4112-4167 Pastoral Village

Entry 4115 Chapter 4112 暧昧

4112 SL finds that there’s a red sash tied around NL’s waist as well as hers. It’s like during a wedding where the bride and groom’s hands are tied by a red string. She’s in pain but happy. She reaches to hold his hands. He’s still unconscious. SL wants to restore a bit of her own strength so when he wakes up, she can treat him. At this time, a hideous stumbling figure holding a rock walks over. SL recognizes him despite the wounds. The Blood Edge Captain furiously stumbles towards her after recognizing her, intending to smash NL and SL with the rock. SL can barely lift a finger.
The Captain taunts her saying since she loves him, it would hurt more than death itself for him to die, wouldn’t it? He smashes the rock towards NL. SL covers his head and *** with her body. She gets smashed into him and their lips and noses touch. NL wakes up then. Time stills, a strange atmosphere arises.
NL punches the Captain. The Captain stumbles and falls exhausted on his butt. He sneers at NL, he can tell NL is delirious and half conscious. He draws a dagger is to stab the two of them at once. SL and NL lock eyes. A child’s voice tells him to stop. In a flash, a great rhino appears with a child riding on it. SL, with difficulty, climbs off NL to look at the child. She finds the child cute, goes on about his hair, clothes, chubby legs are all cute.

4113 The barefooted child stands on the nose of the rhino and looks at the Captain, “Are you guys going to fight? Our rural village loves peace. No fighting O. If there’s fighting, you will be severely punished O.” The Blood Edge Captain laughs in derision. SL can see the Captain is quickly recovering and tells the child the Captain is a villain and the child should run away. T
he child introduces himself, “Sister, I am called Little Tiger.”
SL: “Little Tiger, quickly run!”
Little Tiger puts one hand on his waist, the other points at the Captain, “I’ve kindly told you the rules. Are you still going to hit me?” The Captain tells him to mind his own business and steps forward. SL wants to protect the boy but NL grabs her and tells her the rhino is no weaker than the Python. SL is shocked. She doesn’t have time for this and starts refining a pill for the poison and using acupuncture on him with nine golden needles. The Captain tries to smack the child but finds he cannot push the kid who can’t weigh more than 20 pounds. The Captain exerts all his strength but can do nothing. The rhino issues a warning cry in irritation. Little Tiger comforts the rhino, telling her not to be anxious and absolutely not to kick.
“Did you forget, last time you kicked Uncle Li’s watchdog and it almost died. For a whole year you had to plow the field for Uncle Li.”
The Captain is not pleased, he’s been driven mad by the all the tricks SL and NL played on him and he’s nearly gone insane.

4114 The Captain knocks the child down from the rhino with all his strength. Little Tiger is surprised, he’s not hurt but no one in the village commits violence, not even to spank children. Little Tiger starts to cry, calling the Captain a bad man for hitting him. The Captain draws his dagger and goes for SL and NL. He doesn’t even take two steps before an Uncle wearing coarse linen, rolled up pants, and carrying a hoe rushes over. SL & NL’s minds tilt a bit seeing how incredibly fast the Uncle is. NL estimates even at his fastest, he would not match the Uncle.
Little Tiger cries, “Uncle Li he hit me! My butt hurts, wu wu wu.”
Uncle Li is furious, “You dare strike my Little Tiger?”
The Blood Edge Captain, with his strength restored, is beaten into the ground by Uncle Li’s hoe. SL & NL are speechless. A child with divine strength, an extraordinarily strong rhino, and a simple and honest but powerful farmer Uncle. SL & NL are a mess, just what kind of village is this? Why do they get the feeling that if any cat or dog strolled out, it would be a hidden master of some sort. The Blood Edge Captain is in an embarrassing state, his face is bleeding and beaten till it resembles a pig’s. Little Tiger wipes his tears and starts shouting at the Captain that he’s so unreasonable and wouldn’t listen to him about not fighting.
“Now do you think you’re still so strong? Humph, humph. I’m telling you now, the bitterness has only begun.”
Because of Little Tiger’s earlier crying, his father runs over wielding a rolling pin only to see his baby reprimanding a dizzy bleeding man. Little Tiger immediately tells his father the Captain is bad man. The child has an excellent memory and recalls everything that was said while tugging on his father’s hand. He concludes, “The beautiful big brother and big sister are good people. But that ugly and strange man is a bad egg. He pushed me!”

4115 Wang Xiao Hu’s (Little Tiger) father is the village head. The village head frowns and looks at the Captain, “Our Pastoral Village treats good people with good guy rules, and bad people with bad guy rules. Since you’re a bad person, we’re treating you with bad guy rules.”
The Captain refuses to accept this, “Just how am I a bad guy?”
Elder Wang, “One look at you and I know you’re a bad guy. Alright, enough with the excuses. This is your first offense. Go plow the field.”
The Captain is furious, he is a great and illustrious solider of the Ashura.
“I am an elite soldier of the Blood Edge forces. I have at my disposable thousands of soldiers. What are you going to make me do? Let’s see which of you want to die?!”
He doesn’t get to finish, Uncle Li smacks his forehead with the hoe. The Captain clutches his forehead and cries in pain.
Uncle Li stares at him, “Hurry up and come with me to work. So much nonsense out of you.”
Captain, “…Oh”
He decides to endure, he’ll get back at them! Uncle Li tells him to work or no food. No one knows where these village rules came from, but rule #1 is to treat good people as warm as Spring. Treat bad people as cold as Winter.
Uncle Li can see the Captain is working slowly, “Little Blood, what are you doing?”
The Captain almost vomits blood at being called Little Blood. Farming is a sacred task and plowing is the beginning. Uncle Li takes a bullwhip and whips the Captain in the ass.
The Captain jumps, furious, “What are you doing?”
What is that whip made of? It went right through the defenses of a 5 star Grand Completion. Uncle Li raises his whip and the Captain gives up. He’s helpless, he can’t fight back, he can’t run, he has to work, but he’s unresigned and points at SL and NL asking why they don’t have to work. Uncle Li humphs twice, “They’re hurt. They’re patients. You are not a patient. Everyone here works. No work, no food to eat.”
Captain, “I’m also a patient!”
Uncle Li: “Heh heh”
At this time, Elder Wang is warmly welcoming SL and NL into his home. The Captain almost vomits blood at this sight, it’s not fair! But who told him to come to the Pastoral Village and immediately violate their greatest taboo?

4116 It’s been thousands of years since the village has had visitors from the outside. It’s also rare to have so many guests at once. This is of course very exciting for the village. Everyone comes laughing and smiling to take a look at this beautiful boy and girl. Everyone is warm and hospitable to the two of them, they all want them to be their house guests, but because NL is injured, SL must refuse them all and asks Elder Wang for a quiet room. The Wang house is a courtyard so they have an empty room to give to her.
Once they’re alone, SL starts working on NL with her needles and curiously asks if all the villagers are as strong as Little Tiger and Uncle Li. She trusts in his incredible mind. NL is confused and puzzled by the village. NL says the villagers do not cultivate and yet they are born with divine powers. NL was puzzled at first when watching Uncle Li but finally understood after seeing so many villagers. SL is amazed they don’t cultivate, and yet, are this divinely talented. She gets an idea. NL tells her to drop it, cultivation might not necessarily be good for them. NL asks SL if she judges them to be intelligent. SL thinks they’re a bit below average. NL says the heavens are fair.

4117 This is why they are so strong and talented, if they had a matching wisdom, wouldn’t the world fall into chaos?
SL grins, “Then what about you?” Her eyes shine like stars, “Talented, determined, wise, handsome, powerful, and you have backing…with someone as blessed as you, isn’t this proof the heavens aren’t fair?” The two of them stare into each other’s eyes, an ambiguous atmosphere arises.
NL raises a fist to his mouth and lightly coughs, “It seems in your eyes, I’m that amazing?”
SL matter of factly, “Isn’t it so?”
NL seriously looks at SL, slightly imposing, “Since it’s that amazing, there will naturally be flaws.”
“What is your flaw?” SL is attending to him with her needles.
“My flaws are no business of yours.” NL, calmly, indifferently.
SL stiffens. How could he say that? She then sadly remembers he doesn’t remember her, they are little better than strangers. The needle wavers in her hand, her eyes momentarily become moist before she firmly wipes her eyes and the returns to normal.
She gives NL a serious look, “Are you trying to make clear our relationship?”
NL wants to say, ‘We have a relationship?’ but the words hang in his mouth. He saw the flash of bitterness and sorrow in her eyes. He feels a flash of pain in his heart. He is the future master of the Longfeng Clan, his wife would be the mother of the Clan. How does he broach this, he doesn’t want her to fall in vain.
SL’s face is calm, as if nothing has happened and continues with her needles. NL’s condition improves. NL sees how lonely her figure is and almost chokes from the pain. After she finishes, she does not stay by his side, but takes the tray and leaves. Wang XiaoHu accosts her while she’s leaving. SL puts the tray down and squats down to hold his little waist. Little Tiger is holding her arms. They look like affectionate siblings. He asks if she’s from the outside. He’s not at all the same as when he was confronting the Blood Edge Captain, he’s shy now. He asks for her to tell him about the outside world.

