Call Me Big Sister

Dozens of Herb Field laborers had already set aside precious ginseng, fleeceflower roots, and other herbs for Qin Dongcheng, waiting only for him to harvest them.

You have harvested a ten-year-old ginseng. Congratulations on triggering a triple critical hit; you have obtained three ten-year-old ginsengs!

You have harvested a fifteen-year-old fleeceflower root. Congratulations on triggering a quadruple critical hit; you have obtained four fifteen-year-old fleeceflower roots!

The harvest from these precious medicinal herbs was quite substantial, yielding over a dozen rare items worth several hundred taels of silver—a true bumper crop.

After offering a few pointers to the Herb Field laborers, Qin Dongcheng headed toward the Osmanthus Garden. His path required passing through a dense bamboo forest, so he quickened his pace, intending to cross it as fast as possible.

After all, the bamboo was so thick that it was easy for demons and monsters to hide within; even in broad daylight, one had to be cautious.

"Huh..."

Just as he was about to leave the bamboo forest, his gaze inadvertently swept across a certain spot, and he discovered someone lying there.

She was dressed in light cyan training gear that outlined a graceful, slender figure. There was a pool of blood beneath her, and she was clearly severely injured; it was a mystery how she had ended up there.

A faint sense of familiarity washed over him; it seemed he had seen her somewhere before.

After a moment of hesitation, Qin Dongcheng quickly scooped her up and carried her out of the bamboo forest, fearing that any hidden demons or monsters might track her scent and leave her defenseless.

On the way, he caught a glimpse of her features and realized he had indeed seen her at the Osmanthus Garden before, though he didn't know her name or her specific circumstances.

Her features were exquisite, her brows like a painting, with red lips and white teeth. Even without makeup, she looked refined and ethereal. Her figure was long and supple, like a slender willow, swaying gracefully in his arms.

Without further thought, he laid her down on a clearing near the bamboo forest, located the wound on her back, crushed a Golden Wound Pill to apply it, and bandaged it with gauze.

Although there was a social taboo against physical contact between men and women, a physician's heart is like a parent's; as a practitioner, he possessed at least that much professional integrity.

Once her condition stabilized, Qin Dongcheng breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to call for someone to help carry her to the Osmanthus Garden—since he didn't know her specific situation—he saw the woman groan and wake up. Her eyes locked onto Qin Dongcheng, a flash of vigilance crossing her face before she realized what had happened: "You saved me?"

"I found you unconscious in the nearby bamboo forest, so I brought you out to bandage you. However, you will need better medicine and a physician to fully recover," Qin Dongcheng explained.

The woman noticed her state and a blush flashed across her face. She lay on the ground and cupped her hands in a salute to Qin Dongcheng: "Thank you for saving my life, brother. My name is Dong Hongyan, an Inner Sect Disciple of the Five Elements Sect. I live with my family in the Osmanthus Garden. You look familiar—do you also live there?"

"So you are Senior Sister Dong. I am an Outer Sect Disciple named Qin Dongcheng, and also an Alchemy Apprentice." Qin Dongcheng was surprised; he hadn't expected this delicate and pure-looking woman to be an Inner Sect Disciple. He had heard the name Dong Hongyan before; she was likely one of the most prominent figures in the Osmanthus Garden.

Furthermore, it was quite unusual for an Inner Sect Disciple to reside in the Osmanthus Garden rather than on one of the main peaks.

Upon learning his identity, Dong Hongyan smiled: "No wonder your bandaging is so good—much better than my younger sisters. I owe you my life, Alchemy Apprentice Qin. If I had remained in that bamboo forest, there is no guarantee a second demon or monster wouldn't have smelled the blood and found me. I would have been finished."

"A second demon or monster?" Qin Dongcheng asked, startled.

Dong Hongyan said indignantly: "I was returning to the Osmanthus Garden after completing a mission today. I had just entered the forest when I saw the face of an incredibly handsome man staring at me from the depths of the bamboo. I found myself walking toward him involuntarily."

"If I hadn't been indifferent to matters of romance, I would have woken up much later. I played along to get closer, but I nearly died at the hands of that Level 4 Beauty Snake."

"A Level 4 Beauty Snake?" Qin Dongcheng couldn't help but exclaim.

Dong Hongyan nodded: "Indeed. Recently, laborers have been disappearing from the Bamboo Forest Valley, and eventually, even official disciples began to go missing. It is the work of that Level 4 demon, the Beauty Snake. Its strength is comparable to a top-tier expert at the fourth stage of martial arts, the Tendon Phase Realm. Few in the Bamboo Forest Valley are its match."

"If I hadn't pretended to be under its bewitching spell to get close, I would have died in that forest. I never imagined such a powerful monster would infiltrate the vicinity of our Five Elements Sect headquarters. I must report this to the Inner Sect Elders immediately."

Her words left Qin Dongcheng feeling a lingering fear, but also a sense of great fortune.

It was a good thing that after realizing something was wrong, he had immediately taken the official disciple assessment and moved into the Osmanthus Garden.

Had he remained in the Bamboo Forest Valley, the rich blood energy he possessed would likely have made him a target for the Beauty Snake.

That was a Level 4 Beauty Snake; even if Qin Dongcheng unleashed his top-tier Strange Phenomenon, he would be no match for it, and he wouldn't even have a chance to run.

Moreover, it was said that Beauty Snakes were adept at illusions; without sufficient willpower, one simply couldn't resist them.

Having lived two lives and merged with the original soul, Qin Dongcheng's willpower had improved significantly, but resisting a Level 4 Beauty Snake still seemed like a tall order.

He owed this narrow escape to Dong Hongyan. He hadn't realized the snake had started attacking people in broad daylight. If Dong Hongyan hadn't engaged it first, he wondered if he would have been attacked himself when he passed through that forest earlier.

Although he had saved Dong Hongyan, in a way, she had saved him as well.

This filled him with gratitude toward her, and he prepared to call for someone to take her home.

"Why call for others? Can't you carry me back yourself?" Dong Hongyan raised an eyebrow when she heard him say he would find someone to help.

Qin Dongcheng looked at her curvaceous figure: "I was worried it might be inconvenient for you, Senior Sister Dong. Besides, we are not far from the Osmanthus Garden; I can quickly find some female disciples."

"We are people of the martial world; why stand on such ceremony? Just carry me." Dong Hongyan realized his hesitation and smiled, reaching out a hand toward him: "Don't call me Senior Sister Dong. You saved my life, so that title sounds too distant. Just call me Big Sister from now on. If anything happens, I'll look out for you."

"Uh..."

Qin Dongcheng was stunned. Looking at the exquisitely beautiful girl before him, he felt that the title "Big Sister" was a bit strange.

However, considering Dong Hongyan's strength and the influence of the Dong family in the Bamboo Forest Valley, he smiled and said: "Alright, Big Sister."

For some reason, he felt a strange sense of his expectations being shattered.