But surprisingly, he didn’t find it annoying.

When others were around, Li Ye typically remained vigilant, but perhaps because Er’er was so weak that she posed no threat, as he listened, he felt his eyelids growing heavy.

The medicinal stove gradually released a bitter fragrance. Er’er wrinkled her nose, covered her mouth, and sneezed.

Something this bitter, the big shot definitely wouldn’t enjoy eating.

But that was fine. She had stored plenty of sugar in her sleeve pouch—peach candy from Senior Sister Yan, malt sugar that Taihe Immortal Master had secretly slipped to her, and even wild honey she’d gathered from the back mountain, all sealed nicely in small jars. Later, after forming the medicine pills, she would coat them with sugar to make them palatable.

Er’er particularly loved sweets. Their sweetness always made her feel happy, and naturally, she thought the big shot would surely like them too.

But wait, how does one roll medicine pills again?

Question marks popped up above her head as Er’er silently stared at the medicine pot before her. After hesitating for a while, she conjured a book and, imitating mortal physicians, began reading with an air of expertise:

“Toward where thunder resounds, one yang returns, the jade furnace blazes, the golden cauldron’s cold smoke rises. The beautiful woman rides the dragon, the golden man straddles the tiger, and in a moment, the great return is complete. In the elixir field, there is a white crow, flying into the mud pellet…”

…

…

“Oh—” She put down the book with sudden understanding.

Then continued to stare silently at the medicine pot before her.

When would immortal realm books become more straightforward, to accommodate mortals like her? Reading this was as good as not reading at all.

Maybe she should just roughly roll the medicine dregs into pills. After all, the big shot wouldn’t know what mortal medicine pills were supposed to look like anyway.

No sooner said than done, Er’er rolled up her sleeves.

When Li Ye awoke, it was already pitch dark outside.

He half-propped himself up in bed, frowning at the gaudy bedding covering him, a hint of murderous intent in his eyes.

Immortals truly shouldn’t sleep. Once asleep, one could dream of tens of thousands of years’ worth of vexations. Better to meditate in silence.

“You’re awake?” Someone bounded toward him.

Li Ye looked up irritably, but suddenly, before his eyes appeared an oblong porcelain tray. On the light green bottom of the tray sat ten pills of varying sizes.

He paused and looked at the person holding the tray.

Er’er was smiling with extreme delight, revealing a row of small, white, even teeth. She chirped excitedly to him: “Look! In the short time you were sleeping, this small immortal has rolled out so many treasures! This one is hawthorn-flavored, this one is honey-flavored, and this one is peach-flavored.”

She moved the tray closer to him, looking at him expectantly: “Would you like to try one?”

With a muffled snort, Li Ye casually picked up a pill and tossed it into his mouth.

“…”

What was this overly sweet thing?

His eye twitched slightly as he forcibly swallowed it down. Just as he opened his mouth to express his distaste, he saw that eager face suddenly magnify before his eyes.

“Isn’t it delicious? You can’t even tell it’s medicine, can you?” She blinked.

It was precisely because he couldn’t tell it was medicine that he found it unpalatable. Medicine should have its original medicinal aroma. What kind of method was this, coating it with sugar? The earlier sugar frost was fine since the taste wasn’t strong, but this pill was sickeningly sweet.

If Tai Shang Lao Jun were to taste this, he would surely bind her up and throw her down from the ninth heaven.

—That’s what he thought.

But when Li Ye spoke, what he said was: “Mm, delicious.”

Er’er clapped her hands happily, then turned to place the remaining pills in a porcelain bottle, stuffing it into his sleeve pouch: “Take three pills daily, and I guarantee your injuries will heal quickly.”

She sounded just like those quack doctors swindling people in the mortal realm.

However, Li Ye became extraordinarily calm. The murderous intent in his eyes disappeared, and his rigid body gradually softened.

He leaned against the soft pillow, half-raising his eyelids to look at her: “You have something you wish to tell me?”

Er’er had been scheming in her heart, and being unexpectedly exposed by him, she immediately straightened her back: “No!”

“No?”

