As soon as the words were spoken, the white jade window opened from inside. A woman’s delicate voice said: “Hmph, so it’s just master and disciple. Then come in quickly, lest the juniors laugh at me for being an inadequate host.”

Fang Zhun smiled helplessly again, turning his head to say to Hu Sha: “Take off your shoes. The Viewing Tower is incomparably clean—don’t let mud dirty it.”

Hu Sha quickly removed her muddy shoes from her feet. Together with his, she placed them on the windowsill before lightly floating through the window.

The floor was covered with carpet. Stepping on it felt strange. Hu Sha rubbed it with the soles of her feet, discovering it wasn’t woven from animal fur—probably threads extracted from tree bark and leaves. Not far away was another window. Before the window sat a massive bronze tripod. A beautiful green-robed woman about twenty years old was leaning against the tripod, turning to look at them.

“Fang Zhun, the most heartless person under heaven is you. Last time you all had such fun at Taoyuan Mountain, yet you didn’t call me. You promised before—at least once a year we’d meet. And now? How many years has it been since we’ve seen each other?”

Upon seeing Fang Zhun, she immediately began acting coquettishly indignant, stamping her feet and waving her hands—entirely a little girl’s posture.

Fang Zhun smiled: “If I don’t seek you out, can’t you come to Qingyuan to find me? Besides, I never said we’d meet at least once a year. With whom did you make such an agreement that you’re blaming me for? Very unreasonable.”

That woman pouted: “You’re the heartless one, yet you say others are unreasonable. Everyone coming and going from Qingyuan must be announced. Those people at the gate have such stern faces—annoying just to look at. Would I go there seeking anger?”

Speaking, she walked over. Seeing Hu Sha’s eyes rolling around looking at her, she couldn’t help but laugh: “Your newly taken disciple? Why did you think to take a female disciple?” She deliberately emphasized the words “female disciple” heavily. That smile also didn’t look too friendly. Hu Sha couldn’t help but shrink back, looking over quite innocently.

Fang Zhun gently pushed her forward: “This is Hu Sha. Go, pay respects to Yuanyuan Yuanjun.”

Hu Sha quickly went over to kneel and kowtow: “Hu Sha pays respects to Yuanyuan Yuanjun.”

“Yuanjun” was a title specially bestowed upon female immortals. Those who obtained the Yuanjun designation were extremely rare, showing this person must surely have formidable abilities—not to be underestimated.

Yuanyuan Yuanjun smiled as she helped her up, not speaking any pleasantries like other immortals, only saying: “This child is quite young. Teaching her will probably be laborious.”

Fang Zhun smiled: “Not too bad. Hu Sha works very hard and diligently.”

Hu Sha’s heart immediately filled with joy. She’d been praised by Master! This was the first time Master had praised her for being diligent.

Soon green-robed young attendants brought tea, fragrant and aromatic. Yuanyuan Yuanjun drank a sip of tea and suddenly said: “You taking the initiative to find me surely means nothing good. What trouble did you cause this time?”

Fang Zhun’s standard innocent expression immediately surfaced as he said oddly: “How did you know?”

Yuanyuan Yuanjun’s face turned livid. She glared at him viciously, as if wanting to splash the tea in his face, saying angrily: “If you can’t speak properly, best say less! Just listening is annoying!”

Fang Zhun obediently closed his mouth, lowering his head to drink tea.

That Yuanjun fretted by herself for a long while. Finally she could only say irritably: “I’ve already heard. The Shuiliu Qin was ruined by your good disciple. Coming this time—are you looking for me to help you repair it?”

Fang Zhun nodded without the slightest courtesy: “That’s right. Name your price.”

Yuanyuan Yuanjun was equally straightforward: “First let me see the Shuiliu Qin.”

Two pieces of broken stone were spread out on the stone table. Yuanyuan Yuanjun’s eyeballs nearly fell out: “It’s become like this and you want me to repair it?”

Fang Zhun remained calm and composed: “I know you have a method. However much money, no need to be polite—just say it.”

Yuanyuan Yuanjun could only grab the two broken stones in her hands, looking left and right. Suddenly seeing dried bloodstains on the qin surface, she couldn’t help scraping at it twice with her fingernails, yet couldn’t scrape it off. That bloodstain seemed to have permeated inside—quite strange.

“This is your blood? You smashed the Shuiliu Qin?” She held the broken qin, asking Hu Sha seriously.

Hu Sha nodded.

Yuanyuan Yuanjun turned to look at Fang Zhun, smiling: “Fine then. I want you to stay here for three months. If you can do it, I guarantee to return you a perfectly intact Shuiliu Qin. However, to fix it properly will take some time. I’m afraid your disciple can’t avoid the first heavenly punishment. You must think of a way to hide her.”

Hu Sha’s ears were sharp. Hearing the words “heavenly punishment,” she trembled—it seemed Master truly hadn’t deceived her. There really was heavenly punishment!

Fang Zhun said indifferently: “The matter of heavenly punishment, I’ll resolve myself. Just trouble you to repair the Shuiliu Qin. Can it be fixed within three months?”

“That depends on your disciple.” Yuanyuan Yuanjun pointed at Hu Sha. “She’s the one who smashed the divine artifact and polluted the divine light with blood. To repair the Shuiliu Qin, we can only have her continue nourishing it with blood. Every seven days, offer a bowl of fresh blood to nourish the Shuiliu Qin. After seven times seven, forty-nine days, the Shuiliu Qin can recover its rudimentary form. At that time, fresh blood won’t be needed—only a living person’s life energy. You must keep it by your side at all times, never abandon it. After five years, the Shuiliu Qin will naturally return to its original state.”

