Picking a fight (1)

As Dongfang Minghui watched The Female Lead approach step by step, realization struck her. Damn, I've been paying too much attention to Nan Fei. Won't The Female Lead think I'm trying to steal her man?

I'm doomed.

"Seventh Sister, I was wrong."

Before The Female Lead could question her, Dongfang Minghui closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her waist, apologizing with a look of utter despair. "Seventh Sister, I was wrong. Please forgive me this once. I absolutely won't meddle in Brother Nan's affairs again."

Even if I play matchmaker, I'll just do it in secret.

With such a soft body pressed against her, the gloom in Dongfang Wanyu's heart suddenly gave way to sunshine. She wanted to hold her tightly, but after raising her hands, she merely patted her back and smiled. "You're showing proper remorse, so I'll forgive you this once. But, Ninth Sister, don't let it happen again."

Dongfang Minghui's eyes widened. She almost thought she was hearing things. She really had guessed what The Female Lead was thinking. Oh my god, how terrifying. I'd better keep my distance from these men next time, or I might end up paying with my life.

In her eyes, these outstanding men equaled trouble, which equaled people who would get her killed. Her final conclusion was to stay as far away from them as possible.

"Ah, Seventh Sister, I just remembered I still have something to do. I'll head back to my room."

Having received forgiveness, Dongfang Minghui swiftly pushed her away, made an excuse, and slipped off.

Dongfang Wanyu quietly watched her close the door before slowly returning to her own room to cultivate.

"Toothless, that was close. I'm telling you, that was really close." Sitting on her bed, Dongfang Minghui patted her chest. Fortunately, she had been clever enough to admit her mistake in time.

She had prepared a wooden tub for Toothless, the same one she had originally gotten to hatch the Giant Egg. It was just big enough for Toothless to swim a lap in, and she had added a little Spirit Liquid and medicinal herbs.

Toothless paddled around in the water until all four legs were tired, then floated on the surface and began to snore softly.

"Rrrr... rrrrrr..."

Already jumpy after The Female Lead's attitude had given her such a fright, Dongfang Minghui leaped straight off the bed at the strange sound. She searched the room for ages before discovering that it came from the wooden tub.

"Toothless."

The little thing could actually sleep through this. Dongfang Minghui wanted to give Toothless a pinch, but seeing that tiny body floating on the water, sleeping so soundly, softened her heart. She felt the water in the tub and found it a little cold, then picked up the small towel beside it and lifted Toothless out. After drying Toothless with a dry cloth, she tossed the little one straight onto the bed.

"Huh, what's this?" While holding Toothless, Dongfang Minghui discovered two little bumps on Toothless's back. Each touch made Toothless shiver. Eventually, Toothless opened sleepy eyes and looked at her. "Mama, Mama."

The voice was so soft and sweet that it almost melted her heart.

"Toothless, why does it look like you have a pair of wings on your back?" Dongfang Minghui had once happened to see a baby Winged Elephant, and it seemed to have had just such a pair of undeveloped wings.

Toothless shuddered twice, burrowed under the covers, and ignored her.

"When I get the chance, I must go to the Library Pavilion and look into your condition." That was Dongfang Minghui's last thought before falling asleep. She needed to know exactly what species this little creature from the enormous shell belonged to.

Dongfang Wanyu remained seated in her room, listening to the person next door mutter to herself. Only when she heard her breathing settle did she begin cultivating. It seemed to have become a habit.

"Wanyu, I've noticed your emotions have been unstable lately. Has something happened?" From within her Soul Sea, Qing Mo could sense the fluctuations in her Spiritual Power, as well as her mood.

Dongfang Wanyu knew the problem lay with her. "Don't worry. I'll get myself under control."

"Wanyu, never forget why you came to the Royal Academy."

Three days later, Dongfang Minghui went to the North Campus to set up her stall again. Following The Female Lead's earlier advice, she staked out a spot in the Lovers’ Garden.

