Yue Jinxuan heard this and said patiently:
"Senior Brother, do not worry!"
"I have carefully prepared a medicinal bath that will surely help you completely purge the lingering poison from your body."
With that, she gently took Tang Dou's hand and led him into a secret chamber.
Ahead was a small pool, the water churning and rising with billows of white steam.
Yue Jinxuan retrieved several medicinal herbs from her Storage Bag and scattered them into the pool.
In an instant—
The pool water rolled even more violently, radiating heat all around.
After a moment, Yue Jinxuan turned to look at Tang Dou and said:
"The time has come, Senior Brother. Quick, get into the pool."
Tang Dou wore a bewildered expression, staring blankly at the pool below, and stammered:
"Sen-Junior Sister! This water temperature..."
"I'm afraid it's well over three or four hundred degrees!!"
"How about..."
"Should I wait until the water cools down a bit before I go in?"
Yue Jinxuan knitted her brows slightly and said anxiously:
"Stop dawdling and get in right away. If you're late, the medicinal potency will dissipate."
Tang Dou looked at the churning heat waves in the pool, terror written all over his face.
His legs were shaking uncontrollably!!
Seeing this, Yue Jinxuan grew frantic. She stepped forward and forcefully pushed Tang Dou toward the pool.
Tang Dou was shoved to the edge of the pool.
Terrified, he squeezed his eyes shut, flailing his hands wildly in panic, and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"No!"
"Junior Sister, I'm scared!"
"This water will boil me alive!!"
"Help! Murder! They're slaughtering a pig!"
In his desperation, Tang Dou blurted that out, but immediately corrected himself:
"Ah! No, wait, I mean murder!"
Seeing him act so cowardly, Yue Jinxuan couldn't help feeling both exasperated and amused.
Yet she knew this medicinal bath was crucial for Tang Dou, and they could not miss this golden opportunity.
Thus—
A flash of resolve crossed Yue Jinxuan's eyes.
She abruptly raised her right foot,
and delivered a fierce kick straight to Tang Dou's backside!
Tang Dou was sent flying straight into the water by the sudden kick.
"Splash! Whoosh!"
Inside the medicinal bath pool, water instantly flew in all directions.
The splashes accompanied Tang Dou's cries of shock, mingling with a pungent herbal scent and...
a faint aroma of roasted meat!!!
Tang Dou's face was completely distorted.
His eyes bulged wide as he let out a heart-rending scream from the depths of his lungs:
"Agh, ah!"
"Help! I'm cooked! I'm cooked!"
"Junior Sister, I smell bone broth!!"
"Ah, ah, ah..."
His sharp, piercing voice soared straight into the heavens!!
Tang Dou's hands flailed wildly in the air, desperately trying to grab onto something.
At last, his fingers hooked onto the edge of the pool, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.
Right at that moment—
With a look of fierce determination on her face, Yue Jinxuan leaped up with a light, graceful bound and floated right to Tang Dou's side.
Her delicate brows furrowed tightly, her phoenix eyes blazing with anger.
Without a hint of mercy, she kicked out, striking Tang Dou squarely in the rear!
It was as if Tang Dou had been struck by a heavy hammer, and his entire body was sent hurtling back to the bottom of the pool.
Water splashed everywhere!!!
Stirring up wave after wave of violent ripples.
Tang Dou managed a clumsy somersault underwater and finally stabilized himself.
Just as he prepared to launch his "escape" plan once more,
Yue Jinxuan's icy voice rang in his ear:
"Hmph! Trying to run?"
"Not so easily!!"
Before her voice even faded, her figure suddenly accelerated.
Tang Dou was scared out of his wits.
He hurriedly swam in another direction, attempting to shake off this "female fiend."
Yue Jinxuan pursued him like a shadow.
No matter how Tang Dou struggled or changed direction, she always managed to catch up instantly.
A flurry of kicks sent Tang Dou tumbling up and down, left and right through the water,
looking for all the world like a ball being kicked around in mid-air!!
Tang Dou struggled in the water, trying to find a chance to flee, but every attempt proved utterly futile.
As time passed...
The ripples in the pool gradually subsided, and Tang Dou stopped struggling, floating obediently on the surface.
Finally—
He endured half an hour of agony, emerging with a pale face and a look of complete despair.
Tang Dou crawled out of the pool tremblingly, every single step exceptionally heavy.
Yue Jinxuan swayed her hips, flicked her wrists, and walked over gracefully with a smile on her lips.
At the sight of her, Tang Dou's eyes widened in terror, and he frantically scooted backward.
His exaggerated expression
made Yue Jinxuan burst out in a giggle.
"Alright, Senior Brother, the medicinal bath is over," Yue Jinxuan said with a beaming smile.
Tang Dou panted heavily and muttered in a low voice:
"Junior Sister, your method is far too torturous."
"I honestly thought I was going to die in that pool."
Hearing this, Yue Jinxuan's smile grew even wider as she softly said:
"Senior Brother, I only did this for your own good."
"Don't be ungrateful and misjudge a kind heart!"
"This medicinal bath strengthens the body and enhances your physical prowess."
Tang Dou checked his own physical condition.
Sure enough, his physique was now much sturdier than before, and his muscles contained an unprecedented surge of power.
Yue Jinxuan gently covered her red lips with her delicate hand and laughed charmingly.
"Oh right, I haven't asked yet, Senior Brother—which peak are you from?"
At this, Tang Dou began to introduce himself.
Once he finished, Yue Jinxuan's eyes widened sharply as she stared at him in astonishment.
"Tang Dou? We've only parted for a few short months, how on earth did you change so much?"
An embarrassed look crept onto Tang Dou's face.
"Hehe, well, about that..."
"I accidentally ended up like this."
Yue Jinxuan gave a light chuckle and continued:
"Very well, let's head out first. I'll refine the pills for you right away."
With that—
She turned gracefully and stepped out of the secret chamber with elegance. Tang Dou followed closely behind, and soon they returned to the Cave Abode.
Yue Jinxuan walked straight up to the Alchemy Furnace.
"Senior Brother, did you bring the materials needed for alchemy?"
Tang Dou was slightly stunned, then scratched his head and said with some embarrassment:
"Uh, Junior Sister, I came in a rush this time and didn't bring any materials."
"I wonder if you might have some in stock here?"
Yue Jinxuan furrowed her delicate brows slightly.
"That does complicate things a bit."
"Wait here for a moment and let me check; perhaps..."
"I still have some spare materials around."