Chapter 019
Chapter 19: This Time, She Truly Fainted
At this moment, a maid hurriedly entered from outside, her voice full of delight, “Old Madam, the Young Miss has returned!”
Rou Rou has returned?
The gloomy expression on Liu Cui Yu’s face immediately brightened with joy. She quickly rose, preparing to welcome her beloved daughter.
Before Liu Cui Yu could step outside, Xu Zhou Ye strode swiftly into the room, carrying Chu Zhi Rou in his arms.
Seeing Chu Zhi Rou’s pale, bloodless face, Liu Cui Yu’s joy instantly vanished, replaced by deep worry. She anxiously cried out, “Rou Rou!”
Chu Zhi Rou gazed up at Liu Cui Yu with deep yearning and admiration, her voice as feeble as a wounded animal, “Mother…”
Liu Cui Yu’s heart nearly shattered at the sight of her precious daughter in such a sorry state.
Xu Zhou Ye spoke with a tone filled with remorse and heartache, “Aunt, the punishment from the Discipline Hall was too severe. After Rou Rou received her sentence, I specially begged Master to allow me to bring her back to heal.”
“Quick, summon the alchemist! Hurry and take the Young Miss…” Liu Cui Yu’s anxious orders threw the room into chaos.
Meanwhile, Ye He Qi and Shi Zi Chu sat calmly to the side, gentle smiles on their lips, quietly watching the panic unfold. The warmth of their smiles didn’t reach their eyes, giving them an air of detached amusement.
Shi Zi Chu, bored with the scene, took out a handkerchief and casually handed it to Ye He Qi.
Ye He Qi glanced at it and was about to use spiritual power to destroy it when Chu Zhi Rou’s weak voice came again, “Big brother…”
Chu Zhi Rou stared fixedly at the handkerchief Shi Zi Chu held between two fingers, her mind suddenly buzzing.
This wasn’t giving—it was clearly returning!
[Why would big brother hand his handkerchief to Shi Zi Chu?!]
Seeing Chu Zhi Rou’s eyes locked tightly onto the handkerchief, Shi Zi Chu’s eyes twinkled mischievously, a sly, rosy smile appearing on her lips.
“My hand is tired.” Her gentle, melodious voice was deliberately softened, sounding sweet and flirtatious.
Ye He Qi turned his head slightly, catching the open threat in Shi Zi Chu’s eyes, and the corner of his lips curled up.
The next moment, he obediently took the handkerchief from Shi Zi Chu’s hand, exactly as she wished.
The handkerchief was clearly crumpled and had been used. Chu Zhi Rou stared in disbelief as her meticulously clean big brother willingly reclaimed it.
In that instant, a thread in Chu Zhi Rou’s mind snapped.
[How could Shi Zi Chu and big brother be this close and familiar?!]
Shi Zi Chu lowered her hand, resting it gently on the armrest, and with an exaggerated look of surprise, acted as though she’d just noticed Xu Zhou Ye and Chu Zhi Rou’s presence.
“Senior Brother? Junior Sister? What are you two doing here?”
Her tone of surprise would’ve made anyone believe she was truly part of Clan Chief Ye’s household.
Chu Zhi Rou, hearing Shi Zi Chu’s confident, familial tone, felt her vision darken, and she finally fainted.
This time, she truly fainted.
Xu Zhou Ye, who was about to interrogate Shi Zi Chu, immediately forgot everything else when he saw Chu Zhi Rou collapse, urgently calling out, “Rou Rou!”
“Rou Rou!” Liu Cui Yu also panicked, rushing about to summon the alchemist. The entire room descended into chaos once again.
Amid the confusion, Ye He Qi and Shi Zi Chu quietly slipped out of Cui An Hall, leisurely strolling down a path paved with smooth stones.
After a short silence, Shi Zi Chu suddenly spoke, “I’m going out for a stroll.”
If she didn’t leave now, Xu Zhou Ye would soon turn his wrath upon her, spoiling her good mood.
Ye He Qi destroyed the handkerchief using spiritual power, “Junior Sister is badly injured. As a good Senior Sister, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for you to wander about now?”
Shi Zi Chu smiled softly, “Clan Chief Ye, as a gentle and caring big brother, isn’t it also inappropriate for you to wander here?”
Indeed, Liu Cui Yu was hardly a fair mother. In her heart, Chu Zhi Rou greatly surpassed Ye He Qi.