She wondered whether business would be as good as ever without The Female Lead there as her living advertisement.

Dongfang Minghui had just laid out twenty bottles of pills when a man hurried over and crouched in front of her stall.

"Junior Sister, a friend of mine bought a small porcelain bottle of Hemostatic Pills from you last time. Do you have any more?"

"Yes."

Dongfang Minghui handed him a porcelain bottle and poured out a pill for him to inspect. "Is this the kind?"

The man picked up the pill and sniffed it. "That's right."

"Thirty Spirit Stones?"

"Yes. There are ten pills in the bottle."

They tapped their Jade Tokens together, completing Dongfang Minghui's first sale of the day. What she didn't know was that her pills retained twice as much Spiritual Power as elixirs did.

After the brother and sister from before had taken their purchase home, they had privately conducted a little experiment to see whether these pills or their previous elixirs were better. At the very least, they wanted to know whether they had wasted their Spirit Stones.

They wouldn't have known without comparing them, but the difference became clear as soon as they did.

And that was how her first sale came about.

Besides, Dongfang Minghui had gradually sold twenty bottles of various pills last time. She didn't know whether the buyers had found them effective, and without The Female Lead beside her, she was still rather nervous. But this first sale reassured her considerably. At least someone recognized quality.

Suddenly, a boy rushed over, glanced at her, ran a lap around the Lovers’ Garden, and finally circled back.

"Are you selling pills here?" Mu Sheng was a little out of breath. Yesterday, he had overheard someone mention that pills were being sold here, and that Sister Wanyu was the seller.

So he had come running to take a look, but Sister Wanyu was nowhere in sight.

Dongfang Minghui propped her chin on her hand and studied him closely. Hehe, isn't this the crybaby The Female Lead met during the trial?

"Mu Sheng."

Mu Sheng froze, looking as though he had seen a ghost. "How do you know my name?"

Dongfang Minghui smiled without answering and pointed at the pills on her stall. "My pills are excellent. Want to buy some? If you do, I'll tell you why I know your name."

Dongfang Minghui smiled like a little fox, the abacus in her mind clacking away.

Mu Sheng looked a little troubled, but quickly picked out a bottle of blood-replenishing pills. "How many Spirit Stones?"

"Thirty. I'm only giving you a fair price because we're acquainted."

Mu Sheng's mouth fell open. He hadn't expected a single porcelain bottle to cost thirty Spirit Stones. Suddenly, the thing in his hand felt like a hot potato. He could neither put it down nor keep holding it.

Dongfang Minghui found him rather amusing and wanted to tease him a little. "There are ten blood-replenishing pills in that bottle. You're getting your money's worth."

"All right." Mu Sheng gritted his teeth and bought it. Whether or not it was expensive, his purpose today was something else. "By the way, miss, how long have you been selling here? Have you seen a girl a little taller than you, with a slightly pointier chin?"

Taller than me? The Female Lead is indeed taller than me.

Dongfang Minghui blinked and gestured around them. "I don't know who you mean. Look, there are quite a few girls in the Lovers’ Garden. Have a look around and see whether the person you're looking for is here."

Mu Sheng shook his head and leaned closer, lowering his voice. "I'm looking for Qian Wanyu, the one who led the new students to first place. Do you know her?"

Dongfang Minghui shook her head innocently. "Not really. Is she the girl you're looking for?"

Mu Sheng felt as though he had taken ten thousand points of damage. Who on earth had said Sister Wanyu was selling medicine here?

At his dejected expression, she almost laughed until her stomach cramped.

"I don't know Qian Wanyu, but I know you. Weren't you famous during the second round of the inner-campus entrance test? That's how I know your name is Mu Sheng."

"Mu Sheng, let me tell you, actually—"

"Move! Get out of the way!"

Before Dongfang Minghui could tell him the truth, she saw several vicious-looking men charge over. Their target was clear: they seemed to be coming for her. There were five of them.

