When the Immortal Venerable Picked-Up the Demon Cub - Chapter 23

“I know you hate taking medicine, but this is ridiculous,” Lin Xiayan said, her tone dismissive as she sat at the small red sandalwood table beside the bed. The table was exquisitely crafted, and a plate of fruit sat on it. Even in the dead of winter, when fruit was scarce, Lin Xiayan always managed to obtain what others couldn’t.

Zhu Ning watched Lin Xiayan peel an apple, her face twisted in a grimace. The peel came off in one continuous spiral, falling beside her feet. The delicate tips of her shoes were adorned with pearls, matching the pearl necklace she wore.

“What are you staring at? Drink your medicine,” Lin Xiayan said, her tone scolding. She took a crisp bite of the apple, savoring each bite with obvious relish.

Zhu Ning’s gaze shifted back to the bowl of dark, bitter-smelling Chinese medicine. She wanted to sigh in despair, but the persistent ache in her chest forced her to pick up the bowl. After only a few sips, a wave of nausea washed over her, the pungent medicinal aroma filling her nostrils.

Noticing Zhu Ning’s distress, Lin Xiayan tossed the apple onto the table and rushed over, wrapping an arm around Zhu Ning’s shoulders. She patted her back gently but firmly. After a few strokes, Zhu Ning vomited the bitter medicine into the chamber pot. She hadn’t eaten much in days, so the dark liquid seemed pitifully small.

Nothing came up.

The retching jolted every wound in her body. Tears of pain welled in Zhu Ning’s eyes, mingling with the bitterness of being trapped in this book. She lay against the headboard, sobbing silently, her emotions swinging wildly between despair and sudden resolve.

For days, Zhu Ning had felt like a duck being rushed to market, inexplicably thrust into this book and forced to navigate the treacherous currents between the villain, the Female Protagonist, and Yue Qing. All while maintaining the dignified facade of the Immortal Venerable Sect Leader of Yun Cang Mountain.

But Zhu Ning wasn’t the “Zhu Ning” she was supposed to be. She shouldn’t have to endure this. Lin Xiayan had been wondering why Zhu Ning had suddenly vomited, but her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Zhu Ning’s trembling body.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Xiayan’s throat tightened, as if even speaking the words required effort. Zhu Ning didn’t answer, her tears soaking Lin Xiayan’s sleeve. But the violent sobbing brought a searing pain to her chest, forcing her to stop. Only her tear-streaked face remained, a sight that tugged at the heart.

Resentful Energy pierced her like a blade. The movement had reopened Zhu Ning’s wounds, dark red blood staining her inner robe like a blooming flower, the stain spreading slowly.

Lin Xiayan grew anxious. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Your wound hasn’t healed yet. Crying too hard will make it worse.” She cast a spell to temporarily stop the bleeding, but her magical power was limited. Even she couldn’t guarantee she could maintain the spell until the wound healed completely.

The only solution was to calm Zhu Ning down first.

Zhu Ning wasn’t one to cry endlessly. She quickly regained her composure, though tears still lingered at the corners of her eyes, replaced by a numbness toward life.

When Lin Xiayan met her gaze, she was startled. Beyond the captivating curve of Zhu Ning’s eyes lay a chilling calm and apathy, as if she had seen through life and death itself.

In that moment, Lin Xiayan felt an overwhelming urge to protect Zhu Ning and to uncover the past that had shaped her into this.

As soon as Zhu Ning stopped sobbing, the bleeding ceased. Lin Xiayan slowly withdrew her magical power and handed Zhu Ning a gauze pad to apply medicine herself. She turned away, choosing not to watch Zhu Ning change clothes.

Zhu Ning’s movements were severely restricted. She slowly removed her inner robe, revealing the gruesome wound on her chest against her milk-white skin. As she examined the wound, she noticed that while her original body appeared frail, it was surprisingly well-endowed in all the right places.

Lost in thought, Lin Xiayan didn’t notice the silence stretching on. Growing worried by Zhu Ning’s earlier strange behavior, she quickly turned around to check on her.

Her eyes met Zhu Ning’s panicked gaze. A wave of shame and anger flooded Zhu Ning’s face, turning it crimson. Her slender fingers pointed at Lin Xiayan as she stammered, “Turn around!” But the shout tugged at her wound, and Zhu Ning, forgetting her embarrassment, pressed a hand weakly against the injury, too weak to even search for something to cover herself.

Flustered and awkward, Lin Xiayan immediately turned away, using her magic to protect Zhu Ning’s wound. Though a small gesture, it warmed Zhu Ning’s heart. Even as pain drained the color from her face, a faint smile touched her lips.

After bandaging the wound, Zhu Ning put her bloodstained inner robe back on and called out crisply, “You can turn around now.”

Lin Xiayan finally turned back, her face still flushed with embarrassment. Seeing Zhu Ning leaning weakly against the pillows, her mood soured. The room reeked of bitter Chinese medicine, making her frown as she sat down to peel a fresh apple.

Zhu Ning looked at her cautiously, like a child who had done something wrong. Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, yet she wore such an adorable expression. Lin Xiayan glanced at her and immediately relaxed her frown, offering the apple.

“Huh? You’re not going to eat any?” Zhu Ning was taken aback.

Lin Xiayan’s face darkened, as if she were at her wit’s end. “It’s for Master, the old lady.”

Zhu Ning burst into laughter, then obediently opened her mouth and ate a slice of apple.

The apple’s crisp fragrance slowly melted on her tongue, finally easing the bitter taste of the medicine, though it still made her wrinkle her nose.

The bowl of medicine, only half-finished, remained untouched. Zhu Ning’s wound still throbbed painfully. Lin Xiayan looked at her with concern, realizing for the first time how difficult it was to make someone take medicine.

Zhu Ning reached for a piece of jujube cake and popped it into her mouth. The sweet, cloying flavor instantly spread through her mouth, washing away the bitter taste of the medicine. With a look of grim determination, she picked up the bowl and began gulping down the remaining liquid without hesitation.

Lin Xiayan’s eyes widened as she watched Zhu Ning’s pale face gradually flush crimson. It seemed Zhu Ning had drunk too quickly and was desperately holding back from spitting it out. Only after swallowing every last drop did she gasp for breath, immediately stuffing more jujube cakes into her mouth.

The violent movements left Zhu Ning leaning against the headboard, afraid to move her wound. Yet even several jujube cakes couldn’t mask the bitter taste lingering in her mouth. Her beautiful face twisted into a grimace, a sight that would tug at anyone’s heartstrings.

Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door of Mùdōng Courtyard. Zhu Ning was too weak to care. She closed her eyes, determined to ignore the visitor. But no matter how hard she tried to block it out, she still heard the Female Protagonist’s clear, crisp voice from outside. Lin Xiayan glanced at Zhu Ning, as if waiting for instructions.

“Revert to your usual form and open the door,” Zhu Ning said softly.

Despite receiving the order, Lin Xiayan moved with deliberate slowness. Only when she cracked the door open a sliver did she transform back into her little girl form.

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