Wanxi Rebirth - Chapter 53

“Ah! We haven’t seen each other for just one afternoon, and it’s already come to this?!”

When Yue Tingxi carried Qin Suliu to find Chan Ying for treatment, they happened to run into Luo Yansha helping out in the orchard.

Even after using a purification spell to remove the blood on them, their state still startled Luo Yansha.

“You say it was just sparring, but I clearly saw a life-or-death fight,” Chan Ying said, glaring at Yue Tingxi. “What were you doing fighting outside with the little one?! Didn’t you have the Mustard Seed Ice Wheel?!”

“Sorry, it was my request,” Qin Suliu explained with effort before Yue Tingxi could respond. “I was trying to break a bad habit in my techniques. No matter how I practiced with Tingxi in the illusion, I was still a step short. I thought perhaps only in life-threatening reality could I make real progress…”

“Don’t do that again. What if one of you lost control and actually killed the other?” Chan Ying frowned as she manipulated wood spirit energy, then looked at Yue Tingxi. “You too! You’ve spoiled her for twenty years! You really mustn’t keep hurting each other like this!”

Yue Tingxi quickly agreed, thinking that since she and the young lady had already clarified things and the other party had agreed, this kind of incident shouldn’t happen again.

If it weren’t for the fact that both her and Qin Suliu’s medical skills couldn’t fully heal their injuries in a short time, they would have had to take pills and rest in their cave or a spirit spring after the fight.

Luo Yansha knew nothing about medicine, so she could only help Chan Ying with chores and peel fruit for them.

However, when she handed a plate of fruit to Yue Tingxi, her gaze was particularly complex.

Yue Tingxi strangely understood: You actually dared to beat up your benefactor like this?!

It wasn’t what she intended at all. If they hadn’t fought, the young lady might have continued “demanding revenge,” so it was better to have a proper fight while nothing major happened, and settle things thoroughly.

After the fight, Yue Tingxi did feel much more at ease, though she still wondered how the young lady felt.

Yue Tingxi herself had barely any injuries. When she went all out, she would attach water spirit energy under her skin and scales, which could buffer any attack to some degree.

Chan Ying scowled again and muttered, “No cultivation, you must accompany her,” then gave her diagnosis of the young lady’s injuries: “At least three days of rest. And for these three days, no training in the Mustard Seed Ice Wheel!”

Worried they might misbehave after returning, she added, “Yansha and I will check on you every day!”

Qin Suliu spoke up this time, “It’s unnecessary to go that far…”

“That won’t do! You’re human; your body is weak, and there’s a Shuohan Flower sealed in your dantian. If it notices you’re weak, it could strike back! Rest properly! Understand?” Chan Ying said sternly.

On the way back to the cave, Yue Tingxi transformed into a giant snake, carrying Qin Suliu on her back and using water spirit energy bands to secure her.

“Sorry, my recklessness delayed your cultivation,” Qin Suliu said softly once they were out of Chan Ying’s sight.

“It’s okay. I really have been overdoing it these past few days,” Yue Tingxi shook her head. “Both day and night, hardly resting. Otherwise, the mountain elder wouldn’t have reminded me to balance work and rest.”

Feeling that the young lady wanted to say more, Yue Tingxi spoke first, “Don’t overthink it. I’ll meditate these few days and try to understand the Spirit of the Salvation Scale.”

“I can have the Gray Moth assist you, if you like,” Qin Suliu offered. “Delegating to the Gray Moth won’t consume much.”

Yue Tingxi didn’t agree, instead returning to the cave as fast as possible, arranging Qin Suliu comfortably before asking, “I’ve long wanted to ask: how did you get this Gray Moth? Did you make some pact with the World Consciousness?”

Seeing the surprise in the young lady’s eyes, she patiently explained, “In my past life, after I died, I went to a space filled with dark golden characters. I only learned some truths there. Having just died horribly, I threw a tantrum and then returned to the wedding night.”

“Other than those truths, I gained nothing. But you now have this Gray Moth, and we already know it’s a messenger of the World Consciousness,” Yue Tingxi continued. “No powerful force gives its power casually. To get the Gray Moth’s help, you must fulfill certain promises and follow rules—otherwise, why would the World Consciousness lend its power to you? Why trust you not to misuse it?”

“I never promised to harm humans or monsters,” Qin Suliu said quietly.

“Then what about promises to harm yourself?” Yue Tingxi asked immediately.

“I haven’t. I only promised to do what I could, but that doesn’t mean I must sacrifice myself,” Qin Suliu shook her head with a smile.

Half-convinced, Yue Tingxi stopped asking further. If this truly involved a pact with the World Consciousness, it was like the Salvation Scale—without reaching a certain level or the right time, even asking in depth wouldn’t change much.

Having just gone through the life-or-death sparring, she realized the young lady’s understanding was somewhat warped.

