Chapter 58 [058] Shock

Zhongli Jin pushed open the door, and bursts of medicinal aroma came from the room, white smoke filled the air, and the incense burner was burning with medicine that could promote the body's recovery.

Cangying was sitting on a stool beside the bed, pounding medicine. When she heard the sound at the door, she frowned slightly and said, "Didn't I say I came here to - Junior Brother Zhongli?"

She looked up and saw the boy, a little surprised, "Why are you here?! Have you finished the medicinal bath?"

Zhong Lijin bowed to Cangying and said gently, "It's finished. I came to see how you and Senior Sister Shiqing are doing."

Cangying was shocked when she heard these flowery words: "You, you, you recovered your memory?!"

Only sixteen-year-old Junior Brother Zhongli could speak so politely!
The young man had beautiful eyebrows and eyes, a gentle and reserved expression, and a steady tone, "Yes, I recovered last night at Bald Rock Ridge. During this period... I lost those two years of memory, and many of my behaviors were too childish. I really caused trouble for you, Senior Sister. I'm sorry."

Zhongli Jin looked apologetic, his body still emitting the scent of medicine having just taken a medicinal bath, his clothes were clean and tidy, pure white as snow, with some light-colored bamboo patterns embroidered on them, and he looked elegant, gentle, beautiful and intelligent, like a pool of soft warm water, making one's heart beat faster.

"No, it's okay!" Cangying turned into a clamp in a second, stamped her feet, and moved shyly, "Oh! What's the point of saying I'm not sorry? Even if it's Junior Brother Zhongli who lost two years of memory, he is still very polite!"

Zhong Lijin smiled slightly, then fixed his eyes on Shi Qing who was lying on the bed. He lowered his eyes slightly and asked in a low and calm voice, "Sister Shi Qing, how is your health now?"

Cangying walked to the bedside, continued pounding the medicine in her hands, and sighed, "It's nothing serious, it's just that he's too weak. His spiritual roots are so weak that they can't even absorb spiritual energy. I'm afraid it will take a hundred days to heal this injury, and he'll have to recuperate for a while."

The young man glanced at Cangying and asked, "Senior Sister Shiqing also performed a spell before, right?"

"She did, six years ago, when she was eleven years old," Cangying said, "She leapt from the Qi training stage to the Golden Core stage and killed a mid-level demon wolf. That time, her body was hollowed out, and she was unconscious in bed for several days before she woke up."

Zhong Lijin asked: "Sister Cang, do you know the technique that Sister Shiqing practices?"

Cangying paused after pounding the medicine, then raised her eyes and slowly looked towards Zhongli Jin.

The boy's black pupils were like a dark pool, so deep that one could not see the bottom, as if they could suck people in in the next second.

She knew that she couldn't hide this from Zhong Lijin, and since he had seen it anyway, she might as well tell him all about it.

"I know," Cangying nodded, "It's the Void Thought Technique, and only those who are ready to die can practice it."

"Then, senior sister, do you know why the master guided senior sister Shiqing to practice this technique?" Zhongli Jin asked with his eyes slightly gloomy.

“I don’t know about that.” The girl sighed and wrapped the pounded medicinal residue with a gauze net. “When I met Shi Qing, she had already drawn Qi into her body and started practicing the Void Thought Technique.”

"In her own words, it was to become stronger. She entered the Dao and practiced in order to become a strong person, the only strong person in the world."

"..."

The room suddenly became silent. Cangying packed her medicine bag and noticed that the young man next to her seemed a little cold.

Perhaps Junior Brother Zhongli could not understand Shi Qing's willingness to go against the path of cultivation in order to become stronger.

Of course, the few people who first discovered that Shi Qing was practicing the Virtual Thought Technique would not understand.

Cangying only learned about this technique six years ago when she followed her master to guard Shiqing for several days without sleep.

She also questioned Shi Qing why he did so, giving up the immortality and ascension of a cultivator in order to advance three levels in the practice of the Void Thought Technique, and finally surviving in the world for less than a hundred years as a mortal.

Shi Qing replied nonchalantly that to become the strongest person, a lifespan of only a hundred years would be enough.

Cangying was so angry that he didn't talk to her for three days.

Later, Cangying also let it go. Everyone has different reasons for entering the Tao. Although the mainstream view is to ascend to become an immortal, there are always alternative people who enter the Tao.

Let’s assume that Shi Qing has her own ideas. All she can do is to provide logistical and medical support to the girl while she is practicing desperately.

"Just in time." Cangying picked up the finished medicine bag, turned around and smiled at Zhongli Jin, saying, "Junior Brother Zhongli, please help me carry Shiqing to the medicinal bath on the fourth floor."

Zhong Lijin was stunned, "Now?"

"Yes!" Cangying nodded.

"..."

[Ah, this,] the old man's voice sounded in the boy's mind at an inopportune time: [If I'm not mistaken, the girl on the bed should be naked, right?]

But on the bed, the unconscious girl's shoulders were exposed, and the area below her shoulders was tightly covered by the quilt, as if she was naked.