"Hey, Mu Sheng, someone's coming to cause trouble. Hurry to the Medicine Department and find my Seventh Sister—that's Qian Wanyu. Quick!"

It took Mu Sheng several moments to understand what Dongfang Minghui meant. There was no time to question why she had just lied about not knowing Sister Wanyu. Seeing five men heading their way, he immediately ran toward the Medicine Department.

"What are you looking at? Get lost!"

Their menacing appearance scared off several people in the crowd, while the others pointed and murmured about them.

"Did you come rushing over to buy my pills? Who's hurt?" Dongfang Minghui looked at them with a smile. Their faces were unfamiliar; she didn't know a single one.

Following The Female Lead's advice last time, she had only set up her stall in the Lovers’ Garden twice. She couldn't possibly have cut into anyone's business. She also usually stayed in the Medicine Department and had hardly offended anyone.

Then who exactly wanted to make life difficult for her?

"Who gave you permission to set up a stall here?" Without so much as looking, the man strode over and swept the bottles and jars off her stall with his foot. Porcelain broke easily, and his kick shattered several bottles. Some pills even rolled out onto the ground.

Dongfang Minghui felt a pang. She had spent so much time and Spiritual Power making these. It was a shame to see them destroyed.

"And who are you?"

"Pack up and get out right now. I call the shots here, understand?" The man's voice boomed. His words were so domineering and unreasonable that the people present were displeased before Dongfang Minghui could even respond.

Dongfang Minghui glared, then smiled. "You have the nerve to call this your territory? Why not say you own the entire Royal Academy? You dare cause trouble but won't own up to it? Tell us your name if you've got the guts. What's so impressive about bullying me?"

"Oh, this little girl has some nerve. Our boss told you to get lost. What's all the chatter for?"

"Yeah, are you looking for a beating? My fists happen to be itching."

"Shut up. Do you think I'll be scared just because there are five of you against one of me? Send someone who understands human speech to talk to me." Dongfang Minghui refused to believe these people could run rampant at the Royal Academy.

"Are there still pills for sale here?"

As the two sides faced off, an extremely cold voice suddenly cut in.

Dongfang Minghui brightened at the sight of a familiar face: Bai Rou from the Warrior Hall. She was holding one hand with the other, and blood was dripping from her fingers.

"Senior Sister Bai, what happened to you?"

"You are?"

Dongfang Minghui immediately took a porcelain bottle out of her Spatial Ring. "You helped me out during the new student entrance test. Consider this repayment. Crush a pill and apply it to the wound, and it'll heal quickly. You should leave."

But Bai Rou simply took the bottle, sat down beside her, crushed a pill, and sprinkled it onto the inside of her arm. A chunk of flesh had indeed been sliced away there.

Several of the five men recognized Bai Rou. Seeing her sit beside Dongfang Minghui, they hesitated and tugged at their leader. "Brother Zhang, Bai Rou's from the Warrior Hall, and she's ruthless. Why don't we come back another time?"

"Yeah, Brother Zhang. Besides, this girl seems to have some backing too. Look, she's not afraid of us at all."

They were just a bunch of bumbling fools to begin with and had little confidence. The sight of Bai Rou sent them into a panic.

"Come on, let's finish settling our problem." Seeing their cowardly behavior made Dongfang Minghui angry. People like this actually dared smash up her stall? Did they really think she was a pushover? She called out to the five men, "I can leave, but give me a reason. I haven't interrupted your little heart-to-heart or blocked your way. Tell me, who sent you?"

The men exchanged looks. None of them had expected her not to be a pushover, let alone dare challenge them.

"What a nuisance. I don't hide my name: Zhang Mao." Flustered and irritated by his underlings' comments, Zhang Mao blurted out his name.

"What? Dumbass?"

"Hahaha, Dumbass!" The crowd watching the show couldn't help laughing aloud.

The troublemakers clearly hadn't expected the girl's sharp tongue. They immediately turned vicious. "You're asking to die!"

