Chapter 68

Chapter 68: She Looked at Shen Sang Ruo and Got a Nosebleed

Shen Sang Ruo thought it over; she could not guarantee the Frostheart Purifying Pill would work. If she said it outright and it failed to clear the poison in Su Xi Yu’s body, that would only give them hope and then crush it. Better to give it as a gift: if it worked, it would be the best surprise for Su Xi Yu; if it did not, Su Xi Yu would not be harmed, and Shen Sang Ruo could look for another way.

When the others heard she came just to see them and even brought gifts, they felt even more amazed.

Last time Shen Sang Ruo returned from the Red Peak Fire Sea, she had already brought them many rare spirit plants and treasures.

Su Xi Yu’s eyes were especially moved: [She gave me a gift. She cares about me!]

Shen Sang Ruo took out the presents she had bought ahead of time and said: “These are some snacks and sweets that have gotten popular outside lately. I thought you might like them.”

The gift itself was not expensive, and in the Cultivation World very few people give food as gifts. But the people of the Ninghua Sect did not care about that.

This was a gift from Shen Sang Ruo.

Her thoughtfulness was the best gift to them. Their faces still showed clear expectation.

She smiled and set a small plate down: “Senior Brother Ye Huai, this is yours.”

Ye Huai’s sharp eyes and cold face looked at the delicate pink pastries she handed over, topped with a few strawberries. Such girlish treats did not seem to match the cool and distant Ye Huai at all. Yet he showed little reaction to the pink shock, accepted the dish, and said in his usual calm tone: “Thank you.”

She turned with another plate and said: “Senior Brother Song Wei Yan, this is for you.” A plate of hibiscus cakes went into Song Wei Yan’s hands. He nodded and said: “Thank you, Junior Sister Sang Ruo.”

She offered the next plate and said: “Senior Brother Bai Ruo An.” Bai Ruo An received a plate of peach blossom crisps.

She faced the elder and said: “Sect Master Wu Wei, yours.” When it reached Daoist Wu Wei, the gift became several High-grade Spirit Stones arranged on a white porcelain plate. Daoist Wu Wei’s eyes lit up at once as he chuckled: “Good, good, good, Sang Girl still understands this old man!” He happily hugged the Spirit Stones away.

At last she stood before Su Xi Yu and said with bright eyes: “Senior Sister Su.” Su Xi Yu’s expression was full of anticipation.

Shen Sang Ruo took out a delicate little box from her storage pouch. She opened it to reveal a small round pill, ice blue and crystal clear, giving off a faint, chilly aura.

Su Xi Yu had once been an Alchemist, so she recognized at a glance that the little sphere was a pill.

She blinked: [Everyone else got desserts. Why did I get a pill?] The puzzlement flashed and vanished.

[Why think so much? Whatever Junior Sister Sang Ruo gives me must have her reason. And everyone else got snacks, but mine is different. That means I’m special to her.]

Cheered up by her own thoughts, Su Xi Yu happily accepted the Frostheart Purifying Pill and said in a clear voice: “Thank you, Junior Sister Sang Ruo!”

Shen Sang Ruo clapped her hands and said: “Everyone, go ahead and try your treats.” Only then did she feel her heart loosen a little.

The others picked up the pastries and began to taste them. Daoist Wu Wei also made a show of it by taking a Spirit Stone, pretending to bite it, then giving a thumbs up and saying: “Mm, it is real!”

Shen Sang Ruo could only laugh and shake her head, then her gaze fell on Su Xi Yu, who was getting ready to take the pill.

Nervous, she watched Su Xi Yu lift the Frostheart Purifying Pill and place it on her tongue. The pill melted at once. Thick lotus fragrance filled Su Xi Yu’s mouth, and cool threads of sensation made her feel extra refreshed.

As a “dessert,” the taste was indeed very good. But treating a pill of this quality like a snack was far too extravagant. [She is so generous with me. She really does care about me!]

Still trying to hide the grin tugging at her lips, Su Xi Yu did not notice that the coolness was spreading through her whole body. It gathered the poison inside her and drew it to one place. As long as that poison was expelled, the toxins in her body would be cleared.

Then everyone saw Su Xi Yu, who had been smiling foolishly at Shen Sang Ruo, slowly let two dark red trails of nosebleed slide down.

Shen Sang Ruo stared: [Huh?]

All of them widened their eyes.

“What is going on?” Song Wei Yan cried out and said: “Whoa, Xiao Yu, you actually got a nosebleed while staring at Junior Sister Sang Ruo!”

“Ah?” Su Xi Yu blinked back to herself, raised a hand to wipe, and saw dark red blood on her fingertips. [No way. Was I that obvious?]

Shen Sang Ruo hurried to pull out a handkerchief and said: “Senior Sister Su, here, wipe first.”

“Thanks, Junior Sister,” Su Xi Yu said, and even while bleeding, she could not help lifting the corners of her mouth. [See? The soft and sweet Junior Sister is better than that airheaded Senior Brother who only knows how to say whoa.]

Because Su Xi Yu had been poisoned for so long, her condition was getting worse, and even small symptoms could not be ignored. The group closed in around her.

Shen Sang Ruo’s eyes were tight with worry as she asked: “Senior Sister Su, how do you feel? Any discomfort anywhere?” She watched every tiny change in Su Xi Yu’s face and body.

She knew the Frostheart Purifying Pill had most likely begun to work. Her efforts these days were paying off; a full cure for Su Xi Yu might be close at hand. But until it was certain, she did not dare relax.

Su Xi Yu tilted her head slightly and said: “No, I actually feel lighter. It’s just that the bleeding won’t stop.”

She felt puzzled: she had only looked at Shen Sang Ruo a few more times. It should not be so intense, right? [Maybe I should look two more times and see?] She put her gaze on Shen Sang Ruo’s face again. Seeing the worry there, she felt another burst of secret joy.

Shen Sang Ruo watched Su Xi Yu peek at her, then look away like she could not hold back a laugh, then look again, blush shyly, and lower her head. But when she lowered her head, the bleeding grew worse, so she quickly lifted her chin again.

Shen Sang Ruo scratched her hair, confused: [Did the poison hurt her brain?] She said nothing, only kept handing Su Xi Yu fresh handkerchiefs.

Bai Ruo An spoke up and said: “The blood color seems darker than normal blood.”

Daoist Wu Wei stroked his beard and said: “Hiss, you are right.”

Song Wei Yan asked: “Xiao Yu, why did you suddenly get a nosebleed?”

Su Xi Yu’s face flushed as she said: “Don’t talk nonsense.” Then she reached out and pushed lightly. Song Wei Yan flew straight back several meters and almost got nailed to the wall.

Song Wei Yan froze: [??? What did I say? How am I wrong?]

He groaned and said as he rubbed his chest: “Still that strong, so it should not be a big problem.”

About a quarter of an hour later, the dark red nosebleed turned bright red and finally stopped.

Su Xi Yu let out a long breath and said: “At last, it stopped.”