Forcing the Aloof Master to Madness - Chapter 17 

In the book, the original female protagonist and Senior Sister Yunsha knew each other since childhood. When Shen Lezhi was around fifteen, she no longer wanted to be close to Wang Xi. The other party was cold and icy all over, and Shen Lezhi often received no response when speaking to her.

The child disliked the lack of satisfactory interaction, and having constantly experienced sickness, death, and pain, her mind matured much earlier than her peers. She no longer craved Wang Xi’s attention.

The Senior Sister Yunsha she met was the complete opposite of Wang Xi.

The gentle Senior Sister Yunsha pitied her pain and would specifically go down the mountain to bring her sweet candied fruit to eat. That was mundane food. Wang Xi forbade her from eating it, as Shen Lezhi’s body was already weak, and mundane miscellaneous items held no benefit for her whatsoever.

But having tasted too many bitter things, upon trying sweetness for the first time, she couldn’t help but secretly eat it. She was caught once, and Wang Xi did not lecture her.

Wang Xi never lectured her, nor did she punish or pressure her. She merely took the candy away and destroyed all of it right in front of her.

Shen Lezhi would forever remember Wang Xi’s cold, dark eyes at that time, gazing at her as if seeing her as a lifeless object.

Shen Lezhi clearly remembered the original book’s description of the original female protagonist’s hatred for Wang Xi. Because a colleague was extremely biased toward Wang Xi, she would often share this kind of content with Shen Lezhi, inevitably following it up with the comment that the original female protagonist was an ungrateful wretch who couldn’t be raised properly.

Shen Lezhi thought that the colleague only found a legitimate reason to curse her because the original female protagonist shared her name…

As for Senior Sister Yunsha, who was mentioned by the colleague in passing, Shen Lezhi’s impression was that the original female protagonist had a one-sided crush early on. Only after Wang Xi was framed and consequently fell into daemonization did the original female protagonist take the opportunity to pretend sadness and grief, developing a more intimate relationship with Senior Sister Yunsha.

Quite a scumbag, really.

Shen Lezhi was speechless, thinking that the original female protagonist was also having a secret relationship with Wang Xi early on.

However, Shen Lezhi wasn’t here to fall in love; she was just here to ask Senior Sister Yunsha for help.

“Lezhi, how has your health been recently? I heard the Glimmering Moon Immortal Venerable gave you her heart. Your complexion looks much better now.” Not many people knew about this, but Senior Sister Yunsha was the best of the younger generation in the Xuan-Yu Sect, being groomed to become the Peak Master of Talisman Peak, and she was Feng Nianzhen’s disciple. She naturally knew more about some matters than others.

“I am much better now,” Shen Lezhi replied.

“The Glimmering Moon Immortal Venerable is still so doting on you,” Senior Sister Yunsha sighed with admiration.

Shen Lezhi’s eyebrow twitched at this “doting.” This “doting” was far more than just surface affection.

Shen Lezhi immediately thought of Wang Xi kneading her into her arms, pressing so close, and lowering her head to kiss her.

Her face flushed at the thought, and it was Senior Sister Yunsha who noticed her strange expression and called her back.

Shen Lezhi’s face turned even redder now.

When others talked about their illicit relationship as Master and Disciple, it truly made her feel awkward.

“Cough, cough.” To prevent herself from falling into any more strange memories, Shen Lezhi lightly cleared her throat and went straight to the purpose of her visit.

“I would like to ask Senior Sister Yunsha to create Fire Talismans and Wind Talismans.” Compared to her cultivation, Senior Sister Yunsha’s talent for talismans was even more astonishing; with a Foundation Establishment cultivation, she could create talismans with power comparable to the Golden Core stage. “I can provide the materials needed to create the talismans and pay Senior Sister with spiritual stones.”

If her experiment could succeed, Shen Lezhi wanted to cooperate with Senior Sister Yunsha long-term. Talismans were consumables, and she could try to exchange refined pills for them.

However, since nothing had been implemented yet, Shen Lezhi didn’t want to make empty promises.

Fortunately, Senior Sister Yunsha didn’t ask many questions and simply agreed to her request, refusing to accept her spiritual stones.

Shen Lezhi was not the original female protagonist and felt no personal affection for Senior Sister Yunsha. This matter was purely a transaction, and she ultimately forced the other party to accept the spiritual stones.

“Lezhi, be more intimate with the Glimmering Moon Immortal Venerable,” Shen Lezhi heard Senior Sister Yunsha’s advice as she was leaving.

She paused for a step, then continued walking.

Confusion wrapped around her heart. She didn’t understand why the other party would say that. But Shen Lezhi couldn’t be bothered to dwell on it. Shen Lezhi only knew she and Wang Xi were already too intimate!

