Curing the Dread Illness and Saving Sister Jin

In silence Giant Chaos Flower completed its final unfolding. It wasn't a full bloom, but rather an almost ritualistic relinquishment. The eight petals that had once engulfed everything slowly retreated back to their origin, the chaotic luster at the edges of the petals receding inch by inch. The aura of the Heaven and Earth Undetermined was gently confined into a straight passage. At the end of the passage, at the heart of the flower, a gentle yet undeniable presence slowly emerged. Qin Yu stood still, not immediately stepping forward. He could clearly sense that it wasn't a treasure waiting to be plundered, but rather a confirmation—a confirmation of whether he was still willing to step into it with his "self." So he restrained his aura, withdrew all outward power, and moved forward with only his most authentic steps. With each step, the patterns of the Giant Chaos Flower lit up, as if responding to his presence. The moment he stepped into the heart of the flower, all sound and color around him vanished, leaving only the quietly suspended spiritual plant.

The [Nameless Root-Returning Grass] is no ordinary plant. It has no clear roots or leaves; its overall form resembles a life trajectory that is growing yet has not yet begun. Its entire body exhibits a color between "about to be born" and "unnamed." At first glance, it seems transparent, but after prolonged observation, it reveals countless layers of change. Within the grass, the light and shadow of the Chaos's First Birth slowly rotate, like the breathing of a galaxy before it is lit. The veins of the leaves Does Not Exist in fixed positions but adjust slightly according to the viewer's state of mind. Each change traces back to the concept of "root" itself, as if it does not grow from the soil but is rooted in the beginning of existence. The moment Qin Yu reached out his hand, the Giant Chaos Flower did not stop him but trembled slightly, as if making a final confirmation. The flower's heart closed slightly, and the spiritual plant fell into his palm. It was weightless, yet it made his mind sink, as if he had grasped the possibility of a world starting anew.

At that very moment, all the luster of the Giant Chaos Flower vanished completely, and its enormous body slowly contracted, transforming into a silent primordial scene. The ceremony ended without any announcement or echo, yet it was more certain than any vow.

At this moment, Zhou Yujin let out a barely audible gasp. His fingertips twitched slightly, and then he abruptly opened his eyes. His gaze immediately fell on Qin Yu's hand. In that instant, he felt as if he had been struck by something, his emotions surging uncontrollably. He propped himself up to sit up, his voice trembling slightly, yet filled with uncontrollable excitement, "Brother Linxuan... we did it, we really did it." He smiled, but it was a very disheveled smile, his eyes red-rimmed, even his breathing erratic, "I... I thought I would disappear inside, I thought her karma would be completely severed, but you didn't give up on me, and you didn't give up on yourself."

Qin Yu carefully put away the Nameless Root-Returning Grass, turned to look at him, and said in his usual calm tone, "I won't just do half of what I promised."

Zhou Yujin nodded vigorously, as if trying to shake off all his unease. "When I chose you, I was actually gambling, but now I realize it wasn't a gamble; it was the best judgment I've ever made." He took a deep breath, looked up at Qin Yu, and said with unprecedented seriousness, "Brother Linxuan, I, Zhou Yujin, will remember this kindness. It's not just about this Nameless Root-Returning Grass; it's about you showing me that some things are worth protecting, and some paths are worth continuing on."

Qin Yu didn't say much, but simply raised his hand and gently pressed on his shoulder. "First, stabilize your condition. The road ahead is long."

Zhou Yujin nodded emphatically, his emotions finally calming down. But a newfound determination appeared in his eyes, as if at that moment he had not only saved his sister's hope, but also found his own direction in life.

After the light of the Giant Chaos Flower completely subsided, this primordial land seemed to have been marked as "completed." All the chaotic surging returned to its unmanifested state, leaving only a quietude of impending closure. Qin Yu did not linger any longer. He raised his hand and steadily handed the [Nameless Root-Returning Grass] to Zhou Yujin, his tone calm yet leaving no room for doubt, "Let's go, Brother Zhou. This place is no longer safe. Your sister's Fate-Cause cannot afford a second delay. You must hurry back to heal her."

