After Cutting Off Love And Emotions, I Was Pestered By The Demon Sect’s Enchantress - Chapter 14

Zhuoyan Mountain Range (IV)

Zhiruo withdrew her hand, her expression grave. “Miss A-Xu’s pulse is very strange. Has she been practicing many different types of techniques, all mixed together?”

Zhu Shengxi pondered for a moment. “As for that, I am not entirely sure.”

Zhiruo spoke slowly. “Some of the techniques she practices seem to be mutually exclusive, yet for some reason, they maintain a delicate balance within her body. I suspect her sudden collapse was caused by overusing a certain type of technique, which rendered her unable to suppress another conflicting power.”

Overusing a certain technique… Zhu Shengxi thought of how, every time the Cold Poison flared up, A-Xu would always use fire-attribute techniques. Could she have fainted because of that?

Zhiruo rose slowly. “Miss Zhu, please look after her for a while. I will go and prepare a medicinal decoction.”

Zhu Shengxi hummed in affirmation. After Zhiruo stepped out, she took a neatly folded handkerchief from her robe and placed it beside A-Xu.

Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, her wrist was suddenly gripped tightly. Zhu Shengxi’s heart jumped in surprise, but she found that the person on the bed had not woken up; she was merely frowning deeply.

A-Xu’s eyes remained shut, her face appearing lost and pained as she muttered something under her breath. Zhu Shengxi tried to pull away, but the strength the other woman possessed at this moment was unexpectedly immense; she actually couldn’t break free.

Zhu Shengxi looked down at A-Xu, allowing her to keep hold of her wrist.

Forcefully breaking free might injure her. Forget it.

Sweat poured down, dampening the hair at A-Xu’s temples. Zhu Shengxi watched her for a long while before leaning in slightly, wanting to hear what she was murmuring.

Unexpectedly, A-Xu suddenly snapped her eyes open. The moment their gazes met, Zhu Shengxi froze.

A-Xu’s eyes were currently filled with a sense of cold indifference. Even more terrifying was the color of her pupils—those clear eyes that were usually distinct in black and white were now a blood-red.

A-Xu clearly saw the shock in her eyes and immediately realized what had happened. She lowered her head defensively, her tone icy. “Why are you here?”

Zhu Shengxi replied, “Miss Zhiruo went to prepare a prescription for you and asked me to watch over you.”

“Not necessary.” The cold tone was a stark contrast to her usual banter and joking.

Noticing that the other hadn’t left yet, A-Xu knitted her brows. “Are you still not going out?”

Zhu Shengxi pointed at her hand. “Let go of me first.”

Hearing this, A-Xu looked down. Her hand was indeed gripping the other’s wrist. A flash of consternation crossed her eyes, and she immediately let go.

The originally fair wrist now bore a red ring, showing just how great the force had been.

A-Xu’s lips moved, but she said nothing. After a moment, she partially lowered her eyelids and said, “Go out.”

Zhu Shengxi pointed at the head of the bed and said calmly, “I washed the handkerchief. Returning it to you.”

A-Xu followed the direction of her finger and saw the neatly folded white handkerchief sitting there.

Seeing that she had noticed the handkerchief, Zhu Shengxi turned to leave. She had only taken one step when her hem was pulled.

Zhu Shengxi frowned slightly and looked at A-Xu, confused.

Wasn’t she just in a hurry to make me leave? What does pulling me back now mean?

A-Xu’s face was exceptionally calm as she asked, “Did you see it clearly just now?”

“See what?” Zhu Shengxi asked back impassively.

A-Xu’s hand tightened silently as she stared at Zhu Shengxi without blinking, trying to detect any other emotion in her eyes.

But there was nothing. Zhu Shengxi’s gaze was calm and deep, like a still pond.

The two of them—one standing, one leaning against the headboard—faced off in silence.

A-Xu’s gaze darkened. She was just about to speak when Yue Xu entered carrying a bowl of medicinal soup. Seeing that A-Xu was awake, she handed the soup directly to her. “Miss A-Xu, my sister prepared this medicine after checking your pulse. It’s beneficial for nourishing spiritual energy.”

