Chapter 52 The lamp burns out, the snow begins to shine. Do I really enjoy sleeping in your bed...?
The lamp flame exploded for a moment.
Lou Yan stared at him with a face full of anger for a long time, until Heng Qichun finished feeding him a whole drop of blood from his fingertip, and then made a hand seal to put the shark into his body.
Several months have passed, and Lou Yan had almost forgotten.
On that day, his master promised the Mermaid Emperor Hua Jiuyao that he would do his best to help this young mermaid cultivate its power and feed it with a drop of blood from his fingertip every day.
It turns out that so much time has passed.
The experiences of this life did not drive Lou Yan to his death, but instead gave him more insights into being a "cultivator". He momentarily overlooked the fact that everything that happened today was actually a deal that Heng Qichun made for him.
It's the gods who are making the bet.
It was hard to miss the wolf cub's burning gaze; even though Heng Qichun was ill, he couldn't help but turn his gaze towards it.
With a "thud," the handkerchief covering his forehead fell onto the bed.
Heng Qichun seemed not to have reacted yet. He paused for a moment before reaching out to pick up the handkerchief. His fingertips touched the cool temperature of the handkerchief, and then he touched his forehead in return.
No wonder he felt his mind was much clearer.
Recalling Lou Yan's menacing gaze, Heng Qichun understood everything. Clutching her handkerchief, she chuckled softly and beckoned to the wolf cub, "Come here..."
Lou Yan disliked the way he had been calling her lately.
Although they no longer called him "little dog" directly, their tone still carried a strong dog-training flavor.
He suddenly remembered the nine-tailed fox's sincere advice and felt that the foolish fox had probably been given some kind of bewitching drug by its owner.
I am clearly disgusted. Besides, even if I wanted to listen to him and go over there, how could that be my problem?
This is clearly Heng Qichun's problem!
No wonder he hates foxes the most.
Lou Yan jumped down from the low table, exhaled a breath from its nostrils, and disdainfully moved to Heng Qichun's bedside. It raised its two front paws to grip the mattress and then wagged its tail.
What has happened to my people now?
Before he could even see Heng Qichun's reaction clearly, he felt his body lighten—Heng Qichun had already supported the softest spot under his shoulder and lifted him up in a wolf-like embrace.
The movements were skillful and fluid, and even while ill, they showed no signs of strain.
Lou Yan belatedly struggled, leaving a trail of scratches on the soft mattress with its four paws, the claw marks spreading out densely like the thick snow of plum blossoms outside.
"Huh!?"
What are you doing?!
How many times a day do you expect me to be in your bed? Do you think I enjoy being in your bed?
If you're so capable, why don't you send that shark out to keep you company?
Heng Qichun had no idea why the wolf cub had suddenly bristled. He just smiled, reached out and gently stroked Lou Yan's back, smoothing out the messy wolf fur.
As he smoothed it out, he said, "It's cold down there, come and sleep on the bed."
Lou Yan's struggles became noticeably less intense.
He lowered his head, his fur smoothed by Heng Qichun's stroking, and his wolf eyes were slightly raised, as if he was arrogantly thinking about something.
Just a moment later, he let out a low "Awoo~".
Oh well.
I will reluctantly agree to your request.
Heng Qichun understood the sound, so he stepped aside to make room for him on the inside of the bed, patted the bed, and invited him to come and sleep.
Lou Yan hummed as he leaned over, thinking: "Isn't this supposed to be good at coaxing wolves? Why was he so fierce when he was applying medicine to me?"
The burst of the lamp flame made a sudden sound in the quiet night, and then the wick completely slipped into the lamp oil, plunging the entire room into darkness.
Only the slivers of snow peeking through the leaky window remain, barely enough to discern the mocking nature of this life.
No one spoke up, and no one suggested going to relight the lamp.
They seemed intent on sleeping soundly through the quiet night.
Lou Yan finally managed to doze off for a short while, but it was only a light sleep.
After reverting to his original form, he became more accustomed to the lifestyle of wolves, sleeping less at night and possessing extremely high alertness.