4118 SL thinks, there are many stories one could tell a child, what is most appropriate? Naruto, One Piece, Hitman Reborn? Nevermind, too inaccessible. Legend of the Condor Heroes, and some other Chinese stories? There seems to be a big difference between the Wuxia world and Xuanhuan world. SL suddenly has an idea. She asks him if he wants to hear a story, he does. “The name of this story is the Demonic King Chases His Wife: The Rebellious Good for Nothing Miss.”
Little Tiger counts his fingers, “What a long name.”
“Well fine then, let’s shorten it, 《一世倾城》.” [published title]
She starts telling him her life’s story, starting from the Su manor on the Blue Sky Continent. She talks about how the beautiful girl and boy got in a fight. Little Tiger asks if the beautiful boy is as good looking as NL?
SL glances at the closed door and pets his little head. “En. He’s just as beautiful as that big brother. You can just put that big brother in the story.”
She tells him about the Crown Prince annulling their engagement. Little Tiger thinks the main character is so clever after that. She tells him about the Su 4th Young Miss going to the mountains. Little Tiger compliments how smart she is, she was almost killed by that horrible Li girl. SL tells him there are blessings in disasters, and that she got a little dragon. Perhaps if there’s an opportunity she will show him Meng Meng. He’s happy, but doesn’t consider why SL would have a little dragon. She continues telling him the story until dinner time. After dinner, SL thought he would pester her some more for the story, but the little rascal runs off after tossing his bowl down, not even leaving a shadow behind.

4119 Little Tiger is triumphantly showing off to the other kids in the village. They ask him about the beautiful immortal boy and girl staying at his house. They comment on how some outsiders are strange and ugly like the Captain, they don’t like him. They want to see SL and NL, they try to bribe him with toys. He tells them the story SL told him, but uses the long name. They love it and also want to listen in.
SL finds later in the evening when she’s telling stories that there are now 7-8 more little radish heads. The kids are enthralled and would listen until their parents drag them away. Things are boring in the village so this is great entertainment for them. The next morning, SL finds that the adults have brought their children and small benches early in the morning to reserve spots in the Wang’s courtyard. It’s completely full. SL is speechless at the sight, she feels like things have spun out of control. They remind her to tell the story and she gives a little cough, glances at the closed door, before continuing.
NL is lying in bed, he’s much better now, but he can’t move his spirit energy or he will cause himself great pain. NL can hear the story coming from outside clearly. He closes his eyes, and his mind can see the events clearly like they’re pictures. It’s surreal, it’s like he’s personally experienced these events. Isn’t it perhaps because that Su Luo girl called the male lead Nangong and the female lead she named after herself, so he unconsciously substituted them in?

4120 The always smart and wise NL is a bit suspicious. His eyes narrow in thought. SL enters. He watches her. The way the moonlight shines upon her, it’s intoxicating. He can’t keep his eyes off her. But then he all of a sudden realizes something. SL who always likes to wear goose-yellow is wearing pink. NL’s eyes ask SL, didn’t you say you would always wear yellow? She doesn’t answer him. She’s holding a tray with ointments, gauze, and other tools. NL continues to look up at her, is she in a bad mood today? Earlier she was crazy about him, now she’s surprisingly silent. As expected, she moves next to him and places the tray down.
She looks at him coldly and just as coldly asks, “Are you taking it off yourself, or shall I?”
Ever since he met her she’s been crazily infatuated with him. This is the first time she’s spoken to him in such a cold manner. NL is not used to this. SL’s cold eyes sweep over him, and then starts to unfasten his clothes. His beautiful chest is exposed, but SL doesn’t seem to notice and she coldly starts working on him with her needles. SL is very serious and works in a concentrated manner. The atmosphere is a little strange. NL feels uncomfortable, he has some words he wants to say but stops when he sees her cold face. SL finishes up and ties his bandages. NL now learns that before, SL liked to dawdle and take her time. She liked to tie the knots of the bandages in depressingly beautiful patterns. Now she quickly, economically ties his bandages in a simple knot. NL clears his throat, as if he wants to speak. However, SL doesn’t seem to hear, she takes up the tray and makes a beautiful turn as she walks away. Such straight bearing, such resolute steps, without delay, she leaves. NL is frozen and speechless where he lays.
Before, what she liked most was to stare at his face, but just now, not once did her eyes fall on his face.
Before, she loved to incessantly talk to him, but now, not a sound from her.
Before, she had said she would win him, that he would be hers, but now it seems like she’s given up on him, that she doesn’t want him any more…
The always calm and wise NL is now lying blankly in bed. This is the first time he’s felt this level of panic before, he’s a little overwhelmed.

4121 That night, NL turns over and over again in his bed. He can’t sleep. He gets up early in the morning. Before, SL had always tended to his injuries, NL is sure she should be here soon. But instead, it’s Little Tiger who comes in with a pot of water for him to clean his face. NL’s beautiful, world unparalleled face flashes black. Night falls. Little Tiger excitedly runs to SL, “Beautiful Sister, Beautiful Sister!~~” The two of them walk back home in the twilight gloom. Little Tiger, “Beautiful Sister, will Beautiful Brother starve to death?”
“Ah?” SL is puzzled. What’s wrong with that Nangong 2nd Young Master?
Little Tiger said he secret spied on NL three times and saw that he had not eaten any of his meals. He recalls his grandfather died after not eating three meals in a row. A black line forms on SL’s forehead. She speaks a few words with him before he runs off.
SL enters the yard. SL takes her time methodically categorizing and organizing the medical herbs she collected in the mountains. As soon as she entered, NL was able to detect her. NL coughs a bit. Before, SL would come to him with great concern when he coughed. He keeps coughing. She’s ignoring him!
She keeps sorting her herbs. He continues to wait. The door creaks open, she finally comes! NL humphs twice and coldly looks at her with sad eyes. SL still has the same wooden tray as yesterday, it has ointments and gauze again. SL can sense his cold look, she inwardly sneers, she was deliberately cold to him yesterday. NL puts on a cold and arrogant face.
SL sets down the tray and coldly asks, “Are you taking it off yourself, or shall I?”
He stares at her. SL’s eyes are indifferent, completely without a trace of emotion as she repeats her question. NL’s eyes show a hint of grievance. He quietly stares at her.
He wants to ask if she’s given up on him, but he’s too proud and instead asks, “Do you want to heal me or not?”
SL coldly glances at him, “Most of your injuries are due to me. I cannot see you die before saving you. Once you’re saved, then the two of us will owe each other nothing.”

4122 Owe each other nothing? NL feels that these four words are incredibly ear piercing. For the first time in his life, he has found four words he does not want to hear. His face wrinkles, his expression cold.
SL indifferently tells them they will part ways, he will go back to be the Nangong 2nd Young Master, and she will go her own way. “We will no longer have anything to do with each other. It will be as if we don’t know each other.”
NL’s face instantly becomes black. What do you mean go our separate ways? What do you mean have nothing to do with each other? What is this as if we don’t know each other business? NL’s cruel and fierce eyes are like swords as he coldly glares at her. A great force pressures the entire room.
SL’s face doesn’t change in the slightest, she coldly asks, “Are you taking it off yourself, or shall I?”
NL bloodthirsty sneer, “We’re going to be as if we don’t know each other, and you still want to look at my body?”
SL sighs and nods her head, “It looks like you don’t want to be treated today.” Truly vexing.
NL fiercely glares at her and coldly humphs twice. SL leaves the ointment and bandages for him to use on himself when he feels like it. Once done, she gets up and decisively leaves. When she leaves, the thorns in NL’s heart painfully flagellate him. She left! She just got up and left! NL clenches a fist and smashes the wooden tray. It makes a loud noise as it falls to the ground. SL does not once turn her head and readily closes the door.
NL is furious. What is this you are destined to be mine? What is this I will make you mine? What is this promise that you will chase after me even after death? Who said all these lies? Now you say let go, so things will be let go? You say you don’t want it, then you don’t want it? On one hand NL is absolutely furious, on the other hand, he is working hard to suppress the panic in his heart. He’s never experienced such emotion before, he can only vent in anger. It seems no matter how intelligent a man is, once consumed with emotion, their IQ falls to the level of a beast, zero. NL has fallen into his own trap.
Outside, SL doesn’t seem mad or to have had her mood changed. NL cannot help but hear her beautiful voice as she continues to tells the villagers the story. They’re now at the part on Amethyst Island where NL is using his injuries to trick SL into doing this or that.
NL scoffs, what kind of story is this, how can that man have such a lack of dignity. Pretending to be childlike, pretending to be pitiful, all this to make the female’s heart soft? Does this man have no self-respect? And now this King is hungry. This King will not eat from this mess.

