Chapter 43 (043) - Two-in-One [VIP]
The Enchanted Forest reveals what people desire most in their hearts, but if an idea is deeply ingrained, it will also manifest itself.
Before entering the Enchanted Forest, Yin Chu Jiu hadn't thought about what he would see, because he knew that even if those scenes looked realistic, they were still just environments. But what he didn't expect was that he would see the scene of his disappearance inside, and Yue Ling's reaction to his disappearance.
Having transmigrated into the book for so many years, Yin Chu Jiu has always kept the thought of returning. The book is not finished, which means that this world is incomplete. He has a feeling that when Yue Ling obtains the opportunity, it will be time for him to return.
So all these years, he has been doing his best to treat Yue Ling well. With Zi Zhuo's reminder, he also wanted to help Yue Ling return to a normal life. However, he did not expect that Yue Ling would mistake her feelings for him because she did not want to lose him.
Admittedly, when Yin Chu Jiu heard Yue Ling say those words, she couldn't believe how things had turned out this way. Her first thought was that Yue Ling had misunderstood her feelings. But then, in a corner she herself didn't realize, she thought that it was impossible for her to be with Yue Ling. She couldn't accept Yue Ling because he wasn't from this world.
Two people from different worlds, one destined to leave and the other destined to stay. If it's destined to end badly, then it's better not to start this relationship at all.
Yin Chu Jiu didn't realize this feeling at the time, but his heart always remembered it, which is why he let him see that scene in the Magic Forest.
What the heart desires, the illusion manifests.
During the time he waited for Yue Ling after leaving the Enchanted Forest, this was the only thing he could think about. In the end, he came to only one conclusion: to reject Yue Ling and distance himself from him.
Yue Ling is so possessive of him because he has always been by her side. If he were not by her side, and her life were no longer just about him, then Yue Ling's feelings for him would gradually fade.
Otherwise, as their feelings deepen, what would happen to such a stubborn young man if he were to disappear from this world in the future?
He dared not look, nor dared he think.
"Why?" The boy pursed his thin lips, his handsome eyes churning with suppressed emotions.
Yin Chu Jiu smiled, seemingly not understanding the boy's emotions. Compared to usual, there was no trace of his previous subtle rejection, except that he was still holding Yue Ling's hand. "What do you mean, why?" he asked, seemingly not understanding why the boy was asking such a question.
Yue Ling's eyes grew increasingly dark, and the hand that Yin Chu Jiu was holding was itching to grab back. He wanted to restrain him and ask why his attitude had changed so quickly. He wanted to ask why he had gotten along so well with him when they were outside, but why he had changed so much after only two trials.
I want to ask him why he lied to me.
However, Yin Chu Jiu didn't give him a chance. He let go of him and then turned to walk towards Zi Zhuo, who was preparing medicine over there. As he walked, he said, "Yue Ling, let's go over there and take a look. There are many inheritances of the Divine Doctor. It shouldn't be so easy for Zi Zhuo to obtain his inheritance. Let's go over and see if we can help Zi Zhuo a little."
Yue Ling stared intently at the hand that Yin Chu Jiu was holding. Just an hour ago, that hand had been caressing the boy's body, but now... He raised his head, his eyes dark as he stared at the boy's departing figure, and walked over.
—No rush, he will definitely figure it out and get to the bottom of it.
Yin Chu Jiu had originally made an excuse to avoid Yue Ling before coming over, but he found that Zi Zhuo's condition seemed to be really bad.
Hua Busi's medical skills test is as follows: he will give the test taker a piece of paper and require the test taker to make a decoction or pill that has the desired medicinal effect within a specified time. According to Yin Chu Jiu's original plan, Hua Busi should be able to pass this test smoothly.
But this world is different. Zi Zhuo appeared earlier than expected. In the novel, Zi Zhuo found the inheritance of the Flower Immortal Relic after the protagonist turned eighteen, but now the protagonist is only about thirteen years old, a full five years earlier.
Five years is a long time; an ordinary person can accumulate a great deal of experience, let alone Zi Zhuo, who has been researching medicine. In other words, Zi Zhuo, who is now participating in this assessment, has five years less experience than the character in the novel.