In fact, he woke up the moment Heng Qichun moved.
But he didn't get up; he just lay there, covering one eye with his front paw, and his peripheral vision peeked out from between the hairs on his paw.
Heng Qichun's chest heaved, as if he was suppressing the urge to cough but unwilling to make a sound.
He braced himself against the bed with one hand, slipped on his shoes by the bedside, and got up. He then took a robe from the clothes rack, but didn't tie it. He just draped it loosely over his body, revealing his thin, undulating chest. It seemed he was just afraid of the cold.
He slipped on his shoes and left the room without making a sound the whole time.
Lou Yan pretended to turn over in her sleep, moved to the edge of the bed and lay on her back. Through the crack in the door, she saw Heng Qichun's figure again.
He didn't go out; instead, he put on his outer robe, sat cross-legged on the lotus platform, and began to meditate, forming a magic hand seal.
Meditate.
The winter night was still long, but Lou Yan could no longer close his eyes.
He didn't move at all during the rest of the night, maintaining the same posture for several hours, just so he could observe Heng Qichun's actions through the crack in the door.
Heng Qichun neither raised an object nor made a move.
The spiritual energy emanating from the lotus platform quickly enveloped him, and divine grace poured out, filling the entire Shenxiao Palace with a faint fragrance.
Heng Qichun made a lotus incantation with his fingertips, and his spiritual energy circulated around him, floating lightly in the lotus fragrance. Soon, his pale face gradually lost its pallor, and his spiritual energy overflowed, intertwining with the chaotic lotus fragrance, making it difficult to distinguish one from another.
As the moonlight faded, the sound of falling snow drifted from the eaves, a soft "drip-drip" sound that brushed past the ears, leaving one momentarily disoriented.
It was almost dawn.
Lou Yan looked up and was surprised to find that compared to the long century of her previous life, this was a period of time that was so fast that it was hard to grasp.
He finally turned over, and the first rays of morning sunlight shone on the corner of his eye, revealing the beauty mark hidden among his hair.
Lou Yan blinked and, out of the corner of her eye, saw Heng Qichun get up and leave.
——
Tianyin Palace.
The junior disciples responsible for sweeping in front of the hall had just cleared most of the snow when they saw their deity wading through the snow from afar.
She wore a light blue cloak, her figure was slender and graceful, her features were like ink paintings, but her face was pale, almost as white as snow.
The young disciple hurriedly threw down the broom and bowed, "God...Godly Lord?"
Heng Qichun had already arrived close, tightened his collar, and coughed lightly, covering his mouth, "Is Senior Brother here?"
"Oh!" The junior disciple snapped out of his daze, quickly ran up the steps, and opened the palace door for Heng Qichun. "The sect leader is inside."
The light, breaking through the gloom, traveled to the sundial, and the gnomon moved, just past the hour of Mao (5-7 AM).
Beneath the jade statue of Guanyin, Nan Yushan stood with his hands behind his back, white snakes coiled around his arms, his gaze fixed on the Qin mirror in front of him.
So much time has passed, and the monsters brought back from Mount Sixiang have already caused chaos in the Luduan Gate. The evil spirits that had previously fled have also begun to wreak havoc on the human world.
It is true that the Eighteen Realms can help them cultivate, but if they cannot break through this Qin Mirror, all the demons that have been reflected in it will never be able to transform into human form.
If those demons were to find out now, it's hard to guarantee they wouldn't collude with the Nine Netherworld Realm and oppose the Immortal Realm.
Just then, footsteps sounded behind him, followed by Heng Qichun's hoarse voice, "Senior Brother."
Nan Yushan turned around and immediately noticed the lingering sickness between his brows, and frowned, "What's wrong?"
"You look so pale after just two days."
The hall was filled with warming talismans, and upon entering, one felt an overwhelming warmth, a stark contrast to the icy and snowy landscape outside.
Heng Qichun took off his cloak and handed it to a junior disciple standing to the side. As he turned around, he couldn't help but cover his mouth and cough.
