Love & Redemption
Chapter 143: Volume 3: Heartless Xuanji - 50: Lize Palace (7)

Chapter 143: Volume 3: Heartless Xuanji Chapter 50: Lize Palace (7)

The nerve-wracking rescue operation had finally come to a successful close for the moment, but the Ice Curse in Liu Yihuan was extremely vicious, and it was unclear how to dispel it. Fortunately, he was quite tough, burying his head without a word, while Guan Xuanji borrowed the Bengyu Sword to press against his shoulder. The Bengyu Sword was intensely fierce, but when it rested on the shoulder, it brought a warm sensation, which at the very least could slow down the freezing progression.

He was injured, and he could no longer fly with Sword Control, so they had to return to Germu first. As soon as they landed, Xuanji saw him faint, and she couldn’t help but ask in a panic, "What do we do? How can we break the Ice Curse?"

Ting Nu and Yu Sifeng both had solemn expressions. After a while, Ting Nu said, "The Ice Curse lurks within the tendons and internal organs, which makes it the hardest to eliminate. To my knowledge, there are only two ways to resolve it, one is to find the person who cast the curse to break it, the other is to counter it with a spell of an opposing element."

The rest of what he had to say went unspoken, but everyone understood that both methods were almost impossible. Setting aside whether the Great Palace Master was alive or dead after Xuanji’s Fire Dragon injured her, even if she survived, she definitely wouldn’t come to break the Ice Curse. Besides, the Ice Curse belonged to the water element, and earth was its counter, but no one here knew the Earth Manipulation Technique, so they could only watch in helplessness.

The three discussed for a long time but couldn’t come up with a good solution. Seeing Liu Yihuan freezing to the point where his lips turned purple and his body trembled, they hurriedly added three or four more quilts over him and called the inn’s servant to send over four large brazier, which they lit in the corners of the room. Ting Nu undid Liu Yihuan’s clothes and saw that his right side, from the shoulder down to the entire arm, had turned a pale green color, and that green was slowly spreading to the left side.

He immediately placed the Bengyu against the edge of the green color and felt the speed of its spread seemed to slow down somewhat. Turning around, he said, "Xuanji, go to the pharmacies in Germu and ask if they have dried Jade Branch Grass for sale. If they do, buy two taels first and come back to make a decoction."

As soon as Xuanji heard the three words "Jade Branch Grass", she immediately said, "Is it Kunlun Jade Branch Grass?"

Ting Nu was slightly startled, "If it’s Kunlun Jade Branch Grass, that would be excellent, but it’s so precious that it’s unlikely to be sold here. Ordinary Jade Branch Grass would suffice."

Xuanji quickly took out her sachet, and from inside, she pulled out a handful of aromatic dried grass, saying, "I have Kunlun Jade Branch Grass! There’s a lot of it on Little Yang Peak, it’s used to feed spiritual beasts. I found it very fragrant, so I dried it to fill sachets... Do you think it can be used?"

Ting Nu was overjoyed and hurriedly took the bundle of dried grass from her, inspecting each strand with great care. The leaves were long and slender, with continuous spirals—the unmistakable, extremely precious Kunlun Jade Branch Grass. This type of grass even produces Jade Branch Fruit, which is used to feed spiritual beasts and gather spiritual essence, so it could not be more perfect.

He laughed and said, "It’s rare to find someone as extravagant as you, actually using Jade Branch Grass for sachets. If those apothecary owners saw this, they would be so angry, they’d cough up blood."

Xuanji widened her beautiful eyes, not understanding why.

It turned out that Jade Branch Grass itself was already very expensive, and Kunlun Jade Branch Grass was even more so, a sought-after treasure. Countless apothecary owners sharpened their brains to find a way to stock it, driving the market price to outrageously high levels, even more expensive than the best wild ginseng. Thus, Xuanji casually using it for sachets was akin to a prodigal waste of precious resources; if those conservative old men knew about it, they would probably curse her to be struck by Heavenly Thunder.

Now that they had Jade Branch Grass, without further ado, Xuanji and Yu Sifeng went downstairs to prepare the medicine while Ting Nu stayed in the guest room to care for Liu Yihuan, heating water to help him wipe his body.

Following the instructions, Xuanji first carefully washed the Jade Branch Grass, then put it into a medicine pot with half water and half wine, and placed it on the stove to simmer over a low fire. Suddenly feeling someone staring at her, she turned around to meet Yu Sifeng’s smiling eyes. Her face blushed slightly, and she couldn’t help but brush away the hair sticking to her cheek, saying in a soft voice, "What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?"