The lack of five years of experience makes it more difficult for Zizhuo to pass this test.
And at this moment, Zi Zhuo was stuck here.
He knew how to prepare the herbal decoction to meet the assessment requirements, and he also knew how to make the pills. However, he lacked experience. Without sufficient experience, he was bound to be hesitant and uncooperative when making the pills. If he wasted too much time and exceeded the assessment time, their mission would fail.
For Zi Zhuo, putting aside the fact that he failed to cure Yue Ling's body, he simply could not accept watching this treasure slip away right before his eyes, given the inheritance of the Immortal Flower Cave.
This is too much to ask of people.
It's better not to see it, but seeing it and not being able to have it is a real test of one's character.
Zi Zhuo was already interested in medical skills, so how could he just watch these treasures disappear?
Therefore, under these two pressures, Zizhuo's progress was not so smooth.
Seeing Yin Chu Jiu and Yue Ling approach, Zi Zhuo didn't show his current predicament. He just smiled and said, "This assessment might be a bit troublesome." He wasn't trying to be brave, but he didn't want Yin Chu Jiu and Yue Ling to worry.
Furthermore, as a doctor, and a doctor with considerable medical skills, he also had his own principles.
Yin Chu Jiu understood something; Yue Ling sensed something was wrong, but he didn't say anything.
The medicine Zi Zhuo needs to refine this time is the Demon-Expelling Pill. As the name suggests, it is a pill for expelling demons. In the Illusionary Demon Continent, when humans advance in their cultivation, they are prone to demonic possession for various reasons. In order to reduce the chance of demonic possession, the Demon-Expelling Pill is needed.
The Demon-Repelling Pill was developed by Hua Busi. During his lifetime, many doctors had heard of this type of pill, but few knew how to refine it. The assessment was relatively humane; it provided the necessary medicinal materials and steps for refining the pill. As long as one could refine the Demon-Repelling Pill, they would pass the assessment.
The difficulty lies in the fact that the Demon-Removing Pill is not widely circulated in the Illusionary Demon Continent, and most of the remaining pill formulas are incomplete. Zi Zhuo has heard of the Demon-Removing Pill, but has never refined it.
The third test lasts for two hours. If Zi Zhuo cannot refine it within two hours, the test will be considered a failure. Now, a quarter of an hour has passed.
Yin Chu Jiu thought for a moment, then walked to the side and took out paper and pen from the other two assessment locations. He began to write down the refining steps for the Demon-Repelling Pill, as well as the precautions that needed to be taken into account.
He had no alchemy skills and didn't know how to make pills, but he was a master of theory. He wrote this novel, and he knew all the subtle details in the pill refining process that could lead to failure.
Zi Zhuo has his own principles, and he can only offer Zi Zhuo some help within the limitations of those principles, because he cannot afford to fail this time.
After writing down the instructions, Yin Chu Jiu walked to Zi Zhuo's side and handed him the paper.
"This is what I saw in the prophecy. These are the things to pay attention to and the details to keep in mind when refining the Demon-Exorcising Pill. If you are careful, you will definitely succeed."
Zi Zhuo took the paper, a flash of joy in her eyes, but also a hint of solemnity.
He wanted to succeed through his own efforts and didn't want to steal other people's experience. This wasn't because he was kind-hearted, but because his character made him disdain taking what belonged to others.
“This is not someone else’s experience; this is the result you came to.” Just then, Yin Chu Jiu said, “I saw in the prophecy that you would eventually receive Hua Busi’s inheritance, but it took a lot of time. Because of Yue Ling’s body, I didn’t want to waste too much time, so I took the liberty of giving you your future experience now.”
Zi Zhuo's eyes widened slightly. "You're saying this experience is mine?"
Yin Chu Jiu nodded, "Mm."
"Hmph, I knew I couldn't possibly fail to refine it. Since it's mine, I'll use it." Zi Zhuo was satisfied. "Alright, you two go to the side. I'll refine the Demon-Slaying Pill soon and unlock the inheritance."
After saying that, he told Yin Chu Jiu and Yue Ling to wait aside.
Next, Zi Zhuo began to refine the pills very seriously. With the detailed steps and experience that Yin Chu Jiu gave him, his speed increased and his technique became much smoother.