Dongfang Minghui felt a powerful surge of Spiritual Power rush toward her, carrying a scorching heat. He was probably a fire Spirit Master. Oh my god, why did he attack without warning? These brutes have no principles at all.

Just as she thought she was done for, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and instantly pulled her away from where she had stood. "Zhang Mao, go back and tell Xu Jin: before attacking an apothecary, did he consider whether he could withstand the entire Medicine Department's wrath?"

At the sound of that voice, Dongfang Minghui immediately froze. Then she pushed him away, her legs trembling with fear.

Li Yunan wasn't upset at being pushed away. Holding the Dashing Fan, he looked at her with a smile.

Zhang Mao and his companions were scared out of their wits and could hardly believe it. Someone even pointed at her. "Y-you... you're an apothecary from the Medicine Department?"

Dongfang Minghui gave them a radiant smile. "Yes. Every day, I take a little time to discuss pill-making with the dean."

That ought to scare you to death.

She seemed to have heard a familiar name just now. "Xu Jin?"

"You're Xu Jin's people?" Dongfang Minghui finally knew who was behind these troublemakers. She hadn't even found time to deal with Xu Lian yet, but that girl had already gone straight to her brother to complain.

Zhang Mao and the others didn't dare stay any longer. After hurriedly exchanging glances, they charged out through the crowd and fled.

Dongfang Minghui stamped her foot. "What cowards."

All she had done was reveal that she was an apothecary, and they had all run away.

"They aren't cowards. They're afraid your Medicine Department will cut off their supply of medicinal herbs. That really would be the death of them," Li Yunan explained from beside her.

Dongfang Minghui couldn't help rubbing her forehead. She said to Li Yunan, "Thank you for saving my life."

Li Yunan watched her with an intrigued smile. "Is that how you repay me?"

What Dongfang Minghui feared most was becoming entangled with him. If The Female Lead saw them, she would most likely misunderstand. Dongfang Minghui took a porcelain bottle out of her storage space. "This is a bottle of Marrow-Cleansing Pills. They'll help remove the lingering injuries you've had for years. There are ten in total. Once you've taken them all, your old injuries should be gone, and cultivation will be much smoother. No need to thank me. Let's just call it even, all right?"

The first time, she hadn't needed him meddling at all. As for this time, well, fine, he had saved her.

Li Yunan had only meant to tease her, but he hadn't expected her to solemnly produce pills and reveal the fact that he had suffered from lingering injuries for years. His gaze deepened as he took the porcelain bottle directly from her hand.

"These Marrow-Cleansing Pills are far too valuable, but I do need them. I'll owe you a favor." After opening the bottle and checking that they would indeed help him, Li Yunan made his promise.

Huh?

Dongfang Minghui felt she couldn't understand these people. She had said they were even—completely even—which meant he would have nothing to do with her in the future. Why were they still getting tangled up?

"Ninth Sister."

When Dongfang Wanyu arrived, she happened to see Dongfang Minghui handing Li Yunan a porcelain bottle. She scanned the people present and the bottles scattered messily across the ground, then examined Dongfang Minghui carefully. Only after finding her unharmed did she relax.

"What happened?"

Dongfang Minghui pouted. "It was Xu Jin, Xu Lian's brother. He deliberately sent people to cause trouble, but this senior brother drove them away."

Dongfang Wanyu glanced at Li Yunan. Since they both belonged to the Thunder Hall, they naturally knew each other's names.

"Senior Brother Li."

"Junior Sister Qian."

Looking at the two of them, Dongfang Minghui thought, Hehe, there's potential here.

After what had happened, Dongfang Minghui was no longer in the mood to keep selling. She tossed all the unbroken porcelain bottles into her Spatial Ring.

"So you're Sister Wanyu's younger sister." Mu Sheng came over to help her pack up.

Dongfang Minghui was quite fond of Mu Sheng. At his question, she nodded. "Yes, but we're about the same age. You can call me Minghui from now on."