Zhongli Jin: “…”

"Junior Brother Zhongli, I'm going to go upstairs to prepare the pool first. Please bring Shiqing up as soon as possible." After saying this, Cangying turned around and walked out.

Only Zhongli Jin and Shi Qing on the bed remained in the room.

The girl's expression while she was unconscious was very calm, just as indifferent as when she was awake. The corners of her lips were straight, her red lips were a little pale, and she looked a little weak.

Her black hair was like a waterfall, scattered and smooth like silk threads, spreading out all around. Her thick black hair made her skin look even paler.

Zhongli Jin looked at her face.

His normally steady breathing suddenly became a little disordered.

After recovering his memory, he recalled some of his previous encounters in the Magic and Martial Arts Secret Realm, and at the same time he did not forget what happened later in the Seven Emotions Illusion Array.

Shi Qing's hands once groped his body, causing the young man to feel very confused.

In the end, all he did was to find the half piece of cake he had eaten.

Some are funny, some are infuriating.

Maybe he really hated Shi Qing at first.

But since her help and close protection in the Magic and Martial Arts Secret Realm, Zhongli Jin no longer cares about the past unpleasantness.

After getting to know Shi Qing, I found out that she is not good at expressing herself, speaks concisely and has a calm and indifferent personality.

So when we first met, she wasn't arrogant, she just treated me like she normally did.

But Zhongli Jin, who had just been abandoned, did not have the energy or time to think about so many things from Shi Qing's perspective.

He just felt that he had become a useless person, and the other party came to cancel the engagement, which was unkind and unjust, and took advantage of his misfortune. As a result, he felt resentful for two years in vain.

Now he has little of his youthful naivety. After two years of knowing the ups and downs of life, he has become more calm and naturally can see many things clearly, and has gradually let go of everything.

"..."

After a while.

Zhongli Jin reached out and carefully picked up Shi Qing from the bed.

He behaved like a gentleman, and together with the tight quilt, not a single bit of the girl's beauty leaked out.

After taking a deep breath, the young man, with a hot heart and a slightly red face, gritted his teeth and went to the Medicine Pool Pavilion on the fourth floor.

*
Cangying had already prepared the pool, and the house was filled with the aroma of medicine and mist.

Seeing Zhongli Jin holding Shi Qing up, she waved and said, "Junior Brother Zhongli, come quickly!"

The water temperature was just right at the moment, Cangying walked forward and lifted Shiqing's quilt.

The young man was startled, and the moment his eyes touched the white shoulders of the person in his arms, he looked away in panic.

Cangying may have sensed Zhongli Jin's embarrassment and nervousness, and suddenly realized that his junior brother had only been in Baicao Pavilion for a few months and naturally was not used to being an alchemist, so he felt shy about these things.

She patted the boy's shoulder and laughed, "Junior Brother Zhongli, as alchemy doctors, we must learn to treat the injured's body as a normal thing."

Zhongli Jin: “…”

In fact, he could be calm and open-minded when faced with ordinary injuries.

After saying "I'm sorry", he can continue to treat and diagnose others without changing his expression.

But the soft and fragrant body in his arms made him clearly feel the violent beating of his heart, making it difficult for him to calm down, bear it, and control himself.

It was like a blazing flame burning in his mind and heart, scalding him so much that he was at a loss as to what to do. The unfamiliar emotions were as frightening and terrifying as a flood or a beast.

"...Yes, I will listen carefully to your teachings," Zhong Lijin tried his best to calm down and took another deep breath: "Junior brother still has a lot to learn."

At this moment, he had no choice but to admit his clumsiness and shallowness.

I don't want the deeper things to affect my heart. Cangying lifted up Shiqing's quilt, and the girl's body came into Zhonglijin's sight.

But it's not that she is really naked, but she is tightly wrapped in layers of snow-white bandages, which fits the body tightly, making the lines look smooth and beautiful.

Shi Qing's body was actually not delicate at all. Years of sword-dancing training had given his arms some subtle muscles.

Her breathing was steady and she looked sleepy.

After being put into the medicine pool, the powerless head tilted to one side by itself, leaning against the edge of the pool, and fell into a sound sleep.

"Let's go, junior brother. Leave the rest to me. Thank you for your hard work." Cangying said with a smile.

Zhongli Jin bowed to Cangying, lowered his eyes and nodded, and said with a gentle smile: "Senior sister is the one who worked hard, and it's just a small favor for me."

The young man calmly walked out of the Medicine Pool Pavilion and closed the door. Before the door was closed, his eyes remained on the girl in the pool.

Until the last ray of candlelight in the room disappeared on Zhongli Jin's handsome and fair face, Shi Qing's figure disappeared from his sight.

The surroundings were dim, and the moonlight was thin and pale.

He stood in the darkness and finally got a breath.

From paying homage to Cangying to closing the door.

His movements were silent and slow, his demeanor calm, just like usual.

She had a smile on her face, beautiful features and a gentle expression.

But just when the doors and windows were completely closed.

Zhongli Jin stood at the door.

……

Two seconds later——

He turned around abruptly.

Escaped from here in big strides.

