A month passed by quietly like flowing water.

Day after day, Chen Yang worked in the Herb Garden, carefully tending to the delicate spiritual herbs and immortal plants by day, and silently practicing cultivation at night with the spiritual water from the mysterious clay bowl.

On this particular morning, before the dew had completely dissipated, Chen Yang had already harvested a batch of mature Moonlight Herb and Clotting Blood Vine.

Steward Wang instructed him to deliver these herbs to the Inner Sect Pill Room, saying that several alchemists urgently needed them to refine an important batch of elixir pills.

Chen Yang carefully sorted and bundled the herbs, placing them into the herb basket.

Since the day he acknowledged Liu Yiyi as his sister, his mood had calmed considerably.

Though thinking of Zhao Yanran still caused a pang in his heart, at least he no longer spent sleepless nights.

He was well-acquainted with the path to the Inner Sect Pill Room.

To avoid crowded places, he deliberately chose a longer but quieter path.

This path led through a bamboo grove, rarely traveled by others.

The bamboo leaves rustled, and the morning sunlight filtered through the gaps, casting dappled shadows.

Chen Yang carried the herb basket, walking at a steady pace. He felt the flow of spiritual power within him, only a thin barrier away from breaking through to the second level of Qi refining, yet this barrier was exceptionally sturdy, impervious to the spiritual water he consumed.

Read the most updated version of this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at [ pawread.com ]

As he pondered, a familiar aquamarine figure suddenly emerged from the bamboo grove ahead.

Chen Yang halted, instinctively wanting to turn and avoid her, but it was too late.

Zhao Yanran had clearly seen him too.

She was alone, holding a delicate herb box, seemingly returning from the pill room.

After a month apart, she appeared slightly thinner, with faint shadows under her eyes, yet her beauty remained heart-stirring.

Their gazes met in the air.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Zhao Yanran's eyes, quickly replaced by guilt and unease.

She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but unsure where to start.

Chen Yang averted his gaze expressionlessly, quickening his pace to pass by her.

"Chen Yang..." Zhao Yanran finally spoke, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

Chen Yang acted as if he hadn't heard, continuing on.

"Wait!" Zhao Yanran hurriedly caught up, blocking his path, "Why do you always avoid me?"

Chen Yang had to stop, but he still didn't look at her, coldly saying, "What guidance does Zhao Fairy have? If there's nothing, I need to deliver these herbs to the pill room."

The term "Zhao Fairy" made Zhao Yanran's face turn pale.

She bit her lip, her eyes welling with tears, "Must you speak to me like this? Is this all that's left between us?"

Chen Yang finally looked at her, a mocking smile tugging at his lips, "What else should there be? Does Zhao Fairy wish for me to treat you as I did before? Unfortunately, the current you is no longer the Zhao Yanran of the past, and I can no longer reach that high."

His words were like a knife, stabbing straight into Zhao Yanran's heart.

She trembled slightly, her voice choked with sobs, "About that night... I know you're upset. But I had no choice, the Love Curse's poison had to be cleared, or my life was at risk. Senior Brother Yang and the others... they were trying to save me..."

"Did saving your life require you to act on my bed?" Chen Yang sneered, "Did it require you to make such pleasurable sounds? Zhao Yanran, do you take me for a gullible child?"

Zhao Yanran's face flushed with embarrassment and anger at his blunt words, "You! How can you speak like that!"

"How should I speak then?" Chen Yang stepped closer, his eyes finally revealing the long-suppressed anger, "Should I thank your three senior brothers for their performance on my bed with you? Thank them for showing me that the wife I once loved dearly is someone who—"

A sharp "slap" interrupted Chen Yang's unfinished words as Zhao Yanran slapped him.

The bamboo grove fell into a dead silence.

Chen Yang slowly turned his head, a clear red mark of five fingers appearing on his face.

He stared at Zhao Yanran, his eyes devoid of any warmth.

Zhao Yanran looked at her reddened palm, then at the mark on Chen Yang's face, suddenly panicking, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... I just... how could you say such hurtful things..."

Chen Yang sneered, wiping away the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, "So, Zhao Fairy can hit, but I can't speak? Of course, you're now an Inner Sect elite, with three senior brothers backing you, naturally you can hit and scold as you please."

"No, it's not like that..." Zhao Yanran's eyes filled with tears, reaching out to touch the mark on his face, "Let me see... does it hurt?"

Chen Yang abruptly swatted her hand away, "No need for Zhao Fairy's concern. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

As he turned to leave, Zhao Yanran, in a moment of desperation, cast a spell, and a flash of green light bound Chen Yang with an immobilization technique.

"Release me!" Chen Yang was both shocked and angry, trying to channel his spiritual power to break free, but the gap in their cultivation was too great, and he couldn't escape.

Zhao Yanran stood before him, tears in her eyes, "Do you hate me so much? You won't even say a few words to me?"

Chen Yang remained silent, coldly staring at her.

His indifferent gaze pierced Zhao Yanran, and she suddenly raised her hand again, but this time it trembled in mid-air, not falling.

She looked at Chen Yang's stubborn profile, a sudden wave of sorrow washing over her.

"Wasn't it you who agreed to come to the sect with me?" Her voice choked, "Now you're acting like this, are you trying to humiliate me? Do you know how much it hurt me to think about that night every day this past month? I... I miss you so much..."

As she spoke, she suddenly became agitated again, delivering two more slaps to Chen Yang's face.

Her cultivation at the sixth level of Qi refining was far beyond Chen Yang's ability to withstand, and these blows split his lip, blood dripping down his chin, staining his white robe with spots of red.

After hitting him, Zhao Yanran looked at the blood on his lips and the swelling on his face, suddenly filled with regret.

She reached out, wanting to gently touch his wound, her voice softening, "I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean to... I was just too upset... You know my heart is still with you..."

Chen Yang turned his head sharply, spitting out a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto Zhao Yanran's aquamarine dress.

Zhao Yanran froze, staring at the bloodstains on her dress, her eyes flashing with a mix of shame, sadness, and guilt.

Her chest heaved violently, as if she wanted to lash out, but she held back.

After a long pause, she took a deep breath, pulling a small jade vase from her bosom, and placed it in Chen Yang's immobilized hand.

"This is a Pure Origin Pill," her voice was hoarse, "It will benefit your cultivation, perhaps helping you break through to the second level of Qi refining. Consider it... compensation for that night."

She lifted the immobilization, giving Chen Yang a deep look, her eyes filled with indescribable emotions.

In the end, she said nothing more, turning and quickly walking away, her aquamarine figure soon disappearing into the depths of the bamboo grove.

Chen Yang stood there, holding the still-warm jade vase.

The pain at the corner of his mouth reminded him of everything that had just happened, and that aquamarine figure was like a thorn, deeply embedded in his heart.

He gazed in the direction Zhao Yanran had left, and after a long while, he finally tucked the jade vase into his robe, not discarding it.

---

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan