21. Willingly
He was willing to undertake any task assigned by his master.
Chu Qing and Ling Xue soaked in the cold pool overnight. With the blessing of the abundant spiritual energy of the Cloud Mist Sect, the other party recovered much faster than before.
Sigh, but to be injured so badly from just one trip down the mountain, we should probably limit her doing dangerous things in the future.
Maybe
Chu Qing thought
She may have been a failed mentor.
Despite his powerful cultivation, he failed to protect anyone and sometimes even harshly criticized those close to him under the system's coercion.
Chu Qing spent the whole night deep in thought, but still couldn't figure anything out. Just then, someone came and diverted her attention.
Elder Hua
Chu Qing poured herself a cup of tea. The weather had been getting hotter lately, and the surrounding flowers, plants, and trees were blooming luxuriantly, making Yunwu Sect seem like a fairyland.
The stream murmurs, and birds sing.
"Qingge, I've already sent people to investigate the demonic clues regarding Qingshan Town, but—"
Before he could finish speaking, the other person lowered his head and sighed softly.
It goes without saying from that expression that the demons were well-prepared and would not let them find a single clue even if their plan was exposed.
"There's just one thing I don't understand."
"What?" Chu Qing took a sip of the fragrant flower tea and looked up to ask.
"Why did these people do this? Why did they specifically choose Qingshan Town at the foot of Qingshan Peak? They knew perfectly well that your cultivation level was not afraid of this place, Qingge, and that you were doomed before the battle even began, but they—"
They were probably after the Spirit Pearl.
Chu Qing silently added in her mind, but didn't give a direct answer. What would happen if Hua Qi found out that the Xuanbing Spirit Pearl was with Yin Li?!
"Elder Hua, if you can't guess, then don't. Now that the demons have fled, and with such heavy casualties last time, they should be quiet for a while."
"Ah, that's true. Qingge, how's your recovery going?"
"Much better"
"Well, it's actually quite good that you went down the mountain a couple of times," Hua Qi sighed, stroking his non-existent beard and smiling.
Chu Qing: ? "What do you mean?"
"After visiting Crescent Moon Town and Green Mountain Town, perhaps I witnessed the full spectrum of human nature? They seem more welcoming and humane than before, hahahahaha."
Old Qian's laughter echoed in her ears, and Chu Qing couldn't help but twitch her eye. How come she hadn't noticed before that Hua Qi was such a chatterbox?
"Ah," Chu Qing raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise on her indifferent face, "I suddenly remembered something."
Seeing her enigmatic expression, which hinted at a cunning nature, the other person quickly sat up straight and tentatively asked, "W-what?"
"This trip to Qingshan Town has cost a lot of money for the investigation, Elder Hua—you can decide what to do."
The words were spoken lightly, yet they caused the person in the seat to stagger, and suddenly, the tea in their mouth didn't taste so good anymore.
"By the way, have Elder Wen and the others found any leads?"
"Not yet, but I estimate they'll be back soon. Once they've resolved the issues with the third secret realm, the trials can begin again."
Chu Qing nodded, seemingly relaxed, but she felt an even heavier burden in her heart.
The opening of the secret realm means that the time for the male protagonist to obtain the Fire Dance Spirit Orb is getting closer and closer. What kind of world-destroying scene will occur when the Mystic Ice Spirit Orb and the Fire Dance Spirit Orb are both gathered?
She also needs to seize the divine artifact, expose Wen Ruyu, and, at the same time, punish Yin Li for secretly taking the Spirit Pearl, pushing him off a cliff with unwavering impartiality...
Ugh, my head hurts.
Suddenly, a few muffled claps of thunder echoed in the sky, and the originally clear weather instantly turned gloomy, as if it were about to rain, with very low air pressure.
Like her chaotic mood, Chu Qing frowned and rubbed her temples: "Elder Hua, if there's nothing else, you should go back first. I need to go and rest."
Hua Qi got up to say goodbye and was about to turn and leave when he heard a piece of bad news from behind: "I will have someone go to the front hall to report the amount of the lost money."
Hua Qi: ...Let's not talk about money, it'll hurt our feelings.
Watching his reluctant departure, Chu Qing glanced at the sun in the sky, somewhat bewildered, unsure of what to do next.
She estimated it would be several months before the secret realm opened, and she remembered that the male protagonist fell off the cliff around autumn.
[System, what was the reason the male protagonist fell off the cliff?]
After the male protagonist obtained the Fire Dance Spirit Orb, the villain stole the artifact and pushed him off a cliff while he was seriously injured and not paying attention. This is...
The system paused, its tone somewhat stiff: [It was Chu Qingge's doing. She colluded with the villain, causing the male lead—]
Okay, that's enough.
After listening to the system's explanation, she had a headache and a tightness in her chest.
The villains couldn't steal the Fire Dance Spirit Orb; he didn't have the opportunity to obtain it. But as for the right to use the artifact, it had to be his!
Another point is that we need to get the male protagonist on track with his cultivation so that his spiritual power can increase rapidly while suppressing demonic energy. If he is seriously injured, his half-demon bloodline will not be exposed prematurely if he has enough spiritual energy.
[System, I need to discuss some terms with you.]
Chu Qing quickly formed a plan in her mind, but it required her to relax the criteria for judging out-of-character (OOC).
The two were locked in a fierce internal struggle, but in the end, she "snatched" the change that allowed them to disregard the original rules through her own assertive attitude.
If I had known this system was so fickle, I wouldn't have been so honest in the first place.
