Chapter 4. A Flower of Worldly Riches What a Flower of Worldly Riches!

The Poison Spirit Sect was located in the Western Wilderness, surrounded by layers of poisonous miasma. Xin Jiao Zhou was severely injured and not fit for too much travel and exertion. As such, the master and servant pair spent half a month to reach the border of the Western Wilderness.

“Please trouble yourself to inform your sect leader that Wu Yao has come to visit your esteemed sect on a matter,” Xin Jiao Zhou didn’t use her title as the leader of the Celestial Sword Sect, but instead used her personal name.

The internal turmoil of the sect was unresolved, and externally, there had always been those eyeing her and the entire Celestial Sword Sect covetously. The matter of the Celestial Sword Sect leader being injured should not be known to too many outsiders, so the fact that the Celestial Sword Sect leader was coming to the Poison Spirit Sect should not be spread.

Unlike before, when Xin Jiao Zhou spoke, a faint, appropriate smile hung at the corners of her mouth. Her entire demeanor was calm, yet a sense of distance was not hard to discern.

At this moment, the aura of pressure around her had disappeared, allowing the gate-keeping young woman to dare take another look. But this one glance made her lose her soul.

When the other party failed to respond for a long time, Feng Yan frowned slightly in displeasure, her whole body exuding a cold air.

That young woman was jolted by the cold air, came to her senses, saw Feng Yan’s unfriendly expression behind Xin Jiao Zhou, and realized she had been discourteous. She hurriedly responded repeatedly, then quickly went back to the sect to report.

Two quarters of an hour later, a servant came out from inside to welcome them.

That servant led them to the main hall and then withdrew, leaving only the two of them in the main hall, and then there was no movement again.

Hua Rong could vaguely see the figures of the visitors from behind the screen in the side hall. Seeing that the two were composed and at ease, he didn’t make them wait any longer and stepped into the main hall.

After Xin Jiao Zhou and her companion had been left waiting in the main hall for three quarters of an hour, they finally met the tardy host.

The man who walked towards them wore a red robe with gold patterns that swayed slightly with his steps. His hair was adorned with flower ornaments and gold step-shakes, styled in an imposing and luxurious manner. His calm black eyebrows curved slightly upwards at the ends, his long phoenix eyes were half-closed, autumn waves flowing with light. His nose was straight and high, and his thin vermilion lips were slightly pursed.

What a flower of worldly riches!

After the newcomer had seated himself in the main position of the hall, Xin Jiao Zhou briefly introduced herself to him, then directly stated her purpose: “I have been afflicted by a strange poison that no ordinary person can cure, so I’ve come to trouble the Sect Leader.”

“Why should I help you?”

Hua Rong casually adjusted his robes and asked nonchalantly.

Hearing this, Feng Yan’s brows furrowed slightly before returning to her expressionless state.

“I’ve heard that the Sect Leader is passionate about studying herbs, skilled in both poison and medicine, and fond of collecting poisonous creatures and rare beasts, especially interested in researching antidotes,” Xin Jiao Zhou said with a faint smile.

Hua Rong raised an eyebrow: “Oh?” What she said was indeed correct.

Before asking for help, being able to put in the effort to understand his likes and dislikes so thoroughly was indeed not displeasing.

Thinking this, Hua Rong looked at Xin Jiao Zhou more favorably and became more interested in what she had to say next.

Xin Jiao Zhou continued, “On my way to the Poison Spirit Sect, when first entering the Western Wilderness, I encountered a strange beast with white jade antlers.”

Hua Rong was half-believing, half-doubting: “Oh?”

— A strange beast with white jade antlers? How come he had never seen such a beast in all his years here? Could it be that because he was always immersed in medicine and poison, he had missed it every time he went out?

Hua Rong idly played with a glass gold goblet, pondering to himself.

— Come to think of it, he indeed rarely went out, even seldom leaving the medicine room. It was common for him to be engrossed in research for two or three months without going out. It seemed he should change this bad habit he brought from the Immortal Medical Valley, to avoid missing more interesting things.

“… Thanks to its help along the way, we were able to pass through the heavily poisonous Western Wilderness forest so easily and arrive at your esteemed sect.”

She watched Hua Rong’s expression while slowly slowing her speech, intentionally piquing his interest.

Interest was good for getting things done.

“… But I don’t know what it’s called.” Xin Jiao Zhou smiled, “Could Sect Leader Hua help me take a look?”

As soon as she finished speaking, a small furry head poked out from Xin Jiao Zhou’s collar. It was clearly a rabbit’s head, but it had grown a pair of small deer antlers. Its bright, clear eyes looked timidly yet curiously around. Its appearance was both adorable and rare.

Hua Rong’s eyes lit up, clearly interested. He immediately instructed the servants to arrange guest rooms for the two of them, and without further ado, he left with the antlered rabbit tucked in his arms.

For the next few days, Xin Jiao Zhou didn’t see Hua Rong.

She had the patience to keep waiting, but her body couldn’t wait any longer.

One afternoon, while strolling in the garden admiring flowers, Xin Jiao Zhou suddenly blacked out and lost consciousness.

Hua Rong happened to be coming to settle accounts with Xin Jiao Zhou.

That antlered rabbit was clearly just an ordinary rabbit! If he hadn’t been bathing it today and accidentally knocked off its little horns, he might have continued foolishly researching this so-called rare antidote beast.

