Central Plains.
Wuxiang Sect.
Qingsu Hall.
"I am going to the Eastern Wilderness."
"The sect master has already taken back your flying spiritual treasure. Your injuries have not fully healed. If you try to leave by light travel, it will take at least half a month to reach the Eastern Wasteland. By then, your disciple will probably have already started the return journey."
Shen Yuefu held a jade-colored bead chess piece in his hand, placing it on the board slowly and deliberately. He spoke coldly to the man before him.
Yue Qingsu watched the chess piece fall and pulled the cloak around his shoulders tighter. His lips were pale, and his eyes drooped downward. "You are right, but don't you want to go see Qian Qiao?"
"Why would Elder Yue say that? She is fine now. I am merely an elder of Wuxiang Sect, not her teacher. Why would I think of looking for her?" Shen Yuefu picked up another jade bead chess piece and pondered it carefully.
Yue Qingsu nudged a piece on the board, producing a crisp sound. "I understand Qian Qiao's feelings toward you. You are not entirely indifferent to her either."
"Elder Yue, you have lost." Shen Yuefu placed his piece and rose from the table. "My interest in Pei Qianqiao is not what you imagine. Take care of yourself, Elder Yue. I must take my leave."
Shen Yuefu departed.
Yue Qingsu crushed the chess piece in his hand, his eyes darkening slightly. "Young, elegant, noble, cold, strong… It is not surprising that Qian Qiao admires him…"
Outside the hall.
Shen Yuefu gazed coldly to the east, his eyes indifferent.
"Why do people always link men and women to matters of love?"
His attention to Pei Qianqiao's soul lamp was only because he realized the little girl who once saved his life was not Yao Ranran, but her. He had made mistakes before, disregarding his benefactor's life, almost tricked into a marriage contract by Yao Ranran. Now that he understood, it was only right to repay his benefactor.
…
Eastern Wilderness.
Gu Ling Mountain.
"Take this Nine-Turn Bone Rebirth Pill. By tomorrow, they will awaken." Zhou Lili painfully split the seventh-grade pill in half and fed it to Xiao Rong and Tang Xiangyin.
This was a top-grade pill. She had only one left for her own survival, originally given by her father. Now, seeing them so gravely injured and knowing her medical skills were mediocre, she could only give them her life-saving pill.
To show how much she had given, Zhou Lili said heavily, "If I had been a step later, they might not have made it."
Yao Ranran's expression froze. "That serious?"
Zhou Lili nodded gravely. "Very serious."
"Thank heavens they are not beyond saving. Physician Zhou, how much will the consultation cost this time?" Yao Ranran asked the question she had been most worried about.
Zhou Lili hesitated, heart aching.
Her father had sent her here to help her build a closer relationship with the Fairy. She could not charge too much, but she could not take nothing either.
The best approach was to let her understand that she was giving a fair discount without seeming to give charity.
Zhou Lili steeled herself and held up five fingers. "Five spirit stones will suffice."
Yao Ranran's eyes widened. This was incredibly reasonable. Was this real?
"Physician Zhou, five spirit stones… are you sure?"
Even if she charged a little more, Yao Ranran could accept it. Five spirit stones was far too little. She felt guilty for having doubted them all this time.
Seeing Yao Ranran's expression, Zhou Lili knew her tactic had worked perfectly. She felt a rush of satisfaction. By gently steering Yao Ranran to her desired answer, she had both strengthened her impression and increased her gratitude severalfold.
"Even though Physician Zhou says so, I cannot give you just a few spirit stones!" Yao Ranran stubbornly shook her head.
Zhou Lili stopped her quickly. "Five spirit stones are already a lot. In truth, being able to serve a Fairy is my honor. Even though the Nine-Turn Bone Rebirth Pill is extremely precious, money alone cannot guarantee it. You do not need to give me extra spirit stones."
Yao Ranran hesitated while handing over the stones, insisting, "No, Physician Zhou, it is so late, and you are working overtime. I really feel bad. Then let this be your overtime payment if you do not want to pay for the pill."
Yao Ranran grabbed a handful of spirit stones and shook them in front of Zhou Lili. The stones slipped one by one through her fingers.
"No…" Zhou Lili refused loudly. Six spirit stones landed neatly in her hands. Yao Ranran collected her storage pouch.
"…"
Refusal stuck in her throat.
"Physician Zhou, since it is so late, will you stay here tonight, or shall I send you home?" Yao Ranran looked at the darkening sky and pondered.
"If Physician Zhou does not want to leave, you may share the bed with me. That bed was originally paid for in advance by Xiao Jiang. Xiao Rong and I have no mortal coins. Using spirit stones as payment would be unfair. To this day, I have not yet repaid Xiao Jiang. Fortunately, Xiao Jiang is easygoing and never urged me… So, Physician Zhou, will you stay here or shall I send you home?"
Zhou Lili could not hold back. "This entire Daoist temple, and there is only one bed?"
And it was bought on credit…
Yao Ranran clarified, "No, there are three beds in total, but Xiao Rong and Tang Xiangyin are patients. You cannot sleep with them, can you?"
Zhou Lili waved her hand. "I understand… I will go home… no need to escort me…"
At least her new home had a big bed. She walked out in a daze.
She was wrong.
She had overestimated this Fairy.
Not only shameless, but also stingy!
Even her father, who was frugal, never bought an ordinary wooden bed on credit! One spirit stone as a night's overtime fee!
Yao Ranran looked worried. "Physician Zhou, you seem unwell. Why not stay here for the night…
If sharing a bed is uncomfortable, I will give the bed to you. Please do not leave…
What if they do not wake tomorrow? You will not charge me again, right?
Physician Zhou…"
Watching Zhou Lili dart to the opposite side with incredible speed, Yao Ranran stopped in her tracks. "She ran too fast. Could she have guessed my plan?"
She turned back, muttering as she walked, "I hope Xiao Rong and the others wake up quickly tomorrow. Do not waste spirit stones. They should bear this debt at such a young age…"
The lights of Gu Ling Mountain dimmed. Yao Ranran comfortably lay in bed, hugging a soft quilt and drifting into sleep.
Across the nameless peaks, the candlelight also went out. Lu Ziqian set down his brush, lay sideways on the bed, and gazed out at Gu Ling Mountain before peacefully falling asleep.