He tried it three times in total. The first time he failed, the second time the medicine didn't work, but the third time he succeeded.
I barely managed to complete the assessment within the allotted time.
After successfully passing the test, they heard a rumbling sound behind them. When they turned around, they saw the wall in the direction from which Yin Chu Jiu and Yue Ling had come move upwards, eventually revealing a huge stone door.
Inside the stone gate were piles of countless gems and gold and silver jewels. However, everyone's gaze lingered on those jewels for only a moment before shifting to the surroundings, where numerous books and many bottles and jars were placed.
Without even thinking, they all knew what it was.
As the stone door opened, they also smelled a strong medicinal fragrance.
The pills and herbs that can heal Yue Ling's internal injuries are inside!
Yin Chu Jiu instinctively grabbed Yue Ling's hand and walked over there, "Yue Ling, let's go take a look quickly."
But he stopped after taking only two steps and was about to let go of Yue Ling's hand. But Yue Ling would not let this opportunity pass. He grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the stone gate. His strength was great, and Yin Chu Jiu could not break free.
Zi Zhuo, who was two steps behind the two of them, saw this scene, stroked his chin, and realized that Yin Chu Jiu was indeed suspicious.
The legacy of Hua Bu Si contains many things. Not to mention gold and silver jewelry, there are countless prescriptions and finished medicines alone. The three of them simply cannot take it all with them.
but……
Yin Chu Jiu walked to the center of the inheritance, rummaged through it, and finally found two small golden bags. He then gave one bag to Zi Zhuo and the other to Yue Ling.
"These are storage bags, one for each of you. Hurry up and pack these things in."
That's right, even in "The Great Sage of Illusions," there's a storage bag, just like many fantasy leveling-up stories that offer a personal space. Otherwise, with so many resources, would the protagonist need to transport them in a vehicle?
Imagine this: the protagonist is fighting the enemy with overwhelming power, but behind him is a huge group of wagons loaded with supplies. Would that scene be visually appealing? No.
“I have heard of storage containers, but these kinds of things are too precious and are rarely seen by ordinary forces. Even in Yundu City, they have never appeared,” Zi Zhuo said.
Yin Chu Jiu hummed in response and casually replied to Zi Zhuo's words. He didn't dare to look at Yue Ling. He had just managed to break free from Yue Ling's grasp while Yue Ling was looking at the pills, and he felt that Yue Ling must be very displeased now.
The atmosphere at the scene was very strange. Even the all-powerful Zi Zhuo didn't know how to mediate. It seemed that only by leaving the place of inheritance could he understand why Yin Chu Jiu was acting this way.
So the three of them went about their own business. Zi Zhuo collected the prescriptions and pills, while Yue Ling and Yin Chu Jiu collected gold, silver and jewelry. Of course, it was only Yin Chu Jiu's own illusion that they were going about their own business.
Throughout the process, Yue Ling's gaze never left him, while Zi Zhuo kept glancing at the two of them as he collected the items, finding them quite worrisome.
After Yin Chu Jiu put away the jewelry, she reminded Zi Zhuo and Yue Ling that they could leave. Leaving was different from entering; there were checkpoints upon entering, but not upon leaving. They could simply use the teleportation array in the plaza to be transported to the cave and then out.
Zi Zhuo and Yue Ling walked ahead, while Yin Chu Jiu lagged behind.
In a corner unseen by them, he opened his clenched hand, and on it lay a ring—a storage ring.
He originally intended to give this storage ring to Yue Ling, since it originally belonged to Yue Ling, but now he couldn't give it away.
Before he leaves, ask Zizhuo to give it to Yueling.
The black cat waited outside for several hours. She failed at the second level and was teleported out. She could have left, but she didn't want to, so she waited outside. As a result, she waited for several hours.
When she saw Yin Chu Jiu and her group come out of the cave, she quickly ran over and exclaimed, "Yin Chu Jiu, you're out!"
Just like before, she ran over and tried to rub against Yin Chu Jiu, but before she could reach her, Yue Ling slapped her on the shoulder. This was the first time he had actually fought the black cat. Because he was so fast, neither Yin Chu Jiu nor Zi Zhuo could react until they saw the black cat fly backward and finally land on the ground, crawling on its belly and growling threateningly. Only then did they realize what had happened.
