“Cough! Cough cough!”

Just two coughs sent pain coursing through her entire body, jolting You Qin Xuanya awake from unconsciousness.

Where… was this?

You Qin Xuanya sat up alertly, her dark pupils gleaming with a faint red light. The dim cave instantly became as bright as day to her eyes, revealing every detail.

As a cultivator who had reached the fourth stage of the Returning Void realm, seeing in darkness was effortless for her, requiring no specific technique.

The first thing that caught her eye was the large round stone at the cave’s entrance. The stone had been excavated from this spot, fitting perfectly with the cave’s contours, leaving only thin gaps for light to filter through.

It must be nighttime outside as well, given how dim the light was.

Extending her spiritual awareness, she detected only a few poisonous beasts moving within several miles and no other human presence besides herself.

Had she… been saved?

Images flashed through her mind: being surrounded by bandits, captured after a bitter fight, and during their preparation of poison insects, she had seized an opportunity to tear open the life-saving talisman bestowed by her master, teleporting a thousand Li away.

Such teleportation had no fixed destination and was extremely risky, but fortunately, she had landed in a place of heavy rain, where she had seen that recently acquainted senior fellow disciple through the curtain of rain…

‘Did he save me?’

You Qin Xuanya was slightly stunned when she noticed two stacks of talismans and several porcelain bottles placed not far from her hand.

Then, looking down at herself, her normally pale face suddenly flushed red, and she gently bit her delicate lip.

Unfortunately, no one was present to appreciate this rare display of shyness from such a beauty.

—Li Changshou had long since departed.

The reason for You Qin Xuanya’s sudden bashfulness was the more than ten bandaged wounds across her body. The bandages were “Blood-Stopping Qi-Nurturing Bands” available to all Crossing Immortal Gate disciples—clean linen soaked in various medicinal decoctions.

Truthfully, the bandaging was perfectly done, with healing and detoxifying spiritual ointment applied to the inner side of the bands. Most of her injuries had recovered seventy to eighty percent, though the pain remained.

However…

The wounds on her shoulder hollow and left ribs were extremely deep, and bandaging them had required her long dress to be lowered from both shoulders…

You Qin Xuanya suddenly raised her right hand and slapped herself, declaring firmly:

“Senior Brother Changshou saved my life and patiently tended to my wounds. How could I doubt his character?”

Her gaze quickly returned to its usual clarity as she examined her internal condition. Her breathing had stabilized, and her overall injuries were nearly healed.

Someone had also regulated her energy circulation.

Tilting her head, she discovered a folded sheepskin at her previous resting place, which had served as her pillow. It bore slight bloodstains and seemed to have writing on it.

Taking it up to examine, she found a message written upon it, along with a simple map:

‘Fellow disciples need not dwell on mutual aid. This location is two thousand Li from the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest. Below is a map for circumventing this area.

Always prioritize your survival. Beside you are Miasma-Warding Talismans, Concealment Talismans, Detoxification Pills, and Essence-Nurturing Pills.

A word of advice for Junior Sister:

Hearts are hidden behind bellies; trust is not easily given.

The road ahead is treacherous; please take care of yourself.

Signed,

A handsome man who wishes to remain anonymous

You Qin Xuanya blinked, somewhat puzzled by the meaning of the final line.

The writing began rapidly fading, disappearing completely within a few breaths…

Fortunately, the map below hadn’t been treated with this special technique. It showed detailed terrain and proportions, specifically marking You Qin Xuanya’s current position.

Notably, the circuitous route marked on the map was opposite Li Changshou’s current direction.

“This Senior Brother Changshou… is truly a meticulous and kind person.”

You Qin Xuanya frowned slightly, carefully folding the sheepskin. With a solemn expression, she whispered: “Great kindness needs no thanks. If Xuanya survives this, I shall repay Senior Brother’s grace with everything I have.”

After speaking, she performed a Daoist bow toward the sheepskin before storing the map away.

Looking down, she noticed Miasma-Warding and Concealment Talismans still attached to her shoulders, their spiritual power still abundant, requiring no immediate replacement.

Gathering the medicine pills and talismans, You Qin Xuanya sat down to regulate her breathing, restoring herself to peak condition.

Her great sword lay in the corner, its spiritual light gradually recovering.

Gradually, two figures emerged in her mind…

On the left was her supposed childhood friend, Yuan Qing, who had entered Crossing Immortal Gate with her and would quickly follow whenever she appeared.

Long ago, You Qin Xuanya had sensed this fellow townsman and disciple who constantly approached her might be two-faced, so she had maintained her distance.

But she never imagined that when he tore off his daily mask of hypocrisy, he would be so vicious and despicable!

What had happened these past days?

Hearts hidden behind bellies—Senior Brother Changshou’s words rang true.