Five years! Hu Sha was shocked again, involuntarily thinking of that day in Bibo Town when the three-tailed fox immortal told her fortune, saying results would only be clear after five years. Could it be referring to this?

Fang Zhun frowned: “That divine artifact shoots out cold rays to injure people. I’m afraid it can’t be kept close to the body.”

Yuanyuan Yuanjun showed an expression of “how adorable you are,” saying gently: “Fool, she’s using her blood and flesh to nourish the Shuiliu Qin. How would the qin harm her? Rather than worrying about this, you should worry about the heavenly punishment. Although heavenly punishment descends once every five years, the divine artifact requires five years to completely recover. This first heavenly punishment in the near term absolutely cannot be avoided.”

Fang Zhun saw Hu Sha’s face alternating between pale and green, clearly disturbed. He couldn’t help but reach back to pat her head, saying: “Don’t be afraid. With Master here, you won’t die.”

Hu Sha nodded silently, thinking of how he said heavenly punishment meant heavenly lightning striking her, heavenly fire burning her, heavenly river water drowning her… She felt heavenly fire wasn’t needed to burn her—just one bolt of heavenly lightning and she’d surely die, at least dying quickly.

“All right, enough idle talk.” Yuanyuan Yuanjun clapped her hands. The young attendants immediately came up to clear away the teacups. She cradled the Shuiliu Qin’s remains, walked before the bronze tripod, and casually tossed them in, not afraid of smashing out another crack.

“Let the blood.” She took out a sharp small knife from her sleeve, beckoning to Hu Sha. Her expression was so relaxed, as if she wasn’t about to bleed her but rather to comb her hair.

Hu Sha tremblingly extended an arm to her. She felt a cool sensation at her wrist. Before she could feel any pain, fresh blood gushed out like a fountain. Yuanyuan Yuanjun somehow held a white jade bowl in her hands. Only when the fresh blood filled the bowl did she wipe her hand across the wound. The wound deep enough to see bone was thus wiped closed by her—not even a red mark remained.

She raised her hand and poured the bowl of fresh blood into the bronze tripod. The Shuiliu Qin, upon touching Hu Sha’s fresh blood, immediately emitted a faint ringing sound. From within the tripod also seeped a faint glow.

“That’s enough for today.” Yuanyuan Yuanjun clapped her hands, smiling as she hooked her arm around Fang Zhun’s, saying coquettishly: “You want me to help repair the Shuiliu Qin—I’ve already done it. Now you must accompany me, right?”

Fang Zhun remained noncommittal, only turning to ask Hu Sha: “Do you feel unwell?”

Hu Sha hadn’t reacted yet, shaking her head in a daze. She hadn’t even felt pain when it suddenly ended. Immortals and immortal magic—truly formidable! She bowed to Yuanyuan Yuanjun in thanks. Just as she was about to say something grateful, she suddenly felt a “buzz” in her head. Somehow stars were wildly bouncing before her eyes. With a stagger she was about to collapse.

Fang Zhun supported her shoulder, saying gently: “Having lost so much blood, how could you not feel unwell?”

He took out a glass bottle from his chest, poured out two pills and stuffed them in her mouth. Turning back, he smiled amiably at Yuanyuan Yuanjun: “My apologies, Yuanyou. My disciple is physically unwell. Let me send her to the guest room to rest, then I’ll come accompany you.”

Yuanyuan Yuanjun pouted: “It won’t kill her. Why are you so good to her? I’ve never seen you be this good to me.”

Fang Zhun smiled innocently: “She’s my disciple. Could it be Yuanyou also wants to be my disciple?”

“Get lost!” Yuanyuan Yuanjun gave him a look but still called someone over to lead the way. “Someone come! Send Zhenren Fang Zhun and his disciple to the guest room. Attend to them well—no neglect permitted.”

With that, she smiled sweetly at him again: “I’ve set up the chess board waiting for you at Longyao Pavilion. Come over early.”

Hu Sha was sent to the guest room dizzy and muddled, placed on the bed, covered with a quilt. She turned over, muttering something. Fang Zhun said softly: “What does Hu Sha want to say?”

She wiggled her toes, on the verge of tears: “Master… my shoes… I only have that one pair of shoes…”

Fang Zhun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “…Don’t worry, Master will help you bring the shoes.”

Hu Sha clutched the quilt, saying softly: “Master, may I ask you a question?”

“What?” He asked gently.

“That heavenly punishment… is it real?” Hu Sha had been dwelling on this question. “When heavenly lightning strikes down, I’ll die instantly, right? Then what’s the point of repairing the Shuiliu Qin?”

Fang Zhun touched her head soothingly: “It’s nothing. Just a little heavenly punishment. Consider it like being bitten by an ant—doesn’t hurt or itch. No need to think about it at all.”

Who could treat heavenly punishment as being bitten by an ant? Hu Sha felt this consolation had absolutely no effect and couldn’t help wiping sweat.

Fang Zhun rose to leave when he suddenly heard her say again: “Master, I… may I ask another question?”

He laughed: “Of course. What can’t be said between you and Master? Don’t be so distant.”

Hu Sha thought for a long time, hesitating until she almost broke out in sweat. In the end she still couldn’t help but raise her head to look at him timidly, saying in a tiny voice: “Yuanyuan Yuanjun… will she be Master’s wife?”

Fang Zhun was startled, touching his chin in thought for a moment. Finally he shook his head: “No.” After a pause, he concluded: “She’s not pretty enough.”

