Chapter 53 Boiling Frog in Slow Water: The First Young Lady
Seeing Wei Danxin so distressed, Bitao, out of "good intentions," offered to help him.
"Senior brother is young and healthy. It's perfectly normal for him to act like this when he's with someone he likes. Just let it out. Let me help you. You just need to close your eyes and enjoy it."
Before she could even extend her hand, Wei Danxin was so frightened that she disregarded her injuries. She first crawled on the bed to avoid Bitao's hand, and then jumped up and ran outside.
But he wasn't wearing a shirt, and running out with his hair all over the place was really inappropriate.
So he ran into... the washroom used for washing up.
The washroom had no door, and there was never another person in Wei Danxin's room, so there was only a stone screen.
Wei Danxin hid behind the stone screen, holding onto it to steady herself, peeking out half her head and one eye, looking at Bitao with the same fear and extreme vigilance one would show when looking at a flood or a ferocious beast.
He was afraid that Bitao would actually go over to "help" him.
Bitao deliberately teased him, walking to the side of the stone screen and imitating him, peeking out half her head and one eye to look at him.
"What's wrong, senior brother?"
Wei Danxin originally wanted to say, "I don't need your help."
But seeing the smile in Bitao's eyes at such close range, I realized she was doing it on purpose.
She did it on purpose!
Wei Danxin glared at Bitao, her voice sharp but her tone weak, and said fiercely, "Get out!"
"Walk!"
Bitao narrowed her eyes slightly, startled by the "fierce" tone.
Then, as if "frightened," he retreated step by step.
He actually retreated to the doorway and said to Wei Danxin, "Alright, alright, I can leave, but don't stand on the ground, go lie down on the bed."
"I'll stay here and watch. Go lie down properly, and I'll leave."
The peach blossoms seemed to be teasing a wary, baring puppy with gentle, sucking motions.
Wei Danxin just wanted to be alone now, afraid that Bitao wouldn't leave. Hearing this, she hesitated for a moment and returned to the bedside.
After lying back on the bamboo bed, it turned its head to look at the peach tree by the door—meaning that it could leave now.
Bitao turned back a few steps from the doorway.
Upon seeing this, Wei Danxin became anxious again and, despite the pain, braced herself on her arms to try and get up once more.
How could she go back on her word!
Bitao walked over to him and pressed down on his neck with her hand, forcing him to continue lying on the pillow.
Meeting his incredulous, reproachful, and barely concealed panic gaze, Bitao smiled and said, "I'm not lying to you, I'm really leaving. I'll cover you with a thin inner garment."
Bitao's voice was gentle as water: "You need to lie here for a while to let the ointment dry. Your fever has just subsided, and you'll get cold if you lie here for too long."
"You can't cover yourself with clothes either. If you move too much, the wound on your back will be pulled and it will hurt a lot."
As she spoke, Bitao walked effortlessly to Wei Danxin's cabinet and, as if she were in her own home, took out an undershirt from inside.
The wardrobe is also a very private place, because it contains not only outerwear, but also underwear and even shorts worn close to the skin.
Normally, Wei Danxin would not tolerate someone going through his wardrobe.
Are you crazy?
How can you let others see your personal items?
But if someone initially wanted to "lift the roof" but later just opened a window, it seems to become much more acceptable.
Wei Danxin lay there, seemingly resigned to his fate, glancing at Bitao out of the corner of his eye as she moved around in his room.
She was even secretly relieved that she hadn't actually offered to "help" her without explanation.
He was fully conscious; he couldn't even imagine such a thing...
Wei Dan thought about his shameful reaction, and he began to feel self-loathing and contempt for himself again.
My nose started to sting again; I've never felt so dirty and disgusting in my life.
He had some doubts about the effects of the Heavenly Grade Flowing Elixir, hoping that he had only lost his mind because of the drug's effects.
Now... his repeated wicked desires have left him unable to quell his lust, and he can no longer afford to take chances. He is now nothing but an insatiable beast.
When Bitao brought over the thin inner shirt, Wei Danxin was lying on the bed with her head buried in the pillow, her breathing heavy and labored.
Clearly, he had made himself quite angry again.
Bitao couldn't help but laugh.
Mingguang has been an immortal for over two hundred years. He is upright and self-disciplined, and he doesn't even qualify as a person with a pure heart and few desires. For an immortal, if one's emotional senses are not open and one's body is filled with pure energy, one has no desires at all.
It's normal for people to have strong desires, even if they can't accept it for a moment.
She gently covered him with his undershirt and left quietly as promised.
However, although Bitao has left, she hasn't said she won't come back.
Bitao returned to Tianshui Courtyard and spent the entire afternoon with Daoist Bu'er. During their conversation, she inadvertently inquired about the natal magic weapon of the Supreme Sword Sect's leader.
"But since Wei Xiao uses a sword, why was the punishment my senior brother suffered... a hard whip or something similar?"
"You can't stop talking about your senior brother. Do you really like him that much?"