Mu Sheng gave her a huge smile. "Minghui, Sister Wanyu said you made all these pills yourself. You're amazing."

Dongfang Minghui stared blankly. She wasn't amazing at all. If she were, she wouldn't have needed him to fetch The Female Lead to clean up her mess. "I only know how to make pills."

"Seventh Sister, if there's nothing else, I'll head back."

"I'll go with you."

"What about Mu Sheng?" Dongfang Minghui asked, pointing at him. "He came here especially to see you." And then he had made a special trip to the Medicine Department for her sake.

"Mu Sheng, we'll be selling here again in three days. Come then," Dongfang Wanyu told him directly.

"All right, Sister Wanyu."

Dongfang Wanyu nodded to Li Yunan again, then followed Dongfang Minghui away. "Ninth Sister, why did Li Yunan suddenly show up?"

What Dongfang Minghui feared most now was The Female Lead asking why her man had appeared here. The question alone made her scalp prickle.

"I don't know. I wasn't paying attention earlier." If Dongfang Minghui had known she would encounter Li Yunan today, she definitely wouldn't have set up her stall. "We should thank Senior Sister Bai Rou when we get the chance. Without her, those people probably would have attacked much sooner."

Hearing that she didn't know immediately lifted Dongfang Wanyu's mood. But at the mention of Bai Rou, she said, "I don't think I saw her just now."

"Maybe she thought I'd be fine, so she left."

"It looks like I'd better accompany you whenever you set up your stall."

Trouble had already struck on only the second day. If Mu Sheng hadn't arrived in time, she probably wouldn't even have known, much less seen what happened between her and Li Yunan.

There was Nan Fei inside the courtyard and Li Yunan outside it.

Dongfang Wanyu felt she really needed to keep a closer eye on her.

"Seventh Sister, wouldn't that be a bit inconvenient? I'd be taking up your cultivation time," Dongfang Minghui declined tactfully.

"I can cultivate while keeping you company."

With things put that way, Dongfang Minghui nodded. In any case, The Female Lead's wishes came first.

"Ninth Sister, how far have you gotten with the skill I gave you?"

Whenever cultivation came up, Dongfang Minghui wanted to black out and pretend to faint. Since returning from Death Valley, she seemed to have cultivated for only a day or two.

If they were really going to discuss her progress, no one had supervised her since Little Color became a sapling. After that, she had devoted all her attention to making medicine.

"That skill needs practice. Tomorrow, I'll take you somewhere good."

Dongfang Minghui had a headache. She felt that her carefree days were gone for good. From now on, The Female Lead would watch over her cultivation every single day.

"Seventh Sister, could I—"

"No." Dongfang Wanyu knew what she wanted just from her expression and refused without a second thought. "If you had mastered your skill sooner, you would at least have been able to defend yourself today."

With no room even to bargain, Dongfang Minghui could only console herself. "Understood, Seventh Sister."

Early the next morning, while Dongfang Minghui was still dreaming, Dongfang Wanyu dragged her out of bed. Toothless got up along with her.

"Let's go."

Dongfang Minghui led her to a small grove on the eastern side of the Royal Academy. It was close to the forbidden grounds, with only a wall separating them.

Normally, no one went there.

Dongfang Minghui was unfamiliar with the place anyway. The two of them each picked a spot and practiced separately.

Her skill was Goddess Scatters Flowers. By channeling Spiritual Power, she could turn things around her into aids. Looking at the leaves scattered across the ground, Dongfang Minghui had an idea.

She recited the incantation, released her Spiritual Power, and gathered it in her palm. On her first attempt, nothing around her reacted.

On her second attempt, the leaves on the ground began to stir. But perhaps her Spiritual Power was insufficient: after floating a finger's width above the ground, they fell back down.

On her third attempt, Dongfang Minghui channeled all the Spiritual Power in her body and told the leaves on the ground, "Rise."

