“Old Turtle! I’m back!” Bai Shuo called out energetically as she pushed open the door of the herb hut, hands on her hips. The old wooden door creaked and groaned like a rickety drum.
Inside, it was silent. She couldn’t hear Old Turtle’s usual snoring that was loud enough to shake the roof.
“Huh? Not here? Has he slipped away to drink again?”
She struck a triumphant pose, but without anyone to witness it, she lost interest and let her arms drop. She sprawled lazily on the vine chair under the old tree, tapping her wrist. “All clear—no one’s around.”
In a flash, the little vine on her wrist transformed back into Fan Yue, who promptly went to the well behind the yard to fetch water, offering it to Bai Shuo. She took a refreshing gulp, patting his head approvingly. “Good disciple.”
Fan Yue’s eyes dimmed a bit as Bai Shuo’s gaze remained fixed on the courtyard gate, not sparing him a glance. But he soon brightened up and went off to the kitchen to prepare something to eat.
Bai Shuo rested her chin in her hand, eyes smiling in delight.
Perfect. Since A-Zhao was destined to be Miao Miao’s sect leader, she’d practically have free rein of the sect. She already imagined that, with him in charge, all the medicinal pills could be brewed by the older disciples, and no one would dare to send her out late at night to gather herbs.
“Singing and sunbathing, yes, life is so grand~~~” Bai Shuo hummed a cheerful tune, and her little disciple dutifully brought over a plate of fragrant osmanthus cakes. She popped one into her mouth, savoring the sweetness, feeling that life couldn’t get any better.
Except for the trouble that big demon might cause… She glanced at Fan Yue, who was glancing at her with hopeful, puppy-like eyes, grinning in a way that was almost too eager to please, as if afraid she might change her mind and chase him away.
Oh well, she thought, might as well keep him around. After all, they were now master and disciple. Even if the big demon regained his memories one day, he couldn’t betray his teacher—there were deities watching, after all!
Right, tomorrow A-Zhao would be going to Wu Tong Phoenix Island. She needed to follow along and prepare extra medicinal supplies.
Bai Shuo quickly got up, rummaged through Old Turtle’s stash, and filled a pouch with the best items she could find, stuffing them all into her storage bag. After working up a sweat, she finally flopped back onto the vine chair, happily envisioning the good times ahead, waiting for Chong Zhao to show up.
But from sunrise to sunset, and finally under the light of the high moon, the person she awaited still hadn’t appeared.
“Even a sect leader has to rest; surely the disciples can’t keep him occupied all night…” Bai Shuo muttered, shivering as a breeze blew by.
Fan Yue, who had been dozing nearby, opened his eyes the moment he heard her shiver and immediately started taking off his outer robe to wrap around her.
“Hey, hey, no need, I’m not cold!” Bai Shuo quickly stopped him, pulling his half-removed robe back up. “Listen here, disciple. We’re a proper sect, good and upright folk, so no randomly taking off clothes in the future.”
“Okay,” he nodded obediently. “Then I’ll make Master some hot tea.”
“Smart.” Bai Shuo grinned, about to shower him with praise when she heard footsteps approaching.
“Hurry, hurry, A-Zhao’s coming—quick, hide…”
Before she could finish, Fan Yue had already transformed back into a small vine and wrapped himself around her wrist.
Bai Shuo let out a sigh of relief and turned around with a big smile. “You brat! Finally decided to come—”
She stopped mid-sentence when she saw who it was. Instead of Chong Zhao, it was Er Yun standing at the herb hut door.
“Senior Sister Er Yun?”
Why would Er Yun, of all people, come all the way to this outer island in the middle of the night?
Er Yun’s expression was uncharacteristically soft, though there was something peculiar in her gaze as she awkwardly lingered by the entrance without saying anything.
“Senior Sister… are you here for medicinal pills?” Bai Shuo guessed, thinking it was the only likely reason.
“No.” Er Yun’s voice was stiff as she thrust a small porcelain bottle toward her. “Here. For you.”
The bottle was filled with a strong spiritual fragrance—it was a second-grade elixir.
“Senior Sister, this is…?”
Er Yun cleared her throat, averting her eyes. “The cold in the Mysterious Ice Cave can damage a half-immortal’s body. This elixir was left for me by my father; it’s far better than those shabby pills you make.”
Bai Shuo looked at her, stunned, then glanced up at the sky as if expecting the moon to have risen from the west. What was going on?
“Hey, do you want it or not…?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Bai Shuo hurriedly took the bottle and clutched it with a delighted grin.
“Thank you, Senior Sister.” Bai Shuo chuckled. Second-grade elixirs were rare, and she didn’t have the skill to make them often. She might as well accept it since Er Yun—despite her usual haughtiness—seemed to have a kind heart.
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