Hu Sha was somewhat speechless. If Yuanyuan Yuanjun wasn’t pretty, then his standards were truly too high. Exactly what kind of celestial beauty did he want?

“Does Master not plan to marry a wife?” She asked innocently, carefully concealing a trace of expectation in her heart.

Fang Zhun simply sat down, counting on his fingers like reciting family treasures: “Master’s requirements for a wife are actually very simple. First, she must be beautiful—someone like Yuanyou definitely won’t do. Second, she must be obedient—when I tell her to come she comes, when I tell her to go she goes. Third, she must be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but can’t be better than me. Fourth, she must know how to wash clothes and clean, always keeping the house spotless. Fifth, she must understand my meaning—when I say the first sentence she can guess the second, and even when I don’t speak she knows what I want to say, but she also can’t understand me too well or getting along will be very boring. Sixth…”

Hu Sha couldn’t help interrupting his endless stream: “…And this still counts as simple requirements?”

Fang Zhun continued looking at her with his innocent expression: “Isn’t it simple?”

Now I finally understand why you’re three hundred years old and still haven’t married… Hu Sha came to this conclusion in her belly.

Fang Zhun helped her tuck in the quilt, saying in a low voice: “Sleep early. When you wake tomorrow morning you’ll be better.” He touched Hu Sha’s hair, stood up and walked away.

Suddenly he heard her say softly behind him: “Master, what you… what you just said—is it real?”

Fang Zhun turned back. Seeing half her face buried in the quilt, only revealing a pair of bright black eyes staring fixedly at him like a puppy. He smiled and shook his head: “Of course it’s false. If I don’t like her, how would I marry her?”

Then who do you like? Hu Sha really wanted to ask but in the end didn’t dare. She only timidly watched him push the door and walk out. These words stuck in her throat—couldn’t swallow them down, couldn’t spit them out. The choking feeling was very uncomfortable.

Letting blood once every seven days—easy to say, but doing it was extremely painful. How much blood could a person’s body have? Losing blood seven times continuously over seven times seven, forty-nine days, each time a large bowl—if not for Fang Zhun feeding her those strangely fragrant pills daily, Hu Sha would have long since perished.

Even so, by the forty-ninth day when the Shuiliu Qin’s rudimentary form had just taken shape, Hu Sha’s face was deathly pale, her steps unsteady. She looked like she might be blown over by wind at any moment.

Yuanyuan Yuanjun took out the Shuiliu Qin from the bronze tripod. Because it had been soaked in fresh blood for forty-nine days, that azure-green qin surface actually revealed a trace of bewitchingly bloody glow—quite alluring.

“Catch it. From now on, whether sleeping or cultivating, you cannot be separated from it.” Yuanyuan Yuanjun carefully handed the rudimentary Shuiliu Qin to Hu Sha.

That qin had truly recovered its original state. What had been broken in half now didn’t show even a trace of a crack. However, the precious light that originally flowed over it, along with that solemn and dignified aura, was completely gone.

Truly a miracle! Hu Sha slowly stroked the ice-cold qin surface with her hand, sighing inwardly. Suddenly seeing the qin didn’t have a single string, she became somewhat panicked, saying urgently: “Wait… Yuanjun, why are there no strings on the qin? Was the time soaking in my blood not long enough?”

Yuanyuan Yuanjun had never had much patience with her, much less given her any good looks. This female immortal’s willful and arrogant qualities in no way yielded to those of mortal young ladies. She looked at her with extreme disdain: “I already said it’s just a rudimentary form. Where would qin strings come from? Just hold it. Why ask so much?”

Hu Sha was immediately speechless, stammering and nodding.

Fang Zhun sat beside them smiling as he drank tea, interjecting: “The five strings on the qin are formed by gathering heaven and earth’s spiritual energy. Right now the time hasn’t arrived. With a living person’s life energy assisting it, one string recovers each year. By the fifth year, the Shuiliu Qin will be fully restored. Hu Sha needn’t be anxious. What should come will come.”

Master is still the best. Hu Sha looked at him gratefully, happily running over holding the qin, presenting it to him like showing off a treasure: “Master, look—it really recovered! This method is very effective!”

Fang Zhun raised his hand to touch her pale cheek, sighing: “Good is good, but my poor disciple has been made to look bloodless.” With that, inspiration suddenly struck and he clapped his hands: “Good! Today Master is treating—I’ll take you to eat delicious food!”

Hu Sha couldn’t help but laugh: “Master, I’ve been fasting for several days. Didn’t you say I should cultivate properly? What kind of cultivation is eating?”

Fang Zhun laughed heartlessly: “Eating once in a while is nothing. When your master was one hundred years old, I still went down the mountain behind my master’s back to drink and eat meat. How old are you? Why fuss over these things?”

The master and disciple pair chatted and laughed on this side. Yuanyuan Yuanjun found it quite unbearable to watch. Pouting, she sat beside Fang Zhun, saying coquettishly: “Is this how you teach disciples? It would be strange if she became talented! No wonder her behavior is chaotic—all spoiled by you!”

Fang Zhun smiled: “Spoiling her a bit isn’t bad. A child like her naturally should be doted on. As for beating and scolding—wouldn’t that completely spoil the mood?”

That Yuanjun momentarily didn’t know how to respond. She could only look sourly at Hu Sha, then at him. Finally stamping her foot, she abandoned the guests and ran off herself: “Too lazy to deal with you. I have matters to attend to first. If you want to laugh and joke here, feel free. Fang Zhun, you’re truly despicable.”

Hu Sha stared dumbfounded as she flew out the window, green robes fluttering like a large butterfly. She hesitated, saying: “Master… did I… uh, offend Yuanjun somewhere?”