Bitao: "...Mother, weren't we talking about weapons?"
"It wasn't some kind of hard whip; it was whipped with the Heaven-Piercing Mace."
"So does Wei Xiao usually use a mace?" Bi Tao pressed.
“He doesn’t usually use it, but every sect has the Tongtian Mace.”
Le Junya said, "You're too young; you've never heard of it."
Le Junya rested her head on her hand, her expression revealing a sense of melancholy as she reminisced: "About two thousand years ago, the ancestor who founded the Xuanmen sect of cultivators ascended to the heavens, and his magic weapon was the Tongtian Mace."
"All the sects today were branches of the Tongtian Sect back then."
"Back then, Tongtianmen encompassed body cultivation, sword cultivation, saber cultivation, talisman cultivation, magic cultivation, and array cultivation. Before the Xuanmen Ancestor ascended, all cultivators were united and enjoyed a period of great prosperity."
"I am only a little over three hundred years old now, and I have never experienced the prosperous world when the mortal kingdoms were abundant and prosperous, wars ceased, evil spirits did not exist, doors were not locked at night, and the world of cultivation was flourishing and separated from the world of immortals."
"However, after the Xuanmen Ancestor ascended to heaven, no one was able to inherit his Daoist heart of 'the way of heaven is constant and the world is in harmony,' nor did anyone have his ability to control all kinds of cultivation methods and command tens of thousands of cultivators with his power."
"After his ascension, the cultivators split apart, and the various schools of thought in the Xuanmen (mystical sects) contended for dominance, which was an inevitable trend."
"But in order to commemorate the kindness of the Xuanmen Ancestor who founded the sect and gathered scattered cultivators from all directions to teach orthodox Taoist methods, every sect has a Tongtian Mace."
“Nowadays, very few people actually use maces as weapons. When I was young, eight out of ten cultivators I met used the Tongtian Mace. Nowadays, most sects also keep one Tongtian Mace as a family rule to discipline their disciples.”
Bitao nodded thoughtfully, her mind racing.
She was born with an exceptional memory. While Mingguang needed to practice any technique or move several times to master it, Bitao dared to fight the Red Spirit Crab after seeing it only once.
There are tens of thousands of immortals in the Nine Heavens, from the Grand Immortal to the Supreme Immortal.
While Bitao may not recognize all of them, she can identify eight or nine out of ten by "matching the scene with the painting" and determine which branch the painting belongs to. She can even remember the magical artifacts that the painting is known to use if it has a slightly distinctive feature.
Aside from those star deities she had never met, she would at least have some vague impression of this person as long as he had ever been active in the Nine Heavens and had met Bitao.
The Taoist Master Yue Junya said that the other party was an ascended ancestor of the Xuanmen sect, who was well-versed in all kinds of cultivation methods in the human world, and thus possessed an all-powerful immortal status.
If such a celestial being were to ascend, there is no way they could be submerged among the supreme immortals or spirit immortals of the Nine Heavens.
However, Bitao searched through her memories but could not find any immortals above the rank of deity who used the Heaven-Reaching Mace.
Could this person have become a star deity after ascending to heaven?
Or perhaps it's the deity in charge of the year's celestial rites...
The star realms for the competition are never chosen arbitrarily. Everything has its cause and effect. The chaos and turmoil among the common people, the calamities caused by ghosts, and the decline of cultivators must all have their origins and roots.
Just like the first competition in the Star Realm, what seemed like just a turbulent star chart and obscuring Ziwei was actually orchestrated by the ancient immortal clan to frame Zhu Ming.
Those seemingly puppet-like immortal supervisors, though they do not open their eyes, may still understand everything in other ways.
Some people's tricks may be known before they even begin.
It was all just a trial for the immortals to correct the wrongs of their "unworthy" juniors.
As Bitao was searching her mind for the star deities she had seen in Mingguang's multiverse documents, Le Junya hit her on the head.
Bitao shrank her neck as she was hit.
"Thinking about your senior brother again?"
Bitao: "...Be gentle, Mother, or you'll make me stupid."
"You think you're smart? All you think about is men, you're spineless!"
Bitao: "..."
“Wei Xiao came by at noon to discuss with me how to arrange your marriage to his son, but I did not agree.”
Le Junya frowned slightly and said, "I thought you were still infatuated with Lin Xuantu, and even agreed to your engagement. But now it seems you are not committed at all."
"You are still young and your cultivation is not strong enough. I am not old and frail, and I can still take care of you for many years."
"Don't rush into any engagement. Let's settle things first."
Bitao moved her lips. She knew that as long as she threw a tantrum and begged, just like before, no matter how absurd her request was, Le Junya would eventually nod.
However, Bitao did not raise any further objections.
She did want to marry Mingguang. Marriage was a ceremony, and this ceremony was very important to Mingguang.
Even if other immortals have marriages in the mortal realm, they will never admit it when they return to the heavenly realm. They will only consider it as a "trial of love," for fear of really getting tainted by some karma.