This suggested their sibling relationship couldn’t be very warm.
Moreover, Chu Zhi Rou, being the Young Miss of the Ye Clan yet surnamed Chu, was rather intriguing.
Having exchanged sharp words, they parted ways at a fork in the path. Ye He Qi went to play the role of the caring big brother, while Shi Zi Chu headed off to explore the streets.
At Hundred Harmony Courtyard.
When Ye He Qi arrived, Liu Cui Yu stood coldly nearby, her eyes overflowing with pain and worry for her daughter.
Ye Ce, the alchemist standing to one side, respectfully greeted Ye He Qi and reported, “Clan Chief, the Young Miss’s injuries are severe. She urgently needs a Sixth Rank Rejuvenation Pill. However, the Ye Clan currently does not possess any Sixth Rank Drifting Flowers.”
The Rejuvenation Pill was comparable to a Seventh Rank Spirit Pill in terms of value and rarity.
Hearing this, Liu Cui Yu exploded in anger, harshly demanding, “How could the Ye Clan lack something as minor as a Sixth Rank Drifting Flower?!”
Ye Ce, as the chief alchemist of the Ye Clan, clearly understood who truly held power. He glanced toward the mild yet authoritative Clan Chief Ye He Qi, and only then slightly inclined his body and answered Liu Cui Yu, “The Ye Clan’s last few Sixth Rank Drifting Flowers were refined yesterday into Sixth Rank Marrow Cleansing Pills.”
Liu Cui Yu’s face darkened horribly.
Standing to the side, Xu Zhou Ye’s heart stirred. Although Sixth Rank Drifting Flowers were rare, Master probably had some. If he asked earnestly, Master would surely give them to him. After all, he was Master’s first disciple!
“But Old Madam need not panic,” Ye Ce reassured, then turned toward Ye He Qi, saying, “Clan Chief, Cloud Riding Auction House will be auctioning three Drifting Flowers in three days.”
Ye He Qi waved his hand generously, fully embodying a good older brother, “Prepare five million spirit stones. We must secure at least one Drifting Flower.”
Ye Ce respectfully acknowledged.
…
Elsewhere.
Shi Zi Chu walked through the streets, wearing a veiled Mu Li hat. Her eyes behind the delicate white veil eagerly took in the bustling sights, full of novelty and excitement.
Supreme Virtue City was renowned as one of the largest and busiest cities in the cultivation world, infamous for extravagance and luxury.
After a short while, she stepped into an exquisite cosmetic store.
“Greeting, Guest. These shelves are lip rouges, and those over there contain brow powders…” the maid enthusiastically introduced.
Shi Zi Chu gave a small reply, eyes sparkling brightly with curiosity and delight as she gazed at the beautiful array of lip rouges.
The thoughtful maid eagerly continued, “These are samples. Guest can use these cotton swabs to test the colors.”
Every shade suited Shi Zi Chu perfectly. After carefully picking through them, she ultimately selected only five small jars of lip rouge.
At the checkout, the five small jars totaled a shocking one thousand spirit stones, greatly opening Shi Zi Chu’s eyes to the extravagant cost.
Truly a legendary gold-burning city!
After paying, she quickly found a mirror, eager to discover what justified the steep price.
Lifting the white veil slightly, Shi Zi Chu gently dabbed her finger into the lip rouge and softly applied it to her lips.
Once applied, a delicate crimson bloomed upon her lips, rich in color and accompanied by a delightful floral fragrance. Her lips became fuller, more alluring, more radiant than ever before.
Shi Zi Chu pressed her lips together slightly, a charming smile forming naturally. The girl in the mirror shone brilliantly, captivatingly lovely.
[Indeed, expensive things are costly for a reason. This color is truly stunning!]
The store’s business boomed. When Shi Zi Chu applied the lip rouge, numerous young women were entranced. Many soon became enchanted by her captivating smile.
Shi Zi Chu carefully put away her rouge, wiped the residual color from her finger with a handkerchief, and lowered her veil before leaving.
Countless admiring gazes followed her figure. Moments later, the enchanted crowd rushed forward, clamoring to buy the same lip rouge.
Shi Zi Chu soon stepped into another shop, one selling aromatic creams.
A maid greeted her enthusiastically once again, smoothly speaking, “Is Guest visiting for the first time? May I ask what kind of scent you prefer? Something light? Floral or fruity…”
With practiced skill, the maid swiftly listed several fragrances in one breath.