Huan Changming leaned against the cave wall, gazing at the cave entrance above. His expression was hidden in the shadows and could not be clearly seen.
As if things weren't going to go wrong, it's ironic that he was so smug yesterday, thinking he was about to have a new opportunity, but just one night he's been brought back to reality.
A faint sound came from the crack in the rocks inside the cave. Huan Changming reached out and moved the stone above, revealing a white rabbit the size of a palm trapped underneath. Its left leg was covered in blood, and it stared at Huan Changming warily with its red eyes, but its whole body was trembling.
Huan Changming grabbed the rabbit and placed it in front of him. The animal sensed the murderous aura emanating from him, and its survival instinct forced it to begin to struggle.
Huan Changming watched it struggle coldly.
To those in power, the struggles of the weak are like an absurd one-man show; the more the weak struggle, the more unrestrainedly they mock.
He craved revenge and power, but even the heavens seemed to be mocking and toying with him!
He hated his own weakness, incompetence, and vulnerability, just as he hated the frail rabbit on its deathbed. He was just as weak as the rabbit, and his weakness was an eyesore!
Huan Changming's hand began to squeeze inward, compressing the rabbit's small body. Its eyes rolled back, and blood dripped from its legs onto Huan Changming's clothes. A hint of madness flashed in Huan Changming's eyes.
Kill it! Kill it!
Weak things don't deserve to live in this world!
"Junior sister, how did you fall in?" Lu Pianpian was worried about her junior sister, so she came to look for her, but she didn't expect that her junior sister had fallen into the hole.
The cave was very dark. He leaned against the edge of the cave entrance and peered inside. He could vaguely see his junior sister holding a bloodstained white rabbit in her hands. He immediately understood. "Even if it's to save the rabbit, you can't jump into the cave! Are you hurt, junior sister?"
Huan Changming suppressed his bloodthirsty killing intent, took a deep breath to calm his turbulent emotions, and changed his hand from pinching the rabbit to cupping it. His tone softened, "Senior Brother Pianpian, I'm fine, but this little rabbit is probably not going to make it."
"I'll pull you up first, and we'll take the little rabbit home to rescue it!"
Lu Pianpian used a spell from a distance to gently pull Huan Changming out of the cave.
Huan Changming gently cradled the rabbit, as if afraid of hurting it. Tears welled in his eyes as he said to Lu Pianpian, "Senior brother, it's all my fault. Not only do I lack the talent for cultivation, but now I can't even save a little rabbit..."
Seeing her junior sister's kind heart, Lu Pianpian felt even more pity for her. "Junior sister, don't be sad."
He channeled his spiritual energy into the rabbit's body, and the rabbit, which had been on the verge of death, suddenly twitched and regained its life. "Little rabbit, you're alright now. As for your problem with spiritual energy entering your body... as long as you don't give up on the path to immortality, I will definitely find a way to help you."
Huan Changming stroked the rabbit that had come back to life in his arms, finally breaking into a smile through his tears, "Senior brother, why are you so good to me?"
"Because you are my junior sister." Lu Pianpian noticed the dust on Huan Changming's skirt, squatted down to pat it off for him, and then looked up at him with a smile: "Now that I'm your senior brother, I naturally have to be responsible for your future."
Huan Changming's tear-streaked eyelashes trembled, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, and he said softly, "Senior brother, you are so kind."
A note from the author:
Just a heads-up, my junior sister is a total hypocrite, a total green tea bitch, and a total schemer.
Chapter 9
In order to find a way to guide Qi into Huan Changming's body, Lu Pianpian locked herself in the sect's study for three days, reading through many strange and ancient books, and found that Huan Changming's problem was much more troublesome than she had imagined.
For ordinary people to embark on the path to immortality, the first step is to draw qi into their bodies. The key to whether or not one can draw qi into their bodies lies in their aptitude, which is what they often refer to as their innate talent.
Huan Changming's inability to draw qi into his body indicates that his physical constitution is not suitable for cultivating immortality. And physical constitution, like the heart, is something that cannot be changed from birth. Lu Pianpian has been trapped in this dead end for the past few days.
"Senior brother, you've been in the study for a long time. Come out." Huan Juntian knocked on the door outside the study.
"Junior brother, I'll stay a little longer, you don't need to worry about me."
