Chapter 35 Let's put away those dirty thoughts in our minds.
Seeing that he was alright, Uncle Zheng went back to check on the pharmacy business. Zheng Ruo finally managed to see Xu Cangyu and clung to him, refusing to leave.
Asking him about his life over the years, he held onto his sleeve tightly, while Xue Wenxiang, standing to the side, remained silent like an outsider.
"Brother Xu, why hasn't your friend left yet? Doesn't he have a home?"
With veins throbbing on her forehead, Xue Wenxiang put her arm around Xu Zangyu's shoulder and said, "Your brother Xu is delicate and frail, so naturally I have to stay by his side and take good care of him."
Zheng Ruo angrily pulled his hand away: "Brother Xu is weak, so don't press down on him."
That ungrateful brat.
Xue Wenxiang cursed under her breath.
A gentle breeze blew by, and a cluster of red plum blossoms drifted down, landing softly. Zheng Ruo, feeling a sense of wonder, reached out and caught it.
Wow, there are actually winter plum blossoms in August!
Xue Wenxiang smiled maliciously: "I know from afar it's not snow, for there is a faint fragrance. This is the Plum Blossom Poetry Game of Anxiang Tower."
"Only those targeted by Anxiang Tower will receive this message. Little girl, you've offended someone."
Having frequently traveled for business, Zheng Ruo was well aware of the reputation of Anxianglou, a notorious den of killers who would bring about one's own demise.
Her face turned deathly pale as she threw it away, almost bursting into tears: "Could it be that I gave it to the wrong person? I only overcharged a few taels of silver a few days ago, it's not like I'm going to die."
Xue Wenxiang gloated, "If you hide now, it might not be too late."
Zheng Ruo was completely flustered: "Brother Xu, it's getting dark, I...I'll go back first."
"Why are you scaring the children?" Xu Cangyu knew perfectly well that Xue Wenxiang was behind it. He picked up a red plum from the ground, smelled it, and said, "It smells quite nice."
"How can it be just a scare tactic? If we don't teach her a lesson, who knows who she might offend in the future?"
A person jumped down from a nearby tree, carrying a pile of things in their hands: "Young Master, here are the things you requested."
They had only been out for a short time when the goods from Anxianglou arrived. Is this the SF Express of the cultivation world?
The person disappeared in a moment.
The exquisite wooden box is like a drawer with layer upon layer; when you open it, you'll find it full of Ganoderma lucidum, ginseng, and various other medicinal herbs.
What do you need these for?
"To help you regain the weight you've lost."
These words sounded like she was in postpartum confinement. Xu Cangyu returned to the front of the house, opened the door, and stood there stunned for a long time.
Is this still his home?
Not only was everything inside replaced, but a small couch was also added next to the bed, along with a screen, beaded curtains, vases, and window decorations, making it quite elegant.
Only when he saw the familiar bed did he realize that this was his room.
"You're not really planning to stay here permanently, are you?" He casually tossed the red plum blossoms into the vase by the window, placing them alongside the few other red plum blossoms inside.
"Since you are an exchange disciple of Anxiang Tower, how could I not teach you?"
A small medicine stove appeared outside the door, and Xue Wenxiang put all the medicinal herbs into it according to the prescription.
Xu Zangyu asked him through the window, "Don't you even teach your own disciples?"
"You think anyone can understand this? How much you learn is up to you."
A bowl of dark, murky medicinal broth was brewed, and Xue Wenxiang used her spiritual power to heat it to the perfect temperature before bringing it over. However, the taste wasn't very pleasant, and Xu Cangyu frowned and didn't take it.
Xue Wenxiang said, "Hey, do you think just anyone can drink the medicine brewed by this young master?"
Xu Zangyu knew that Xue Wenxiang wouldn't harm him, so he gritted his teeth and forced the medicine down his throat.
"How is it?" Xue Wenxiang asked.
"I don't feel anything, it's just... a little itchy." It was so itchy that he wanted to scratch his bandaged wrist.
"It's normal to feel itchy; that's how it is when new flesh grows. Your meridians are damaged, and without strong medicine, it will be difficult to fully recover."