But Mingguang doesn't.
With his rule-bound mind, once two people cross the threshold of marriage, he will consider the relationship as such.
However, this matter really cannot be rushed.
Although Bitao has a man in her mind, it's not as Le Junya believes that her mind is only filled with men.
Mingguang is now a very good "bait". Bitao deceived him in front of the Nine Heavens Immortal, and his believers and supporters are eager to attack her and awaken their "god".
Bitao had only just cast her fishing hook.
If you reel in the hook now, it will definitely be an empty hook.
If Bitao is so busy getting married to Mingguang and having children that she neglects the important matter of the competition, Zhu Ming will laugh his head off when they return to the heavens.
Bitao appeared reluctant in front of Le Junya, but reluctantly agreed.
After getting her dinner at the canteen that evening, she went to find Wei Danxin and appeared extremely distressed.
Bitao entered Wei Danxin's Yanlan Courtyard as if walking on flat ground. As soon as she entered, she complained to Wei Danxin, "Mother said... we are still too young and our temperaments are not yet settled, so she does not allow us to get married too early."
"Senior brother...you don't mean to deny our marital relationship just because we're not officially husband and wife, do you?"
Wei Danxin had recovered considerably by the end of the afternoon.
The pills and ointments that Bitao fed him were all top-quality and very effective. The only thing that hadn't healed was his inner wounds.
He was sitting there calmly drinking tea when he suddenly felt the restrictions in the courtyard being activated. The next moment, someone he absolutely did not want to see appeared in front of him.
"How did you get in?" Wei Danxin was so shocked that she didn't even notice what Bitao was saying.
He clearly set up numerous restrictions specifically to block her!
Bitao said, "The Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation is almost identical to the Nine Palaces Spirit Locking Formation at the mountain gate. I remember how you used your movement technique when you broke the formation that day when we entered the mountain."
"You're talking nonsense! These are clearly two different things..."
"I know you've placed magical artifacts, talismans, spirit stones, and even your own sword in all nine directions: Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, Dui, and the central palace, right?"①
"Originally, apart from forceful breaking, there was no one else who could solve it except yourself."
Bitao blinked her beautiful peach blossom eyes at Wei Danxin: "But senior brother, have you forgotten? We just consummated our marriage. The golden spirit you released in my body has not completely dissipated. When the formation recognizes the golden spirit belonging to the formation master, the gate of life naturally opens."
Wei Danxin's expression was absolutely priceless.
Something within the pale golden pupils, which had been painstakingly pieced together over the afternoon, shattered silently once again.
His eyes, close to his neck, quickly regained their magnificent, sunset-like hue.
Above the Milky Way in the heavens, the immortals who heard Bitao's nonsense were all impressed by her shamelessness and cunning.
"Honestly, if I hadn't known it was all a lie, and if I hadn't seen with my own eyes how she cooked the porridge and bled the blood to deceive Mingguang Xuanxian, I would have believed it too..."
"Isn't the most outrageous thing that she actually has the golden spirit of the Immortal Mingguang inside her body?"
"I have been an immortal for decades, and I will not be mistaken about the basic natural law of the five elements' mutual generation and restraint. Metal spirit restrains wood. She stored the golden spirit of Mingguang Xuanxian in her body. Even if the amount of golden spirit is small, her meridians will be slowly corroded. Is she really going to endure a long and painful process just to open a formation?"
"She has the willpower to withstand the influx and storage of opposing spiritual energy into her body; she'll succeed at anything she does..."
"I think Mingguang Xuanxian would really not be able to escape her grasp if he hadn't broken through the Thunder Pattern Curse Seal."
"I'm not afraid of being haunted by evil spirits, I'm only afraid of evil spirits... their abilities are too strong..."
"Despicable, shameless, shameless, shameless, shameless! I'll say it ten thousand times!"
...
However, regardless of how others judge it, Bitao's move was very effective against Mingguang.
Before long, Wei Danxin obediently sat down at the table and began to eat, facing Bitao.
He was indeed hungry, and as his fever subsided and his health began to improve, cultivators in this world did not practice the concept of fasting.
If he hadn't been so ashamed and indignant that he wouldn't have wanted to leave the house at all, he wouldn't have sat there chugging tea to fill his stomach when Bitao came in.
He even looked for food in the kitchen in the afternoon. He clearly remembered that he had left half a bowl of rice. Why was it gone?
"I forgot to tell you, you really messed with me that night. I got hungry in the middle of the night, so I got up and ate the half bowl of rice that was left in your kitchen."
Wei Danxin: "..." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
For a moment, he couldn't tell whether the "excessive disturbance" or the "getting up in the middle of the night to eat your leftover rice" was more terrifying to him.
Bitao served him food, putting down her own chopsticks and using a pair of chopsticks she hadn't used before.
When eating, they only touch a portion of their own plate, keeping everything clean and polite.
She knows very well how to strike the right balance in a relationship.
