Chapter 61: Soul Returning Mushroom (IV)

“Jianzun, Jianzun, can you see me?”

A familiar voice entered his ears, and Xie Changzhou slowly raised his head to look at Sui Ning on the shore. Her pure little face was full of worry, and her eyebrows were tightly furrowed.

“Ningning…”

He heard his own voice, particularly hoarse and raspy.

Sui Ning quickly responded, “I’m here. Don’t speak; I’ll remove the demonic energy for you.”

Her warm, spiritual energy flowed into his meridians, traveling along his body and removing the demonic energy bit by bit for him.

Xie Changzhou’s eyes were dark red, staring closely at her beautiful little face, his burning gaze tracing her eyebrows and eyes.

Her willowy eyebrows curled, her black eyes were clear and transparent, her delicate little nose was delicate, and below that were the red lips he had rolled over many times.

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Fwk Lkdt jdlzv sd vbl pbsal obkzl bl pyv kdpkel vbl Jzwl Eyvla Frakdt. Gv vbkp xsxldv, bl eked’v dlle vs cso bkp blye vs xllv bla tygl; bkp eyaj ale lulp olal pvyakdt nzsplzu yv bla.

Tl alxlxclale vbl Fwk Lkdt vbyv bkp blyav elxsdp bye fwpv vaydpqsaxle kdvs, ps ldnbydvkdt yde nbyaxkdt kd y pvuzl bl bye dlhla plld clqsal.

“Lkdtdkdt.”

He leaned closer to her, his high nose touching hers, close enough to see the fine hairs on her face.

Suining hesitated for a moment before stepping back and saying, “Xie Changzhou, I’ll help you get rid of it.”

Before she could finish speaking, he interrupted her with an emotional voice.

“Sui Ning, marry me.”

Sui Ning was stunned as she looked into his slightly mischievous eyes, which were filled with strong feelings that almost made her tremble.

He repeated, “Sui Ning, marry me.”

Sui Ning furrowed her brows and said, “Jianzun, you’re not in your right mind.”

Like a child asking for candy, he stubbornly continued, “Sui Ning, marry me.”

He hugged Sui Ning’s waist, and his head, which was at the perfect height, buried itself in her neck. His hot forehead was against her neck, smelling the fresh sweetness.

Sui Ning hugged him back, gently patting his back. The spiritual pearl on her wrist continued to supply him with spiritual energy to suppress the demonic energy.

“Jianzun, what’s wrong with you?” She asked as she felt his body’s heat, suddenly feeling confused. Today was clearly the day Xie Changzhou’s cold poison was supposed to flare up, but he was always cold as ice at this time in the past. Why was he now as hot as fire?

Could it be demonic energy?

Her heart sank as she increased the infusion of spiritual energy.

Xie Changzhou held her tightly, trembling slightly with a burning fever. His voice choked and became hoarse as he said, “Sui Ning, I feel terrible.”

Sui Ning’s hand, which had been patting his back, suddenly stopped as she quickly turned to look at him. “Xie Changzhou, what’s wrong with you?”

He raised his head, his eyes shining with moisture, and his cold, white face was covered in crimson.

“Ningning, I feel uncomfortable,” he said weakly, sounding particularly pitiful.

Before Sui Ning could react, he suddenly pulled her into the water, his strong hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her tightly towards him.

Being so close, Sui Ning could clearly sense the strangeness in Xie Changzhou’s eyes. She stared at him in disbelief.

Xie Changzhou leaned in and lightly brushed her cheek with his head. With a hint of coquetry in his tone, he drawled, “Ningning, I feel uncomfortable; I really do.”

Sui Ning’s face turned red, her heart pounding like thunder as she stammered, “I’ll use my spiritual energy to help you.”

She infused her spiritual energy into his body to calm his impulses, but Xie Changzhou still couldn’t stay still and kept pecking at her cheek.

He continued to whisper, “Ningning, I’m not feeling well.”

He was on the verge of exploding, fully aware of what he wanted, but he still didn’t know exactly what it was.

All he knew was that the person in front of him was his only salvation at this moment. She could either lift him up to heaven or throw him into hell.

“Ningning, Ningning…”

He relied on his instincts and kissed her randomly, tightening his grip on her waist.

Sui Ning grew anxious, with tiny beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Her warm and powerful true qi circulated within his body, but he still didn’t improve.

“Ningning, I feel uncomfortable.”

Xie Changzhou’s face was red as if it were about to drip blood, with a hazy gaze and a fading consciousness. The demonic energy around him was gradually intensifying, but her spiritual energy was still unable to remove the demonic energy from him.

She felt a sense of panic and had no idea what to do, her eyes turning slightly red with anxiety.

“System, quickly think of a solution!” she exclaimed.

The system went into a panic and replied, “[He’s been ensnared by the demonic energy, so you should help him dispel it.]”

Sui Ning asked in confusion, “What do you mean?”

[First, you need to calm him down. His spiritual energy is currently in disorder, and he can’t absorb yours.]

Sensing that Xie Changzhou had already started untying her clothes, Sui Ning quickly tightened her belt and asked through gritted teeth, “So, how do I calm him down?”

The system was speechless and replied, “[Didn’t I just say it? Help him dispel the demonic energy.]”

Sui Ning asked in shock, “Do you want me to sacrifice myself?”

The system was puzzled and asked, “[Aren’t you two in love?]”

“NING NING, NING NING…”

Xie Changzhou was getting anxious as he couldn’t untie her clothes. He buried his head in her neck and whined like a puppy, calling her name.

Sui Ning felt sorry for him, as his body was scorching hot and the demonic energy was getting stronger. She felt a sudden sense of panic.

Xie Changzhou had never had such thoughts in his 300 years of life. But once it erupted, coupled with the demonic energy’s influence, he lost control, and his usual coldness and self-restraint vanished.

He kept rubbing his face against her neck, his hoarse and low voice pouring into Sui Ning’s ears, which caused her heart to beat faster.

“Ning Ning…”

“Ning Ning…”

Sui Ning stuttered as she asked him, “Xie Changzhou, can you control yourself?”

She hadn’t even finished speaking when she found it preposterous.

How could Xie Changzhou possibly do that? His knowledge in this area was limited to the fact that such a thing existed.

“Sui Ning… help me…”

His body was growing hotter and hotter, and the demonic energy around him surged. Sui Ning’s heart sank.

She gritted her teeth and decided to lock the system in the little black room.

The system, which suddenly turned dark in front of her, [……]

She nervously whispered in his ear, “Xie Changzhou, when you regain your senses, please don’t hit me…”

Sui Ning closed her eyes, avoiding his gaze. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed, creating ripples like water.

Xie Changzhou’s movements froze, and his scorching breath sprayed onto Sui Ning’s face. His voice, deep and magnetic, made her face turn crimson.

Steam rose gently from the pool, filling the cave with a warm, spring-like ambiance.

The full moon gradually disappeared behind thick clouds, and the night grew darker.

Time seemed to pass endlessly, so much so that Sui Ning’s body felt weak and her heartbeats were almost explosive. Finally, the surroundings gradually fell into quietude.

Xie Changzhou lightly pecked her cheek, and their foreheads touched. His breathing gradually steadied.

The dark red hue in his eyes receded slightly, revealing the original color of his iris, like lustrous glass.

His scorching breath sprayed onto Sui Ning’s face, intermingling with the rich aroma of pine.

Xie Changzhou, with his moist eyes, gazed at her, brimming with affection. “Sui Ning—”

His unfinished words were interrupted as his pupils suddenly contracted. Astonishment appeared on his slightly flushed face.

Sui Ning had directly knocked him unconscious.

She reached out and caught the falling Xie Changzhou. Her long lashes quivered lightly, and her throat seemed to be choked, leaving her at a loss for words.

She only felt bold, daring to do these things to Xie Changzhou…

Her palms felt strange, and she quickly washed them in the Blue Water Spring. Her heart was pounding like thunder, as if she were covering her ears and stealing a bell.

The spiritual pearl on her wrist continuously transmitted spiritual energy to him. His spiritual energy was already stable, and Sui Ning easily invaded his meridians and removed the demonic energy for him.

She glanced at Xie Changzhou, buried in her neck. His long, black eyelashes drooped, covering the emotions in his eyes like a fan covering his face.

He was peacefully asleep, warm, and gentle.

Sui Ning leaned over and kissed his face lightly, and a sudden sweetness surged in her heart.

She whispered, “I saved you, so when you wake up, don’t scold me or give me an ideological education.”

Xie Changzhou didn’t react; he closed his eyes and leaned on her shoulder, his tall body firmly on top of hers.

Sui Ning suddenly laughed, and two small dimples appeared on her cheeks.

“I’m willing.”

She whispered in his ear.

“I’m willing to marry you.

“Xie Changzhou, I’m willing.”

***

Sui Ning thought that Xie Changzhou would be angry, regretful, or maybe even apologize to her.

But she never expected that Xie Changzhou would avoid her for almost a month.

Despite going to his residence several times, she was unable to find him. She even went to Mingjing Hall several times but still could not find him.

Sui Ning was a little angry, so she stopped looking for him and practiced alone in the small courtyard, occasionally going to the back mountain to play with Ah Yan.

She held a rabbit in one hand and led Ah Yan down from the back mountain.

Just as they reached the entrance of the small courtyard, a tall and slender figure stood under the pear tree in the courtyard. His gaze was warm and distant, and his face was clean and noble.

When his gaze met Sui Ning’s, his eyelids trembled, and his Adam’s apple rolled up and down.

He spoke softly, “Ningning.”

Ah Yan broke free from Sui Ning’s hand and ran over. “Master!” He went straight over to hug Xie Changzhou’s slender waist and looked up at him with round eyes, sounding a bit aggrieved. “Master, where have you been these days? You didn’t come to see us.”

Xie Changzhou was at a loss for words and slowly said, “There were some things to take care of.”

He gently pushed away Ah Yan’s hand and looked at Sui Ning, who was standing at the entrance of the small courtyard without any expression. Her glossy eyes showed no emotion, and her face was calm.

Xie Changzhou felt uneasy and realized that he had angered her.

He lowered his head and said to Ah Yan, “Ah Yan, I need to talk to Ningning about something. You can leave first and come back later.”

With a pout, Ah Yan was just about to refuse to comply when he saw Xie Changzhou’s resolute expression, and the words that he had not yet spoken were swallowed back.

He nodded silently and said, “Okay.”

He transformed into an animal form and ran towards the mountain behind them.

Xie Changzhou looked at Sui Ning, his expression gentle and warm. “Ningning, I’m back.”

Sui Ning replied flatly, “Mm.”

She put down the rabbit in her hands and focused her attention, her gaze not giving any attention to Xie Changzhou beside her.

Xie Changzhou’s fingers trembled lightly at his side, his expression a bit at a loss. He slowly approached Sui Ning.

“Ningning,” he called softly.

Sui Ning looked up at him and said, “Jianzun, is there something wrong?”

Xie Changzhou was taken aback, his heart sinking suddenly. He had never seen Sui Ning look at him with such cold eyes before.

Did she hate him so much? Did she not like him anymore?

This thought caused panic in his heart.

He quickly explained, “Ningning, I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to avoid you…”

He wasn’t avoiding her on purpose. He was just afraid that Sui Ning would be disappointed in him, and he didn’t dare face her.

He had been bewitched by his inner demons at that time, acting like a rude and ill-mannered disciple, and had done those things to Sui Ning, destroying her reputation as a woman. 

When he sobered up and thought back to those things, he wanted to cut himself with a sword so badly. The regret and panic in his heart almost overwhelmed him, and he didn’t even have the courage to face Sui Ning, so he left in a hurry and returned to the Xie family.

But he had ignored the fact that he had not apologized to Sui Ning yet and had done such disrespectful things to her and then left. Sui Ning must have been very angry with him.

Xie Changzhou wanted to reach out and hug her, but when he met Sui Ning’s cold eyes, his outstretched hand suddenly froze, and the panic in his eyes became more evident.

In a hoarse and low voice, he said, “Ningning, I’m sorry. You can hit me, scold me, or even kill me with a sword.”

