Han Qiushui

Xiao Yu led the group of children toward the south of the city.

Da Long and several other children pushed the cart behind them.

Lingxin wanted to help, but Xiao Yu stopped her.

They were orphans now, after all. They had to learn to stand on their own.

The group continued onward.

By the time they reached the south of the city, the sun was already about to set.

Looking at the manor ahead, the children all widened their eyes. "Wow~ What a beautiful house!"

"This is the Li Residence, the richest household in Jiangliu City? Can we really go inside?"

Xiao Yu lifted his chin and looked on. A pair of stone lions crouched on either side of the vermilion gates, their bearing majestic and imposing.

Though night had yet to fall, servants were already standing on tall stools, hanging bright-red lanterns high overhead.

When the gatekeepers saw Xiao Yu's group, they immediately shouted, "Where did these beggars come from? Do you know what place this is? Don't stand here and get in the way!"

Xiao Yu did not lose his temper. He led Lingxin and the others to a street corner.

Night was about to fall. They had to get inside quickly.

Since this was the richest household in Jiangliu City, they surely had dealings with cultivators. The Profound Spirit Sect had probably come here to skim some oil and water as well.

They could not simply enter through the front gate.

After giving Lingxin a few instructions, Xiao Yu made his way to the back entrance.

With a single leap, he slipped inside.

Inside the Jade Maiden Gourd, Li Qingyun was already crying with excitement. "Master, Master, my mother's room is to the east! There's a plum tree in front of the door!"

"Master, be careful. My family knows that I was captured by cultivators! The Profound Spirit Sect must have come to question them!"

"You absolutely, absolutely have to be careful!"

Following Li Qingyun's directions, Xiao Yu made his way to the room of her mother, Han Qiushui.

The moment he reached the door, he heard a man inside speaking in a mocking tone. "Sister-in-law, it isn't that I refuse to help you. My elder brother was killed and Qingyun was captured—it wasn't my doing!"

"You should know that my elder brother never had a son. To put it plainly, this Li Residence was built up by my father in the first place. Now that my elder brother is dead, the family fortune should naturally fall into my hands!"

"Sister-in-law, you're frail and sickly, unable to shoulder such a burden alone. Should I let this enormous family business go down the drain?"

Xiao Yu peered through the window, and his Adam's apple bobbed without pause!

On the bed lay an incomparably beautiful woman, using a handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corner of her lips.

Her bearing was dignified, her brows like distant mountains steeped in green!

She wore an exquisite embroidered qipao adorned with plum blossoms, beautiful as a celestial maiden!

No wonder she had given birth to a daughter as lovely as Li Qingyun. It was all in the blood!!!

She looked no older than thirty. She had taken such fine care of herself that Xiao Yu would have believed she was in her twenties!

Set in that bloodless face was a vivid, crimson mouth.

Xiao Yu clenched his fists at once.

The man in the room continued, "Sister-in-law, my brother overestimated himself and went looking for trouble with immortals. How is that my fault? And don't accuse me of preying on a dead man's family. My brother and I were family to begin with!"

Han Qiushui's expression twisted with fury. "You... you bastard! Was it you who lured Qingyun out of the city? If not for you, how could she have been captured by the Hehuan Sect?"

"Li Wancai, what a venomous heart you have..."

Li Wancai grinned disdainfully.

His tone suddenly turned icy. "I say, Sister-in-law, are you refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit? I'll say this one last time. Hand over the key to the storeroom!!!"

"Otherwise... I won't be so polite with you!"

Han Qiushui's brows rose sharply. "What are you trying to do? Your elder brother's body isn't even cold yet..."

Li Wancai's gaze lifted, and he stroked his chin with ill intent.

Then, step by step, he walked toward the gravely ill Han Qiushui.

"When you married my elder brother back then, I thought you were so alluring... You were clearly so alluring, yet you always wore that frosty expression. Your younger brother-in-law had long since..."