Fang Zhun leisurely drank down the last sip of tea, saying slowly: “The one who offended her was your master. Didn’t you hear her curse me ‘despicable’?”

Hu Sha carefully asked again: “Then why did she curse you?”

Fang Zhun sighed as he brushed his hair, propping his hand under his chin, quite melancholy: “Beauty is also a kind of sin, hurting her and also hurting me. What exactly should I do? No one tells me the answer.”

Hu Sha nodded in sudden understanding: “So that’s it! Master, this is called ‘cutting the Gordian knot,’ right? To avoid giving her greater harm, you’d rather she hate you. Master is truly too great!”

“Naturally.” He blinked in agreement.

Because Yuanyuan Yuanjun had run off in a huff and wasn’t clinging to Fang Zhun like usual, the two returned to the guest room to tidy up a bit. Changing into less conspicuous cotton clothes, they rode clouds away from South Sea Changzhou, heading toward Juku Isle with its abundant delicacies.

Although Hu Sha’s fasting during this period had been quite effective and her appetite for food wasn’t as heavy as before, since Fang Zhun was in high spirits, she naturally had to accompany him. The two ate their way from Juku Isle’s southern end to its northern end, eating whatever was exotic. Just wine alone they tasted no fewer than ten varieties.

Hu Sha was in a good mood. After drinking more than half a jar, she felt her body light and floating, pleasantly tipsy. She felt as if she could fly without riding clouds at all. Not touching the ground, she was pulled along by Fang Zhun. The voices around them became increasingly sparse, finally quieting completely, transforming into the swishing sound of waves.

She looked around hazily, not reacting, murmuring: “Ah, where are my fried scorpions? Boss… even the stall is gone? Did he jump in the sea?”

She wobbled back and forth on the beach, lowering her head to search diligently in the sand piles for the boss selling fried scorpions. The flat white beach was kicked into pits and bumps by her. Finally, not knowing what she stepped on, she staggered and fell face-first into the soft sand, motionless.

A pair of feet appeared beside her head. Hu Sha worked hard to identify them for a long time. Her eyes suddenly brightened. With a carp-flip she jumped up, hooked Fang Zhun’s neck, laughing: “Ah, it’s you again, husband! Why are you so naughty, always jumping down from the painting?”

Fang Zhun looked up at the azure sky, not knowing what he was thinking. Hearing her ask this question in such an adorably drunk state, he casually laughed: “Drunk so badly again! Why can’t you hold your liquor? Truly losing a great pleasure.”

Hu Sha hadn’t clearly heard what he said at all. She only saw his beautiful lips slightly moving, gem-like eyes not looking at her but gazing at the distant sea and sky, observing something unknown. She opened her mouth and bit down on his chin, like gnawing roasted meat, fiercely chewing twice with her teeth. Only after drawing blood did she release him with satisfaction.

Like a child who’d discovered a treasure, naively innocent to the extreme, she raised her head smiling at his astonished eyes: “He’s alive, has blood. Husband, you’re truly much more beautiful than in the painting. I’m very satisfied. Let’s have our wedding ceremony right now. Come, wedding!”

Fang Zhun raised his hand to wipe his chin. Even his fingertips were stained with faint blood traces. Seeing Hu Sha looking at him with charming innocence, her demeanor clearly that of a little white rabbit yet her behavior that of a big gray wolf, he couldn’t help but sigh with feeling: “…Lustful woman.”

Hu Sha was badly drunk. Her two arms were soft as noodles, no longer able to hook his neck. Releasing her hold, she fell backward face-up. Falling like this, even though the ground was beach, she’d still be injured. He quickly caught her shoulders, saying in a low voice: “Hu Sha, if you’re sleepy, go sleep in the forest over there, all right? Let Master set up a barrier for you.”

She squinted at his face close at hand in the sunlight, as if appreciating some antique treasure, clicking her tongue in praise. Her fingers traced from his eyebrows all the way to his lips: “Beautiful, truly beautiful! You’re just a painting—I’m also satisfied… What did you just say? Sister? Sleep? You… you want to sleep with my sister? But I don’t have a sister…”

Fang Zhun truly couldn’t talk to her when nothing matched up. He simply placed her behind a sand pile not far away. Tucking his hands in his sleeves, silently reciting several incantations, only hearing several “sha sha” sounds, a bronze door neither too large nor too small, just enough to shield one person, drilled out from the beach. The door was covered in green patina, carved with dragon heads and bat wings—quite ancient.

He sat down right there, back against the bronze door, hands forming the orchid mudra. If Hu Sha weren’t drunk, seeing him like this she would surely shout: “Lotus sitting posture!” This was also the beautiful meditation posture she still hadn’t learned. Whenever she sat like that, it was wailing ghosts and howling wolves, with leg cramps.

She lay sideways on the beach face-up, both cheeks red like peach blossoms, fingertips also showing that pink color, sleeping soundly. Not knowing what good dream she had, she suddenly giggled twice, murmuring: “Husband… you… you’re not going back into the paper, are you? Won’t you play with me a bit longer?”

Still a naive little girl, her head full of no clear concepts about immortals and ghosts or tumultuous futures. She only knew to念 念念 think of that husband of hers on paper. Last time when she flipped out and smashed the Shuiliu Qin—that performance was completely like two different people from now. Fang Zhun smiled and shook his head, actually finding her quite adorable like this, making one unable to resist wanting to pinch her.

