pitifully.
She smiled more gently, picked up the bowl, picked up the spoon, and brought it to his mouth: "Be good, open your mouth, ah——"
Gu Suihan's face flushed with embarrassment. He quickly snatched the bowl and spoon, looking ready to die, and stuffed mouthful after mouthful into his mouth.
After chewing for a while, his expression gradually softened. "It tastes surprisingly good."
"Really?" Shen Qingmang curiously scooped a spoonful of soup and tasted it. "Pah! Why is it bitter and spicy?"
"But I think it's fresh and fragrant. I haven't had such delicious soup in a long time." said Gu Suihan.
"Maybe it's made just for you. If your sense of taste doesn't return, I'll get their recipe and make it for you once I learn it." Shen Qingmang held up his chin and looked at him: "But maybe it really is effective. You looked so red just now, I've never seen it before. Your complexion has always been sickly pale, but now you look much healthier and rosier."
Gu Suihan subconsciously touched his face. "Really?"
"It's good now. Health is the capital of revolution. Only by keeping healthy can we have the strength to expose their conspiracy."
"Uh-huh."
In the evening, Huichun Zhenren came for a follow-up consultation and asked in detail about Gu Suihan's experience with soaking in the turnip pool and eating. Shen Qingmang listened and took notes. After she left, Shen Qingmang sighed, "What a kind doctor."
"Master Huichun is a good man," Gu Suihan said, his eyes softening. "When the Taichu Sect suffered a heavy blow, the first to offer assistance were also the Qihuang Sect. They sent dozens of highly skilled practitioners to treat the injured disciples."
Shen Qingmang's mind flickered. "Did the Qihuang Sect participate in the later suppression of the Fangyuan Sect?"
"No. The only ones participating are Wuwang Sect and Zhige Sect."
"Oh... the Wuwang Sect was tricked and turned against us. The Zhige Sect itself is a warmongering sect."
"That's not the case. The Zhige Sect actually opposes war," Gu Suihan said. "They're willing to participate because they have a deep hatred for the Fangyuan Sect. I'm not exactly sure about the details."
"I thought '止戈' was an irony, but I didn't expect that sword cultivators and knife cultivators don't like fighting?" Shen Qingmang raised his eyebrows.
"Loving sparring and hating war are not mutually exclusive."
"That's true." Shen Qingmang nodded. "I haven't heard of any grudges between the Zhige Sect and the Fangyuan Sect yet. Did they develop in the future?"
"Hmm." Gu Suihan asked, "Master, do you still want to consider joining forces with other sects to jointly eliminate the Fangyuan Sect?"
Shen Qingmang shook his head. "That's too cruel. Unless everyone in the Fangyuan Sect is utterly vicious, we'll always kill the wrong person. This matter doesn't have to be resolved by killing. We're sure we can think of a better way."
"Well, at least the issue of spiritual power exhaustion isn't imminent yet." Gu Suihan reached out and smoothed Shen Qingmang's furrowed brow. "Master, don't worry too much. We can predict the enemy's actions, which gives us an advantage."
"Okay, you should get some sleep too. We still have to soak in the turnip pool tomorrow."
As soon as Shen Qingmang finished speaking, Gu Suihan's face immediately turned bitter and he said goodbye to her dejectedly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