The leaves floated up little by little. One, two, three... Soon, three rings of leaves surrounded her. Seizing the moment, Dongfang Minghui pointed at a large rock nearby. "Go."

The leaves swished through the air, only to drop halfway there.

Another failure.

Watching from beside her, Toothless simply lay down and exposed its soft belly. Apparently, it couldn't bear to watch anymore.

Dongfang Minghui scratched her head and examined her palms. Perhaps she lacked the Spiritual Power to sustain a long-range attack?

"I'll teach you how to control your Spiritual Power."

Dongfang Wanyu had been observing her all along. Only after she launched all the leaves did she walk over.

"Seventh Sister."

Dongfang Wanyu nodded and instructed her from the side. "First, try lifting a single leaf from the ground, then attack that big tree."

Dongfang Minghui did as she was told. Using all her Spiritual Power to control one leaf, she sent it sinking effortlessly into the Tree Trunk like a sharp sword.

"Huh?"

How strange. She had done exactly the same thing before, but those leaves had simply fallen once they reached a certain distance, refusing to obey her at all.

"Try again."

Dongfang Minghui used the same method, and the second leaf sank into the Tree Trunk just as easily. After several attempts, she realized she could do it every time.

"Seventh Sister, it really seems to work."

Dongfang Wanyu stroked her head and encouraged her. "Now try using two leaves at once."

Dongfang Minghui complied. Two leaves floated off the ground and shot into the Tree Trunk at her command. "This seems to work too."

Dongfang Wanyu walked over to inspect the Tree Trunk. "Ninth Sister, come here."

She pointed at four marks. "Look. These two are from the leaves you just launched, and the other two are from your earliest attempts. Do you notice any difference?"

Dongfang Minghui examined them closely and marveled, "How can a leaf possibly sink into a Tree Trunk?"

Dongfang Wanyu couldn't help shaking her head. She pointed out how deeply the leaves had penetrated. "When you controlled one leaf, it went much deeper than when you controlled two."

Now she understood. No wonder all those leaves had fallen halfway to their target earlier. Her Spiritual Power wasn't enough to sustain them.

"If you tried controlling three leaves at once, the marks would be even shallower. Here's what we'll do: starting today, use a single leaf to cut down a tree. Once you can fell a tree, we'll move on to other exercises."

Dongfang Minghui's eyes widened in disbelief. "Seventh Sister, you mean you want me to take down a whole Tree Trunk with one leaf?"

A leaf was so soft. The Female Lead had gone mad, expecting her to saw down a tree with one.

"Yes. Get started. I'll keep supervising you until you finish."

Suddenly, Dongfang Minghui felt that life was hopeless. Even with a saw, she would probably need a month or so to cut down a tree. Now she examined the leaf in her hand over and over, but couldn't see anything sharp about it.

From that day on, Dongfang Wanyu truly kept her word, dragging her out of bed first thing every morning. Of course, she used all sorts of methods for this □□.

Dongfang Minghui had expected The Female Lead's torment to leave her haggard, but every time she looked at her reflection in the water, she seemed even fresher and prettier. It defied all reason.

She felt that her skill was a cheat—an incredible cheat that gave her appearance a peculiar vitality. Not only that, she felt much more energetic too.

"Concentrate."

Dongfang Wanyu patted her shoulder, then sat down nearby to cultivate.

Dongfang Minghui crouched down and petted Toothless. The little creature was truly odd. Whenever The Female Lead hauled her out of bed, it insisted on coming along.

"You're still the best." Dongfang Minghui rubbed its little belly. "Toothless, cheer me on."

"Mommy, Mommy, you can do it!"

Dongfang Minghui almost doubled over laughing. She focused, brought her Spiritual Power into its best state, and repeatedly lifted leaves from the ground and launched them at the tree.

From dawn until night, she practiced for an entire day, yet the cut in the big tree had deepened only a little. Dongfang Wanyu inspected her progress before letting her go back.