The moment Zhou Yujin saw the Nameless Root-Returning Grass truly fall into his hands, he visibly froze. It wasn't greed, nor ecstasy, but a sense of relief and collapse. He accepted the spiritual plant with both hands, his palms trembling slightly. The chaotic light reflected in his eyes made him almost afraid to blink. "Brother Linxuan... I can never repay this kindness in my lifetime."

Qin Yu simply smiled faintly, offering no reply, his gaze already sweeping across the gradually closing space. Zhou Yujin took a deep breath, as if remembering something, and immediately retrieved the prepared entity—[The Beginningless Single Thought]—from her storage crystal core. It didn't truly manifest; only at the moment it was retrieved, a sliver of indefinable silver-black paradoxical light flashed in the void, time seemingly being gently severed and then released in that instant.

Zhou Yujin solemnly pushed it towards Qin Yu, her voice regaining its usual composure, "This is what I promised you, [The Beginningless Single Thought]. Without you, I wouldn't have obtained the Nameless Root-Returning Grass; without this, I wouldn't have dragged you into the Nameless Eternal Land. Now, everything is back to normal."

Qin Yu made no polite gestures; his outstretched hand moved with utmost naturalness. The paradoxical light showed no repulsion as it approached him, instead receding on its own as if it had found its home. With a slight thought, [Beginningless Single Thought] was drawn into the Annihilation Devil Pupil - Final Spirit Core. The depths of the black void trembled slightly before returning to calm, as if it had belonged there from the very beginning.

"I've accepted the gifts." Qin Yu looked up at Zhou Yujin. "Now that the agreement is made, the logical connection between us should be dissolved."

Zhou Yujin's expression turned solemn, and he nodded in agreement. He knew very well that the bond was not a simple oath, but a master-servant logical connection guaranteed by existence. Once it was broken, it would mean that the two of them would truly return to their respective destinies. Qin Yu stood still, and deep within his sea of consciousness, the Silent Beginning Ring Master Soul Diagram silently unfolded. There was no light, no strange phenomena, only a very faint ring of primordial patterns gently rotating under his thoughts.

The next instant, Qin Yu raised his finger, drawing an extremely fine demarcation line in the void. It was neither a severance nor an erasure, but a "return." The logic thread that had been entangled deep within Zhou Yujin's Fate Soul, anchored primarily by Qin Yu, was gradually drawn out, loosened, and traced back, like a vow structure being gently dismantled. With each layer being removed, Zhou Yujin's aura eased a little more, until the last trace of connection completely dissipated, and there was no longer any forced connection between heaven and earth.

Zhou Yujin let out a long breath, his body swaying slightly, but he quickly regained his balance. He looked up at Qin Yu, solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "From now on, we are no longer bound by any promise, but I will forever remember this kindness in my heart."

Qin Yu nodded. "Let each go their own way and keep their own wishes."

Without another word, the two took a step almost simultaneously, the space silently cracking open beneath their feet, the afterimage of the Giant Chaos Flower rapidly fading behind them. The next instant, the void closed, and this primordial land, having completed its selection, returned to an unparalleled silence.

At the edge of the Desolate Abyss Ice Field of the Northern Region of the Void Obliteration Domain, the mountains rise and fall slowly amidst wind, snow, and cold mist, like spines repeatedly sculpted by time. At the foot of the mountains, there is a dwelling built against the mountainside. It is neither grand nor luxurious, but it is extremely clean and sturdy. The courtyard walls, made of bluestone, have long been eroded by the cold of time, leaving mottled patterns. Several old copper bells hang from the eaves, making a low, clear sound when the wind blows, as if reminding us that there is still life here.

The moment Zhou Yujin stepped into the courtyard, his steps barely faltered. Before he could even speak, hurried yet suppressed footsteps echoed from inside the house, and two figures with frosty white hair came out to greet him almost simultaneously.

"Yu Jin..."