4123 You have no sincerity, in any case, you must now feed this King.
This King is a patient, an extremely sick patient!
You say you are sincere, and yet you didn’t check to see if the temperature was too hot. Would it not burn this King?
As NL listens to the dialog from this story, he is made completely speechless. NL carefully listens to the story, but in his heart he is disdainfully complaining. He is completely unaware the person he’s complaining about is himself. In the future, when NL eventually recovers his memories and recalls this moment, now that would be a very very exciting scene, but of course, we cannot see this wonderful scene right now.
SL eventually stops the story and says she’ll continue later. Everyone reluctantly agrees. SL has become a valuable part of their community. NL naively thinks to himself, I haven’t eaten all day, surely that girl will come and take care of me. He keeps waiting and waiting until he hears SL go back to her own room and close the door to sleep. He’s mad. But he’s unwilling to lower his own face to look for her so he can only sulk in his room. After two days of sulking, NL’s face can be used to describe the bottom of a pot, it is so black. His face may be black, but he doesn’t look for SL because something happens today. Little Tiger has a fever. SL is out in the mountains gathering herbs. The village doesn’t have a doctor and they worry over him.

4124 SL comes back and sees them in a nearly hysterical state. SL is dumbfounded they’re making such a big fuss over a fever, that they’re going so far as to quarantine Little Tiger for a year. Is this a joke?
SL: “Isn’t it just a cold?”
They think she’s just a storyteller.
SL: “Isn’t it just a cold? I’m a half step Imperial level Apothecary. If I can’t heal Little Tiger, then I’ll tell you the ending of the story.”
Their eyes light up. SL heals Little Tiger with a pill she makes on the spot. She says he’ll be healed in three minutes.

4125 They don’t believe. He gets better in three minutes. Huzzah, Miss Su is a healer! The village has a healer! She’s beautiful, smart, a great storyteller, a healer, she’s so talented! They wish they could keep her forever but they know she will leave eventually. She’s staying because of NL’s poison. SL and the Blood Edge Captain have been slowly recovering from the poison but not NL. The two poisons in his body have combined to form something horrifying. SL must promote to Imperial level Apothecary to heal him. SL tries to get Elder Wang to talk with the Python to learn more about the poison but he refuses, saying they are forbidden from leaving the village. All she can do is search the mountain for herbs to cure him. That and make NL angry. SL knows if she’s too good to him, he will take her for granted and ignore how she feels. SL deliberately acts as an Empress before him, she is cold and mysterious. This smart lady always has a strategy in mind.

4126 Blood Edge Captain suffers while in the village. They treat him coldly and make him work the fields. He’s envious of SL. She’s treated so well. The villagers constantly scramble to bring her good food and drink to eat. He believes the villagers must be easy to trick if SL only needs to point out someone has a cold for them to all think she’s a healer. He plans on getting on the villagers’ good side by doing a better job in the field. His plan is to unleash the 100 magic beasts he has in storage. They’re not strong, which is why he didn’t use them in battle against SL & NL, but more than enough for farming. He lazily lies on a tree while the beasts work the fields. Things go well at first.

4127 But the Pastoral Village’s spirit energy seems conducive to cultivation for the magic beasts. They grow more powerful and disobedient. The Captain completely loses control of them and one day, they run amok in the village, eating from other fields, running into the homes of the villagers and ransacking their food and livestock. The villagers are listening to SL’s stories at the time when they notice the disturbance. The eyes of the magic beasts light up when they notice all the humans and try to eat them. Some villagers take up whatever weapons on hand they can pick up, brooms, rolling pins, benches. The Uncles of the village don’t bother and just fight barehanded. The magic beasts die. The villagers are furious, “Who did this?!”
The Captain is scared. He saw the villagers slaughter the magic beasts and hides.

4128 Since most of the villagers were gathered together for the story, it doesn’t take long before they realize who was responsible, it was Little Blood! The villagers think he’s trying to get back at them. Little Blood wants to cry, how could he dare? They give him more work to do. SL and NL have been living with the village head. SL says they can’t do so forever and NL can’t leave because she needs to cure him of his poison. The villagers hold a meeting and decide on building her a house. They make Little Blood take part. The Captain is terrified at how strong the villagers are when he watches them cut the hard as iron trees and labor to construct the house. Uncle Li is always there with a whip when the Captain slacks off.

4129 The Captain mutters over and over again curses against SL. SL happens to round the corner and hears.
She faintly smiles, “Uncle Li! He’s being lazy!”
The villagers rush over with bloodshot eyes and surround the Captain. Uncle Li is there with his whip. The Captain doesn’t dare to speak, so he glares at SL. She gives him a face which pisses him off.
The house is finished, it’s a idyllic courtyard. SL and NL move in but they still aren’t talking to each other. SL avoids him and says as little as possible and interacts as little as possible with him. NL acts incredibly proud and arrogant when she’s in the room, but as soon as she leaves, he’ll have this helpless look on his face, he doesn’t want her to leave and wants to grab hold of her.
SL becomes incredibly busy once it becomes known she’s a doctor. She gets so much work, that she cannot possibly do it all by herself, so they assign a helper to her, Little Blood. When the Captain sees SL, he almost curses, but the villagers are watching him, so he lowers his head like a cowardly turtle.

4130 At first SL isn’t sure of what use the Captain is, but then realizes she can make him run around the mountain to gather herbs for her. He resists, saying he doesn’t know what they look like, but she draws pictures and instructs him on what to do. She threatens him by saying which medicines are for which specific villagers. If he doesn’t bring them back, there will be consequences. Underneath the glares of the villagers, he runs off. He comes back nearly frozen with what she wanted, she approves of it’s quality, saying he didn’t damage it. He complains in his heart, knowing if he did not do a good job, she would complain against him. She wants him to now go near a volcano to gather more herbs for her. He’s furious, but she indifferently tells him, he’s frozen, and now he can warm up, move along now, Aunty is waiting. Every time he comes back, job completed, SL always has a new task for him to do. She runs him ragged, he feels like he’s almost run his legs right off. Just as he thinks things can’t get any worse, SL tosses him a pill and tells him to eat. She’s testing drugs on him now.

4131 SL explains she originally wanted to test the drugs on a dog, but the Captain’s beasts killed them.
This is revenge!
He’s furious, “You’re ruthless!”
SL indifferently smiles and adopts Uncle Li’s tone, “At this village, if you don’t work, you don’t eat. Tell me, besides running errands, what else are you good for?”
During all of this, SL is no longer deliberately being cold or avoiding NL, she’s just too busy. After being neglected for so long, NL’s black face is almost dripping water. SL changes his dressings that night. His external wounds are doing well, but SL cannot do anything about the poison for now. NL looks at her with a cold proud face. SL knows she’s been cold to him long enough, and treats him a little bit better. SL puts down the tray and tells him they have to live at the village for some time, will this be a problem?
NL coldly smiles at her, “And if there is a problem?”
SL looks at him earnestly, and explains he must remain at the village to figure out the poison. If he left, even an Imperial level Apothecary would not be able to cure him, although right now, neither can she. He must wait until she promotes to Imperial level Apothecary.
NL darkly frowns, “How long?”
SL helplessly spreads her hands, she explains she’s already at the peak of half step Imperial, “If short, one year, if long, ten years.” It’s mostly based on luck.
Short, one year, long, ten years? NL is secretly pleased, but his face is cold, his attitude of alienation.
NL squints and lazily looks at SL, “This isn’t just an excuse you made up so we can live together in this Pastoral Village, is it?”
SL almost laughs at his words, “My words from that day, did you not hear them clearly? I had always thought Nangong 2nd Young Master had a superior memory. I didn’t think you could forget so quickly.”
NL’s expression sinks, those words of hers from that day have been circling in his head during their “cold war.”
They will end whatever resentments they have and part ways.
SL frowns at his expression.
NL’s eyes anxiously looks at her, but his mouth sneers, “What do you think, just how many lives do you owe me?”

4132 NL doesn’t wait for her to speak and mentions the three different beasts and asks if she recognizes them?
SL nods helplessly seeing the calculating look in his eyes, “So, I said after I cure you…”
“After you heal me, that will be one life, what of the other two?” NL with a touch of pride.
“Using grace to extract vengeance, eh Nangong 2nd Young Master?” SL snaps at him.
“Dripping water is a flood of grace, eh Miss Su?” NL lazily sits, he’s recovered from being emotionally overwhelmed, and his intelligence is restored.
SL takes a chair and sets it down to sit in front of NL, “Alright, Nangong 2nd Young Master, what do you want?”
NL proudly tells her she needs to cure him of his poison for the first life. She nods. For the second life, she must take care of him.
He bitterly stares at her, “Look at how you’ve treated me, do you feel you’re qualified?”
SL feels a bit of a headache and rubs her head, why does she get the feeling this NL is like the original NL when he’s sick? What SL doesn’t know, is that while NL has been complaining about her story, he realized that it really is a fast and effective way. He has no experience chasing girls so he decided to learn from it.
In the face of NL’s accusations, SL grumpily asks, “Then tell me, how am I supposed to take care of you?”
NL’s overbearing Young Spoiled Master nature is now exposed, “I want to eat food you make. Clothes washed by others I will not wear. If the weather is good, you will take me out to bask in the sun. On rainy days, you will accompany me in playing chess…”
SL counts the items on her fingers and then finally marvels, “That’s 13 conditions!”
NL, a little smug, “You’re life isn’t worth these 13 conditions?”
SL silently clenches her teeth, “….worth it.”
NL’s folds both hands behind his head, he seems incredibly vibrant and full of life now. If someone from his family saw him now, they would all be scared crazy. Who is this smug man? Is this overbearing dandy NL?
SL grumpily asks about the third life.
NL says he can’t think of anything for now, “Remember, I’m your creditor.” NL does not want SL to repay the debt. That way they’ll at least have a romantic relationship of creditor and debtor. SL is in a trance at seeing such a familiar situation. Even now, SL still owes him green crystals. She’s never paid it back.