The flirtatious words were just that—flirtatious words. They were meant to make Wei Danxin remember that their relationship was already "irreparable."
But Bitao wouldn't actually do anything that would disgust Wei Danxin.
"Eat this. I specially asked the people in the kitchen to cook it. It's rich in the spiritual energy of Li Guang grass, which is perfect for your recovery right now."
Wei Danxin watched her replace the chopsticks, took a slight breath, and still didn't really want to eat.
It wasn't because he disliked anything, but rather because he still felt really awkward.
Wei Danxin rarely ate at the same table with others, and he never imagined that one day he would sit with someone like this... and eat together.
Seeing that he didn't move, Bitao swallowed the food in her mouth and took a sip of tea.
Then he looked at Wei Danxin and said quietly, "If you don't want to eat this kind of food rich in wood spirit, then we can cultivate together for a while."
“I already felt that these foods contained too little wood spirit, how could they contain as much as my body? We should probably cultivate together a dozen or so times, and then your meridians will be fully restored.”
"Once the internal injuries heal, the external injuries will naturally heal as well. Then we can team up to go out and take on missions to exchange for spirit stones for cultivation. Senior brother must be quite anxious, right?"
The words "dual cultivation" struck Wei Danxin's heart, causing her blood, which had been stagnant due to depression and self-loathing, to surge forth like a roaring torrent.
Without hesitation, he took the food that Bitao had put on his plate, stuffed it all into his mouth, and chewed quickly with his cheeks puffed out, not caring about his image.
The meaning is obvious—I'm eating, I'm eating, I'm eating and eating.
Bitao suppressed a smile, and no matter what she put on his plate, he would eat it without even looking up.
The two of them ate the meal very harmoniously.
After several days, Wei Danxin finally had a full meal.
When Bitao started clearing away the food, he quietly touched his stomach and realized that he had actually eaten very comfortably and with great relish.
It wasn't because he hadn't been hungry for several days that he was like this; rather, the food tasted exactly to his liking.
He even recalled that the speed and frequency at which she picked up food were exactly the same as the speed at which he swallowed.
He usually goes to the kitchen to get food, taking whatever is available in fixed quantities. If he doesn't like what he gets, he leaves it for later.
But he wouldn't waste it; he would force himself to eat it at the next meal.
He is the son of the sect leader and the senior disciple of the Supreme Sword Sect. He always keeps in mind that he needs to set an example for everyone, eliminate waste, and not be picky about food or have special meals. These are the rules he sets for himself.
He never revealed his preferences to anyone.
Perhaps it was just a coincidence...
But if it's just a coincidence for one or two meals, but it's unrelated to coincidence if he eats the same things for several days in a row.
Moreover, she could easily break through the formation he modified every time.
By the seventh day, Wei Danxin was basically able to walk freely.
But he exuded a sense of utter despair as he asked Bitao, "How did you get in this time...?"
"Senior brother, are you referring to the modified formation outside? Senior brother is truly learned and talented. This formation also utilizes the natural rules of the Five Elements in the geography of Jietian Mountain, combining the Eight Trigrams and the inverted Yin and Yang formation positions. It is truly ingenious."
As Bitao placed the food box on the table, she sincerely praised, "I have learned a lot from you these days, Senior Brother. I'm afraid even the array masters of this era cannot match the arrays you casually set up, which cover a wide range of possibilities. Thank you for your teachings, Senior Brother."
Wei Danxin's expression was numb and pained.
What could he possibly teach her?
He had been studying formations day and night for the past two days, constantly changing the restrictions, but he couldn't stop her for even a moment.
The difference in cultivation levels between the two was several levels. Wei Danxin always boasted of his extensive cultivation and was proud that hard work would be rewarded by Heaven.
Now, facing her, his sense of frustration intensifies day by day, and he even doubts whether his brain... might not work as well as he thought.
With such extraordinary talent, why doesn't she use it on cultivation instead of focusing it all on him?
However, when he saw the food box opened today, Wei Danxin's complex expression was mixed with some undisguised surprise and... delight.
Today we're having barbecue.
It's venison!
He likes venison.
Especially this kind of venison, roasted until dry and fragrant, sprinkled with chili and rich in oil.
However, the canteen rarely buys venison.
After all, the Jitian Mountain range, and even the surrounding mountain ranges, were once home to large groups of tigers, and deer had been absent for a long time.
He sat down and watched as the person opposite him didn't rush to eat. Instead, he switched chopsticks, picked up the best piece, dipped it in some sauce, and placed it on his plate.
"Eat up. I had someone specially buy these from a nearby town. This part is cooked in sauce and then grilled, and this part is raw meat grilled. They're both very tender. Try them."
Wei Danxin couldn't wait to add another piece and stuff it into her mouth.
With the rich aroma of oil filling his mouth, he belatedly realized how accustomed he had become to her care.
Moreover... he never hid his preferences or appetite in front of her, acting as if the two had been friends for years.