Qu Surou was engrossed in reading a storybook in the courtyard when she overheard Lu Pianpian and Huan Juntian's conversation. She shouted at Huan Juntian, "What's the use of just standing there like a wooden stake at the door? Go in and drag him out!"
Huan Juntian said, "This is not good."
"Fine, then you can let him go to great lengths for the new junior sister and stay inside for the rest of his life."
It's unclear which of Qu Surou's words touched Huan Juntian, but he drew his willow-leaf knife from his waist and was about to slash at the door when it was suddenly flung open from the inside. Huan Juntian's knife stopped half an inch away from Lu Pianpian's nose.
Lu Pianpian looked on in disbelief, "Junior brother, you actually want to kill me?!"
Huan Juntian quickly sheathed his sword and explained, "I just wanted to break open the door, and then you suddenly appeared, Senior Brother..."
Lu Pianpian breathed a sigh of relief. "I see."
Qu Surou looked at the two of them as if they were crazy, "You two are really something, one dares to do it and the other dares to agree."
"Senior sister, I've found a way! Can you check if it's true?" Lu Pianpian handed the book in her arms to Qu Surou. "The book says that there is something called Mo Shuangyu. If you nurture a person with it over the years, it can improve their physical constitution."
Qu Surou took it and glanced at it, then looked at the book cover. "The source of this book is indeed verifiable."
Qu Surou is a skilled doctor. In her spare time, she not only reads storybooks but also many other books and ancient texts. She is the most well-read person in her sect. As long as she says that the book is not fabricated, Lu Pianpian will believe her.
"Great! I'll go tell Changming right away..." Lu Pianpian excitedly grabbed the book and headed to find Huan Changming, but Huan Juntian stopped her. "Junior brother?"
Huan Juntian noticed the dark circles under his eyes and was about to tell him to go back and rest when Huan Changming came over. "Senior Brother Pianpian, is there something you want to tell me?"
"Junior Sister Changming, I've found a way! Your physical constitution can be improved!" Lu Pianpian bypassed Huan Juntian and ran to Huan Changming, noticing he was carrying a food box. "What's this?"
"Senior Brother Pianpian has worried about me for so long. This is a little food I made. I don't know if it suits Senior Brother Pianpian's taste." Huan Changming looked at Lu Pianpian with gratitude. "I knew Senior Brother Pianpian could find a solution for me. Thank you, Senior Brother Pianpian."
Lu Pianpian was touched by his thoughtfulness. "These are all things I promised to do. You're not well yet, so you don't need to cook for me."
The two of them chatted away, oblivious to everyone else. Qu Surou noticed a hint of mutual affection between them and shook her head in disapproval. This caught Huan Changming's attention. "Senior Sister Qu, Senior Brother Huan, I've also made some for you both and placed them in the kitchen. If you don't mind my cooking, please give them a try."
Huan Jun nodded, and Qu Surou said, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
Huan Changming smiled at them, then turned to Lu Pianpian and said, "Senior brother, let's go back to our room to eat."
"good."
Qu Surou walked up behind Huan Juntian and patted him on the back, "Still looking? He's already disappeared."
Huan Juntian snapped out of his daze, picked up his knife, and left.
On the bustling street, a man dressed in brocade robes, accompanied by several servants, each holding a scroll, asked passersby, "Brother, have you seen the person in the portrait?"
The passerby glanced at the scroll, which depicted an exceptionally beautiful woman from a foreign land. His eyes widened in astonishment. "I've never seen anything like it. Such beauty can only be found in dreams..."
Jingyi slammed the scroll shut in displeasure. "Please have some self-respect."
He then took the scroll and went to ask other passersby, until sunset, when the servants were exhausted and complained, "Young master, why don't we stop here for today?"
Jingyi said, "You all go back to the inn to rest first, I'll stay and continue the search."
"this……"
The servants looked at each other in bewilderment. They had been searching for Princess Changming since they left the capital for more than half a month, but to no avail, like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Knowing Princess Huanmi's ruthless nature, they secretly suspected that Princess Changming was no longer alive, but out of respect for their young master, they dared not voice these thoughts.
"You all go back first, I'll be fine on my own."
Before Jing Yi came out, he bribed Huan Mi's men to find out about Huan Changming. He learned that Huan Changming was still alive and might be waiting for him to rescue him. So no matter how long it took, he would never give up the idea of finding Huan Changming.