—In the past life, Yue Tingxi would have been eager to see Qin Suliu clash with Lan Zhaoyao to mutual destruction. Now, she only wanted the young lady to live and avoid repeating the past.

Thanks to Chan Ying’s strictness, Yue Tingxi had a chance to observe her more closely while caring for her.

For now, they only needed rest. Yue Tingxi sat beside Qin Suliu, pretending to study the Spirit of the Salvation Scale while keeping her attention on the young lady.

Even though she hadn’t allowed the Gray Moth to assist, it remained perched on her shoulder, occasionally grooming its whiskers.

Yue Tingxi quietly observed until dusk, then started preparing dinner. Qin Suliu tried to help but was blocked by a water barrier.

Glancing, Yue Tingxi saw the young lady sit on a nearby stool, watching her cook, and she unconsciously wanted to reach out and tousle her hair.

…No wonder the mountain elder always called her a “little liar” and “little fox spirit.” The young lady only needed to sit there, and Yue Tingxi’s heart felt warm.

Considering the young lady was injured, Yue Tingxi killed a fish, simmered it in a small pot with tofu, and made a rich soup.

Even the fiercest fish head produced milky white, fragrant soup. Yue Tingxi, smelling it, couldn’t help swallowing. She cooled the soup slightly with water spirit energy and drank it in one go, thinking: I don’t care, I just want to taste this human delicacy.

Soon, the fish soup and vegetables were served.

“Can you hold the chopsticks? Do you need help?” Yue Tingxi asked as she sat down.

The young lady’s arms were fragile despite Chan Ying’s treatment.

“No…”

“Fine, I’ll pick the bones for you,” Yue Tingxi said, starting to carefully remove the bones from the fish.

This had happened twenty years ago as well.

At that time, “A Zi” had injured her leg and couldn’t manage the bones; Yue Tingxi helped her eat more to recover faster.

Luckily, the fish only had large bones, so the white meat quickly piled up in Qin Suliu’s bowl.

“Want the foot?” Yue Tingxi asked, holding up a fish foot. “If not, I’ll eat it.”

She had been disgusted by the fish foot until hearing Lan Fengqing’s words: A crab has eight legs; it’s all edible. She hadn’t tasted it yet but found it appealing.

Seeing Qin Suliu shake her head, she ate the foot herself.

…This meal was perhaps the most enjoyable she had ever had.

After dinner, Yue Tingxi cleaned the dishes and asked, “Where will you cultivate next?”

Then she realized the young lady was injured. Even though Chan Ying hadn’t prohibited dual cultivation, training in the Mustard Seed Ice Wheel was banned, so dual cultivation was likely also forbidden.

“The spirit spring,” Qin Suliu replied casually.

“You can’t cultivate, remember the medical advice,” Yue Tingxi reminded her. “But soaking in the spirit spring helps your injuries heal. Once I finish the dishes, I’ll take you.”

“You can cultivate,” Qin Suliu insisted, even flipping through Qin Family books.

Yue Tingxi was speechless. She soaked the utensils in the pool and used water spirit energy to clean them, then came over to read.

“…If you had told me dual cultivation could heal, I wouldn’t have gone to Chan Ying!” she muttered.

Qin Suliu stayed silent for a few seconds, then softened her voice: “I didn’t expect you to agree.”

“You opened your mouth; you must speak!” Yue Tingxi pinched her cheeks. Even though she had grown up, her face was still soft and squishy.

Seeing her lower her gaze and obey, Yue Tingxi hesitated, then pinched the other cheek too.

“I’ll memorize the spell, then take you to the spirit spring to heal,” she said.

In the Mustard Seed Ice Wheel, the Salvation Scale lazily advised, “You should let the young ones handle things themselves; don’t interfere.”

The Jade Cabbage spirit wrapped a ribbon around the mountain elder to prevent her spirit from leaving.

“Your ‘Jade Cabbage’ is kind, not foolish. Besides, who said to let go of prejudice?”

The mountain elder struggled, watching them leave the Ice Wheel and head to the spirit spring for dual cultivation.

Unable to stop them, she turned to pester the Salvation Scale: “What conditions do you think that little fox promised the World Consciousness?”

“I don’t know; I stayed in the Mystic Water Realm,” the Salvation Scale replied calmly.

“You sound resentful,” the mountain elder teased.

“I have no complaints. Guarding the Mystic Water Realm is my choice,” the Salvation Scale said seriously. “If anything, I feel a bit sorry for Her.”

“…”

“Truthfully, you only need adequate cultivation. Their karmic entanglements mean only they can use cause-and-effect and law energy. All that’s missing is cultivation. Even if Tingxi knows nothing, I must entrust this power to her.”

“As for you, mountain lord, you will have other burdens. The stronger you are, the fewer worries they have.”

“Whatever riddles you’re speaking, if this ends and they don’t return complete…” The mountain elder didn’t finish her threat.

Even at Tribulation and Great Vehicle stages, they were far from being able to oppose true divine relics.