A-Xu took the bowl and drank it without a change in expression, offering a word of thanks.

Her movements were so crisp and decisive that Yue Xu said in surprise, “Is Miss A-Xu not afraid of bitterness? There is Bitter Lotus added to that.”

A-Xu gave a faint smile. “I have studied medicine since childhood and have tasted many herbs far more bitter than this.”

Yue Xu understood. “I see. Then Miss A-Xu should rest well. I won’t disturb… you two.” Her gaze shifted between them, her voice trailing off hesitantly.

Zhu Shengxi said nothing and stepped out of the room.

Once both of them had left, A-Xu climbed down from the bed. She stumbled and gripped the edge of the table, picking up the bronze mirror sitting there.

Reflected in the mirror was a pair of eyes, clear in black and white, with nothing unusual about them. A-Xu stared quietly for a long time before flipping the mirror face-down on the table.

Steam rose from the tea in thin curls. Zhiruo rubbed the rim of her cup and asked softly, “Miss Zhu, you and Miss A-Xu aren’t friends, are you?”

Zhu Shengxi asked, “Why do you say that?”

Zhiruo smiled but replied, “Just a guess. The way you interact doesn’t seem like friendship.”

Indeed, it didn’t. That person always loved to say strange things just to make her angry; “at loggerheads” would be a better description for them.

“You aren’t friends, but Miss A-Xu seems to care about you a great deal.”

Hearing this, Zhu Shengxi was stunned.

Care? She only helped remove the Cold Poison because of a promise, right?

Zhu Shengxi didn’t want to discuss this further and changed the subject. “Miss Zhiruo, was the person who came to find you back then Sect Leader Tan of the Kunchen Sect?”

Zhiruo nodded. “Yes. She said her beloved disciple had been framed and struck by a Love Ghost, and she hoped I could find a way to suppress it.”

“However, that Young Sect Leader has practiced the Path of Emotionlessness for years. She would never have suffered such a rapid drop in cultivation just because of a mere Love Ghost.”

Hearing her say this, Zhu Shengxi asked curiously, “Then what was the reason?”

Zhiruo swirled her teacup and said cryptically, “That Young Sect Leader must have already harbored feelings for the one who planted the ghost. Coupled with the catalyst of the Love Ghost, her cultivation plummeted. There is a huge difference between being framed and actually falling in love oneself.”

Zhu Shengxi instantly understood her meaning. It seemed Sect Leader Tan knew the truth. Her prize disciple, who could have achieved the Great Dao, had fallen in love and lost her cultivation. Sect Leader Tan surely felt it would be a loss of face if word got out, so she searched for medicine while claiming her disciple had been framed.

Zhiruo sighed lightly. “The twists and turns within are numerous. The leaders of the three Great Immortal Sects are never simple characters.”

Zhu Shengxi asked, “I wonder what that Young Sect Leader thinks. Would she be willing to take the Ghost of Severed Emotions?”

“She has to take it whether she wants to or not. Those sanctimonious leaders of the righteous path have always used such methods.” A-Xu walked toward them, her tone laced with undisguised sarcasm.

Hearing her voice, Zhiruo asked warmly, “How are you feeling now, Miss A-Xu?”

“Thank you, I’m fine now,” A-Xu replied, then turned her gaze to Zhu Shengxi. “I have something to ask you.”

Zhu Shengxi glanced at her and followed her to a corner.

A-Xu cast a soundproofing spell. With her back to her, she said coldly, “Stop playing dumb. You saw it, didn’t you?”

Zhu Shengxi didn’t deny it. “Yes.”

A-Xu waited for her next words. Usually, when people saw the Blood Pupils, their subconscious reaction was disgust. Righteous cultivators like Zhu Shengxi would surely try to dress it up with some hypocritical remarks first.

No, wait. This person was a woman of few words; she wouldn’t use words to wound. She would probably just draw her sword and execute her on the spot.

After waiting for a long time, the person behind her remained silent. A-Xu couldn’t help but look back, meeting her indifferent gaze.