4133 NL has secretly determined he’s going to save SL’s life many times to pile on the debt so that she can never pay him back. NL sees SL’s expression and frowns, did she really give up on him?
He pokes SL, “Hungry.”
He really is hungry, he hasn’t eaten in 10 days. He no longer really needs food at his level, but while in the forest, he’d grown accustomed to her cooking.
“Hurry up and go, go! No dawdling. Later, we’re going for a walk.”
SL grumpily glares at him, then helplessly walks out. Once the door is closed, SL’s face slowly bursts into a resplendent smile. The cold shoulder really is the best attack. SL’s cooking technique can go unsaid. SL thinks of Xiao Ke and worries about him, is he eating well? SL makes some of the original NL’s favorite food. Everything is done perfectly.
Everything is placed on the wooden tray and she lays it before him, “Eat.”
NL glances at her, “Not one bit of care.”
“What?” These are his favorites, in the past, he would always eat these clean.
NL grumpily tells her he heard the story clearly, you’re supposed to test the temperature. There’s a slight trace of jealously in his voice. SL is speechless, he really is still the same person, same temper, same pickiness. SL eats a little of the food to test the temperature, then hands him a bowl, “Now can you eat?”
“My hands have no strength.”
SL: “…”
If SL knew about this NL complaining about the NL of Amethyst Island, would she be angry or smile?
SL’s mouth shrinks, “Then how do you want it?”
“You are allowed to feed me.” NL proudly.
“…”
He really is the same.
“Then I thank 2nd Young Master for this reward.” SL glances at him.
NL’s mood improves. He pokes SL, “I haven’t seen the sun in a long time.”
“…”
In just a day, NL has SL all wrapped up. SL cooks and feeds him. She pushes him out to take walks. She does his clothes. NL is acting as the spoiled young master and ordering SL about. SL always looks upon him haughtily, but still does everything. Their relationship changes, they’re no longer in a “cold war.” From SL’s perspective, things have gotten a lot better. She’s not anxious, especially about his memory. Even if his memory never recovers, she will not despair. She will just make him love her all over again.

4134 SL concentrates on promoting in apothecary. NL cannot cultivate or use his spirit energy but is not anxious, he believes in SL. He reads books and admires the flowers. Little Tiger comes running. NL knows he’s SL’s favorite and so he’s more patient with him. NL puts down his scroll and ask what’s wrong when Little Tiger asks for SL. Little Tiger complains about a problem his teacher gave him. If he doesn’t solve it, his teacher will strike his hand, it hurts so much wu wu wu. NL frowns, will the great Nangong 2nd Young Master be reduced to doing homework for others? He thinks he can use the kid regarding SL and solves his math problem.
The village teacher is not a normal person, he’s a Prophet. The Prophet’s eyes light up and wonder if Little Tiger is a genius.

4135 The Prophet tests by giving him another question. It’s a frightening question with words Little Tiger doesn’t even recognize. Little Tiger brings it to NL. NL solves it in seconds. To the Prophet, it’s a very difficult equation, but if SL saw it, she would say, isn’t this a binary equation? The Prophet is shocked at the answer. Little Tiger giggles at his response. He’s suspicious that such a young child could solve it, but chooses not to expose Little Tiger. He continues to give Little Tiger problems. After seeing more answers, he’s now certain it’s not Little Tiger. He’s continually amazed at this mysterious person answering the questions. He’s no longer just using math questions, but questions about the Spirit World. The Prophet doesn’t realize he’s fallen into NL’s trap.

4136 The Prophet questions Little Tiger and finds out it’s NL. He gives NL a question even he’s not sure the answer to. The children love seeing the Prophet’s face every time NL sends in an answer. SL has locked herself in to promote her apothecary but fails in creating the pill at the last moment. She’s dejected, but then her cultivation promotes instead. She’s at 6 star Deity, but has the equivalent to an 8 star’s power thanks to her dantian. She’s run out of a grass she needs so she thinks of a leaf from the mountains that can replace it.

4137 SL leaves her room to find NL outside with little dragon and little black cat by his side. NL had asked for her pets when she isolated herself to promote. She’s surprised that the two pets still seem to be at the same strength since she left them. She asks him why he’s out. He says it’s a beautiful day. She looks at him suspiciously and says she’s going to the mountains for a little bit, take care of yourself.
NL: “No need.”
SL: “I’m leaving, hurry up and go back inside. No need to send me off.”
After two or three steps, she finds NL is still the same distance he was before. After walking 100 meters, he’s still following her. She helplessly asks, “What do you want?”
NL glances at her, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m going to the mountains. Are you also going to follow me into the mountains?”
NL strokes his chin and nods, “The mountains spirit energy isn’t bad.”
She’s surprised and asks how he plans on entering when he can’t use spirit energy.
He looks at her like she’s a fool, “Using my brain.”
She’s silent at that. Is this contempt for her brain, one that has fused with the skull of wisdom? She tries to persuade him not to go.

4138 She wastes her breath. He just stares at her like she’s an idiot. She gives up and says she’d like to see what he does when a magic beast attacks. Not long after they enter, they encounter magic beasts, but her two pets flash forward to fight, surprising her. They’re only 3 star Deities. Even a little mouse from the village could abuse them. She’s worried, but they win against a rabbit. She’s fought the rabbits before, they’re 4 star Deity. SL looks at NL suspiciously. He says they’re still 3 star. She asks how a 3 star could beat a 4 star to death. NL says they activated a bit of their bloodline. SL grows misty eyed as she watches her pets beat up successively stronger beasts, even a 7 star. Her pets are back in action. NL casually remarks that if they don’t reach 9 star Deity in a year, then it can only be said they are too stupid and beyond teaching. She now understands NL’s purpose was to train the pets in the mountain.

4139 SL and NL have a peaceful stroll in the mountains, they don’t even need to lift a finger. The pets take care of everything. Both pets have promoted to 6 star by now. SL has been looking in the mountains for the leaves she needs but to no avail. She’s frustrated. NL looks at her and leisurely opens a fan, he tells her to patiently search. Little Dragon smells something. He leads them quite a distance away. During this whole time, NL doesn’t say anything or do anything, he just accompanies her. SL is moved by this. Originally, they were embarrassed to be with each other because of their “cold war” but after seven days in the mountains, the awkwardness disappears. SL smells the leaves and rushes forward but NL grabs her arm. SL looks at him puzzled.
NL grumpily, “What are you in a hurry for?”
To heal him of course, every time she looks at his pale sickly face, she feels pain.
SL gently smiles, “Fine, I’ll go slowly.”
It’s at this time SL notices a plant at her feet. It’s a poisonous plant, the small size and dirt color makes it hard to notice. If you step on it, you will be poisoned and die within 10 minutes.

4140 SL looks with lingering fear at the plant, then she turns to NL, “You already knew?”
NL proudly looks at her, “I’ve grown eyes.”
SL is depressed, isn’t he saying she never grew eyes? NL lectures her a bit. She obediently follows along.
NL pats her head, “This can be considered obedient.”
SL glares at him. And just like that, they’re talking to each other like they used to. SL gets overwhelmed with a sense of nostalgia. NL gets a sense of that he’s seen this scene before. It’s like this is the way things should be, he frowns. The two of them avoid each other’s gazes when they come back to their senses.
They reach a dangerous part of the mountain. SL can smell the leaves are nearby and tells NL. At this time, a bright light shines and before either can react, a powerful hand grabs SL by the collar and drags her to the bottom of the cliff. SL is horrified. NL is unable to react in time.

4141 NL’s face grows cold, he uses his spirit energy and reaches out for SL’s sleeve. It rips. NL watches as she’s dragged to the bottom of the cliff. His eyes turn red. The hand taking her away was like a slap to the face in waking him up. He now realizes how much SL matters to him. He feels nervous, anxious, and panicked. Using spirit energy causes internal injuries and makes the poison worse, he coughs out some blood. NL uses the Dragon Phoenix False Shadow. This is his final trump card. A fiery red two headed Dragon Phoenix appears in the air. It has a dragon for a left head, and a phoenix on the right. It gives chase and roars at the hand carrying SL away. The hand pauses, the Dragon Phoenix catches up and crashes into it. SL is let go, the giant hand and Dragon Phoenix both fade away. NL suffers more internal injuries. The energy dispersed by the scattering giant hand is useful and the best thing for NL would’ve been to immediately sit down to cultivate and recover his vitality. Instead he jumps down after SL. SL fainted from the explosion and is falling straight down. He’s absolutely certain she will die from a fall of this height.