Instead of having spent less than half a month together after that embarrassing incident.
Wei Danxin slowly swallowed her food, but couldn't help asking, "How did you know what I like to eat?"
Bitao smiled and ate slowly, raising an eyebrow upon hearing this: "I admire my senior brother, so naturally I will observe him carefully."
"I not only know what my senior brother likes to eat, but I also know that he likes green, white and black."
"Being familiar with your senior brother's sword-wielding habits, hand seal techniques... and so on, your senior brother will gradually discover that I am the one who understands you the most."
"We are a match made in heaven."
She wasn't hungry when she came every day, because she had eaten at Bu Er Dao Ren's place.
She knew Mingguang's appetite and preferences, but Wei Danxin was unaware that Bitao's refined demeanor was all an act.
It's not that Bitao doesn't eat elegantly, but rather that Bitao can eat a lot elegantly.
One person can eat the equivalent of four of him.
The phrase "a match made in heaven" was quite a shock to Wei Danxin.
He silently lowered his head and ate his meat, but inwardly he couldn't help but protest.
Nonsense.
She clearly liked Lin Xuantu before, and in order to get him, she even interfered with his marriage, forcing him to be with Zhang Yuluan.
Now... after that happened between the two of them, she doesn't know why she's changed her personality.
Wei Danxin didn't believe a single word of her liking or admiration, nor could she understand it at all.
But day after day, no matter what Wei Danxin did, she couldn't stop Bitao, so in the end she simply gave up.
The restrictions on Yanlan Courtyard were lifted quietly, and Wei Danxin no longer went out during the day, resuming her daily routine of meditation, cultivation, healing, and practicing martial arts.
Bitao comes three times a day, bringing food, elixirs, and spirit stones.
Aside from occasionally teasing Wei Danxin and reinforcing his indelible impression of what happened between them.
He would leave right after each meal, behaving with propriety, always smiling and affectionate, but never making any further advances.
But every time he left, he would politely ask, "Senior brother, may I have a kiss?"
Wei Danxin would usually pretend not to hear, looking at the sky, the ground, and the roof beams.
Bitao would tilt her head and ask him again, "If a kiss isn't allowed, can I at least hug you?"
Wei Danxin, of course, would not agree.
But eight out of ten times, Bitao will sigh and leave silently.
However, there will be two times when they slowly approach Wei Danxin, giving him enough time to dodge or retreat.
Then give him a gentle hug.
You can usually avoid one of these two attempts.
But sometimes when Wei Danxin isn't running fast, or when there's nowhere to run, or when she gives up and stops running, she gets hugged.
Every time he was hugged, it felt like being branded with a hot iron, and he wished he could jump up to the roof beam in one breath.
In an instant, the whole person will be burning like a cloud.
Often, Bitao would hug him from behind, and he would stare intently at something, or his eyes would dart around so fast that they seemed to leap out of his eyes along with his rapidly blinking eyelashes.
Starting from the spot where he touched the peach blossom, the ants crawled and gnawed at him, causing him intense discomfort. He couldn't help but tremble.
But each time, just before he reached his limit, Bitao would let him go.
At that moment, Wei Danxin would feel a sense of relief, as if she had survived a calamity.
And a little bit... eerie, the lingering feeling that her arms were still wrapped around his waist.
However, this does not prevent him from recovering rapidly in all aspects, both physically and mentally.
Bitao had people prepare all sorts of delicious dishes to help Wei Danxin regain the weight she had lost due to torture and serious injuries.
They fed him many top-grade pills, which actually brought his fallen cultivation level back up.
He has reached the lower stage of Earthly Gravity and is just waiting for an opportunity to advance to the middle stage!
After figuring out the entire sect's procurement channels, Bitao even had many clothes made for Wei Danxin.
With her cultivation level stable, Wei Danxin no longer needed to go to the canteen every day. Apart from focusing on her cultivation, she was completely immersed in this life where she was taken care of.
However, occasionally, he would suddenly blush and become flustered.
For example, today, after taking a shower, he put on his clothes while thinking about the mental cultivation techniques he had read during the day.
As I walked out of the bathroom, I suddenly felt... a cool, slippery sensation down there.
It wasn't that he forgot to wear pants, but rather... the material of his close-fitting shorts was cool and slippery.
It is certainly very comfortable. Now it is the height of summer in July, and this silk-like material is definitely much softer than the somewhat rough cotton cloth.
There was no one in the room, but Wei Danxin looked around several times before running back to the inner room in one breath.
He closed all the doors and windows tightly, setting up several layers of restrictions, before finally pulling down his pants to take a peek.
These are new shorts.
But he hadn't made new clothes for several years, and he didn't know how there could be new ones in his closet.
He lay on the bamboo bed and pulled the quilt over his head.
Even the knuckles of his fingers, which were gripping the corner of the blanket, were bright red.
No one would make something like this for him, except... her.
Before Wei Danxin took a shower, she hadn't noticed that he had taken the wrong one. Now that he'd changed it, he...