"No...cough cough...it's nothing, I just caught a cold."
Nan Yushan stared at the solitary figure beneath the man's clothes, and couldn't help but frown and click his tongue. "How did he catch a cold out of the blue?"
Heng Qichun is the last god in the human world. His divine grace is connected with the Endless Tree, which flourishes and thrives, aiming to protect all living beings.
He possesses divine bones and abundant spiritual power, so he shouldn't easily fall ill.
Nan Yushan frowned in thought, rubbing his fingertips against the snake's body. After a moment, he murmured, "Could it be... because of Qin Jing?"
Heng Qichun did not hide anything, but nodded while suppressing his cough, "It was because the ghost energy on Qin Jing was too heavy. I tried to suppress it with divine power, but I was unfortunately attacked by the backlash."
His lips were pale, and even sitting in meditation on the lotus platform all night could not hide his illness. As he spoke, he coughed again, covered his mouth and said, "I was too careless."
Nan Yushan's brows remained furrowed; for some reason, he felt that Heng Qichun was acting strangely.
Even if Qin Jing had turned against him, how could he have caught a cold?
My gaze involuntarily wandered into the distance, looking out from the open palace gates, finally settling on the snow-covered ground before the jade steps.
One of the mischievous disciples had built a snowman on the steps. Though it was crooked, ugly, and unsightly, it inexplicably added a touch of life to the desolate immortal sect.
Nan Yushan pondered for a moment, vaguely guessing what was going on, but did not reveal it at the moment. He only said, "Go and find a physician to take a look. He's over a thousand years old, how come he doesn't know how to take care of his health?"
"It's nothing serious, I'm much better now," said the ailing Heng Qichun, who was over a thousand years old.
Nan Yushan looked displeased, clearly angry that he didn't take care of his health, but under his accumulated pressure, he didn't want to say more. He simply flicked his sleeve and said, "Since you're sick, why bother making this trip through the snow?"
“The ‘Records of the Underworld’ states that hundreds of years ago, a supreme god opened the gates of hell and saw Emperor Yi in the underworld.” Heng Qichun pursed his lips, his eyes still clear and bright. He looked up and said, “Senior brother, I want to give it a try.”
"Connect to the underworld?" Nan Yushan was taken aback. The worry that had been on his face instantly turned into anger, and his tone turned cold. "Heng Qichun, have you forgotten the will of our ancestors?"
"No," Heng Qichun said. "Our ancestors left us the will that the paths of the immortals and the underworld are different, and they must not join forces to save the common people. But our ancestors also said that the common people are of utmost importance, and the six realms are one. Those who help the world, whether immortals or demons, should be treated equally."
"Senior brother, all the demons and evil spirits in the world are burdened by Qin Jing. If a solution is not found soon, it may lead to chaos in the world."
After saying this, Nan Yushan sighed first.
As a respected figure, standing in the position of a sect leader, how could he not have thought of these things?
The Eighteen Realms is the largest sect in the cultivation world. If even Heng Qichun doesn't know how to deal with this Qin Mirror, then there is probably no solution in the world.
After a long silence, Nan Yushan closed his eyes and said, "You are only allowed to try once."
"If it doesn't work, then we've done our best. As for the rest, let's leave it to fate."
“There is one more thing.” Heng Qichun said, raising his hand to form a hand seal, drawing the juvenile shark into his palm, and showing it to Nanyushan. “This juvenile shark has been fed by me for half a year and has gradually grown a fleshy body. It no longer needs to be fed with fresh blood every day.”
"This journey is perilous, and it may be dangerous for me to carry it. I would like to ask you to give it to Xiuzhu. After resting for a while in the Luduan Sect, it can be returned to the Merfolk."
This was a small matter, but Nan Yushan always remembered the day Heng Qichun protected Lou Yan in front of the Merfolk.
He snorted coldly, took the baby shark from Heng Qichun, and when he mentioned Wei Xiuzhu, he angrily flung his sleeves, "Why bother him? I will take care of it myself."
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