Chapter 103 Cloud Soul and Rain Spirit (Part Two) "What illness does she have?"...
Upon hearing this, Xuanzhen very considerately draped an outer robe over him.
"The Lord's clothes are always light and thin. Even if you want to wear them, you'll have to wear an extra layer underneath. It's already autumn."
Xun Feifei turned her gaze, her pale lips twitching: "Am I the one who should wear it?"
Bi Qing sat to the side, arms crossed, chuckling mischievously: "Tell me quickly, when did you switch identities with the Lord? We didn't even know!"
Xun Feifei remained silent, then picked up another gold invitation card. As she wrote, her voice was calm: "If even you can detect this, then wouldn't everyone know?"
Biqing looked indignant and shook her head repeatedly.
Xuanzhen said with some envy, "Biqing, you speak human language so well!"
Even if Xun Feifei had grown up in the human world, she might not have been able to describe things in this way.
Bi Qing waved her hand, looking smug: "The elder taught well!"
Xun Feifei remained expressionless and didn't even raise her head as she bluntly exposed him: "You're just using our power to get us to serve you. Besides, I will report these words back to the Lord verbatim."
Biqing's eyebrows immediately stood on end.
Xun Feifei was not afraid. He simply tapped the gold invitation card with the tip of his pen, looked up, and his gaze was calm.
"Since you are so talented in writing, why not use it for something more meaningful? The Emperor just sent someone to deliver an invitation, warmly inviting Your Majesty to a banquet, but he is not here at the moment. How are you going to refuse?"
He then raised his pen and pointed out the door in the air: "The female official who delivered the letter is still waiting downstairs. We cannot delay any longer."
Xuanzhen leaned closer: "Didn't you have an idea just now? Write a few words down."
Xun Feifei shook her head, looking unusually troubled: "It's just a few weak words. In any case, we actually have no reason to refuse."
The pilgrimage valley will be open for three days, so after the ceremony, the rest of the people went home to await the results in three days.
Xun Feifei and his group also booked an inn for the demon race, located in the southeast of Chuncheng.
The group pretended to enter the inn, but before they had even rested for half an hour, a subordinate came to knock on the door, saying that a female official from the human race was requesting an audience and had presented an invitation.
This invitation was like a hot potato, quickly passing between Bi Qing and Xuan Zhen before finally ending up in Xun Feifei's arms.
He also tried to contact Ru Xian, but he didn't know what had happened there and hadn't received a reply.
The two parties in the invitation are, respectively, the ruler of the human realm and the sovereign of the demon realm. Such a banquet can be large or small, and it is not something he can decide.
Biqing looked at the gold invitation and shook her head knowingly: "If it were up to me, I would just write 'I'm not going,' but you certainly wouldn't want to."
We should ask Qingzhu about this; he's quick-witted and knows how to weigh things, so he can offer some advice.
Seeing Xun Feifei nod, Bi Qing quickly formed hand seals and created a magic array in her palm. After a while, Qing Zhu's voice finally rang out.
"What's wrong? Have you run into some trouble?"
The group already had a tacit understanding. Xun Feifei responded and explained the current situation in a few words.
"Do you think you should go, or not?"
Qingzhu chuckled a few times, her tone gentle: "You probably think the same way I do. This may not be a trap, but there will definitely be clashes. Not going is the best policy."
Biqing couldn't help but ask, "Then how should we reply? If we claim to be sick and don't go, that old fox, the Human Emperor, will definitely come here to visit us."
“You are now the Lord, and he never refuses people without a reason,” Qingzhu said firmly. “No need to reply. Just tell the female official that he is tired from this trip and wants to rest more, so he will not be going.”
Xun Feifei lowered her eyes in thought.
Bi Qing's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly, saying, "That's right. If it were the Venerable Lord, he certainly wouldn't want to be hypocritical, nor would he make excuses for himself. If he doesn't go, he simply won't go."
Thinking about it this way, being a lord is so exhilarating!
Xuanzhen couldn't figure it out, so she changed the subject and asked, "Qingzhu, are you also in Chuncheng? Why don't you sneak over? We brought a lot of food from Yaodu, we can have a good feast!"
Qingzhu laughed and said, "I'm just an undercover agent in a small sect. How could I possibly be involved in such an important event as the Flying Flower Gathering? I'm not in Chuncheng."
Xuan Zhen sighed with great regret.
