Chapter 20

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Chapter 20: Title

They ultimately reached Qingshou after eight days aboard the shambling snow lions.

Qingshou lay at the Nine Realms’ heart, overflowing with riches and housing over half the major sects and noble clans.

But a month prior, demonic cultivators from the Thirteen Ghost Domains had infiltrated, pillaging with calculated precision. Even united, the great clans failed to capture them all—a few escaped Qingshou.

The Wen clan suffered worst: no survivors remained, their treasured Book of All Knowledge vanished.

Heavy barriers surrounded Qingshou, requiring identity checks at entry.

The snow lions’ approach halted at guards’ commands.

“Fellow Immortal, present your credentials.”

Suiyin lifted the carriage curtain. “Like this?”

She conjured a flicker of spiritual energy between her fingers.

The guards barely glanced. “Demonic traitors also wield energy. Sect members show tokens. Rogue cultivators leave.”

Qingshou barred rogue cultivators.

“Why exclude us?” Suiyin frowned.

The guard glared at the growing queue. “No entry without tokens. Move along!”

Stranded at Qingshou’s edge yet lacking tokens, retreat seemed impossible.

“What if we represent Liujin Pavilion?”

A woman’s voice rang behind them, bright with anticipation.

Suiyin turned around and saw Lu Ciyou riding a glossy-winged horse, followed by the rescued A Li who wore a half-mask to conceal her injured face.

Since Liujin Pavilion conducted business within Qingshou’s borders, the guards hastily nodded. "Of course, by all means."

Everyone recognized Liujin Pavilion’s blood-robed golden crane emblem, especially seeing the young lady holding Soaring Dragon – the divine weapon.

"They’re my friends," Lu Ciyou declared, pointing at the carriage pulled by the big-headed snow lion.

Suiyin’s eyes brightened.

When the guards hesitated about permitting entry, someone nudged the lead guard. "Don’t cause trouble."

Startled, the guard bowed. "The young master’s friends may pass."

After entering Qingshou, Lu Ciyou hitched a ride in their carriage with her attendant.

"A Li."

She tapped the empty table. The masked girl immediately filled the surface with floral teas and peeled fruits.

Lu Ciyou nibbled fruits and sipped tea served at perfect temperature, looking thoroughly pleased.

Suiyin: "…"

Xia Shi: "…"

"Weren’t you bound for Sanqing Realm?" Lu Ciyou studied Xia Shi’s pallor. "What’s wrong?"

"Poisoned. Seeking cure."

The young lady’s brows knotted. "Poison? By whom? What kind? How severe?"

Her rapid questions betrayed concern she’d never voice aloud. Though she pretended otherwise, Xia Shi’s shared character "Xia" had long earned her friend status.

"A cold poison. No antidote yet," Suiyin interjected, glimpsing the teapot. She poured a cup and handed it to Xia Shi.

Lu Ciyou watched silently. She wouldn’t begrudge a mere drink.

"Your physicians any good? Visit Tongshan Hall’s medical cultivators in town."

The pair exchanged glances and nodded. Tongshan Hall’s healers from Divine Doctor Valley were reputable.

—

The town buzzed with cultivators debating recent events.

Xia Shi caught fragments: "Realm of Canghai… Dragon Spine Blade… Sea Devouring Tower…" The conversation turned to Thirteen Ghost Domains, invoking curses against demons.

"Trouble in Realm of Canghai?" Suiyin whispered.

Xia Shi shook her head. Apart from their brief stay at Beauty Manor, they’d encountered no one during their journey.

"Not our business," Suiyin concluded. "To Tongshan Hall."

Suiyin grabbed Xia Shi’s wrist and pulled her forward.

Ever since Xia Shi guessed Suiyin’s motive for befriending her, every physical contact made her scalp tingle, urging her to retreat.

But whenever Xia Shi resisted, Suiyin would turn with luminous, guileless eyes brimming only with innocent concern.

Xia Shi then stopped struggling.

The physician at Tongshan Hall confirmed poisoning – a cold-natured toxicity, though undiagnosable for antidote creation.

Exiting the hall, Suiyin mumbled, "That healer didn’t deceive us after all."

"Healer?" Lu Ciyou inquired, "You visited Divine Doctor Valley?"

None but Hua Sheng of Divine Doctor Valley dared claim such a title across Nine Realms, though even he refrained from using it.

