The imperial palace of the capital, the bottom level of Yuanrong Tower.

Deputy Supervisor Li walked in. He had always been a steady person, yet at this moment, even Qiu Shengbai could see the joy in his eyes.

Di Yiqiu still sat in the prison cell. He kept his head lowered, looking through official documents, still wearing a black robe. The black robe was loose and oversized, which made his entire person not look quite so strange.

Li Lu stepped forward and said, “Supervisor, today this subordinate made a trip to Yuhu Xuanzong.” Di Yiqiu had no particular reaction to these words, and Li Lu did not mind. He continued, “Xie Hongchen has accepted Miss Ten as his inner chamber disciple. Today he held a discipleship banquet.”

“Inner chamber disciple?” Di Yiqiu finally had some response.

Li Lu hastily said, “Precisely so. It appears Miss Ten is focusing wholeheartedly on studying the arts. However, when departing, she still cared about the supervisor. She pursued this subordinate all the way to the mountain gate to inquire about your recent situation.” He did not blush in the slightest at the embellishments in his words, brazenly continuing to exaggerate, “Between Miss Ten’s words and lines, she is very mindful of you. Upon parting, she even insisted that this subordinate convey a token to you.”

Alas, what a pity.

If only this thing were a bit more romantic. Li Lu secretly lamented. But upon hearing these words, Di Yiqiu raised his head.

Li Lu hastily retrieved an object from his pocket and said, “Supervisor, please extend your hand.”

Di Yiqiu hesitated slightly but still extended his hand extremely slowly. Li Lu gritted his teeth and steeled his resolve, placing that object in his palm—heaven have mercy, this Li Lu has a completely loyal and devoted heart!

Di Yiqiu’s gaze focused on his palm. At first, he saw something colorful and very bright.

His body was now being eroded by snake venom, so his sense of pain was no longer acute. Thus, after being dazed for a moment, he finally saw clearly that lying in his palm was actually a colorful… insect!!

His gaze rose, staring at Li Lu’s face, and asked, “A love token?”

—Don’t get angry! Let me spin a good story for you!!

Li Lu said, “This object is indeed special, but this is what Miss Ten said. Perhaps… since she was born loving plant breeding, her feelings toward these insects are also different from ordinary people.” He spoke utter nonsense with his conscience blacked out, “For example… ah, for example, earthworms have a close relationship with soil.”

Yes, exactly, that’s it!

Upon hearing these words, Di Yiqiu did not question further.

He lowered his head and glanced again at the stinging caterpillar in his palm. That stinging caterpillar also raised its head, scrutinizing him.

Di Yiqiu placed it on the official documents. It was accustomed to accompanying Huang Rang while reading books and practicing martial arts, so it did not crawl around randomly.

Li Lu saw this and thought, good, he’s obviously accepting it by default. Striking while the iron was hot, he quickly said, “Miss Ten also said that since she just became a disciple this year, she has no possessions to her name. Next year, after careful preparation, she will certainly come to exchange this object back. She asks that the supervisor please take good care of it for her.”

Di Yiqiu glanced at that insect. That insect’s two small eyes also looked at him. One person and one insect met eye to eye, both quite bewildered.

Having finished these words, Li Lu felt they were perfect. He did not linger and hastily departed.

As for the supervisor, he used his purple-black hand—his fingers swollen like carrots—to poke at this insect—a… a love token?

Outside, Qiu Shengbai brought medicine over. That medicine was both bitter and salty, and drinking it felt simply nauseating in the mouth. Di Yiqiu furrowed his brow and paid no attention to it. Staying in this small prison cell, he was already distressed and irritated.

Having to face such medicine day after day—how could he drink it down?

Qiu Shengbai had even become accustomed to the non-cooperation of these imperial princes and princesses. These people were born into lives of luxury and ease—where had they experienced such hardship? He both coaxed and scolded, using both soft and hard approaches. Supervising them to drink their medicine daily was also a difficult task.

And Di Yiqiu and his group, because their medicine compatibility was quite good, were the targets of his focused attention.

After distributing the medicine, he entered Di Yiqiu’s prison cell for a look and, sure enough, the medicine in the bowl had not been touched at all.

“The supervisor should still drink the medicine before handling documents. It’s not something important!” Qiu Shengbai said irritably. Coaxing and persuading so many people daily was also exhausting. But as the chief culprit, who among them didn’t gnash their teeth upon seeing him?

Di Yiqiu naturally had no intention of drinking. He paid no attention whatsoever.

Qiu Shengbai also could not hold him down and force it into him. He stepped forward and with one glance saw that there was something in Di Yiqiu’s documents, colorful and very eye-catching.

—A bookmark?

He grabbed it with one swipe. Di Yiqiu’s body was swollen and sluggish, so he actually could not prevent it.

Qiu Shengbai held this thing in his hand, and only when a burning, stinging pain shot through his hand did he discover that this was actually an insect!

Di Yiqiu furrowed his brow and subconsciously said, “Give it back to me!”

