Chapter 184 The Fountain of Life and Death:
Rong Xie pondered for a moment, then looked at Cui Xingmiao: "Miss Cui should know that Shen Bingsi's father's surname is Cui, right?"
Cui Xingmiao was taken aback, not expecting Rong Xie to actually ask about old matters. She had thought… Cui Xingmiao composed herself and smiled, “You should ask Shen Bingsi about that. But, Brother Rong, you grew up with him since childhood, how come you don’t know about his father?”
“All I know is that his father abandoned his wife and children, and he hates him terribly,” Rong Xie said.
Upon hearing this, Cui Xingmiao was displeased: "Even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes. Brother Rong, it's best not to believe rumors and make hasty judgments."
Rong Xie smiled and looked at Cui Xingmiao: "It seems that Miss Cui understands it very well?"
Cui Xingmiao realized she had spoken out of turn and didn't try to hide it, complaining, "It's been a year since we last met. Where did Brother Rong learn so many tricks up his sleeve? Every word he speaks is full of hidden meanings."
"Miss Cui, you flatter me," Rong Xie said. "Since your sect leader is in seclusion preparing medicine and rarely comes out, please help me convey that Rong Xie from the Lingjing Sect has come to visit and has important matters to discuss."
“This…” Cui Xingmiao’s eyes darted around, “I can’t help.”
"Oh? Why?" Rong Xie's eyes darkened slightly. "Could it be that Miss Cui came here just to see me wandering around in the mountain-protecting formation?"
Cui Xingmiao covered her mouth and laughed, "Brother Rong, you are mistaken. The reason I didn't pass on your message is simply because... Shen Bingsi has a grudge against our Yunshan Sect. Shen Bingsi's friends are our Yunshan Sect's enemies. Is that clear enough?"
Rong Xie was slightly taken aback, not expecting that Shen Bingsi and Yunshan Sect would have such a tense relationship. However, Cui Xingmiao's words further proved that the relationship between Shen Bingsi and Yunshan Sect was by no means simple.
"I have one last question," Rong Xie said gravely, "Is Shen Bingsi's father... still alive?"
Cui Xingmiao's expression changed, seemingly annoyed that she had revealed too much information to Rong Xie. They hadn't exchanged more than a few words, yet Rong Xie seemed to have guessed everything.
"This is his family matter, go ask him." Cui Xingmiao turned and left.
“Shen Bingsi is in critical condition,” Rong Xie suddenly said loudly. “A slight mishap could cost him his life. If Miss Cui truly cares about him, she should help him resolve his inner conflict.”
Cui Xingmiao paused, seemingly wanting to say something, but said nothing and walked away without looking back.
Rong Xie sighed as he looked at the spot where Cui Xingmiao's figure had disappeared, and continued walking along the predetermined path.
Dream Moon Pavilion.
Cui Xingmiao strode into the pavilion, her face extremely grim.
"Xiao He? Xiao He!"
Cui Xingmiao called out several times, but no one responded.
"That brat, she's off slacking off somewhere again," Cui Xingmiao said, sitting down in her chair, picking up the teapot, pouring herself a cup of tea, and gulping it down in one go. "She's driving me crazy!"
If Xiao He were here, she would naturally ask, "Who upset Miss?"
Then Cui Xingmiao could continue, pouring out all her grievances: It's all that Manager Rong's fault at Huanxue Manor. He knows nothing, yet he pretends to know everything, bossing her around. When she was kicked out of Huanxue Manor by Shen Bingsi, didn't he do nothing? Now he expects her to save Shen Bingsi? She deserves to be this pathetic, destined to be a savior, risking her family's reputation to save Shen Bingsi so he and Rong Xie can live happily ever after?
Cui Xingmiao grew angrier the more she thought about it, and the teacup in her hand clenched so tightly it made a cracking sound.
Just then, Xiao He rushed in through the back door: "Miss, Miss, something terrible has happened!"
Cui Xingmiao glared at Xiao He: "Where did you run off to?"
"I've gone to the Spirit Gathering Stone!" Xiao He said anxiously, "Young Master Shen has vomited blood again!"
"What?!"
Yunshan Sect possesses a naturally occurring spiritual vein that has been generating a continuous stream of spiritual energy since its discovery. Cultivators can achieve twice the result with half the effort when healing on this natural spiritual vein. Even those whose spiritual roots are depleted and who are unable to actively absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth can still be nourished by the continuous spiritual energy on this natural spiritual vein. As long as they do not leave, they can maintain their current status.