"You're finally back..."

The mother's voice trembled violently, as if she were clutching a thread that would snap at any moment. The father stood to the side, trying to remain calm, but his eyes were already bloodshot.

"Your sister... she... her illness has worsened these past two days."

Zhou Yujin's throat tightened; all the words he had prepared on the way became meaningless at this moment. He almost stepped forward, grasped the hands of his parents, and said in an unusually firm voice, "Father, Mother, I'm back. I've obtained the only elixir that can save my sister."

The mother was stunned, then tears welled up instantly. "Really... you really got it?"

Zhou Yujin didn't explain further. He turned and rushed into the inner room, the cold wind from his clothes lifting the curtain.

The room was eerily quiet, so quiet you could almost hear the slow, fading of life. The girl lying on the bed was so thin she was practically just an outline, her skin so pale it was almost transparent, her breath so faint it seemed like a thread about to snap. The warm crystal lamps that shone around her seemed incredibly distant.

Just as Zhou Yujin approached, her eyelashes trembled slightly.

"Elder brother..."

The voice was so soft it didn't seem to come from a throat, more like a lingering echo from a dream, "You... you're back."

That cry almost shattered Zhou Yujin's defenses. He knelt before the bed, grasping that cold, lifeless hand, his knuckles white, his eyes instantly reddening. "You're back, brother's back."

Tears finally fell, dripping onto the edge of the bed, but he dared not cry out loud. "Little sister, brother has obtained the [Nameless Root-Returning Grass]. Be good, the pain will subside soon, you'll be better soon."

The girl seemed to want to laugh, but she didn't even have the strength to curl the corners of her mouth. She simply nodded slightly, her eyes becoming calmer than ever before, as if all the pain had ended as long as her brother was there.

Zhou Yujin took a deep breath, raised his hand to seal the inner room, and all the cold wind, noise, and causal disturbances were shut out at this moment. The instant he took out the [Nameless Root-Returning Grass], the light in the entire room suddenly changed.

It wasn't a dazzling brightness, but rather an extremely ancient, warm, and dim glow, as if the world hadn't yet taken shape. The entire plant of the Returning Root Grass presents a state between "form" and "formlessness," with its leaf veins resembling undefined chaotic patterns, flowing gently. Each breath seems to be realigning with its roots in the surrounding world.

Zhou Yujin began refining it in the most primitive and safest way. There were no intense spiritual flames, no forced activation of techniques. He simply used his own Fate Soul as a guide to slowly break down the Returning Root Grass into strands of the most subtle primordial medicinal properties.

The moment the medicinal properties were unleashed, the entire room seemed to be drawn into a silent galaxy. Countless tiny yet extremely clear threads of light emanated from the returning root grass, like countless gentle lifelines, slowly seeping into the girl's brow, heart, and limbs.

Her body trembled slightly at that moment.

The incurable disease that had plagued her body like a curse, repeatedly tearing at her Fate Soul, was peeled away inch by inch from its source by this power. The lesions were not destroyed, but "returned"—returned to their state before they were formed, their very existence gently erased.

The girl's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed, her rapid and disordered breathing gradually became steady, and a long-lost rosy hue began to return to her pale cheeks. Her once icy fingers regained their warmth.

As the last trace of the medicine fully permeated her being, her chest rose and fell gently, as if she had finally fallen truly asleep.

Zhou Yujin barely dared to move.

She gently opened her eyes, her gaze no longer unfocused, but clear and quiet as she looked at him. "Brother... brother... I think... it doesn't hurt anymore."

At this moment, all the perseverance, all the risks, all the choices that almost tore him apart, found their answer in this one sentence. Zhou Yujin could no longer hold back, pressing his forehead against the edge of the bed, his shoulders trembling silently, his tears filled with relief and joy.

Outside, the parents stood at the doorway, supporting each other. Watching this scene, they finally cried softly, but they were crying with a smile.

That night, the Desolate Abyss Ice Field remained cold, but for the first time, the not-so-luxurious house truly warmed up.