Just as Xun Feifei was considering, several hurried footsteps came from the outer corridor, and then the door was knocked on.
"Left Envoy?"
It was the voice of a demon's subordinate.
Biqing stepped forward to open the door. The person, seeing that it was her, gave a slight bow: "Lady Biqing, another female official just arrived with a note, saying that the Holy Palace Consort is unwell and the Emperor requests Your Majesty to come and treat her."
Bi Qing frowned slightly, accepted the gold invitation, and nodded to him: "Take good care of the two ladies first, and I will go and report to the Lord."
After the others had left, Biqing closed the door and sat down at the table with a worried look on her face: "It's just one problem after another."
Xun Feifei took the invitation and read it carefully, then asked, "Qingzhu, what do you think?"
Qingzhu sighed softly, "We haven't even had a chance to rest yet, and they've already collapsed from exhaustion. They do seem to have ulterior motives. I still think we shouldn't go. But before you decide, you can try contacting the Lord again."
Xun Feifei nodded: "That's what I thought too, I won't bother you any longer."
As the magic array dissipated, Xun Feifei took out another golden-white peacock feather and said to Xuanzhen, "Go down and tell those two female officials that the Lord is not awake and to wait for him."
"Alright!" Xuanzhen moved with lightning speed, arriving at the lobby downstairs in the blink of an eye.
He was friendly to humans, had a sweet tongue, and possessed the unique cleverness of a young man. In addition, his kind nature made him very popular with the two female officials, who said they could wait a little longer.
The situation on this side has stabilized, but Lingyu has not responded at all.
Xun Feifei always planned ahead. In addition to making preparations, to avoid any unexpected events, he simply opened his medical books and prepared a few stock phrases.
"Your Majesty, your pulse is weak and shallow, indicating a cold and weak constitution. You should take three qian of prepared Pinellia ternata as a guide..."
Bi Qing: "..."
It really doesn't look like it at all.
...
Located west of Kunming, Linchuan Xiaozhu.
A disciple dressed in a light blue Taoist robe hurriedly walked over, moved the bodies of several fellow disciples to the courtyard, and prepared incense and altars to perform rituals.
It will take seven days in total, and by the time those people come out of the valley to search for treasure, the ritual will probably still be ongoing.
A young man dressed in an indigo robe walked by, and the others immediately stopped and said, "Senior Brother."
Ji Changying glanced at the disciples in the courtyard, his eyes filled with regret, and asked again, "Where is my martial uncle?"
The "uncle" here naturally refers to Xunfang.
The disciple replied, "They are still in the head monk's room."
Ji Changying pondered for a few moments, nodded, and gave a few more instructions to the others before going upstairs and knocking on Zhang Chunhe's door.
"Enter."
Ji Changying pushed open the door and entered, seemingly unaware of the headless corpse lying in the middle. Her face was still smiling, and the small mole under her lip was slightly raised.
"What does Master want with me?"
Zhang Chunhe sat cross-legged, only glancing up at him: "Is there any progress on Chunyan's matter?"
Chunyan is Xunfang's original name, and in the entire Daohe Palace, only Zhang Chunhe calls her that.
Ji Changying bowed and said, "There is still no clue. I asked my junior brother before, but he didn't know why our master was separated from his head."
Zhang Chunhe lowered his eyes, the golden fire pattern on his forehead dimmed slightly, his expression was neither angry nor angry, seemingly calm, yet still revealing a hint of coldness.
Having practiced the Tao of unity with heaven and man for many years, he rarely experiences such emotional fluctuations.
If others were to see this, they would surely be surprised, but Ji Changying would not.
He just watched.
Zhang Chunhe finally raised his eyes, a faint light in them.
"Before my master left, he repeatedly told me to take care of my fellow disciples, but I am ultimately limited in talent and cannot protect many people. Now, I only have Chunyan left, but I still let her get into trouble."
My junior sister joined the sect the latest and was the youngest. Our master always doted on her, which is why she developed a somewhat arrogant and unruly personality.
If my master's soul were still intact, seeing this scene, I don't know how heartbroken he would be. This is all my fault.
Ji Changying composed himself and simply said, "Master, please accept my condolences."
Despite this, he still didn't glance at the corpse.
Zhang Chunhe looked at him, his eyes as deep as the sea, but he did not mention the matter again.
"That's enough. I will find someone else to thoroughly investigate Chunyan's death. You don't need to worry about it anymore."
