The medicinal herb Ning Rongrong gave Xiao Wu was specially picked by Ye Qiu from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well secret realm, just in case she needed it.
Among them was a high-grade medicinal herb called 'Yuanzhi Lily', which had the effect of calming the mind and soothing the nerves.
It was because of it that Xiao Wu was able to wake up early.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong leaned over the bed, watching Xiao Wu slowly open her eyes.
Her crimson eyes trembled, and the surrounding environment came into view.
"Xiao Wu, how do you feel?"
Ning Rongrong lowered her head, looking at her worriedly.
Zhu Zhuqing, on the other hand, had already sat down and slowly helped her up, letting her lean against her warm, exceptionally soft embrace.
"Zhuqing… you don't have to do this, I… I'm fine! I can do it myself…"
Xiao Wu's originally pale face was tinged with a slight flush; the backrest was simply too soft, and she was a little unaccustomed to it.
"Mm!" Zhu Zhuqing nodded, then let her go, her face also feeling a bit hot.
Ning Rongrong stood dazedly by the bed.
She watched the bouncy scene of the two of them squeezed together.
Then she lowered her head and glanced at her own still budding body, feeling a little disappointed.
"Xiao Wu~ You still haven't answered me!"
Ning Rongrong glared at them fiercely again, her tone suddenly carrying a hint of resentment.
"Ning Rongrong~ Thank you, I'm fine now!"
Xiao Wu sat up straight, as if remembering something, and stared intently at Ning Rongrong.
"Phew~ That's good." Hearing her response, Ning Rongrong also breathed a sigh of relief and sat down by the bed.
The air fell silent for a moment.
Two gazes locked onto Ning Rongrong, unmoving.
"Hm? Why are you looking at me like that?" Ning Rongrong looked at them strangely.
"Ning—" Xiao Wu stopped mid-sentence and reorganized her words.
"Rongrong… Can I call you that?"
"Of course you can! Zhuqing calls me that now too!"
Ning Rongrong nodded. During the time Xiao Wu was unconscious, she and Zhu Zhuqing had become much more familiar.
When she was responsible for taking care of Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing would help make her bed.
Xiao Wu's eyes were full of anticipation, and her gaze towards Ning Rongrong was a bit fleeting, occasionally looking at the spirit tool in her hand.
"So, Rongrong, is the practical test over?"
"It's over! We all passed. That Tang San was beaten into a pig's head, haha!"
Ning Rongrong nodded happily. Just thinking of Tang San's bruised and swollen, comical appearance made her want to laugh.
Xiao Wu was not interested in Tang San's condition at all.
She just carefully took Ning Rongrong's small hand, looking at the spirit tool on her wrist.
"Then shouldn't you give me the letter?"
"Ah!?"
Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, then quickly pulled her hand back and covered her spirit tool.
Looking at Xiao Wu's expectant gaze, she lowered her head somewhat reluctantly and nodded gently.
"Alright…"
Light shimmered, and a thick letter appeared in her hand, slowly being handed over to Xiao Wu.
The exchange between the two girls was like some important ceremony.
Xiao Wu's face showed joy as she extended her two small hands and grasped the two corners of the letter.
"..."
She pulled gently twice, but there was no reaction.
She looked up at Ning Rongrong in surprise.
At this moment, Ning Rongrong was lowering her head, pouting, and clutching the letter, unwilling to let go.
"Rongrong… Let go quickly, don't ruin it!"
"S-Sorry."
Hearing Xiao Wu's anxious voice, Ning Rongrong finally let go.
Suddenly, there were two more rivals, and they had even known Ye Qiu longer than her. She still felt a bit awkward inside.
"Mm, it's fine, I know~"
Xiao Wu took the letter in her hand, her movements gentle, slowly smoothing out the creases on it, mumbling softly.
Xiao Wu already knew about the relationship between Ning Rongrong and Ye Qiu from the change in Ning Rongrong's eyes when she mentioned Ye Qiu.
She understood Ning Rongrong's feelings and expressed her understanding of Ning Rongrong's actions.
How could she not feel a trace of bitterness in her heart…
Originally, Xiao Qiu should have only had her!
Her eyes slowly began to well up with tears. She sniffled and carefully opened the envelope.
The letter inside was very thick.
When she took the letter out, Ning Rongrong quickly leaned her head over, eagerly looking at the letter that was about to be unfolded in her hand.
Zhu Zhuqing, sitting behind Xiao Wu, also kept straightening her back, her gaze fixed on the letter in Xiao Wu's hand.
"Rongrong!"
Xiao Wu quickly covered the letter, looking unhappily at Ning Rongrong, who had already pulled her head back.
"..."
Ning Rongrong didn't speak, turning her head away as if nothing had happened.
Whoosh!
Xiao Wu quickly turned her head back again.
Zhu Zhuqing behind her remained motionless, still sitting perfectly straight, expressionless and staring intently in Ning Rongrong's direction.
