At last, the eve of the River God Festival arrived.
Those planning to sell their daughters, granddaughters, or other families' girls finally quieted down, for the Liu Household had bought the already unconscious Yaya from the Feng family for a mere ten taels.
Su Jiu only smiled when she heard the news. She had not expected the price to be even lower than her estimate.
At midnight, after everyone in the Liu Household had fallen asleep, Su Jiu found Yaya in the woodshed.
Yaya stared blankly at the young girl who had appeared before her without warning.
"Are you an immortal master? Have you come to save me?"
Because her family had kept her under constant watch, Yaya had not seen Su Jiu before now.
Su Jiu shook her head.
The light in the girl's eyes immediately dimmed.
"I prefer you to call us cultivators."
Then Yaya watched the delicate-featured girl take out a piece of yellow paper covered in unfamiliar markings and stick it to her chest.
The girl raised her index and middle fingers, closed her eyes, and silently recited something. Soon, the red patterns on the yellow paper flared with dazzling crimson light.
Then it passed through Yaya's clothes and vanished into her body. Warmth spread through her, dispelling the chill she had endured over the past few days.
Yaya's eyes widened in astonishment, and she exclaimed, "Immortal magic!"
Su Jiu smiled and produced an exquisite little bottle that appeared to be made of fine jade, as though performing a conjuring trick before Yaya's eyes.
Yaya's thoughts drifted a little. That bottle looked very expensive.
Su Jiu poured out a Hemostatic Pill. After a moment's hesitation, she broke off a small piece and put it into Yaya's mouth. Mortals apparently could not withstand the medicinal potency of