Just now, a purple aura appeared in the east, which must have been the Kunwu Sword being drawn. Presumably, Changzai has already obtained the first sword; that matter should begin to be addressed.”
Without needing any prompting, Ji Changying immediately understood the meaning behind his words: "Yes, but the time is not yet ripe, we must wait a little longer."
Zhang Chunhe nodded, looked at him, and finally a faint smile appeared on his face: "I remember what you have done. I will not break my promise after it is done. You can rest assured."
Ji Changying bowed his head, a smile playing on his lips: "This disciple has never had any doubts."
The master and disciple talked for another half hour before parting ways. As the door closed, their expressions both turned pale and changed instantly.
As Ji Changying walked along the corridor, gazing at the sunrise on the horizon, she couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.
It's a sunny day today.
I thought of you again today.
...
"Wenran!"
Lin Feiran and Ru Xian were about to walk into the dense forest when they heard someone calling from behind.
She held up her umbrella and looked back, only to see several people with ink stains on their faces looking in her direction.
The person in the lead was none other than Shen Qi, who had a delighted expression on his face.
He turned around and said a few words to the students of the Imperial Academy before running towards her alone.
They were not far apart, and Shen Qi reached them in a few steps, bringing with him a refreshing scent of ink.
Lin Feiran looked at the inkstone in his arms, remembered something, and said knowingly, "Is this the old ink you dug up from the valley wall?"
Shen Qi nodded, put the pile of inksticks into his mustard seed bag, and then picked out a large one and handed it to her. His doe eyes curved slightly, revealing a set of white teeth.
"This is a gift for you. The ink is full of spiritual energy. Even if you don't cultivate the Dao of the Wondrous Brush, using it to imitate sword manuals will have an immersive effect. If you use it to repair ancient books and paintings, it will be an excellent choice."
Lin Feiran had no intention of accepting it, but upon hearing that it was for repair purposes, he suddenly remembered his master.
After he disappeared into the book, he looked no different, but the lines outlining his figure were indeed a bit lighter than before, suggesting that he had gone through something.
He was originally just a remnant of divine consciousness, and it's unknown whether the old Mo of the Pilgrimage Valley can repair him.
While lost in thought, Lin Feiran did not notice that Ru Xian was looking at her.
She nodded anyway, just in case it might come in handy.
"I still have some pills in my mustard seed bag, which I can exchange with you."
Shen Qi immediately waved his hand: "No need! I have already received a lot of help from you in the Flying Flower Gathering. If it weren't for you, I might not have even been able to leave that Heavenly Pillar. This is a small token of my gratitude. Please accept it!"
Having met at the Flying Flowers Gathering, Lin Feiran considered himself a friend and didn't refuse any further. After thanking him, he reached out and accepted the ink stick.
Shen Qi's brows immediately relaxed, and he asked again, "Where did you go earlier? We were digging for ink just now, and then we didn't hear any sound. When we looked up again, we couldn't find you anywhere."
At this crucial time for gathering medicinal herbs, anyone else would certainly not have the patience to talk to him much, but Lin Feiran still replied.
She succinctly recounted the events at Sword Mountain, and though she didn't listen carefully, Shen Qi's eyes lit up.
"So this is the sword you obtained. It's so beautiful and majestic, truly worthy of you!"
His gaze swept across the red umbrella, then unexpectedly met a pair of cool, indifferent eyes.
"ah."
Suddenly, he noticed someone appear. Shen Qi let out a short exclamation, but then felt that this was impolite, so he smiled apologetically and bowed twice.
"I apologize, my eyesight is poor, I did not see you, fellow Daoist. That is why I appeared so panicked. I had no other intention, please do not misunderstand!"
Ru Xian looked at him and said in a cool voice, "It's not that I'm blind, I can only see one person, how can the others catch my eye?"
Shen Qi's eyes flickered, and a blush immediately rose to his face. He dared not look at the person holding the umbrella. In his panic, he thought he had hurt this fellow Daoist's feelings, so he bowed three times to Ru Xian.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it!"
His heart pounded like thunder, and all he could see was the corner of her dark dress. He was afraid she might say something.
But then Lin Feiran chuckled.
He looked around somewhat blankly.
Ru Xian also turned his eyes.
Lin Feiran did smile; her eyebrows relaxed slightly, and the corners of her lips turned up.