4142 NL beats his own chest, he activates his life energy and the power in his dantian then charges towards SL. He catches her. NL’s white clothes have splotches of red blood, like plum blossoms blooming in an early Spring. There’s a trace of blood leaking from SL’s mouth. She was originally full of life but now he finds her body temperature is dropping. His panic intensifies. He can feel the great hand recovering down below. NL thrusts his hand into the cliff to stop their fall. Gravity seems to increase and his hand leaves grooves in the cliff as they continue to fall. He doesn’t mind dying but the girl against his chest is not allowed to. NL’s mouth curves into blood thirsty grin and drops some bombs down below.
A voice laughs at him, “How can bombs like these do in this old one? Simply ridiculous. Hurry up and come down here for this old one.” The voice resounds through the mountains, all animals cower, and then there’s silence. NL is affected by the voice, his fingers are broken, things are getting serious. More bombs appear in his hand.

4143 He’s in the military, it’s not surprising he has bombs. It’s difficult for others to figure out where the voice came from but NL dropped a bomb and tangled with the hand so he’s figured it out. He throws a hundred bombs at the source. The giant hand hasn’t recovered yet. Something breaks. The owner of the voice wants to roar but he knows he will only bring more abuse if he makes a sound. A giant bear dodges away but NL is able to keep track of it and continues throwing bombs until it falls to the ground. NL can sense it’s no longer a threat and saves the last of his bombs. NL lands. He notices the dead bear but ignores it, SL is faintly breathing, she could stop at any moment. NL asks SL what she wants to do, she could die, or she could take the difficult path with many trials. SL is unconscious and he tyrannically makes the choice for her, knowing she cannot respond.

4144 At this time a light escapes from a pool at the bottom of the cliff, shooting towards SL. NL frowns, SL’s bloodline improves. He doesn’t understand her mysterious bloodline. He carries her towards the pond. When he gets close, a loud sound erupts, and when he comes to, he finds himself in a cave. It’s enormous. He notices an area luxuriously paved with white jade tiles. NL can tell the floor is littered with deadly traps. He slowly makes his way while carrying SL. He’s still suffering from internal injuries and the poison. By the time he makes it to the end, his head is dizzy. He sees a statue at the end. It’s a young woman with the face of a heroic spirit, expression upwards, with delicate and exquisite facial features. The most beautiful face under the heavens. How can it be so similar to the SL in his arms? NL notices that the energy helping SL recover is coming from the statue. A steady stream of light is coming from the eyes of the statue and into SL’s body. SL is recovering at a speed visible to the eye. NL is doubtful at first, but determines it’s not dangerous in the cave. He changes clothes and sits down to recover and cultivate while guarding SL. It will be difficult for him to recover. SL wakes up in surprise. She notes NL is there but he doesn’t look well.

4145 She doesn’t realize NL already changed clothes to keep her from worrying. She’s relieved he seems alright. SL notices her body feels 10 times stronger. Her bloodline has been awakened to 5%. Before it was a measly 1%, what happened while she was unconscious?
SL looks up. Her head feels like it’s going to explode. The statue in front of her bears a 7 points resemblance to herself. The woman portrayed by the statue looks just like the one in master’s study. This has to be her mother! No wonder she earlier felt this gentle sensation, as if she were being held in her mother’s arms. The activation of her bloodline must’ve been due to her mother’s spirit energy. However, the statue is lifeless. SL walks around it in a circle, examining it. To the right of the statue is a stone platform with an unfinished game of chess. There are also ten or so scattered black and white chess pieces on the floor. SL notices some of the grass she needs. She quietly goes to harvest some without using her spirit energy, wishing not to disturb NL. A shadow flashes and lunges at SL when she nears the herbs. NL’s eyes instantly open but he’s too far away. Just as he’s about to panic, SL lifts her leg and kicks at the shadow. NL frowns, this King Kong Violent Ape’s cultivation is normal, about the same as the Pastoral Village, but just like the Villagers, it’s physical strength is formidable. It’s definitely at Grand Completion. Nevermind SL kicking it away, it would be great if she didn’t hurt her foot, is what he’s thinking. The Ape madly rushes forward. SL lifts up her tender ***, and the Ape’s belly meets her kick and is flung away.

4146 The ape goes flying. SL is stunned. The Ape is stunned. NL is staring incredulously at SL. This girl is only a 6 star Deity. It would be fine if she could leapfrog and defeat an 8 star Deity, but this Ape is at Grand Completion.
As NL thinks about the light that shone on SL while she was unconscious, SL recovers and starts ruthless beating up the Ape, “You sneak attacked me! You sneak attacked me! Do you still dare sneak attack me?!”
The Ape is baffled. He can clearly tell the one pummeling him is weak, but each punch hurts so much. NL moves to SL’s side when he sees that the Ape is being beaten to death and smiles at her. He tells SL that it’s been guarding the divine grass for so long, of course it would attack you after you seized it. Since she’s beaten it up to this extent, she can let it go now.
Let it go? SL can hardly believe such words are coming out of NL’s mouth. She looks at him suspiciously. When she sees the flash of a smile in his eyes, SL senses a plot is afoot.
“Since you’ve said this much, fine. I’ll give you face.”
SL leave the Ape alone and harvests the divine grass into her space. Then she decides to take her mother’s statue into her space. There’s some rustling. SL turns around to find the Ape is running away. She gets angry and moves to smash it. NL has a dumbfounded look. This girl, as soon as she gets strong, she starts violently attacking everything in sight. It’s not an elegant habit. NL tells her to stop and pulls on her arm when she’s about to unleash her fist to attack it from range. He tells her to give chase instead. SL is puzzled but NL leads her by the hand to give chase. SL suspiciously asks NL if the Ape has some secret. NL smiles and says it should. They continue to secretly tail the Ape. The Ape keeps turning around to watch for a tail but NL keeps hiding SL and himself. After this happens twice, SL realizes something.

4147 SL thinks she knows why NL is following it. Sure enough, the Ape exits the cave and leads them to a vine that climbs up towards a cliff. NL asks if SL can take it. She jumps up the vine and drags the Ape down and starts fighting it. She eventually overpowers it. SL kicks the Ape once to make sure it’s down. She’s panting, she really was angry. If the Ape had made it up the vine, it could’ve alerted it’s companions, and then they would be in trouble. SL grumpily asks NL if he purposely allowed the Ape to run to lead them to the exit.
NL pats her head, “You’re not stupid.”
SL looks at him with clear eyes that seem to flash with laughter. NL grumpily asks her what she’s laughing at. Why’s she’s laughing? Because she’s happy! SL sticks her tongue at him. She can feel that this cold and arrogant NL is fading and her NL is coming back. Because of the increase in gravity, neither NL or SL can fly out, that’s why NL let the Ape flee.
They climb the vine out and head back to the village. SL has two goals, promote to Imperial level Apothecary and find out more about the statue. Since it would take time to concoct the pill, she heads to the village chief first, but she’s not optimistic. She so strongly resembles her mother, if the village chief knew anything, he would’ve reacted when he first saw her. Sure enough, when SL takes out the statue, the Chief just rubs his chin and says he’s never seen it before and asks where it came from. SL tells him they found it where gravity is much higher. He’s aghast because so many young people wander over there and never come back alive.

4148 The Chief tells her the Prophet will know more and has Little Tiger lead her. Little Tiger happily leads beautiful sister to teacher. He slips away once he brings SL to the Prophet. The Prophet is busy reading and it takes three prompts from SL to react. He tells her to go away, he’s busy. He’s trying to find a difficult problem to confound NL. SL bangs on his table to get his attention. He’s mad and says she better have a good reason. SL sticks out her tongue and takes out the statue, tells him where it came from, and asks him what he knows. He’s startled. His family is the only one that’s inherited memories and knows about the past. He waves his hand and dismisses her again, saying he’s busy. SL is surprised. She noticed his interest upon seeing the statue and her own face.

4149 SL goads him, saying the village head had said he was the wisest most learned person in the village. Surely he wouldn’t let the village head down and lose face for the village? He does get angry, but still tells he to get out. She sticks her tongue at him, takes the statue, and leaves to return home.
NL is not around so she looks for him in his room. She opens the door to his room and finds it’s foggy, it’s obvious he’s bathing. She pauses, then retreats and closes the door. She speaks through the door telling him she didn’t know, he gave no signs, surely she would not blame him.
“Anyways, you’re a man, it’s not like you suffer any harm.”
He doesn’t respond, he’s not mad is he? It’s just a bath, they used to bathe together all the time. She reflects on how she’s incredibly familiar with his body, more so than her own. What’s their to be upset about? SL turns away and starts to leave when she realizes something is wrong. She rushes into his room and finds him slouched in the tub. His eyes are closed, he’s barely breathing. She quickly takes his pulse and almost goes crazy upon understanding what she senses. She had thought his condition had stabilized but she sees that the poison has circulated through his body and is now going for his heart. She tells herself to calm down, she’s the only one who can cure him. She wants to scold off his ears, telling him to take better care of himself. She jumps into the tub and takes out her Yan Hua dagger and gets to work on his heart.