The wind on the West Sea coast gradually became fierce. That kind of translucent blue where sea and sky met one color seemed dyed with ink. The pitch-black color slowly spread, laying layer upon layer at the zenith, as if some abnormal change would occur.

But Hu Sha was completely unaware. She dreamed strange and wonderful beautiful dreams—sometimes seeing her own husband, sometimes discovering her husband was Master. With her they were newlyweds, binding hair and drawing eyebrows, living days of extreme freedom.

The sound of howling wind came to her ears, seemingly also mixed with another very familiar sound she couldn’t quite recall.

Hu Sha wanted to turn over, but the Shuiliu Qin tied to her waist sash was quite heavy. Somehow it got tangled there—she couldn’t turn over no matter what. She muttered something again, hazily opening her eyes. But she saw before her bright orange-red firelight. She seemed swallowed by a boundless sea of fire—even the sky couldn’t be seen.

She still hadn’t reacted, blinking blankly. Holding the Shuiliu Qin in her arms, she slowly sat up. Looking left and right, she discovered a bronze door somehow blocking before her, just enough to shield her form from exposure to the sea of fire. Not only that—though the fire was clearly so close to her, she didn’t feel half a trace of scorching heat.

Only at this moment did she suddenly understand that familiar sound was fire burning! Fire! Heavenly fire! Had heavenly punishment arrived? Hu Sha turned circles in panic, calling urgently: “Master! Master? Where are you?” Following her movements, that bronze door seemed possessed of intelligence, always protecting before her so that heavenly fire couldn’t burn her.

Fang Zhun’s voice came from behind the door: “Sit down obediently. Don’t move. Once the heavenly fire passes it will be fine.”

Hu Sha was about to walk forward in alarm, but that door seemed to know what she wanted to do, blocking in front to prevent her passing. Her heart was about to leap from her throat. All the wine’s effects were completely scared away. She only said in a trembling voice: “Master, did you know today… heavenly punishment would come? Has the heavenly fire burned you?”

Fang Zhun’s voice sounded very calm, without any abnormality: “Don’t speak now. Sit down, focus and calm your energy. No wild thinking permitted.”

Hu Sha tried to break through several times but was blocked by that door, trapped in the shadow behind the door, unable to move. Her heart was anxious as fire. At this time she could only follow his intention, hugging her knees to sit behind the door, watching helplessly as waves of fire seas higher than the last surged up to swallow them.

Although that heavenly fire didn’t burn even half a speck on her body, Hu Sha felt as if her body had already been burned rotten, burning all the way to the deepest place—heart-wrenching pain. She trembled as she leaned against the bronze door, desperately clutching the clothes at her chest, as if she didn’t even know how to cry.

“Master… Master…” She could only murmur these two words.

What being bitten by an ant? What no need to fear heavenly punishment? So he was actually bearing this heavenly punishment for her.

If she’d known it would be this result, she’d rather be burned to ashes by heavenly fire herself than have him suffer this torment!

The heavenly fire seemed to never intend to stop, surging in waves higher than the last. Hu Sha curled up behind the door, not knowing what she could do.

Suddenly she heard Fang Zhun give a muffled groan, followed by low coughing sounds. As if not wanting her to hear, he covered it with his hand, forcibly suppressing it.

Hu Sha could no longer endure it. She used her hands to pound the door forcefully, shrieking: “Come over here! Come over here! Don’t be burned anymore!”

Not knowing how many times she pounded, suddenly she heard a “crack” from the door, as if some mechanism had been opened. She pushed forcefully and that bronze door immediately opened.

The surging heavenly fire burned over overwhelmingly, about to instantly burn her to ashes.

Two hands firmly grabbed her in the towering flames. Hu Sha was immediately knocked to the ground, unable to move.

She drew in a breath like a sob. Just as she was about to struggle, she heard Fang Zhun say in a low voice overhead: “Don’t move!”

Hu Sha struggled to raise her chin, seeing his face reddened by firelight. Flowing fire danced on his eyelashes, mixed together with sweat. His brows were tightly furrowed, looking at her with slight reproach: “What do you think heavenly fire is? So eager to become roast pig?”

She was like a fool, instinctively answering: “I… I’m not roast pig.”

“Then you’re roast stupid pig!” He rarely lost his temper once, grabbing her collar and tossing her into the bronze door. “Go in! Don’t move around anymore!”

Hu Sha frantically wanted to grab his sleeve, wanted to tell him many things but didn’t know how to say them. She’d rather heavenly fire burn her rotten ten thousand times, dying immediately didn’t matter. But she also understood Fang Zhun definitely wouldn’t let her come to such an end. Her struggling to rush out only added trouble for him. Having already added trouble once, there absolutely couldn’t be a second time.

So she could only follow his force to fall backward, giving up all resistance.

The bronze door slowly closed. Fang Zhun’s sweat-covered face was also gradually being covered by the door. Hu Sha simply turned her face away, no longer looking. She tightly buried her head against her knees, letting the ice-cold Shuiliu Qin press against her chest—painfully sharp, almost unable to catch her breath.

What could she do? Besides adding chaos? When she angrily smashed the Shuiliu Qin back then—how satisfying! If she’d known today there would be heavenly punishment, that Master would have to endure heavenly fire’s burning for her, would she have preferred to die humbly before?

Hu Sha suddenly sat up straight, holding the Shuiliu Qin before her eyes. Her fingers gripped it tightly, as if wanting to crush it. Because she used too much force, even her fingernails split. Fresh blood dripped finely onto it. She didn’t know what to do—whether to cry and plead to this hateful divine artifact, or simply smash it to pieces once more, then commit suicide.

