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As Feng Xiao dusted off the debris, a lead box was revealed.
Qian Renxue's breathing suddenly quickened. Even the most obtuse person would understand the precious treasure contained within the box. She saw Feng Xiao's hand hesitate for a moment before opening the box, his slender fingers trembling slightly in the moonlight.
"Click—"
The moment the box opened, the entire cave was suddenly filled with a brilliant blue light. The Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Bone lay quietly in the center of the lead box, crystal clear throughout, as if carved from the purest blue crystal. A deep, ocean-like blue light flowed over the Spirit Bone's surface, with intricate golden patterns winding through it. Each pattern seemed to have stars flowing within it, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura of life.
Just as the Spirit Bone appeared, the golden-patterned Blue Silver Emperor in the cave suddenly swayed violently. Its slender blades of grass shot out like agile snakes, tightly coiling around Feng Xiao's sleeve. The golden patterns on the edges of the leaves flickered on and off, as if expressing some intense emotion.
Feng Xiao looked down at the Blue Silver Grass tangled on his sleeve and couldn't help but chuckle, "What? You're turning against me already?" He flicked the most active leaf with his finger. "If I hadn't stopped it just now, you would have been burned to ashes by the True Sun Fire. Now I'm taking one of your Spirit Bones; isn't this a fair trade?"
The Blue Silver Emperor's leaves immediately trembled even more violently, the golden patterns flickering rapidly. Several tender leaves even curled up in anger, looking exactly like a child whose candy had been snatched away. The two topmost leaves even struck a pose as if putting their hands on their hips—though it had no hips.
Qian Renxue watched from the side, dumbfounded, her golden eyes filled with disbelief. "It…it's scolding you?"
Feng Xiao couldn't help but laugh, intentionally shaking the Spirit Bone in his hand. "Let it scold me, I'm taking the item anyway." He then added maliciously, "How about you scold me louder?"
Upon hearing this, all of the Blue Silver Emperor's leaves suddenly drooped simultaneously, looking utterly helpless, as if defeated by a shameless person. The most amusing part was that it even mimicked a human gesture of putting a hand to its forehead—if grass blades could do that.
Feng Xiao's fingertips gently caressed the blue light flowing over the Spirit Bone's surface, a sly curve appearing at the corner of his lips. "I knew there would be a surprise." He held the Spirit Bone out towards Qian Renxue, a teasing smile in his eyes. "Take it, consider it interest for avenging your father-in-law."
Qian Renxue's golden eyes widened slightly, then she gave him an annoyed glare. The morning light filtered through the water curtain onto her delicate profile, clearly illuminating the fleeting joy that flashed across her face. "Stop babbling." She reached out and pushed the Spirit Bone back, her fingertips accidentally brushing Feng Xiao's hand. "This Spirit Bone isn't suitable for me, you…"
Before she could finish, a blue light flashed before her eyes, and the priceless Spirit Bone had already vanished from Feng Xiao's hand. His movements were so fast that they left an afterimage in the air.
"Since my wife insists…" Feng Xiao feigned a serious bow, but his eyes were full of laughter. "Then I, your husband, shall accept it without further ado."
Qian Renxue's ears turned hot at his address of "wife," a blush spreading from her cheeks to her neck. Her golden eyes narrowed slightly, glaring at Feng Xiao with a hint of annoyance. "You knew there was a Spirit Bone here all along, didn't you? You brought me here specifically for this?"
Feng Xiao chuckled softly, his fingertips playing with the Spirit Bone hidden in his sleeve, its blue light faintly visible through the fabric. He suddenly leaned closer, his warm breath brushing her flushed earlobe. "Just trying my luck." His voice held a hint of lazy amusement. "But now it seems…"
He took half a step back, his gaze lingering on her embarrassed face, intentionally drawing out his words, "My luck has always been very good."
Water droplets fell from the cave ceiling, splashing tiny ripples on the ground between them. Qian Renxue turned her face away, but couldn't hide the slight curve of her lips.
The morning light filtered through the water curtain into the cave, casting a hazy glow over the Blue Silver Emperor. Qian Renxue turned to leave, her robes stirring a gust of air.
"Things are settled here, let's go." She turned her head to look at Feng Xiao, only to find his gaze still lingering on the golden-patterned Blue Silver Emperor.
Feng Xiao's fingertips gently caressed the leaves, a playful glint in his eyes. "Just leave it here like this?"
Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint flashing in her golden pupils. "What? Do you want to raise a Blue Silver Emperor as a wife, just like Tang Hao?"
"Cough." Feng Xiao coughed lightly, looking a bit embarrassed. "Where did you get that idea? I meant, I know a place with abundant spiritual energy that's perfect for its growth." He suddenly leaned closer to Qian Renxue, lowering his voice. "Besides, if Tang Hao and his son return and find their old lair cleared out, not even a blade of grass left…"
Qian Renxue's eyes lit up, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curved upwards. But then she immediately straightened her face. "Even if you want to take it, you have to see if it's willing."
