Having chosen the third option, Jiang Beiran shook his head and said, "You don't need to apologize to me. Why do you think I showed up so promptly? I'd been following you ever since you left the inn. The reason I didn't stop you was because I wanted you to suffer a little."
Fang Qiuyue froze after hearing this. She had thought that since she was still injured, even if her senior brother meant to deceive her, he would at least comfort her first. She had not expected such stern words instead.
"I..." Fang Qiuyue was at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond.
"Take the medicine quickly. We'll set off in two hours." After saying that, Jiang Beiran pushed open the door and left the room.
Listening to the door close, Fang Qiuyue's expression instantly crumpled. Turning to Liu Zijin, she asked, "Sister Zi Jin... am I really that annoying?"
Liu Zijin had not expected her senior brother to scold Qiu Yao when she was in such a weakened state either. After standing there in a daze for a while, she said, "How could that be? I don't have enough time to dote on you as it is. Come, take your medicine first."
"But Senior Brother..."
"No buts. Jiang Shixiong is angry right now too. Look at how he painstakingly tried to tell us so much along the way, yet you didn't listen to a single word. You even opposed him at every turn. How could he..." Halfway through her words, Liu Zijin suddenly noticed that Fang Qiuyue's eyes were already brimming with tears.
"Oh, don't cry, don't cry. I spoke too harshly. Really, as long as you realize this, you can slowly change in the future. Jiang Shixiong definitely won't be this fierce with you again."
Fang Qiuyue wiped her tears with her hand and nodded. "Mm... I really regret it now. Senior Brother was right. Down the mountain really is dangerous. I clearly wanted to help them, but they cursed me and harmed me. I..."
Seeing Fang Qiuyue becoming so aggrieved that she was about to cry again, Liu Zijin hurriedly poured a cup of tea, sat beside the bed, and said to her, "Alright, don't think about that for now. Take the medicine. Don't delay our departure later, or Jiang Shixiong will scold you again."
Hearing that last sentence, Fang Qiuyue hurriedly swallowed the Heart Cleansing Pill in her hand.
"Here, drink some water." Liu Zijin held the teacup out before Fang Qiuyue.
Fang Qiuyue was stunned for a moment before saying, "This pill Senior Brother gave me has a fresh fragrance. It smells so nice."
"A fresh fragrance?"
"Mm! If you don't believe me, Sister Zi Jin, smell it." As Fang Qiuyue spoke, she breathed out toward Liu Zijin.
After smelling it, Liu Zijin exclaimed, "It really does! It smells like Frostleaf Flowers."
"And... my stomach seems to feel much better too." Fang Qiuyue rubbed her stomach, her face filled with delight.
Before swallowing the Clear Heart Pill, she had constantly felt nauseated, but lacked the strength to throw up. Now, though, she felt completely better.
"So you're not drinking the tea?"
Fang Qiuyue nodded. "Mm, this scent smells so nice. I want it to linger in my mouth a little longer."
Liu Zijin smiled and set the teacup aside, then tucked Fang Qiuyue's blanket around her. "Then rest well for a while longer."
Just as Liu Zijin was about to rise and leave, Fang Qiuyue suddenly reached out and grabbed the hem of her clothes.
"Mm? What is it?" Liu Zijin turned back and asked.
"Sister Zi Jin... could you sit beside me and keep me company for a while? I... I'm a little scared."
Seeing Fang Qiuyue's nervous little expression, Liu Zijin sat back down beside the bed, took her hand, and comforted her. "Don't be afraid. Now that we're back, everything's fine."
Feeling that Fang Qiuyue's hand was a little cold, Liu Zijin rubbed it between her hands while changing the subject. "But Jiang Shixiong is truly amazing. It's like there's nothing he doesn't know how to do."
"Yeah, yeah." Fang Qiuyue nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at grain, then said softly, "Sister Zi Jin, have you noticed? Ever since we put on the Straw Hats and Sun-scorched Cloth Senior Brother gave us, no one has paid attention to us anymore."
"Of course I noticed. But Jiang Shixiong doesn't seem to like others prying into his private matters, so you'd better not ask too much."
"Mm, I understand." Nodding, Fang Qiuyue wanted to say something else, but swallowed the words when they reached her lips.
Just how strong is Senior Brother...?
Fang Qiuyue knew very clearly just how vast the gap in strength had been between herself and that bladesman when they had fought desperately yesterday. That bladesman had likely already broken through Qi Refining and reached the level of a Mystic Practitioner.
Yet Senior Brother had been able to rescue her so easily right before his eyes. It definitely could not have been solely because of that black smoke.
But Senior Brother was clearly quite wary of this matter, so Fang Qiuyue ultimately decided not to mention it.
Seeing Fang Qiuyue suddenly fall silent, Liu Zijin smiled and gently squeezed her hand. "Sleep for a while. We still have to travel later."
"Mm... thank you, Sister Zi Jin." After saying that, Fang Qiuyue slowly closed her eyes.
Two hours passed quickly, and Jiang Beiran knocked on the door to Liu Zijin's room right on time.
With a creak, Liu Zijin pushed open the door and bowed to Jiang Beiran. "Senior Brother, we are all ready."
Jiang Beiran glanced into the room and found that Fang Qiuyue had already changed clothes and put on her Straw Hat.
"Do you still feel any discomfort?" Jiang Beiran asked Fang Qiuyue expressionlessly.
Fang Qiuyue shook her head. "No. The medicine Senior Brother gave me was very effective."
"Mm. Then prepare to depart."
At this moment, the Yu Family Three Sisters also came out from the room next door. Upon seeing Jiang Beiran, they bowed in perfect unison. "Greetings, Senior Brother."
Jiang Beiran nodded calmly at them, though he was quite curious inside.
After seeing the size of the Human Grade Room yesterday, the Yu Family Three Sisters had not asked for another room. The three of them had simply slept in one room for the night.
Could they have stuffed a bed into their Universe Ring?
However, Jiang Beiran did not dwell on it. Sweeping his gaze over the five junior sisters, he said, "Since everyone is ready, let's set off."
"Yes!"
Five voices answered at once.
Huh?
The Yu Family Three Sisters all looked toward Fang Qiuyue as she stepped out of the room, finding it rather strange that she was not throwing a tantrum today. Yesterday, she had completely ignored Senior Brother.
After exchanging glances in confusion, the Three Sisters looked together at Jiang Beiran and Fang Qiuyue, wearing the exact same expression.
I'm so curious!
After paying for the rooms downstairs, Jiang Beiran led the five junior sisters out of Sunset Glow Town and continued toward Gather Wealth Village.
At noon, Sunset Glow Inn was, as usual, welcoming guests from all corners of the land. Several Shop Assistants were so busy their feet nearly kicked the backs of their heads, carrying plates of delicious dishes to the guests' tables.
At the counter, the Head Waiter of Sunset Glow Inn was drawing wine when he turned and saw a familiar figure entering through the door. So frightened that he hurriedly set down the wine ladle and ran over, he bowed deeply and called, "Master Chen, your presence at our humble establishment truly makes this place shine like a thatched hut graced by illustrious guests."
PS: There's another chapter coming later.
Before you continue