Chapter 30: Solidifying Spirit Grass (XV)

Apart from the mysterious man in black, all the puzzles in Nanjing City have been solved.

As for the information about the next spirit herb, the soul seal plate showed no response. So Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou planned to return to the Limitless Sword Sect first.

The massacre in Nanjing City was of great importance, and Xie Changzhou needed to discuss it with the elders in the sect.

Just as they entered the Limitless Sword Sect, Xie Changzhou turned to her and said softly, “Ningning, I need to go to the Mingjing hall. You can go back to Wenjian Peak first.”

Sui Ning nodded in agreement and watched Xie Changzhou leave.

Wenjian Peak was still towering and cold, with threads of mist lingering around it. It looked like a fairytale from afar.

Sui Ning slowly landed on her Ba Tian sword and shouted excitedly, “Ah Yan!”

She shouted several times in a row, but Ah Yan, the chubby little creature, did not appear.

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Sui Ning’s face instantly turned serious—it was Ah Yan!

The sound came from the back mountain, and Ah Yan was in danger!

She quickly summoned her sword and flew towards the back mountain, her expression revealing her worry.

Ah Yan was still a cub and would have difficulty protecting itself if it encountered danger.

As soon as Sui Ning arrived at the back of the mountain, the previously sunny sky had already become overcast, and the entire mountain was plunged into darkness. Flashes of lightning periodically illuminated the sky, and deafening thunder resounded.

Amidst the constant rumbling of thunder, a few weak roars of a tiger could be heard, trembling with fear.

Just as Sui Ning was about to draw her sword and rush forward, her system in her mind quickly stopped her.

“Host, don’t go. Ah Yan is about to transform, and this is the Thunder Tribulation that it must endure. If you go, it will only delay matters.”

Sui Ning anxiously asked, “It’s still so small. This thunder tribulation is comparable to the thunder tribulation of an immortal. How can it get through this?”

“Ah Yan is a member of the ancient tiger beast clan and has innate divine power. Once it transforms, its cultivation will increase several times. Although the Thunder Tribulation is formidable, you don’t need to worry. Ah Yan is not as weak as you think.”

Despite the system’s reassurance, Sui Ning was still not at ease. Ah Yan was very close to her, and she loved it like her own child.

Now that such a small Ah Yan had to face such a big thunder tribulation alone, Sui Ning was extremely worried and wished she could personally help it withstand the tribulation.

Xie Changzhou was not around now, and she wanted to go find him, but she didn’t even know where the Mingjing hall was.

If Xie Changzhou were here, she would be able to feel a little more at ease.

Sui Ning held onto the hand of Ba Tian tightly with a furrowed brow, staring intently at the thunderstorm that was about to strike from the empty space.

The deafening sound of thunder mixed with the roar of Ah Yan, and Sui Ning became increasingly anxious.

Suddenly, the thunderstorm hovering in the empty space struck, and a series of lightning bolts crackled and smashed into a spot on the mountain behind.

“Aawooo!”

A painful howl came, particularly tragic, making Sui Ning’s heart tremble.

Then another thunderstorm struck, and Ah Yan’s tiger roar was heard again.

One thunderstorm after another, Ah Yan’s voice also became weaker and weaker.

“System, Ah Yan can’t hold on much longer!”

The system hesitated: “[Host, if you go in now, it will fail to transform and will be a dead end.]”

Sui Ning felt conflicted and was about to turn around to find Mingjing Hall and call Xie Changzhou when a familiar, cold fragrance entered her nose.

Before she could react, she was embraced in a broad and cool embrace.

Xie Changzhou held her and said calmly, “Ningning, don’t worry.”

His slender hand held onto her shoulder, as if pressing her whole body into his arms, and the atmosphere became a bit charming.

But Sui Ning didn’t think too much and quickly broke free from his embrace and anxiously said, “Ah Yan is getting weaker, will something happen to it?”

Her delicate eyebrows were lightly wrinkled, her anxiousness made her fair cheeks slightly red, her red lips tightly pursed, and her two small dimples were faintly visible.

It seems that she was really scared.

