Lin Fan helped Ning Xinyi to the entrance of her chambers, one arm around her waist to steady her. She leaned against him, light and soft, her face pale. For him, it was the perfect setup.
He was about to whisper something dirty in her ear, maybe even steal a small kiss, cope a feel. His free hand slid a little lower, enjoying the curve of her hip, when a sharp voice cut through the air, running the moment.
"Master! Are you alright?!"
A girl in white robes stood in the doorway. Pretty, sharp eyed, and cold, like a younger copy of Ning Xinyi, but without the warmth. Her gaze dropped to Lin Fan's hand at her Master's waist, and her face froze with fury.
Ning Xinyi quickly straightened. "Qing'er! You're back. I'm fine. Better than fine."
She turned to Lin Fan, her expression softening. "Lin Fan, this is my disciple, Bai Qing'er. Qing'er, this is Elder Lin Fan. He saved me."
Bai Qing'er bowed, but her eyes stayed hard. Lin Fan could feel the distrust glaring out of her. Unlike Su Mei's blind gratitude or Ning Xinyi's affection, this girl wasn't buying him for a second.
"A pleasure to meet you," Lin Fan said with his best smile. It didn't work, his sweet voice bounced right off her. His handsome face was working against him.
The mood was ruined. Lin Fan knew when to back off. "Elder Ning, you should rest. I'll come by tomorrow for the next session."
He gave her a look that only she would understand, her cheeks turning red from shyness. Then he bowed because she is still higher in authority and position and left.
As soon as he was gone, Bai Qing'er rushed to her Master's side, helping her to return to her room, gently helping her sit on a couch. "Master, you're pale! What happened? I searched the capital libraries for a cure, but I found nothing. But Master Chen has assured me that he will prepare a special pill for you, one pill will be enough to keep the foundation stable for a month."
She tried to stay hopeful for her Master's sake but Ning Xinyi expressions were different. A grand relief was radiating from her face. "You don't need to search anymore, Qing'er. Elder Lin Fan... his 'Samsara Foundation Reforging Art' worked. My foundation is stable, better than stable."
Bai Qing'er's eyes widened. "Stable? For real? How is that possible…?"
"Check yourself," Ning Xinyi said, her voice trembling with excitement.
They sat cross legged. Bai Qing'er pressed her palm against her Master's back, sending Qi inside. What she found made her freeze. Her Master's dantian, once trembling like a fragile glass would break from a simple shout, or a flickering candle would snuff out from gentle breeze, was now firm as steel and radiant as roaring fire. Not just stable, it was stronger than ever, flawless.
"It's true," Bai Qing'er whispered. She couldn't believe it at all. In her mind Lin Fan was everything a lazy incompetent leech is supposed to be who swindles innocent hearts and takes advantage of it. In a way she is not wrong at all.
Ning Xinyi's eyes filled with tears. "Isn't it wonderful? Elder Lin is a genius. A grandmaster. And so kind and caring..."
Bai Qing'er frowned. She didn't like the way her Master's voice softened on his name.
"Master," she said, slow and cautious. She noticed how her master is getting affectionate with Lin Fan, how the Ice Phoenix of Green Cloud Sect, who is aloof and like a painting. And that scumbag low level filthy Lin Fan was able to touch her? She would not tolerate it at all.
"I've heard things about this Elder Lin. People say he's a pervert. That he scams disciples. Some even whisper about demonic arts."
"Ridiculous!" Ning Xinyi snapped. "Those are just jealous rumors. I've seen it with my own eyes. His art is pure."
Ning Xinyi quickly told her everything, from the secret realm to Malakor, the Bone Sovereign.
Bai Qing'er's face darkened. "Think about it, Master. A realm with a creature called Malakor the Bone Sovereign, does that sound righteous to you? Where did he even find such a place? If it's not demonic, how does he have access?"
Ning Xinyi faltered. The Skeleton Cave had felt wrong. Malakor's voice had been too real, too sorrowful.
"It's just a Lost Realm," she muttered.
"A Lost Realm that repairs and strengthens foundations? Only rare ingredients and pills we have heard about but never a Formation." Bai Qing'er shot back. "That breaks every norm and knowledge of formation. Also, he wants you to go in there five hundred times? For what? Isn't it to corrupt your Ice Phoenix Qi, little by little? That's the real goal."
Ning Xinyi's heart shook. She remembered the stench of decay, the pull of corruption.
"No... he said it was to reforge my foundation...temper is like a sword."
"Master, listen to yourself!" Bai Qing'er grabbed her hands. "You're a Core Formation expert, much higher is cultivation, experience and age. Also, this is your own body, no one else. You know your body better than anyone else, better than me too. Is your foundation stable right now or not?"
Ning Xinyi checked. The truth was clear. Her foundation was flawless.
"Yes... it is."
"Then why would you need four hundred ninety nine more rounds inside that evil demonic cave?" Bai Qing'er pressed harder. "Your own senses say you're cured. Why ignore that and trust some low ranked scumbag with a shady reputation?"
The words hit her. Low ranked. Scumbag.
It was true. Lin Fan was just Qi Condensation. Compared to her, he was nothing. She had been desperate. Maybe blinded. Maybe fooled by his so-called kindness.
Bai Qing'er didn't stop. She continued mad mouthing Lin Fan but using the sweet and polite words. All night she whispered doubts, twisting every action of Lin Fan into a scheme. She painted him as a cunning, perverted demon in disguise.
By sunrise, Ning Xinyi was trembling. Her gratitude had turned into turmoil. A fear has taken deep inside her, what if she has been tainted by Demonic essence. Only Demonic essence can perform such unnatural miracles.
She looked at the stone obelisk in her courtyard. Yesterday it was hope. Today it looked like a doorway to hell.