To Zhu Yuexi, the so-called “serious business” was, naturally, her treatment.
She knew her illness was merely a pretext that bastard Xu Sheng used to blackmail her master. However, she noticed that when her master heard Xu Sheng’s words, her expression stiffened slightly.
Zhu Yuexi reacted quickly.
Her master had used the lives of half the sect’s members as chips to gamble for this chance to treat her. For someone like her master, the guilt was surely overwhelming.
At that thought, Zhu Yuexi felt a pang of heartache. She kept her mouth shut, however, as it was currently time for the two elders to speak. She couldn’t interrupt just yet.
Xu Sheng looked at Mo Ruxue with a beaming smile.
Under his direct, unwavering gaze, Mo Ruxue’s cheeks gradually turned scorching hot. She was reminded of that book Xu Sheng had given her a few days ago.
How did one of those notes in the book go again?
‘If a man looks at you with such eyes, you need to understand his meaning. It is best to kneel down at this time…’
“Master?”
Mo Ruxue remained in a daze for so long that even Zhu Yuexi couldn’t help but prompt her.
Xu Sheng took a few steps back, finally withdrawing his intense stare.
“It seems the journey has been exhausting… In that case, please rest at the manor first. I will have someone prepare a feast, and we shall begin Saintess Zhu’s treatment this evening.”
As he spoke, Xu Sheng glanced toward Zhu Yuexi.
“Right, I was distracted by the gifts earlier and forgot to introduce myself to the Saintess. My name is Xu Shien. I’m a self-taught physician. You may simply call me Doctor Xu.”
Looking at Xu Sheng’s smile and hearing his fabricated introduction, Zhu Yuexi wanted nothing more than to spit in his face. Instead, a sweet, sugary smile bloomed on her features.
“Hello, Doctor Xu. Thank you for your help.”
‘It seems the best way for a woman to grow is to let her body mature as well. It hasn’t been that long, and yet Zhu Yuexi has already learned how to flatter me.’
Xu Sheng reached out and gently patted Zhu Yuexi’s head.
Mo Ruxue’s body tensed almost instantly when she realized what he was doing, but she couldn’t lash out in front of Zhu Yuexi. Furthermore, Xu Sheng’s movements didn’t seem to hold any malice; it appeared to be nothing more than an elder’s concern for a junior. Mo Ruxue remained silent.
Feeling Xu Sheng patting her head, Zhu Yuexi wished she could stab him to death then and there, yet she maintained her smile.
Xu Sheng withdrew his hand. “Alright, Qingqing should be back soon. I’ll have her take you to your rooms.”
Zhu Yuexi thought she was finally free from having to stay with this bastard, but as she turned her head, her peripheral vision caught something.
Xu Sheng was wiping his palm against his clothes…
It looked as though his hand had been stained by something filthy.
However, that was the same hand he had just used to pat her head.
…
That bastard.
Animal.
Scumbag.
He had clearly done those things to her and enjoyed himself at the time, yet now he felt the need to wipe his hand after just touching her head?
Did he think she actually wanted him to touch her?!
Li Qingqing led Zhu Yuexi and Mo Ruxue to their rooms. Along the way, Zhu Yuexi cursed Xu Sheng thousands of times in her mind.
Fortunately, Xu Sheng’s manor wasn’t overly large, and Li Qingqing soon brought them to their quarters.
Mo Ruxue looked at the room’s decor with a hint of confusion.
“The style of this room… it looks like it’s from the Eastern Islands?”
Li Qingqing pulled bedding out from a cabinet. As she spread the sheets, she explained to the two women.
“Sect Master Mo is indeed well-traveled. Valley Lord Xu specifically ordered me to decorate this room in a Japanese style. I’m not entirely sure of his intentions, but he said something about… it allowing him to be more immersed.”
“Immersed?” Mo Ruxue and Zhu Yuexi were both utterly confused.
Li Qingqing finished smoothing the sheets and stood up.
“Please don’t mind it. The Valley Lord is like that; he often enjoys saying things that no one else can understand.”
“You act as if you’re very close to him…”
Perhaps it was a subconscious desire to clash with Li Qingqing, or perhaps there were other reasons, but Zhu Yuexi suddenly muttered that sentence.
Li Qingqing tilted her head and stared at Zhu Yuexi for several seconds.
“I am naturally not as close to the Valley Lord as you are, Saintess Zhu…”
Zhu Yuexi’s eyes widened.
Li Qingqing continued, “After all, the Valley Lord will be treating you personally in the coming days.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yuexi let out a cold snort.
“Fine. It’s enough for just me and my master to stay here. Just call us when it’s time for dinner.”
Li Qingqing didn’t feel any sense of inferiority acting as a servant. Perhaps because of her attitude, Zhu Yuexi couldn’t find any reason to boss her around further.
Li Qingqing left the room.
Zhu Yuexi mocked her in her heart as she watched her back, then turned to see her master sitting on the tatami mats, pouring tea.
“Master, is there some special significance to this Eastern Island decor?”
Mo Ruxue pondered for two seconds before eventually shaking her head.
“I am not sure either. Immersion… I suppose Doctor Xu must have his reasons for doing this.”
—
Xu Sheng’s “profound reason” was indeed for the sake of immersion.
After all, certain plotlines only felt right when set in specific environments.
At that moment, Xu Sheng was preparing for Zhu Yuexi’s “treatment.”
Although her illness was a lie fabricated to blackmail Mo Ruxue, the treatment was a crucial stage. To make the lie seem more authentic, he naturally had to make some preparations.
“Detoxing via a hot spring… that’s reasonable, right?”
“Hmm… should I have someone send over those Japanese yukatas? It feels a bit scandalous… but if I’m going for immersion, I might as well go all the way.”
—
Mo Ruxue and Zhu Yuexi waited in the room for two hours.
Mo Ruxue was fine. Even though she was restless because of Xu Sheng, she was still a Sect Master; her patience was beyond reproach.
Zhu Yuexi, however, was different.
Because of the “poisoning,” her meridians were almost completely blocked, making it impossible for her to cultivate. She could only wait in the room, which was exceptionally boring.
Fortunately, Li Qingqing finally arrived.
“Dinner is prepared. Before you eat, you may go to the hot springs to bathe.”
“Bathe?” Zhu Yuexi asked, confused. “We have to bathe before dinner?”
“The spiritual pulse established here was modified by the Valley Lord to have different effects. The hot spring born from the spiritual pulse has detoxifying properties. The Valley Lord said that soaking once before the meal would be beneficial for both of you.”
Zhu Yuexi was naturally unwilling. She knew that bastard Xu Sheng never had good intentions, let alone regarding a hot spring soak.
Mo Ruxue had also intended to refuse at first, but she hesitated upon hearing the word “detoxification.”
After thinking for a few seconds, Mo Ruxue eventually nodded.
“I’ll have to trouble Miss Li to lead the way.”