It was a century-old spirit fruit, blazing red like fire and giving off a faint warmth. Its medicinal potency was no less than that of the Water Ganoderma.
Seeing that this spirit medicine was not the kind recorded in the ancient texts, Lin Wanqiu could not help revealing a disappointed look.
"Could it be that I can only be useless for the rest of my life?"
Lin Wanqiu clenched her palm, her brow heavy with gloom.
Yet the instant Xiao Minghuang turned back, the oppression on Lin Wanqiu's face vanished, replaced by a gentle smile.
Xiao Minghuang glanced at her, assuming Lin Wanqiu regretted losing the spirit medicine. She said, "Once we reach Beiyang City, I'll give this spirit medicine to Wanqiu."
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu smiled, thinking Xiao Minghuang was merely being polite, and did not take it to heart.
Her blocked meridians were her own problem. She would not trouble others over them.
After putting the spirit fruit into her storage pouch, Xiao Minghuang casually checked the Destiny Compass again, only to discover in surprise that its needle still pointed in one direction.
Xiao Minghuang looked up and saw Lin Wanqiu standing directly before the needle.
"System, what's going on? Is the compass malfunctioning?"
[Ding! The system has not malfunctioned. The compass needle will prioritize guiding the host toward the highest-quality opportunity within the current range. The host may freely switch target opportunities and guide according to need.]
"You mean Lin Wanqiu still has an opportunity on her?"
The system gave no further answer, but that was clearly what it meant.
Xiao Minghuang tried switching the compass's target, but found nothing.
"What opportunity does Lin Wanqiu have on her?"
Xiao Minghuang could not make heads or tails of it. She could only set the matter aside for now and lead Lin Wanqiu back toward the camp.
She Was Betrothed to Me Before Birth, So I Suppose We Have Some Connection
In the shadowy forest stood a campsite lit by a burning bonfire.
A grill rack rested over the fire, lined with neatly sliced meat. As the flames seared it, it crackled with sizzle, sizzle, releasing a rich fragrance that made one's appetite surge.
Yet Ye Ruoshui, who sat closest to the roasted meat, had no appetite at all despite her stomach growling loudly.
"Without Her Highness here, even the roast doesn't smell good."
Ye Ruoshui listlessly fiddled with the grill, making sure those delicious ingredients would not burn before her Highness returned.
"It's almost been two hours. Why isn't she back yet? Did she run into some bad people?"
But on second thought, her Highness was already a powerful martial artist at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining Realm. Even across all of Great Xia, she stood among the very best. Who could possibly threaten her Highness?
Ye Ruoshui stared idly into the firelight, hoping to make out her Highness's peerless beauty within it.
The sound of snapping branches came from nearby. Two auras raced toward the camp, and one of them—stronger and exceptionally familiar—belonged to the Xiao Minghuang she had missed for so long.
As for the other, weaker aura, Ye Ruoshui paid it no attention whatsoever.
The moment she sensed Xiao Minghuang's aura, she immediately stood up, revealing a gentle smile that was composed yet tinged with a little delight.
"Wanqiu, find somewhere to rest first. I'll go see whether the roast is done."
"Mm!"
Ye Ruoshui looked up and saw her Highness walking together with a graceful woman of extraordinary beauty. Moreover, her Highness was smiling at that woman with great tenderness.
The sight before her nearly caused Ye Ruoshui's mind to crash. She stood frozen in place, unable to utter a word for a long while.
Xiao Minghuang swept her gaze over the camp and spotted Ye Ruoshui standing beside the bonfire, staring blankly at her as though lost in thought.
She walked over and showed a slightly apologetic smile.
"Ruoshui, sorry to keep you waiting so long. I'll explain everything in detail while we eat. Can we start dinner now?"
Ye Ruoshui nodded unconsciously.
After receiving her answer, Xiao Minghuang called Lin Wanqiu over to eat.