4150 SL tries several things to deal with the poison but they’re ineffective or too slow so she tosses her dagger to the floor and lays against his chest as she sucks the poison out of him with her mouth. The poison is strong and starts to affect her. Her mouth gets swollen and her body feels like it’s on fire, she faints.
NL wakes up first. He’s completely naked in a tub and SL is lying against him… He feels like lightning’s struck his head. SL wakes up at this time, she rubs her eyes and then stares at him.
“…”
They stare at each other for a moment. NL’s ears flush red, aren’t things going a bit too fast? SL wants to curse him but SL takes a deep breath to calm her anger, jumps out of the tub, and walks away. The view of her back is extremely cold. NL panics and grabs her hand. SL is so angry, she turns and fiercely glares at him. NL is of course very smart, and figures out why she’s angry.
He leans against the bath tub and covers his chest with his hands, “Can’t look.”
SL is furious, “You’re chest is covered in blood, who would want to look!”
She tries to throw off his hand but his grip is too tight. The NL sitting before her is not usual the high above, cold and arrogant NL, but instead seems like a little boy who’s done something wrong. He’s looking weakly at SL as if begging for forgiveness. SL’s heart is full of anger but when she’s his eyes, it loosens and she stops getting angry. Anyone would give up upon seeing NL’s appearance right then.
SL glares at him, “Why are you holding me?”
The pitiful looking NL points at his chest, “Why are there needles inserted here?”
Under his beautiful and innocent looking eyes, SL let’s go the rest of her anger. SL reflects upon how adorable he is and how easy it is to forgive him. She compares him to a little pumpkin.
NL can see that SL is looking at him, but her eyes seem to seeing someone else distant and far away, his face darkens. NL is not one to ask any questions, he instead pulls sly and underhanded tricks to get back her attention. NL hisses in pain and covers his chest. SL jumps into the tub and pulls his arms away. SL fainted earlier so she didn’t attend to the needles. She feels distressed and guilty seeing how cold and miserable he is. She’s bent down working so doesn’t see the flash of a smile in his eyes.
NL is very well behaved. If she says don’t move, he becomes still. Because she’s still angry, NL cleverly changes the topic and asks about the statue. Upon hearing this, SL gets angry again and humphs twice. She explains what happened, the Prophet seemed busy, although she doesn’t know with what. She doesn’t know when he’ll have time for her. While reviewing what she did before fainting, SL realizes the poison within her is different from what’s in him. SL lowers her hand to collect some of the blood near his belly for study.
NL gets to watch the wet and graceful figure of SL in the tub. His ears start to get hot. NL then looks at his own chest and wryly smiles. Last night was an accident. He thought he had the poison under control. He did not expect an outbreak while taking a bath. While he was in this dream like state, he saw someone. Who was it?

4151 SL takes NL’s blood out of the room to study and locks herself away for a full week. Originally, because there were two poisons in NL’s body, it greatly increased the difficulty of treating him. SL had worried even if she were at Imperial level, she still wouldn’t be able to cure him. Now that the poison is in her own body, she finds that her blood is capable of curing one of the poisons. But that’s not right, she gave some of her blood earlier and it didn’t cure it before. She has a flash of inspiration, perhaps it’s because of her bloodline awakening? She wonders about her parents, just who are they to have such magical blood?
Once she promotes, SL’s identity will soar through the sky. Imperial level Apothecaries are quite rare, even in the Central Continent. SL slowly works hard on creating the pill. 31 days pass. SL has been relying on a steady stream of half step Imperial level spirit body pills to sustain herself. Boom! A great noise resounds from her lab, a bright white light erupts and crashes through the ceiling, breaking through to the heavens.
“Where are you escaping to!”
SL rushes out through the ceiling and catches the escaping pill. This is her first Imperial level Blood Cloud Pill. With this pill, she can cure NL. She holds the pill in her hand and smiles.

4152 SL thinks about how now she’s a person of standing, even the four top families will have to give her a little respect. SL then thinks of Ning3. Wasn’t it said she’s an Imperial level Apothecary as well? SL wonders how long it took Ning3 to reach Imperial level. SL has only been cultivating for about 300 years. All of a sudden, a burst of pleasant immortal music comes from the Eastern sky that gets closer and closer. SL is puzzled, when the sound envelopes her and her head goes blank. Her originally boiling Apothecary aura now solidifies and her cultivation promotes. She was 6 star Deity and is now 7 star. SL is flummoxed at the Immortal bell like sound, why did she promote so easily? She hadn’t been practicing hard. NL is silently staring at her while she’s stunned. He too has a stunned expression while looking at her. What hasn’t the Nangong 2nd Young Master seen, and yet the the sound of those bells shocked him this much.
NL promotes. SL spends a paragraph describing how beautiful he looks. When he promotes, it leaves people in admiration for his beauty. SL is puzzled, why did the two of them promote, was it related to the bells? NL promotes again.
SL: “…”
You can do this twice?! By the time NL stabilizes, a half hour passes. He opens his eyes and beckons SL. She doesn’t understand what’s going on so she obediently goes over to him and asks what the bells were, why did he promote twice? Another long line describing how beautiful NL is while he smiles and extends a hand towards her. She’s entranced at the image.

4153 NL smiles at the sight of SL startled and grabs her, bringing her onto a small tree branch. They’re forced to sit very close together, SL’s couched against his chest. SL comes to, but becomes intoxicated again by his appearance.
NL proudly smiling, “Am I that good looking?”
SL glares at him, “Not as looking as me.”
He taunts her some more and pinches her cheeks. SL grumpily throws his hand away and asks what happened earlier. Why did he promote twice? NL leisurely says she’s the one who caused it, she doesn’t even know this?
“I caused the movement earlier?” SL is puzzled and points at herself.
NL’s eyes searches her but sees no pretense so he wryly smiles and tells her that she’s likely caused an uproar on the Central Continent. SL is confused. NL rubs her head and explains that when someone breaks a record on the Central Continent, a bell will ring from the Summit of the Gods to bless that person and everyone else within 10 miles. SL is confused as to what record was broken. There should be a few Imperial level Apothecaries in the Central Continent. NL explains it’s her age. If those on the Central Continent knew about such a young and talented apothecary, they would all crazily attempt to steal such a person.

4154 SL is stunned she broke such a large record, then she becomes ecstatic. She becomes emboldened and cheekily asks NL if his family wants to steal her.
NL pokes her forehead, his eyes smiling, “I want to be Clan Chief.”
“And then?”
NL explains one of the conditions to be the mother of the Clan is to be a graduate of the Imperial College. He chuckles and says as far as he knows, the enrollment period is over.
The mother of the clan has to be a graduate of the Imperial College? It really isn’t easy to be one. But, I will be, I will be, I will be~
SL takes a piece of ink jade from her space and shakes it in front of NL, “What is this thing?”
It’s actually the Imperial College Admissions Ink Jade? He was originally going to kidnap her and stuff her into the Imperial College. He didn’t expect her to obtain one herself first.
“It looks like you’ve always been prepared to become Lady Nangong.” NL leisurely glances at SL.
SL glares at him. She’s already been Lady Nangong for the past 200 years thank you very much. It’s just Lord Nangong has amnesia. And what’s more, he obviously likes her so much his heart would die without her. And yet his mouth says things like, “You like me so much, it’s annoying” in this pampered haughty way. What’s that supposed to mean?
SL casually gives him the Imperial level pill and tells him to take it. NL takes the pill and looks at it carefully before putting it away. Then he stretches out a hand expectantly. He puts on this cute look.
SL: “What are you doing?”
NL says in a taking it for granted way, “That was the one that broke the record. Obviously it will be kept in commemoration. How are you so stupid?”
SL: “…Even if it’s going to be kept in commemoration, it should be left with me.”
This is SL’s first time giving him a gift. How could NL give it back to her?
So, NL just holds his chest and gives a muffled and pained, “Hurts.”
SL: “…”
Too fake! How did this person become so shameless? Where’s the cold proud callous poisonous tongued Nangong 2nd Young Master?
SL glares at NL but she’s inwardly pleased, “Wait then.”
As an Imperial level Apothecary, her success rate and refining speed have increased. It doesn’t take long before she has a freshly made pill in hand, “Mouth open.”
NL: “…”
NL feels this is a bit childish but he follows along with her. The white innards of the red pill spill into his mouth after he bites on it. It creates this pleasant sensation. NL sits down cross legged to cultivate. SL guards him. Meanwhile, the Pastoral Village is in chaos. The bell toll not only increased the cutlivation of the villagers, cured their ills, healed their bodies, it also…

4155 It even affected their chickens. The villagers don’t know what the bell meant nor why they all promoted. The village head seeks the prophet to ask. The prophet had been at 9 Star Deity for a long time but the bell allowed him to finally break through to Lesser God. The prophet invites the village head. The Prophet explains to the village head when he asks, that the bell was likely from the Summit of the Gods. It blessed their village. He explains the Summit is where the Gods live. That someone broke a record to make the bell toll. The prophet is stumped when he’s asked who broke the record and what record was broken. He tells the village head he’s certain it’s one of the outsiders. In his own mind, he believes it’s NL.
The only person not to benefit from the bell is the Blood Edge Captain. He was away from the village at the time, forced by Uncle Li to go reclaim some of the wasteland. When the Captain leisurely returns to the village with his rough hemp clothes and bare feet, holding a hoe, he soon finds out what happened and nearly vomits blood in anger.
When SL finds out the Captain was the only one to be excluded, she clutches her stomach while rolling around in bed laughing. She almost gives herself stomach cramps from laughing so hard. NL looks grumpily upon this girl. A world unparalleled appearance, a lively temperament, a cheerfully mischievous troublemaker, but always constantly bringing pleasant surprises. He’s afraid that if he searches the entire Spirit World, he would be unable to discover a second like her.
Seeing that SL will not stop laughing, he sighs and reminds her, “Don’t you have unfinished business?”