How dare she use a rabbit to deceive him! He, the mighty Sect Leader of the Poison Spirit Sect, the Junior Valley Master of the Immortal Medical Valley, the medical world’s holy hand, and a genius in poison research, when had he ever suffered such humiliation! This was blatantly mocking him, insulting his intelligence!

Hua Rong walked briskly, arriving at the courtyard where Xin Jiao Zhou was staying, but didn’t see her in the room.

He casually asked a servant, who informed him that Xin Jiao Zhou was currently in the garden behind.

“She even has the face to stroll in my garden!”

Hua Rong strode quickly towards the garden to “seek revenge”.

As soon as he reached the garden, he saw Xin Jiao Zhou faint.

Hua Rong quickly used his lightness skill to fly over the flower beds, catching her waist just as her nose was about to touch the ground.

Seeing Xin Jiao Zhou’s unusual complexion, he hurriedly called for people to carry her into the bedroom and place her on the couch.

Hua Rong sat by the couch, a white, delicate, well-maintained jade hand emerged from his large sleeve. Upon closer inspection, one would notice numerous small wounds on this hand. Through a layer of handkerchief, Hua Rong placed his hand on Xin Jiao Zhou’s wrist to check her pulse.

The pulse was chaotic.

Not only was there a poison problem, but her internal energy was also chaotic in her meridians, a sign of qi deviation.

Hua Rong couldn’t help but frown. He used his internal energy to observe Xin Jiao Zhou’s meridians, finding her internal energy deep and calm, her martial arts unfathomable.

With such a stable foundation and pure cultivation, how could she have suffered qi deviation?

Hua Rong was puzzled.

— This is the first time I’ve seen such a situation, worth a good study. It can make up for her previous deception.

Thinking of how Xin Jiao Zhou had insulted his intelligence earlier, he couldn’t help but furrow his brows and drop her hand.

With a “bang”, her hand fell heavily on the bed frame.

— What an annoying little liar!

The room was filled with a specially made medicinal fragrance. Although it was a medicinal smell, it was pleasant, with a hint of Buddhist sandalwood incense, fresh and bright, yet warm and peaceful.

Xin Jiao Zhou slowly awoke in the pleasant fragrance, opening her eyes to see Hua Rong beside her, holding the rabbit. For some reason, the back of her hand was sore.

Xin Jiao Zhou frowned in thought.

Seeing that she was awake, Hua Rong suddenly threw the rabbit he was holding at her. The rabbit landed precisely in her arms. “Is this how you fool your lifesaver?” His face feigned displeasure.

In fact, he had already found new amusement in her and no longer cared about this matter. But when he saw her wake up and resume that cold expression, he suddenly wanted to scare her a bit, to see if that face that seemed to never show ripples would display an “alarmed and flustered” expression.

The result was not unexpected.

She just looked at the rabbit, then at him, her eyes curving slightly.

She didn’t hide her emotions, so it wasn’t hard to see the perfunctory intent in them.

Xin Jiao Zhou smiled and said, “The Sect Leader is so intelligent.”

Although what she said was praise for him, the word “intelligent” made him think of how he had been deceived.

Although he was a million times unwilling to admit it, his previous foolish behavior really couldn’t be called “intelligent”.

He strongly suspected that she was mocking him.

This detestable little liar!

…

In the inner courtyard of Fengyi Tower in the imperial city.

A beautiful person in red clothes was reclining on a chair, their robes scattered, skirts spread out, revealing fair and slender skin. A slender jade hand held a folding fan, elegantly swaying. The fan’s surface stirred up a gentle breeze, brushing aside the hair on their forehead. A pair of captivating phoenix eyes were half-closed, the corners slightly upturned. Their eyes, having just woken up, were misty, the corners slightly red like dyed plum blossoms. Light pink lips were slightly parted, corners upturned. Their posture was casual, yet extremely alluring.

Outside the door, someone was kneeling. If others saw his “if the master doesn’t speak, the servant will keep kneeling” appearance, they might think he was extremely loyal.

After a while, the person inside spoke: “Your current appearance does seem to be genuinely loyal.”

“This servant wouldn’t dare!” The person outside hurriedly kowtowed.

“Weren’t you always very daring before?” The beautiful person in red clothes had an icy expression. The folding fan swayed slightly as they sneered, “What’s the matter? Has your esteemed master abandoned you?”

This time, there was no response. The person outside fell silent.

“Since you are so loyal, I don’t want to be the villain who forces you to stay.” They held the edge of the fan and closed it with a crisp “snap”. The action wasn’t heavy, but the sound seemed particularly loud in the quiet space.

The person outside was startled by this sound, his whole body trembling violently, cold sweat pouring like rain.

As soon as the words inside the room fell, people came from outside the courtyard. Two people dragged that person away, and the remaining person carefully cleaned the place where he had been kneeling.

Soon, silence returned outside the door.

“For oneself?” Bai Li Chuan raised the corner of his lips with interest, his fingertips lightly brushing the newly opened fan surface. The shadow cast by his long eyelashes hid the depth in his eyes. “Mu He.”

The door opened, and a person walked in from outside: “This servant is here.”

“Go help me find someone.”

…

Mu He left, closing the door.

In the quiet room, only Bai Li Chuan remained once again.

He couldn’t help but recall that person’s appearance from that night over and over again. The thoughts initially sparked by curiosity gradually evolved into a desire deep within his heart. Something that had been dormant for a long time was slowly awakening.