In the secret cave...
Qin Yue'e took the Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art and turned to leave, not a hint of hesitation on her face.
Half an hour later...
"Madam, the life-prolonging soup is ready." Lu Qi'er carried a steaming bowl of medicinal soup into Qin Yue'e's bedroom.
"Bring it in quickly," Qin Yue'e urged.
Jiang Xue opened the door, and Lu Qi'er carried the life-prolonging soup to the unconscious Li Shuidao.
Qin Yue'e propped up the unconscious Li Shuidao with one hand and took the bowl of life-prolonging soup with the other.
When Jiang Xue saw that Qin Yue'e was actually going to feed Li Shuidao herself, her heart leaped.
"Madam, let me do it," Jiang Xue said quickly.
Seeing the two maids' bewildered expressions, Qin Yue'e realized she had been careless.
"Jiang Xue, you do it," Qin Yue'e instructed.
Jiang Xue, Lu Qi'er, and even Li Shuidao, who was pretending to be unconscious, all breathed a sigh of relief.
Though Li Shuidao was certain Qin Yue'e wouldn't harm him, he hadn't expected things to go this well.
But if they went too well, what if his master, the Golden-Faced Gentleman, grew jealous? That would turn a good thing into a disaster.
Jiang Xue took the life-prolonging soup from Madam and gathered Li Shuidao into her arms.
Jiang Xue gently tilted the bowl. Drop by drop, the life-prolonging soup slipped into Li Shuidao's mouth. His throat moved slightly, as though he could feel Jiang Xue's warmth and care.
The taste of the life-prolonging soup spread through Li Shuidao's mouth, like the breath of life, gradually rousing his sleeping consciousness.
Gradually, Li Shuidao's breathing grew steadier, and a hint of color returned to his face. His consciousness slowly cleared. He saw Jiang Xue's gentle face and his master's wife Qin Yue'e gazing at him with hopeful eyes.
"Master's wife, eldest senior sister, second senior sister... I may have accidentally inhaled the poisonous miasma of the Miasma Orchid, which is why I fainted," Li Shuidao explained.
According to Li Shuidao's script, he would now recall how he had been poisoned, then lead his master's wife to prepare an antidote for him. No matter what antidote she made, it would surely cure him as soon as he took it.
Li Shuidao would win his master's wife's sympathy by presenting himself as poisoned and vulnerable, then, under her protection, naturally ask his master to teach him spells, so he wouldn't waste the Mana he had cultivated.
Having Mana yet being unable to improve his strength made every day a torment.
"You two may leave," Qin Yue'e said, waving her hand.
Jiang Xue and Lu Qi'er withdrew respectfully.
The two maids left Madam's bedroom, and Jiang Xue closed the door behind them.
Qin Yue'e even went to the window to make sure, watching the two maids leave.
Why go to such lengths to keep this secret...
Surely not...
Li Shuidao frowned deeply. It had only been two days since an accident while they were flying on a crane had led to a little awkward intimacy between him and his master's wife. No matter what, things shouldn't have progressed this quickly...
If Master's wife insists on forcing herself on me, what should I do?
Li Shuidao's brows knitted tightly as he repeatedly weighed the pros and cons.
"The life-prolonging soup is a powerful tonic. It strengthens the heart and channels, stabilizes your foundation, and can forcefully prolong your life," Qin Yue'e said slowly, her back to Li Shuidao.
Following his master's wife's lead, Li Shuidao continued, "The life-prolonging soup and the Detoxification Pill work on the same principle. If the poison isn't fatal, drinking a few pots of the soup should be enough to endure it."
"But if the poison is fatal, it will grow more potent as it spreads, until it reaches your internal organs. Even a Great Luo Immortal would be unable to save you then." Qin Yue'e turned around, her face full of concern.
His master's wife's concern was genuine. Warmth welled in Li Shuidao's heart as he said, "Perhaps the poison isn't fatal?"
"I examined the poison in your body. It's strange, but unquestionably lethal. The life-prolonging soup can keep you alive for only three days. After that, you'll certainly die."
The poison actually wasn't fatal at all, but Li Shuidao didn't know how to explain that, so all he could say was, "Please, Master's wife, save my life."
"You're my disciple. How could I not save you? But although my method can save you, you must keep it secret. You can't tell anyone, not even your master." Qin Yue'e looked into Li Shuidao's eyes and spoke gravely.
"W-what method?" Li Shuidao asked in a trembling voice.
"First tell me: can you keep it secret?" Qin Yue'e asked again.
"I can," Li Shuidao answered firmly.
Qin Yue'e nodded. She reached into her robe and took out a scented pouch.
At a glance, Li Shuidao could tell the item was made of extraordinary material, though he couldn't say exactly what made it so.
Qin Yue'e tapped the scented pouch and took out a Daoist Book.
A Storage Bag!
Li Shuidao's eyes lit up. Only cultivators with Mana could use one of these. Even the cheapest Storage Bag was worth more than ten spirit stones.
Qin Yue'e held out the Daoist Book to Li Shuidao with both hands.
The book's lettering was exquisite, and deep, talismanic patterns were printed on its cover.
Title: Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art
"Your master ranks twenty-eighth on the Heavenly Ranking and possesses four great secret arts. This Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art is the foundation of them all."
"Could it be that Master's Spirit Companion is also a toad?" Li Shuidao asked in surprise.
Qin Yue'e nodded. "You're in luck. My husband's Spirit Companion really is a toad, so his cultivation arts are all suited to you."
"Among them, the Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art is a powerful secret art for cultivating inner breath. As long as you master the first two forms, you'll be able to completely expel the poison that has spread into your internal organs," Qin Yue'e said gravely.
At that, an image suddenly surfaced in Li Shuidao's mind...
A day earlier, the black-clad Sea Snake Daoist Li Tianwu had told him, "That Golden-Faced Gentleman is even more formidable. He has a technique for cultivating inner breath that can effortlessly force poison out of the body, even when it has reached the internal organs."
So this is how Master's wife plans to cure my poison!?
She's directly teaching me my master's secret art!
The whole reason Li Shuidao had done all this was to obtain a Daoist Book for cultivation. He knew all too well that a tree that stood out in the forest would be battered by the wind.
He'd reached the mid-stage of the Spirit Channeling Realm in just half a year. Even if his master wouldn't punish him, he had no desire at all to reveal it.
Besides, even if Li Shuidao confessed to his master that he'd eaten the Spirit Companion of a Wang Family cultivator, raised insects with rotting flesh, and even used substitute spiritual materials to make Purple Poison Powder, would his master teach him a secret art?
Impossible!
Accepting this seems risky, but the risk is worth it.
Li Shuidao accepted the manual with both hands and said gratefully, "Thank you, Master's wife. I'll keep it secret and never tell anyone."
"My Spirit Companion isn't a toad. I've read this cultivation art, but never practiced it. I heard my husband say the first two forms are quite easy to master. Three days should be enough." As she spoke, Qin Yue'e opened the Daoist Book, and the two of them began studying it together.
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