Chapter 4
For many days afterward, Jiang Liuya followed Daoist Danxi in the alchemy room.
Sometimes I would watch the Taoist master refine elixirs, and sometimes I would mess around with the Taoist master's alchemy furnace to relieve my boredom.
Occasionally, I would ask one or two questions related to alchemy, and Daoist Danxi would patiently answer them all.
Daoist Danxi often saw her tinkering around, and the pills she refined, although not very powerful in terms of spiritual energy, had very interesting ingredients.
Once, unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, "What kind of elixir are you refining?"
"Today's pill is a bone softening pill. After taking it, cultivators will feel weak and their muscles and bones will become soft for a short period of time."
"What about yesterday's?"
"What I refined yesterday was a disguise pill. After a cultivator takes it, they can transform into the appearance they imagine, but it can only last for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
"These pills are quite interesting."
Jiang Liuya hadn't expected that Daoist Danxi would be interested in these strange pills. She was just refining them for fun out of boredom.
"With your intelligence and comprehension, you will achieve great things even without practicing the Gu Dao."
Jiang Liuya was quite surprised that Daoist Danxi would sincerely praise her.
She opened her mouth to thank him, but the words turned into a sigh.
"Daojun is exceptionally talented and was selected into the immortal sect at a young age. Naturally, he is unaware of the perils of survival for cultivators at the bottom. If I hadn't cultivated the Gu Dao, I'm afraid I would have been reduced to ashes long ago."
Now, Jiang Liuya can move around freely on Lingcui Peak.
That day, she arrived at the cave dwelling where Daoist Danxi usually rested. The cave dwelling was hidden in a corner of the peak, surrounded by spiritual plants.
"Daojun, I have never seen the cave dwelling of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator before, and I am very curious." After saying that, she walked in on her own.
Inside the cave, the space was spacious, but the furnishings were very simple, with the crystals on the walls emitting a soft glow.
In the center of the cave, there was a stone table with only one stone stool beside it, where Daoist Danxi was sitting. On the stone table were a teapot and a teacup.
“Nothing is different here,” he said calmly.
Indeed, this is far too simple.
The only stone bench was already occupied by Daojun, so Jiang Liuya casually leaned against the stone table.
She took out a cup from her Qiankun bag that was similar in color to the tea set on the table, and poured some tea from Daojun's teapot without asking.
"Although Daojun's place is simple, it is also elegant." She took a sip of tea.
"I just saw a smaller cave next to Daojun's cave. I'll stay there from now on so I can take care of you."
Daojun did not answer, but silently got up. He must be going to the Spirit Herb Garden at this time.
Silence means consent, Jiang Liuya thought to herself.
Jiang Liuya tidied up and settled down on her own.
After settling into her cave dwelling, she moved a stone bench and placed it next to Daoist Danxi's stone table, so that she could often enjoy tea and chat with him.
In the evening, Daoist Danxi returned to his cave and saw Jiang Liuya sitting by the stone table, her chin resting on her hand.
A pot of freshly brewed tea sits on the table, steaming hot. A plate of delicate pastries also sits on the table, emitting a delicate fragrance.
"Daojun, you're back." Jiang Liuya greeted him with joy, gesturing for him to sit down as if he were the hostess.
She smiled and said, "These are Longjing pastries I just made. Please do me the honor of trying them, Daoist Master."
Danxi Daojun slowly sat down, and Jiang Liuya poured him another cup of tea.
Unexpectedly, he actually started eating pastries while drinking tea.
She had long since figured out Danxi Daojun's habits.
He usually only uses some fasting pills, and his desires and abstinence are extreme. It seems that only alchemy can arouse his interest in this world.
"Daojun, how does it taste?"
"It's acceptable." Daoist Danxi's tone was as calm as ever, but a hint of approval could be heard.
“This Longjing pastry is a perfect match with Longjing tea.” Jiang Liuya said with a bright smile, “If you like it, Daojun, I will make you some other things next time to change things up.”
"Next time we eat pine flower cake, we should pair it with pine flower wine. It's both elegant and delicious..."
The female cultivator in front of him kept talking.
She has a radiant smile, is knowledgeable and sensible, and is intelligent and charming.
But Daoist Danxi knew that her ambition and desire, her initial intention to get close to him, was nothing more than to explore the power of chaos.
Anyway, with her petty tricks, she can't do anything to me.
If she wants to play along, then let her be.
Outside the cave, the full moon quietly arrived, its gentle light spilling onto the world.
"Daojun, I've said so much, and you still..." Jiang Liuya, who was speaking eloquently, suddenly changed her expression. She looked at the moonlight outside the cave, which shone brightly and purely on the ground.
“Today is the full moon…” She closed her eyes tightly for a moment, and when she opened them again, she said wearily, “Daojun, I’m a little tired, I can’t stay with you any longer.”
As Danxi Daojun watched her turn and leave, he remained silent, but he knew something was amiss.
When the moon is full, the yin energy is at its strongest, and the long-suppressed Gu poison finally erupts in full force at this time.
She returned to her cave dwelling and curled up alone on her bed.
A faint, stinging pain emanated from within her body, as if tiny needles were gently pricking her internal organs. Soon, this pain spread rapidly, like thousands of worms frantically gnawing at her body. Jiang Liuya's brow furrowed slightly, a look of pain appearing on her face. She gripped the edge of the bed tightly with both hands, her knuckles turning white from the force.
But this was only the beginning; the poison began to completely erode her body. Every inch of her skin felt like it was being burned, the scalding heat seeping inward from the surface, as if to melt her entire being. Her body trembled uncontrollably, large beads of sweat rolling down her forehead, soaking her clothes. Her internal organs felt as if they were being brutally kneaded by an invisible hand, the excruciating pain causing her to gasp in agony.
Many fragments flashed through her mind, painful memories surging like a tide. All her dearest loved ones had left her. She was left alone, facing endless pain and despair.
As the poison reached its peak, Jiang Liuya felt as if her body no longer belonged to her. She tried to curl up, but she had no strength at all, and breathing became extremely difficult. Her consciousness began to blur, and the scene before her eyes became distorted and unreal, as if she were in an endless nightmare.
At that moment, a cool, refreshing power flowed gently into her body like a stream. This power was soft and gentle, carrying an inexhaustible vitality. It flowed from her fingertips, gradually spreading throughout her entire body, warming her limbs and bones.
Nourished by this cooling power, his originally burning body gradually cooled down, and the excruciating pain slowly dissipated. In his unconscious state, his tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, his breathing became steady and even, and the pained expression on his face was replaced by a sense of peace.
The next day, after Jiang Liuya woke up, she recalled the power she had felt the day before—a life-giving energy of wood spirit.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, seemingly with some gratitude and reminiscence.
But soon she opened her eyes again, a hint of mockery in them.
"Daojun, so you like this kind of thing, the self-inflicted injury scheme."
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