He lay in bed like a worm for a while.
Then, he reached out a hand and "whoosh"ed a pair of shorts, which even shimmered with cloud-like patterns under the dim indoor light, out of the blanket and onto... a stool not far away.
After a long while, she finally rolled up her blanket and reopened her wardrobe.
He wrapped himself in a blanket, bent over, and searched for a long time.
Then he stood up and, like a silkworm cocoon, banged his head against the wardrobe several times.
He discovered that his close-fitting cotton shorts had disappeared sometime during the day.
There was only one that was already dirty, left in the bathroom, and hadn't been washed yet.
Wei Danxin stood there taking deep breaths for a long time.
I went back to bed, wrapped myself in the blanket, and sat up for most of the night.
His eyes were wide open, like copper bells, and he still couldn't figure out when the "enemy army" had completely occupied his territory, secretly changed his "kingdom".
But he can't go without wearing it.
So, in the middle of the night, the human-shaped silkworm cocoon walked to the stool, stared at the piece of "precious material" with floating cloud patterns for a long time, then stretched out two fingers to pinch it and swiftly pulled it into the quilt.
Then, taking three steps at a time, he jumped directly onto the bamboo bed.
A heart-wrenching creak came from the bamboo bed, and the "silkworm pupa" began to squeak again.
Ultimately, it failed to "transform from a cocoon into a butterfly," instead becoming a "moth" that tossed and turned in bed all night without sleeping.
The next morning, Bitao brought food again.
Wei Danxin frowned and looked at her with extreme seriousness, her face turning from pale to red and then pale several times.
Only when Bitao was about to leave after the meal did she ask her, "Where did you put my pants...where did you put all my clothes?"
Bitao turned around and looked at him with a smile, her gaze sweeping over his brand-new outer robe as if it were a tangible thing, lingering on a certain spot for a moment.
Wei Danxin was so startled that she shrank behind the door.
Then ask him, "Are you comfortable?"
“I specifically asked someone in the city to inquire about it. They said that those ‘wealthy people’ all like this kind of material. It’s breathable, has better coverage, and is most suitable for summer wear.”
"Made to your proportions, it will definitely fit you better than the previous ones that were either too big or too small."
Wei Danxin peeked out from behind the door, her face as red as the setting sun, a vertical line furrowed between her brows: "I'm asking you, about my..."
“It’s with me.” Bi Tou looked at him, her face neither red nor pale, and said, “I’m cuddling it in bed.”
"You won't let me touch you, you won't even let me kiss you. I can only use some inanimate objects to console myself and ease the pain of longing in the long night."
With a cold face, Wei Danxin slammed the stone door shut with a loud bang.
Because he had regained his strength, some pebbles were shaken off the door and rolled to Bitao's feet.
Behind the stone gate, his expression slowly cracked, and he was so ashamed that he felt like he was about to grind his teeth to dust.
How can there be such a person?
How could there be such a shameless and dissolute woman in this world!
Bitao smiled happily and gently tapped the stone door a few times with her fingers.
Her voice remained gentle and calm, as if she hadn't been the one who had just uttered those shameful and infuriating words.
"Senior brother, you have almost recovered. I have already reported to the sect leader that tomorrow, the tenth day of the seventh month, I will go down the mountain with you and the junior brothers and sisters to train."
"July 15th is the day when the gates of hell open wide. I have already inquired and found that many new tasks have been added to the Wenxin Pavilion, some of which offer quite a lot of spirit stones."
Wei Danxin did not respond, and Bitao knew he had heard her, so she turned and left.
During the time that Wei Danxin was recuperating, she took the opportunity to get a general understanding of the Supreme Sword Sect, as well as other sects in the cultivation world that were comparable in strength to the Supreme Sword Sect, such as the Thunder Sect, the Taixu Tower, and the Seven Star Palace.
Based on the information obtained through inquiries and the portraits, it was identified that some belonged to the nine divisions of the ancient immortal race, as well as immortal positions from the lower realm of You Tian.
During this Ghost Festival, the gates of the underworld are wide open, and cultivators from various sects will unite to exorcise evil spirits and protect the human world.
The immortals who compete for the title will also gather at the Wenxin Pavilion.
Such a great opportunity cannot be missed.
During this time, Bitao fed Wei Danxin all the good pills and spirit stones, hoping to help him recover quickly so that she could go with him to receive the mission.
Act according to circumstances.
That night, Bitao did not go to find Wei Danxin, but instead went to her Tianshui Courtyard to select the magical artifacts, talismans, and weapons she would take down the mountain.
The cultivators in this world have very limited abilities, and their spiritual energy is often depleted, requiring a large amount of spirit stones to replenish it.
However, low-grade spirit stones are often inconvenient to use, even if they are drawn during battle, as it requires special meditation.
Most of the Heavenly and Earthly grade spirit stones are used for advancement and survival.
