When Di Yiqiu had completely fallen asleep, Huang Rang climbed up.

“Is our Master Jianzheng all right?” Li Lu tiptoed in to check.

Qiu Shengbai looked at Di Yiqiu, then at Huang Rang, and after a long while said: “You could actually bring yourself to do that!”

What kind of talk was this? Li Lu immediately retorted: “Our Master Jianzheng has good foundation. Even like this, he still has some appeal to the eye.”

Qiu Shengbai rolled his eyes, too lazy to deal with him.

Li Lu turned to smile apologetically at Huang Rang: “Miss Ah Rang, please don’t mind. Our Master Jianzheng doesn’t drink alcohol, so his tolerance is a bit shallow.”

—Stop bragging. Your Master Jianzheng has no such thing as alcohol tolerance.

Huang Rang walked to a corner of the cell where the twin-snake fruit tree was placed, with the saddleback caterpillar lying on the tree.

Next to it, in that flower pot, the foxtail grass grew extremely luxuriantly.

Huang Rang casually stroked it, tidying up this fuzzy grass. Li Lu was immediately dumbfounded: “This, this—”

“A little surprise for Master Jianzheng.” Huang Rang brushed the fine fuzz from her hands and stood up. She turned to leave when Qiu Shengbai quickly said: “Wait!”

Having spoken, before Huang Rang could ask, he took out a pill and handed it over: “To counteract the viper’s poison.”

Oh. Huang Rang accepted it and placed the pill in her mouth.

Beside them, Li Lu said attentively: “I’ll see Miss Ah Rang out.”

Huang Rang hummed in acknowledgment. After walking a few steps, she turned back again. On the narrow punishment bed in the cell, Di Yiqiu slept peacefully and quietly.

Toward this person, she felt closeness and pity, though not yet deep affection.

But thinking about this life, it seemed she would never again approach anyone with such a heart free of ulterior motives.

Huang Rang walked out of the Circular Integration Tower. Outside, the sky was clear and fine.

The wind carried a touch of pale golden sunlight, stirring all things in the mortal world. On those restless branches, the leaf buds were swelling, already showing faint hints of new green.

Spring was approaching.

On the underground first floor of the Circular Integration Tower, when Di Yiqiu awoke, only he remained in the cell.

He didn’t know what time it was now. The alcohol had numbed his senses. Supporting himself, he struggled to stand up. Before him was dim, yellow candlelight, the room cold and desolate.

If not for the lingering wine fragrance, that person seemed as if she had never come at all.

After drinking together, only one person remained. That loneliness quickly drowned him.

Di Yiqiu slowly walked to the cell door. The chains had reached their limit; he could go no further forward. He lowered his head and saw the corner of the wall, suddenly freezing.

In the corner were two flower pots. One held the twin-snake fruit, with the saddleback caterpillar lying on a leaf sleeping.

The other flower pot held the seed Huang Rang had given him last time. That seed was enormous. He watered it carefully every day, even having Qiu Shengbai move it outside to get some sun.

Only when that seed sprouted did he discover it was a pot of foxtail grass.

This grass grew especially fast and had now reached his knee.

He had originally thought it was just Huang Rang’s joke. He laughed it off and didn’t mind. But now, before leaving, Huang Rang had tidied this pot of foxtail grass.

Those curved and winding branches and leaves were intertwined and wrapped, ultimately forming a character.

—The character “Qiu.”

Di Yiqiu’s fingertips stroked that character. This tiny little surprise could offset half a room’s cold desolation after the wine wore off and the person left.

At Yuhu Xuanzong, Huang Rang continued to cultivate diligently.

In terms of martial arts, her aptitude could not be considered any kind of prodigy. But diligence can make up for clumsiness—this too was an eternal truth.

Huang Rang’s cultivation gradually surpassed ordinary disciples, emerging prominently at Jade Plume Peak.

As for the matter of breeding improved varieties, she indeed had not neglected it either.

