When the Immortal Venerable Picked-Up the Demon Cub - Chapter 31

By the time Su Mi realized what was happening, Lin Xiayan had already snatched the medicinal herbs. Su Mi glared at her, the earlier curiosity about the child replaced by resentment. “Give me the herbs.”

Perhaps her voice was too harsh, because Zhu Ning turned to look at them, her face etched with worry. Su Mi never understood why Zhu Ning always looked so concerned whenever she looked at her.

Lin Xiayan obediently handed over the herbs, watching as Su Mi placed them inside her cauldron before slowly lighting her own. A blue flame flickered within the cauldron, a mesmerizing sight.

With calm precision, Lin Xiayan tossed each herb into the cauldron. Suddenly, a wisp of purple smoke rose. In the flickering firelight, two black spheres rolled out of the cauldrons. Upon closer inspection, they were pills in their initial stages of refinement.

In contrast to Lin Xiayan’s smooth progress, Su Mi’s side was a headache. The flames within her cauldron surged and dwindled erratically, making it impossible to maintain a consistent temperature. After repeated attempts, she finally produced what she considered a perfect pill.

Two dark pills lay nestled in brocade boxes. The boxes were small and delicate, and the yellow fabric lining made the pills look even darker. Lin Xiayan’s pill rested in a box adorned with a pearl.

The pills gave off a faint, refreshing fragrance. Inside their boxes, they seemed even more precious than the pearls themselves.

Su Mi was already shocked by the pills Lin Xiayan had made. Before she could examine them closely, Lin Xiayan said triumphantly, “Thank you for your help, Honored Master. I really couldn’t have controlled the heat without you.”

Though Lin Xiayan spoke with the innocent voice of a child, her words grated on Su Mi’s ears.

Zhu Ning was completely bewildered. When had she helped Lin Xiayan control the heat? She hadn’t even helped her light the fire. Now that the pills were finished, Lin Xiayan was taking all the credit?

Lin Xiayan’s pointed glances made her intentions clear. Only when Zhu Ning looked at Su Mi did she understand what was happening.

What a schemer! No wonder Lin Xiayan hadn’t acted sooner. She’d been waiting for this moment to sow discord between master and disciple.

Zhu Ning felt a chill run down her spine, but with Lin Xiayan’s eyes fixed on her, she didn’t dare offer an explanation. After racking her brain, she slowly said, “With your current cultivation level, you can’t even light a fire properly. Of course I had to help you, Honored Master. Otherwise, people would think your Senior Sister was bullying you.”

Zhu Ning had pulled out every trick she’d learned from watching palace dramas, and tears nearly welled up. Fortunately, Su Mi’s expression softened considerably, and a smile returned to her face.

“Even though Honored Master controlled the fire, Xiayan is only ten years old and already shows such talent. I’m sure she’ll achieve great things in the future.” Su Mi picked up the box. Though the pills inside weren’t perfect, they looked presentable. Zhu Ning didn’t dare turn to see Lin Xiayan’s reaction, silently urging herself, The big villain is easy to appease. It’s people like Su Mi, who bottle up their grievances, that are truly dangerous.

Su Mi’s skirt rustled slightly. Zhu Ning didn’t even need to look to see the contrast between the two boxes of pills. Despite Zhu Ning’s earlier explanation about the fire control, Su Mi remained lost in thought.

Though Lin Xiayan’s smile remained fixed, her heart had sunk. She rushed to Su Mi’s side, picked up the pills Su Mi had refined, and took a bite.

The taste on her tongue wasn’t the bitterness of medicine, but the acrid tang of something burnt. Tears welled in Lin Xiayan’s eyes, yet she forced a nod, pretending to approve.

“This pill is meant to nourish the body, not poison it. Why that expression?” Su Mi asked, as if genuinely puzzled.

Zhu Ning, who had witnessed the entire exchange from behind, pressed a hand to her forehead, her heart sinking. Why did Su Mi have to ask? she thought. To put it bluntly, isn’t this just inviting humiliation? Who is Lin Xiayan? She’s a demon who’s lived for centuries! Whether it’s alchemy or cultivation, Su Mi can’t possibly compare.

But Su Mi’s question played right into Lin Xiayan’s hands. As Zhu Ning had predicted, Lin Xiayan lowered her head and murmured, “It’s not very bitter, but it does have a burnt taste. Perhaps the heat control wasn’t quite right?”

Zhu Ning’s head snapped up. Lin Xiayan was a natural green tea, she thought. The heat control issue had already been mentioned earlier, and it wasn’t even a major problem. But even with imperfect heat control, there shouldn’t be a burnt taste.

This was a roundabout way of saying Su Mi had completely failed to control the heat.

Su Mi’s face darkened. She looked at Lin Xiayan, thinking the girl’s words were innocent and without malice, but they pierced Su Mi’s heart like a sharp blade, tearing through flesh and bone as they were ripped out.

Ever since Zhu Ning brought her to Yun Cang Mountain, Su Mi had cultivated diligently, fearing the disciples would say she was good for nothing but her Immortal Bone. Proud and hardworking, she could be called the most diligent disciple on the mountain. But Lin Xiayan’s arrival seemed to change everything. Zhu Ning, who had always cared for Su Mi, now divided her attention between them. Worse, Lin Xiayan was so talented, she seemed the perfect candidate to be Zhu Ning’s only disciple.

