Chapter 142

Chapter 142: Bai Ruo An’s Gentleness and Resolve

Feng He Yun said with a relieved smile: “No matter what, it is good she figured things out. I will not hold it against her for hurting me. Let it settle the score for what happened back then.”

He added, hopeful: “After all this time, Master and Sect Master Shen should not be angry anymore. Shen Sang Ruo’s return should be just around the corner.”

Then he pretended to be mad, teasing: “She even claimed she joined a new sect. Who joins a new sect and still misses her original Senior Brother like this?”

He snorted with pride: “I knew she was bluffing. Good thing my eyes are sharp and I did not believe her. Third Junior Brother, am I right?”

Lu Shi Qing, who rarely picked up his banter, nodded once and answered softly: “Mm.”

He had been close to despair, but Shen Sang Ruo’s actions lit a small flame of hope in his heart. [She cannot have no feelings for us at all, right?] [Maybe she used some method to resist the Seven Emotions Gu.]

[He made up his mind to refine a Gu insect even stronger than the Seven Emotions Gu, determined to draw out Shen Sang Ruo’s true feelings for them.]

Because of Shen Sang Ruo, the two finally reached a truce and decided to hurry back to Flying Cloud Sect.

At that same time, Shen Sang Ruo had already returned to Ninghua Sect and had long since put Flying Cloud Sect out of her mind. After leaving the Phantom Mirage Domain, she parted ways with Fang Yu and each headed back to their own sect.

Inside Ninghua Sect, Immortal Lord Chang Li was still in Closed-Door Cultivation. Ye Huai was practicing his sword, sparring with Song Wei Yan and Su Xi Yu. Daoist Wu Wei could not stop smiling as he guided them from the side.

Watching them recover and train again made it feel like the disaster years ago at Ninghua Sect had never happened. Bai Ruo An sat nearby with a faint smile at the corner of his lips. He spoke now and then, but compared to Daoist Wu Wei, he seemed very quiet. There was no sadness on his face just because he alone could not cultivate. Instead, there was simple joy for his Senior Brothers and his Junior Sister.

After a round of sparring, they paused to rest. Su Xi Yu propped her chin and looked at the sky, saying: “Junior Sister has been gone almost two months. I wonder how she is and whether she found the Heart Core of Myriad-Change Wood.”

Song Wei Yan tapped her on the head and joked: “Why does it feel like when Junior Sister left, she took your soul with her?”

Su Xi Yu chopped back with her palm so fast he almost spat blood, then rolled her eyes and said: “You act like you are not the one asking every day when she will be back.”

During Shen Sang Ruo’s absence, the few of them at Ninghua Sect became like “sister-watching stones,” waiting every day. Besides training, they only paid attention to whether Shen Sang Ruo had returned. Even Ye Huai set aside time each day to wait with You You at the place she usually landed.

Bai Ruo An chuckled and said: “You two, stop arguing. If Junior Sister comes back and sees you like this, she will laugh at you.”

Seeing Bai Ruo An’s calm face, Su Xi Yu felt a little sad and comforted him, saying: “Third Senior Brother, do not worry. Maybe Junior Sister will come back any moment with good news. Things will get better.”

Her words had barely fallen when Shen Sang Ruo appeared in their sight with a bright smile. She lifted her brows and asked playfully: “Senior Sister, what good news do you think I brought back?”

“Junior Sister?!” They jumped up at once and gathered around her, all smiles.

Su Xi Yu squeezed her arm and said: “Good, good, you did not lose weight.”

Shen Sang Ruo laughed and answered: “Of course. I took good care of myself on the road.” She leaned in with shining eyes and urged: “You have not guessed my good news yet. Go on, guess.”

Her trip to the Phantom Mirage Domain had been very fruitful.

Daoist Wu Wei stroked his beard, his eyes narrowing with delight as he said: “Let this old man guess. With that look on your face, you must have found the ten-thousand-year Heart Core of Myriad-Change Wood.”

Shen Sang Ruo praised him with a grin: “Sect Master, your eyes are truly sharp. One guess and you got it.” She took out the heart core and waved it before everyone.

Song Wei Yan rubbed his chin and asked: “So this is the Heart Core of Myriad-Change Wood?”

“That is right,” Shen Sang Ruo said cheerfully, “and with it I can now transform my weapon. What else did I bring back? Guess again.”

Seeing her so confident, Su Xi Yu ventured a bold guess: “I think Junior Sister also found a way from the Old Shaman to cure Third Senior Brother’s eyes.” She quickly added, honest and warm: “If not, it is fine. You have already done enough.”

Bai Ruo An said gently: “Do not put too much pressure on yourself.”

Shen Sang Ruo’s smile deepened as she looked at them. In Ninghua Sect, what she felt from them was simple and true. Smiling was the most direct way to show joy, and she loved to smile. But the last few years at Flying Cloud Sect had filled her days with sorrow. Now, it had all passed. Here at Ninghua Sect, every smile was from her heart.

She straightened and said clearly: “The good news is exactly that.” She took out a glass vial.

Bai Ruo An asked in his calm way: “Is what can cure my eyes inside this vial?” He did not look very surprised, still gentle and steady. He knew that with her here, his eyes would recover sooner or later. He trusted her, because he knew their Junior Sister was remarkable. She had an honest and upright heart and the strength to carry it.

Shen Sang Ruo grew serious and explained: “I cannot promise a full cure. The risk is not small.” She repeated the Old Shaman’s words to Bai Ruo An, then said softly: “Whether to use this Firefly Gu Worm or not, please think carefully, Third Senior Brother. If your eyes get eaten and fail, there may be no second chance.”

She added, earnest and firm: “Do not force yourself because of me. Not using it is not letting me down. If you do not want to try, we will look for another way.”

Bai Ruo An took the vial, lifted it toward his face as if to inspect it, though with his closed eyes no emotion could be seen. It was not a small matter. The others watched in silence, waiting for his choice.

After a long time, Bai Ruo An finally spoke, his voice as warm as lazy sunlight on a spring afternoon: “I will use it.”

Those few words were short but extremely firm.

Shen Sang Ruo nodded and said: “Since you have decided, take out the two Gu insects and place them on your body.” She had already expected this answer. Her Third Senior Brother looked calm as still water, but that did not mean he did not care. Under Immortal Lord Chang Li, they had all been favored by the heavens. Bai Ruo An was tired of living like this. [Even with risk, he would no longer shrink back. He wanted to gamble for himself, for his Junior Sister, and for Ninghua Sect.]