Chapter 9

Outside the cave, the night grew darker.

On the wall near the entrance, the four bloodstained beast hides swayed gently in the cold night wind.

Accompanied by the whimpering wind, they seemed to be whispering about something.

Luo Qingchen lay in a dark corner, his eyes open as he stared motionlessly toward the deepest part of the cave.

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps finally sounded.

Zhang Dashan emerged from the innermost cave carrying a wooden bucket filled with medicinal liquid and entered the cave on the right.

When he set the bucket in the corner and prepared to pour out the leftover dregs inside, Luo Qingchen suddenly appeared at the entrance and said, "Senior Brother, I want to take a bath. Can you leave the water in the bucket for now?"

Zhang Dashan turned to look at him without speaking.

Leaning against the wall beside him, Luo Qingchen looked very weak. Panting, he said, "If Senior Brother cannot make the decision, shall I go ask Master?"

Zhang Dashan narrowed his eyes and stared at him for a while longer before suddenly asking, "Did the medicinal bath last time have any effect?"

Luo Qingchen seemed to consider it before saying, "Perhaps a little. After bathing, I felt much more comfortable."

"Oh?"

A sharp gleam flickered in Zhang Dashan's eyes. "Only more comfortable?"

Luo Qingchen sighed. "I bleed every day. How could I ask for too much? I am already satisfied if it can lessen the pain a little."

A smile bloomed on Zhang Dashan's face. "That is true."

He released the bucket and sighed as well. "Junior Brother Luo, I truly hope your body can recover quickly. Then you can provide Master with more blood, and I can continue cultivating in peace."

Luo Qingchen nodded. "I also hope I can share more of Senior Brother's burdens."

Zhang Dashan smiled faintly, glanced again at the leftover dregs in the bucket, and shrugged. "All right, leave the medicinal water for now. Have a good soak."

As he spoke, he headed outside.

As he passed Luo Qingchen, he suddenly stopped again, reached out to pat his shoulder, and smiled. "Junior Brother Luo, thank you. If you had not been providing Master with fresh blood all this time, I would not have been able to cultivate in peace, much less break through so quickly. You deserve some credit for my breakthrough today."

When that hand patted his shoulder for the last time, it suddenly put on some force.

Luo Qingchen's body went limp, and he fell to the ground.

"Ah!"

Zhang Dashan cried out in alarm and hurriedly helped him up, his face full of apology. "Junior Brother Luo, I am truly sorry. I just broke through today and forgot how much strength I had. Sorry, sorry."

Then he smiled and said, "You will not blame Senior Brother, will you?"

Supporting himself against the wall, Luo Qingchen said weakly, "Of course not. I have not even congratulated Senior Brother on your breakthrough yet."

A broad smile spread across Zhang Dashan's face as he said modestly, "I have only just entered the door. Master said I still need to consolidate for some time."

Then he encouraged him with a smile, "Junior Brother Luo, there is no need to envy me. Once your body recovers, I believe you will have a chance to cultivate as well."

Luo Qingchen sighed. "I hope so."

Zhang Dashan kept smiling and said no more. He waved his hand and walked out.

The cave returned to silence.

Luo Qingchen remained at the entrance, leaning against the wall for a while longer before dragging his heavy steps toward the wooden bucket in the corner.

In the darkness outside, a pair of eyes watched him silently.

Luo Qingchen took off his clothes and pants, laboriously climbed into the bucket, submerged his entire body in the murky medicinal liquid, and closed his eyes.

Only after a long while did the eyes hiding in the darkness outside disappear.

Luo Qingchen remained in the bucket with his eyes closed, soaking in the medicinal liquid that had already turned cold.

Only when his body was nearly unable to endure it did he slowly open his eyes. He looked into the darkness beyond the cave, while his hands moved silently beneath the water.

Blood seeped out and quickly dissolved into the medicinal liquid.

Inside his body, the blood that had just filled the first Blood Bar rapidly dropped to 70%.

His head immediately began to spin.

"Add Blood!"

To achieve a better medicinal bath effect, he immediately refilled the blood in the first Blood Bar.

Meanwhile, only 40% remained in the second reserve Blood Bar.

It seemed that upgrading the blood in the second reserve Blood Bar would not be easy.

He did not think further about it. He immediately steadied his breathing and focused his mind, beginning to absorb the medicinal liquid fused with blood.

The originally pale medicinal liquid had now turned dark brown.

The effects began to emerge!

Threads of cool, familiar energy began scrambling to burrow into his body through every pore...

Time slipped quietly by.

The pain in the muscles throughout his body rapidly eased.