Having settled the matter of the talismans, Shen Lezhi went straight to Artifact Refining Peak to ask the cultivators there to build her a set of equipment resembling a gas stove.

Shen Lezhi was not involved in this field in the modern world and couldn’t perfectly replicate it, so she could only draw the blueprint from memory. After handing it over to the Artifact Refining Peak cultivator, she explained her requirements and the purpose of the item in meticulous detail.

Fortunately, the apparatus she required did not need to be attached with strong spiritual energy; as long as the dimensions were precise, it could achieve what she envisioned.

The vessels used by Medicinal Herb Peak cultivators for alchemy were traditional cauldrons. Shen Lezhi felt the cauldron shape was unsuitable for placing on a gas stove. She bought one and took it back to Artifact Refining Peak for modification, finally managing to flatten the bottom to make it easier to place on the “gas stove.”

The growth cycle of the Fierce Scarlet Leaf and White Ice Grass was not long. She had already learned this from the 《Spiritual Plant Cultivation Manual》. Since everything else required waiting, Shen Lezhi only bought a few portions of the materials for Senior Sister Yunsha to refine first.

Fierce Scarlet Leaf and White Ice Grass both had extremely extreme habits. Fierce Scarlet Leaf needed to be planted in great heat, while White Ice Grass required extremely cold conditions.

The so-called great heat, Shen Lezhi estimated, should be around forty degrees Celsius. As for the extremely cold place, Linglong Peak, where Wang Xi resided, was perfectly suited.

But the current temperature was moderate; it couldn’t possibly reach the high temperature of forty degrees. So, Shen Lezhi went to consult Senior Sister Qi again.

“A cavern facing north on Medicinal Herb Peak is specifically for growing spiritual plants that require scorching heat. Disciples of the Xuan-Yu Sect can rent plots of land inside for cultivation. The price of renting can be paid either with spiritual stones or with mature spiritual plants.”

Senior Sister Qi kindly led Shen Lezhi into the cavern. The entrance of the cavern was three meters high. The temperature was normal at the entrance, but one step inside, the temperature sharply rose, and a wave of heat rushed forward.

Shen Lezhi hadn’t adjusted yet, and Senior Sister Qi casually cast a cooling spell on her, allowing her to recover.

The scene inside the cavern was even more astonishing to Shen Lezhi: the soil was dark red and black, and upon closer inspection, there were faint blue lines running through it. Stepping on the ground, she could feel the soil was loose but not overly sinking, making it very suitable for planting.

Every so often, there were hot springs of various sizes, though likely too hot for people; the water was bubbling hot. Shen Lezhi could feel the scorching temperature rushing at her just by walking closer.

“This place is isolated by a formation. The ground is covered with the lines of the formation. The unique topography and temperature were forcibly preserved by the sect’s ancestors, and it was later given to Medicinal Herb Peak for cultivating spiritual plants,” Senior Sister Qi explained to Shen Lezhi.

Under Senior Sister Qi’s guidance, Shen Lezhi rented a plot of land and immediately planted the Fierce Scarlet Leaf. The Fierce Scarlet Leaf required a large amount of water, and since Shen Lezhi hadn’t learned to control water or conjure rain yet, she could only fetch Spiritual Spring Water for irrigation.

Fortunately, this area was right next to Medicinal Herb Peak, not far from the Spiritual Spring Water.

Having taken care of the Fierce Scarlet Leaf, the next step was planting the White Ice Grass.

Shen Lezhi was not scheduled to learn spells from Wang Xi today, but since it was still early, she decided to go and ask Wang Xi to allocate a piece of land to her for planting spiritual plants.

When she reached Linglong Peak this time, Wang Xi was not in her cave residence. Shen Lezhi searched around and couldn’t find anyone until she spotted the figure standing rigidly at the peak in the distance, immediately knowing it was Wang Xi.

“Disciple requests an audience with Master,” Shen Lezhi shouted loudly.

The peak was not far from Wang Xi’s cave residence; Wang Xi would definitely hear Shen Lezhi’s voice.

Furthermore, with the other party’s cultivation, her spiritual consciousness must already cover Linglong Peak. Wang Xi should have detected Shen Lezhi when she reached the foot of the mountain.

After speaking, Shen Lezhi looked up at the figure, only to see the distant figure summon her sword. She rose into the air and, with a flip, stepped onto the sword’s body.

In just a few breaths, Wang Xi had arrived before Shen Lezhi via Sword Riding.

Shen Lezhi only saw the other party’s ink-black hair flying, her robes fluttering, looking utterly dashing.

This Sword Riding flight was too cool!

Shen Lezhi’s eyes were filled with pure envy, which was then followed by a hint of resentment.

Why wouldn’t Wang Xi teach her!