"No, I want to scratch."
Pain can be endured, but itching is unbearable, especially since this itch is becoming more and more pronounced, like being bitten by thousands of ants.
Xue Wenxiang pressed down on his arm: "Bear with it for a while."
"How long is 'a while'?"
"soon."
"Are you sure this isn't itching powder? This is unbearable for any human. Where did your Dark Fragrance Pavilion get such a bizarre prescription?"
Why was itchy so badly that her fingers gripped Xue Wenxiang's clothes, wishing she could scratch herself hard?
Xu Zangyu almost collapsed in his arms.
"The medicine the elders found for me when I was seriously injured as a child. How could I give it to you without trying it myself?"
When those people were chasing his mother, they almost chopped him into pieces as well. He survived only because they shielded him with their bodies.
He drank this medicine every day back then, and when the itching became unbearable, he was tied to the bed. He couldn't remember whether he endured it for a few days or a few months.
All around were the busy figures of the elders.
I only remember wearing my fingers raw when I was awake.
After about an hour, Xu Zangyu's struggles subsided, and Xue Wenxiang finally released him and unwrapped the gauze from his wrist.
The dented flesh has regrown, leaving only a pale pink hue at the wound site.
"See? I wasn't lying to you."
Xu Zangyu wiped away the sweat and used his spiritual power to examine the meridians, which had been reconnected.
Ordinary medicines can treat external injuries, but repairing meridians is no easy task. He was prepared for his cultivation level to drop, but now that he was safe and sound, how could he not be happy?
He immediately beamed with joy: "Young Master, you can stay as long as you like. If you don't like sleeping on the couch, I'll give you the bed."
"Now you know how to please me, and all you're willing to give in return is a single word?"
Xue Wenxiang pressed down on him, her gaze aggressive, forcing Xu Cangyu to brace himself against the falling weight.
When that face came close, he turned his head away, his cheek brushing against something soft and hot.
"You...you really aren't considering Chu Shu anymore?"
My earlobe was bitten hard, then I let go and licked the red mark.
"If you say anything more that's infuriating, I'm going to... kiss you."
It was a threatening remark, and Xu Zangyu was almost frightened.
Xu Zangyu felt deeply that she had fallen into depravity, actually thinking that being kissed by a man was no big deal.
He thought back to the time he spent with Chu Shu, and how, during their intimate moments, there didn't seem to be much resistance between them.
But this doesn't seem to mean anything; he doesn't dare say that he loves Chu Shu.
He thought acting was all he needed to do, but he didn't expect Chu Shu to be a madman. He couldn't guarantee that his acting skills were flawless.
But one thing is certain: Chu Shu will kill him once she discovers he's been acting all along.
"What are you thinking about, Chu Shu?"
Xue Wenxiang realized that he was actually daydreaming. Was she really that bad?
Those two eyesores who entered the Ascetic Cliff should fight each other to the death, even losing the last half of their lives.
They're clearly Xu Zangyu's senior brothers, yet they still covet their own junior brother. How despicable!
"Xu Zangyu, who do you really like? Chu Shu or your hypocritical senior brother?"
Unable to look directly into his blunt eyes, Xu Zangyu blurted out, "I like mature, steady, sensible, and ambitious people."
Xue Wenxiang's face was ugly, and he gritted his teeth. To put it bluntly, Xu Cangyu still thought he was too young.
Age is something he can't overcome quickly. Even if Xu Zangyu didn't say it, he could tell that Xu Zangyu didn't see him as a man.
"You're still young, you don't know how good women are. Didn't you like Chu Shu before?"
Xue Wenxiang will be driven mad by him sooner or later: "Then do you know how good women are?"
He wouldn't listen to what Xu Zangyu was rambling on about, and turned around and rushed out without looking back.
*
Meanwhile, at the Ascetic Cliff.
The two figures, seated cross-legged, were clearly separated, like the Chu River and Han border, each occupying a different side.
The atmosphere was deathly silent.
The somber, deathly aura imprisoned the spiritual energy within the body, and only the wounds broke through the pressure to grow, slowly yet clearly.
