She looked at Su Wen's serious and deeply concentrated face, a profound feeling blooming in her heart.
A few of the meridians were slightly tangled, but Su Wen, controlling his Soul Sense, resolved them with ease. He was finally able to establish a circular path running from her Dantian through her body and transferred all the medicine into this new channel.
"Do not circulate any spiritual qi yet," he instructed. "The meridians are still injured, and there is a high chance of breaking the circular path. After four hours, your meridian injuries should be significantly healed. At that point, you may circulate your spiritual qi and apply the medicine by yourself."
He handed her a second pill. "Take this pill after at least five hours and circulate its medicinal properties through this opened path. By tomorrow morning, this entire channel should be healed. Then, we can officially begin your body cultivation, that is, start treating the Heavenly Tribulation injuries using this newly opened channel."
Du Yue felt a surge of warmth within her, like a barren desert receiving rain for the first time in a long while. She simply closed her eyes and revelled in the new sensation. When she heard Su Wen's final instructions, she nodded and replied with a bright smile, "Thank you, Young Master of the Mountain."
Su Wen was visibly caught off guard by her smile. Even though half her face was still injured and bandaged, her natural beauty was undeniable, and her smile looked all the more enchanting under the morning sun.
For a moment, Su Wen was speechless; he had no comeback. He simply nodded and stared intently at her wrist, unwilling to look at her face. He struggled to maintain a neutral expression, but his flushed red ears and a small smile betrayed him.
Du Yue watched his reaction and giggled. Trying to sound confused, she inquired, "Mm, Young Master of the Mountain?"
Su Wen still did not look up, managing only a quiet, "Hmm?"
Du Yue then asked, in a shy voice, "How long are you going to hold my hand?"
Su Wen froze. He immediately let go of her hand, stood up, and turned his back to her. "I-I was just checking for any side effects!" he stammered.
"You take your rest... I am going for my sword practice. If you need anything, let me or my grandparents know." Without looking back, he left the courtyard with a hurried pace that he tried to make look unhurried.
Du Yue watched his retreat, slightly stunned. "I didn't know he was the shy type... hehe!" She smiled sweetly.
She rose slowly from her chair and dusted off her robe. Her body still felt warm and light from the medicinal energy circulating gently inside her, but her steps were steady. With that same quiet smile lingering, she walked toward the lakeside lodge following the path he'd taken, though keeping a little distance.
She headed for the wooden table by the water, the same spot where she'd watched him practice yesterday.
Both of them completely failed to notice that in the corner of the courtyard, three pairs of eyes were secretly enjoying the show. Who else could it be but the mischievous grandparents and the little sparrow settled on Grandpa's head, all grinning with an evil delight.
Su Wen stood in the middle of the training ground, finally calming himself down.
'Damn it… I really embarrassed myself in front of her. And why did I run away like that?'
He wanted to bury his face in the dirt.
He took off his robes, revealing his toned muscles and the weight rings strapped all over his body. When he looked up, he spotted Du Yue sitting in the exact same place as yesterday, that gentle smile still on her face. Under the sunlight, she looked even more beautiful… like snow catching the morning light.
His heartbeat jumped, but he forced himself to breathe slowly and focus on cultivation.
He pulled out the Yang Blood Qi Pill from the storage ring which he'd refined from the herbs Assistant Physician Lu gave him.
Today, he was going to train both body refinement and sword cultivation. He swallowed the pill and took out his Grade 2 sword from the storage ring. A wave of heat washed through him, and his pale skin started to turn slightly yellow. He tripled the weight of the Spirit Steel Rings, feeling a heavy, mountain-like pressure on his body.
He gripped the sword with both hands and held it in front of him. Immediately, the sharp sword intent and Space intent shone on the blade. The sword intent felt like it could cut anything it touched, and the space intent seemed to be devouring the space itself.
He started moving and slashing according to the technique, though his movements were sluggish because of the increased weight. The rich Yang Qi from the pill was greedily absorbed by his blood and organs.
His face was slightly contorted, but his eyes remained calm like water. Du Yue just sat there watching, lost in his sword dance, not moving or saying a word.
Su Wen kept practicing for four hours until all the Yang Qi from the pill was finally absorbed. He still hadn't managed to merge both intents, but he felt a little closer to achieving it, just like slowly climbing a stair, step by step, until finally reaching the destination.
He reverted the weights to normal and before he could think about anything else, a soft voice drifted over.
"You're getting better and better with both the intents."
He blinked and looked over. Du Yue stood up, walked toward him, and handed him a towel to wipe off his sweat.
Su Wen glanced at her, took the towel, and wiped his face. "Yeah, trying my best," he said.
Once he was done, she took the towel from him, acting like a caring wife, and asked softly, "With your talent, you could've been accepted by any of the Holy Lands in the Central Continent, even though you've just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Your medical and alchemical skills are top-notch… that's enough for you to stand with the top geniuses there. Why didn't you go?" she asked curiously.
Su Wen looked at her. Even with the bandages, she looked charming, her right eye bright with curiosity.
He couldn't help himself; he reached out and lightly knocked on her forehead, and said smugly, "If I were to go to the Central Continent, then who would have healed you here?"
Du Yue froze for a moment at his teasing words. Her cheeks warmed, but she forced her expression to remain neutral.
"…You really like talking nonsense," she muttered.
Su Wen tilted his head slightly. "Then why did you come all the way here just to tell me that?"
Du Yue opened her mouth, then closed it again. "…I was passing by."
"This is the training courtyard behind the lodge."
She blinked. "…Then I took a wrong turn."
Su Wen could only shake his head but didn't say anything. As if thought of something, he took her wrist and peered into her body using his Soul Sense.
"Good!" he exclaimed. "Your meridians are now in a much better state."
Su Wen's expression turned serious, almost stern in a warm, familiar way. "But don't get reckless. Circulate just enough Spiritual Qi from the healed meridians to restore your Mental Power. You'll need a clear mind and steady soul to peer inward and guide the remaining medicinal properties to the right places."
He tapped her wrist lightly for emphasis.
"Too much Spiritual Qi and those newly healed meridians will tear again. Understood?"
Du Yue nodded, quietly obedient in a way she rarely showed anyone else.
Seeing that, Su Wen softened. "Good. Then… leave the rest to me."
"Hm?" she looked up.
"I'll cook a proper medicinal lunch," he said, already planning ingredients in his head. "Now that your meridians can circulate a little more freely, your body can absorb a richer blend. You'll be able to target the injuries that weren't from the Heavenly Tribulation, but from your fight."
Su Wen paused, then said,
"By tomorrow, the only things left to deal with will be the wounds from the Heavenly Tribulation… and those stubborn, tangled meridians of yours."
Su Wen let go of her hand and started walking toward the farmland to collect ingredients, leaving a frozen and blushing Du Yue standing alone.
This time again, they didn't notice the three pairs of sinister eyes hiding in the darkness, watching them like they were plotting something. Their grins were so wide and twisted that anyone who saw them would be scared out of their mind.