This naturally occurring spiritual vein has a resounding name: the Spirit Gathering Stone.
Few people in the cultivation world have heard of this name, partly because the Yunshan Sect deliberately concealed it—if such a rare resource were to spread, it would inevitably cause disputes among various factions, and the Yunshan Sect would never have a peaceful day.
To maintain the secrecy of the Spirit Gathering Stone, the Yunshan Sect's rules stipulate that only members of the Cui family or those who have done great favors for the Cui family can use it. Anyone who wants to use the Spirit Gathering Stone must be guaranteed by a member of the Cui family.
Recently, Cui Xingmiao made such a risky guarantee, and it was for someone who was absolutely not allowed to enter the Yunshan Sect.
Cui Xingmiao knew it was risky, but she couldn't just leave this person alone.
After all, even someone as stubborn as Shen Bingsi sought her help in his most desperate moment. How could she let go of such a wonderful scene where a favored son of heaven bowed down to her?
She was determined to save Shen Bingsi, no matter what means she had to use. She wanted to see Shen Bingsi sober up and apologize to her, admitting that her previous self-righteous behavior was completely wrong.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If she succeeds, Cui Xingmiao will regain everything: her self-esteem, her reputation in the cultivation world, and a completely tamed, unruly beast—enough to make her the most watched young female cultivator in the entire cultivation world.
She failed, lost her family's favor, and was scorned by everyone in the sect, but so what? Compared to what she would gain from success, these risks were insignificant.
"Xiao He, keep up!" Cui Xingmiao activated the teleportation array and urged Xiao He. The little maid ran over like lightning, jumped into the array, and after a flash of light, the two disappeared from the platform in front of Mengyue Pavilion.
The next moment, Cui Xingmiao and her maid appeared out of thin air in the forbidden area behind the mountain.
Cui Xingmiao walked ahead at a very fast pace, and the little maid had to jog to keep up with her. The two female cultivators, one big and one small, entered the misty hot spring area.
The hot springs in the back mountains of Yunshan Sect are rich in the essence of heaven and earth. Combined with the herbal formulas carefully prepared by the Medical Cultivation Sect, a soak here can quickly repair both internal and external injuries—these are just the effects of the outermost hot springs.
Further in, you will encounter a forbidden area barrier, an ultimate barrier even stronger than the mountain-protecting array. Those who pass through without permission will be killed by forbidden spells. This forbidden area barrier guards the treasure of the Yunshan Sect, a hot spring pool dug from the naturally formed spiritual vein's spirit-gathering stone, called the "Spirit Gathering Hot Spring," also known as the "Spring of Life and Death."
The hot spring is said to have the power to bring the dead back to life, and can even help people overcome the five signs of decay—yet Shen Bingsi vomited blood here.
"It's right ahead!" Xiao He stopped and pointed to the Gathering Spirit Hot Spring not far away. However, due to the barrier of the restricted area, Xiao He could not get close.
"How do you know he vomited blood?" Cui Xingmiao asked suspiciously.
From Xiao He's perspective, the Gathering Spirit Hot Spring is blocked by a huge Gathering Spirit Stone, so the specific situation inside the hot spring cannot be seen, and naturally, the people soaking in the hot spring cannot be seen either.
“Just now, Young Master Shen was sitting there, and I saw him coughing. His hands were covered in blood.” Xiao He pointed to the stone table and chairs next to them where people could rest and let in some fresh air.
"He's really taking it easy!" Cui Xingmiao said, annoyed. "Step back."
Xiao He stepped back a few steps to make room. Cui Xingmiao made a hand seal, and a blue character with the word "Cui" appeared in the void. Cui Xingmiao pushed forward with her palm, and the character "Cui" entered the barrier of the forbidden area. The barrier suddenly trembled, and blue light spread out like ripples, revealing a gap that could allow one person to pass through.
This was Cui Xingmiao's "guarantee." She used her credentials as a direct descendant of the Cui family to open the forbidden area's barrier and send Shen Bingsi inside. Such a place as the back mountain is rarely visited by people and has not been discovered to this day.
Steam rose, and the entire surface of Juling Hot Spring was shrouded in mist.