He’s quite concerned about it! Now Qiu Shengbai had leverage. He said, “If the supervisor doesn’t drink the medicine, this subordinate will stomp this stinging caterpillar to death!”

“…” Shameless. The supervisor looked at the insect in his hand. Qiu Shengbai held that thing, letting it sting his hand, but stubbornly refused to let go. He confronted Di Yiqiu just like this.

Seeing that he would not yield at all, after a moment, Di Yiqiu finally looked toward the medicine bowl on the ground. The medicine liquid inside was pitch black, thick and sticky, a full half bowl.

After hesitating for a good while, he finally extended his hand, picked up that bowl, and forcibly suppressing his nausea, gulped it all down.

As the medicine liquid entered his abdomen, his entire body felt as if it were burning with fire. He set the bowl down and looked again toward Qiu Shengbai.

Qiu Shengbai saw this and thought, this works!

—Who sent this thing?

He handed the stinging caterpillar to Di Yiqiu and said, “This insect loves to eat peach leaves and mulberry leaves. Tomorrow this subordinate will bring the supervisor a few.”

Di Yiqiu placed the insect back on the official documents, letting it continue being his bookmark. After a long moment, he said, “Pick tender leaves.”

Qiu Shengbai repeatedly responded affirmatively. When he withdrew again, his entire body felt relaxed.

That evening, Shi Wenyu distributed sixty pots of twin snake fruit trees.

These were precisely what Huang Rang had painstakingly cultivated last time. Twin snake fruit trees had an extremely close relationship with viper demons. Each viper demon had guarded and played with one since childhood. Now that these imperial princes and princesses had exchanged in viper demon blood, if they wanted to survive, they naturally also had to cultivate them.

But Qiu Shengbai was still troubled.

Qiu Shengbai registered the twin snake fruit trees and gave the first one to Di Yiqiu at the earliest opportunity.

When all was said and done, as for why Miss Ten would hand over so many twin snake fruit trees, everyone had some idea in their hearts. Her power was minuscule, but what she could do, she had already done with all her strength.

There were sixty twin snake fruit trees in total. Now there were still fifty-nine remaining. Yet after removing those who had died, there were still over one hundred thirty imperial princes and princesses.

How to distribute them? Shi Wenyu had not said, so Qiu Shengbai could only try to fathom his intentions. He selected those favored imperial princes and princesses to receive individual allocations, then the remaining ten would be rotated among the other unfavored ones for cultivation.

—He no longer remembered that back in the years outside the dream, the imperial court had sought plant breeding masters from Si Tianjian, and combining everyone’s efforts, they had only managed to cultivate ten trees in total.

In the prison cell, Di Yiqiu looked at that twin snake fruit tree. It coiled and curved, its shape like a snake flicking its tongue. Di Yiqiu extended his hand and gently touched its leaves. That stinging caterpillar was also very interested in this thing. When it had nothing to do, it would crawl onto this strange tree and lie in the leaves to sleep.

And Qiu Shengbai kept his word. The next day, he brought fresh mulberry leaves for Di Yiqiu.

The mulberry leaves were tender and delicate, with dew still clinging to them. The stinging caterpillar was very satisfied with today’s meal and had a beautiful, satisfying feast.

After this, Qiu Shengbai never worried again about the supervisor drinking his medicine—if he didn’t drink the medicine, he would stomp the stinging caterpillar to death.

At Yuhu Xuanzong, after Huang Rang entered under Xie Hongchen’s tutelage, she was extremely well-behaved and law-abiding.

Not only did she not attract butterflies and bees as Xie Lingbi had imagined, in fact, those senior and junior martial brothers who coveted her beauty could not find her at all.

Ever since Huang Rang received her cultivation manual and spirit pills, she had not gone out for several days already.

Xie Hongchen had originally intended for Nie Qinglan to constantly admonish her to avoid disputes. However, after several days, Nie Qinglan had not even seen her face. Everyone felt uncertain in their hearts—could this girl be slacking off?

Finally, on this day, Xie Hongchen could not help himself and went to find her.

But to avoid suspicion, he specifically brought Nie Qinglan and Xie Li along.

The master and two disciples arrived at the small dwelling where Huang Rang lived. Xie Li very consciously stepped forward to knock on the door.

“Who is it?” Huang Rang’s voice came from inside the room. Xie Li inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Junior Sister, it’s me, Xie Li.”

Hearing these words, the door creaked open with a squeak, and a fuzzy little head poked out from behind. Xie Li was immediately dumbstruck—the Huang Rang before his eyes had disheveled hair and a grimy face, wearing practice clothes. Where was that nation-toppling, city-collapsing appearance?

Huang Rang had originally not cared, but with one sweep of her gaze, she saw the other people following behind. Nie Qinglan need not be mentioned—he could be ignored. But—Xie Hongchen!!

Huang Rang slammed the door shut with a bang. A rustling sound came from inside. Before long, she reopened the door, her dress dignified and elegant, her makeup refined and graceful. Though her hair bun was simple, it was generous and proper.