He shook his head, then grasped her hand tightly and pressed it to his heart. Xuanji was startled and delighted, sensing that he had become much bolder than before. Although she didn’t understand how he did it, deep down she was overjoyed. After a long pause, she murmured, "Si Feng... you, you won’t regret this, right? Brother Liu said... you can never return to your homeland again... It’s my fault, I don’t know how to make it up to you."

He shook his head again, and after a while, he said, "Between us, there’s no need to talk about compensation. I’ve always been tormented by anxiety, trapped by the spell, unable to see through this matter. Only now do I understand that the one who couldn’t figure it out was myself."

Seeing Xuanji only half-comprehending, he couldn’t help but smile softly and whisper, "We will always be together, never to be separated again."

Xuanji’s heart swelled with joy, and she suddenly laughed, "Si Feng, we must hurry and become stronger! Then we will go to Buzhou Mountain and rescue Linglong, Sixth Brother, Second Senior Brother, and all the others. After that, we’ll travel and enjoy ourselves everywhere, okay?"

He just smiled. A look of worry suddenly crossed his brow as he was lost in thought.

Xuanji said in a low voice, "Are you worried about the Lover’s Curse? That mask never smiled... there might be backlash, right?"

Yu Sifeng was slightly startled and replied, "No. Now that I have no fear in my heart, the Lover’s Curse can’t control me. What I was thinking... I was thinking..."

Thinking of what? Xuanji’s clear eyes stared at him.

Finally, he sighed and said softly, "I am thinking of my master... He’s raised me, and now... I worry about his injuries. To leave without even saying goodbye, I’ve truly failed to repay his kindness."

Xuanji, remembering that she was the one who injured the Great Palace Master, felt somewhat awkward. She touched her ear and said softly, "I’m sorry, I was too impulsive... next time... I will go with you to Li Ze Palace to apologize to him, beg for his forgiveness. I can persuade him. Definitely."

Yu Sifeng chuckled, mussing her hair, "With your ability to persuade... I really can’t count on you. Actually, as long as I can be with you every day, I am already very content. All of this... has been worthwhile."

Xuanji couldn’t help but embrace him, her ear pressed against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. She felt the warmth and comforting scent of his embrace. Yu Sifeng wrapped his arms around her gently. This tender embrace stirred her heart more than any tight, passionate clasp. Xuanji whispered, "Si Feng, Brother Liu once asked me how far I would go for you. He said you had discarded all your paths of retreat, while I still had many. But he didn’t understand at all; even if I had many paths of retreat, without you, they would all be boring. Now that we are together, there’s only one path for us to follow, and nobody can leave the other behind. If either of us were to get lost on this path, there would be no turning back. I... am just like you, with no path of retreat left. Now... no one can say I’ve done you wrong anymore... In fact, I... I..."

It seemed she had stumbled upon a difficult subject, unable to continue.

Yu Sifeng caressed her cheek, laughing softly, "When did you start to have all these little thoughts? This is the first time I’ve come to know of them."

Xuanji blushed, stammering, "Sometimes... I do think... I’m not a wooden person..."

The Jade Branch Grass bubbled and brewed behind them, emitting a fragrance that wafted far away, drawing the curious bordertown inhabitants to ask what they were cooking. Xuanji and Yu Sifeng hurriedly separated, still a bit shy, with even the roots of their ears turning red. Watching the Jade Branch Grass boil just right, they carefully poured out a bowl. Seeing the lingering flush on each other’s faces, they exchanged a smile.

The Kunlun Jade Branch Grass finally managed to temporarily suppress the Ice Curse on Liu Yihuan’s body. It was coiled up on his right shoulder, a large patch of dark blue. Ting Nu said that there would be no major issues within half a year. As long as they found someone skilled in the Earth Manipulation Technique within that time, Liu Yihuan’s right arm would remain securely attached and wouldn’t necrotize. After half a year, it would be dangerous. To prevent the Ice Curse from freezing his heart, he would have to amputate his right arm.

"I sure as hell don’t want to lose a hand! Otherwise, this deal would be way too lousy!" Liu Yihuan lay on the bed, spitting as he spoke, and with each sentence, Yu Sifeng and Xuanji on the opposite side would nod slightly. Yu Sifeng was holding a bowl of soup, carefully bringing it to his mouth, and chuckled, "Brother Liu, don’t worry. I will definitely find someone who can manipulate earth for you. Now, drink the soup first."

Liu Yihuan glared, as if it were obvious: "Nonsense, it has to be you lovebirds to look for him. Who did I get this injury for? It’s only right for you to help, and it would be utterly heartless not to!"

Yu Sifeng nodded helplessly and stuffed the soup spoon into his mouth to stop him from continuing to rant with unpleasant words.

