Chapter 165: The Bond Between Master and Disciple
"Yes!" Dongxue suppressed her grief and nodded vigorously. Not daring to delay any longer, she immediately led Zhu Huiqing to Yuqing Palace.
The three entered the cold and solemn Jade Purity Palace. On the lotus platform, Yu Linglong was meditating with her eyes closed, surrounded by a faint, serene glow, clearly in the midst of deep cultivation. Ruoyue, who was standing to the side, moved swiftly, like a wisp of smoke, blocking their path. Her expression was cold and her tone unwavering: "The Palace Master is currently in a critical period of meditation and must not be disturbed by anyone."
Dongxue was extremely anxious and whispered, "What are you so nervous about? Can't you see they're all our own people?!"
Ruoyue's wary gaze swept over Zhu Huiqing, finally settling on Chunxiang, who was barely breathing on her back. Her tone remained icy: "Not all of them are on our side. Senior Sister, you have always been arrogant and haughty, treating us as nothing. Now the sect leader is Junior Sister Yu Linglong. You brought such people of unknown identity directly into the Yuqing Palace without prior notice. Could it be... that you intend to repeat the tragedy of that year?"
The words "the tragedy of that year" pierced Zhu Huiqing's heart like needles. Her body trembled almost imperceptibly, her eyes dimmed instantly, and she silently lowered her head. Chunxiang, on her back, seemed to be touched. With all her might, she struggled to raise her withered arm and weakly waved towards Ruoyue. Her exposed eyes were filled with indescribable sorrow and pity.
"Chunxiang!" Dongxue felt her heart breaking upon seeing this and quickly stepped forward to tightly grasp Chunxiang's withered hand that was trembling slightly in the air. "Don't move around, conserve your strength."
Upon hearing the name "Chunxiang," Ruoyue trembled violently, the frost on her face shattering instantly, replaced by disbelief and astonishment: "...She...she is Chunxiang?!" She turned sharply to Dongxue, seeking confirmation.
With tears in her eyes, Dongxue nodded vigorously: "Yes! It's Sister Chunxiang!"
Without further hesitation, Ruoyue rushed forward, her voice trembling slightly with shock and heartache: "How...how could she have ended up like this?!" Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly realized that her voice was too loud. She hurriedly turned around and glanced at Yu Linglong, who was still sitting quietly on the lotus platform. She lowered her voice and said urgently to the three of them: "The Palace Mistress is at a critical moment and must not be disturbed! Please wait here for a while!" Her gaze was fixed on Chunxiang, and her voice was already nasal.
Zhu Huiqing took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart, and said in a deep voice, "Okay." She carefully put Chunxiang down from her back. Dongxue was quick-witted and nimble-fingered, and quickly pulled over a thick futon, and together with Zhu Huiqing, helped Chunxiang sit up steadily.
Ruoyue immediately squatted down, placing three fingers on Chunxiang's withered wrist, and carefully examined her pulse. Her brows furrowed tightly at first, then relaxed slightly after a moment, and she whispered to Dongxue, "Her inner energy was forcibly absorbed by someone using domineering methods, severely damaging her foundation... Fortunately, her life is not in danger." Her tone was filled with lingering fear.
Upon hearing this, Dongxue's tense expression eased slightly, but was immediately replaced by raging anger. She abruptly turned to Zhu Huiqing, her eyes flashing with cold light, the hilt of her sword clattering as she gripped it tightly, and demanded sharply, "Who? Who on earth has done this to her?!"
The sound was particularly jarring in the silent hall. Ruoyue's expression changed drastically, knowing that this noise could very well interfere with Yu Linglong's cultivation, and she was about to reprimand her. On the lotus platform, Yu Linglong's clear, cold voice, like jade shattering, rang out, carrying a hint of displeasure at being disturbed, yet also an air of authority: "What? Are you going to go down the mountain to seek revenge immediately?"
Upon hearing the voice, Dongxue and Ruoyue both felt a chill run down their spines, hurriedly turned around, and bowed respectfully: "Palace Master!"
Yu Linglong on the lotus platform suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze gleaming brightly. She gracefully tied her hands in front of her, her figure light as a cloud, and rose to her feet. Her plain white palace dress moved without wind, its sleeves fluttering. Her gaze, like cold stars, slowly swept over the three people in the hall. With a slight movement, she transformed into a faint stream of light, appearing silently before Chunxiang in the blink of an eye.
Upon seeing her, Chunxiang struggled to rise and bow. Yu Linglong bent down, her hands firmly supporting Chunxiang's limp arms. Though her voice remained cold, it held a subtle tenderness and pity: "No need."
Upon hearing these two words, Chunxiang felt as if she had heard heavenly music. Her long-held tears could no longer be held back and gushed out, instantly soaking a large area of the white veil wrapped around her face. Yu Linglong's eyes also welled up with tears. She raised her hand and gently wiped away Chunxiang's hot tears with her fingertips, and said in a crisp voice, "Ruoyue, protect her."
"Yes!" Ruoyue stood up straight in response, her bright and sharp eyes fixed on Zhu Huiqing and Dongxue. Her aura was hidden, indicating that she would not hesitate to take action if the two made any sudden movements!
Chunxiang knew perfectly well that the Palace Master was going to expend his own cultivation to rebuild her inner foundation. This would require at least several decades of Yu Linglong's arduous cultivation! She felt a sharp pain in her heart, shook her head repeatedly, and made "hoarse" sounds of resistance.
"Concentrate your mind and remain still, regulate your breathing and relax your body, do not resist." Yu Linglong's voice rang out without room for argument. She channeled her energy with her right hand, and with a light flick of her sleeve, a gentle yet powerful force lifted Chunxiang's body, rotating her half a turn so that her back was to her. Immediately, Yu Linglong placed her palms on Chunxiang's back, and the pure and vast Xuan Yin True Qi within her surged like a river, continuously flowing into Chunxiang's body, beginning to rebuild the dantian inner energy that had been plundered from her.
Chunxiang felt Yu Linglong's deep and unreserved affection and determination. Overwhelmed with emotion, she finally stopped resisting and, as instructed, calmed her mind, relaxed her body, and did her best to cooperate with the miraculous process of reshaping her origin.
As the abundant true energy continued to flow in, a miracle began to appear. In just a short while, Chunxiang's withered limbs visibly began to fill out, her shriveled skin gradually regained a healthy rosy hue, and her wrinkles quietly disappeared, becoming plump again. Most astonishingly, her once dazzlingly white hair, as white as snow, also began to reverse, with strands of black hair quietly sprouting from the roots!
Pure true energy continuously overflowed from the two individuals, filling the hall and causing the hanging curtains to sway and flutter even without wind. The three people in the hall held their breath, their eyes fixed on this transformative change. After waiting for a full quarter of an hour, Chunxiang's body, except for her disfigured face still veiled in white gauze, had completely recovered, regaining her former graceful and beautiful figure.
Yu Linglong slowly withdrew her palm and rose, her breath slightly drawn out. Only then did everyone's hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settle down.
“Junior Sister,” Zhu Huiqing stepped forward, her voice filled with heartfelt gratitude and admiration, “Thanks to you! Chunxiang was able to be reborn. Otherwise, with our strength alone, I’m afraid… it would have been hopeless to save her.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