"Tomorrow, you can make pills in the courtyard. In the afternoon, we'll set up our stall in the North Court. Once every three days," Dongfang Wanyu reminded her. She had already arranged her cultivation and pill-making schedules.

Dongfang Minghui felt as though she had shot herself in the foot. She had invited The Female Lead to the little courtyard to grow closer to her, only to lose her freedom completely. Life under someone else's supervision was miserable. Boo-hoo.

It seemed she needed to make The Female Lead fall in love soon. Then she wouldn't have time to supervise her.

"Toothless, how do you make someone fall in love with someone else quickly?"

Toothless rolled over on the bed, all four paws in the air, shamelessly exposing its belly. Soon, little snores filled the room.

Dongfang Minghui didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She had forgotten that Toothless couldn't say anything except "Mommy." Only after her painstaking teaching had it finally learned to say "You can do it."

"I've never seen a little beast as sleepy as you. Just what kind of creature are you?" Dongfang Minghui rubbed its belly. She knew beasts generally exposed their softest parts only to someone they trusted deeply. Toothless had grown a little now, and she thought it no longer looked quite as ugly as it had at first glance.

Dongfang Minghui tucked it under the covers, crawled in herself, and fell sound asleep.

Next door, however, after hearing that remark, Dongfang Wanyu couldn't even cultivate. She sat on a stool all night, wondering what exactly Ninth Sister had meant.

How do you make someone fall in love with someone else quickly?

Was she talking about herself?

Who did she want to fall in love with?

Or did she want someone to fall in love with her quickly?

Dongfang Wanyu pondered the question until dawn without finding an answer. The culprit, meanwhile, enjoyed sweet dreams, then woke up and began weeding around the various medicinal plants in her courtyard.

Nan Nan pushed Nan Fei out of the little courtyard. When they returned from their walk, they saw Dongfang Minghui personally collecting morning dew and loosening the soil for the plants.

"Minghui, you seem to be getting up earlier and earlier lately," Nan Nan couldn't help praising her.

Dongfang Minghui turned around and smiled at them. "Can Brother Nan walk yet?"

She remembered the dean saying that after a little over half a month of recuperation, Brother Nan Fei could begin walking on his own. It would be difficult at first, but would gradually get easier.

Still, she had already promised The Female Lead to stay out of Nan Nan and Nan Fei's affairs.

Nan Nan shook her head. "Not yet. Minghui, why don't you help my brother?"

"Nan Nan," Nan Fei interrupted from beside her. "I'm tired. Take me back to my room."

Nan Nan nodded. "All right, Brother."

Dongfang Minghui scratched her head. Why did she feel that something was odd about the siblings too? For The Female Lead's sake, she ought to find time to ask the dean about his condition.

Dongfang Wanyu had been listening to her conversation with the siblings from inside her room. Seeing that she hadn't approached Nan Fei, she was very pleased.

But although she had guarded against this one, she had missed another.

That afternoon, as soon as Dongfang Minghui and Dongfang Wanyu left the Medicine Department, they saw Mu Sheng waiting outside. He was delighted to see them.

"Seventh Sister, Mu Sheng must have something to say to you. I'll go ahead. Have a chat with him." Dongfang Minghui rather liked this innocent boy and was more than happy to give them some time together.

Seeing this, Dongfang Wanyu could only nod.

"Sister Wanyu, I really just want to follow you. I have no other intentions." Ever since the inner court assessment ended, Mu Sheng had wanted to tell Sister Wanyu his decision. But Qian Wanyu had kept out of sight at the academy since that battle. No one had expected her to be sharing an abandoned courtyard in the Medicine Department with Dongfang Minghui.

Dongfang Wanyu's expression was cold. "Why would you follow me?"

Mu Sheng lowered his head bashfully and stared at his toes. "Every year, the inner court students form teams to go out and gain experience. Sister Wanyu, I want to team up with you."