Her hands trembled violently. Perhaps her entire person was trembling, causing even the Shuiliu Qin to shake violently. Below the ice-cold jade stone was a trace of blood color, as if alive, slowly swaying inside. Then, slowly, slowly, a slender qin string appeared on the qin surface—seemingly present yet not, as if it might break at any moment.

The Shuiliu Qin’s first string had actually recovered at this moment!

Hu Sha stared blankly at that suddenly appearing qin string. After a long while, finally reacting, her throat emitted a meaningless cry. She raised her hand to lightly stroke the qin, using her fingers to grip that string, slightly plucking it.

With a “zheng” sound, the sound the qin emitted was actually extremely fierce, startling. She quickly withdrew her hand, carefully looking at the string, afraid of breaking it again.

Right at this moment, she suddenly heard Fang Zhun in front say “eh?” Immediately after, a sound like rising tide came surging. The entire beach began to shake. Hu Sha was still in a bewildered state when suddenly that bronze door was pushed open with a swoosh. Fang Zhun rushed over together with overwhelming sea tides. She was grabbed by an arm. The two of them were instantly swept far away by seawater. Dizzy and muddled, she only heard Fang Zhun laugh very happily: “Hu Sha, you’re quite capable after all!”

What capable thing she’d actually done, she herself hadn’t figured out. In the rapid sea tide she rolled around like a leaf, unable to breathe. If not for one hand tightly holding her all along, she probably would have long since drowned below.

Not knowing how much time passed, Hu Sha again opened her eyes from unconsciousness. She only saw sunset clouds filling the sky, like fire and荼. She murmured: “Heavenly fire… why is it still burning…”

Someone beside her laughed in answer: “Where is there still heavenly fire? Are you still dreaming?”

That voice was precisely Fang Zhun’s. Hu Sha jolted, suddenly sitting up from the beach. She felt her entire body soaking wet, in a sorry state. Fang Zhun was sitting beside her, also looking like he’d just been fished from the water. Even his hair was loose, still dripping water. However, his expression was very pleased, smile reflected in his eyes, sparkling brightly.

Hu Sha looked around hazily. The beach was still that beach, the sea also still that sea, blue sky and white clouds—not one less. Only now it had become dusk. She couldn’t help saying softly: “The heavenly fire… has the heavenly punishment already passed?”

Fang Zhun nodded, raising his hand to touch her soaking wet little head: “Presumably that Shuiliu Qin, being nourished by your blood and flesh, actually obeyed your command, raising sea tides to extinguish the heavenly fire.”

This miraculous? Hu Sha quickly lifted up the Shuiliu Qin to look carefully. Indeed there was now one more qin string on it. Earlier wasn’t a dream—she’d merely plucked it once and caused the seawater to surge! Thinking about it, this Shuiliu Qin gathered water’s power among the five elements, able to control water. Seawater naturally was no exception.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but breathe a long sigh of relief. Her whole body went limp as if drained, falling backward, sprawling on the beach, filled with emotion: “…Fortunately, fortunately we were by the sea… If we’d stayed at Changzhou or in Juku Isle’s marketplace, who knows what would have happened…” Speaking to here, she jolted again, turning to look at Fang Zhun. The corner of his mouth hooked a lazy smile, casual, as if everything was just coincidence.

“Master…” She called him in a low voice. “You knew long ago today there would be heavenly punishment, so you brought me to the seaside?” He knew early on that heavenly punishment would descend today, so he’d planned all along to receive it himself for her? Because heavenly fire was so terrifying, he left Changzhou—not wanting to implicate Yuanyuan Yuanjun? Yet he actually didn’t say a single word from beginning to end!

Fang Zhun tucked one hand in his sleeve, the other slowly brushing his soaking wet hair, smiling extremely harmlessly and infinitely innocently: “How would Master know when heavenly punishment would descend? It was just coincidence. Rather, you Hu Sha being able to command the Shuiliu Qin and resolve the heavenly fire—that makes your master very gratified.”

He spoke as if it were all her credit. Hu Sha was thin-skinned, unable to withstand his praise, already blushing. Seeing his hair all loose, soaking wet and draped over his back, Hu Sha couldn’t help touching the small wooden comb at her chest. She had an impulse to comb his hair like last time, yet worried her rash behavior would displease him. While hesitating, she heard him say: “Hu Sha, help your master comb his hair properly? It’s messy—truly vexing.”

She could hold this ice-cold yet soft hair again, letting them shuttle between her fingers, caressing them like caressing a lover’s skin—carefully, unknown to others.

Now, had she drawn a bit closer? She asked herself.

Could she draw a bit closer?

She slowly closed her eyes, wanting to slowly press near, yet also felt very far from him. So-called closeness was merely her kneeling behind him, able to comb this head of long hair for him.

Was this enough? Hu Sha asked herself once more.

Two voices existed in her heart. One said: Enough. The other said: Not enough, you still can’t embrace him.

So she didn’t know what was good. Simply not thinking about it, while smoothing his hair, she said in a low voice: “Master, that heavenly fire… didn’t hurt you, did it?”

Although he looked completely normal, how could something like heavenly punishment truly be treated as being bitten by an ant? His health wasn’t good to begin with—who knows what internal injuries he’d suffered that he didn’t let her see.

Fang Zhun’s voice sounded very lazy, absentminded: “Didn’t hurt. Back when I became an immortal and shed my mortal shell, heavenly lightning struck seven times seven, forty-nine times. Your master still went down the mountain to drink. What does this bit of heavenly fire count as?”

