Little Green Vine

A few pills were tossed into the slightly hot water. After creating small ripples on the surface, they quickly dissolved into the water.

Looking at the hot water brimming with Spiritual Qi, Sang Ying gestured with her chin towards the dirty boy. "Go wash up, then I can apply the medicine."

"I don't need it..." He silently wrapped his black robe tighter, his whole body radiating resistance.

Sang Ying had kept him here last night, and this morning, seeing that things seemed quiet outside, he tried to leave her courtyard and run away.

Before he could even leave the house, he heard footsteps outside again, accompanied by the sound of the city lord's guards breaking into the house and searching it once more.

The two immediately realized that Jiang Zhuoxue's disappearance here yesterday must have caught the attention of the city lord, which was why they wanted to search this alley again.

Fortunately, Sang Ying had already established a good relationship with the homeowner, thus avoiding the fate of being broken into.

But if things continue like this, who knows when those guards will come again, and how can the boy in her courtyard possibly stay hidden?

Sang Ying didn't know how much longer she would have to stay here, and she was also worried about her fellow disciples and friends who were still suffering in the Black Tortoise Realm.

She had a vague feeling that the key to whether or not she could go back lay with the young Jiang Zhuoxue.

Since she was already there, Sang Ying only hoped that she could leave safely with Jiang Zhuoxue, and also take this opportunity to improve her own strength.

Being too weak, yet possessing such a treasure, naturally attracts hungry wolves.

Thinking this way, Sang Ying decided to first help the boy heal all his injuries. If she could also repair his eyes, it would be much easier for him to disguise himself and evade the guards' search.

However, they were currently in the Corpse Soul City, and Sang Ying was unfamiliar with the place, unsure if there were any healers or cultivators here, and even more hesitant to go out in such a tense situation.

Unable to find a healer, Sang Ying herself wasn't quite sure how to treat the Dragon Race. After much thought, she decided to clean the boy first before discussing applying medicine.

However, Sang Ying did not expect that her plan would run into problems from the very first step.

"If your wound isn't cleaned properly, it will get infected even if you apply medicine. Your health isn't good to begin with, can you really hold on if you keep pushing yourself like this?" Sang Ying was exasperated by the boy's insistence, but she still tried to persuade him.

The boy's thin hands gripped the collar of his black robe tightly, and his small face, hidden in the shadows, gained a touch of color during his light sleep that night.

He knew perfectly well that he needed to apply medicine. His entire body was a bloody mess from having his scales removed, and if he didn't get proper treatment soon, his whole body would probably rot away.

But he couldn't believe the person in front of him, even though she had saved him the night before, and even though he had drunk the tea she brewed and taken the medicine she gave him.

But the boy refused to let his guard down; he no longer believed in any so-called "good intentions."

"I'm of no use to you anymore." The boy gritted his teeth. "Even if you heal me, I have no treasures left to give you. My scales and my horns, everything that was taken from me won't grow back for nothing. If you're still thinking about that, you'd better give up now."

He couldn't figure out Sang Ying's purpose; this was probably the only possible explanation.

But the boy knew very well that what was lost could never grow back from this body unless it was found again.

However, if the female cultivator before him intended to seize his dragon heart—the young man lowered his eyelashes—then she would likely be disappointed. Once he died, the Dragon Race's heart would wither and decay instantly, rendering it unusable for these cultivators.

Jiang Zhuoxue was lost in thought when Sang Ying's voice reached his ears, "You're overthinking it. You're of no value to me now. Instead of worrying about that, you should accept my help. Perhaps when you're able to protect yourself, that's when I'll leave."

After saying that, she turned and walked outside. "Go wash up quickly, I won't bother you anymore."

The door behind him slammed shut, and there was no sound of anyone else breathing inside.

The boy carefully examined the area and, after confirming that Sang Ying had left, released his grip on her collar.

The loose, unsupported robes slipped off his body, revealing the boy's slender frame.

The clothes he had taken from the city lord's mansion were now covered in blood and unrecognizable.

One by one, the filthy clothes were removed, revealing the boy's beautiful skin, which was now completely ruined by the numerous wounds. Large patches of skin were torn and rolled up on his back, a sight that made one's scalp crawl.

He groped his way into the bathtub, and the moment the water, imbued with Spiritual Qi, touched his body, the boy trembled in pain.

Even so, he gritted his teeth and sat down, immersing his entire body in the spiritual water. As the spiritual Spiritual Qi in the water slowly seeped in, the pain gradually lessened.

The boy wiped the sweat from his forehead, and his tense body gradually relaxed.

Sang Ying naturally didn't miss the sound of rushing water inside. Only after realizing that this guy had accepted her kindness did Sang Ying breathe a sigh of relief.

Jiang Zhuoxue's injuries were too severe to be healed by ordinary spirit medicine. In this dark and sunless Hidden Nether Realm, let alone spirit medicine, even ordinary flowers and plants struggle to survive.

This single factor is enough to limit the development of medical cultivators in this realm. Therefore, even without detailed research, Sang Ying could guess that the Hidden Nether Realm probably didn't have many powerful medical cultivators.

Therefore, if they want to cure Jiang Zhuoxue, or at least enable him to live independently, the two of them will inevitably have to leave the Hidden Nether Realm and go elsewhere.

Thinking this, Sang Ying took out her Storage Bag and rummaged through its contents.

As soon as the Storage Bag was opened, a green shadow suddenly darted out!

Sang Ying was startled and quickly reached out to grab it. When she looked closely, she saw a small vine wriggling in her hand.

"Green Vine?" Sang Ying called out tentatively, because she remembered that after everyone left the snowfield, Green Vine secretly followed Cang Lian and went crazy all over the world together.

Her call caused the delicate vines to wriggle even more vigorously.

"It really is you. But your true form shouldn't be this small. Is this your clone?" Sang Ying asked again.

The little vine nodded obligingly, indicating that her guess was correct.

How naughty! Sang Ying and pointed at the little vine, which then stubbornly wrapped itself around her finger.

He was about to give it a lecture, since hiding it silently in his Storage Bag wasn't a good habit. What if he accidentally found it one day and killed it in a fit of anger?

But the sound of splashing water inside the room stopped Sang Ying from delivering her lecture.

She stared intently at the little vine, a different light shining in her eyes. "Speaking of which, I should show you what your master used to look like."