In the spirit spring, Qin Suliu felt her spirit energy naturally drawn from the Shuohan Flower to her injuries, stitching them like threads.

Though painful, she was used to such pain, and with Yue Tingxi’s presence, it was not difficult.

Unfortunately, Yue Tingxi was overly cautious, unlike her usual natural self.

Still, she cultivated without falling behind.

Her scales brushed against Yue Tingxi’s feet as she refined fire spirit energy.

The dual cultivation absorbed exactly as much spirit energy from the Shuohan Flower as she needed.

Late at night, she realized, “My Nascent Soul… seems different?”

Yue Tingxi, half-asleep, was startled: “Different? Let me see!”

She touched Qin Suliu’s dantian and noticed a water-spirit-colored phantom of her energy.

“Indeed, you’ve advanced to late Nascent Soul!” Yue Tingxi said with satisfaction.

This breakthrough wasn’t surprising; Qin Suliu already had mid-Nascent Soul cultivation, never slacked off, and now had constant pure fire spirit energy from the out-of-body Shuohan Flower.

While she spoke, Yue Tingxi didn’t withdraw her water spirit energy.

Qin Suliu suppressed soft murmurs, nodded, and gazed at the fading stars, imagining the possibility of passing the Out-of-Body Tribulation with Yue Tingxi.

Though nearly impossible, she was confident her progress hadn’t been wasted.

Before sunrise, they left the spirit spring. Qin Suliu, previously carried on Yue Tingxi’s back, could now walk alongside her, senses sharper, mind clearer. She even heard the Gray Moth grooming itself.

Her pact with the World Consciousness, though not explicitly self-sacrificial, still carried risk. She had promised to become a piece on its chessboard at the right time.

A blade drawn must shed blood.

But she agreed.

Back then, she didn’t expect to reconnect with Yue Tingxi.

Intruders’ tools were erased by higher powers. Perhaps in this new life, Yue Tingxi wouldn’t be taken by intruders and could continue her peaceful cultivation in Xi Shan.

Yet fate brought them together again.

She remained determined to survive after “the blade is drawn.” Qin Family still thrived; her mother, sister, and relatives were fine. Yue Tingxi wanted her to live, to atone for a lifetime of sins.

As Yue Tingxi expected, within half an hour of returning, someone knocked on the cave door. Chan Ying barged in to inspect.

Qin Suliu, feigning sleep, sensed Luo Yansha waiting outside. Chan Ying was truly Yue Tingxi’s old friend; Luo Yansha was merely a close outsider.

“Chan Ying, your medical skills are excellent; the young lady recovered overnight. See for yourself,” Yue Tingxi said confidently, guiding her to the bed.

Chan Ying scanned them and grew increasingly suspicious.

“You two… practiced dual cultivation?!”

Pulling Yue Tingxi behind a screen, she revealed a barrier and stared.

“That was the best way to suppress the Shuohan Flower…” Yue Tingxi explained, sensing a shift in the aura. “The young lady suggested it…”

“You pampered her again!” Chan Ying interrupted. “I said you like bright-colored little girls as a joke, but you actually like her?!”

Yue Tingxi coughed awkwardly. “But I really only practiced with her; I won’t do this with anyone else…”

“You dare say that! Shouldn’t it be obvious?!” Chan Ying almost exploded. “Do you truly know your feelings, or just want to control the Shuohan Flower?”

“I… I think it’s the latter…”

“You treat dual cultivation like eating or drinking, don’t you?!” Chan Ying scowled. “You’ve read my books; you should understand human subtlety. Do you realize what dual cultivation means for humans?”

“Means… trust, maybe marriage, faster cultivation…” Yue Tingxi stammered.

“That’s it? That’s all?” Chan Ying sighed. “You practiced before marriage. What kind of thing is this?!”

Yue Tingxi fell silent, unable even to shake her head.

“I see her in that red dress, still elegant. Yansha said Qin Family’s status is high, so she is a deeply favored young lady. Do her relatives know about your dual cultivation?”

“Probably not…” Yue Tingxi felt cold sweat. “But the dual cultivation manuals we’re using are borrowed from the Qin Family…”

Chan Ying sighed heavily.

“What will you do next?” she asked. “I know your nature: whether you like her or not, having practiced, you’ll take responsibility for life. But love must be mutual. Otherwise, all experiences may end in separation.”

“Excessive indulgence, like you promised her, is spoiling, not love. From her view, there’s a wall between you; she does what she wants, and you’re unaware.”

“You mean… I should learn to love her?” Yue Tingxi searched her words for key hints.

Seeing Chan Ying nod emphatically, she pondered.

She could vaguely sense the young lady’s feelings from stories, but didn’t know how to respond. She intended to learn, but something blocked her.

Perhaps she was too slow-witted, or hadn’t thought deeply enough.

After recalling Chan Ying’s words, she shook her head. “I think… I don’t need to learn to love her.”

—No need to learn. All the actions that could be called “love,” she was already doing.

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