Chapter 58
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Chapter 58: Title
“How are you?” Suiyin grasped Xia Shi’s hands, pressing them to her mouth to warm them with her breath while channeling spiritual energy into the trembling woman.
Xia Shi slumped against Suiyin’s shoulder, her frost-coated cheek seeking warmth against the other’s neck despite the contact. Suiyin tightened her embrace. “Where’s the medicine?”
But Xia Shi only shivered violently, beyond coherent speech. Guilt clenched Suiyin’s chest—this accelerated poisoning resulted from Xia Shi shielding her earlier.
She rummaged through Xia Shi’s storage ring until finding a familiar medicine bottle resembling the healer’s gift from Beauty Manor. After inspecting the frost-marbled face pressed to her shoulder, Suiyin swallowed one pill herself before feeding another to Xia Shi. “If this harms you, we’ll endure it together.”
Shedding her outer garment to wrap around Xia Shi, Suiyin carried her toward the courtyard’s inhabited quarters. The elegant residence’s lotus ponds glimmered under the corridor roof, fish darting between blossoms. Beyond the covered walkway sat a low pavilion where a woman peeled lotus seeds beside a teapot steaming with lotus heart brew.
Jiang Yun turned at the footsteps, shock widening her gaze. “How…?” Her hands stilled above the scattered lotus petals. Years had passed since any intruder breached her sanctuary in this Blood Demon-plagued Yunze.
“She’s freezing,” Jiang Yun observed when Suiyin avoided her reaching hand. The silver-threaded hair and wrinkled eyes disarmed suspicion—no cultivator aged so naturally without spiritual power.
Suiyin’s arms tightened around her burden as Jiang Yun gestured toward the tea. “This might ease her.”
“My thanks.” Seated at the pavilion table, Suiyin cradled Xia Shi while accepting the offered teacup. Her spiritual energy still flowed uselessly into the woman trembling against her chest.
"Be careful, it’s hot," Jiang Yun cautioned.
Suiyin nodded, tapping the cup lightly with her fingertip. A soft swirl of sword energy enveloped the rim, scattering the rising steam.
She tested a small sip before carefully offering the drink.
Xia Shi lay barely conscious, her bones pierced by icy gusts while fiery heat scorched her meridians—a torturous clash of extremes.
As warm liquid brushed her lips, Xia Shi twitched them weakly. Swallowing proved impossible.
Half the tea spilled down Xia Shi’s chin, staining her clothes. Suiyin hastily wiped the mess with her sleeve.
"Just a little sip?" Suiyin murmured, knowing her words might not reach but persisting in gentle tones.
Though lacking spiritual power herself, Jiang Yun recognized this was no ordinary chill. The young cultivator’s protective urgency reminded her painfully of Jiang Fenghe’s childhood devotion—how the Jiang family’s second son had fiercely shielded his sister from all slights in Si Hai City.
Jiang Yun sighed quietly, returning the teapot to the stove.
"Are you sisters?" she asked, already doubting her own question. Their features shared no resemblance, the younger possessing striking beauty even among cultivators.
"No." Suiyin hesitated before adding, "She’s my… friend." The strained admission carried unintended weight.
Jiang Yun lowered her gaze, old wounds surfacing. Bonds between women rarely flourished so intensely—even her own sisterly tie with Fenghe bore complications.
"Night approaches with harsh winds," she said softly, pushing aside memories. "Bring her to my chamber."
Suiyin paused, then nodded at the non-cultivator’s kindness.
The warm bedroom smelled of sandalwood. "Set her down," Jiang Yun urged gently. "Your arms must ache."
Suiyin nearly protested until catching the woman’s knowing smile. Flushing, she carefully transferred Xia Shi to the bed.
As Suiyin rose to thank her host properly, a deathly pale hand clenched her waist sash with desperate strength. She sank back down, dabbing Xia Shi’s sweaty brow.
The medicine seemed to ease the worst chills, yet Xia Shi’s face remained corpse-pale.
Jiang Yun turned from the screen, throat tightening at the familiar scene.
"Sister! I’m home!"
The shout beyond the door snapped Suiyin alert—a cultivator’s voice, powerful and approaching.