She looked at Shen Qi and said, "It must be because he was wearing a silver mask and you only recognized me that you overlooked him. If you had seen his true face, you would not have seen anyone else."
When looking at someone from a distance, you'll naturally recognize the acquaintance first, rather than someone whose face is indistinct.
When an acquaintance and a beauty are both in front of you, you will naturally see the beauty first.
Lin Feiran simply thought that way, but the other two discerned a misunderstanding in her words.
Shen Qi thought that she was trying to extricate herself from a difficult situation.
Needless to say, these words were entirely a compliment to his appearance.
With pearls and jade before us, who will see the brilliance of a stubborn stone?
The two men's expressions gradually calmed down, and in a short while, they returned to normal.
A faint blush remained on Shen Qi's face as he asked, "And who is this fellow Daoist?"
Shen Qi had seen it like hail during the Flying Flower Gathering.
But at this moment, not only was most of his face covered, but two streaks of crimson also flew across his eyes, making him completely different from Ru Xian, who only had a red mole on his eye during the Flying Flower Gathering or appeared in front of everyone.
In Lin Feiran's view, Ru Xian had never changed, but not everyone had the opportunity to look at his eyes as carefully as she had, so it was understandable that she didn't recognize him.
However, it is impossible to reveal his identity directly at this time, let alone say that he is a member of the demon race.
Lin Feiran considered for a moment, then simply said, "This is a friend of mine who is traveling with me this time."
Shen Qi nodded hesitantly, his expression somewhat restrained: "When I was in the city before, I only wrote mud tablets for the people, but I never accepted them. It was because I knew in my heart that I might not be able to enter the Pilgrimage Valley, and I didn't want to make any promises recklessly."
But I'm in now.
I don't want anything. I'd be content with digging up some ink sticks when I entered the valley. So, after I came in, I wanted to do my part.
"I've come to you this time because I want to travel with you to retrieve the sacred herbs for the people."
Ru Xian watched quietly from the side without saying a word, and then glanced at Lin Feiran.
He thought she would agree.
But Lin Feiran didn't make a decision first. She looked at Shen Qi, but mentally activated the Yin-Yang symbol and asked, "Is it alright for him to come with us?"
She wasn't traveling alone, so the decision wasn't made lightly.
Ru Xian paused for a moment, sighed inwardly, then looked away and replied with the same yin-yang symbol: "One more person or one less person doesn't matter."
She was willing to agree, so one more person wouldn't hurt.
Lin Feiran nodded and said to Shen Qi, "The inability to remove the clay tablet must have troubled you for a long time. If this continues, it will hinder your Dao heart. It would be even better if you could come along to help and contribute your strength."
Ru Xian watched her from the side, a slight smile playing on her lips.
He thought again, Lin Feiran is like this.
Upon hearing this, Shen Qi looked at Ru Xian, only to see the silver-masked cultivator pause slightly, seemingly lost in thought.
Lin Feiran added, "If you want to travel with me, our primary goal is to find the spiritual herbs for him. Alternatively, I can give you the notes, and you can find the herbs first, and then we can meet up together later."
Shen Qi didn't think much of it, but pondered, "The situation in the valley is uncertain, and we may not be able to meet up easily. It would be better if we went together. On the way to find the herbs that this fellow Daoist needs, we might also encounter many herbs mentioned in the notes. At that time, you don't need to be distracted, I will collect them."
As the three of them finalized their agreement, Ru Xian suddenly sensed something, formed a hand seal, and a golden-white feather appeared in his palm.
He looked up and saw that Shen Qi had been raised with the virtues of a gentleman since childhood, so he was naturally not curious. He nodded slightly and avoided the view.
Lin Feiran had seen such feathers before and knew that they were important matters from the demon race brought by Xun Feifei and others. He was unsure whether he should listen or not, and turned to leave, but the next moment Ru Xian grabbed the umbrella handle.
He withdrew his hand only after she stopped walking.
Golden and white feathers swirled around them, gently floating, and the sound of a jade chime emanated from them, audible only to the two of them.
"My Lord! We've finally made contact with you, but something terrible has happened!"
As if blowing away a feather that had drifted to her lips, she asked unhurriedly, "What's wrong?"
Xun Feifei pressed down on Biqing's shoulder, pulling her back onto the stool. He explained the current situation in a few words and then asked a question.
"Should we go to the banquet or the medical treatment?"