Helplessly, Xie Changzhou comforted her in a soft voice, “Sui Ning, Ah Yan will be fine.”

His gentle and calm face was calm, his voice was clear and steady, and Sui Ning’s panicked heart was slightly stabilized.

She asked him uncertainly, “Is it really okay?”

“It’s okay. Ah Yan is the bloodline of the former tiger clan leader, with pure bloodlines. Its transformed tribulation thunder is more terrifying than that of ordinary tigers.”

“But Ah Yan is very weak now.”

Xie Changzhou chuckled and said, “Sui Ning, don’t worry. Ah Yan was trained by me. This thunder tribulation can’t kill it.”

His face was too calm, as if he were confident that Ah Yan wouldn’t have any problems.

Sui Ning finally relaxed.

She always believed in what Xie Changzhou said. If he said Ah Yan was okay, then Ah Yan would definitely be okay. She couldn’t panic.

Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou stood side by side, looking towards the thunderstorm not far away.

After a while, there was no sound coming from Ah Yan for a long time, and the thunder finally disappeared.

The dark clouds dispersed, and the sky became clear again.

Sui Ning quickly drew her sword and rushed towards the spot where Ah Yan was, and Xie Changzhou followed on his sword.

The thunder had created a large pit where it had struck, and the air was filled with the smell of burnt flesh. The trees and vegetation around it had been struck and set on fire, and the flames were spreading.

Xie Changzhou quickly used his water-manipulating technique to extinguish the fire, while Sui Ning hurried to Ah Yan’s side.

In the center of the pit lay a small child, covered in blood. His white hair was scattered, covering his exposed body, and he lay there with his eyes closed.

He looked to be only four or five years old, curled up in a ball at the bottom of the pit, with his soft white hair soaked in blood.

It was Ah Yan—the transformed Ah Yan.

Sui Ning called out to it with a trembling voice, “Ah Yan!”

Ah Yan was covered in injuries, with deep wounds that exposed bone on his skin that was visible outside of his white hair. He lay there with his eyes closed, seemingly lifeless.

Sui Ning quickly lifted her dress and prepared to climb down into the pit to rescue Ah Yan. A cloak suddenly fell from behind and covered Ah Yan’s body, concealing his exposed skin.

A pure and bright spiritual energy rolled up Ah Yan, and Sui Ning turned back in confusion.

“Jianzun?” 

Xie Changzhou’s expression was calm as he looked down at Ah Yan in his arms and spoke softly, “He’s fine, Ningning, don’t worry.”

Sui Ning’s heart finally settled down with relief.

Seeing Ah Yan obediently nestled in Xie Changzhou’s arms, his blood staining Xie Changzhou’s white clothes red, Sui Ning’s heart skipped a beat. 

Xie Changzhou was always fond of cleanliness, and his white clothes were always spotless, but Ah Yan had stained him with blood all over. 

She quickly reached out to take Ah Yan, “Jianzun, let me do it. Your clothes are dirty, so let me hold Ah Yan instead.” 

Unexpectedly, as soon as her hand touched Ah Yan, Xie Changzhou immediately dodged her. 

Sui Ning: “?”

She looked at him in surprise, and under his gaze, Xie Changzhou’s cold white face gradually turned slightly red. 

He avoided her gaze and spoke a bit awkwardly: “Ah Yan has transformed; he’s a boy now, and there’s a difference between boys and girls. Let me hold him.” 

Sui Ning: “???” 

She exclaimed in surprise, “But Ah Yan is still a young boy. He looks like a four- or five-year-old child.” 

Xie Changzhou turned and walked away without looking at her, saying, “Ningning, it’s not appropriate. Let me do it.” 

After saying that, he carried Ah Yan away in a hurry, leaving Sui Ning alone and disheveled in the wind.

She was a bit stunned. Did their ancestors have so many rules? Even a small child needs to avoid suspicion?

***

In the Mingjing Hall, six peak masters sat quietly waiting for Xie Changzhou’s return.

They had just begun to discuss matters when lightning suddenly struck Wenjian Peak, and Xie Changzhou’s face immediately changed.