Dongfang Wanyu considered it seriously. "Mu Sheng, I won't team up with you. I already have Minghui."

Mu Sheng looked as though his world had collapsed. "Sister Wanyu, is it because you think I'll only hold you back?"

Dongfang Wanyu glanced at him, and her look seemed to confirm his suspicions.

"Wanyu, I'll work hard not to hold you back. Please think it over. I'll come see you again." With that, Mu Sheng ran off, feeling wronged.

Dongfang Minghui had just finished arranging her wares when she saw The Female Lead strolling over.

"Where's Mu Sheng?"

"He probably had something to do, so he left." Dongfang Wanyu casually made up an excuse.

Dongfang Minghui nodded. She had been hoping to tease him a little more. "Seventh Sister, do you think those people from before will come cause trouble again?"

"They probably won't."

Huh? That voice... Dongfang Minghui looked up and saw Li Yunan again. She felt a vein throb in her forehead. Why did this man keep appearing?

"Why are you here again?" Dongfang Minghui asked irritably. She couldn't afford to offend him, yet she couldn't avoid him either. How annoying.

Li Yunan smiled and pointed at the people behind him. "Your pills are excellent, but you only come once every three days. So they asked me to bring them here."

Dongfang Minghui stared dumbfounded at the crowd of senior students behind him. She suspected Li Yunan must have said something to make her pills so popular.

"Senior Brother Li, don't think referring people here gets you anything free. Let me tell you, my pills aren't cheap. Three Spirit Stones each, ten pills per porcelain bottle, thirty Spirit Stones altogether."

Dongfang Minghui spoke without the slightest courtesy. Beside her, Dongfang Wanyu glanced at the two of them in puzzlement, then immediately crossed Li Yunan off her list. Ninth Sister's attitude toward him made it clear that he couldn't possibly be the person she had mentioned.

The person she wanted to make fall in love with her as quickly as possible.

But who else could it be, besides Li Yunan?

"Don't worry. They're all senior disciples. Surely they can afford thirty Spirit Stones. I'm only worried you won't have enough pills to go around." Smiling, Li Yunan stepped aside and let them look for what suited them at the stall.

Dongfang Minghui simply crouched down to explain. "These are Hemostatic Pills, these are spirit-channeling pills, and these here—the labels are all on them. You'd better tell me which pills you want, and I'll pick them out for you."

Unable to help, Dongfang Wanyu simply stood up.

"Junior Sister Qian, the old man at Thunder Hall asked me to tell you to drop by when you have time," Li Yunan said with a smile, taking out his Dashing Fan and fanning himself.

"Why are you so good to my Ninth Sister?"

Dongfang Wanyu narrowed her eyes at him, looking as though she wouldn't let him off easily unless he told the truth.

Li Yunan glanced at Dongfang Minghui, who was enthusiastically explaining her pills' effects to the others, and shrugged. He didn't know why he wanted to help her either, or why he had brought a whole group of fellow disciples to support her business. "Probably because her pills really are very good."

He had tried one after returning. Once the pill entered his stomach, it produced an unexpected effect. The process had been so excruciating that, for a while, he thought the little girl had tricked him.

But when the effects subsided, he discovered that the hidden injuries he had sustained gathering lightning several years ago seemed to have improved a little. At least, he felt considerably better.

That was one of the reasons he had come to see Dongfang Minghui again.

Once Dongfang Minghui finished explaining the pills' effects, everyone bought a bottle. The twenty porcelain bottles on the stall were soon snapped up.

Watching the number of Spirit Stones on her jade token shoot upward, Dongfang Minghui beamed.

"Little Junior Sister, do you have time to hear me out?" Once she was finished, Li Yunan suddenly hopped in front of her and asked with a smile.

Dongfang Minghui shook her head like a rattle drum. "No. I don't think we have anything to discuss."

Li Yunan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Why did he feel that this little junior sister avoided him like the plague? He had shown so much sincer—