Ru Xian chuckled lightly and said in a cool voice, "Of course we won't go. They already know that I never attend banquets. Going would only arouse suspicion, so just refuse."
As for the consultation, have the lady-in-waiting relay the message: I am not a physician who comes and goes as summoned. I have already seen her once as promised. If you still wish to have a consultation, ask yourself what else you are willing to offer.”
"yes."
Xun Feifei finally breathed a sigh of relief.
They had previously made a covenant with the Emperor, but he was not fully aware of the terms of the covenant.
The consultation was suspicious, something he had never heard of before, so he suspected it was related to this matter and therefore dared not make a decision. Now he knew how to answer.
Xun Feifei accepted the order and carried out the task. The feathers then completely dispersed and drifted away with the wind.
Lin Feiran couldn't help but ask, "Does the Holy Palace Empress have an illness?"
Why had she never heard of this matter, and why was there not even a whisper of it in the mortal realm?
Ru Xian nodded, her eyes filled with curiosity: "Are you curious? Did you have some kind of connection with her when you grew up in Luoyang?"
His curiosity even turned into a hint of eagerness in his eyes.
Lin Feiran nodded and then shook her head: "I am indeed curious, but I am not very familiar with her."
She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What illness does she have?"
Author's Note: The Cold Period: The Little White Flower Arrives in Style
Luoyang City in Zhongzhou is the center of the Taiwu Kingdom, a place rich in natural resources and talented people.
The so-called spectacular sight refers to the city full of peonies.
Within Luoyang city, peonies bloom everywhere—by the street, under the eaves, inside houses, and along windowsills. Varieties like Yao Huang, Wei Zi, and Jin Si Er Qiao are all available, and their fragrance remains constant regardless of the changing seasons.
It is unknown from which emperor ascended the throne that the peony was designated as the national flower of Taiwu Kingdom. It is also unknown when a life-giving formation was set up to ensure that the peony would never fade. By the time the people came to their senses, the city was filled with such heavenly fragrance and national beauty.
The so-called extraordinary event refers to the human emperor's clan.
They were granted titles and honors by Heaven to rule the human race and protect the people. In return, the Human Emperors could not cultivate themselves and had to experience the suffering of mortals. Even worse, all Human Emperors died young, passing away as soon as they reached the age of forty.
The current emperor is thirty-seven years old, and roughly speaking, he only has three years left to live.
The so-called extraordinary person refers to the Holy Palace Lady.
As for what's so strange about it, even the common people can't explain why, but it's just strange.
Whether it's that she never shows her true face to the world, or that her origins are shrouded in mystery and that she enjoys the emperor's special favor, or that people often see her in their dreams, all these things, though varied in interpretation, ultimately boil down to one word: "mysterious."
Everyone knows that the Emperor favors the Holy Palace Consort.
Not to mention that she has not had children for many years, yet still enjoys the emperor's favor, even if she has a headache, fever, or feels unwell, not only the imperial physicians but also some well-known doctors in the city will be summoned to the palace to take turns to see her.
Such things are too bizarre. Whenever they happen, not only are people in Luoyang talking about them, but even on Mount Sanqing, rumors inevitably spread.
But from childhood to adulthood, whether in the mountains or in the mortal world, Lin Feiran had never heard of the Holy Palace Lady having any incurable disease, let alone the matter of the Human Emperor requesting Ru Xian to treat her. There was not even a whisper of it.
Although I was surprised, I was not astonished.
How could the affairs of the palace be truly known to everyone?
Her curiosity now stems from the fact that the Holy Palace Consort has some connection with her mother, and she wants to learn more about her.
"What illness does she have?" Ru Xian glanced at her, then stepped forward, "Let's talk as we walk."
How to talk while walking?
Lin Feiran paused for a moment, then raised his umbrella and left. Shen Qi, who was not far away, thought they had finished talking and followed. The three of them walked side by side and headed straight for the dense forest.
Lin Feiran glanced at Shen Qi, and when Ru Xian still didn't speak, he became a little anxious and immediately started manipulating the Yin-Yang Fish.
"Your Excellency, is she truly ill, or is it simply a matter of poor health that requires recuperation?"
Ru Xian's voice was leisurely: "I rarely see you in such a hurry."
He glanced at her sideways and stopped teasing her.
"It's not that your Holy Palace Lady's health is bad, but she's almost at the end of her life. However, if you look closely, it's not a problem for her to prolong her life for another ten years or so."