His expression was cold, and his voice was icy as he called out, “Ningning!”

The six peak masters asked, “What’s wrong?”

Before they could even ask, Xie Changzhou had rushed out, disappearing from their sight before they could even get a good look at him.

The six peak masters looked at each other in confusion.

Their sect leader had left, so they couldn’t discuss anything. Although they didn’t know what had happened, seeing the anxious look on the sect master’s face made them know that something big must have happened. So they waited patiently.

But they ended up waiting for three hours.

The peak master of Jianfeng, Lu Guan, hesitated and spoke up, “Sect Master hasn’t returned. Should we continue waiting?”

The peak master of Wanjian Peak, Fu Ling, took a sip of tea and replied calmly, “Let’s wait. When the sect master returns, he will summon us. It must be something important.”

The other peak masters agreed, saying, “Yes, the sect master must have something important to do. Let’s wait a little longer.”

“I saw lightning striking the Wenjian peak earlier. It seems that someone is crossing the tribulation. Could it be Ningning?”

“Ningning? Who is she?”

“Are you stupid? Isn’t there a woman by the sect master’s side named Sui Ning?”

“The sect master hasn’t had a disciple in the past three hundred years. How come he suddenly has a woman following him?”

The group of people discussed animatedly; even the most traditional Lu Guan joined the gossip camp. Fu Ling shook her head helplessly and continued sipping her tea.

As the group of peak masters discussed whether their revered White Jade Sword Saint had a fondness for Sui Ning, the male protagonist, Xie Changzhou, of the gossip suddenly appeared.

The group of people immediately fell silent, sitting upright and honest like quails.

Xie Changzhou shook his head helplessly. He had heard their discussion about him and Sui Ning when he was approaching Mingjing Hall after coming back from Ah Yan’s tribulation. He thought that it was Sui Ning who was crossing the tribulation on the Wenjian peak, which caused him to panic and made the peak masters misunderstand.

As for what they said about him having a fondness for Sui Ning…

Did he have a fondness for Sui Ning?

At the thought of this, Xie Changzhou’s heart skipped a beat for a moment, and a strange feeling surged up in his heart. He didn’t understand what it was.

It was a little exciting, a little sweet, and even…anticipating?

Realizing that his thoughts were also getting sidetracked, Xie Changzhou quickly regained his composure. This was not the time to discuss those things, as he had more important matters to attend to.

With a calm expression, Xie Changzhou slowly walked up to the main seat and sat down.

Looking down at the six peak masters below, Xie Changzhou’s voice became solemn: “When Ningning and I set out to find the Solidifying Spirit Grass, we mistakenly entered Nanjing City and became trapped in an illusion created by the Retrospective Mirror.”

He paused for a moment before continuing: “Nanjing City was massacred, and no one survived.”

The Peak Masters below were immediately thrown into chaos.

“Massacred? Who did it?”

“Who could be so vicious and ruthless?”

“That was an entire city of people; why would anyone do such a thing?”

Xie Changzhou’s expression became solemn as he sighed lightly and began to recount what had happened in Nanjing City.

By the time he finished speaking, the peak masters were all silent, and the entire Mingjing Hall fell into silence.

After a long period of quiet, Fu Ling spoke up softly: “So the black-robed person, Jianzun, do you not know who he is?”

Xie Changzhou nodded: “Yes, but it can be confirmed that his was from the Demon Realm. He was able to obtain the Demon Realm’s treasure, the Retrospective Mirror, and had the ability to help Su Kou extract the vitality of the entire city. His cultivation level is definitely not weak, and he should be one of the highest-ranking members of the Demon Clan.”

“As for who he is…” Xie Changzhou paused and looked at the peak masters before speaking softly: “That is also the reason why I summoned several peak masters today.”

“I will not allow anyone to plot against the people of this world.”

He had a calm expression with a cold and stern demeanor, and the candles in the hall shone on his face, making him look exceptionally refined.

The six peak masters looked at Xie Changzhou with admiration. This was their revered White Jade Sword Saint, the hope that could save the world.