Cui Xingmiao walked to the edge of the pool and saw a handsome white-haired man leaning against the stone in the shadow of the spirit-gathering stone, his elbows casually resting on the edge of the pool, his well-defined abdominal muscles extending downwards and disappearing into the hot spring water.
Cui Xingmiao was still a young girl after all. Seeing this scene, her cheeks flushed. She raised her hand to wipe the water from her face and muttered, "Why is it so hot?"
Hearing the noise, the white-haired man turned his head and glanced over. He saw Cui Xingmiao standing on the shore, but didn't react much, as if he had seen a wisp of air. He then turned his head back and continued to enjoy his leisurely hot spring time.
"Hey!" Cui Xingmiao felt a surge of annoyance. Since it was just the two of them here, and they were old acquaintances, she didn't need to pretend to be some kind of fairy. Cui Xingmiao called out, "Shen Bingsi!"
Shen Bingsi remained motionless, still leaning against the rock: "What are you doing?"
Two days and three hours had passed since Shen Bingsi appeared here, and Cui Xingmiao still found it unbelievable. The arrogant and proud young adjudicator Shen Bingsi, who had declared that he had broken off all ties with her, was now obediently staying in the pool like a big fish she had raised. When she called him, he would reluctantly reply with "What?"
Cui Xingmiao's mood improved considerably. She squatted down, picked up a stone, and threw it into the pool. With a "plop," water splashed onto Shen Bingsi.
“Hey…” The big fish that Cui Xingmiao was raising turned its head and looked at her unhappily.
"You're not dead yet?" Cui Xingmiao picked up a twig, poked the ground with it, then looked up at Shen Bingsi. "I heard you ran outside the pool just now? What, you want to die even faster?"
"You know how hot this hot spring is!" Shen Bingsi complained. "If I stay down here the whole time, I'll die of heat sooner or later. You won't let me go out, so what's wrong with me going ashore for some fresh air?"
“No problem, you can just walk out like that. If someone sees you, please have the sect leader order you to be killed on the spot. I can’t save you then.” Cui Xingmiao threw the branch on the ground.
"That's great." Shen Bingsi pushed himself up with both hands and suddenly stood up straight in the hot spring pool. Large clumps of hot spring water flowed down his body, making a splashing sound throughout the pool.
Cui Xingmiao was startled and hurriedly covered her face: "What are you doing? Why did you suddenly stand up?!"
Although Shen Bingsi was seriously injured and could no longer use his spiritual power, it did not prevent him from being agile. He easily pushed off the rock, leaped onto the shore, picked up the golden fish-patterned bag, and took out his clothes from it.
"How can we walk out without standing up?" Shen Bingsi said, shaking out her clothes. "But I don't have the habit of running naked. I'll put my clothes on first before I go out."
"Tch." Cui Xingmiao could already see through her fingers that Shen Bingsi was wearing a bath towel properly wrapped around her waist. "You don't have the habit of running naked; you always wear clothes when you go into the water. However, I advise you not to go out. With your physical condition, you won't be able to walk two steps before you vomit blood and die. Don't think I don't know; you vomited blood as soon as you got ashore, didn't you? Your Dao heart is shattered, and you are suffering from the five signs of decay. Who could have imagined that the youngest Ruthless Dao Judge would have such a day?"
Shen Bingsi, holding the clothes in both hands, turned to look at Cui Xingmiao: "Miss Cui, your medical skills are truly divine! You could tell?"
"Hmph, I not only noticed, but I also know you have unresolved issues." Cui Xingmiao said smugly, enjoying the thrill of having everything about Shen Bingsi under her control.
Upon hearing this, Shen Bingsi did not continue to flatter her. Instead, she lifted her coat and draped it over her shoulders, saying, "Since Miss Cui already knows, then let me go."
Cui Xingmiao's eyelids twitched.
Shen Bingsi had come to the Yunshan Sect looking like he was about to die, and she happened to see him. Thinking he was there to ask for help, she took him in and hid him in the Juling Hot Spring. As soon as Shen Bingsi regained consciousness, he tried to leave, saying he hadn't come to see her. She dismissed it as stubbornness; did the Yunshan Sect have anyone else he could turn to?
Now it seems to be true, and with Rong Xie's words added... Cui Xingmiao felt a surge of irritation, a sense that things were about to spiral out of control. She said indignantly, "I can help you resolve your inner conflict, but you must promise me one thing."
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This will be over soon; I trust Lao Shen's intelligence. ([doge emoji])
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