Hush

"Fine, tell me! How do we cure Blackening Disease?" Shi Yue thought it over carefully before agreeing.

"Before I answer that, I need to ask you something. Are you still a virgin?" Xiaoyaozi asked with a teasing air.

Shi Yue's face flushed crimson. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I am. What about it? Does curing Blackening Disease have something to do with being a virgin?"

"Of course. If you water Spirit Herbs and Spirit Grain afflicted with Blackening Disease using the urine of virgins, the disease will be cured in no time."

"What? Water Spirit Herbs and Spirit Grain with urine?" Shi Yue was taken aback, his eyes full of doubt.

"I said the urine of virgins. It won't work otherwise. If you don't believe me, try watering an afflicted Water Moon Flower with your own urine and see." Xiaoyaozi's voice was calm.

"Is that for real? You're not messing with me, are you?" Shi Yue still found it hard to believe. He had never heard of urine curing an illness before.

"Hmph, why would I lie to you? Believe it or not, it's up to you. But listen, Blackening Disease spreads quickly. If you don't treat it soon, your Spirit Grain and those Water Moon Flowers will all wither. By then, it'll be too late to regret it," Xiaoyaozi said with a dissatisfied snort.

At that, Shi Yue hesitated.

After turning it over in his mind, he decided to give it a try. He might as well treat a dead horse as if it were alive!

Having made up his mind, he hurried over to a Water Moon Flower whose petals had begun to turn black. He pulled down his pants, gripped his little worm, and aimed at the sick flower.

"Psssh." A whistle sounded as a stream of hot urine sprayed out, watering the Water Moon Flower.

An astonishing sight unfolded. A wisp of black energy quickly flew off the flower's petals, and their faintly darkened color returned to snowy white.

"Urine really can cure Blackening Disease!" Shi Yue's face lit up with joy.

But his happiness soon faded. He couldn't possibly produce enough urine to water three mu of Water Moon Flowers.

"Senior, I can only do so much on my own. I'm afraid I won't have enough urine to water three mu of Water Moon Flowers," Shi Yue said after a moment's hesitation.

"Can't you dilute it with water? The ratio of urine to clean water should be no more than three to one. Any more, and it won't work." Xiaoyaozi's voice rang in Shi Yue's mind.

"So that's how it is. I understand." Shi Yue nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.

"If you understand, then get to it! Your Martial Aunt Murong is still waiting for you!" Xiaoyaozi's voice brimmed with amusement.

"Ah! Even if I dilute it with water, I still can't produce that much right away!" Shi Yue frowned, his face showing his predicament.

"Didn't I just say that the urine of both male and female virgins can cure Blackening Disease? Of course, if she's already lost her virginity, you'll have to do it yourself. Drink more water!"

Shi Yue was in a difficult position. Martial Aunt Murong was a woman, after all. He simply couldn't bring himself to ask her.

Just as Shi Yue was wondering how to respond to Martial Aunt Murong, her anxious voice came from outside the door:

"Junior Nephew Shi, have you found that book yet?"

Shi Yue's heart tightened. He quickly called back, "I found it. I'm coming out now."

With that, he pulled up his pants and hurried outside.

Murong Xiaoxiao was waiting outside, looking anxious.

"Have you found a solution?" Murong Xiaoxiao asked impatiently.

"I found one, but..." Shi Yue stammered. Before he could finish, Murong Xiaoxiao cut him off:

"That's all that matters. I knew you'd find a way, Junior Nephew Shi. Come with me, quickly."

With that, she summoned the Lotus Magic Tool and flew toward her residence.

Watching her go, Shi Yue gave a wry smile and followed on his own flying tool.

Before long, the two landed in front of Murong Xiaoxiao's Spirit Field.

"Junior Nephew Shi, hurry and treat it! If we delay any longer, I'm afraid all the other Spirit Herbs will die," Murong Xiaoxiao urged.

"Martial Aunt Murong, there is a way, but..." Shi Yue looked troubled and spoke hesitantly.

"But what? Don't worry. If you save the Spirit Herbs, I'll give you twenty—no, thirty Spirit Stones." Seeing Shi Yue's expression, Murong Xiaoxiao assumed he was asking for a reward.

"It's not about the reward. It's just..." Shi Yue found it hard to bring up.

"What is it? Hurry up and tell me!" Murong Xiaoxiao frowned.

"This disease is called Blackening Disease. To cure it, we need... the urine of male and female virgins to water the plants. I've already tried it, and it really works." Shi Yue kept his head lowered, not daring to look up at Murong Xiaoxiao.

At that, a blush crept across Murong Xiaoxiao's pretty cheeks.

"Since it works, I'll go back inside and rest. Go ahead and do what you need to do." Murong Xiaoxiao spoke with a flushed face.

"I can't produce that much on my own. I'm afraid I'll need Martial Aunt Murong's help with this." Shi Yue forced himself to say it.

"If you can't produce enough, then find someone else! Anyway, I'm leaving this matter to you. Figure it out yourself!" Murong Xiaoxiao said, her face red as she hurried away.

Watching her go, Shi Yue furrowed his brows. Martial Aunt Murong had ten mu of Spirit Field. How many male virgins would he have to find to collect that much?

"Kid, didn't I tell you to drink more water?" Xiaoyaozi's teasing voice sounded in Shi Yue's mind.

"Isn't there any other way?" Shi Yue asked with a frown.

"Of course there is. Time passes ten times faster inside the Heaven Controlling Bead than in the outside world. Stay in there for a few days and drink plenty of water. You should be able to save up enough urine. Or you could ask someone else to help, though I doubt you'd be willing to split the Spirit Stones with them!" Xiaoyaozi said in a coaxing tone.

Hearing this, Shi Yue fell into deep thought.

"Forget it. I'd rather drink more water than go inside." After a moment's thought, Shi Yue refused.

"Kid, it's up to you. If you don't go in, not only will you be unable to save that girl's Spirit Field, but your three mu of Water Moon Flowers will soon wither too. Don't say I didn't warn you: Blackening Disease spreads quickly. If you can't produce enough urine within two days, at least a third of the Water Moon Flowers will die. Can you afford to compensate for them?" Xiaoyaozi's voice rang out in Shi Yue's mind again.

At that, a trace of hesitation crossed Shi Yue's face. He knew Xiaoyaozi was right, but he was also afraid of falling into the other man's trap.

"Think about it. If I could possess you, why wouldn't I have done it the moment I woke up? Why would I waste so much time talking and scare you like this?" Xiaoyaozi said with a hint of amusement.

"Th-this..." Shi Yue couldn't think of a rebuttal.