Fortunately, she partnered with Bu Er Dao Ren and emptied the treasury of Wei Xiao, the leader of the Supreme Sword Sect.
Moreover, the Taoist Master Yue Junya had accumulated a lot of good things over the years, and he was naturally very generous to his daughter.
Bitao was well-prepared this time. She spent the whole night cuddling with her mother and asked the people from Tianshui Academy to inform her fellow disciples who were going down the mountain to get ready before she could finally fall asleep peacefully.
Little did they know... that night, someone sat in their own courtyard, waiting for most of the night.
Realizing that the person who was supposed to deliver the food wasn't coming, his expression shifted from bewilderment to an anger that even he couldn't understand.
He even thought he must be crazy. Why did he think she would definitely come to bring him food?
Doesn't he have legs? Can't he go get it himself?
However, Wei Danxin never went to the canteen.
The main problem was that by the time he got to the canteen, it was already closed by midnight, and besides... every day someone would bring him delicious food, so the thought of the food in the canteen made him lose his appetite.
I stayed hungry until dawn.
I quickly packed some things I'd need for the trip down the mountain. My storage bag was practically empty, except for a few decent items, all of which she'd sent me over the past few days.
Wei Xiaoqing came to see Wei Danxin once in the morning and found that his body had recovered so quickly and well. His cultivation level after the fall had also returned, his meridians were smooth and unobstructed, and his heart meridian was free of stagnation and depression. His expression was complicated.
I wanted to give him a piece of my mind. What a heartless bastard! He did something like that and he even got fat.
But in the end, I couldn't bear to part with it.
He was only advised: "No matter what your junior sister does after you go down the mountain, just try your best to be accommodating to her. If she continues to pester Lin Xuantu, just ignore her."
Wei Xiao whispered to his son, "The Taoist Master Bu Er hasn't pressured you about your marriage, which is a good thing for you."
"Neither Zhang Yuluan nor Yue Qingyao are suitable matches for my son."
“I have already called off your marriage to Zhang Yuluan. The Thunder Sect is now rife with envy and accusations. Your father… has now lost half a lifetime of hard work.”
"Son, please don't do anything foolish again, understand?"
Wei Danxin was filled with shame and remorse.
But in his heart, he secretly retorted, "Zhang Yuluan is one thing, but whether Yue Qingyao is a good match or not, things have come to this point, how can he possibly shirk his responsibility?"
But Wei Danxin did not contradict her father; she simply listened in silence.
"I originally prepared some magical artifacts and talismans for you, all made by masters, but... alas, they were given to Yue Qingyao. Now your father doesn't have any good things left."
Even Wei Xiao's usually refined and gentle face, which seemed calm and collected, revealed a hint of embarrassment and distress.
"Fortunately, your cultivation level is quite high. Now that you're down the mountain, you'll have to rely on yourself for everything."
"Remember this: even though you have a responsibility to protect your fellow disciples when you lead the team down the mountain, for your father, the most important thing is still my son's safety."
“I know, Father.”
“Good boy…” Wei Xiao patted his son on the shoulder.
In the end, they still stingily gave him two top-grade spirit stones.
"Used to save one's life and ensure a safe return."
"Mmm." Wei Danxin pursed her lips, naturally being incredibly docile towards her loving father.
Wei Xiao had just turned to leave, but as soon as he took his hand off Wei Danxin's clothes, he let out a "Huh".
"You..." Even Wei Xiao had never seen the protective array on the robe before.
Although the runes look like ordinary floral patterns, they exude the aura of a protective array.
Even if the person who drew it wasn't very skilled, the formation itself was extremely ingenious.
Wei Xiao pressed his hand back down and carefully felt it again; the lingering sound within was that of the Wood Spirit.
He let go of her hand, looking somewhat bewildered.
For a moment, his expression showed extreme shame.
Looking at his son, he added, "This time when you go down the mountain... cough, do your best to protect your third junior sister."
Wei Danxin couldn't help but glance at her father, who had just whispered to her to stay away from her third junior sister and not to interfere with her entanglement with Lin Xuantu, saying that she was not a good match for her.
How come I have to protect her now?
"Oh," Wei Danxin responded in a muffled voice.
He thought to himself that he probably couldn't protect her.
He was so hungry he had no strength.
He didn't eat last night, and this morning... he went to the cafeteria but still didn't eat.
When the Supreme Sword Sect's team gathered at the entrance of Jietian Mountain, Wei Danxin's face was ashen and cold as ice.
On the brand-new robe, the wood spirit patterns embroidered with gold thread shimmered in the morning light, making Wei Danxin stand there as if she had grown a pair of crimson-gold wings, incomparably noble and unapproachable.
However, his expression was extremely cold and stern, his handsome brows were covered with frost, and his aura was too gloomy. The junior brothers and sisters who usually surrounded him did not dare to get close to him.
Zhang Yuluan had received the news of the annulment of the engagement, and she was on the verge of tears, frequently glancing in Wei Danxin's direction.