When the dark brown medicinal liquid in the bucket gradually began to fade, the rate of absorption began to slow.

He kept his eyes closed, steadied his breathing, and continued drawing it in.

He estimated that in another quarter of an hour, all the medicinal power in the bucket would be absorbed.

For him now, not even a thread of medicinal power could be wasted!

"Phew..."

His pores opened and closed, as though they were breathing in boundless enjoyment.

Even the breaths from his nose seemed to match their rhythm.

Crack!

At that moment, an unusual sound suddenly came from outside!

The dead leaves he had secretly scattered in the darkness on the ground outside raised the alarm!

Luo Qingchen's eyes snapped open, and he looked toward the entrance.

Before he could prepare himself, Zhang Dashan had already emerged from the darkness and appeared at the entrance, his face filled with surprise. "Eh, Junior Brother Luo, you are still bathing?"

As he spoke, he walked in.

At that instant, Luo Qingchen's heart nearly stopped beating!

Once the other man came near the bucket, he might smell the medicinal liquid that had not yet been fully absorbed, carrying a faint scent of blood! Or, like last time, he might simply dip a hand into the water and detect the abnormality within!

If he discovered it, how could Luo Qingchen explain himself?

Master had used quite a lot of his blood lately, and tonight had just squeezed out another large bowl of it. Not only had he not fainted or gone into shock, he could even squeeze out more blood for a medicinal bath.

If Master learned of it, he would certainly suspect his body. When that happened, he might very well dissect him directly!

"Senior Brother..."

Just as he was preparing an excuse, Tian Feng's voice suddenly came from outside. "Dashan, come here for a moment."

Zhang Dashan paused upon hearing this. He gave Luo Qingchen another suspicious look and could only turn to leave, quickly heading into the innermost cave.

Luo Qingchen let out a long breath. Not daring to delay, he hurriedly closed his eyes and rapidly absorbed the last remnants of medicinal power in the water!

"Master, you... you want to use my blood?"

In the innermost cave, Zhang Dashan stood bowed before Tian Feng. When he heard the order, his expression changed at once.

Tian Feng said blandly, "I am about to break through. I need some more."

Zhang Dashan's expression shifted. He hurriedly said, "It is this disciple's blessing to serve Master! It is just... this disciple thinks that since Junior Brother Luo is going to die soon anyway, perhaps... perhaps we should continue using his?"

Then he said with a fawning face, "This disciple will bring him here right away. Junior Brother Luo will surely be very happy to continue serving Master."

Tian Feng looked at him coldly. "What I need now is yours. Your body is strong, and you just broke through today. The blood within you is at its purest and hottest. I need one bowl to prepare for breaking through. What, are you unwilling?"

Zhang Dashan's heart jolted. With a thud, he dropped to his knees and said in a trembling voice, "This disciple is willing. Of course this disciple is willing! This disciple would be willing a thousand times, ten thousand times over to ease Master's burdens! This disciple's life belongs to Master, let alone a mere bowl of blood!"

Having said that, he hurriedly crawled forward in panic and voluntarily extended his arm.

At a time like this, if he dared hesitate even half a moment, he truly would be tired of living.

Tian Feng took out a dagger.

At the same time.

In another cave nearby, Luo Qingchen was rapidly absorbing the final thread of medicinal power from the water, as if racing against time.

"Go get some proper rest."

After drawing the blood, Tian Feng tossed Zhang Dashan a piece of meat.

Zhang Dashan retreated with a pale face.

When he reached the entrance, Tian Feng's voice came from behind him. "Starting tonight, I will be going into seclusion. No one is to disturb me. In three days, we will return to the sect."

After a pause, he added, "And one more thing..."

Zhang Dashan raised his head.

Scarlet blood stained Tian Feng's lips as he said expressionlessly, "What I need are corpses that died that very day. The fresher, the better."

Zhang Dashan's heart skipped a beat. He lowered his head and said, "This disciple understands."

With that, he bowed and withdrew.

After retreating into the darkness outside, he slowly straightened up. He stood in the dark for several breaths before turning toward the cave on the right.

However, at that moment, only an empty wooden bucket remained in the cave.

He stood at the entrance for a while, then walked to the bucket, bent down, and sniffed its contents. Then he went to the corner and sniffed the water stains on the ground.

There did not seem to be anything unusual.

At that moment, a stabbing pain suddenly came from his wrist.

Blood was still flowing from the wound.

He took out a strip of cloth and bandaged the wound. After carefully searching the cave, he finally walked outside.

In a corner not far away, Luo Qingchen lay motionless, as though he had fallen asleep.

Zhang Dashan stood in the darkness, silently watching him for a long time before suddenly walking over.