"Yue Ling!"
"Yue Ling!"
Yue Ling seemed not to hear their voices, his dark eyes fixed on the girl who was trying to get close to Yin Chu Jiu not far away, and he said in a deep voice, "You think you can get close to him? You are overestimating yourself."
The black cat meowed, arched its body, and black fur began to appear on its face and hands—a sign that it was about to attack.
Yue Ling is taking her anger out on others.
Yin Chu Jiu quickly patted Zi Zhuo, urging him to stop the black cat, while he went to stop Yue Ling.
Zi Zhuo had already seen through the situation, so he acted immediately.
He quickened his pace and jogged over, blocking the black cat's path. He whispered something in her ear. Because Zi Zhuo had given her meat, the black cat was relatively friendly towards him. He didn't know what Zi Zhuo and the black cat had said, but the black cat stood up and stopped making any attacking gestures. However, it still bared its teeth at Yue Ling, and the black fur on its face didn't retract.
The black fur made Yue Ling look like a monster, but on the black cat it looked like a sex toy, very wild and endearing.
Now that such a beautiful girl is getting angry at Yue Ling, Yue Ling not only doesn't find her beautiful, but feels even more disgusted. In fact, deep down, unbeknownst to him, there's a subtle sense of inferiority.
Why is she so beautiful when everyone else has hair?
But he was so ugly.
Unconsciously, Yue Ling clenched his hands hanging at his sides. Could it be that Yin Chu Jiu rejected him because...?
Yin Chu Jiu didn't know what Yue Ling was thinking. He saw that Zi Zhuo had calmed down the black cat, and he hesitated again and again. Just like he had treated his roommates in school, he patted Yue Ling on the shoulder and said, "Don't be angry. The black cat didn't mean it. She had been waiting outside for a long time, so it's understandable that she was a little excited when she saw us."
Excited?
Yue Ling felt the hand gently patting his shoulder, its darkness deepening. Before this, it would always hold his hand. An indescribable emotion churned within him. He abruptly turned, grabbed Yin Chu Jiu's hand tightly, and then channeled his inner energy, causing him to vanish from the spot in a flash.
When the two reappeared, they were in a dense forest, the same dense forest where they had been at dusk.
Yue Ling also pinned Yin Chu Jiu down in the same position, but the atmosphere between the two of them was completely different.
Yue Ling, positioned above, stared intently at Yin Chu Jiu's face below, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Tell me the reason."
Yin Chu Jiu hadn't expected Yue Ling to act this way, even taking him to the place they'd been before. The more harmonious their interactions had been there before, the more strained their current relationship seemed.
"Yue Ling." Yin Chu Jiu's heart pounded. He looked away, not daring to meet the boy's gaze, and tried to plead softly, "Let me go. Let's go back. We've found the medicine. You should go back for treatment..."
"Answer me!" However, before Yin Chu Jiu could finish speaking, Yue Ling interrupted her heavily. He said in a deep voice, "I asked you before that we would come back and continue, and you promised me. Tell me, why did you go back on your word?"
His voice had never been so heavy, nor had he ever spoken so much, nor had his emotions ever fluctuated so dramatically. All of this was because of him, because of Yin Chu Jiu.
Yin Chu Jiu's body trembled, a sharp, throbbing pain spreading deep within his heart. He knew Yue Ling was feeling unwell and deeply disappointed, but to Yue Ling's words, he could only utter three words: "I'm sorry..."
sorry?
Yue Ling gripped Yin Chu Jiu's hand so tightly it turned white. Suddenly, he heard a cracking sound, and the boy beneath him turned pale, but he didn't cry out in pain.
His lips were pressed into a straight line. He stared at Yin Chu Jiu for a long time before releasing him and saying in a low, hoarse voice, "You're just taking advantage of my feelings for you."
After saying that, he turned and left. Yin Chu Jiu watched the boy's retreating figure and lowered her head sadly.
Fortunately, he found his way back.
Mingyu Forest isn't very big; if you remember the directions, you can find your way back.