At this rate of recovery, it's uncertain when they'll fully recover. The sect leader's deliberate attempt to temper and discipline the two is quite evident.
But Chu Shu couldn't wait. She couldn't wait to waste her time in this godforsaken place and be forced to face Xiao Mingxin's face every day.
Even with my eyes closed, the whispers in my ear felt jarring.
Sure enough, he saw a familiar face with a fawning expression, wiping the sweat from Xiao Mingxin's forehead with the corner of his sleeve.
"Senior brother, why are you ignoring me?"
The red lips almost touched his face, but the other person remained unmoved, so the fake thing became even more audacious and kissed him on the face.
"Can you please shut up those filthy thoughts in your head!"
Chu Shu jumped up, but her foot, which was about to lunge forward, was tightly locked back by the shackles on the ground, thus preventing a conflict from occurring.
It must be said that the sect leader's prediction was very accurate. If they were not restrained, it would be strange if the two did not fight to the death.
After the eyes opened and the person calmed down, the figure beside them disappeared.
Before lecturing others, take care of yourself first.
The day before yesterday, when Xiao Mingxin opened her eyes, she saw "Xu Zangyu" dressed in wedding attire, feeding Chu Shu with nuptial wine.
If he hadn't thrown a pebble at them, we would have seen the two of them in their bridal chamber.
"Your master should really see the true colors of his good disciple."
"He puts on the act of a good disciple and senior brother, but his mind is full of filth and depravity. Does Xu Zangyu know that his good senior brother has these thoughts about him?"
"You've fooled me with your sanctimonious appearance and taken advantage of me without me even realizing it."
Chu Shu couldn't stand Xiao Mingxin's pretense; he seemed indifferent to everything, but in reality, he was scheming and plotting.
“At least I didn’t lie to him and make him think he couldn’t tell who he liked.” Xiao Mingxin did not deny it.
Chu Shu knew that this was the thing he was most unsure about, but since it was already entangled in the matter, there was no reason to let it go easily.
Their first long conversation ended with them sarcastically exchanging barbs.
The space fluctuated, and a disciple dressed in a gray-green robe entered, carefully navigating through the swamp, and handed the items to the two.
"Senior brothers, the sect leader ordered me to deliver medicine for injuries and fasting pills. If you need anything else, please let me know."
The visitor was Chen Zhiguang. He checked the two men's injuries and was relieved to find that they had not worsened.
"How is Xu Zangyu?" Chu Shu didn't even look at those things; what she couldn't let go of was the people outside.
"Don't worry, Senior Brother Chu, Third Senior Brother is fine. It's just that the sect leader sent him to study at Anxiang Tower as an exchange student. I don't know when he will return."
"Why him of all people!"
Both Chu Shu and Xiao Mingxin could not hide their inner turmoil.
Why would the sect leader specifically send Xu Zangyu there? It's hard to say it wasn't intentional. What kind of good person could Xue Wenxiang be? She's cut from the same cloth as Xiao Mingxin.
"Junior Brother Chen, could you please remove my shackles?"
Chen Zhiguang looked troubled: "It's not that I don't want to help you, Senior Brother Chu, Sect Leader..."
He moved a mirror between the two of them and said, "In case something happens to you two senior brothers, the sect leader has ordered his disciples to supervise you. You two senior brothers should rest if you have any thoughts."
That mirror allows the disciples of the Enforcement Hall who are supervising outside to see in, and people outside can also see inside.
What's the difference between this and going to jail?
Moreover, the ascetic cliff is much harder to go to than prison. If any distracting thoughts arise, the people outside will see it all clearly.
Just thinking about it made Chu Shu feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Thank you for your help, junior brother. I am not at Zhuyu Peak. If anything happens, I hope you will take good care of me."
Chen Zhiguang understood Xiao Mingxin's meaning and nodded in agreement.
-----------------------
Author's Note: My cat's bloody stool has finally stopped, so I can finally get a good night's sleep.
——
I know from afar it is not snow, for there is a faint fragrance in the air.
—Quoted from Wang Anshi's poem "Plum Blossoms" (Song Dynasty)
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