Lin Feiran looked bewildered, and the little black fish in his eyes swam faster and faster.
"You mean she's dying, but she can live for another ten years... I don't think I understand."
Ru Xian raised her eyebrows slightly: "She has an extremely complicated 'disease,' which can be considered incurable, but she won't die for the time being. If she had found me earlier, there might still be a chance to cure her, but now, it's too late."
The medicine I prescribed will at least keep her alive for ten years, but I cannot bring her back to life.
The three of them ran into the dense forest. Lin Feiran and Ru Xian did not speak, and Shen Qi naturally did not speak rashly either. After secretly glancing at the two of them, he also turned his head to look around for any spiritual herbs.
On the other side, Lin Feiran gradually frowned.
Ru Xian did not explain the illness in detail, only mentioning it briefly, which must have been extremely complicated. Even if asked about the cause of the illness, he might not be able to answer.
She pondered for a long time, then suddenly realized something and raised her head: "Your Majesty, was your alliance with the Human Emperor also related to the Holy Palace Consort's illness?"
If there had been no prior agreement, Ru Xian would not have been able to travel to Luoyang to treat patients.
He said, "You are quite perceptive, but for me, there is only alliance, not marriage."
Speaking of this matter, Ru Xian still felt somewhat resentful.
He didn't know when it started, but he often received invitations from the Human Emperor, inviting him to Luoyang to enjoy tea and flowers, in order to forge a friendship between the two worlds.
Ru Xue was indeed beautiful. He was willing to appreciate any beautiful object or scene, but he preferred to enjoy it alone rather than with others, not to mention that he didn't care about the relationship between the two worlds at all.
Therefore, invitations arrive every year, but he forgets about them every year.
Until last year, when the invitation arrived again, Ru Xian finally learned the Emperor's purpose from the invitation.
At that moment, Ru Xian leaned against the sycamore tree, idly flipping through the gold letter, and suddenly chuckled.
Why do people always treat him like a doctor, just because he is highly skilled in medicine?
It's a pity he didn't have that kind of compassionate heart that doctors possess.
Without the patience to read it carefully, Ru Xian shook his wrist, and the fox sitting under the tree immediately climbed up. The fox opened its mouth wide, and just as he was about to stuff the pure gold sticker into the fox's mouth, he suddenly saw the three words "Pilgrimage Valley" from the corner.
So he raised an eyebrow, pinched the fool's mouth with two fingers, unfolded the post, and looked at it carefully.
There was a sentence written neatly at the end of the post.
The Pilgrimage Valley will open soon. If this alliance is reached, one or two of the royal family's entry slots can be allocated. If interested, we can discuss this further.
The spiritual herbs that Xue had been searching for for many years had long since disappeared from both realms, and now they were probably only found in the Valley of Pilgrimage.
It must be said that this statement did indeed pique his interest, so he agreed to discuss it further.
However, Ru Xian did not reach Luoyang City, but instead used a sound transmission array.
Before long, he heard the Emperor's voice, which was refined, peaceful, and extremely straightforward.
"I have long heard of the Demon Lord's mastery of medicine, and I have no doubt about it. However, my wife has been seriously ill for a long time, and many renowned physicians have been helpless. Before the alliance is finalized, I would like to request that you come to Luoyang City to take a look."
As Ru Xian was feeding the heavy goods, the gold in her hands clattered. Upon hearing this, she said, "Is the matter of the Pilgrimage Valley true or false? We demons have never enjoyed such an honor before."
The Emperor replied, "It is certainly true. I swear that the Sacred Valley will definitely open next midsummer or early autumn. According to past custom, my royal family can recommend three people to enter the valley, and the position of recommendation can be ceded to the Demon Lord."
Ru Xian's eyes deepened slightly as she tapped her fingertips on the armrest: "What are your conditions?"
The Emperor said calmly, “The alliance is not easy to make. If the alliance document only contains my private matters, it would be unfair and biased. The other terms can be drafted later, there is no need to rush. But between you and me, there is only one clause.”
"You must heal my wife effectively. In return, I will relinquish my position of recommendation, thus allowing members of the demon race to enter the Sacred Valley."
At this point, Ru Xian paused, then turned to look at Lin Feiran: "Unfortunately, the Flying Flower Society changed drastically later, and the title of recommendation became useless. But fortunately, I have you, and I have still entered the Pilgrimage Valley."