***

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the silver frost penetrated through the window screen and scattered into the room.

Sui Ning sat quietly by the bed, looking at Ah Yan lying on the bed. When Xie Changzhou brought Ah Yan back, he had healed his injuries. Although Ah Yan’s external injuries had healed for the most part, he still had internal injuries.

Although the thunderstorm didn’t take Ah Yan’s life, it still left him severely injured. Since Xie Changzhou left in the afternoon, Sui Ning has stayed by Ah Yan’s side, fearing that something might happen to him.

At this time, the blood on Ah Yan’s face had been wiped clean, revealing his original appearance. He looked like a child of about four or five years old in the human world, with a round and tender face, long and dense eyelashes, and a particularly cute and obedient look with his eyes closed.

Sui Ning’s heart melted.

This was just too much!

Even after transforming, he was still so handsome. She had been watching him all afternoon, and her heart had become so soft.

Sui Ning reached out and lightly poked Ah Yan’s delicate little face, feeling the softness under her fingers.

System: ” [You’ve poked him six times already; he’s still just a child! ] “

Sui Ning said, “You don’t understand, only children at this age are the cutest, they’ll turn into little rascals later!”

After saying this, Sui Ning poked Ah Yan’s face with her hand and said excitedly, “Take a good look while he’s still young, you won’t have the chance later.”

The system had no response.

Sui Ning stared at Ah Yan’s face and poked him again. Ah Yan’s long eyelashes trembled slightly.

Sui Ning exclaimed, “Oh no!” She was afraid she had woken Ah Yan up.

The system said, ” [I told you not to touch him, but you didn’t listen. Now he’s awake and cannot sleep so soundly.]”

Just as the system finished speaking, Ah Yan’s eyelashes trembled a few times, and he opened his eyes. His dark and bright eyes looked at Sui Ning with confusion.

Sui Ning felt guilty and whispered to him, “What’s wrong? Did I wake you up? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Do you want to rest a bit more?”

Before she could finish her sentence, Ah Yan’s little mouth turned down, and his black, bright eyes turned red as he started crying big tears.

Sui Ning panicked and quickly wiped his tears while asking, “What’s wrong? Don’t cry, Ah Yan. Are you in pain?”

“Boohoo, Sui Ning…” Ah Yan hugged Sui Ning, buried his little face in her arms, and cried softly.

Sui Ning’s heart was broken, and she quickly picked him up to comfort him: “Don’t cry, Ah Yan, I’m here. Everything’s okay. You’ve already transformed.”

“You’re the best, Ah Yan. You’ve already transformed at such a young age.”

“Don’t cry anymore, Ah Yan. Is there anywhere else that hurts? Let me help you heal.”

Ah Yan tightly hugged Sui Ning, burying his head and sobbing softly, “You and Master won’t let me come along. I’ve transformed now. You have to bring me with you in the future, wuwuwu…”

Sui Ning was taken aback and felt a sense of guilt. She gently patted Ah Yan’s back to comfort him and softly reassured him, “It’s our fault. We won’t leave you behind again, Ah Yan.”

“Wuwuwu, you promise?”

“I promise, we won’t leave you behind again, Ah Yan.”

“Then you can’t deceive me.”

“I won’t deceive you. From now on, wherever I and Jianzun are, Ah Yan will be there too. The three of us will always be together, never apart.”

“…Okay.”

Inside the room, illuminated by the warm yellow candlelight, Sui Ning holding Ah Yan’s figure was reflected on the paper window, creating an especially warm scene.

Outside the door, Xie Changzhou stood dumbfounded in the courtyard, his white jade hand slightly clenched.

He stood tall in his white robe, with a slender and graceful figure. His face remained calm, but his ears turned red.

Sui Ning had just said that the three of them—him, her, and Ah Yan—would always be together, never apart.

Even though he knew Sui Ning was just comforting Ah Yan, his heart still skipped a beat.

Suddenly, a ridiculous thought came to his mind.

Sui Ning comforts Ah Yan was like a mother soothing her child.

A mother and father with their child—a family of three forever together.

Just like him, her, and Ah Yan, a family of three is forever together.

A family of three?

His heart suddenly felt like it had been burned.

Before he could even react, the door to Sui Ning’s room suddenly opened from the inside, and she walked out carrying Ah Yan.

Seeing Xie Changzhou standing in the courtyard, Sui Ning was a bit puzzled. “Jianzun?”

Why would Xie Changzhou come here so late at night?

And why… was his face so red?

Xie Changzhou quickly regained his composure, feeling a bit flustered as he responded to her. “Nothing; I just came to see you… and Ah Yan.”

He was annoyed with himself, wondering why his mind was suddenly so muddled that he couldn’t even speak.

As a result, his face grew even redder, and Sui Ning’s gaze became even more suspicious.

“Jianzun, are you alright? Why is your face so red?”

Xie Changzhou avoided her gaze, his usually calm voice now sounding uncertain. “I’m fine; I’m just… a little hot.”

Sui Ning and Ah Yan looked up at the sky.

The moon was cool as water, and a gust of evening breeze brought refreshing coolness.

Moreover, Wenjian Peak was towering and cold; even in the summer, there would be no trace of heat.

Both Sui Ning and Ah Yan looked at Xie Changzhou hesitantly, with a clear meaning in their eyes: are you sure?

Xie Changzhou: “…”

He’s really getting more and more confused.

Under the gaze of Sui Ning and Ah Yan, Xie Changzhou felt uneasy and quickly changed the subject: “Ah Yan, how’s your body? Are you feeling better?”

He looked worried and spoke softly and gently, and Ah Yan was moved to tears.

“Master, I’m fine. Thank you for healing me. Sniff… I miss you so much, Master.”

Ah Yan’s little face was tearful as he hugged Sui Ning’s neck and cried loudly.

Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou glanced at each other, both looking helpless.

He really does have a childish temper.

As Ah Yan cried, Sui Ning held him gently and patted his back to soothe him.

When Ah Yan finally stopped crying, Xie Changzhou asked softly, “Ningning, what are you and Ah Yan doing so late?”

Sui Ning smiled cunningly, her eyebrows and eyes curving with satisfaction. “Ah Yan wants to eat some pastries, so I’m going to make some for him.”

Ah Yan also smiled happily and said, “Sui Ning is the best for me.”

Xie Changzhou was taken aback and hesitated to speak. “Now? It’s already very late.”

Sui Ning helplessly replied, “It’s okay, we’ll be quick.”

It was only just past the eleventh hour; according to their world’s time calculation, it was only 7 o’clock, so what was considered late?

If possible, Sui Ning just wants to say to Xie Changzhou, “Jianzun, the nightlife is just beginning at this hour.”

But unfortunately, Xie Changzhou is a blockhead.

Suddenly, Sui Ning thinks of something and smiles slightly: “Jianzun, let’s go together. I’ll teach you how to make pastries.”

Xie Changzhou is stunned and looks surprised.

Sui Ning continues to persuade him: “It’s so much fun, Jianzun, come on.”

Her voice is soft and sweet, with a hint of coquettishness.

Ah Yan also stares at him with big, round eyes and a childish voice: “Master, let’s go.”

The two of them stare at him together with surprisingly consistent expressions. Xie Changzhou’s heart suddenly softens.

He speaks softly, his voice gentle: “Okay.”

They walk to the kitchen, and Sui Ning puts down Ah Yan and begins to prepare the ingredients.

She takes out the flour and sugar that were previously stored in the kitchen and takes out her tools from her bag.

Sui Ning’s movements are skilled and decisive, and Xie Changzhou is a bit stunned watching her.

He doesn’t hesitate to praise her: “Sui Ning’s cooking skills are really good.”

Although he already knew that Sui Ning was good at cooking and had many dishes, seeing her skilled appearance now still surprised him.

Sui Ning’s cooking skills seem as if she had specialized training in them.

Sui Ning, the protagonist, raised her eyebrows and confidently replied, “I have specialized training.” Sui Ning’s creations are always top-notch.

In her past life, Sui Ning studied food science. It’s time for ancient people to experience the power of technology and expertise.

Xie Changzhou was momentarily stunned, then found Sui Ning’s childlike behavior amusing. Despite being a Golden Core cultivator, Sui Ning sometimes seemed like a child.

However, Xie Changzhou didn’t seem to know Sui Ning’s age yet. He hesitated, realizing that asking a woman her age was a delicate matter.

Frowning in indecision, he showed his emotions plainly, surprising Sui Ning.

“Jianzun, what’s wrong?” she asked.

With a slight crease in his straight eyebrows, Xie Changzhou looked into Sui Ning’s eyes, hesitating over what to say.

“Sui Ning, how old are you?” he finally asked her in a soft voice.

Sui Ning was momentarily stunned. Xie Changzhou wanted to ask about her age?  When did he start caring about such things?

She honestly replied, “I’m twenty.”

Xie Changzhou didn’t react at first, thinking Sui Ning said she was one hundred and twenty instead of twenty. But when he realized his mistake, his pupils shrank, and his face showed surprise.

“Did you say you’re only 20 years old?” asked Ah Yan, who was waiting obediently beside them.

Ah Yan was unsure and asked, “Sui Ning, did you say you’re only 20 years old?”

“Really 20, not 120?” Sui Ning said, feeling frustrated with Ah Yan’s disbelief. 

Then she saw both a man and a tiger looking at her in disbelief.

Sui Ning said, “?”

Xie Changzhou regained his senses and said awkwardly, “Ningning, you have extraordinary talent to be at the Golden Core stage at the age of 20.

I underestimated you, sorry.”

He couldn’t believe it. 

Xie Changzhou was recognized as a genius at the Golden Core stage at 20 and the Nascent Soul stage at 25. For so many years, except for one person, he had never encountered a person with talent that could match his own. 

When he first saw Sui Ning’s golden core cultivation, he thought she was just an ordinary cultivator. In fact, most ordinary cultivators only achieve the Golden Core level when they are over 100 years old, and some even find it impossible to do so in their entire lives. 

So he assumed Sui Ning was at least 120 years old.

He never expected that she was only 20—even younger than him.

Suddenly, Xie Changzhou felt a little uneasy. Did Sui Ning think he was too old?

Unexpectedly, as soon as he had this thought, Sui Ning softly asked, “Jianzun, how old are you?”

Xie Changzhou blushed slightly and, after a few moments of hesitation, whispered, “I am over 350 years old…”

He avoided eye contact and had an awkward expression on his face, with a hint of fear in his demeanor.

Sui Ning raised her eyebrows. “Is he scared?”

“What is he afraid of?”

“Is he afraid that others will despise him for being older?”

“This is the world of cultivation. Xie Changzhou’s cultivation level at his age already makes him one of the strongest.”

“He is still young.”

Sui Ning couldn’t help but laugh. Her laughter was pleasant, and her bright eyes curved into two small dimples.

Xie Changzhou was taken aback, and his face turned even redder. He nervously looked at Sui Ning while clenching his white jade fingers tightly into his sleeves.

Does she really despise him for being older?

His eyes darkened, and his black lashes drooped down as he lowered his gaze. “Ningning, I–“

“Jianzun, you’re overthinking things.”

Before he could finish his sentence, Sui Ning interrupted with a smile.

Moonlight poured into the room. Sui Ning’s beautiful face was lit up by a smile, and her eyes were crescent-shaped. Her laughter was like a heavy hammer, leaving Xie Changzhou dazed.

He looked at Sui Ning’s face, and his Adam’s apple rolled visibly. The bulging veins on his clenched hand were apparent.

He remembered what the elders said in the Mingjing Hall today.

“Does the Sect Master like Sui Ning? He has never been so close to a woman before.”

Does he like Sui Ning?

What is liking?

Being close to her, protecting her, feeling happy when she’s happy, and feeling scared when she’s hurt.

His heart beats faster when she looks at him, and he blushes and becomes awkward when she touches him.

Is this what liking someone means?

If it is, then…

Xie Changzhou’s heart suddenly quickened….