Hu Sha smiled, moving the combed hair to one side. After a while, she said softly again: “Master, next time if there’s any punishment meant for this disciple, I beg you not to substitute for this disciple anymore. This disciple truly cannot bear it.”

Fang Zhun said oddly: “Your master receives punishment for you—you can’t bear it. Could it be you can bear heavenly fire burning you, heavenly lightning striking you? You want your master to watch his own disciple turn to mincemeat?”

Hu Sha shook her head: “Whether turning to mincemeat or being shattered to pieces, if that’s what I deserve, there’s no reason to have you bear it for me. I’d rather turn to mincemeat than watch Master be injured… Master, I beg you to promise this disciple, all right?”

For the first time ever, Fang Zhun felt bewildered, not understanding why she was clearly as fragile as an ant yet always insisted on being stubborn to oppose him. He couldn’t help turning to look at her. He only felt her cheeks glowing red like freshly painted peach blossoms, her two eyes almost dripping water, looking at him with helplessness, pleading, and tenderness.

This kind of gaze made his heart stir, involuntarily about to agree to her, whatever she asked of him.

Finally, he still steadied himself, smiling in answer: “Fine. The Shuiliu Qin requires five years to repair properly. These five years, follow your master and cultivate well. If your master is satisfied, I’ll agree to you. If not, your master will certainly punish you severely.”

Hu Sha’s heart filled with joy. Her face immediately bloomed with smiles, like a flower suddenly blossoming. She said: “I’ll definitely work hard! Absolutely won’t disappoint Master.”

Fang Zhun raised his hand, as if to touch her cheek. Not knowing why, he couldn’t reach down as undistractedly as before. He only heard her ask timidly again: “But if I truly disappoint Master, how will you punish me?”

How to punish her? Fang Zhun felt somewhat bewildered again. Looking at her pitch-black eyes like ink, he paused for a very long time before saying in a low voice: “Punish you… punish you from being unable to establish an altar and teach, only able to remain a junior disciple.”

Before he finished speaking, he saw her wrinkling her nose in a smile again, revealing a row of fine silver teeth, saying: “I don’t want to establish an altar and teach at all. Being able to be Master’s disciple—I’m completely satisfied.”

For that instant, her answer made one’s heart leap with joy. Fang Zhun quickly extinguished that trace of joy. He was still himself—breezy and carefree, heartless and lungless.

He himself twisted up the remaining hair carelessly, securing it with a hairpin. As if wanting to distance himself from her somewhat, he inconspicuously stood up to brush off sand, turning back with a smile: “All right, it’s getting late. Let’s hurry back, or Yuanyou will give us another headache.”

Hu Sha’s heart was joyful. She didn’t notice any abnormality in him at all. Brushing off sand from her head and body herself, one hand holding the Shuiliu Qin, the other hand instinctively hugging his arm—because before when he rode clouds, he always had her hold his arm.

With one pull, she discovered his arm trembled slightly. Hu Sha couldn’t help being startled, but saw Fang Zhun retract his hand into his sleeve. His other arm reached over to grab her back collar, saying: “Let’s go.”

Hu Sha quickly grabbed that arm, swiftly rolling up the sleeve. Only then did she realize one of his arms was burned black and scorched, including fingers and palm—unable to move at all. This shock was no small matter. She dropped her hand in terror, saying in a trembling voice: “Master! Your arm…”

Fang Zhun slowly lowered his sleeve, smiling easily: “No harm. Just a small injury—it will heal in a few days.”

How could Hu Sha possibly believe? She reached out again to look, but when her two hands extended, she didn’t dare touch. She could only tremble and retract them, large tears involuntarily falling.

Her mind was completely blank, unable to think of anything. Only his scorched black arm swayed back and forth before her eyes. When heavenly fire descended, how could he possibly be completely unharmed? No wonder… no wonder when the tide surged, he only used one hand to pull her. No wonder this hand was always hidden in his sleeve. No wonder when she touched it, he trembled.

Fang Zhun sighed: “All right. Your constant crying makes your master’s heart quite alarmed. Clearly standing before you perfectly fine—people who don’t know, seeing you like this, would think I’d been dismembered! Stop quickly. From Juku Isle to Changzhou, the distance isn’t close.”

Hu Sha choked several times, then suddenly spread her arms to tightly embrace him, burying her face in his chest, crying until she could hardly breathe.

She should say something—for instance, ask if it hurt, kneel before him in apology, even cut off her own arm as recompense. But when it came to it, besides crying she knew nothing else. She could only tightly hold him like this, as if wanting to knead this slender body into her own body.

How should she treat him? How could she not add trouble for him? How could she protect him?

Fang Zhun was dazed for a long time. Finally he slowly raised his intact arm, encircling her thin shoulders. Clearly hearing something in his heart break through soil, emitting an alarming sound, yet having to pretend not to know, teasing her with a calm face: “Even if you cry out this entire sea, can your master’s hand be healed?”

She didn’t answer, or perhaps simply didn’t hear. She only cried endlessly, as if wanting to cry out all the water in her body.

Fang Zhun could only sigh, tightly encircling her. At his chest her tears were imprinted—sometimes scalding, sometimes ice-cold, tumbling ceaselessly.

Returning to Changzhou, the sky had long since darkened.

However, Yuanyuan Yuanjun’s face was even darker. Not to mention Hu Sha—even Fang Zhun didn’t quite dare meet her gaze. He only perfunctorily smiled twice: “Because we saw mountain bandits bullying an elderly person on the road, we master and disciple acted when seeing injustice, drawing our blades to help. Therefore we returned late. Yuanyou, don’t blame us.”