"Your subordinates will accompany you in your search, young master."
Jing Yi nodded. "Okay."
As night fell, the two brothers, Sheng Guanfa Cai and Sheng Guanfa, carrying lanterns in one hand, walked down the mountain while yawning in unison.
Halfway there, they saw a white shadow whiz past them and disappear into the woods.
With a burst of energy, Fa Cai curiously parted the branches and shone his lantern forward. "How strange! It's a big white cat!"
"Let me see..." Sheng Guan leaned forward, only to see a pair of blue eyes. The white ball suddenly pounced and scratched his face with a claw. "Ouch, help!"
"Big brother, are you alright?"
"The pain woke me up from my drowsiness!"
Upon hearing this, Fa Cai was furious. "How dare you disturb my sleep! I'll catch this little furball and avenge you!"
He turned around to grab the blue-eyed white cat, but found that the white cat had disappeared.
The gatekeeper finally left, and the blue-eyed white cat swiftly leaped up the stone steps, running towards the sect. Just as it was about to leap into the sect, it was blocked by an invisible force and bounced back onto the stone steps. "Meow...meow..."
It lay on the ground, its cat eyes blinking and emitting a faint blue light, as if it were summoning something.
A short while later, a figure walked out from inside the door. The white cat lay on the ground, meowing at him.
Seeing the cat come back to life, Huan Changming showed no surprise. He walked up the stone steps and stood in front of the cat. "Can't you get in?"
The white cat crawled forward, nestled at his feet, and spoke in a voice like that of a three- or four-year-old boy, "The celestial aura here is too strong..."
Huan Changming picked it up from the ground. "What happened?"
"Jingyi is looking for you everywhere, and Wuyao of the Western Night Kingdom is also looking for you."
The royal family of Xiye Kingdom has few heirs, and the only son is Wu Yao. If the current king passes away, Wu Yao will be the next king.
It's not surprising that Jing Yi sought him out, but it is strange that the future King of Xiye would seek him out.
Huan Changming pondered Wu Yao's purpose in seeking him out, and suddenly a smile appeared on his lips as he patted the cat in his arms. "Keep a close eye on Wu Yao's whereabouts. If things don't go smoothly for me this time, then lead him to me."
"I see."
The white cat recovered its vitality after lying in his arms for a while, nimbly jumped down from his arms, and disappeared into the bushes in no time.
In order to find Mo Shuangyu for Huan Changming, Lu Pianpian got up before dawn the next day.
He quietly closed Huan Juntian's door, when someone grabbed his sleeve from behind. "Senior Brother Pianpian."
Lu Pianpian turned around and smiled, "Junior Sister Changming, why are you up so early?"
"Because I'm going out with my senior brother today."
Lu Pianpian was taken aback. "You want to come with me to find Mo Shuangyu? But Mo Shuangyu grows on a frigid snow mountain. You haven't recovered for long. You should stay in the sect."
Huan Changming shook his head and said, "Senior Brother Pianpian went to find the jade for my sake. How can I let him go alone? Senior Brother, there's no need to persuade me anymore. Changming's mind is made up."
Seeing that he was determined not to give up no matter what, Lu Pianpian had no choice but to nod.
Lu Pianpian specifically looked up records about Mo Shuang Jade. This jade prefers cold weather and often grows on snow-capped mountains. Coincidentally, there is a snow-covered mountain about 500 miles north of the sect. If they are lucky this time, they might actually be able to find it.
The five-hundred-mile journey on the sword took only two or three hours to reach the ground. The surrounding cold air rushed towards them. Lu Pianpian used her spiritual energy to protect herself from the severe cold, while Huan Changming, although he had already changed into cotton clothes, was still shivering from the cold.
Lu Pianpian handed a section of her sleeve to Huan Changming, saying, "Don't get lost, junior sister."
He had his back to Huan Changming, who noticed a faint blush rising behind his fair ears.
Huan Changming smiled inwardly, swept his sleeve aside, and grasped Lu Pianpian's hand. "Alright, Senior Brother."
Lu Pianpian gently tried to pull her hand away, but couldn't. Huan Changming noticed and asked, "What's wrong, Senior Brother?"
Lu Pianpian quickly shook her head, and Huan Changming took the opportunity to grip her hand even tighter, "Then let's go."