Chapter Thirty-Four: Expedient

  Night, already deep. Creaking sound, the wind like a person's hand, pushed open the half-closed door another foot. A wisp of residual fragrance was carried by the wind, several blood-red phoenix flowers drilled in from the door gap, spinning silently and falling onto a slender white palm.

  Red petals, hands like white jade, the lines on the palm are clear under the lamp, those few bloodstains just cover up the heavenly lines, making them seem to appear and disappear. Isn't it true that emotions are also like this, seeming clear but actually shrouded in thick fog?

  Xuan Zhen was staring at the candle stand, lost in thought, when he suddenly heard a soft sigh beside him. Yu'er was leaning on her elbow at the other end of the table, staring blankly at the curtain in the inner room, and murmured: "......Father...can he really get better?"

  The young man in the jade crown and long gown hesitated for a moment before responding, "Of course it will be fine. My master is the leader of our sect, with a status as revered as his, he wouldn't deceive you. The Taoist arts have always been mysterious and wonderful, although they can't bring the dead back to life, treating an ill living person is effortless, let alone when aided by the elixir personally refined by Qingyang Shifu."

  He saw a look of doubt on Yuer's face, and he quickly explained, "Oh, Qingyang Shifu is my master, the Dragon Horned Elder, who has made great achievements in the art of alchemy. All the disciples in our sect consider it a great fortune to receive his elixirs. With Master's treatment and taking Qingyang Shifu's wonderful medicine, even if you can't fully recover, you'll at least be able to live for several more decades." As he spoke, he took out a pale blue, delicate-necked, double-eared jade bottle from his bosom and pushed it in front of Yuer. "This is the 'Bodhi Congealed Ice Dew' that Dragon Horned Elder personally gave me when I came down the mountain. It has an extraordinary effect on regulating the blood vessels and meridians. The medicine Master brought will be even better than this one. Take a sniff, can you smell a faint, cool fragrance?"

  "Is this the Bodhi Ice Dew?" Yuer reached out with a few spring onion-like fingers, gently pulling out the same-colored jade stopper from the jade bottle and then bringing the bottle to her nose for a sniff. Her willow leaf eyebrows slightly rose, revealing a faint smile, "Indeed, there is a cool air about it, no wonder it's called 'Ice Dew'. After Father fell ill, I've been to the pharmacy many times, but I've never seen anything that can store ice in such a small bottle without melting. Your master and his fellow disciples are truly extraordinary people." As she spoke, the furrows between her eyebrows dissipated somewhat, as if she had finally put her mind at ease. After a while, she sighed again, "Alas, if only Father could recover, even leaving here with you all to go to the northern mountains would be nothing."

  Xuan Zhen was stunned, he had mentioned to Yu'er's father about bringing her back to Kunlun Mountain before, but had never said it in person, and didn't expect that at this moment, a young girl would say it herself.

  Yu'er gazed at the lamp in front of her, and a layer of melancholy mist gradually shrouded her eyes. She spoke softly: "Don't be deceived, sir... Since Father fell ill, Yu'er's only thought was to let him live for a few more days. As for other things, she didn't dare to have too many extravagant hopes. However, even so, the family situation has only gotten worse since then. All the valuable things have been pawned, but those doctors just prescribed medicine and couldn't cure Father's illness... Those relatives saw our difficulties and were unwilling to pass by our door, especially during festivals when they would close their doors tightly and not let Yu'er take another step forward, fearing that they would be tainted with bad luck... The world is cold and cruel, and Yu'er has seen through it all these years. Unexpectedly, there are still kind people like Master Zou, Xuanzhen, and Taicheng in the world. I, I am truly grateful..."

  It seemed that Yu'er's words were choked with sobs, and her eyes had already turned red. Xuan Zhen also hung his head in silence, deep in thought, and after a moment of contemplation, he comforted her, "Now that the difficulties have passed, why must you still dwell on past events? Just wait until Uncle recovers, then come with us to Kunlun Mountain. The elders of the Qinghua Sect are all very kind, you'll see when you get there, and you won't be bullied." As he spoke, he suddenly thought of something and smiled slightly, "Besides, looking at how much Master values you, once you enter the sect, you'll naturally become the leader of the disciples. When that time comes, you'll be my junior sister, and with me and your two senior sisters around, who would still dare to look down on you?"

  At this point, Xuan Zhen's heart moved slightly, and another cold face suddenly flashed before his eyes. Wearing white clothes, he was handsome and elegant, but I don't know if the sword-wielding young man from that day has arrived at the foot of Kunlun Mountain?

  Just then, the sound of rustling curtains was heard from behind, and a girl in a plain dress had already stood up from her stool with reverence. Xuán Zhèn hastily got up as well. It turned out that Tàiqīng True Man was walking out of the inner room, apparently having finished his meditation, although his face still wore a serious expression, his eyebrows and eyes seemed slightly tired.

  "Master." Xuan Zhen glanced sideways and saw that Jade was about to speak but hesitated, knowing she was extremely anxious. He decided to ask on her behalf, "I wonder how Jade's father... Uncle is doing now?"

  Taiqing Zhenren glanced at him and then looked at Yuer, stroking his beard with his hand. After a while, he said, "It doesn't matter."

  Yu'er suddenly let out a breath of relief, her eyes filled with gratitude, and bowed down: "Thank you, Master!"

  Tai Qing didn't go to help her either, but instead looked at Yu'er and said slowly: "Just now I also heard what you said in the house. It seems that my disciple has already told you about the situation. Since Miss is willing to follow us back, Qionghua Sect will not treat you unfairly."