He always lied without blushing or his heart racing—as easy as eating beans. If it were Hu Sha, she probably would have been brushed off long ago. Unfortunately, standing opposite him was a female immortal.

Yuanyuan Yuanjun lightly raised an eyebrow: “Oh? Acted when seeing injustice, drawing blades to help? I’d say you burned your arm helping!” With that, she yanked up his sleeve, exposing a section of scorched black arm.

Even though she’d calmly planned to come question him, seeing this arm she couldn’t help her eyes reddening. She quickly lowered the sleeve to cover it, saying in a low voice: “How did it become like this? You’re too careless!”

Fang Zhun smiled: “Next time I’ll definitely be careful.”

Yuanyuan Yuanjun raised her head to look at him once. This glance truly deserved the name “Youyou.” She said softly: “…Come with me. At least the injury must be treated first.”

She turned and walked away. Fang Zhun turned back to instruct Hu Sha: “You go back to the guest room to rest first. No need to worry.”

Before he finished speaking, Yuanyuan Yuanjun said again: “She comes too. There’s a guest here who’s been waiting for you both since this afternoon.”

Arriving at a side hall, Yuanyuan Yuanjun closed the door, rolled up her sleeve, instructing very crisply: “Take off your upper garment. Quickly.”

But Fang Zhun hesitated somewhat, only saying: “No need. Just roll up the sleeve.”

Yuanyuan Yuanjun’s brows furrowed, her beautiful eyes containing威: “Between you and me, must we be concerned about these things? What do you take me for?”

Fang Zhun coughed lowly twice, glancing at Hu Sha. Her bright black eyes were looking at him sadly yet helplessly. His face couldn’t help but redden slightly, like being slightly tipsy. He turned his face away, saying softly: “Hu Sha, turn around. Don’t look over.”

Hu Sha nodded, quickly turning her back, not daring to glance even from the corner of her eye. Only then did Fang Zhun lightly remove his upper garment, placing it on the chair. Looking up to see Yuanyuan Yuanjun’s half-smiling expression, he coughed again, saying: “Begin. I’m troubling you.”

Yuanyuan Yuanjun was both smiling and reproachful, glaring at him: “Never thought someone as thick-skinned as you would also be shy. I should have your old friends come see this德性!”

Since Hu Sha wasn’t looking over, where was even a trace of embarrassment? He simply smiled: “Don’t tease me. Any later and I might die of pain.”

Yuanyuan Yuanjun tested the degree of his injury with magic power while verbally not sparing him: “Ptui, better you die of pain—heartless thing.”

Hu Sha in front listened carefully with perked ears. Her heart hung in mid-air, afraid she’d hear something like “this injury can’t be healed.” Who knew after listening for a long time, the two were exchanging witty banter, sometimes mutually损, sometimes falsely praising each other. They didn’t mention the injury at all. She waited anxiously to death, unable to sit or stand still.

That Yuanjun was more observant after all. Seeing her anxious appearance, she said: “Almost done. Don’t sway around over there—quite an eyesore.”

Although the words weren’t polite, at least they let Hu Sha breathe a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to find a chair to sit for a while, she suddenly heard a young attendant report from the doorway: “Yuanjun, that guest heard Zhenren Fang Zhun has returned and insists on seeing him. Can’t even stop him.”

Yuanyuan Yuanjun’s brows furrowed again: “Your disciple is still so rash and improper—lacking manners terribly. Forget it, let him in!”

As the words just fell, the door was pushed open. A person swept in like a gale, directly rushing before Fang Zhun, kneeling down with a thud: “This disciple pays respects to Master and Yuanjun!” With that, he raised his head—features like ice and snow. It was none other than Feng Di, whom they hadn’t seen in a long while.

Hu Sha said “ah,” calling softly: “Eldest Senior Brother.”

Feng Di nodded slightly toward her as greeting. The expression on his face was somewhat embarrassed, not quite daring to look at her. Presumably he was thinking of that day when Jinting Zushi expelled Hu Sha from the mountain but he couldn’t resist it, thus feeling guilty to this day.

Fang Zhun had long since put on his outer garment, draping it loosely over his shoulders. Raising his hand to slowly tidy it, he asked: “You rushed over in such a hurry—could it be that fierce beasts also appeared at Qingyuan?” Having spoken, he suddenly blinked again, saying innocently: “Even if fierce beasts appeared, finding your master is useless.”

Feng Di’s gaze could truly be described as resentful. He glanced at him briefly, lowering his head to say in a low voice: “No, it’s Grand Master… he… he asked me to bring a message for Master and Junior Sister. Because he knew you were now at Changzhou, he drew a map for this disciple to come… “

Fang Zhun nodded understandingly: “You worked hard. Coming all the way from Shengzhou, you searched quite a few places, didn’t you? Across the vast sea, to find your way here in three months—for you that’s not easy.”

Feng Di said: “Grand Master said that because I was also present that day, coming to deliver the message would be more convenient, not troubling other disciples with explanations. He also said…”

“Why so much nonsense?” Yuanyuan Yuanjun listened for a long time. Seeing he still hadn’t gotten to the point, she couldn’t help becoming impatient. “Your master’s injury is only half treated. If there’s something urgent, say it quickly! This child doesn’t know how to read situations at all!”

Feng Di, being roared at by her, immediately felt great shame. Lowering his head for a long while without speaking, he finally said: “Grand Master said this message can only be delivered to Master and Junior Sister…”

Yuanyuan Yuanjun snorted: “What for? What shameful matter requires secret messages? Do you think this is Qingyuan Mountain!”

Feng Di simply stopped talking, quietly staring at Fang Zhun’s hem.