Xuanji said, "Brother Liu, do you know of any factions that may have someone skilled in Earth Manipulation? Si Feng and I plan to set off tomorrow to look for them."

After drinking most of the soup, Liu Yihuan smiled and said, "There’s no need to leave tomorrow. It was just a joke. The wound on my arm isn’t painful or itchy, no big deal. I’ve got some personal matters to attend to and can’t wait for you to find someone. Isn’t the Flower Pinning Conference happening in a few months? People from the Four Great Sects will all gather on Fuyu Island. There will be many talents there, surely someone who knows the Earth Curse. Let’s meet on the island then."

Yu Sifeng was slightly shocked, "You... you won’t be coming with us? But your injury..."

Liu Yihuan shook his head and said, "It won’t flare up until half a year later, no worries. I, a grown man, don’t like to hang around with you two little ghosts. Don’t let my looks fool you, I have serious business to attend to."

His serious business must be visiting brothels and drinking, right? Xuanji and Yu Sifeng looked at him with resigned faces.

"Then, are you going back to Qingyang?" Yu Sifeng asked, remembering his previous enmity with Lize Palace, and now having injured their Palace Master again, it was worrying to let him wander alone out there.

"No, I’m off to another place... oh, no, I mean I have other places to go to. Why are you asking so much?" Liu Yihuan glared again, his eyes as big as copper bells.

Yu Sifeng shook his head: "Brother, I’m just worried about you."

Liu Yihuan paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up, and he grinned, revealing a sleazy smile, hooked his arm around Yu Sifeng’s neck and shook him vigorously, laughing, "You little rascal! I thought you’d forgotten about me once you got a woman!"

Yu Sifeng, still not fully healed, was dizzy from being shaken like that, and could only exclaim, "Alright! Brother, go ahead, we... won’t cling to you."

Liu Yihuan released him and said, "There’s no use in following me. Your injury isn’t healed, so you can’t travel far. Stay here and take care of your wounds. We’ll see each other on Fuyu Island, and all will be well."

Suddenly recalling something, he added, "I’ll take Ting Nu with me, I need his help with something."

He’s going to corrupt Ting Nu again! Xuanji eyed him suspiciously, recalling how last time at the brothel she saw the usually genteel Ting Nu being influenced by Liu Yihuan to brazenly face the courtesans; she felt that he was a bad influence.

Liu Yihuan coughed twice, "Don’t look at me like that, you’re already Little Phoenix’s woman now, you should behave with propriety..."

"Brother!" Yu Sifeng couldn’t help but groan with laughter.

Liu Yihuan laughed for a moment, then suddenly turned serious and said, "No more joking. You two stay here, Xuanji, take good care of Little Phoenix. His injury is not light, and with all this traveling, he must have hurt his essence. He needs proper rest. Actually, I would prefer you not to stay in Germu, as it is too close to Buzhou Mountain, and I fear unexpected events... But his injury doesn’t allow for further travel, so you must stay. In any case, be careful. Xuanji, you should also avoid acting impulsively; many things aren’t as simple as you think. Everything else, let’s talk about it after we meet at the Flower Pinning Conference. Understand?"

Seeing him speak with such seriousness, they both nodded eagerly.

Liu Yihuan let out a long sigh, leaned back against the head of the bed, and whispered softly, "Speaking of which, Little Zi Hu’s whereabouts are also unknown... I hope she can escape this disaster."

Xuanji’s heart trembled, she quickly asked, "Brother Liu, do you know where she is?"

Liu Yihuan smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "What must come will come, and the calamities that must be faced cannot be avoided. Everyone has their own fate. When the time comes, we will naturally meet again."

They knew he had used his Heavenly Eye that day and probably had an idea, but since one must not reveal fate’s secrets, even if he knew, he couldn’t say. His implication was that Zi Hu was likely not in any danger, so Xuanji breathed a sigh of relief.

Liu Yihuan finished his soup, tossed the bowl aside, lay back down on the bed, covered his head with the blanket, and yelled, "I’m going to sleep now! You guys hurry out! No peeking at others without permission!"

Xuanji and Yu Sifeng couldn’t help but grin, exchanged a glance, and then left the guest room hand in hand.

(The Endless Xuanji - Finished)

******

After finishing the soup, Liu Yihuan tossed the bowl aside, lay back on the bed, covered his head with the blanket, and called out, "This Ice Curse on my shoulder, seems like only money can cure it. Come on, make it rain... you wouldn’t let me die, would you?" With that, he flashed a sleazy, pitiful smile. (To be continued, for further details, please visit www.qidian.com. More Chapters are available. Support the author, support genuine reading!)