Xie Changzhou bent down to look her in the eye and spoke cautiously, “Can you please not hate me…”

Sui Ning was stunned, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, but Xie Changzhou misunderstood her meaning.

His eyes became slightly red, and his throat choked as he said, “Ningning, I really know I was wrong; I didn’t mean to…”

“Ha ha.”

Sui Ning laughed out loud; her eyes and eyebrows curled, and her dimples were full of laughter.

Xie Changzhou was taken aback and asked softly, “Ningning?”

Sui Ning’s smile became more evident as she reached out to pinch his face. Her cool and smooth touch made her a little envious. How could a man’s skin be better than a woman’s?

She poked his face, leaving a red mark on his pale face. “What silly thing are you saying? How could I not like you?”

“Ningning…”

Sui Ning hugged him by the neck and said with a smile, “I’m not angry about the incident at Blue Water Spring. You were not in your right mind, and it was my initiative.”

“But.” She paused, her expression suddenly becoming serious. “You avoided me and didn’t believe in my feelings for you. I’m very angry.”

“Xie Changzhou, I will always like you. If you treat me well, I will repay you tenfold or a hundredfold. Do you understand?”

“I can forgive you this time, but if there’s a next time…” 

Xie Changzhou quickly responded, “I was wrong, Ningning. It was my fault.”

He spoke softly, “I will respect and cherish Ningning. What happened at the Blue Water Spring will not happen again.” 

He had a focused expression, with gentle eyebrows and eyes that were full of emotions.

Sui Ning nodded and smiled, “Okay.”

Xie Changzhou’s frantic heart gradually settled down, and he reached out to hold her waist and said, “Ningning, I went back to the Xie family a few days ago.”

Sui Ning was a little confused. “Huh?”

Xie Changzhou’s family was a well-known family in the human world with deep ties to the royal family. He was the most outstanding person in the Xie family for hundreds of years, with wide meridians and exceptional talent, making him very suitable for cultivation.

But if she remembered correctly, Xie Changzhou had been sent to the Wenjian Peak to practice at the age of five and had been cultivated as the next Jianzun ever since. He rarely returned to the Xie family, and even his parents had passed away many years ago. Now, the Xie family was mostly made up of his juniors, and he was already considered an old ancestor of the Xie family.

Why did he suddenly want to go back to the Xie family?

Xie Changzhou’s eyes were gentle, and the sunlight swept over him from behind, making him look clear and elegant.

He spoke slowly: “If someone from the Xie family gets married, they must kneel and worship for seven days in the ancestral hall, burn incense, and bathe to pray for the ancestors’ protection and a happy marriage. Although I have become an elder of the family, I am still a member of the Xie family.”

Sui Ning’s heart suddenly raced.

Xie Changzhou took out a silver bell from his sleeve. It was exquisitely crafted and made of high-quality materials, with a strong and warm aura emanating from it.

“This is a soul bell made from my heart’s blood. I can sense you, no matter where you are. As long as you shake it, I will appear.”

Sui Ning frowned. “You shed your heart’s blood?”

Xie Changzhou was startled but then laughed lightly and said, “Ningning, I’m fine.”

Suining took his hand and used her finger to explore his meridians with her spiritual energy. The spiritual energy within his body was still warm and pure, but his pulse was weak, as if he had just recovered from an injury. Her heart suddenly tightened.

“Ningning, I’m really okay,” he said.

Sui Ning frowned. “Xie Changzhou, can’t you care about your own health?”

She was a little angry, speaking in a frustrated voice like an enraged hamster.

Xie Changzhou’s smile became more pronounced. “It’s my fault, Ningning, but the soul bell is a gift I’ve always wanted to give you.”

His cool hand covered hers and held it tightly. Xie Changzhou’s face was full of tenderness.

“I am alone, and I haven’t been able to give you anything. The soul bell and the Xie family will be my betrothal gifts to you. If you want anything else, I will also get it for you.”

Sui Ning was stunned, gazing into his eyes brimming with affection.

His eyes were misty with tenderness, and the soul bell emitted a clear and ethereal light.

“Marry me, Ningning.”