Chapter 471 - 412: What I Owe You

In the forest, Chu Huaixu gently propped up Lin Qingci, who lay weakly in his arms, leaning her back against the large tree.

Tai Tingbai and the others arrived only at this moment.

This alchemy grandmaster from the Daoist Sect took out several elixirs and distributed them to everyone.

He provided different healing elixirs based on their injuries.

Among them, the female state preceptor was undoubtedly the most severely wounded.

"Huaixu, give this Celestial Destiny Pill to the state preceptor," Tai Tingbai instructed.

The Celestial Destiny Pill was the holy grail of healing, named for the idea of snatching life back from the hands of Heaven.

"Okay." Chu Huaixu promptly placed the pill into Lin Qingci’s mouth.

However, as his fingers slightly entered her lips, they touched the bloody saliva.

Even his fingertips were stained red.

The elixir melted instantly upon entering the mouth, causing the female state preceptor to suddenly cough and spew a great deal of fresh blood.

Tai Tingbai, beside her, cast a spell to help digest the medicine’s power.

Regardless, Lin Qingci suffered such grave wounds to save his disciple.

Thus, as a teacher, he certainly felt responsible and was neither stingy with spirit pills and elixirs nor with using his magic to save her.

In truth, those high in the Daoist Sect were quite surprised.

They couldn’t understand why Lin Qingci was willing to go to such lengths for Chu Huaixu?

This was effectively dying in his place!

If not for the Snow Venerable’s Primordial Spirit intentionally holding back, conserving the little power it had left, Lin Qingci would have surely perished on the spot.

The key part was everything happened in the blink of an eye.

The Snow Venerable’s Primordial Spirit once held Ninth Realm cultivation.

This meant Lin Qingci had not the slightest hesitation, choosing sacrifice instantaneously!

Because of this, the gazes of Nangong Yue and the others towards the two seemed somewhat peculiar.

"Huaixu must have done something to betray Shuangjiang?" Nangong Yue pondered.

It’s known that Han Shuangjiang was her personally trained disciple too.

Moreover, she knew in her heart that a mature woman like the state preceptor might possess a fatal attraction for young men.

Chu Huaixu, unaware, was worriedly watching from the side.

After slaying the Snow Venerable’s Primordial Spirit, he barely listened to the system notifications or checked his rewards properly.

His top priority was confirming Lin Qingci’s safety.

If the female state preceptor were to perish like this, Chu Huaixu would truly owe her immensely.

After about half a stick of incense’s time, Tai Tingbai slowly opened his eyes.

But the brow of this Daoist Sect’s Second Elder furrowed slightly, seemingly facing some issues.

"Lin Daoist’s situation is not looking optimistic," he remarked.

"Master, specifically, what is the situation?" Chu Huaixu immediately asked.

Tai Tingbai continued:

"Whether it’s due to some unique aspect of the Snow Venerable’s power or other reasons."

"The physical injuries aren’t that big a problem, but the residual energies must be dealt with, or else the wound won’t recover."

"Yet, I tried just now and to no avail."

"Huaixu, maybe it requires your Dao Seal."

"Perhaps you should try it."

Everyone’s gaze immediately focused on this junior who was only in the Fourth Realm.

It’s amusing how issues even these cultivation tycoons couldn’t solve, Chu Huaixu often handled effortlessly.

He nodded slightly and then lifted his left hand.

[Dao Seal: Nan Liujing], began to radiate golden light.

The golden light, like a warm sun, shone upon Lin Qingci, immediately surging a warm current into her body.

The large blood hole near her lower abdomen began to emit wisps of black smoke.

The residual Kunlun Immortal Power in her body was partially expelled by Chu Huaixu.

Xiahou Yue and the others watched by the side, exchanging puzzled glances.

"Is it that simple?" the National Guardian pondered.

However, realizing the Dao Seal was left by the Dao Ancestor, his heart was reassured.

After some time, Chu Huaixu lowered his left hand.

"Esteemed masters, my low cultivation can’t remove it entirely at once, likely needing several days."

"Alright, it’s not a concern; we need time to heal too." Tai Tingbai nodded.

His injuries were not severe, and he continued, "I’m planning to head back to the Daoist Sect shortly and report the incidents regarding the Snow Venerable and Teng Lingyi to the Sect Leader."

"It’s a grave affair that an evil cultivator infiltrated the Four Great Sects, even reaching a high position within a sect."

"This matter is significant and requires a thorough investigation from top to bottom."

Chu Huaixu nodded slightly at these words.

Everyone wisely refrained from asking Xiahou Yue’s opinion.

As for whether the old emperor of Moon Country would wait anxiously...

Not our business!

....

....

Time passed in the blink of an eye, three days had gone by.

The female state preceptor gradually woke on the second day.

But her injuries were still so severe that she needed care.

Over these days, Chu Huaixu came daily to heal her.

Such days seemed as if he had returned to the Daoist Sect.

After the Emperor’s Divine Thought was vanquished, Chu Huaixu also treated her Sea of Consciousness daily.

Except this time it shifted from treating conscious to physical.

Overall, Lin Qingci found the experience somewhat odd.

The whole process was painful, yet warm amidst the pain.

Chu Huaixu lowered his left hand and said, "State Preceptor, you should be completely healed by tomorrow; then, the Celestial Destiny Pill’s effects will fully manifest, and your body will be fine."

Over the days, the pill’s effects unfolded slowly, accumulating inside her.

Lin Qingci now always seemed suspended by a barely sustained breath, forcibly extending her life.

But once all Kunlun Immortal Power was eradicated, there would likely be no major problems.

"Thank... thank you, Daoist Chu," Lin Qingci said softly, her tone somewhat weak.

Now she appeared slightly pale, even her lip color much duller.

Nonetheless, the usual dignified holiness and innate sternness between her brows seemed utterly faded.

She no longer resembled a temple’s deity but appeared more like a young girl.

"State Preceptor, why thank me? I should be thanking you," Chu Huaixu quickly responded.

While Xiahou Yue was beside, her protective aura as he listened to their conversation felt off; his gaze towards them shifted.

Lin Qingci wasn’t clueless and could sense it.

Thankfully, Xiahou Yue was tactful, knowing the proper place was "under the carriage," not "inside the carriage."

He rose immediately and walked to the cave’s entrance.

"I’ll go for a walk," he said.

With only them left in the cave, the atmosphere turned slightly awkward.

Chu Huaixu, ranked second on the [Accompanying Play Must-Eat List], at this moment didn’t know what to say.

Lin Qingci watched his awkward and conflicted expression. Her hands inside her sleeves clenched into fists, released them, and clenched tight again.

After a long while, her face finally squeezed out a smile.

She then took the initiative to speak:

"Daoist Chu, General Xiahou seems... to misunderstand something."

"I did this because I owe you."

She raised her eyes to peer at Chu Huaixu’s bewildered expression, then turned her gaze away, dropped her eyelids, trembled her lashes, and a smile appeared on her pale face again:

"Now, neither of us owes the other, it’s nice."

...

(ps: Seeking monthly votes.)