Even after the three of them sat down, Ye Ruoshui still felt as though her mind were completely blank.
During the meal, Xiao Minghuang roughly explained why she had returned late and introduced Lin Wanqiu to Ye Ruoshui.
But Ye Ruoshui did not hear a single word.
She had never imagined that in such a short time, her Highness would bring back an unfamiliar woman from outside.
And aside from having a slightly smaller chest than hers, this woman was in no way inferior to her!
A sense of crisis suddenly rose in Ye Ruoshui's heart.
During the meal, Xiao Minghuang noticed Ye Ruoshui had not touched her food for a long time and reminded her, "Ruoshui, eat up. You're still growing!"
Hearing her Highness remind her to eat brought Ye Ruoshui a wave of comfort. It seemed her Highness still cared about her.
But the very next moment—
"Wanqiu, you should eat more too. You and Ruoshui are both in the Body Tempering Realm and need plenty of meat to replenish your blood and vitality. That will help raise your cultivation."
Those final words sent Ye Ruoshui's slightly recovering mood plummeting straight back into the abyss.
Because of Ye Ruoshui's low mood, the meal was utterly tasteless.
After dinner.
Afraid that Lin Wanqiu would continue stirring up trouble, Xiao Minghuang forcibly ordered her to sleep in the tent.
After giving Xiao Minghuang a seductive look, Lin Wanqiu swayed gracefully into the tent.
Ever since returning to camp, Xiao Minghuang had noticed Ye Ruoshui's low spirits. Lin Wanqiu had been present earlier, making it inconvenient to ask. Now that she had sent Lin Wanqiu away, she could finally ask what had happened.
Ye Ruoshui sat on a rock beside the bonfire, propping up her delicate cheek with one hand. Even the dazzling firelight could not reflect any brightness in her eyes.
Xiao Minghuang walked to her side, wrapped an arm around Ye Ruoshui's slender waist, and asked gently, "Your sister brought Ruoshui a gift this time. Do you want it?"
Xiao Minghuang took out the crystal-clear Water Ganoderma and a spirit fruit bright as flame, placing them before Ye Ruoshui.
"They're both century-old spirit medicines. After taking them, you should be able to rise two minor levels."
"Thank you... Sister!"
Hearing that, Xiao Minghuang found it strange. Why had Ye Ruoshui suddenly changed the way she addressed her?
She had already said before that she regarded Ye Ruoshui as her little sister, yet the girl had never changed how she called her.
Though Xiao Minghuang did not understand why she had suddenly changed, she was still very happy inside.
Out of habit, she stroked Ye Ruoshui's soft hair and replied gently,
"Mm!"
This time, Ye Ruoshui did not respectfully call Xiao Minghuang "Your Highness" as she had before, but called her "Sister."
She had begun to realize that someone as outstanding as Xiao Minghuang would surely attract more and more girls in the future. If she remained merely a little maid, only following behind Xiao Minghuang step by step, then she was destined to be left far behind.
Even if Xiao Minghuang cared for her, she would no longer be able to occupy the most important place in Xiao Minghuang's heart.
Therefore, she had to change her strategy.
Perhaps even take the initiative!
Ye Ruoshui accepted the Water Ganoderma, then suddenly raised her little face, her beautiful eyes staring straight into Xiao Minghuang's.
The next moment.
She abruptly straightened up and lightly kissed the corner of Xiao Minghuang's lips. Like a dragonfly skimming the water, it vanished in an instant.
After doing all this, Ye Ruoshui did not run away bashfully. Instead, she threw herself into Xiao Minghuang's embrace, buried her little head against Xiao Minghuang's chest, greedily breathing in her scent as she said in a muffled voice,
"Sister, I like you! Don't send Ruoshui away, okay?"
Xiao Minghuang froze at those words. After a moment, she stroked Ye Ruoshui's soft hair and said gently,
"Sister likes Ruoshui too. I won't send Ruoshui away."
