NOVEL NEXT Ch. 3
Chapter 3: Fairy, Do You Eat Noodles
“I have already sent a message to my junior martial sister in the sect. She should be somewhere nearby. In a few days, we can return to the palace.”
The door opened, and it was the fairy’s pale and weakened voice.
Lu Changyuan placed the medicine on the wooden table inside the room: “It might be a little bitter. I added poria, black aconite, and green pinellia.”
Qiu Yuehan looked at Lu Changyuan without saying a word.
She still could not see through Lu Changyuan.
This was the first time in her years of cultivating immortality that she had encountered someone completely unreadable.
“I have no reason to harm you, at least not right now.” Lu Changyuan spread his hands: “I am just a country physician eager to pursue immortality.”
Qiu Yuehan did not believe this in the slightest.
She only grew more suspicious that Lu Changyuan was some old monster who had been in seclusion for hundreds of years.
After a pause.
Only then did Qiu Yuehan take the medicine bowl, sipping it in small mouthfuls. Her slender brows furrowed slightly. Then, brushing her hair behind her ear, her delicate neck turned faintly red against its snowy whiteness, dazzling to the eyes.
So bitter!
How did he manage to make it this bitter!
Lu Changyuan’s voice drifted over: “And who is the fairy’s junior martial sister?”
“Another True Disciple of the palace.” Though her tongue was numbed by the bitterness, Qiu Yuehan’s expression did not change: “There are only two True Disciples in the palace—my junior martial sister and I. On ordinary days, our relationship is very good.”
“Then between the fairy and that junior martial sister, who is more likely to become the next Young Palace Mistress?”
Qiu Yuehan lowered her eyes: “I do not know. I do not care about the position of Young Palace Mistress.”
Lu Changyuan could not read her expression.
It seemed she truly did not care about the Young Palace Mistress’ seat.
And the words in his eyes gave clarity.
Everyone in the palace rumored that Qiu Yuehan would be the next Young Palace Mistress.
Qiu Yuehan herself was indifferent, but her junior martial sister was envious to the point of being tainted by Desire Demons.
So the problem lay with that junior martial sister…?
Lu Changyuan changed the subject: “Palace Mistress Jade is already a seventh-realm Jade Radiance cultivator?”
Qiu Yuehan nodded: “Not only that, the Palace Mistress has been in closed-door cultivation for a hundred years, seeking a path beyond the seventh realm.”
“It is very difficult—beyond the seventh realm.”
The seven realms of cultivation were like climbing a staircase to the heavens. At the seventh realm, what one sought was to transcend it, to ascend into immortality.
Qiu Yuehan, of course, knew this: “In nearly three thousand years, only Daoist Chang’an has achieved it.”
Lu Changyuan was stunned.
But quickly, he understood.
Five hundred years ago, that man vanished from the mortal world.
Considering his unmatched strength at that time—no one in the cultivation world combined could defeat him—for such a killing star to disappear without a trace… surely it could only be ascension.
Lu Changyuan rose and opened the window, letting sunlight stream into the room: “I heard Jade Palace was established less than five hundred years ago. Yet your Palace Mistress already has such a foundation, enough to glimpse beyond the seventh realm.”
Inwardly, the fairy sighed.
Why, when Daoist Chang’an swept the cultivation world back then, did he not sweep you away too, old thing?
“Not entirely. Though our palace was founded only a few centuries ago, before the upheaval, we were already somewhat renowned.”
Lu Changyuan had already found Qiu Yuehan’s sword technique from earlier vaguely familiar.
He had not expected it might truly belong to an old acquaintance.
“Tell me in detail.”
Qiu Yuehan spoke softly: “In the past, our palace was called Feather Moon Immortal Palace, and we only accepted women. Later… only with the Palace Mistress’ support did we barely endure that century of turmoil. Countless disciples died or were injured, and so we changed our name to Jade Palace, accepting both men and women.”