On one hand it was a hobby, on the other hand it was curiosity about the three people He Xijin, Wu Zichou, and Zhang Shujiu.

These three sect leaders regularly sent her a sum of silver money each month, never asking about where this silver went.

Huang Rang cultivated all kinds of improved varieties for them.

She secretly recorded the market prices of these improved varieties, knowing this would be an enormous sum.

What exactly had these three important figures done with these improved varieties?

She did not ask. She only sent large quantities of improved varieties back to them.

Huang Rang looked forward to seeing how unlimited giving could destroy a person.

Xie Hongchen was very satisfied with Huang Rang’s cultivation progress. Huang Rang’s technique scrolls had gradually become equal to those of Nie Qinglan, Xie Li, and the others.

Within the immortal sect, people gradually began to hold her up as an example. Countless masters used her as a model to educate disciples.

Other disciples complained bitterly about being subject to this competitive pressure.

—This girl is a madwoman. She doesn’t rest at all!

Meanwhile, at the Circular Integration Tower, Di Yiqiu’s body improved day by day.

He no longer resisted taking medicine and would even proactively discuss prescriptions with Qiu Shengbai. He began attempting to exercise his body. Qiu Shengbai even removed his chains, allowing him to move about within the Circular Integration Tower.

Di Yiqiu personally gathered tree leaves for the saddleback caterpillar and prepared its food. He personally carried the foxtail Qiu outside to get sun. He personally tended to the twin-snake fruit tree.

Finally, he proposed that he wanted to return to the Si Tianjian Bureau.

Qiu Shengbai frowned and asked: “What did you say?”

Di Yiqiu repeated once: “I want to return to live at the Si Tianjian Bureau. Don’t worry, I will come on time to change blood.”

Qiu Shengbai took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, as if thinking.

Di Yiqiu said: “The Si Tianjian Bureau will also have people come punctually to receive medicine.”

Qiu Shengbai finally asked: “Your body is now… abnormal. Are you not afraid of being seen by others?”

This should have been what young people cared about most. Yet Di Yiqiu said: “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care.”

Ah, of course he didn’t care. Because the person he cared about had not shown disgust.

Qiu Shengbai sighed and said: “Very well. But if you do not follow this old man’s medical instructions, this old man will still drag you back to the Circular Integration Tower at any time.”

Thus, Di Yiqiu held the twin-snake fruit in his left hand, the foxtail Qiu in his right hand, with the saddleback caterpillar still lying on the leaves. He traveled all the way out of the palace and returned to the Si Tianjian Bureau.

As Qiu Shengbai had said, his body was still abnormal compared to ordinary people, looking quite terrifying.

Strange gazes came from all directions, stealing glances from time to time.

Yet Di Yiqiu already faced it calmly.

Among this batch of princes and princesses, he was the first to leave the Circular Integration Tower.

Qiu Shengbai watched him leave. Beside him, Eunuch Fu asked: “The Medical Director just lets him go home like this, aren’t you worried?”

“He will return on time.” Qiu Shengbai said softly, “Because he still wants to live.”

Because he very, very much wanted to live well.

After Di Yiqiu returned to the Si Tianjian Bureau, the first thing he saw was those women gathered outside the gate.

Seeing him in black robes with a hood covering half his face, looking quite sinister and strange, everyone couldn’t help but retreat, making way. Di Yiqiu entered the gate of the Xuanwu Division and looked around, asking: “What’s happening?”

Uh… the guards explained to him with difficulty the reason these women were waiting here.

Master Jianzheng looked at these women, then looked down at his own waist.

He seemed to understand the reason Huang Rang had been feeling and pinching at his waist in the Circular Integration Tower.

Master Jianzheng wanted to speak but stopped, his expression difficult to describe in words.

Although he didn’t have this “treasure wrapped around the waist,” Master Jianzheng was very cooperative with Qiu Shengbai.

He would go punctually to the Circular Integration Tower to have Qiu Shengbai take his pulse. All the medicine Qiu Shengbai had sent over, he took on time and in proper doses.