*
Cangying was drowsy at the edge of the medicine pool.

Although it was not a problem to spend several days and nights refining the elixir in the past, that was only when the mind was focused on one thing.

She was now looking after Shi Qing and had nothing else to do, so she naturally felt sleepy.

Just as he yawned, the door of Yaochi Pavilion was secretly opened.

Cangying woke up with a start, frowned and said sternly: "Who?!"

"it's me."

The girl in the red dress under the moonlight in front of the door stepped directly over the threshold and closed the door casually with both hands.

Cangying was stunned: "Junior sister? You are still awake so late?"

Shen Xiang smiled, "Come and take a look."

That beautiful face was no longer as childish as before, but seemed to have more stability of a mature woman.

Her lips were red and she was wearing a seductive red outfit. Her whole temperament changed suddenly, as if she had grown from a naughty child into a more mature girl overnight.

Cangying looked her up and down and still found it incredible.

"Why do you suddenly like wearing red?"

Shen Xiang raised her eyebrows and narrowed her eyes: "Isn't it pretty?"

"How could that be? She is so beautiful," Cangying's eyes were filled with amazement, "but it was so sudden, and it's a little unlike you."

The little junior sister in the bright red dress was too charming and gorgeous, like a poisonous flower.

"Everyone grows up." She walked to the medicinal bath, sat down slowly, and looked down at Shi Qing who was sleeping by the pool. Her eyes were dim. "I have been through a lot in the past two years down the mountain."

Although the tone of her letters was light-hearted and humorous, because of her aura of being popular with the opposite sex, what she actually encountered was cruel and crazy.

A man who wants to possess her, a woman with a twisted and jealous mind.

From princes and generals to martial arts families, emperors, ministers, merchants, knights, any of whom could be the protagonists of romance novels, they were just like the people she met in her current world. Back and forth, it was nothing more than imprisonment, possession, plunder, control, and forced love...

In short, each one is more twisted and perverted than the other.

It seems like she can never attract normal people and can only engage in chase battles with a group of lunatics.

Chen Xiang didn't tell Shi Qing how many ruthless men she had killed in the mortal world. She was panicked at first, but later became numb.

In order to escape, she even learned how to fly a sword and overcame her fear of heights.

I was able to sustain this wandering life for two years, all thanks to my longing for Shi Qing.

Fortunately, now.

——She is finally back.

*
"You, you recovered your memory?!" Cangying said in surprise after hearing what she said just now.

Chen Xiang asked: "Senior Sister Cang knows that I lost my memory before?"

"To be precise, it was Shi Qing who noticed it," Cangying thought for a moment and said, "but she probably didn't tell you clearly."

"Is that so..." Chen Xiang lay on the edge of the pool, supporting her head with one hand, looking at Shi Qing lazily, and gently touched her face with the other hand, chuckled and said, "Although she realized it, she didn't make a move. I think she planned to investigate secretly. It's really her senior sister."

The white fingertips touched the skin on the girl's face, and after a few seconds, they moved to the back of the hand and gently traced it.

Shen Xiang's movements were slow, gentle and light, and her eyes gradually became deeper, with a somewhat creepy feeling.

Cangying thought that Junior Sister must be worried about Shi Qing, so she came so close.

But the more I looked at it, the more I felt something was wrong.

Why is the atmosphere so weird?

"..."

"Junior sister," Cangying couldn't help but say, "Why don't you go back and have a rest? I'm here."

Shen Xiang took back his hand and said directly - "No."

"Oh, I'm injured too. Liu Xitong whipped me several times. It hurts so much!"

She said this deliberately, then turned over and actually fell directly into the pool from the edge of the water.

"Pfft!"

With the sound of someone entering water, Cangying was shocked: "Wait - Junior Sister?!"

Chen Xiang stuck her head out from the medicine pool. The rich brown water soaked her dress. Her bright red dress rippled in the water, like a bright red rose, appearing extremely charming.

"Senior Sister Cang~" She leaned against Shi Qing, her tone coquettish, her eyes soft and charming - "Anyway, Senior Sister Shi Qing can't fully absorb these medicines by soaking alone, so why not let me stay here with you? I'm just soaking, and I won't cause you any trouble. Please, Senior Sister Cang~~"

Cangying: “…”

——Me!!! Damn!!!
——Little! Junior! Sister!!! What on earth did you go through down the mountain to become so delicate and feminine, similar to those female demons of Lingxia Sect?!!! Where is my naughty Junior Sister Shi Xiang?!!!
——Where! Have you been? ! !

Shocked Cangying for a hundred years.

The junior sister has had a lot of experience going down the mountain, and she even fought her way out of a crowd of people. For a while, she only dared to walk in the deep mountains and forests, deliberately avoiding the crowd, but it was useless. As long as she was in the mortal world, her halo would allow her to meet all kinds of men.

Later, the junior sister gave up resisting and walked on the main roads and through towns. Perhaps she was too tired to kill people and she killed them without blinking an eye. She became more and more crazy and psychotic, and would kill any man who wanted to rape her.

That’s why I said in the last letter: Senior Sister, I seem to be sick.