Several times I bit my lip, wanting to demand an explanation, but the occasion wasn't right, so I could only reluctantly endure it.
Lin Xuantu, the only one who noticed her emotional change and knew the truth, stepped forward and gently comforted Zhang Yuluan.
Zhang Yuluan barely managed to hold back her tears, her breathing trembling.
However, Wei Danxin's gaze wandered around, and it was unclear what she was looking at.
He didn't even glance in her direction.
Bitao arrived rather late. After exchanging greetings, everyone led their horses and moved into the Spirit Locking Array.
This formation is not offensive. It has nine key points, which are suppressed by various spiritual artifacts, magic weapons, and spirit stones.
Its purpose is to obscure the entrance to the Heavenly Mountain; if someone tries to force their way through, they will be locked inside.
However, if an ordinary person accidentally wanders into it, they will be guided by the formation to other mountains around Jietian Mountain.
Upon entering the formation, the group dispersed.
Bitao seized the opportunity and led her horse to Wei Danxin's side.
As if she had forgotten that she hadn't gone to see Wei Danxin last night or this morning, she smiled and leaned closer, saying, "Senior brother, don't you think our horses are a perfect match?"
Wei Danxin was leading a white horse, not pure white, but bluish-white with some bluish hairs, and it was very spirited.
Bitao was leading a tall, chestnut-colored horse, one of the mounts of the Daoist Yue Junya, known for its gentle and intelligent nature.
These two horses don't seem to be a good match at all.
Wei Danxin acted as if she hadn't heard anything, not even glancing at Bitao.
Until Bitao took out a steaming hot bun wrapped in oil paper and brought it to his mouth.
"You didn't have breakfast, did you? I specifically asked the kitchen to make some last night."
Wei Danxin did not see any steamed buns in the canteen this morning.
The aroma of meat filled the air, and he was starving.
However, he was very principled. He turned his head away with a stern face and said coldly, "As the third senior sister in the sect, you should set an example for your junior brothers and sisters. How can you always have the kitchen prepare special meals for you?"
"Do you want some? It's pork and scallion stuffed with pork. It's from a castrated pig, so the meat isn't gamey at all. I had to ask someone to buy it for me. It's very fragrant."
"I'm not eating, go away." Wei Danxin's face remained cold.
As he led the horse out of the formation, Bitao grabbed his waist belt.
He stumbled slightly from being pulled.
He looked down at her, turning his head to glare at her.
Bitao smiled ingratiatingly and sweetly.
"Good senior brother... have some, I've been carrying it in my clothes all morning, and it's burned my chest."
“Last night, my mother repeatedly told me that I couldn’t find the time to come see you.”
“My mother called me to eat with her this morning, and I can’t disobey my elders.”
In fact, Bitao was deliberately ignoring him, knowing that he was used to following "rules" and that once he had decided on the "form" of something, it was difficult to change his mind.
For example, when he handles official documents from all realms, he always starts from the left to the right on his desk.
Sometimes, if Bitao deliberately rearranged the order of the contents, he would rather go to great lengths to rearrange them back to their original positions, but he would still start from left to right.
Mingguang was born to be waited on hand and foot, and could be considered the "Number One Young Lady" of the Nine Heavens.
Previously, even speaking was endorsed by Binglun, but now that there's no one to handle the miscellaneous matters around her, she easily falls into the trap.
Over nearly a month, Bitao instilled in Mingguang a habit of waiting for her to bring him food, subtly influencing him like a frog being slowly boiled in water.
So that whenever he is hungry in the future, he will think of her and even wait for her.
This may seem like a small thing, but in life, eating and drinking three meals a day are almost the foundation of a mortal's survival.
Now we have to check it out, and sure enough, the results are quite good.
Bi Taohua spoke eloquently and effortlessly: "But I was thinking about my senior brother the whole time. I didn't sleep well last night, and I didn't even have a good appetite this morning. After breakfast, I immediately ran to the kitchen to get some steamed buns from the chef."
"Senior brother, you must not have eaten breakfast yet, your stomach is growling."
Wei Danxin didn't want to admit it, but her stomach just wouldn't stop growling.
His ears burned, and he turned to leave with a stiff face.
Bitao reached out and scratched his waist twice. He opened his mouth because of the tickling, and Bitao stuffed the bun into his mouth.
With a steamed bun in her mouth, Wei Danxin slapped Bitao's hand away, turned around, braced herself on the horse's back with one hand, and leaped onto the horse.
His back was straight, his long legs stride forward, his muscles were lean and strong, and his movements were swift and neat, but he couldn't hide the panic of missing the pedal.
After mounting his horse, he immediately lowered his body, gripped the horse's belly, and whipped the horse, breaking free of the formation in an instant.
But he didn't throw the steamed buns on the ground.
Bitao rubbed the back of her hand that had been slapped, clicked her tongue with a smile, and thought to herself, "The young lady isn't so hard to coax after all."
He then mounted his horse and left the formation.
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