Feng Xiao knelt before the Blue Silver Emperor, a gentle wisp of spirit power condensing on his fingertips. "You are now alone and isolated. If you stay here, you might never see the sunlight outside again." His voice was as soft as water. "I know of a medicinal garden that can help you regain your hundred-thousand-year cultivation sooner."
The Blue Silver Emperor's leaves trembled gently, its golden patterns flickering erratically, revealing a human-like struggle. Seeing this, Feng Xiao took out a crystal-clear jade box from his spirit tool—the same container he had used to store medicines from Dugu Bo's medicinal garden.
Feng Xiao smiled slightly and said, "Forget it, you don't have the right to refuse anyway."
Upon hearing this, the Blue Silver Emperor's leaves suddenly curled up, as if in fear.
Feng Xiao sighed softly, his fingertips carefully avoiding the root system. "If I wanted to harm you, I wouldn't have stopped Xue'er just now." His voice grew even softer. "Only by living will you have a chance to see Tang San again."
This sentence seemed to touch something, and the curled leaves slowly unfurled. Feng Xiao gently transplanted it into the jade box, carefully nurturing every inch of its root system. Qian Renxue watched from the side, suddenly feeling that this usually cynical man now appeared exceptionally gentle.
Feng Xiao held the crystal-clear jade box, sunlight filtering through the box walls and casting dappled shadows on the Blue Silver Emperor's leaves. He winked mischievously at Qian Renxue. "Now this is good, we got both the grass and the Spirit Bone in one go."
Before he finished speaking, the Blue Silver Emperor in the box suddenly raised a leaf and "smacked" Feng Xiao's hand. The force wasn't heavy, but it carried a hint of annoyance, and the golden patterns on the leaf flickered rapidly, looking exactly like a little girl being discussed in public.
"Oh, quite a temper, aren't we?" Feng Xiao chuckled, his fingertip gently tapping the protesting leaf. "Did you understand what we were just talking about?"
The Blue Silver Emperor's leaves suddenly curled up, the two tender leaves at the top overlapping, looking exactly like a child covering its ears. This anthropomorphic action made Qian Renxue unable to help but laugh, her golden eyes brimming with amusement. "It seems someone's shamelessness is too much even for the grass to bear."
Feng Xiao pouted, feigning grievance. "I'm just making the best use of things, aren't I? Senior Dugu's medicinal garden is no ordinary place. If Senior Dugu isn't around in the future, it can also help look after the medicinal garden." He then suddenly lowered his voice, "Besides, once its cultivation recovers, it might even be able to help us…"
"Slap!"
Another leaf slapped his hand, this time with noticeably more force. All of the Blue Silver Emperor's leaves stood upright, the golden patterns flashing wildly, as if saying, "How dare you conspire in front of me!"
Qian Renxue finally couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. In the morning light, her smiling eyes and curved eyebrows made Feng Xiao's eyes light up.
Meanwhile, in a small courtyard of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
The moment Ye Lingling pushed open the carved wooden door, a figure flashed before her. Tang San's hand clamped onto her wrist like an iron vice, his eyes bloodshot. "Miss Lingling, how is my father…?"
Fatigue showed on the girl's pale face as she gently shook her head. "The meridians that could still be repaired before are now riddled with holes. Even with School Master Ning's assistance, I am powerless to reverse it." She looked at her blood-stained fingertips. "He has held on until now purely by the foundation of a Titled Douluo. His life hangs by a thread."
Ning Fengzhi stepped out of the doorway, his staff tapping a dull echo on the ground. He gazed at Tang San's instantly ashen face, his sigh like falling autumn leaves. "Little San, go see him one last time."
Tang San's figure stumbled into the room, like a body from which the soul had been drawn. Ning Fengzhi also slowly left the courtyard, leaving the last moments to Tang San.
Ning Fengzhi waved his sleeve, dismissing his attendants, and personally led the way for Ye Lingling. Outside the courtyard, Gu Rong had already prepared a carriage, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda emblem on its shaft glowing with a blood-red hue in the setting sun.
After Ye Lingling departed in the carriage, Chen Xin couldn't help but speak. "To think that Spirit Hall… would be so ruthless."
Ning Fengzhi caressed the glazed top of his staff, his eyes, reflecting the evening glow, dim. "That child risked everything to come and ask. I suppose within Heaven Dou City…"
"Fengzhi, should we intervene now?" Gu Rong's knuckles cracked.
"We still need to do the superficial work. Tang Hao truly cannot be saved. Prepare a generous gift and send a message to Spirit Hall." As Ning Fengzhi turned, his glazed staff drew a semicircle on the ground. "As for the little girl from the Clear Sky Sect, she will inform Tang Yuehua herself."