4156 SL looks at him puzzled. NL irritably pokes her forehead. SL clutches her forehead in pain, her beautiful eyes glare resentfully at NL.
NL sighs and reminds her again, “Statue.”
“Oh right!”
SL remembers she still needs to solve the mystery of the statue of her mother.
SL clenches a fist, “That horrible Prophet, he obviously knows but he won’t tell me!”
NL looks at her with an amused and helpless look in his eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” He’s looking at her like she’s an idiot…
NL rubs SL’s head, “Ah…”
“Why!” SL glares at him.
NL casually tosses SL a sheet of paper and tells her to give it to the prophet. SL is suspicious but takes it. SL looks at the paper but is confused by the words and symbols. There’s at least a thousand characters. SL asks what it is, but NL tells her to allow the Prophet to tell her. SL gives him ‘Oh I get it’ look after a moment and runs off.
She assaults the prophet with all smiles and flattery before he can kick her out of the house. The prophet is caught on the back foot, coughs, says how hard can the question be and asks for the paper. A trace of how overjoyed the prophet is can be seen on his face. He recognizes NL’s handwriting and excitedly asks SL when this person will come out. SL responds that he will come out when the prophet answers the question on the paper. The prophet looks at her for a moment but decides against coercion. He tells her to return tomorrow, he’ll have the answer then. SL is thinking that she cannot even understand the question, he thinks he can answer it by tomorrow? SL just smiles and says she’ll be back tomorrow.

4157 SL casually leaves. The prophet gets down to solving the problem. He gets stuck at 20% complete and spends a month neglecting everything while trying to figure it out. The village head and his son see the state the prophet is in, and send him over to NL. The prophet immediately starts blabbering about the problem NL gave him. SL is amazed that she doesn’t understand anything he says. NL stops him. The village head doesn’t want his son’s image of the prophet to be damaged because of how he’s embarrassing himself so he takes the boy away.

4158 NL tells the prophet to answer SL’s questions. The prophet now understands that NL has been prepping him for this moment. In reality, NL wanted to ask about the origins of the village to figure out the source of their strength. The prophet is angry to have been fooled, but he realizes he will go insane if he doesn’t figure out this puzzle. He helplessly promises to do so. NL writes down the answer. The prophet is amazed at how simple the solution is.
After he calms down, he helplessly asks NL, “Do you know why they call me the prophet?”
NL smiles, “Inherited memories.”
The prophet glares at them and says if you already know this much, what else do you want to know, and tells them to follow him. The prophet feels a lot more relaxed and happy now that the puzzle is solved. The villagers remark that the prophet is taking them to a forbidden area of the village.

4159 The prophet takes them to the eastern side of the village, where a dilapidated house is located. It is forbidden to all other villagers. Once inside the house, there’s a stone table with an unfinished chess game. SL comments that it’s at the endgame. NL eyes light up, but no one else notices. The prophet tells them whoever solves the endgame will gain the support of the village and have a higher level of authority than both the village head and himself. SL knows how to play but she’s not an expert at it. While she’s figuring it out, the Blood Edge Captain rushes in and asks to confirm if the villagers will do everything he says if he solves the game. SL is surprised to see him. He’s been working with manure and smells. The prophet confirms this. SL doubts he can solve it. The Captain eagerly tosses his hoe down and gets to work, he doesn’t even waste time taunting SL.
After seeming to make some progress, he does take the time to taunt SL a bit, “Hey, hey. What do you think, not bad right?”
SL just tells him to continue. She believes it’s not so simple.

4160 The Captain is feeling proud of himself. Only a few days ago, while working to reclaim the land near the mountains, he accidentally fell from a cliff and ended up in a cave. The cave was empty except for a chess board and some scattered chess pieces showing an endgame. Now that he’s seen this endgame again, he thinks he can solve it. He rapidly makes progress, causing the Prophet to frown. He starts taunting SL before the villagers. He wants revenge and says once he’s in charge, he will make her chase cows and hoe fields for the rest of her life. The Prophet tells him to take the game more seriously, which shuts him up. The Captain runs into a problem, the endgame he saw earlier stopped at this point. He’s having trouble making further progress. The villagers wonder why his progress has stalled.

4161 The Captain is holding a white piece and he’s starting to sweat. The Prophet coldly harrumphs at him. The villagers mock and berate him for taking so long. He finally places the white piece down. Nevermind NL and the Prophet, even SL takes a deep breath and sighs. He’s made a horrible mistake and lost everything. The Captain is confused, back in the cave, everything went so well. The villagers mock him some more.
NL looks at the Captain thoughtfully and asks if he’s seen this endgame in a cave in the forbidden valley? The Captain is shocked and asks how NL knows. NL has a small shallow smile as he explains that he was the one that messed up the chess game in the cave. The Captain has a bad feeling about this. NL explains why he did that, it’s because the original endgame was wrong. The Captain almost vomits blood. No wonder he lost. The villagers pity the Captain upon seeing how down he is. NL flourishes his robe as he sits down before the Prophet and asks for a game.

4162 The Prophet agrees. The villagers find the game very exciting. NL is playing white and takes seemingly no time to think, instantly making each move. The Prophet in contrast plays slowly and takes an increasingly long time to make each move. The prophet is really sweating. NL looks cool and calm.
Finally, the prophet sprays a mouthful of blood over the chess board, his head hangs in defeat, “You win.”
NL gives the traditional polite phrase, “You let me” in response.
NL turns his head to look at SL afterwards. SL has trouble hiding her joy at his victory and hugs him tightly from behind, then quickly releases him. NL is startled, he did not expect SL to be so… daring. He gives SL a glance. His ears are red but he’s quite pleased. This girl is so bold in this one area, but, when he thinks about it, he’s the one that benefits, so he pretends not to see anything.
All of a sudden a movie starts to play from the bloodstained chess board. It shows the ancestors of the villagers being killed and chased. They settled in the present day Pastoral Village. One day, a woman of unparalleled beauty appears and their situation improves. The gifts of incredible speed and strength the villagers enjoy started after the woman appeared. SL looks just like this person. They’re practically the same! The villagers can see that this women is speaking with their ancestor. From the conversation, they learn that this woman and her husband are fighting in vain against the Heavens. The Heavenly Dao (天道) struck back and punished them by erasing all traces of their existence and all memory of them. It will be as if husband and wife never married. The ancestor of the villagers hands the goddess a dagger and says that if one day a descendant of the goddess comes back to the village with the dagger, the villagers will serve the descendant of the goddess. Everyone stares at SL. SL’s mind is a mess. An in vain attempt to rebel against the heavens to change fate? Suppressed by the heavenly dao? All memory and traces of their existence erased? Then what about their daughter, is she also not allowed to exist?

4163 Why would her Lord Father rebel against heaven to change fate? Who’s fate was he trying to change? It could be said that the fates of Lord Father and Lady Mother are already quite good. It looks like the answer will come out soon.
The villagers continue to watch the movie and learn that their ancestor is one of the Twelve Paladins. SL is still in a trance. The villagers are waiting for her to take out the dagger. SL wonders if her father rebelled against the heavens to change her own fate and was suppressed in turn. If that’s the case, SL wonders if this is why her Master and Foster Father suppressed their own strength and entered the Blue Sky Continent. Was it to evade the memory sealing? SL’s head is a mess, she doesn’t know enough. She can only wait for Grandfather Sea Emperor to wake up so she can question him.
SL returns from her daze. The villagers are staring at her puzzled. The Captain’s eyes show his shock. SL’s heart trembles slightly thinking of NL. Today’s news is too shocking. The Heaven Rebelling High Emperor is her father, an enemy of the Heavenly Dao. He’s already being suppressed by the Heavenly Dao, then what of his daughter? Who would dare get close to her? Would the future Clan Chief of the Longfeng Clan, Nangong Liuyun, dare get close to her? SL believes the original NL would. She had only just now, with great difficulty, smoothed out her relationship with the current NL, but now this matter shows up. SL’s tightens her fists at her sides, she’s afraid to even look at NL. If she sees him withdrawing from her, she will crumble. NL is silently going through some inner turmoil. An enemy of heaven? What a ridiculous matter. But then NL looks upon SL, and sees her terrified expression, her drooping head. His heart softens. Endure the pain of losing her, or join her in becoming an enemy of the Heavenly Dao? NL gently sighs and just as gently pulls on SL’s hand. Her normally warm hands are now cold enough to distress others.
SL suddenly looks up, “You…”
NL grumpily, “Who was it that ordered me such bad luck, to deliberately make me meet you?”
NL has resigned himself to fate. Become an enemy of the Heavenly Dao? Then let him be an enemy of the Heavenly Dao. After all, he can’t let her go.
“I…” SL wants to apologize, but the words stay unsaid. Her eyes are filled with tears. She’s unable to say a word.
“Silly.” NL’s hand covers the crown of her head, stroking her hair. “Look, you have so many powerful underlings staring at me. I would not dare abandon you.”

