Page 93

As soon as Qin Shu finished speaking, Xie Shiyuan indeed turned over, propping his head up with one arm. His long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

The stone bed barely had enough space for his tail, so he had to coil himself into a spiral at the edge.

"Hmm." He responded indifferently, his deep eyes reflecting the small figure before him.

"It's only been a few days, and you've grown a little taller."

Barely enough to fill the gap between his teeth.

Of course, he didn't say that part out loud. This sharp-tongued little girl might just use it as an excuse to deduct some of his consultation fees.

Hearing his words, Qin Shu was overjoyed. Being young had its perks, but her current body was far too small—thin arms and legs that made everything inconvenient. Growing taller was certainly welcome.

Still, there was something more pressing to ask. "By the way, when I came back, I noticed the spiritual energy here is a lot denser. Was that you?"

Xie Shiyuan casually responded with a soft "Hmm," as if he had done something utterly insignificant.

Qin Shu assumed he had simply set up a formation, but then he continued, "I planted half a spirit vein in your mountain."

"Oh, so you planted half a—wait, WHAT?!" Qin Shu's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Where did you even get a spirit vein?!"

"Picked one up by the roadside," Xie Shiyuan answered, his tone as casual as ever.

A realization struck Qin Shu, and her eyes widened even further. "The one from Wangxu Valley?"

"Mm." He admitted it outright.

Qin Shu fell silent. After a long pause, she hesitantly asked, "And... what about the creature there?"

Last time, she and He Xin had nearly died there.

"It's dead."

"You killed it?" Qin Shu took a step closer, pressing for an answer.

Xie Shiyuan lazily lifted his gaze, an amused sneer flickering across his eyes. "Who else? Your sect certainly wasn't capable of it."

The confusion she had harbored for days suddenly made sense. No wonder her divination had foretold smooth sailing for the sect's mission to Wangxu Valley—because the monster was already dead.

Her brows knitted tightly together. She knew Xie Shiyuan was powerful, even stronger than her master.

But she had never imagined his strength was this terrifying.

His inner core was still within her, and he was injured. Even so, that creature hadn't even been a match for him.

If he ever decided to kill her, wouldn't it be as easy as crushing an ant?

Xie Shiyuan watched the ever-changing expressions on her face, more unpredictable than the summer sky.

"Come treat my wounds."

Qin Shu thought back to the sorry state she had found him in. Whoever had wounded him must be someone—or something—beyond comprehension.

She hesitantly placed her small hands on his tail and couldn't help but ask, "Can my meager spiritual power even heal you?"

Xie Shiyuan replied, "Better than nothing."

His tail was covered in scars, arcs of golden lightning flickering across the torn flesh.

These were remnants of divine lightning from his tribulation, wounds that even he dared not hastily purge.

Qin Shu figured that even if her spiritual energy wasn't much, it was still faster than natural recovery.

She focused, channeling her wood-element energy into his wounds, letting it seep into the damaged scales.

The roiling pain in Xie Shiyuan's body gradually subsided. His tightly furrowed brows relaxed as he quietly observed the small girl standing beside his bed.

She was completely absorbed, lips pressed into a determined line, eyes fixed on his injuries.

"No more letting other creatures sleep on my bed," Xie Shiyuan stated flatly.

Qin Shu's hands stilled for a moment. She turned her head, staring at the overbearing serpent.

"What do you mean your bed? That's my bed!" she corrected, full of righteous indignation.

Xie Shiyuan's gaze flickered with amusement. He lifted his hand, dispelling the illusion over the stone bed.

Qin Shu's eyes widened as the ordinary stone surface shimmered, revealing a sleek black Xuan Ice Bed underneath.

He smirked. "So? Still think it's your bed?"

Qin Shu blinked and turned her gaze toward the rest of the cave.

To her shock, the entire chamber had undergone a transformation—its stone walls, floors, and furniture had all been replaced with unfamiliar dark-colored materials, exuding an air of quiet luxury.

The only thing unchanged was her little meditation cushion, where the tiny Broken Illusion Rat curled up asleep.

"...If I recall correctly, this was my cave, right?" Qin Shu muttered, eyes brimming with silent accusation.

Xie Shiyuan chuckled. "Don't be stingy. In return, I gave you half a spirit vein."

At that, all her frustration instantly vanished like smoke.

"...That spirit vein... it's for me?"

Xie Shiyuan nodded. "Mm."

"Alright then! Why didn't you say so earlier? Forget the furniture—you can have the whole place! I'd even sleep outside if needed!"

Xie Shiyuan's golden eyes glinted with mirth. He smirked. "Since you insist, I'll oblige. You can sleep outside starting tonight."

Qin Shu: "???"

She had just been speaking figuratively! Did powerful cultivators always take things so literally?

His smirk deepened as he teased, "What? Not willing?"

"Of course I am! In fact, I'll leave right now!" she declared defiantly, spinning on her heel.

Before she could take a step, a powerful tail coiled around her waist, lifting her off the ground.

"You accepted my payment," Xie Shiyuan remarked leisurely. "Now do your job and heal me properly."

He loosened his tail, letting her drop.

Fortunately, Qin Shu had better reflexes now. She swiftly stabilized her footing with a controlled burst of spiritual energy.

Realizing that he wouldn't let her leave until she finished healing him, she sighed in resignation.

Crossing her legs, she sat back down and placed both hands over his wounds once more.

A soft emerald glow enveloped the injuries as her spiritual energy flowed into his body. It surged forward eagerly, as if instinctively drawn to him.

By the time she finally exhausted her energy reserves, she stood up, swaying slightly.

Xie Shiyuan watched her with a smirk, his gaze filled with an unreadable emotion.