Han Qiushui flew into a rage. She grabbed a red embroidered shoe from beside the bed and hurled it at him. "How dare you!! Someone, come! Someone... cough, cough... cough cough cough!"

As she spoke, Han Qiushui spat out a mouthful of blood.

Li Wancai caught the embroidered shoe with a grin and brought it to his nose.

"Everyone in the Li Residence listens to me now. Sister-in-law, you should give up that thought. As long as you follow me, I'll guarantee you glory and wealth!"

"And I'll find someone to treat your illness too..."

As he spoke, Li Wancai reached out to press down on Han Qiushui's jade-like hand.

Before he could succeed, someone suddenly dragged him to the ground. "Who is it?"

Xiao Yu covered his face and chuckled softly. "I'm here to treat an illness..."

The moment Li Wancai saw that the other party had covered his face, he was about to shout.

The next instant, he was sucked into the gourd in the other party's hand.

When he came back to his senses, Li Wancai panicked at once. "Immortal... Immortal, spare my life!!!"

At the same time, three nuns beside him were howling amid a sea of fire. "Spare us! Spare us, this poor nun will never dare again!"

Li Wancai was utterly dumbfounded. Weren't these the nuns from Spirit Light Temple...

How could they...

When he looked up again, wasn't that person ahead of him his elder brother's daughter, Li Qingyun?

Li Qingyun had already learned from Xiao Yu what Li Wancai had done. The instant her delicate brows rose—

She raised her sword and slashed.

"Bastard... You actually wanted to defile my mother! Die----!"

With a single thrust, Li Wancai's heart was pierced through.

Then Li Qingyun kicked him into the sea of fire.

The other three nuns were so frightened that they wailed and cried, "We won't dare again! We'll never dare again, spare us!"

Just then, Xiao Yu released Li Qingyun.

When the bedridden Han Qiushui saw her daughter, her pupils suddenly contracted.

Her expression trembled with emotion, and her body shook violently. "Qingyun? My dear daughter..."

Li Qingyun looked at her mother's bloodstained lips, tears streaming down her face. "Mother... sob... Your daughter has failed you... Father, he..."

Mother and daughter embraced and wept, their sobs bleak and mournful.

Xiao Yu watched from the side.

Han Qiushui gave him the impression of a noble, elegant lady from a great household.

She possessed an indescribable refinement.

Her qipao was embroidered with countless exquisite plum blossoms, and she herself was like an orchid blooming in seclusion.

Every glance seemed to shine.

Her lush hair was arranged into an exquisite bun atop her head.

Especially that bloodless face, ravaged by illness to the very marrow.

One look was enough to awaken pity in anyone's heart.

Even Xiao Yu's heart softened as he watched.

Just then, Li Qingyun suddenly widened her eyes, and tears surged forth again. "What... Mother, don't scare your daughter... What do you mean, you only have half a year left to live..."

Han Qiushui sighed helplessly, affection still lingering in her eyes.

She reached out and stroked Li Qingyun's hair, speaking softly. "As long as you're all right... Mother's health has always been poor. You know that. And with how exhausted I've been lately, body and mind alike... my foundation has been damaged..."

"The doctor said I have half a year at most. Even immortals would be unable to save me..."

Li Qingyun clung to her, her face full of grief and rage as she cried. "No... Mother, your daughter can't lose you too! Your daughter can cultivate now. Your daughter is an immortal now too! I'll definitely cure you, Mother, don't be afraid..."

"Your daughter definitely will..."

As she cried, Li Qingyun subconsciously looked toward Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu hurriedly began puffing on his smoking pipe, putting on a helpless expression.

Han Qiushui glanced at Xiao Yu from the side, her manner exceedingly respectful. "This immortal... thank you for saving my daughter. Forgive me for being unable to rise and offer my respects..."

Xiao Yu took a puff and smiled softly. "No matter, no matter..."