“…Actually, I do have something to say.” Lowering her head sheepishly, Er’er glanced at him, her fingers twisting together. “But there’s no rush. We can wait until Master has recovered.”

Noticing her slightly reddened ears, Li Ye’s eyebrows moved subtly. He thought her cultivation had just shown some progress, and now she was having improper thoughts again?

Low-level small immortals were indeed difficult to guide. With earthly desires not yet severed, how could she achieve great accomplishment in cultivation?

Shaking his head silently, he said: “Give me your hand.”

Er’er was stunned. Seeing the knowing expression on his face, she thought: as expected of a big shot, he’s already seen through her intention to ask for his help.

But he didn’t seem to be rejecting her. He was even asking her to extend her hand. Was she just one step away from having all her meridians opened?

Trying to suppress her upturned lips, Er’er obediently stretched her wrist before him.

Li Ye infused his energy to probe Kan Ze’s condition.

It seemed that letting her cultivate fire-system techniques had been quite effective. Kan Ze’s aura was firmly suppressed, though not extinguished, but unlikely to pose a threat.

His brow gradually relaxed, and he rarely softened his tone: “If you want something, you may speak now.”

The big shot had already given her such an opening, and Er’er felt she couldn’t be insensitive.

So she pressed her palms together reverently and bowed to him: “Please help me open my seven meridians and eight networks. This small immortal is willing to serve you for ten thousand years in return, ready to brave mountains of knives and seas of fire for Master without hesitation!”

Li Ye: “…”

The medicine pill he had just swallowed seemed to suddenly block his throat. He began to cough violently, awkwardly averting his gaze, covering his chest as the coughing made his face flush red.

Er’er hurriedly reached out to help him, but before she could touch him, he quickly avoided her.

“Kneel down,” Li Ye said irritably.

Rarely seeing him so visibly angry, Er’er trembled. Without understanding what she had said wrong, she immediately obeyed and knelt properly.

“Do not mention this matter again.” Li Ye didn’t look at her, staring fixedly at the bedding piled on the bed, his tone both annoyed and somewhat strange.

Er’er was puzzled. When Qian Tian Supreme God had mentioned this, he seemed very casual about it. She had thought it was a common practice in the ninth heaven, not expecting the big shot to be so opposed. Why had he probed her meridians earlier then, misleading her into thinking he had anticipated her request?

Besides, why be so serious? Hadn’t he already opened two of her acupoints before? He didn’t say anything then, so why get so angry about the seven meridians and eight networks?

Could it be that the energy required was too much, and the big shot was unwilling?

After much thought, Er’er carefully said, “Master might want to reconsider. Your disciple feels this would save a lot of effort. If my cultivation improves, I could also cause you less trouble in the future.”

Excuses, all excuses. She had simply set her mind on him and wanted to be his immortal companion.

Li Ye thought coldly. Were the seven meridians and eight networks so easy to open? For men, it might be fine, but women have their unique meridians. If he helped her, it would be no different from the mortal realm’s wedding night.

How much must she desire him to propose such an idea without any restraint?

Shameless!

After sulking toward the inner bed for quite some time, Li Ye gradually calmed down and looked at his hand.

It wasn’t her fault. Spending time with a one-in-a-million Supreme God like him, who wouldn’t develop feelings? Only a fool wouldn’t. She was just a young girl who had recently ascended to the ninth heaven, so having such thoughts was normal.

But still… he couldn’t so easily agree to her request.

His neck felt a bit hot. Li Ye tugged at his collar, not knowing how to respond, and simply swept his sleeve as he got out of bed, striding out with wind in his steps.

“Master?” Er’er looked bewilderedly at his back, seeing him disappear outside the door without looking back. Only then did she kneel-sit and sigh.

This proposal was perhaps a bit shameless? Asking someone for help without offering anything in return, even if it was just a small effort for them, still required energy. If the big shot was unwilling, she couldn’t be unhappy about it.

But… there was an inexplicable sense of shame.

Breathing into her palm, Er’er lowered her eyes and thought, if only she were stronger. If she were stronger, she wouldn’t need to ask others for help. She could open the meridians herself and ascend to upper immortal status.

