Bai Wuzhuang finished cleaning up the dishes and, not in a hurry to wash them, sat at the kitchen door to have a bite to eat first.
After picking through the leftovers, she found a few strips of meat and some vegetable stems. Luckily, the stir-fry had plenty of sauce, which made the rice taste amazing.
So, it wasn’t like she had nothing to eat. Bai Wuzhuang ate with relish, shoveling rice into her mouth like mad.
“……”
This scene was witnessed by Dong Huiting, who felt a surge of sympathy and pity, her heart aching.
She had originally thought she must truly hate this damned little liar.
But Bai Wuzhuang looked so sickly, every movement pitiful, speaking cautiously and trembling, just like a frightened little dog.
Unless someone was a twisted bully who enjoyed tormenting the weak, it was impossible to really get angry at her.
“Senior Sister, Respected Master, I’m going back to cultivate.”
Having spent the day playing outside, Little Junior Sister Xiaochun obediently returned to her room at night, closed the door, and focused on her cultivation.
Sword Sect Master sat at the edge of the courtyard, leisurely drinking tea and enjoying life.
Instead, Dong Huiting was busy after dinner, secretly watching Bai Wuzhuang from the kitchen door as she washed the dishes inside.
But she soon realized her actions were noticed by Respected Master.
“Ahem, Master, why did you decide to keep her here?” She could only pretend nothing had happened, coughed twice, walked over to Respected Master, and asked.
“You seem to have recovered your spirits.” Respected Master saw Dong Huiting had returned to her usual self and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Master, please answer my question.” Dong Huiting pressed.
“That girl is a rare talent, possessing the Yin-Yang Bewitching Ghost Eyes. In the future, you can bring her along on Demon Exorcism Missions—she can help us distinguish between humans and demons.” Respected Master explained.
“But she’s not a Qi Cultivator. How can she join us in exorcising demons and upholding the Dao? She’ll just get in the way and die in no time.” Dong Huiting asked.
“If she dies, she dies. She’s just a worthless liar. Just treat her as a tool. She deceived your feelings, so from now on she’ll have to atone with her life.” Respected Master said emotionlessly.
“This… Master, you’re right.” Dong Huiting was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded in agreement.
But when she turned away, her smile gradually faded—it seemed she didn’t truly agree with Respected Master’s words.
Dong Huiting went back to hide by the kitchen window, secretly watching Bai Wuzhuang again.
After washing the dishes, Bai Wuzhuang left the kitchen and walked to the Lakeside to feed the pigeons.
Dong Huiting quickly hid again, secretly following Bai Wuzhuang.
After feeding the pigeons, Bai Wuzhuang returned to the small storeroom to sleep, exhausted, never realizing Dong Huiting was following her.
There was nothing she could do—her powers were completely gone now, and she’d become just an ordinary person.
“Zzz~”
Bai Wuzhuang flopped onto the wooden bed and fell asleep instantly.
Dong Huiting quietly approached the bedside. Looking at Bai Wuzhuang’s haggard sleeping face and her messy, pale hair, she found it impossible to get angry. In the end, she covered her with a blanket, turned, and left, closing the door behind her.
Senior Sister returned to her own room to meditate.
Her mind was a mess, yet she quickly absorbed the Essence of Heaven and Earth, drastically speeding up her cultivation technique and instantly making up for the two days lost to her inner demon.
The next day, Bai Wuzhuang woke up to find her whole body aching, unable to get out of bed.
“You little sickly slave! What are you doing? Get out of bed and get to work!” Little Junior Sister Xiaochun kicked open the storeroom door and shouted angrily.
“I… my whole body aches… I can’t move…” Bai Wuzhuang replied weakly.
“Can’t move? You think we took you in so you could enjoy yourself?” Xiaochun yanked the blanket off, trying to force Bai Wuzhuang out of bed.
“Ow, ow, ow~” Bai Wuzhuang cried out softly in pain, tears streaming down her face.
“Junior Sister, what are you doing?” Suddenly, Dong Huiting darted in like an arrow, a chill in the air as she grabbed Xiaochun’s shoulder.
“Senior Sister, I’m making this little liar get up and work! It’s only her second day here and she’s already claiming her whole body hurts—she’s definitely lying, you can’t trust a word from her.” Xiaochun said.
“She really did work hard all afternoon yesterday. With her frail body, she swept the floor and hauled bricks. I saw it myself, so stop making things difficult for her.” Dong Huiting said coldly.
“Senior Sister, you pity her? But who’s going to pity you? Don’t forget what she did to you.” Xiaochun’s expression grew serious.
“My matters are none of your business.” Dong Huiting snapped, a little angry.
“You just deserve to be tricked.” Xiaochun pouted, looking disgruntled as she left.
Yet when Dong Huiting looked at Bai Wuzhuang, although she had just defended her, her expression was now a bit awkward.
“Thank you.” Bai Wuzhuang expressed her gratitude.
“What are you thanking me for? You little liar, just keep lying in bed if you want.” Dong Huiting grew annoyed as soon as she heard her voice, flung her sleeve, and stormed off.
“I… didn’t lie to you… I really can’t move… Please don’t drive me away…” Bai Wuzhuang struggled to sit up on the bed, moving like a zombie, pleading bitterly.
“No one’s driving you away. Just lie there.” Dong Huiting poked her head in through the window, shouted, then walked off.
After that, she ran off to find her own Respected Master to protest.
“Master, that little liar is sickly and frail. If we take her out to exorcise demons, she’ll probably drop dead after a few steps. Even if we want to use her Yin-Yang Bewitching Ghost Eyes to tell humans from demons, we should at least help her recover her health first, right?” Dong Huiting reasoned.
“People with the Yin-Yang Bewitching Ghost Eyes are always like this—heavy with yin energy, weak in body, easily attracting evil spirits. It’s normal.” Sword Sect Master replied.
“But keeping such a useless chicken by our side will only be a hindrance. Her body’s weak, her willpower’s weak, and if she sees a Human-Demon she’ll faint from fright and won’t even be able to use her eyes. She’ll be useless.” Dong Huiting said.
“So what do you want to do?” Respected Master asked with a smile.
“At the very least, let her recover. In her current state, she’s no better than a rag and can’t be of any use.” Dong Huiting commented sharply.
“She’s your servant. Do whatever you want with her.” Respected Master agreed instantly.
With Respected Master’s permission, Dong Huiting turned and ran to the Kitchen to start a fire and boil water.
She hauled out a large Wooden Tub, tossed in a bunch of Herbs, and, once the water was boiling, poured the scalding hot water in.
The whole courtyard instantly filled with the pungent smell of medicinal herbs.
Normally, the senior and junior sisters would use this Wooden Tub for bathing.
Dong Huiting worked all morning to prepare a tub of herbal soup, then rushed back to the storeroom.
Bai Wuzhuang was still curled up on the small wooden bed, not sleeping, just staring blankly like a little turtle.
“Still alive? After lying there so long, can you move yet?” Dong Huiting put on a sharp and sarcastic tone.
“Wh… what is it?” Bai Wuzhuang had recovered a bit of strength and could just barely sit up.
“Come with me. It’s time to treat that frail body of yours.” Dong Huiting said, feigning cold indifference.
“?”
Bai Wuzhuang looked confused, picked up the broom by her side to use as a crutch, and hobbled after Dong Huiting into the courtyard.