Chapter 074
Chapter 74: Chu Zhi Rou Was Angered to the Point of Coughing Blood?
Ye He Qi and Su Zhu approached, one ahead and one behind.
Su Zhu quietly moved closer to Shi Zi Chu and sat beside her, unable to control her eyes from sneaking glances at Shi Zi Chu.
Ye He Qi sat opposite Shi Zi Chu. Watching her casually pop another spirit pill into her mouth, he asked curiously, “What kind of spirit pill is that?” It felt as if Shi Zi Chu were merely eating candy.
Shi Zi Chu generously poured out two spirit pills and handed them to the pair.
Ye He Qi reached out, took one, and put it in his mouth. The pill didn’t melt instantly, nor was it bitter, but it certainly wasn’t candy. After chewing for a moment, Ye He Qi made a guess, “Is it a fourth-grade spirit pill made from Tianrun willow leaves?”
Fourth-grade Tianrun willow leaves were warm in nature and sweet to taste, making them exceptionally good for healing. But their guardian spirit beasts were far harder to slay than those protecting ordinary fourth-grade spirit herbs. Thus, Tianrun willow leaves were rather expensive.
Shi Zi Chu nodded.
Su Zhu stared hesitantly at the ordinary-looking spirit pill between her fingertips, reluctant to place it into her mouth. To her, a spirit pill refined from fourth-grade herbs was far too precious. So, she quietly tucked the pill away.
“The elders of the Ye Clan harbor deep prejudice against Liu Cui Yu,” Ye He Qi said gently. Luckily, Shi Zi Chu had visited the Cui’an Hall. Worried and anxious, Liu Cui Yu had caused quite a fuss at the Main Hill, further irritating the already displeased elders.
Shi Zi Chu nodded again, popping another spirit pill into her mouth.
“Su Zhu needs to stay at Ye Clan for a while,” Ye He Qi’s tone turned more serious, “At least a month or two.”
Firstly, he didn’t want an idiot. Secondly, Su Zhu needed to develop absolute loyalty toward him and Ye Clan. Currently, Su Zhu satisfied neither condition.
“Two months,” Shi Zi Chu decisively gave a deadline. Chu Zhi Rou was the female protagonist, protected by great fortune. Such a minor injury could only hold her back temporarily. Su Zhu was a crucial chess piece!
Ye He Qi nodded.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first,” Shi Zi Chu said. Rising Succession Peak was better suited for recuperation. Besides, things were far too peaceful around Chu Zhi Rou lately. It was time she stirred up some trouble for her.
Ye He Qi quickly said, “I’ll accompany you.” He wouldn’t feel at ease unless he personally escorted Shi Zi Chu back to Rising Succession Peak.
Shi Zi Chu certainly wouldn’t refuse such a willing bodyguard.
Before leaving, Shi Zi Chu smiled softly at Su Zhu and said gently, “Su Zhu, we’ll meet again.” That one gentle sentence fed Su Zhu an invisible pill of reassurance, binding her heart.
——
Rising Succession Peak.
After parting with Ye He Qi, Shi Zi Chu made her way to Vigilance Peak. Chu Zhi Rou’s condition was grave—so severe that she had to remain bedridden to recuperate.
Shi Zi Chu approached the door and knocked gently.
“Come in,” came a weak voice, so faint it could only be heard by cultivators with enhanced hearing.
Shi Zi Chu elegantly stepped into the room. The crowded chamber fell silent at once. Countless wary eyes, unable to hide their amazement, instantly turned toward Shi Zi Chu.
Chu Zhi Rou had always been well-liked, and disciples from other peaks had come to visit upon hearing of her severe injuries. Right now, the room was filled with disciples from various peaks, both men and women.
Chu Zhi Rou reclined weakly upon a luxurious noble consort’s couch, her delicate face pale yet gently smiling. She looked frail, fragile, evoking deep instincts to protect her.
Seeing the undisguised admiration in the eyes of the disciples, jealousy slowly consumed Chu Zhi Rou’s mind. [What else does Shi Zi Chu have besides that face of hers? If only she were disfigured!]
Observing how packed the room was, Shi Zi Chu didn’t squeeze in, simply remarking, “Sixth Junior Sister seems very popular today.”
“Sixth Junior Sister?” A sharp disciple immediately caught the hidden meaning and asked, “Is Venerable Xing Lan accepting another disciple?”