Although each blood exchange was unbearably painful, he was improving, desperately trying everything to improve.

Time flowed like water, passing swiftly.

On this day, the immortal sect held a martial arts and skill demonstration competition for new outstanding disciples.

This was a good opportunity for new outstanding disciples to emerge prominently.

To allow common people to also appreciate the immortal sect’s style, the martial arts arena was set up in Moon Gazing City.

Moon Gazing City was a small city, located between Yuhu Xuanzong and the capital city, serving as a hub in all directions.

Strictly speaking, this place was under court jurisdiction.

But the court had never objected.

Given the immortal sect’s current position in the hearts of the common people, court objections would likely be useless anyway.

Therefore, Shi Wenyu generally acquiesced to this arrangement.

Thus, the small Moon Gazing City was packed with people who had come to watch the competition.

These people came from all walks of life, a mixed crowd. But the matters everyone discussed were roughly the same—which new outstanding disciple would win the top martial arts position this year and claim the laurel crown?

At the Si Tianjian Bureau, Xuanwu Division, in Di Yiqiu’s study.

In the corner was placed that pot of foxtail Qiu. It grew ever taller and larger, a big fuzzy clump, yet always maintaining the vigorous and lively character “Qiu.”

The twin-snake fruit tree was short and placed on the desk. The saddleback caterpillar lay sleeping on a twin-snake fruit leaf.

Di Yiqiu was attempting to carve a magical artifact. His body had recovered quite well. The swelling had gradually subsided, already revealing a lean appearance.

Only the stability of his hands had still not recovered, and since he had demanding requirements for this magical artifact, he carved with extreme care.

Footsteps gradually approached from outside—it was Qiu Shengbai.

He carried a medicine chest and entered, asking: “How has it been these past few days?”

Di Yiqiu extended his hand, allowing him to take his pulse: “Adequate. In a couple days, I want to leave the capital for a trip. I’ll be able to return in just a few days.”

“Absolutely not!” Qiu Shengbai said angrily, “Your constitution now seems stable but is actually dangerous. If other people detect the clues, it’s hard to guarantee the matter of the viper’s blood won’t be leaked. When the time comes and His Majesty investigates…”

Di Yiqiu interrupted him, saying: “No. This trip is not official business. I will not go out in a court capacity, just…”

Qiu Shengbai was even angrier: “You’re just going to Moon Gazing City to meet that girl privately!”

Di Yiqiu was silent. Qiu Shengbai continued: “That girl is now Xie Hongchen’s disciple, and an extremely outstanding personally transmitted disciple at that! If you go to see her, is Xie Hongchen blind? If he makes a move, can you handle it?”

Di Yiqiu fell silent.

The current number one sword immortal of the immortal sect—with his current strength, he could not yet contend with him.

Qiu Shengbai said: “How difficult was it for Master Jianzheng to obtain his current constitution and foundation? How can you lightly enter dangerous circumstances? This old man will speak a word that exceeds his station—you must not let beauty cloud your judgment!”

Having finished speaking, he left in annoyance.

Originally this matter was nothing special, but that night, Di Yiqiu discovered something—that saddleback caterpillar was missing!

Usually after eating and drinking its fill, it would either sleep on the twin-snake fruit tree or go roll around inside the foxtail Qiu. But now, Di Yiqiu searched the entire study and did not see its shadow.

“Someone come!” Di Yiqiu’s expression was cold and stern. The guards outside the door knew this was bad and hurried over.

“Who has entered this seat’s study?” Di Yiqiu asked in a deep voice.

Everyone looked at each other. After quite a while, someone answered in a small voice: “Reporting to Master Jianzheng, we humble ones have been guarding at the door constantly, not daring to leave even briefly. During this time no one has entered.”

As soon as his words fell, only a “crack” was heard. Di Yiqiu angrily slapped the desk, shaking the teacup lid so it bounced high.