With her current abilities, even with all her efforts, it would still take several hundred more years.

Dejectedly patting her head, Er’er let out a long sigh.

Someone like her, wanting shortcuts and being lazy, the big shot must find very distasteful. Not just the big shot—she didn’t like herself much either.

Better to honestly cultivate.

After glancing once more at the empty doorway, Er’er turned and climbed back into the bed, crossing her legs to begin meditation.

Zhu Yan was discussing matters with someone within the Ding Clan Immortal Gate’s boundary when he suddenly felt a familiar divine power rapidly approaching.

Alarmed, he instinctively instructed those around him: “Go set up defensive formations and invite all the Supreme Gods who are still inside the gate.”

With such an imposing aura, it was likely that the Supreme God was in an unsettled mood and angry again. They needed to prepare early.

However, before he finished speaking, Li Ye was already standing before him.

“…Greetings, Supreme God.” Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Everyone around quickly dispersed, leaving only an empty immortal platform. Li Ye stood before the jade railings, his expression quite displeased.

“Zhu Yan,” he said, “I have a friend who was just asked by a female immortal to become her immortal companion.”

This opening was quite special. Zhu Yan was stunned for a good while before responding: “That’s wonderful news.”

Immortal companions cultivating together could achieve twice the results with half the effort. In the ninth heaven, apart from this stubborn character, who wouldn’t be pleased?

“It’s not wonderful,” Li Ye said coldly. “It’s extremely troublesome.”

Zhu Yan: “…”

His mind had been confused by this Supreme God’s sudden appearance, but now that he was calmer, he suddenly realized something was amiss.

With Li Ye’s unsociable personality, where would he get a “friend”?

Stealing another glance at this serious expression.

Ah, he was most likely talking about himself.

Zhu Yan couldn’t help but marvel. Small Immortal Er’er was amazing, to have forced Li Ye to come seeking him on clouds, and all because of a request to become immortal companions?

Suppressing the smile about to break out, he clasped his hands and said: “How can immortal companionship be troublesome? If the feelings are mutual, it certainly has great benefits.”

“What benefits?” Li Ye glanced at him askance.

Coughing awkwardly a couple of times, Zhu Yan vaguely said: “This small immortal also has no immortal companion, so I’m not entirely clear. But look at Gen Qi—he was merely a young True Lord before, but since having an immortal companion, his realm has soared. In not too long, he might be listed among the Supreme Gods.”

Disdainfully sneering, Li Ye said: “With his half-baked skills, even as a Supreme God, he’d only scare people with transformation techniques.”

“Gen Qi’s experience certainly doesn’t compare to yours, but this small immortal believes that having an immortal companion has many benefits. If your friend is unwilling, you should advise him more for his good.”

Advise him more?

Li Ye silently looked at the clouds on the horizon before finally saying softly after a long while: “We’ll see.”

Zhu Yan smiled without speaking.

The defensive formations already prepared around them seemed unnecessary now. He waved to signal those in the distance to stand down, then quietly stood with Li Ye.

Li Ye had few particularly close people in the ninth heaven. Even Zhu Yan only spoke more with him because both the Li and Ding clans cultivated the fire path, and as the manager of Ding Clan affairs, he needed to report to him frequently.

Suddenly encountering such a matter, Zhu Yan was the only one he could speak with, and Zhu Yan had very tactfully given him an out. He had easily persuaded himself somewhat and began to head back with a calmer mindset.

To agree to such a thing outright went against the pride inherent in a Supreme God. But if they truly became immortal companions, he could legitimately use her to suppress Kan Ze. Though he might occasionally have to eat some sickeningly sweet pills, overall, it didn’t seem like he would lose anything.

The earlier anxiety in his heart had disappeared. Li Ye stepped toward Upper Bing Palace, thinking that if she behaved better in the future and earnestly pleaded with him a couple more times, he might reluctantly agree.

However, upon returning to her, Li Ye discovered that the little thing who had been trying so hard to persuade him earlier now didn’t even come to greet him. Her small body was curled up in that raised bed, focused intently on practicing newly learned hand signs.