“Since you are fine, we will leave tomorrow.” An unexpected sentence—one that could even be considered disjointed. A-Xu didn’t react for a moment, standing there in a daze.

She stared fixedly at Zhu Shengxi, her lips moving slightly. “You’re not going to ask anything?”

Zhu Shengxi spoke plainly. “Miss Zhiruo said your fainting this time was because the power in your body momentarily lost its balance. In the future, do not rely solely on fire-attribute techniques.”

A-Xu gave a “tsk” and spoke directly. “I was born with Blood Pupils. Others say it is an omen of misfortune, that I am a jinx. You aren’t going to keep your distance?”

Zhu Shengxi looked her in the eye. “I don’t believe in talk of jinxes. Besides, your eye color is normal now.”

“When we were trapped in the formation, it was also your quick thinking that broke it.”

A-Xu let out a self-mocking laugh. “Those were just coincidences.”

After a pause, she added, “When I was little, I didn’t understand why the color of my eyes was sometimes different from others. Later, from the looks of disgust and terror from others, I learned these were the ill-omened Blood Pupils. No one wanted to be with me. Playmates who were close to me would turn on me the moment they found out I had Blood Pupils, calling me a freak.”

A-Xu lowered her eyes, a hint of dejection in her expression as she spoke.

Seeing her like this, a strange, unfamiliar emotion suddenly welled up in Zhu Shengxi’s heart—a bit stifling.

“Then, what about your family?”

A-Xu had said her home was in the Eastern Mysterious Region. Surely her family wouldn’t reject her.

To her surprise, A-Xu’s face stiffened. She then curled her lips into a strange smile and scoffed, “Family? They were the very first ones to avoid me like the plague.”

After a moment of silence, A-Xu sighed. “Ah, it’s useless telling you this. Fellow Daoist Zhu has practiced in the Guiyun Sect—one of the three Great Immortal Sects—for years. Your path has been smooth. Of your two senior sisters, one is now the Sect Leader of the Guiyun Sect, and the other is a master of medicine known as ‘The Healing Hand.’ You certainly wouldn’t understand the feeling of being despised.”

Zhu Shengxi remained silent. She truly hadn’t experienced it. Forget being despised—aside from the Sect Leader, no one in the sect dared to speak harshly to her.

Seeing the expression on the other’s face, A-Xu knew she was right. Her eyes shifted, and she suddenly lowered her head slightly, letting out a soft “hiss.”

Zhu Shengxi immediately looked at her. “What’s wrong?”

A-Xu narrowed her eyes and said, “My eyes hurt.”

“Could you blow on my eyes for me? Please?”

Her expression didn’t look like she was lying. However, such an intimate gesture…

Zhu Shengxi remained silent, a bit hesitant.

A-Xu said softly, “It really hurts. It might be because of the Blood Pupils. I don’t know why they appeared again today; usually, they only show up when my spiritual energy is extremely unstable.”

Hearing this, Zhu Shengxi recalled Zhiruo’s words about A-Xu’s unstable spiritual energy—which was exactly because A-Xu had overconsumed her energy to use fire-attribute techniques to remove the Cold Poison from her.

Zhu Shengxi lowered her gaze. After a long while, she finally sighed. “You… come closer.”

The corners of A-Xu’s lips curled up. She gave a soft “mm,” and the distance between them narrowed once again.

As she drew near, that familiar scent wafted over once more.

Zhu Shengxi composed herself and parted her lips slightly. A-Xu kept her eyes lowered, feeling the faint breeze against them, and quietly took hold of Zhu Shengxi’s sleeve.

Zhu Shengxi’s heart tightened, and she accidentally blew a bit too hard, seeing A-Xu’s eyelashes tremble.

The butterflies in the back mountains of the Guiyun Sect act just like this when startled… Zhu Shengxi couldn’t help but make the comparison.

“Is that better?”

A-Xu stared at the person before her without blinking, the smile on her lips deepening. “Thank you. Much better.”

She hadn’t realized before that this person was actually so soft-hearted.