Di Yiqiu took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: “This seat has lost something. Order everyone throughout the Si Tianjian Bureau to search for it immediately!”

Then he took out a charcoal pencil from his waist and drew a rough sketch.

In the drawing was… a bug?

What could be done about this?

The entire Si Tianjian Bureau dug three feet into the ground and began searching for a bug!

But how easy could this be?

After two days, the four divisions of Zhuque, Xuanwu, Qinglong, and Baihu were busy to the point of chaos. Countless saddleback caterpillars were captured and brought back, but not one was Master Jianzheng’s love token bug!

Li Lu and Baowu complained bitterly, searching for bugs day and night without rest.

In the imperial palace, at the Circular Integration Tower.

Qiu Shengbai was conscientiously filling out medical case records. Di Yiqiu was the earliest to leave here, but the other princes and princesses still could not be treated with the slightest carelessness.

He rushed about each day, and even when sleeping at night had to keep one eye open, fearing these noble persons would have changes in their conditions again.

At this moment it was already late at night. Qiu Shengbai had finally finished writing today’s medical case when suddenly his ankle felt sharp pain!

“Ah—” He cried out in pain. Looking down, he discovered that on his ankle, a bug had climbed up at some unknown time!

Qiu Shengbai pinched up that bug. Even with it right before his eyes, Medical Director Sir still could not believe his own eyes.

This, this was actually Di Yiqiu’s saddleback caterpillar!!

Medical Director Sir met the saddleback caterpillar’s two bean-sized eyes. Even with the best composure, he couldn’t help but break into cursing: “You, you stupid thing! Didn’t you go back to the Si Tianjian Bureau with your father?!”

Who would dare believe that this damned stupid thing had crawled all the way from the Si Tianjian Bureau to the Circular Integration Tower, just to sting him once?

“This old man didn’t let your father go out for whose sake? You stupid thing actually repay kindness with enmity! Don’t think that just because you’re a bug, this old man won’t hold it against you! If your father doesn’t compensate this old man for emotional distress today, this old man will absolutely stomp you to death!” Medical Director Sir, after years of mental and physical labor, finally broke down at this moment.

He gnashed his teeth. He couldn’t even care about the severe pain in his ankle anymore. Muttering under his breath, he carried it to the Si Tianjian Bureau to settle accounts with a certain someone.

The three-day bug-searching operation at the Si Tianjian Bureau ended in Medical Director Sir’s towering fury.

The cost was Master Jianzheng compensating half a month’s salary.

…

And at this time, in Moon Gazing City.

The immortal sect’s new outstanding disciple martial arts demonstration was imminent. Xie Hongchen brought Yuhu Xuanzong’s four new outstanding disciples into the city.

All sounds in the city abruptly stopped because of his appearance. Everyone’s gazes were drawn to this sect master of the immortal sect’s premier sect.

Xie Hongchen still wore white as snow, with jade at his waist, just like deep waters and towering peaks, pure jade and autumn frost.

Huang Rang followed closely behind him. Seeing the crowds lined up in welcome on both sides, she was immediately quite moved.

—Outside the dream in the twelfth year of Chengyuan, she had also come to watch the competition together with Xie Hongchen. But at that time she was the sect master’s wife and only needed to attend in formal dress.

And Xie Hongchen was busy with social obligations and would not accompany her either.

Now in the twelfth year of Chengyuan within the dream, she wore martial attire, carried a treasured sword on her back, and walked with vigorous strides. She no longer had half a trace of the sect master’s wife’s gentle and magnificent beauty. Only the pearl rope in her hair hung down—white ice silk, red coral, drifting and swaying, beauty bright and vivid.

She followed Xie Hongchen closely, body straight and back erect, bearing imposing, quite like her master. Naturally this also drew countless prying gazes.

Xie Hongchen sensed something. He turned his head slightly and said: “After returning to the inn, go practice your skills yourself. Don’t wander around randomly.”

Huang Rang answered yes. She originally didn’t want to wander around either.