She performed a graceful bow toward Xie Li, her voice soft, beautiful, clear, and sweet: “This one has seen Second Senior Brother.”

“…” Xie Li’s expression was as if he had seen a ghost.

Huang Rang then performed courtesies toward Xie Hongchen and his disciple, feeling somewhat annoyed in her heart. A moment of carelessness, a moment of carelessness!

Xie Hongchen’s face was expressionless, making it impossible to see his thoughts. He walked directly into the room and looked around. He saw that the entire room contained only a low table with the cultivation manual placed on it. Beside it, hanging from the beam, was a rope loop.

“What is this object?” Xie Hongchen pointed at that rope loop. That thing looked particularly ominous.

Huang Rang said, “This… it’s something this disciple uses to encourage studying. Master, please don’t ask about it.”

But there just had to be someone tactless beside them. Nie Qinglan asked, “This thing can also encourage studying?”

He sat down beside the low table and discovered that the rope loop could fit right around his neck.

…All right, all right.

Xie Hongchen stepped forward several paces and picked up the cultivation manual on the table. He saw that the manual was densely covered with annotations.

The cultivation manual was naturally not profound, but the annotations were equally meticulous.

He nodded and said, “You are very diligent.”

Of course I must be very diligent. Huang Rang said, “This disciple has the bearing of an ordinary person. To be able to enter under Master’s tutelage is truly heaven’s favor. Naturally, I dare not slack off.”

These words naturally had the suspicion of flattery, but she spoke them sincerely, so they also carried a few parts of genuine meaning.

Xie Hongchen nodded and praised, “That you can think this way brings comfort to your master.” After his words fell, he said, “Yiyun Hall has quite a few collected books. You may borrow and read them at any time. If there are things you don’t understand, don’t force interpretations. Your master or various martial uncles and senior brothers—there will always be someone who can resolve your doubts.”

“This disciple thanks Master for his teachings.” Huang Rang naturally had no disagreement. To be able to freely enter and exit Yiyun Hall… that truly could not be better.

Xie Hongchen looked left and right again. Seeing nothing unusual, he then returned to Yiyun Hall.

Huang Rang naturally continued to attack her books diligently. Though she had gained his permission, she did not eagerly act immediately. Xie Hongchen’s vigilance was actually very high. To make him relax was not an easy task.

Being too hasty would only waste all previous efforts.

She buried her head and, seeing the mental techniques recorded in the cultivation manual, could not help but let out a lament!

What on earth is this writing?!

I’m an earth demon who finally managed to re-enter the dream and regain freedom. Why must I gnaw through a sword immortal’s cultivation manual?

It’s really so difficult. Every moment I doubt whether I’m not an earth demon but rather an idiot who’s achieved sentience. I so want to eat, drink, play, attract butterflies and bees, and behave wildly and recklessly! Even going to Si Tianjian to play with Di Yiqiu… uh, to accompany Di Yiqiu in playing, would be better than gnawing through this!

Huang Rang knocked her head against the table, her head even bouncing a few times, producing thudding sounds. Then she rubbed her face with both hands, gnashed her teeth, and buried herself back into the pile of books. When she really could not bear it anymore, she would stuff her chin into the rope loop.

Xie Lingbi, Xie Lingbi…

Reciting this name, she could manage to read a few more lines.

To the right side of Yiyun Hall was a book storage hall named Wuxiang Pavilion. A plaque hung above it, inscribed with the words “All Dharmas Have No Form.”

In the hall, Xie Hongchen kept his head buried, writing a cultivation insight manual. He thought that after receiving his permission, that person would very quickly come to Yiyun Hall. This kind of thought—he did not know where it came from, yet it made him believe it firmly.

But outside, the sky gradually darkened, and disciples successively entered the side hall to borrow books, yet not one was her.

She did not come.

Indeed. She had newly received her cultivation manual. These past days, she fundamentally could not finish reading it.

How could she come to Wuxiang Pavilion?

Xie Hongchen wanted to find the source of this delusion, but though he pondered for a long time, he gained nothing.

In the quiet dwelling, Huang Rang was continuing to attack her books.

Once, Xie Hongchen had many prohibitions for her, to the extent that she was very aggressive toward any relaxation or concession from him. Xie Hongchen did not allow her to continue plant breeding, but he did not prevent her from cultivating orchids. So she planted the entire Yuhu Xuanzong full of orchids.

Xie Hongchen loved drinking tea. After she learned this, she immediately cultivated the famous tea called One Petal Heart.

Xie Hongchen occasionally drank wine, so she pondered in a thousand ways and brewed rose wine.

Thinking carefully over the past, back then the Huang Rang of Qilu Terrace was moved by Xie Hongchen’s every frown, stirred by his every word.

Huang Rang lifted her brush and made annotations beside the cultivation manual.

Past events were fragmentary and scattered. That people love to reminisce truly is not a good thing. Much of the time, it makes one unable to distinguish between reality and illusion.