She was like a guard responsible for keeping watch.
Xiao Wu looked at her suspiciously, holding the letter to her chest, her willow-like brows slightly furrowed.
Suddenly, she threw off the covers and got out of bed.
"Xiao Wu, where are you going?" Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing both looked at her strangely.
Bang!
Xiao Wu didn't speak, walked into the room's bathroom, and closed the door without looking back.
Watching Xiao Wu disappear from her sight.
Ning Rongrong, whose curiosity was not satisfied, felt a bit dejected. She really wanted to know what Ye Qiu would say to Xiao Wu.
It wasn't that she hadn't thought of peeking, but she didn't dare…
If Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu found out, wouldn't that be terrible!
Zhu Zhuqing, on the other hand, didn't show as much emotion.
She just felt it was a pity.
After seeing Xiao Wu go in, she kept staring at Ning Rongrong.
There was some anticipation in her eyes.
Ning Rongrong noticed her gaze.
She looked at her strangely.
"Zhuqing… Why do you keep looking at me like that?"
Zhu Zhuqing still didn't speak, continuing to meet her gaze.
...
After a long stare, there was still no movement.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyebrows slowly furrowed, and there seemed to be disappointment and coldness in her eyes.
"Zhuqing? Are you alright?"
Ning Rongrong felt uncomfortable being stared at by her and cautiously probed.
"Nothing!"
Her voice was cold as she turned her head away and ignored her.
She got up and went back to her bed, continuing to pack her things.
However, the chill emanating from her became even colder.
Her movements were somewhat distracted.
Her throat felt a bit sore, as if something was lodged in it, and she felt a sense of imbalance in her heart.
Why? Why didn't that guy write her a letter?!
Did he forget about her?
But Ning Rongrong clearly said he kept thinking about her!
'Damn Ye Qiu! If you dare to forget me, I will never let you off!'
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes felt a little warm, her delicate fists slowly clenched, her heart filled with resentment.
...
In the bathroom.
Xiao Wu slowly unfolded the letter in her hand.
It felt very thick in her hand, with many words and a long story.
She, who usually had no patience for anything, slowly read it word by word.
The handwriting on it varied in age.
Ye Qiu would add a few lines almost every month, sharing interesting things with her.
Xiao Wu looked at this letter, which was like a diary, and didn't find it boring at all.
Occasionally, she could even see a few love words written by Ye Qiu.
Although they were just simple words like 'I Miss you,' they still made her very satisfied.
Her face, alternating between crying and laughing, showed both sweetness and bitterness.
A few pages seemed to be missing in the middle; Xiao Wu knew that those were contents related to Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.
Ye Qiu said that he would tell her these things in person.
At the end of the letter, the handwriting was very new.
The two short words on it were enough to make her long for him.
"Mm, Xiao Wu will always wait for you!"
...
Outside.
Ning Rongrong was currently leaning against the bathroom door, listening, but unfortunately, she couldn't hear any movement, so she had to give up.
She wandered around idly.
She saw Zhu Zhuqing by the bed, absentmindedly holding a piece of clothing and fiddling with it repeatedly.
Feeling a bit bored, Ning Rongrong jumped to her side.
"Zhuqing, aren't you curious about what's written in the letter?"
"Not curious!"
Zhu Zhuqing responded faintly, but her eyes unconsciously looked towards the bathroom.
"No! You're definitely curious, I saw you just now, you also wanted to sneak… ugh!"
Ning Rongrong's voice stopped under Zhu Zhuqing's cold gaze.
After a moment of silence, Zhu Zhuqing still asked her about Ye Qiu.
"Rongrong, do you know what his cultivation level is now?"
"Of course I do!"
At the mention of this, Ning Rongrong happily spun around, her green dress fanning out like a blooming flower.
"I even helped with his third spirit ring! Hmm… he should be close to breaking through to thirty-second rank now, right?"
Her words were tinged with sweetness, because that evening, Ye Qiu had kissed her for a very, very long time.
Thinking this, her face became even redder.
"Thirty-second rank, huh?"
Zhu Zhuqing murmured, then looked at the still sweetly smiling Ning Rongrong.
Not having received a letter, she could only feel a pang of sourness, and she somehow found Ning Rongrong's current appearance a bit an eyesore.
Suddenly, malice arose in her heart, and her red lips parted slightly.
"It's nothing major, I also helped with his second spirit ring!"
"..." Ning Rongrong's smile suddenly froze, and she looked at her blankly.
"Zhuqing… What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing, just a casual remark!" Zhu Zhuqing responded faintly, turning her head to continue tidying the things on the bed.
"Are you eating—"
Ning Rongrong was about to speak, but Zhu Zhuqing didn't give her a chance, turning her head back to look at her again.
"Oh! Right! My second spirit ring was also hunted by Ye Qiu for me… A Ten Thousand Year one!"