Xie Hongchen was very satisfied with her answer. He didn’t know why, but he disliked the gazes of others examining Huang Rang.

But how could a fresh young maiden carrying a treasured sword on her back, full of youthful energy with radiant appearance, brilliant as a bright pearl, not attract attention?

Huang Rang didn’t pay attention to Xie Hongchen’s thoughts. Her gaze wandered as she surveyed this small city.

Though Moon Gazing City was small, wine shops and inns lined the streets, people came and went, traffic flowed like water. Its prosperity was not inferior even to the capital city.

Xie Hongchen, treading on everyone’s gazes, traveled all the way to the inn where they were staying. As his personally transmitted disciple, Huang Rang’s room was right next to his.

Xie Hongchen naturally could not rest. With Yuhu Xuanzong presiding over the new outstanding disciple martial arts demonstration, as host he naturally had to meet the sect leaders of various sects.

Those new outstanding disciples fortunate enough to come also had to come pay their respects in advance.

He was very busy.

Huang Rang wasn’t idle either. This inn had a small kitchen.

She found her way there with practiced familiarity. Sure enough, that small kitchen was still there. Ah, even the furnishings were identical.

Huang Rang began to doubt the authenticity of this dream. How could it be so perfectly replicated?

She found ingredients and began cooking.

Outside the dream in the fifteenth year of Chengyuan, she had also made a few small dishes. At that time she and Xie Hongchen still shared the same room, but Xie Hongchen had briefly returned before hurriedly going out again.

This time Huang Rang simply made a bowl of sweet soup.

She steamed yam until cooked, pressed it into paste, mixed in glutinous rice flour, and blended it with milk. Then she rolled it into small sweet dumplings, cooked them in water, then added fermented rice wine and a little sugar. Finally she added a few rose petals as decoration.

She cooked very seriously and didn’t pay attention to her surroundings.

In the guest room across the way, someone gazed at this place from afar through the window.

—Di Yiqiu watched for a long time. Beside him, Li Lu suggested: “Since we’ve come, why don’t we go over and greet Miss Ah Rang?”

Di Yiqiu shook his head.

He wore a black cloak with the hood pulled down, covering half his face.

Because of his constitution, his skin was pale, with faint snake patterns at his temples.

Now he leaned against the window, quietly watching that person make sweet soup. He had long known which room Xie Hongchen would stay in, so he chose the place with the best view. Sure enough, he saw her.

Li Lu said: “Master Jianzheng has worked day and night these days, surely preparing a gift for Miss Ah Rang. Since we’ve seen her today, naturally it would be better to give it to her.”

When he mentioned gifts, Di Yiqiu’s expression became less natural.

“Just a small trinket, nothing worth making such a fuss over.” Di Yiqiu’s hand reached into his bosom, taking out that sachet. It was a storage magical artifact, a hollow gourd woven with gold thread, with the gourd’s mouth carved in jade with vines and half-open flower buds.

This jade wrapped and inlaid half the gourd, perfectly natural. Below it, gold threads hung like fine vines, with several small white flowers blooming on them, exquisitely beautiful.

Clearly, much thought had gone into this object. Especially given the state of Di Yiqiu’s hands, both casting and carving were particularly difficult.

She… would like it, right?

Di Yiqiu lowered his head. Like those young men preparing gifts for the first time for girls they admired, his heart was uneasy.

Huang Rang estimated the time was about right. She carried the sweet soup out of the small kitchen and went upstairs.

Through the window, Di Yiqiu watched her walking in the corridor, sometimes appearing, sometimes obscured.

Like the bright moon within cloud layers.

But Huang Rang, carrying this bowl of sweet soup, did not return to her own room.

She went to knock on Xie Hongchen’s door.

Di Yiqiu’s expression slowly darkened. Seeing this, Li Lu quickly said: “Miss Ah Rang is Sect Master Xie’s disciple. A disciple showing filial respect to her master, no need to mind.”