The next second, Li Qingyun knelt before him with a pleading look. "Save my mother... Please... Mas—"

Before she could call him Master, Xiao Yu hurriedly sent her a voice transmission. Call me husband!

Li Qingyun cried out miserably, "Sob... Husband... Husband, please save my mother..."

Han Qiushui froze.

So her daughter had followed this immortal?

No wonder... Otherwise, why would he save her daughter and teach her cultivation?

Perhaps this was for the best. The mortal world was filthy and unbearable. It was better for her daughter to become a carefree immortal...

Xiao Yu turned back to look at Han Qiushui, his face filled with helplessness. "I... It isn't that I can't save her. It's just that this method goes somewhat against my conscience!"

"How could I do that kind of thing to my mother-in-law? My Dao heart would be clouded with dust..."

Li Qingyun knew that Xiao Yu must have taken a liking to her mother. When her mother had been young, she had been the dream lover of countless talented scholars in Jiangliu City.

How many scholars had written letters and poems for her mother.

"What is there that cannot be done... As long as it can save my mother's life... what does it matter?"

"Husband... Husband, please agree to Qing... Qingyun's request..."

As Li Qingyun spoke, she found it difficult to continue.

Was this... really all right?

But looking at her mother, sick beyond cure, what other choice did she have?

Recently, she had learned some medicinal theory from Hua Lian. She knew that her mother's illness was certainly beyond saving.

Her mother had never willingly married her father. When she was young, her father had spent money to force her into marriage.

From then on, she had been melancholy and heartsick.

Later, she often helped her father manage the business, laboring through wind and rain over the account books.

She had already been ill, and with everything that had happened lately, her roots had likely been truly damaged.

Qi-Replenishing Pills and Blood-Staunching Pills would certainly be useless.

They had to find a divine physician in the mortal world!

Or find a treasure capable of bringing the dead back to life.

But where could they find such a thing at a time like this?

The only thing before them was the Nine Yang Divine Body.

The Nine Yang Divine Body had even healed Hua Lian after her Spiritual Root had been destroyed and her cultivation crippled...

A mere mortal illness would naturally be no challenge!

The only question was how many treatments it would take...

After all, Hua Lian had needed dozens of treatments before she was completely healed.

How was she supposed to bring this up to her mother?

Just then, Han Qiushui smiled warmly. "Immortal Master Xiao... I've truly troubled you. Our Qingyun has caused you so much inconvenience!"

Xiao Yu hurriedly cupped his fists. "No matter, no matter! Qingyun and I truly love each other! Mother-in-law, you needn't be so polite with me. Just call me Xiao Yu!"

Han Qiushui's gaze softened, as though life had given her something to hope for once more.

Even if she died now, she could leave without regrets.

Her daughter had actually become an immortal!

As she was lost in emotion, Li Qingyun suddenly rose to her feet somewhat nervously.

Step by step, she walked to Han Qiushui's side and said softly, "Mother... Mother... Husband has a way to save you... He has a way to make Mother recover completely..."

The moment Xiao Yu heard this, he hurriedly shook his head. "Don't... Don't be ridiculous..."

Li Qingyun's expression was agitated. "What is there that cannot be done? As long as it can save Mother's life, why care about such details?"

When Han Qiushui heard that he could cure her, she looked at Xiao Yu with immense curiosity. "Immortal Master Xiao..."

Li Qingyun remained kneeling there. "Husband... This wife begs you!"

Xiao Yu said with great reluctance, "You two asked for this yourselves..."

Just as Han Qiushui was still dazed—

Li Qingyun had already flushed red as she shut the door.

Han Qiushui froze at once.

She looked at Xiao Yu blowing out the lamp beside them.

Then she looked at her daughter closing the doors and windows.

Her voice was filled with suspicion. "Daughter? What are you doing..."

Li Qingyun's face was red as she stammered, "T-Treating... treating your illness..."