For once, Lu Changyuan fell briefly silent, then revealed a strange smile: “So I came at just the right time?”
Qiu Yuehan paused, casting him a strange look: “You could say that. In the future, if you were to join the palace, you might even take a junior martial sister as a Dao companion to ascend the great Dao together. After all… your looks are not bad.”
Even in Qiu Yuehan’s eyes, Lu Changyuan was considered a handsome man.
“Let’s put that aside for now. Move over.”
The fairy’s pretty face frosted with cold.
Lu Changyuan, however, said naturally: “I am very tired. I did not sleep last night. I am just a mortal, unlike you immortals.”
“You—!”
“This is my home, isn’t it.” Lu Changyuan took off his outer robe and sat on the edge of the bed without hesitation: “You are badly wounded. I am considerate enough to share half the bed for you to rest. If you dislike it, you can meditate in that chair over there. But I am truly exhausted.”
Having killed the Heart-Eating Monk, stayed awake all night, and carried Qiu Yuehan down the mountain, Lu Changyuan’s body was indeed fatigued.
Qiu Yuehan bit her red lips, so angry she could not form words.
She pulled back her small feet and shifted further inward.
Lu Changyuan lay down unceremoniously.
His bed now carried a faint feminine fragrance, something he was not used to.
“You… do not move around!”
Half a moment later, thinking of herself as the fish on the chopping block, Qiu Yuehan squeezed out this line.
No reply.
Lu Changyuan was already asleep.
Qiu Yuehan’s beautiful eyes widened instantly.
Asleep!?
The fairy turned her head in disbelief, staring at Lu Changyuan’s face. His eyes were closed, his breath steady through his nose.
Inexplicably.
Qiu Yuehan grew angry, though she did not know why.
At last, her red lips pressed tightly together.
With a sigh, she tugged at the quilt.
Lu Changyuan already had little covering.
Now he had none at all.
The room fell silent again.
The fairy closed her eyes, racing to recover her condition.
But she could not calm her mind.
At its root—
It was because of the man lying beside her.
The most gifted disciple of Jade Palace, and this was the first time in her life she had been this close to a man, even lying on the same bed.
Why was he able to fall asleep?
He had threatened her, even branded her with a demon mark.
How could he just sleep?
Was he not afraid she might behead him in his sleep?
Even if her life was in his hands, was he not afraid she might risk everything, perishing together with him?
Clearly.
Lu Changyuan was not afraid.
When she awoke again, it was already another night.
The chirping of cicadas had become the only music of the evening.
Lu Changyuan yawned.
The fairy’s figure was no longer on the bed.
Time to eat something.
After straightening his wrinkled clothes a little, Lu Changyuan opened the door.
Whoosh!
A sword tore through the tranquil night, splitting it open.
The moonlit breeze flowed with the fairy’s sword.
Qiu Yuehan was practicing.
Lu Changyuan said: “Your injuries aren’t healed, yet you still practice sword?”
The fairy did not speak, her white robes fluttering in the wind.
After a while, Qiu Yuehan sheathed her sword.
“If you miss a day of practice, you know. Miss seven days, your sect knows. Miss a month, your enemy knows. Miss a year, and your grave knows.”
Lu Changyuan patted the clothes at his side: “Well said.”
Qiu Yuehan fixed her gaze on Lu Changyuan.
Just then, clouds drifted across, shadowing half her face—revealing the fragile side of her completely: “What do you think of my sword just now?”
“Very good.”
“Any other thoughts?”
Lu Changyuan shook his head: “No. I am going to cook.”
Want to freeload off Lu Changyuan’s guidance? Not a chance.
Besides, he had never practiced Jade Palace’s sword techniques.
How could he know their subtleties?
And besides—
Even up to the Thirteenth Sword, Jade Palace’s techniques were just… so-so.
“I am making noodles. Do you want some?”
Qiu Yuehan turned her back to Lu Changyuan, silent for a while, then said: “Yes.”