Gu Rong bared his teeth, a sinister white smile appearing. "Money and goods settled. Let them fight among themselves."
The bells on the eaves of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda tinkled softly in the evening breeze. Ning Fengzhi's fingertips caressed the top of his glazed staff, and he suddenly asked softly, "How is Rongrong doing recently?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Rong's wrinkled face immediately broke into a smile, even his gray beard perking up. "That girl, she's been much more diligent than when she was at Shrek." He counted on his distinctively jointed fingers. "With that boy's help, her Heart Separation Control realm is getting higher and higher, and her spirit power has also broken through to forty-eighth rank…"
"However…" The old bone changed the subject, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. "That boy went to hunt for his sixth spirit ring a few days ago, and he hasn't returned yet."
Ning Fengzhi's eyes flickered, and his glazed staff tapped lightly on the bluestone slab. "A Spirit Emperor under sixteen…" He looked towards the small courtyard in the distant twilight, his voice as soft as a sigh. "Even with Clear Sky Douluo's personal tutelage, in the end, it's still…"
The rest of the sentence dissipated in the wind.
Twilight, like a veil, enveloped the streets of Heaven Dou City as lights began to twinkle. Ye Lingling's carriage rolled over the bluestone road, slowly stopping before the gilded gates of the Moon Pavilion. She gathered her silver hair, which had been disheveled by the night wind, her fingertips unconsciously caressing the spirit tool at her waist.
"Miss Ye?" The maid who opened the door held up a lantern in surprise. "So late…"
"Take me to see Madame Yuehua." Ye Lingling's voice was softer than usual, like a snowflake falling on a lake.
Inside the warm chamber, Tang Yuehua was tuning a harp. Candlelight cast soft shadows on her delicate profile, and the strings hummed with clear vibrations under her fingertips.
"Lingling?" She looked up, the hair ornament at her temple gently swaying. "Coming so late…"
Her words stopped abruptly. Tang Yuehua's gaze froze on Ye Lingling's somewhat bewildered face, and the taut harp string suddenly snapped with a "zing."
"Has something happened?" She stood up, her silver-embroidered shawl slipping to the floor.
Ye Lingling's throat bobbed. "Tang San is at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School…" She saw Tang Yuehua's face instantly turn pale and quickly added, "Clear Sky Douluo is also there, but I just came from there…"
"Smash!"
The teacup by Tang Yuehua's hand shattered. She swayed, like a candle flame flickering in the wind. Ye Lingling rushed forward to support her frail body, which felt icy cold to the touch.
"Prepare the carriage!" Tang Yuehua grabbed Ye Lingling's wrist, her grip surprisingly strong. "To the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School now! Hurry!"
Outside the courtyard, a maid had already brought the harnessed carriage. In the moonlight, the horses' exhaled white breath looked like wisps of scattered souls.
Inside the speeding carriage, a corner of the silk curtain was lifted by the night wind, letting in scattered specks of light. Tang Yuehua's slender fingers clutched Ye Lingling's wrist tightly, her knuckles white, her voice so soft it seemed it could dissipate at any moment in the rumbling of the wheels. "Lingling, my second brother, he…"
The latter half of the sentence caught in her throat, turning into a trembling gasp. Moonlight filtered through the gauze window, illuminating her exquisitely made-up face, now streaked with tears, a deep bite mark on her lipstick-stained lips.
Ye Lingling clasped her cold hand. "Madame Yuehua…" The girl's voice carried the gentle power unique to a healing Spirit Master. "With School Master Ning's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda assisting, I have done my utmost."
She gently pressed Tang Yuehua's trembling fingers onto the still-wet bloodstains on her own clothes, marks from the treatment. "I didn't want you to have any regrets."
Outside the carriage, an owl's cry suddenly pierced the night, shrill like an ominous prophecy. Tang Yuehua abruptly closed her eyes, hot tears falling onto their clasped hands, staining the bloodstain into a dark red blossom.
The night was as dark as ink, and the carriage sped along the official road. Tang Yuehua constantly lifted the curtain to urge them on, and the coachman's whip-wielding hand was already red. When the iconic glazed pagoda spire of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School finally appeared in sight, the pulling horses were already foaming at the mouth.
"Faster!" Tang Yuehua's voice trembled as never before.
When the carriage screeched to a halt in front of the Sect's main gate, the gilded carriage shaft scraped against the ground, sending out dazzling sparks. The guards at the gate were about to stop them, but then saw Ye Lingling's pale face emerge. The captain of the guards immediately waved them through—School Master Ning had given strict orders: upon seeing Ye Lingling, there was to be no delay.
The heavy vermilion-lacquered gate slowly opened, and the carriage drove directly towards the detached courtyard where Tang Hao was located. Along the way, the glazed lanterns swung violently in the strong wind, casting fragmented shadows.