With the opening of the Pilgrimage Valley imminent, Ru Xian knew that as a demon, he would certainly be unable to participate in the Flying Flower Gathering or enter the Pilgrimage Valley, and he also could not widely publicize what he needed.
Therefore, he needed to find a strong, quick-witted, and trustworthy person to help him enter the valley to find the spiritual herbs.
Almost as soon as the thought arose, a figure that barely reached his waist appeared in his mind.
Many years have passed, and she must have grown up quite a bit, but I wonder if people's hearts have changed.
Despite his concerns, he still sent Xun Feifei and others to inquire about her whereabouts, but to no avail.
During this period, he also did not encounter any trustworthy people.
If the Human Emperor had not insisted on a marriage alliance with the Demon Realm, how could he have accidentally sent the wounded Lin Feiran to the Demon Realm?
If it weren't for Lin Feiran, how could he have formed a pact with the human race, and how could he have entered the valley to obtain spiritual herbs when the Flying Flower Society underwent major changes and the recommendation process was no longer in accordance with the old rules?
Each and every single thing has invisibly connected to one point, leading to the present day.
He had never believed in fate, but at this moment he couldn't help but sigh, "It's all about timing and destiny."
He didn't elaborate on his thoughts during that moment, and Lin Feiran naturally didn't know either; she was simply pondering his words.
"So you went to Luoyang when you were making your medical appointments?"
Ru Xian nodded: "The treaty with him was made first, and we made a vow, so naturally I must go."
Lin Feiran then asked, "Have you seen the Holy Palace Lady? Is there anything unusual about her?"
Ru Xian recalled for a moment, and a smile suddenly appeared on her lips, as if she found it amusing.
"Is it because I'm afraid my beauty is too striking, eclipsing that aging emperor and bewitching the man in the tent?"
The original words were certainly not this explicit, but that's the gist of it.
Lin Feiran nodded subconsciously: "His thinking makes sense, and we should be wary of him."
Ru Xian glanced at her, then looked away and chuckled, saying, "As for the strange thing, I noticed it when I was taking her pulse with the thread. However, this strange thing is not important."
The important thing is that you care about her. Why?
Lin Feiran replied, "It's not so much concern as it is. I just feel that she and my mother are old acquaintances, and she might know something from the past, so I'm a little concerned."
Ru Xian said knowingly, "I don't know anything about this person's past, but if you have any questions about her illness or anything else, you can ask me."
The two communicated only using yin-yang symbols, remaining silent the entire way. Shen Qi glanced at them frequently, clearly not saying a word, yet he could never find an opportunity to strike up a conversation.
Hesitantly, the three entered the dense forest.
The forest is filled with gnarled branches and abundant spiritual herbs, and occasionally a few rare and exotic beasts dart by. Even the scattered pebbles glitter with a faint light.
Shen Qi finally found an opportunity to speak: "Wenran, may I borrow that notebook to take a look? I only remember a few kinds of spiritual herbs."
Lin Feiran nodded upon hearing this and took out the densely written notebook from the mustard seed bag.
"There weren't many people who came to register the other day, and I've roughly noted down the spiritual herbs they needed. You can take this book."
As Xue had seen it from the side, he knew that this notebook was used by Lin Feiran to record the people and things he helped on his cultivation journey, so he naturally knew and made a joke.
"You've written down the names of many people in this notebook, and you're supposed to help them find spirit herbs, but why isn't my name here?"
It was supposed to be a joke; they had made a prior agreement, so how could it have appeared in this notebook?
Unexpectedly, Lin Feiran suddenly turned her head and looked over. Before the notebook was handed to Shen Qi, it turned around and landed in front of Ru Xian.
"Of course you're here."
She turned to the second page, which was blank.
She said earnestly, "Although we had an agreement beforehand, an agreement is different from a handwritten note. I still want to leave your name, so this is for you."
Lin Feiran thought of this matter when she was making her notes, and it was only when she was recording the people's information that she started writing from the third page.
The pure white paper rustled slightly. Ru Xian looked slightly taken aback, took the note, and turned a few pages. All the names on the pages were unfamiliar to him.
Turning back to the first page, the name Lin Feiran was written on it.
There was indeed a piece of white paper sandwiched in the middle.
He wasn't doubtful, nor was he entirely surprised; his hand had already done so before he even realized it.
He looked at Lin Feiran, then lowered his eyelashes to examine the note carefully, seemingly lost in thought, before handing it back to her.