Hearing the words "likes you," Ye Ruoshui finally relaxed. She remained immersed in Xiao Minghuang's embrace, and in that instant, it seemed as though eternity had arrived.
At that moment, she only wished time would stop forever and never flow onward again, letting this instant become eternal.
The image of that unfamiliar woman surfaced in Ye Ruoshui's mind, and she could not help asking,
"Sister, who is that woman?"
"Didn't I introduce her to you while we were eating?"
Ye Ruoshui rubbed her little head against Xiao Minghuang's chest and said embarrassedly,
"Ruoshui was so sad just now. I thought Sister was going to send Ruoshui away, so I didn't listen carefully..."
As she spoke, a trace of tears entered Ye Ruoshui's voice, making Xiao Minghuang's heart ache terribly.
She knew Ye Ruoshui had lost both parents when she was young and had only Xiao Minghuang as family. Ye Ruoshui regarded her as more important than anything else.
Thus, to Ye Ruoshui, Xiao Minghuang's attitude truly mattered greatly.
She gently stroked Ye Ruoshui's slender back. Through the thin fabric, she could feel her smooth, warm skin.
"Her name is Lin Wanqiu. She is the daughter of Beiyang City's City Lord. The reason I came back late was because I happened to save her... Also, before I was born, she and I were betrothed by our parents. So I suppose we have some connection."
Persuasion, the Second Contractor Slot Opened
"Marriage contract!!!"
Hearing those two words out of nowhere, Ye Ruoshui jerked upright so suddenly that the top of her head nearly struck Xiao Minghuang's chin. Her eyes widened round, filled with disbelief.
Seeing Ye Ruoshui's utterly shocked expression, Xiao Minghuang's heart inexplicably began racing, and panic rose within her.
"Listen to me explain. It isn't what you think!"
Ye Ruoshui trembled all over. The light gradually faded from her eyes, turning them gray and pale. Her entire person exuded utter desolation, as though being born human was something she deeply regretted.
Seeing this, Xiao Minghuang hurriedly shook her by the shoulders and cried out repeatedly,
"Ruoshui, what's wrong?!"
Ye Ruoshui slowly spoke, her voice devoid of all life, like a grievously wounded person on the verge of death giving her final last words.
"After I leave, Your Highness and that woman must be happy..."
Xiao Minghuang hurriedly explained,
"Ruoshui, you must have misunderstood. In Sister's heart, you are the most important person to me. How could I possibly make you leave?"
A glimmer of light suddenly flashed through Ye Ruoshui's despairing eyes. She raised her head to glance at Xiao Minghuang, only to lower it again.
"Your Highness, don't lie to me. Let me be alone for a while. I should be able to get used to life without Your Highness..."
Xiao Minghuang held Ye Ruoshui's delicate, boneless hand and pressed it against her own chest, speaking each word with utter sincerity.
"Every word I said is true. There is not the slightest lie. If Ruoshui still doesn't believe me..."
As she spoke, Xiao Minghuang raised her right hand, five fingers pointing toward the sky, her expression solemn.
"I, Xiao Minghuang, swear here and now that Ye Ruoshui is the most important person in my heart. If I deceive Ye Ruoshui, may I be struck by five thunderbolts—"
Before she could finish, Ye Ruoshui suddenly raised her hand and covered Xiao Minghuang's lips.
"Don't say any more. I believe you."
Feeling the soft warmth against her lips, Xiao Minghuang could not help letting out a sigh of relief.
She had always thought Ye Ruoshui was soft and sweet, but she had not expected the little girl to have such a temper. It seemed she would have to be careful in the future and not make her angry.
Xiao Minghuang reached out and rubbed Ye Ruoshui's soft hair, pulling the girl's soft, warm body into her arms and pressing her tightly to her chest.
"Sister will hold you while we sleep tonight, okay?"
"Okay..."
Ye Ruoshui went limp in Xiao Minghuang's embrace and answered in a muffled voice.
Before you continue