  "Yu'er knows that being able to serve by the side of a true person is a great blessing, naturally... naturally she is willing with all her heart." The girl in white clothes on the ground flashed a resolute expression and said firmly.

  Tai Qing Zhen Ren's expression eased, and he used his eyes to signal to Xuan Zhen to help her up. He then said: "It's just that the Kunlun Mountains are a place of bitter cold, which is not conducive to rest and recuperation. Just now, I have already discussed with your father, only you will follow us back, while he temporarily stays here until he recovers before making further arrangements."

  "This..." Yu'er hesitated for a moment, looked up at the Upper Clear True Person with both eyes wide open, gritted her teeth and said, "Everything will be arranged by the True Person."

  "Master, why... is it like this?"

  Xuan Zhen listened to the conversation between his master and Yu'er, and was already astonished in his heart. However, he knew that Tai Qing Zhen Ren had always disliked others interrupting his conversations, and even more so hated junior disciples questioning his orders. Therefore, he did not speak a word. But a doubt in his chest could not be dispelled, and when they left Yu'er's house and returned to the inn with his master, he finally asked.

  Tai Qing Zhen Ren slowly sat down beside the table, with a cup of cold tea by his hand. As the leader of the Qiong Hua sect, everything he drank and used was of the highest quality, so the stale tea in this small town was naturally not worthy of his attention. Upon hearing Xuan Zhen's question, his face sank, and he said coldly: "Xuan Zhen, could it be that you have some dissatisfaction?"

  Xuan Zhen was shocked and quickly knelt down on the ground: "Disciple dare not! It's just... Yu'er only has this one relative, and she's still ill. A weak and delicate young woman, separated from her family at a young age, going to such a distant Kunlun Mountain, it's really pitiful..."

  Tai Qing Zhen Ren's anger gradually subsided, and he beckoned him to stand up. Only then did he say: "You have a good heart, which is very good. However, Xuan Zhen, you must remember one thing in your mind: first, you are the first disciple of my Qiong Hua Sect; secondly, you are a cultivator who punishes evil and promotes goodness!"

  Xuan Zhen's whole body shook, and he hastily bowed his head in response: "Yes."

  The Taichang True Person's tone softened, saying: "Although there are five disciples under my seat, when Yu'er enters the sect, it will naturally increase by one more. Among these disciples, I only value you alone. Your actions are steady and this time going down the mountain, you have done a great job for me, your merits are naturally extremely great, not just for me, but also for the three elders of the sect, who will remember it in their hearts, after I pass away in a hundred years..."

  "Master!" Xuan Zhen hastily raised his head and said, "Master's Taoist skills are profound, you will surely become another immortal in the Qionghua Sect after hundreds of years, why..."

  Tai Qing's eyes widened in surprise, and his gaze suddenly shone with a sharp light. His long beard quivered slightly as he gradually revealed a satisfied smile: "Not bad... not bad! This time, all the people with extreme yin and yang have fallen into my hands. I just need to wait for some more days, and the centuries-old wish of the Qionghua Sect will be fulfilled. What's there to worry about in a hundred years? Haha, haha!"

  Xuan Zhen had been under the seat of Tai Qing True Man for twelve years, and he had never seen him smile so freely. He was taken aback and hesitated, saying: "Master, you said that my sect's long-held wish..."

  "This matter involves many people, and it's not convenient to discuss it in detail here. I'll tell you myself when we return to Kunlun Mountain." Taiching True Person said with a loud laugh, "But there is one more thing, which won't hurt to let you know now, that is about Miss Yu'er."

  Xuan Zhen asked in doubt: "What's going on?"

  Taiqing True Man stroked his chin and the three long beards below, saying: "Just now at her home, it was inconvenient to say clearly. This Yu'er's father... is probably not very good."

  "What?" Xuan was shocked, "But Master didn't say... Moreover, both Yu'er and I have seen it personally, Uncle's complexion is obviously much rosier than before..."

  "That's just a temporary solution. As his master, I gave him the Five Elements Seven Flavors Pill refined by Dragon Horn Elder, and you should know its efficacy." Taiching True Person suppressed his smile and said, "As for cultivating to heal his injuries, that person's illness has reached a critical point, and his body's meridians have long been weak and fragile. If I were to input true energy into him, it would only shatter his meridians. As his master, I can only use our sect's secret methods to make him appear radiant on the surface, but inside... he still is... For now, it seems like a great improvement, but after a year, the old symptoms will recur, and by then there will be no cure, and he will die from exhaustion."

  The five elements and seven flavors Dan Xuan Zhen naturally knew that it was an ancient prescription from the school's hidden book, which recorded a spiritual medicine said to have the effect of prolonging life. However, according to what Master said, even if Uncle took this medicine, he would only live for a few more days, and eventually still die. At that time, Yuer would be far away in Kunlun, and it's likely that not even his father's last face could be seen before he died. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but frown and say: "Master, this move is too excessive... too excessive..."

  "Of course, Master knows that this is not what we should do, but for the sake of the Qionghua Sect, even if it means exhausting all my energy and dying, it's worth it. Besides, this girl's father only has a few months left to live anyway, so by doing this, he can live a bit longer, and it won't be like we're harming him!" Taiching Zhenren said coldly, "That Yu'er was born on an extremely rare yin year, yin month, yin day, yin hour, and yin moment. A woman with such a yin destiny must be brought back to our sect! She will certainly help the Qionghua Sect greatly by joining us, but would we still mistreat her? Ordinary people cultivate immortality, but it's something that can only be hoped for, not attained. This poor girl has this opportunity, so it's not like we're being unfair to her."

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