His face was covered by a silver mask, and although there might have been a glimmer in his eyes, they were perfectly calm and showed no emotion, making his features appear blurry.
He said, "Since there was a prior agreement, there is no need to leave one's name."
This was unexpected for Lin Feiran. She raised her eyebrows slightly, took the note, and stroked the white pages.
"good."
She answered decisively and then handed the note to Shen Qi.
"Many people actually want the same herbs, so we can collect more when we encounter them. However, according to my calculations, we should collect no more than six of each kind, so as not to exert too much effort."
Shen Qi nodded repeatedly, his gaze towards her filled with even more admiration: "Wenran, you have an amazing memory!"
Although Lin Feiran wasn't particularly pleased, she was always happy to be praised, so she smiled and her eyes sparkled.
Ru Xian looked at them, raised an eyebrow, and actually put her hand on Lin Feiran's shoulder, saying in a cool voice.
"I haven't finished speaking yet."
Lin Feiran turned to look and saw Ru Xian withdraw her hand, stand with her arms crossed, and remain silent, but the yin-yang symbol in her eyes began to move.
“My name is unusual; I can’t even say it, let alone write it down. I’m not including my name in this journal because I care about your privacy, not because I don’t want to.”
Lin Feiran paused for a moment before nodding, giving the same answer: "Okay."
Ru Xian carefully observed her expression before turning away, talking as she walked.
"Don't overthink things, and don't assume that everything is your fault."
You are an upright person. No matter what, you first doubt the other person, then everyone around you, and only when there is nothing left to doubt do you think about yourself.
Lin Feiran pursed her lips slightly and nodded quietly.
In this respect, she always had to learn from Ru Xian.
When he took something out of his bag, he squatted down slightly, and his long hair, which was tied up, slid down to his front, covering half of his face.
It seemed like they were looking for something.
Lin Feiran stepped forward and asked, "Is there a way to find the spirit herb? Let me do it; I promised to help you find it."
Ru Xian glanced at her sideways and didn't mention what had just happened again.
“There is a kind of spiritual creature in the Pilgrimage Valley called the Snow Rabbit. The spiritual herb I am looking for is one of their foods. If I can catch one, it will be twice as effective.”
He then moved the incense ball in his hand: "It was made beforehand, mixed with a lot of herbs that it likes to eat, and also has a kind of incense that will attract them when it is lit."
Upon hearing that they were going to catch a rabbit, Lin Feiran's heart stirred slightly, but because of what had happened earlier, he held the umbrella over Ru Xian's head to block their view, and then took the incense ball from his hand.
"Let me order for you."
The red umbrella leaned against her shoulder, shielding her from the scattered light spots, and her eyes, like hailstones, glanced slightly at Lin Feiran.
He was, after all, a young man, and was probably ashamed of having been alone with his feelings of depression, yet he was also thinking of getting the spirit herb for him, so he had to rush forward to face him, which made his expression seem somewhat incongruous.
Ru Xian couldn't help but think, how could there be such a person?
When one is open and honest, one is not afraid to look him in the eye for a whole day, and even has energy to spare.
But now that I have something on my mind, I don't even want to look at it.
I didn't even glance at it.
This won't do.
His long fingers traced the umbrella handle as he walked to her side, casting a faint shadow through the umbrella: "Have you ever caught a snow rabbit?"
Lin Feiran was squatting down, lighting incense balls, and clearing away the weeds around him to create a small open space, without even raising his head.
"No, I've only heard that the Snow Rabbit is extremely fast."
When the topic of cultivation was brought up, Lin Feiran's understanding immediately increased, and he even sensed the unspoken meaning in the words.
She immediately put down the incense pill, stood up to look at him, and her expression showed a hint of eagerness.
"You mean, I can train my lightning magic even faster?"
Ru Xian couldn't help but smile.
He thought, "Here it is."
Whether it's attracting Lin Feiran's attention or turning over that youthful secret, it's really not a difficult task.
“It will certainly be helpful,” he replied.
Ru Xian took out another fragrant pill and tossed it into Lin Feiran's palm: "Here's another one for you, it'll make things twice as easy."
After saying that, he turned and sat down among the green branches, holding the umbrella with one hand and supporting himself with the other. A gold ring on his leg suddenly appeared. He then looked down at her, a slight smile on his lips.
"What are you looking at me for? Go on."
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