Shi Zi Chu blinked in apparent surprise, her voice innocent, “Master brought back our little Junior Brother over a month ago. You all didn’t know?”
Those who were better informed quickly guessed, “That Liang Wei Sheng?”
Indeed, Venerable Xing Lan had brought back a young man not long ago. They had investigated, but Hua Ting Li knew nothing, and Xu Zhou Ye refused to speak.
“Junior Sister Chu said he was worthless, just an honorary disciple of Rising Succession Peak. How could he possibly become Venerable Xing Lan’s personal disciple?”
Immediately, half of the gazes landed on Chu Zhi Rou, while the rest settled on Shi Zi Chu. Facing those questioning looks, Chu Zhi Rou slightly clenched her hand on her lap but maintained a composed expression.
She lifted her head, her eyes filled with confusion as she stared at Shi Zi Chu across the room, “Second Senior Sister, why haven’t I heard Master mention anything about accepting him as a personal disciple?”
With those words, every eye in the room turned suspiciously toward Shi Zi Chu. Shi Zi Chu had a history of stirring trouble, whereas Chu Zhi Rou enjoyed great popularity and a good reputation.
“Sixth Junior Sister has forgotten?” Shi Zi Chu sighed helplessly, “Master announced it himself at the Cloud-Riding Auction. He values our little Junior Brother greatly. He even took out his treasured spirit healing pill just to heal him.”
“Spirit healing pill?!”
“Eighth-rank spirit healing pill?!” Two alchemists in the room lost their composure, blurting out in shock.
Shi Zi Chu nodded gently, smiling, “Yes, indeed. I planned to check on little Junior Brother later. With the spirit healing pill, I’m sure he’s fully recovered by now.”
Hearing Shi Zi Chu’s words, Chu Zhi Rou’s carefully maintained expression instantly cracked.
[Liang Wei Sheng!!! Shi Zi Chu!!! These two wretches!]
First, they had taken the drifting flower that should have been hers, and now, the spirit healing pill! [Why didn’t they just drop dead?!]
“Cough, cough, cough…” Agitated beyond control, Chu Zhi Rou began coughing violently. Soon, she coughed up blood.
Shi Zi Chu raised an elegant brow.
[Chu Zhi Rou was angered to coughing blood just like that? It’s barely even begun!]
“Is Sixth Junior Sister alright?” Shi Zi Chu’s tone was overflowing with sincere concern.
Two young ladies sitting beside Chu Zhi Rou quickly crowded around her, offering comfort. Immediately, everyone’s attention focused on Chu Zhi Rou.
“Junior Sister Chu is gravely wounded and needs the spirit healing pill…” Sacred Dawn Peak’s alchemist, Zhang Ming Zhan, spoke anxiously, “The spirit healing pill is exceedingly rare. If Venerable Xing Lan has two, it would be fine, but if there’s only one…”
Zhang Ming Zhan was one of Chu Zhi Rou’s loyal, lovesick supporting characters without a proper title. Seeing his worried face, Shi Zi Chu lightly smiled.
“I heard Master has only one spirit healing pill,” Shi Zi Chu lowered her long lashes like delicate butterfly wings, and when she lifted her gaze again, her eyes brimmed with worry, “What should we do now?”
Venerable Xing Lan had an impressive pill-refinement rate, and his collected herbs could easily produce more spirit healing pills. But Xing Lan had said clearly that all those resources belonged solely to her~
“No wonder Senior Brother Xu couldn’t request the spirit pill,” Zhang Ming Zhan muttered quietly.
This simple remark stabbed right into Chu Zhi Rou’s heart.
Only one spirit healing pill existed?! [Then what about me?! What will I do?!]
Chu Zhi Rou, who had held a faint hope, fell into despair. Imagining herself left with permanent injuries affecting her cultivation, panic overwhelmed her. Her severely weakened body couldn’t endure this emotional turmoil.
“Pfft—” Another mouthful of blood came out, and Chu Zhi Rou collapsed, unconscious.
Instantly, the room descended into chaos.
Standing near the door, Shi Zi Chu observed Chu Zhi Rou lying senselessly upon the couch, blood staining her robes. Having accomplished her purpose, Shi Zi Chu quietly retreated.
Listening to the villainess system angrily cursing and shouting inside her head, Shi Zi Chu took it as praise, happily returning to the Main Peak.