When the Immortal Venerable Picked-Up the Demon Cub - Chapter 25

Zhu Ning immediately withdrew her spiritual sense, awkwardly looking at the bloodstain on her hand. Knowing she couldn’t hide it, she reluctantly pulled the Serpent Sword from her sleeve and offered an explanation.

Lin Xiayan paid no attention to the personal storage space. Instead, her gaze locked onto the Serpent Sword. The blade shimmered with a cold, serpentine light, like a living snake. As Zhu Ning’s slender, pale arm lowered, the sword seemed to possess its own consciousness, gliding onto Lin Xiayan’s arm.

“I don’t need Dharma Artifacts,” Lin Xiayan said, her tone unusually serious. “Don’t do this again.” She stared at the wound that had nearly damaged her divine consciousness, a wound that even magical techniques couldn’t heal.

Zhu Ning felt a searing pain in the wound, recoiling slightly. Her beautiful hand retreated from Lin Xiayan’s sight. Frowning, her voice turned icy. “Hold out your hand.”

Zhu Ning glanced timidly at Lin Xiayan, her gaze wavering for about ten seconds before she slowly extended her hand. The milk-white skin made Lin Xiayan squint slightly, as if dazzled. After a moment, her expression shifted, and a faint glow emanated from her fingertips, flowing gently into Zhu Ning’s bloody wound. Almost immediately, the pain vanished, leaving only a tingling numbness.

Zhu Ning stared in astonishment at the now-staunched wound, marveling once again at Lin Xiayan’s skill. She unconsciously shifted away, afraid of disturbing the Buddha’s rest.

But Lin Xiayan wasn’t actually asleep. She was merely feigning sleep, resting her head on her arm. When she sensed Zhu Ning moving away, a pang of hurt struck her heart.

Does she really hate demons that much?

Lin Xiayan assumed Zhu Ning was disgusted by being healed with demonic aura. She suppressed all emotion, curling up silently in the corner of the bed, looking as if Zhu Ning had wronged her.

The next morning, the lazy sunlight streamed through the window, striking Zhu Ning’s eyes. Though awake, she kept her eyes closed, waiting for them to adjust before daring to open them. The blankets beside her were already empty; no one was there.

Zhu Ning reached out tentatively to the icy-cold space beside her and instantly opened her eyes. Ignoring her injuries, she struggled to sit up, propping herself against the bed. Her gaze swept the room, and when she found nothing, she peered out the window. This time, she saw a crowd of people standing outside Mùdōng Courtyard.

Zhu Ning called out softly, and a young disciple hurried in. Seeing Zhu Ning’s weakened state, the disciple rushed forward. “Lord Immortal Venerable, you’re still unwell. You shouldn’t be getting up…”

Zhu Ning thought the disciple was overreacting, but she couldn’t dismiss the girl’s concern. She nodded and leaned back against the bed, asking casually, “What’s going on outside? Usually, no one comes near Mùdōng Courtyard.”

The disciple had just finished pouring tea when Zhu Ning spoke. Her face paled, but she finally answered, “Before dawn, Elder Yue ordered Lin Xiayan to kneel in the unmelted snow. She’s been kneeling there ever since. They say it’s a test of her resolve.”

The junior disciple’s story sounded convincing, but he had completely misunderstood the true test of perseverance. Zhu Ning scoffed, dismissing the disciple’s foolish attempt to deceive her. Instead, she resolved to get up and see for herself.

Kneeling here since before dawn, and it’s already this late? And they’re still fawning over Lin Xiayan? Even someone with the best temper would have reached their limit by now.

Zhu Ning struggled to sit up and change. The only garment within reach was the white, feather-light gauze dress she’d worn the previous night. Unfortunately, the wound on her chest still throbbed with every movement. Seeing his efforts to stop her were futile, the junior disciple reluctantly helped her put on an outer robe before leaving with a look of guilt, as if he had failed his duty.

Outside, the air was so cold that water froze mid-drip. Zhu Ning shivered violently as she stepped out, her bloodless face growing even paler, the delicate veins beneath her skin visible through the thin layer. She possessed an ethereal beauty, her long lashes curling naturally upward, seeming to brush against the hearts of those who saw her.

Among the crowd gathered outside Mùdōng Courtyard was Yue Qing, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression stern and unsmiling. But Zhu Ning knew his true nature all too well.

Zhu Ning said nothing, her frail appearance as she walked tugging at people’s hearts. She approached Lin Xiayan and gazed at the new pearl circlet adorning her head, truly beautiful. Before Yue Qing could speak, Zhu Ning suddenly knelt.

As the original owner of the body, Zhu Ning held the highest status on Yun Cang Mountain. No one dared order her to rise.

“As Lin Xiayan’s Honored Master,” Zhu Ning declared, her voice clear and firm, “since she has knelt this long and cannot rise, she must have committed some grave error. Therefore, I too shall kneel. I will remain kneeling until this matter is resolved, at which point This Venerable One will rise.” Zhu Ning avoided addressing Yue Qing directly, preserving his dignity while subtly threatening him.

As expected, Yue Qing’s expression shifted. He moved his lips as if to speak but ultimately remained silent. His hands, hidden within his wide sleeves, subtly shifted. As if supported by an unseen force, Lin Xiayan’s knees straightened, effectively helping her to rise.

Zhu Ning, clad in white robes, knelt upright on the ground. Seeing Lin Xiayan rise, she prepared to stand when she felt a pair of small, icy hands protectively covering her knees. She looked up to meet Lin Xiayan’s clear, unwavering gaze.

“You only woke up yesterday,” Lin Xiayan whispered, her voice barely audible to Zhu Ning alone. “You shouldn’t even be out of bed today.” Though her expression remained unchanged, a hint of concern crept into her voice.

This villainess, Zhu Ning, was truly a woman of deep emotions and strong principles. Had she not been provoked, she might have been a good friend.

Zhu Ning hadn’t fully mastered telepathic communication yet, so she pretended not to understand, straightening up to face Yue Qing.

“I didn’t mean to make things difficult…” Yue Qing still seemed determined to explain, but Zhu Ning cut him off, taking Lin Xiayan’s small hand and heading toward Mùdōng Courtyard. “I’ll take her for breakfast first,” she said, leaving him behind. “We can continue this later.”

Zhu Ning had torn off the pretense of respect for Yue Qing yesterday. An elder? Could someone so narrow-minded, selfish, and hypocritical truly deserve that title? Besides, as Sect Leader, she outranked him anyway.

Weighing the pros and cons, Zhu Ning relaxed further. Her delicate eyebrows smoothed out, and she walked back with a sense of relief.

Mùdōng Courtyard was not open to everyone. Yue Qing couldn’t intrude on Zhu Ning’s privacy, but this was the third time she had publicly humiliated him. He had no choice but to swallow his pride.

If I was wrong, I should just accept it.

Lin Xiayan followed obediently. As soon as they entered the room, her demeanor changed. She first checked Zhu Ning’s knee for bruises, then examined her hand. The bloodstain was still faintly red. With a sigh, she cast a healing spell to continue treating the wound.

“Why did you come out?” Lin Xiayan asked, her voice soft and melodious.

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