Yin Chu Jiu was walking alone in the forest, but he hadn't walked far when a pair of white boots appeared in front of him. When he looked up, he saw the boy's extremely serious face.
Yue Ling couldn't bear to let the person he loved walk alone in the forest.
When they returned, Black Cat and Zi Zhuo were already back, along with the other four coachmen. It's unclear what Zi Zhuo and Black Cat discussed, but Black Cat's hostility towards Yue Ling lessened, and she returned to her previous demeanor. At the same time, she stopped clinging to Yin Chu Jiu.
Having obtained the inheritance of Hua Busi, Zi Zhuo began to treat Yue Ling. Zi Zhuo's medical skills were superb, and with the inheritance of Hua Busi, she quickly found a pill within it that could restore most of Yue Ling's injuries. With the help of that pill, Yue Ling's internal injuries were mostly healed.
The remaining injuries will require slow and careful healing.
Few people visit the Bright Jade Forest; its resources are neither abundant nor scarce. Zi Zhuo decided to strike while the iron was hot and planned to heal Yue Ling's injuries during this time, so he suggested staying for a few days.
Yin Chu Jiu also wanted Yue Ling's injuries to heal, so she agreed. The black cat was an outsider and had no choice; it would follow whoever fed it. As for the coachmen, they were with Zi Zhuo and naturally had no objections.
They stayed there for almost half a month.
On this day, Yin Chu Jiu planned to fetch some water to cook. There was a stream not far from their camp, where they usually fetched water.
After greeting the others, he took the container and went to fetch water.
Zi Zhuo mysteriously pulled the black cat aside to talk, while glancing at Yue Ling, who seemed to be shrouded in black mist, and muttered several words to himself.
Over the past two weeks, although Yue Ling's injuries have been healing little by little, the atmosphere here is simply unbearable.
It was heavy and dull.
Even someone as carefree as Zi Zhuo was affected by the atmosphere and hadn't slept well for several days. If he didn't resolve the conflict between Yin Chu Jiu and Yue Ling soon, he estimated he would be the first person in the world to die from lack of sleep.
As soon as Yin Chu Jiu reached the river to fetch water, he heard a rustling sound behind him. He turned around and saw the black cat peeking out with half of its delicate little face, staring at him with its big eyes wide open.
Reflexively, Yin Chu Jiu was about to greet the black cat, but the next moment, he looked around as if to see if anyone was watching.
Only when he realized that the boy he was worried about hadn't followed did he beckon the black cat over.
"I'm sorry, Yue Ling hurt you before. Is your injury better?" Yin Chu Jiu apologized to the black cat awkwardly. "Don't be angry with Yue Ling. It's all because of me. Yue Ling was in a bad mood that day, so he treated you that way."
The black cat rested its chin on its hand, chewing on a piece of meat, and shook its head as it chewed, "I like you, and I won't blame you."
Yin Chu Jiu chuckled, but the black cat's eyes darted around before it asked him, "Why was Yue Ling in a bad mood because of you that day? Can you tell me?"
Meanwhile, Zizhuo also began his plan.
He lingered and crept up to Yue Ling, ignoring his melancholy gaze, and sighed, "Back in the day, I was a dashing young master, and countless beauties fell at my feet. Now, seeing you and Yin Chu Jiu, I suddenly realize that youth is truly a wonderful thing."
"But let me tell you, even if a man is old, he can still win the heart of a beautiful woman if he has the right methods."
Yue Ling put aside her thoughts and turned to look at the person next to her who was chattering incessantly. The person had fair skin and was incomparably handsome.
Zi Zhuo, however, seemed to genuinely feel old. He touched his face and said, "Take me for example. Although I'm old, I still have a whole bunch of ways to deal with lovers."
"When couples quarrel, they usually make up in bed within three days."
"Yin Chu Jiu has been disliking you for so long, is it because she thinks you... are not capable enough?" Zi Zhuo asked teasingly, shifting her gaze downwards.
Author's Note:
Two-in-one~
The update is a bit late tonight.
Thank you to the little angel who watered my plants with nutrient solution!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the [nutrient solution]:
Fang Yi 15 bottles; Zhiyouxi is such a cutie 10 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
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