Thinking of this, You Qin Xuanya gave a bitter smile, feeling the world’s coldness, her heart mixed with disappointment and anger.

But of the two figures in her mind, the one on the right…

This figure had been somewhat faint at first but was gradually becoming clearer. Yet she only had an impression of his profile when turning his head slightly, and the back view that had left a deeper impression.

Before this training conference, Xuanya had never met Senior Brother Changshou. Learning that he would come to North Uttara Continent seeking herbs at the ninth stage of Foundation Establishment had only slightly surprised her.

The only thing that had left a deep impression on You Qin Xuanya was this senior brother’s “condition of convulsing when touching women.”

Wait!

Senior Brother Changshou had such a condition, yet he had endured convulsions and foaming at the mouth to bandage more than ten of her wounds!

What self-sacrificing spirit, what kind of righteous person was this!

In her mind, You Qin Xuanya conjured the scene:

In the dark, narrow cave, a certain senior brother trembling all over, breathing chaotically, limbs somewhat distorted, face filled with pain, yet with utterly determined eyes, reaching out to save her…

Slap!

You Qin Xuanya raised her hand and gave herself another slap.

‘Senior Brother endured such pain to save me, yet I doubted his character earlier.

You Qin Xuanya, when did you become such a petty person…’

Biting her lip, she performed another Daoist bow toward the sheepskin map.

“If there’s a chance to repay Senior Brother Changshou in the future, I must not show the slightest hesitation or parsimony.”

With this resounding vow, You Qin Xuanya’s gaze grew increasingly determined. She first gathered all items from the area, then raised her hand to grasp her great sword’s hilt.

Taking a half-kneeling position, her blood-stained skirt spread around her, her left hand forming a sword finger raised before her, and her entire being began to vibrate with energy!

Survive.

Expose Yuan Qing’s true face, repay Senior Brother Changshou’s genuine kindness, and send word to the Royal Father to beware of these treacherous villains!

You Qin Xuanya’s right hand gripping the great sword began to shine with a fire-red light.

“Nine Origins Nurture Spirit, Thousand Lotuses Steady Heart!”

She chanted softly, her sword erupting with flames, revealing clear patterns as the original cracks in the blade swiftly vanished.

As her hair danced in the air, fiery lotuses floated around You Qin Xuanya, illuminating her delicate skin and star-like eyes.

“Immortals in the North, Mortals in the South, Heaven-Piercing Cloud-Devouring Fire, Four Seas Shine Extraordinary!

Fire Qilin Sword Case!

Open!”

With three clear rings, sword echoes spread for ten Li!

The round stone at the cave entrance exploded as a fire-red figure burst forth, surrounded by over ten flying swords!

After rushing several dozen Zhang, You Qin Xuanya concealed her surrounding flames and swiftly vanished into the miasma-filled dark forest, charging toward the southwest…

Uh, toward the northeast!

‘My instincts say this should be southwest without mistake. As long as I follow the circuitous route on Senior Brother Changshou’s map, I can surely avoid those villains.

I must!

Live to return!’

Meanwhile, six hundred Li north of You Qin Xuanya’s cave…

Li Changshou lay prone on a cliff, carefully searching through miasma-filled rock crevices.

After another half day’s work, Li Changshou could only shake his head and float away from the area.

Thus, this region recorded in ancient texts as containing Immortal-Solving Grass was confirmed to yield nothing…

Li Changshou found an open area and sat cross-legged, using a dagger to draw all the areas he had searched on the ground, then fell into contemplation.

He would search northward for another two or three days.

Having expended so much effort without finding the Immortal-Solving Grass left him somewhat unwilling to give up, especially after such lengthy preparations for this “North Continent Exploration Plan”…

“Keep trying!”

Patting his knees, Li Changshou rose and headed north, leaving only after hours in the night.

Perhaps due to yesterday’s heavy rain, the miasma clouds in this area showed some gaps, allowing a beam of moonlight to fortuitously fall upon Li Changshou’s path.

Li Changshou’s heart stirred with a touch of poetic sentiment. Finding a good position and cover, he stood in the moonlight to gaze at the moon for a moment.

Ah, this moon is so long…

Ahem, this shape is so white…

Hmm, this crescent is so round and large…

Poison mist surged forth, immediately cutting off the hard-won moonlight.

“Am I getting to that age?”

Li Changshou raised an eyebrow, shook his head with a light laugh, and leaned forward to dash away, perfectly merging with the night.

A Dao partner was an even more terrifying existence than these junior sisters, practically an unstable karmic nuclear bomb…

Best to avoid it, dare not think about it.

Moreover, compared to cultivators of the same generation like You Qin Xuanya, who possessed unparalleled beauty but overly complicated backgrounds, Li Changshou rather felt…

Female immortals like Senior Aunt Jiu Wu, who was already quite powerful, gave him more sense of security.