Xia Shi corrected, "The healer from Beauty Manor."

"Beauty Manor?" Lu Ciyou’s eyes narrowed before shaking her head. "Unknown."

As sunset painted clouds across the sky, the young lady eyed a distant tower.

"We’ll seek remedies tomorrow," she declared. "I’ll accompany you."

Suiyin nodded, eager to rest after days of travel.

The tower proved to be an inn. After securing two premium rooms, Lu Ciyou tugged A Li closer. "We’ll share. You two take the other."

"Perfect!!" Suiyin beamed.

Xia Shi: "…"

Catastrophe loomed.

"Any vacant rooms?" she asked the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper, clutching Lu Ciyou’s superior spiritual stone, grinned widely. "One downstairs! Fine city views!"

Xia Shi’s lips curved involuntarily. "That one."

Relief lightened her spirit until she met Suiyin’s wounded gaze.

"Must we separate?" Suiyin’s lip quivered. "They’re sharing!"

Xia Shi’s pulse jumped. Four Hundred Years of seclusion hadn’t erased her understanding – room-sharing meant partners, not friends.

Let Lu Ciyou and Yan Li do as they pleased. She wouldn’t share with Suiyin.

"You shouldn’t live alone in your condition," Lu Ciyou blurted out.

"Let’s share a room. Two people are safer. If you stay downstairs and something happens at night, we’d all be asleep – who’d notice?"

Suiyin nodded vigorously. "Exactly!"

Xia Shi: "…"

"Tongshan Hall’s physician warned you mustn’t use spiritual power – it stirs the cold poison," Suiyin added with grave seriousness. "We’re staying together!"

"Decided!" Lu Ciyou clapped once, already guiding A Li upstairs.

Her voice floated down, fading as she ascended. "Keep dawdling and we’ll miss the sunset entirely."

The young lady treasured sunrises and sunsets, finding solace in watching crimson horizons swallow the sun until her worries dissolved.

"Coming!"

Suiyin tugged Xia Shi upstairs, then frowned at her icy fingers. "Why’re you freezing?"

Xia Shi twitched her hand as Suiyin pressed it to her own lips, breathing warm air onto the pale digits.

"Not cold. Stop this."

Xia Shi’s trembling voice betrayed her.

Truthfully, Suiyin’s intensity unnerved her – these gestures strayed too far from ordinary friendship.

"You’re shaking like autumn leaves!" Suiyin chided. "Speak up when you need warmth."

Xia Shi pressed her lips tight. Admitting her fear would only wound Suiyin’s feelings.

Better silent.

——

Twilight faded into city lights. Xia Shi meditated cross-legged, directing wisps of spiritual power through her meridians to trace the cold poison’s origin.

Coldness exploded through the room. Frost crystallized beneath her, crawling up walls until the entire chamber glittered under moonlight like silver-dusted glass.

Inside her consciousness sea, Xia Shi stood knee-deep in endless snow. Where spring blossoms once flourished, now only monochrome whiteness stretched beneath snow-choked skies.

She hugged herself, bewildered. This was her mindscape, yet the cold wind stabbed like physical blades, rattling her bones.

Dread coiled in her chest.

Snapping back to reality, she severed the spiritual connection. Frost liquefied instantly, water cascading down walls to pool on the floorboards.

She scrambled to dry the mess with residual energy.

The door creaked open. Suiyin entered carrying a food box, then froze at the flooded floor.

"Xia Shi!"

Dropping the container, she lunged toward the bed where Xia Shi slumped against pillows.

"Minutes apart and this happens!" Suiyin cradled the trembling woman. "Are you hurt?"

Xia Shi took a few breaths to steady the sudden surge of spiritual power before speaking, "I’m fine. I just cleared my meridians, and now I feel better."

Hearing Xia Shi’s voice sounded stronger than during daytime, Suiyin half-believed her explanation.

Seeing the dampness in the room, Suiyin waved her hand. The moisture vanished instantly, leaving everything dry.

Xia Shi’s mood turned complicated.

This simple act had drained her earlier, nearly making her fall off the bed.

"I brought hot soup. Drink some to warm yourself—it’ll help you sleep better."

Suiyin walked to the food box and retrieved the steaming bowl.

She scooped a spoonful, blew on it gently, then held it toward Xia Shi’s lips with practiced ease.

Xia Shi: "……"