Lovesick Heartbroken Red, Xiao Wu Reaches Level 59

Two days later, Lin Chen brought Xiao Wu to the valley deep within Sunset Forest once more.

The morning mist had yet to disperse. Vapor from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well rose in the dawn light, gathering into a hazy veil. The valley was silent, save for the bubbling spring water and the occasional birdsong drifting from the distant woods.

Xiao Wu stood at the entrance to the valley, looking around curiously. Although she had traveled to many places with Lin Chen, this was her first time at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The spring, half milky white and half dark green, fascinated her, while the immortal herbs of all kinds along its banks, glowing in every color, held her gaze captive.

"This place is so beautiful," Xiao Wu could not help saying. "What are all these plants? Why are they so pretty?"

"They're all immortal-grade medicinal herbs, priceless treasures that money can't buy outside," Lin Chen said with a smile. He led her along the edge of the spring for a while before finally stopping before the immortal herb growing from a crack in the rocks.

Lovesick Heartbroken Red.

It still grew there quietly, its deep purple heart-shaped leaves supporting a huge crimson flower that gleamed with a profound, fiery luster in the morning light. Several crystalline dewdrops still clung to its petals like teardrops, making the flower seem both beautiful and faintly mournful.

"This is the one." Lin Chen crouched down and pointed at the immortal herb. "Lovesick Heartbroken Red, the finest of immortal herbs. Its harvesting method is very special—it requires the picker to have no distracting thoughts, to be utterly devoted and sincere, and to nourish it with the hot blood of a true heart before it can be plucked. If there are impure thoughts or ulterior motives, it will immediately wither."

Xiao Wu crouched beside him and studied the red flower closely. She extended a finger and gently touched a petal. The flower trembled softly, as if responding to her touch.

"So beautiful," she murmured. "But it looks so lonely."

"Because it has waited here for a long time," Lin Chen said. "It's waiting for someone who truly understands it."

Xiao Wu fell silent for a moment, then looked up at Lin Chen. "What do I need to do?"

"Reach out, hold its stem, and think of the person or thing you care about most," Lin Chen said. "If your feelings are pure enough, it will accept you."

Xiao Wu nodded, took a deep breath, then reached out and grasped the stem of the Lovesick Heartbroken Red.

She closed her eyes.

Lin Chen stood to one side, watching quietly.

Morning light fell across Xiao Wu's face, gilding her thick lashes. Her expression was peaceful, with a faint smile lingering at the corners of her mouth, as though she had thought of something that made her happy.

The Lovesick Heartbroken Red began to glow.

At first, it was only a faint light, like fireflies dancing among its petals. Then it grew brighter and brighter, more and more radiant, until the entire flower lit up like a blazing flame, blooming with dazzling brilliance in the morning sun.

Then, it fell out of the crack in the rocks on its own.

There was no struggle, no resistance, no withering. It simply detached itself from its stem naturally and lay quietly in Xiao Wu's palm, like a butterfly that had finally found its home, folding its wings and settling down in peace.

Watching this, Lin Chen could not help feeling moved.

Only one utterly devoted and sincere could pluck the Lovesick Heartbroken Red. The fact that Xiao Wu had picked it so easily showed that there was not a trace of impurity in her heart.

Who was the person she had been thinking of?

Lin Chen did not ask, but he could roughly guess.

Xiao Wu opened her eyes and looked down at the quietly blooming red flower in her palm, surprise flashing through her eyes. "It... it fell off by itself!"

"Because it recognized you," Lin Chen said. "Take it."

Xiao Wu nodded and brought the Lovesick Heartbroken Red to her lips, taking a light bite.

The petals melted as soon as they entered her mouth, turning into a warm current that flowed down her throat and into her body. Xiao Wu's body trembled slightly before a thick crimson radiance enveloped her entirely.

The light grew brighter and brighter, stronger and stronger, shrouding her like a massive cocoon of light. Within it, Xiao Wu's aura began to surge rapidly—level 52, level 53, level 54, level 55, level 56...

Lin Chen stood beside her, guarding her quietly.

The medicinal effects of the Lovesick Heartbroken Red were even more powerful than he had expected. It not only completely concealed Xiao Wu's soul beast aura, but also greatly raised her soul power cultivation.

Moreover, as the finest of immortal herbs, it would subtly improve Xiao Wu's physique, enhance her cultivation talent, and lay a solid foundation for her future path.

After roughly the time it took an incense stick to burn, the crimson radiance slowly faded.

Xiao Wu opened her eyes.

A faint hint of red seemed to have appeared deep within her pupils, as if the color of the petals had settled into them. Her aura was far stronger than before, and standing there, she seemed completely transformed.

"Level fifty-nine." Xiao Wu looked down at her hands, disbelief in her voice. "I... I'm level fifty-nine?"

Lin Chen froze for a moment, then smiled. "Three levels higher than me. It seems this Lovesick Heartbroken Red really suits you."

Xiao Wu raised her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling. "I'm stronger than you now!"

"Yes, you are," Lin Chen said with a smile. "From now on, I'll have to rely on you to protect me when we fight."

"Of course!" Xiao Wu proudly raised her chin, but she quickly lost that smug expression. Walking up to him, she looked at him seriously. "Lin Chen."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Her voice was soft, but utterly sincere.

Lin Chen smiled and ruffled her hair. "Why are you being so polite with me?"

Xiao Wu did not dodge. Instead, she rose onto her tiptoes and quickly kissed his cheek, then stepped back two paces. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, yet she tried to look composed as she faced him. "That's your reward."

Lin Chen paused, then could not help laughing. "Why do you all like doing this?"

"Who else has done this?" Xiao Wu keenly caught the flaw in his words and narrowed her eyes.

"No one, no one." Lin Chen hurriedly waved his hands. "Come on, let's go back. Zhu Zhuqing is still waiting at the academy."

With that, he turned and headed out of the valley.

Xiao Wu remained where she was, staring at his somewhat hurried retreating figure. She huffed, then quickly chased after him.

"Lin Chen! Stop right there! Explain yourself! Who else has kissed you?"

"No one!"

"Liar! There was obviously something wrong with your expression just now!"

"You saw it wrong."

"My ass I did! Stop right there!"

"Tell me who it was!"