Finally, she added a few words, gave Ning Rongrong a calm look, and then Zhu Zhuqing stopped speaking.
But Ning Rongrong's expression changed.
What kind of casual remark was this? It was already so obvious!
She finally understood; this guy was just showing off to her, deliberately provoking her!
"Zhu Zhuqing! What do you mean?!"
Ning Rongrong glared, she kindly told her about Ye Qiu's situation, and she actually provoked her!
It was simply too much!
"Do you think having a Ten Thousand Year second ring is so amazing?! Hmph. That stinky woman who came after me even has a Ten Thousand Year fourth ring, Ye Qiu will definitely give me something better in the future!"
As Ning Rongrong's angry shout ended, the bathroom door opened in response.
Xiao Wu walked out from inside.
Her face was tear-stained, her eyes red, and she looked at the two girls, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, in confusion.
"Rongrong… What's wrong with you two?"
As soon as she came out, she heard Ning Rongrong sounding like she was scolding someone, saying something about a 'stinky woman'.
"Hmph! Nothing!"
Ning Rongrong snorted coldly, not wanting to make things too tense with them.
She ran to her own bed and sat down, no longer speaking.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ning Rongrong in surprise, somewhat curious as to who the 'stinky woman' she mentioned was.
But she didn't dwell on it for long; she started thinking about her own matters.
Since Ye Qiu was now less than thirty-second rank, could she confess again?
If he still dared to refuse and not take responsibility for her, then she… she would force him!
As she thought about it.
Zhu Zhuqing's face was covered with a layer of shyness.
"Xiao Wu… I… I'll make your bed for you!"
Seeing Xiao Wu still standing at the bathroom door, confused, Zhu Zhuqing got up and walked over.
Ye Qiu told her to protect Xiao Wu, so she naturally had to do her best.
And Ning Rongrong, hearing her words, immediately let out a grinding sound from her teeth.
Just now she was angry with herself, and now she was going to make Xiao Wu's bed.
This was simply differential treatment!
"Ah! Zhu Zhuqing!! Do you think Miss I am easy to bully?!"
"When did I bully you?"
"You just bullied me, you deliberately angered me!" Ning Rongrong stood on the bed, her small face red with anger.
"Zhuqing…?"
Xiao Wu looked at Zhu Zhuqing strangely.
"I… I didn't mean to just now! Sorry…"
Zhu Zhuqing's face bloomed with a few red flowers under Xiao Wu's gaze.
She apologized directly to Ning Rongrong.
If they were to dig deeper and find out that she was deliberately provoking Ning Rongrong because she hadn't received a letter and was jealous of her.
That would make her even more embarrassed!
"Sorry!? What's the use of just saying sorry?!"
Hearing her apology, Ning Rongrong was also stunned.
Then her eyes darted around, a hint of cunning flashing within them.
She bent her knees and jumped directly in front of Zhu Zhuqing, staring intently at her.
"Rongrong, how about we just forget it?"
Xiao Wu quickly blocked between the two.
"What do you want?"
Zhu Zhuqing frowned. That was indeed her momentary impulse. As long as Ning Rongrong wasn't too excessive, she could satisfy her.
"I want you to tell me and Xiao Wu! What did you eat to grow up like that?!"
"Ah~ Ning Rongrong!"
As her words fell, Ning Rongrong bypassed Xiao Wu, extended her mischievous hands, and attacked Zhu Zhuqing.
She was not only curious about the content of Xiao Wu's letter but also very curious about Zhu Zhuqing's growth!
Now that she had the opportunity, she had to seize it properly!
Hearing Ning Rongrong's request, Xiao Wu also froze in place, letting her pounce on Zhu Zhuqing.
"Rongrong, I… I don't want to…"
Xiao Wu's face was flushed.
Though she said she didn't want to, her eyes were already fixed on Zhu Zhuqing, with a hint of envy.
"Ying~! Ning Rongrong! Let go of me, you're hurting me!"
Zhu Zhuqing's indignant voice came through.
...
Heaven Dou City at dusk carried a hint of twilight.
At this moment, Ye Qiu was taking Xiao Lan to various ore shops, purchasing one of the raw materials for making black powder… saltpeter!
As for sulfur, there was plenty available in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well; charcoal was even more self-evident.
"Brother, why are you buying so many stones?"
"To give as a gift to someone!" Ye Qiu held Xiao Lan's hand, moving through the crowd.
"Gift!?" Xiao Lan hugged Ye Qiu's arm, looking at him curiously.
"Alright, you should just honestly eat your candied hawthorns!"
Ye Qiu didn't want to explain further.
He pulled her and walked towards the Prince's Residence.
"Brother, you're going the wrong way, we should go pick up Yan Yan Jie!"
"No, I'll take you to a big meal first!"
To give this grand gift, he still lacked some cannon barrels and needed to ask Xue Qinghe for help.
Two-in-one, a four-thousand-two-character chapter.
I wish everyone a pleasant life!
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