Night falls.
Xie Feng wanted to rest, Shui Yunjun and the others came to visit him again. Everyone gathered around the bed, their faces solemn, as if in mourning.
After Xie Feng repeatedly emphasized that his injuries had fully healed, the group finally left.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking up, he found Sushang still standing there, motionless.
Her amber eyes gazed at him, her eyebrows furrowed into an inverted V shape, a look of worry on her face.
Xie Feng frowned. "Why the long face?"
Sushang lowered her eyes and said unhappily, "You're injured, I'm worried..."
"I'm full of energy and doing great!"
"Brother, it's time to take your medicine!"
"I don't want to eat... sigh..."
Before Xie Feng could finish speaking, Sushang ignored him and ran out to bring over a bowl of medicine.
She said with concern, "Brother, this is good for your recovery, you should drink it quickly."
Xie Feng said, "I'm all better now..."
Sushang pushed the bowl forward. "Drink!!"
When this guy gets serious, he really does have a bit of a tigress's domineering aura...
Helpless, Xie Feng picked up the bowl and downed it in one gulp.
Sushang smiled and popped a candy into his mouth; the sweet taste instantly filled his mouth.
Xie Feng was both amused and exasperated. "I'm not a child who needs to be coaxed with candy. Xiao Shang, this little injury is nothing."
Sushang bit her lip, remaining silent.
Xie Feng found it strange. What was wrong with her? She was suddenly so serious; it was unusual!
"Brother, you should get some rest!"
Sushang reached out, pressed Xie Feng down, covered him with the blanket, and ran out.
Xie Feng: "..."
With her head down and hurried steps, Sushang quietly left Pill Maple Academy and walked expressionlessly down Dark Ink Mountain!
She deliberately avoided the patrol officers!
Her once bright and cheerful face looked exceptionally cold in the dim moonlight!
Dressed in flowing blue, she nimbly flew through the dense forest and soon arrived at the foot of the mountain. Just as she was about to step out of the mountain range, a figure suddenly appeared before her!
" Qiusu?!"
Sushang was startled as she stared at the tall and graceful soul in front of her. She paused and took a half step back.
Bathed in moonlight, Kong Qiusu turned his face, his right hand behind his back, his gaze sweeping back and forth, and asked in a deep voice, " Xiao Shang, where are you going?"
"I... I was just taking a walk..." Sushang stammered, her eyes darting around.
"Yeah?"
"Um, I'm looking for medicinal herbs. There are many wounded soldiers..." Sushang's face flushed instantly as she stared at the ground.
"You're going to find Ye Zhu, aren't you?"
Kong Qiusu calmly, his words sharp and incisive.
Sushang lowered her eyes. "I..."
Kong Qiusu said calmly, "Have you considered that if you go to someone who even injured your junior brother, aren't you just courting death?"
Sushang said, "But he was injured too!"
Kong Qiusu took two steps forward, her expression complex. "You care about your junior brother because he's injured, so you want to avenge him. I understand that feeling. But just because Ye Zhu is injured, does that mean anyone can kill him?"
Sushang whispered, "I'm not a child anymore..."
Kong Qiusu nodded slightly. "I know you possess the Great Cosmos Devil-Devouring Physique, but your physique hasn't been tempered by time and actual combat; it's still very immature. Ye Zhu's foundation allows him to fight back against almost everyone in the Dao Realm even when injured! Unless... your physique becomes as powerful as the Second Brother's!"
"But if we can't beat him, does that mean we shouldn't fight? He's my brother. He's injured, so all I can do is cry helplessly?" Sushang said, her eyes reddening.
"..." Kong Qiusu silent.
"Even if it's overestimating our abilities, we must fight back. We can't cower in fear just because the bad guys are too strong. It's better to die in battle than to die a cowardly death!" Sushang's eyes burned, and he secretly clenched his fist.
"Have you... forgotten me? As your senior brother, do you think I'd let Ye Zhu?"
Kong Qiusu walked over and patted her on the shoulder, "You're still very young, and you have a long time to fight alongside your junior brother. Let your senior brother escort you on the first part of your climb to the summit!"
His voice was gentle, yet it carried a strange power that gave people a great sense of security.
Sushang was appeased.
Xiao Mo led Ye Zhu to a secluded cave for refuge. Ye Zhu was severely injured and his soul was shattered. In the dark and damp cave, he sat cross-legged, surrounded by Buddha Power that shimmered with a faint glow, slowly recuperating.
Time passed slowly, Ye Zhu's injuries not only failed to improve, but even worsened.
It was getting heavier and heavier; cold sweat streamed down his forehead. He frowned and said:
"That soul entity is truly not to be underestimated. Its cultivation is extremely powerful, even I am no match for it. How did Xie Feng and the others have such an ally? It was a oversight in my meticulous planning..."
"Master, how are you?"
Xiao Mo came in from outside, carrying a lot of firewood. He put the firewood down and carefully started a fire. The firelight illuminated their faces, making them look like a pair of fugitives on the run.
"I'm fine," Ye Zhu gently shook his head.
"But you don't look well," Xiao Mo said worriedly.
After a moment of silence, Ye Zhu said, "This emperor needs the Soul-Restoring Grass to temporarily recuperate."
"Okay, I'll go find it! Master, don't wander off!"
Xiao Mo gave a brief instruction, then immediately took off running out.
Outside the cave lies a vast forest, with towering mountains and winding rivers, situated on a border, making it a perfect place to hide.
Xiao Mo wandered around the mountains and encountered a man wearing a straw hat. The man was carrying a bamboo basket on his back and was bending down, carefully searching for something next to a big tree. The bamboo basket was full of medicinal herbs.
Xiao Mo stood at a distance, somewhat hesitant.
He rarely interacted with people; the only people he had spoken to were Ye Zhu, Buddha Venerable Lingdu, and Buddha Venerable Wuxiang.
But now, for his master's sake, he mustered his courage, stepped forward, and timidly asked, "Uncle, do you know about the Soul-Restoring Grass?"
" Soul-Restoring Grass?"
Upon hearing this, the man who had been engrossed in digging for medicinal herbs looked up, gazed at the young monk in front of him, and smiled simply.
He put the bamboo basket on the ground and took out a bright red plant from it. "Here, this is it!"
Xiao Mo took a deep breath and stammered, "Can... can I buy it?"
The herb gatherer sized him up, looking dirty, and asked, "How much money do you have?"
Xiao Mo shook her head. "I don't have money, but I can trade something for it!"
The herb gatherer asked with great interest, "Little friend, what do you want to trade?"
Xiao Mo scratched his head and looked him up and down. He had no jewelry and his monk's robes were tattered.
Xiao Mo took off her straw sandals and handed them over. "These are shoes that are immune to all poisons! How about we exchange them?!"
The herb gatherer glanced at the rough, yellowed shoes woven from straw, his lips twitching. He put the Soul-Restoring Grass into his bamboo basket and impatiently shooed the boy away. "Go away! Where did this little brat come from, trying to trick me?!"