"Don’t fear," Jiang Yun interjected quickly. "My… brother means no harm." She slipped outside to greet him.
"Big sister, look, I brought your favorite bean buns." Jiang Fenghe strode over with an ornate food box.
Jiang Yun smiled and reached to accept it. "Ah He remembered my preferences."
"Naturally."
Jiang Fenghe’s smile abruptly vanished. His sharp gaze snapped toward the bedroom.
"Sister, someone’s inside?"
"Yes." Jiang Yun saw no point in hiding it. "Two girls. One’s injured."
"Is that so." His voice turned cold as he passed the food box to his sister. "I’ll investigate. Wait here."
Black mist coiled around his left hand upon entering the room, materializing into a knife.
Behind the screen, a sword-wielding figure stood silhouetted.
"Bold of you to invade my sister’s space." Anger burned in Jiang Fenghe’s gaze as he gradually unsheathed the Blood-Draining Knife.
Steel rang as the stranger drew their blade simultaneously.
Clashing energies shattered the dividing screen.
Suiyin gaped at the man, fingers tightening around her hilt. "You…"
The Thirteen Ghost Domains member who’d rescued her in Lingyang Secret Realm.
The pieces clicked – the knife wielder who could execute Broken Mountain Sea techniques.
"So-"
"You’re the Floating Life Palace Master. The Blue Knife."
Now she understood why Blood Demons avoided this place.
Jiang Fenghe moistened his lips, eyes gleaming. The Blood-Draining Knife trembled eagerly in his grip, matching his excitement.
"Ah He!" Jiang Yun entered, frowning at the debris.
Instantly, Jiang Fenghe’s murderous aura dissipated. His knife vanished.
The swift concealment hid his ferocity from Jiang Yun’s view.
Pointing at Suiyin’s unsheathed sword, Jiang Fenghe blurted, "Sister! Not my fault – hers!"
Suiyin: "…"
As she opened her mouth, icy words pierced her ear via voice transmission: "Mention anything improper and I’ll slaughter you both."
Sheathing her sword, Suiyin bowed. "My reckless impulse caused this. I’ll compensate fully."
Jiang Yun chuckled. "Just a screen. No matter. Your name?"
"Suiyin. She’s Xia Shi."
"Jiang Yun. My younger brother Jiang Fenghe."
Jiang Fenghe’s brow twitched at the introduction.
"Rest here tonight." Jiang Yun tugged her brother’s sleeve. "Check your medicines for Xia Shi’s injuries."
Jiang Fenghe nodded in agreement. “Alright.”
He stepped forward, raising his hand under Suiyin’s fearful gaze.
Suiyin blocked him urgently, saying, “She already took medicine. Rest will heal her.”
Her icy stare met his as she hissed in voices meant only for them: “Stay away from her.”
Disdain flooded Jiang Fenghe’s gaze. “Don’t forget whose territory this is.”
“What of it?” Suiyin held his stare unflinchingly. “Harm her, and I’ll kill you even if it costs my life.”
“Kill me?” Jiang Fenghe chuckled darkly. Twelve heavenly lightning strikes had failed to end him, yet this mortal dared such boasts.
He tilted his chin arrogantly, then froze mid-motion. His eyes locked onto the jade bead at her wrist. “Who gave you that?”
Suiyin frowned. “What?”
“The jade bead on your wrist,” he repeated with uncharacteristic patience, his earlier arrogance replaced by guarded curiosity.
“None of your concern,” Suiyin snapped, refusing to mention Aunt Yan to this Thirteen Ghost Domains schemer.
Jiang Fenghe snorted, peering past her at the bed. “Withered Heart Grass… That medicine didn’t come from some quack healer, did it?”
Suiyin’s eyes widened. How could he know?
“Relax. If she provided the cure, this girl won’t die.” Jiang Fenghe retreated with a smirk. “The medicine won’t harm her… but you—”
Leaving the threat unfinished, he departed with Jiang Yun.
Once gone, Suiyin hastily erected a barrier, too preoccupied to ponder Blue Knife’s ominous words.
The girl on the bed stirred awake.
