The three newly born warm streams of Divine Candle within her body, combined with the previously borrowed golden Divine Candle, merged into four gentle forces, flowing through Lu Qiantian’s dantian like a small creek.
Divine Altar.
Lu Qiantian intended to refine one more sapling.
However, a sudden, intense emptiness surged up from deep within her meridians.
The continuous refining of three Spiritual Woods earlier had almost exhausted the spiritual power in her dantian.
“Tch.”
Helpless, Lu Qiantian had no choice but to stop for the time being and popped a Recovery Pill into her mouth. The dense pill energy dissolved, like sweet spring water pouring into parched earth.
Afterward, she put aside the idea of continuing to refine.
It was time to fulfill her promise.
Lu Qiantian opened her eyes, formed hand seals with her fingertips, and used her spiritual sense to communicate with Taoyuan Village, selecting one of the small peach tree spirits.
Under the guidance of her spiritual sense, the space rippled like water waves.
“Pop!”
A faint glow flashed.
The tiny tree spirit, its leaves lush and dripping with green vitality, instantly appeared in the clearing between Lu Qiantian and Old Shi.
Curiously, it twisted its branches.
Lu Qiantian’s expression turned solemn as she gathered a sliver of divine will light on her fingertip.
“Sever!”
She gently tapped the main trunk of the tree spirit.
An invisible thread of Divine Candle, connecting her to the source of this new life, immediately snapped.
The worshipful thoughts that had surrounded Lu Qiantian instantly dissipated, and the small branches of the tree spirit drooped in confusion, as if it had lost its way.
Then,
Lu Qiantian closed her eyes and concentrated, precisely extracting the four streams of Divine Candle in her dantian—the ones symbolizing the debt—without reservation, as effortlessly as a creek flowing into the sea.
“Buzz!”
They transformed into four warm beams of light that quietly streamed out from her body; three of these carried a faint herbal fragrance and drifted toward the flame on the Divine Candle in front of Old Shi.
The flame flickered several times.
The candle, which had been burnt down, slowly grew back a small segment as if infused with new life, and its glow steadied significantly.
“Hehehe—”
Old Shi looked at the vibrant, lively tree spirit in front of him, the corners of his eyes crinkling into folds from joy, his whiskers trembling with delight.
Compared to a stone crab, born and dying with the tides within a few brief seasons, and this peach tree spirit that could offer Divine Candle offerings for at least twenty or thirty years, or perhaps even give birth to a new Spiritual Wood…
This deal was an absolute steal.
He waved his hands repeatedly, his tone unusually warm and sincere:
“Your generous gift, Mountain Deity, is deeply remembered by this old man! These three streams of newly born Divine Candle are the blessings born from your divine refining techniques. How could you ask for them back? Please, reclaim them as you wish!”
“Since Your Reverence insists, I shall accept them.”
Lu Qiantian did not refuse and naturally reabsorbed the three streams of newly born Divine Candle that belonged to her back into her dantian.
“The sky is getting late, and it’s inconvenient for me to stay longer. I take my leave.”
Lu Qiantian cupped her hands in farewell.
“If the Mountain Deity is not in a hurry…” Old Shi made a gesture toward the vermilion stone table beside the Divine Altar, and like a magic trick, a jade cup of fine liquor appeared on its surface.
“The sea breeze on this desolate island is crisp and clear. Why not have a cup of light wine before you go? Consider it a token for Your Reverence’s visit…”
“No need.”
Lu Qiantian shook her head decisively, her gaze drifting toward the dusk deepening beyond the forest. “I have pressing matters. Farewell!”
With that, she turned and began to leave.
Old Shi smiled and nodded: “Very well, Mountain Deity. Safe travels.” His form shimmered like ink dissolving in water and smoke, fading back into the earthen statue.
Then, in an instant, he returned to the Earth Deity statue.
Moving with fluid grace, Lu Qiantian quietly returned to the camp.
Inside the tent, the campfire crackled, its orange-red flames leaping and chasing away the chill of the sea breeze.
Bathed in firelight, Xuanya and Gantang sat together on a stone, their postures relaxed.
Xuanya was patiently turning a few sizzling sea fish on an iron grill with a sharpened twig; the firelight softened the cold sharpness of her face.
Gantang, meanwhile, cradled a large conch shell, carefully prying the tender meat from within with a small knife. She occasionally whispered something to her master, her face beaming with a relaxed smile.
The warm glow enveloped this master and disciple pair, radiating happiness.
Yet, on the other side of the campfire, Xunxue leaned alone against a slightly cold rock.
In front of her lay some washed sea clams and fresh shrimp, but she seemed uninterested in cooking, propping her elbow on her knee.
The flickering firelight danced in her deep blue eyes but could not illuminate the loneliness hidden within.
Her solitude stood in sharp contrast to the warmth shared by the others.
As Lu Qiantian stepped into the firelight, Xuanya seemed to sense her presence and lifted her head.
Her gaze swept over her, and in Xuanya’s typically cold, calm voice was a habitual nonchalance: “Is your complexion recovered well?”
“Master, there is no longer any hindrance.”
Lu Qiantian bowed slightly, her voice steady and unreadable. Though she still felt a chill and some discomfort, she could now maintain an expression without flinching.
“Hmm.” Xuanya lightly nodded and said, “Sit down, and have some food.”
“As you command.”
Lu Qiantian obeyed, taking a seat between Gantang and the cold rock.
Almost the moment she sat down,
Xunxue, like a butterfly attracted to a blooming flower, lifted her previously lowered eyelids.
Naturally, she picked up a skewer of grilled fish and shifted her body toward Lu Qiantian.
Her soft, warm form leaned subtly, her shoulder brushing faintly against Lu Qiantian’s arm.
“Ahem!” Lu Qiantian coughed lightly, like a shock running through her.
Her body tensed like a drawn bowstring as she silently inched half a step toward Gantang, breaking that dangerous contact.
Two pairs of eyes burned like daggers.
Xuanya’s cold gaze swept over quietly…
Gantang also paused her prying of the conch meat, her pink eyes curious as they watched Lu Qiantian’s sudden movement…
A chill ran down Lu Qiantian’s spine.
She sent a whisper with urgent yet restrained desperation and helplessness: “My master is watching! Don’t come any closer! It’ll be misunderstood!”
Xunxue tilted her head lightly, her wolf ears twitching in the firelight. Her innocent yet mischievous blue eyes conveyed a thought back: “Misunderstood? Misunderstood about what~”
Her tone light and carefree, she continued: “You are my daughter, after all!”
She paused, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth: “As the saying goes, daughters are a mother’s little sweethearts. What’s the harm in being misunderstood~?”
“?!”
The moment those words left her mouth, Lu Qiantian’s pupils constricted sharply, almost losing control of her expression. No, this… what kind of twisted logic was that?!
Thinking this, Lu Qiantian’s gaze involuntarily flicked toward Xuanya, only to see her master’s lips twitch ever so slightly.
A rare sharp glint of confusion flashed in those cold eyes.
It was over. She was definitely misunderstood!
Lu Qiantian sighed inwardly, resigning herself completely.
Moving away now would be like planting a sign that said “Nothing to hide here”—it would only make matters worse.
She gave up the tension in her body, sat up straight, and thought with a sense of surrender: When Master asks later, just say Xunxue senior is… um… very… hospitable…