Di Yiqiu hummed in acknowledgment, but the person had walked away from the window.

The person had walked away, yet his gaze still couldn’t help glancing outside the window.

Huang Rang knocked twice. The door opened.

Xie Hongchen was there. Of course he was there. Huang Rang knew when he would return.

Huang Rang carried the sweet soup inside, saying: “Master has worked hard today. Have a mouthful of soup to moisten your throat before going out again.”

When Xie Hongchen was together with the various sect leaders and masters, naturally he could not avoid wine and rich foods.

He himself didn’t much like them, so he couldn’t eat much either.

Now looking at this sweet soup, with its fragrance wafting over, naturally he had some appetite.

“I didn’t expect you could also cook.” He sat down at the table, wearing freshly changed clothes. His garments had no incense; his body only carried an extremely cold and crisp aura.

Huang Rang brought the sweet soup before him. The door naturally was not closed.

A man and woman alone together in one room—if the door was closed, it would be hard to explain clearly.

She smiled and said: “Master underestimates this disciple. When it comes to cooking skill, this disciple has also practiced.”

—Right at Prayer Dew Platform, practiced for a hundred years. As Huang Rang spoke, she ladled the sweet dumplings into a small bowl.

Xie Hongchen watched her movements and only felt warmth and familiarity. As if there had once been countless days and nights when she spoke with warm and gentle words while dividing food for him.

Huang Rang brought the ladled sweet soup before him, not forgetting to add a silver spoon.

Xie Hongchen paused slightly and said: “You should have some as well.”

“All right.” Huang Rang did not refuse and sat facing him.

Xie Hongchen scooped up a sweet dumpling and slowly put it in his mouth.

This thing suited his taste very well. After entering his stomach, his lungs and organs felt warmly sweet.

Xie Hongchen ate several more.

Huang Rang was about to ladle more for him when Xie Hongchen stood up and said: “No need. Your master must go out for a bit. Go back to your room and rest.”

He tried hard to maintain the safe distance between master and disciple.

Huang Rang agreed, but then poured a cup of water for him to rinse his mouth.

Xie Hongchen casually accepted it, like countless times of unspoken understanding.

Huang Rang collected the bowls and chopsticks and left on her own. Xie Hongchen stared at her back, listening to the footsteps gradually fade away.

Across the way, someone stared at all this with a cold expression.

Li Lu advised bitterly from the side: “Master Jianzheng, they are master and disciple, master and disciple! As the saying goes, a teacher for a day is a father for life. It’s inevitable that the two would be close.”

Master Jianzheng’s response was a cold snort.

He paced out gloomily and immediately saw a large yellow dog.

He immediately stepped forward in several strides and swiftly tied the sachet around the dog’s neck. Li Lu was full of question marks: “Master Jianzheng… what are you doing?”

Master Jianzheng’s expression was icy: “You asked why this seat has been carving this magical artifact day and night? To send via dog.”

He pointed at that yellow dog, then casually cast a small spell. The dog whimpered softly and turned to run away.

Li Lu: “…”

Huang Rang finished collecting the bowls and chopsticks and was just about to return to her room. Turning around, she actually saw a dog.

The dog was an ordinary large yellow dog, except around its neck was tied… a storage magical artifact.

These days, even dogs wear magical artifacts?!

And that yellow dog walked straight before her and sat down.

Huang Rang was greatly shocked and removed that magical artifact from the dog’s body.

That magical artifact was a gourd-shaped sachet, half jade and half gold thread, exquisitely designed, a work of divine craftsmanship. The hollow gourd could hold fragrance pills, very suitable for women to wear.

Huang Rang picked up the sachet and compared it at her waist. She truly couldn’t bear to put it down.

“This… is yours?” she asked that large yellow dog. “You’re not planning to give it to me, are you?”

That large yellow dog of course would not answer her. It wrinkled its nose and ran off.

This… a dog gave me a magical artifact?

Huang Rang gripped that gourd, utterly baffled.