All those "electric shock punishments" were a complete waste.
Before she knew it, a light drizzle began to fall, and the sun was beginning to set. She hadn't seen her "beloved student" for almost a day; she should go check on the male lead.
Chu Qing moved with lightning speed and quickly arrived at the familiar door. However, this time, before she could even raise her hand to knock, the door opened obediently by itself.
"Yin Li, how is your injury?"
Chu Qing stepped in, but the next second she couldn't help but close her eyes.
What kind of behavior is this?!
The boy on the bed had his upper body half-undone, his clothes hanging on his shoulders, as he bent down and tried to wrap the wound on his waist and abdomen. It wasn't until Chu Qing spoke that he seemed to realize that someone had come in.
Chu Qing sighed helplessly, took a deep breath, but after opening her mouth, she didn't know what to say, so she could only remain silent in frustration.
"Master, Master!"
Yin Li looked bewildered, not finding his current behavior strange at all. He simply straightened his clothes slightly and wanted to turn around to face Chu Qing.
Chu Qing:!
"Don't move!"
Yin Li: ?
"Put your clothes on properly! What kind of appearance is this?!"
Rarely, that eternally icy mountain turned visibly red, yet she remained expressionless, then became somewhat exasperated: "Do you want to be punished again?!"
"I'm sorry, Master. It was my oversight. Please punish me."
The person opposite him folded his clothes neatly and knelt down without saying a word. But the moment he lowered his head, the corner of his mouth curled up almost imperceptibly.
snort
In the quiet atmosphere, Chu Qing lowered her eyes to look at the person on the ground, let out a soft snort, and her mind was racing with calculations.
If you want to improve the male protagonist's abilities, you need to suppress the demonic energy while subtly helping him cultivate.
Then the original Sunflower Grass would have been the best choice.
"I see your injury has almost healed. Continue picking the whole herb that day. I didn't say to stop, so you're not allowed to slack off, understand?"
"Disciple obeys."
Yin Li's throat moved, barely suppressing the burning excitement in his heart. He raised his eyes to meet the gaze of the person high above him for a moment, then obediently lowered his head again.
What kind of eyesight does that kid have!
Chu Qing was so startled by the fervor and...possessiveness in his eyes that she was momentarily dazed, repeatedly telling herself that she had misread it.
Although his favorability rating is quite high now, and he's much more obedient than before, does that justify his strange expression?!
So, Master is still so unassuming.
In high spirits, he suddenly remembered something, his expression changed, and he slowly spoke, "I wonder about Master's injuries the day he saved Junior Sister—"
"how's it going?"
How dare he bring that up!
"I'm fine after saving Xue Luo, but what about the assassin's knife wound? It's nothing to me."
Chu Qing put on a big act, and then said earnestly, "Yin Li, you saw it yourself that day when we were surrounded. If we can't become stronger, we'll only be waiting to die."
"I took the fall this time, but what about next time? And the time after that, when you're all alone, you'll be truly isolated and helpless."
To shield someone from a knife attack?
For whom would he take the blow?
Yin Li couldn't hear anything Chu Qing said after that. He stared intently at Chu Qing's arm, where there seemed to be an extra piece of gauze sticking out from her left wrist.
so······
So, this knife wound was inflicted on his master's behalf?
A deafening roar of thunder seemed to help clear one's mind.
Yin Li suddenly laughed, clenching his teeth tightly. From Chu Qing's perspective, the light in his eyes was rekindled, and his inner demons continued to rise and take over, with his twisted thoughts eroding his reason inch by inch.
You've finally taken the initiative to come to me?
"Yin Li, Yin Li!"
I wonder what this kid is thinking about so intently. Did he even hear what she just said?
"Yes, Master, your disciple will certainly obey and follow your teachings."
His hands, hanging by his sides, clenched tightly. He thought that perhaps he and his master had been on the same path from the very beginning.
A year ago, she told him in prison that he had to become stronger so that he wouldn't be manipulated by others; Crescent Moon Town, Green Mountain Town... every single time, his master always came to his rescue.
But he was too stupid back then, and couldn't perceive his master's intentions at all. He only thought about why he was always the one being punished, and never anyone else. He even naively thought that she had long been in cahoots with Wen Ruyu.
But her master is the most righteous person, how could she be like Wen Ruyu, only thinking about personal gain?
And everything about that spring grass, every time she brought him along, can prove it.
All of this proves that her master definitely values her.
The rain began to lessen and then gradually stopped. The remaining light of the setting sun pierced through the layers of dark clouds, dyeing half of the green mountain peaks red. Warmth was sent down, and someone's cold heart was warmed.
"Starting tomorrow, you will practice your skills in the morning and go to the back mountain to gather herbs and chop firewood in the afternoon. You must gather at least ten herbs each day. If you gather even one less, you will be forced to stand in horse stance for one hour. Understand?"
Chu Qing coldly announced the mission, looking extremely relaxed, but only the person involved knew how difficult it was to get close to the Spring Grass that day.
But Yin Li was willing; he was willing to do any task assigned by his master.
[Author's Note]
Yin Li, her clothes half-undone: It was intentional! I want my master to see me!
Chu Qingge: Okay, okay, okay, what kind of behavior is this! (How come this kid's abs are so good-looking?)
Author's note: Ahem, this is just a transitional chapter, but I've been so busy lately [crying emoji] that the writing feels a bit disjointed. I'm planning to take a day off tomorrow to sort out my thoughts.
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