Su Mi’s inner insecurities magnified. She carefully stowed the Brocade Box away, then bowed to Zhu Ning and turned to leave, but Zhu Ning stopped her.

“Are you unhappy?” Zhu Ning asked directly, after considering all other options. With someone who kept everything bottled up, a direct question seemed the best approach.

Su Mi’s face flushed for the first time, her composure crumbling. She had always seen Zhu Ning as a divine being, and now it felt as if her innermost thoughts had been exposed. She felt uneasy and flustered.

“No, no, no, that’s not it! Honored Master, you’ve misunderstood me…” Su Mi stammered, her usually serene face twisting with anxiety as she desperately tried to convince Zhu Ning of her sincerity.

Zhu Ning wasn’t sure what she’d said to upset Su Mi so much. Seeing the girl’s distress, she softened her tone and reassured her, “It’s alright, it’s alright. I only asked because I was worried you might be upset. As long as our Little Su Mi isn’t angry, everything’s fine.”

Zhu Ning’s usual tone for coaxing children resurfaced. Lin Xiayan, standing nearby, watched the smile slowly fade from her lips. Without a word, she moved between the two, determined to interfere. Su Mi, however, was too preoccupied with Zhu Ning’s words to notice Lin Xiayan’s presence. Only after hearing Zhu Ning’s reassurance did she relax, her expression gradually returning to normal.

“Then Mi’er will take her leave now. To prepare for tomorrow’s competition?” Su Mi spoke with remarkable composure this time. Zhu Ning studied her closely but couldn’t detect the slightest hint of unease. She nodded, granting her permission to leave.

As Zhu Ning watched Su Mi’s figure disappear into the distance, she turned to Lin Xiayan with a reproachful look. “Why did you provoke her like that? Do you think you’ll gain something by driving a wedge between her and me?”

Zhu Ning realized her words had been too sharp. She covered her mouth, her eyes peeking out as she watched Lin Xiayan’s expression.

Lin Xiayan’s young face showed little emotion, yet it was enough to make Zhu Ning’s heart race. Her brow furrowed slightly as she finally asked, “You call her… Little Su Mi? Why have you never called me that?”

Zhu Ning had been afraid, but now, hearing this, she slowly realized the air was thick with jealousy. Even a title can be jealous? she thought. She really is the ultimate villain.

Having unconsciously come to see Lin Xiayan as a friend, Zhu Ning couldn’t help but laugh at the jealous question.

The Alchemy Chamber was dimly lit, the glass lamps flickering with a faint blue light. When Zhu Ning laughed, her eyes seemed to glow, like crushed stars scattered into her peach-blossom eyes.

Lin Xiayan stared, mesmerized, before finally snapping back to reality. Her fiery aura seemed to have been completely extinguished, her gaze softening as she looked at Zhu Ning, like a child who had been bullied.

“Then shall I call you… Little Xiayan?” Zhu Ning’s eyes sparkled with amusement, her teasing tone unmistakable. Yet Lin Xiayan seemed to relish the nickname, her eyes narrowing in contentment.

Looking at Lin Xiayan’s adorable demeanor, Zhu Ning found it impossible to reconcile this child with the ruthless, heartless demon she would become in the future.

Now that Su Mi had left with the medicinal pills, there was no reason for Lin Xiayan and Zhu Ning to remain in the Alchemy Chamber. They exited the dusty room one after the other, and Lin Xiayan’s gaze fell upon the grimy door once more. Earlier, she had been too preoccupied to comment, but now that she had a moment, she couldn’t contain herself. “We need to get someone to clean this place thoroughly. Yun Cang Mountain, a place of such renown, and the Alchemy Chamber is practically covered in cobwebs? How embarrassing!”

Hearing this, Zhu Ning obediently averted her gaze, sinking into deep thought. While it was true that no one had used the Alchemy Chamber in ages, that didn’t mean they could neglect its upkeep. Otherwise, Lin Xiayan would single her out for a scolding.

“Yes, yes. I understand,” Zhu Ning nodded vigorously, like a chicken pecking at grain. Despite being an Immortal Venerable, she stood there, being lectured by a small child with her hands on her hips, not daring to utter a single word in protest.

The image was so absurd, Zhu Ning couldn’t help but laugh. She tried desperately to suppress her giggles, but her trembling shoulders betrayed her. Lin Xiayan’s tall figure loomed over her, the childish face long gone, replaced by the graceful curves of a beautiful woman. She half-embraced Zhu Ning from above, nearly dragging her into the muddy ground as Zhu Ning struggled.

“You you you, how can you just change like that!” Zhu Ning’s face flushed crimson, unable to break free. She could only speak through her burning cheeks.

“The Immortal Venerable’s smile is so lovely,” Lin Xiayan murmured, twirling a strand of Zhu Ning’s hair. Her voice, like that of the most alluring demon, whispered in Zhu Ning’s ear.

Zhu Ning’s face felt like it was on fire. She raised a hand to touch her cheek, finding only scalding heat and smooth skin. The sensation was so pleasant, she didn’t want to let go.

By now, most of the participants for the Yun Cang Mountain competition had arrived. Yue Qing, “bedridden” and unable to deliver an inspiring speech, had naturally passed this responsibility to Zhu Ning. After spending only a short time with Lin Xiayan, Zhu Ning prepared to head to the Grand Hall to encourage the competitors.

Lin Xiayan returned to her little girl form and hurried after him. “I’m going too.”

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