4164 “You…” SL is so angry at him she doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She glares at him, “You speak as if we’re together.”
NL gives a cold humph, “Are we not together?”
SL gives him a glance, and then sputters out a laugh and beats his chest once.
The Blood Edge Captain is incredibly shocked. The whole reason he’s here is for the Paladin Artifacts. The Prophet puts away the black and white chess pieces one by one before closing the box and coldly staring at SL. SL takes out the Yan Hua dagger from her sleeve. It looks the same and has the same holy aura from the chess pieces. The Prophet solemnly bows his head and hands the box of chess pieces to SL.
“These are one of the Twelve Paladin Artifacts you are looking for, the Iceheart Chess Pieces.”
The moment SL accepts the chess pieces, she becomes the master of the village. SL’s secret cannot be allowed to leak out. Everyone looks with cold eyes at the Blood Edge Captain. The Captain begs for his life and swears to never tell anyone.
The prophet respectfully asks SL, “Little Master, how shall we deal with this man?”
SL doesn’t like to kill so she waves her hand, and says since he wanted her to spend the rest of her life chasing cows, plowing fields, and shoveling cow manure, he can do it then. The Captain wants to cry and slap his own mouth for having said those things.
SL has the Iceheart Chess Pieces, and NL has been cured of his poison. It’s time they prepare to leave. The key to leaving is the Yan Hua dagger. NL and SL leave quietly, wishing not to disturb the villagers. Only the Prophet sees them off.
The Prophet deeply looks at SL, then NL, then says to SL, “If things do not go well outside, the gates of the Pastoral Village will always be open to you.”
NL’s face turns black, he gives the Prophet a heavy dark glare.
The Prophet lightly says to SL that the villagers cannot leave, but once she enters the Pastoral Village, no one will be able to bully her. We will always be your most steadfast support. The villagers of the Pastoral Village will always welcome you back. The Prophet says all of this to SL while placidly glancing at NL. He can make himself an enemy of the Heavenly Dao, but what if it involves his Clan? Will he never leave her, never abandon her, never betray her, never discard her?

4165 NL’s eyes narrow dangerously. He harrumphs at the Prophet and drags SL away by the hand while muttering, “This broken village has absolutely nothing. This young master would not like to come back here. You’re also not allowed to come back here.”
SL sees how angry NL is and holds back hard from laughing. The Prophet was indifferent to her at first, but once he learned who she is, he’s been good to her. She understands his intentions and is grateful.
SL glances displeased at NL, “Actually the Pastoral Village is quite nice…”
NL gloomily stares at SL. SL sticks her tongue out at him.
NL grumpily humphs twice, rubs her head, and tells her not to think of other things, once she reaches the Capital, she will face many difficulties. SL becomes a little worried upon hearing this. She hasn’t even reached the Capital yet and there’s already someone who wants revenge against her. There’s Murong Mo, who broke the rules and ran away for fear of punishment.
After leaving the Pastoral Village, it doesn’t take long before NL and SL meet the Blood Edge squad who had been chasing and trying to kill them. They have bitterly waited at the cave entrance the whole time, waiting for their Captain to come back with two bodies. What they don’t know is that their Captain is busy shoveling cow manure and they will never see him again. The squad sees NL and SL, are shocked, and then conclude their Captain is dead so immediately attack. SL quickly moves to the side. NL is now 5 star Grand Completion. He kills them all, leaving no survivors.
NL releases a special signal for his own squad. A few days later, his squad joins up again with him. They’re all alive, Black1 through 8. Of course, so is Lin Xiao Yue. They are so happy to see NL and rush up to him. NL frowns when he notices their injuries. All of them are in a poor state of health, even LXY, who suffers from external and internal injuries all over. She also suffers from some insect poison which causes skin rashes that’s embarrassing to look at. SL doesn’t wait for NL to say anything and has everyone come to her for treatment.

4166 SL is now an Imperial Level Apothecary. She’s already standing at the peak of Apothecaries in the Central Continent. Even the Apothecary Assocation’s President is only an Imperial level Apothecary. As for God Level Apothecaries, there should only be Grand Master Rong Yun. SL treats everyone very quickly.
Black2 keeps looking back and forth between SL and NL.
SL gives him a grumpy look, “What are you looking at?”
Because SL pulled Black2 from the brink of death, he treats her differently.
Black2 asks suspiciously, “This past year, you and our Captain have been together the whole time?”
SL, while curing him of his poison, nods her head, “Mn”
Black2: “The two of you, a man alone, a woman alone, were always together?” He even uses touches two index fingers together.
SL grumpily, “Mn”
“But your relationship, how is it that there’s been no progress? It’s such a great opportunity, how could you not grasp it?” Black2 is complaining to SL but he’s secretly watching LXY.
“No progress?” SL looks suspiciously at Black2, she’s already won NL.
“Has there been progress? How come I can’t tell?” He points at his Captain, who’s entire body exudes a sense of coldness, “See, he’s ignoring you.”
SL: “…”
Isn’t it because of the Prophet’s words? The playful NL is still feeling awkward.
LXY hears this conversation and is greatly relieved, her face shows her smug satisfaction. After an entire year alone, and they’ve made no progress? It looks like Lord Nangong doesn’t like this girl. Humph, humph, so what if you’ve grown up to look like that? Lord Nangong doesn’t judge things based on looks! LXY feels she has an opportunity and so is not as hostile to SL. Her elation doesn’t last long, because…
During dinner time, NL very naturally sits down next to SL. While this makes LXY uncomfortable, she comforts herself that this is a habit he’s developed over a year, it doesn’t mean anything. But when it’s time to eat, SL, one chopstick portion at a time removes her vegetables.
NL’s face becomes black, glares at her, and fiercely scolds her, “Eat it.”
“Don’t like to eat vegetables…”
NL’s face is black and he looks so fierce, “Even if you don’t like to eat them, you still have to. It’s good for your health. Hurry up.”
SL all of a sudden starts stuffing her vegetables into his bowl, she grins, “You eat one, then I eat one. If you don’t eat, then I don’t eat.”
NL is helpless, “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” SL is looking at him with a brilliant smile.
SL was like this the entire year they were together. If there’s no meat, then she won’t be happy. Every meal time, NL would watch her, just hoping that she would eat more.

4167 NL glares at her for a moment, but then eats from the bowl. For the two of them, this is all normal. But this is shocking to everyone else around them. Black1 through 8’s eyes are shining, this is incredible! LXY’s entire body is trembling in fury.
NL is such a neat freak. Anyone who tries to get too close to him gets swatted flying away, but not only does he sit right next to SL, but he eats food touched by her chopsticks! Everyone is amazed and looks back and forth at SL and NL. The way they move with with each other in such a familiar manner, the atomsphere so harmonious, this is definitely not their first time!!! LXY doesn’t feel so good. SL and NL do not feel they are being strange and continue on.
Black1 wonders to himself, are we being too fussy? Is this normal? They all look at each other and come to a final conclusion: This is definitely not normal, ok! This is the Longfeng 2nd Young Master, the future Clan Chief! And Su Luo, she’s just a poor adolescent girl of no means, of unknown lowly origins, and an unclear identity. How could this be less fitting? They are shocked for the first few days, but after awhile, they become numb to it. Everyone becomes at peace and harmonius with it, except for LXY. NL gets tired of LXY being an eyesore and constantly sends her out on sentinel duties away from everyone. Harmony is restored. LXY sneers and plots to make things difficult for SL once she’s back at the Capital.
Once they’re at the Capital, they go their separate ways. NL needs to report to his superiors. SL needs to enroll at the Imperial College. Before leaving, NL rubs SL’s head and gives her a white jade bracelet. SL is puzzled at the meaning of the gift before she realizes the slight energy fluctuations are similar to that of the communication gems. SL drips a drop of blood on it just like with the gems and sure enough, she’s able to interface with it. There’s only one name on her list of contacts, Nangong Liuyun. No wonder he left her in such a relaxed manner. SL doesn’t realize that this communication gem is different from normal ones. It’s what the bigwigs in the military use.

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