As Huiguang channeled his sacred golden spiritual energy into Shangguan Youran's body, she immediately felt a warm current coursing through the meridians of her entire body. Wherever the warm current passed, her pain subsided and her injuries began to recover rapidly.
It did not take long for Shangguan Youran's injuries to be completely healed.
"Huiguang, I'm all right now. Stop wasting your spiritual energy," Shangguan Youran said softly, opening her eyes and turning to look at the handsome face before her.
Huiguang withdrew his palms and took a deep breath. "Fortunately, Jiang Chu didn't use his full strength with that punch."
"Youran, whenever you have free time, practice the Muscle Tendon Changing Classic I taught you more often. Not only does it relax your muscles and activate your blood circulation, but it is also the best method to open up all the vital acupoints on your body."
"If you practice the Muscle Tendon Changing Classic regularly, your cultivation speed will increase exponentially as well," Huiguang reminded her.
"Mm, I know," Shangguan Youran nodded, and then continued, "Huiguang, I am so lucky."
"How so?" Huiguang asked, looking bewildered.
"When I made that casual gesture in Xuri City that day, I never expected to meet someone like you who would be willing to give his life for me. Isn't that a kind of good fortune?" Shangguan Youran's eyes shimmered like pearls, her expression utterly adorable.
"As the Buddhist teachings say, as the seed, so the fruit. With your all-embracing compassion, you are bound to encounter someone who will help you turn misfortune into blessing."
"Amitabha," Huiguang chanted a Buddhist salutation.
"Huiguang, aren't you two done yet? Hurry over and eat. I even saved two rabbit legs and a small half-flask of wine for you!" At this moment, Long Shaoyun's voice rang out.
"Alright." Huiguang stood up, but Shangguan Youran remained seated, leaving Huiguang looking puzzled once more. "What's wrong? Aren't you hungry?"
"Aren't you going to help me up? My injuries only just healed!" Shangguan Youran lowered her head, her face beneath her veil flushing with bashful shyness.
"Ah, this humble monk was being negligent." With that, Huiguang extended his right hand toward Shangguan Youran, and she grabbed hold of it tightly, gripping it very, very firmly.
With an intimate demeanor, Huiguang and Shangguan Youran walked over to Long Shaoyun and the others, while Shangguan Qingyun looked at the two of them in utter bewilderment.
"My good daughter, what is going on with you two...?" Shangguan Qingyun's gaze fell upon their tightly clasped hands.
"Patron Shangguan, Youran's injuries have just healed, so I was merely helping her up," Huiguang explained.
"Mind your own business! Just eat your meat and drink your wine!" Shangguan Youran glared at Shangguan Qingyun.
"Sigh, young people," Shangguan Qingyun shook his head.
"Huiguang, I have something to give you." As Huiguang and Youran sat down side by side, Long Shaoyun suddenly produced a black token from his tunic and handed it to Huiguang.
"Young Master Long, what is this?" Huiguang asked, confused.
"Huiguang, we are soulmates and brothers. From now on, don't call me Young Master Long; just call me Shaoyun."
"Alright, Shaoyun."
"This token is the Young City Lord's Token. Holding it will not only bring you a lot of convenience in Xuri City, but it can also come in useful in certain other places as well." As Long Shaoyun spoke, the corners of his mouth parted into an inscrutable smile.
"It is far too precious; how could I dare accept it?" Huiguang hastily declined.
"If we are brothers, don't refuse. Besides, this token isn't being given to you for nothing. If I ever run into any trouble, I will be coming to you, my brother, for help," Long Shaoyun said, patting Huiguang on the shoulder.
"If you need help, I will naturally spare no effort, but my cultivation is low. What kind of help could I possibly offer you?" Huiguang asked with a smile.
"Strength can be improved through cultivation, and besides, I haven't even decided that I'll run into trouble, have I?"
"Since you put it that way, I will accept it."
At sunset, Long Shaoyun stood up. "Huiguang, Shangguan Youran, Uncle Shangguan, I have been out for quite a while. My father must be furious by now; we should head back to the city."
Huiguang and the others also stood up collectively and chorused their agreement.
Just as Long Shaoyun and the Sword Madman were about to turn around, a fierce gale swept across the mountain peak, and half of Shangguan Youran's veil was blown away by the wind.
The moment Long Shaoyun caught sight of Shangguan Youran's true face, his body gave a violent jolt, and a flash of greed crossed his eyes.
However, neither Huiguang, Shangguan Youran, nor Shangguan Qingyun noticed this scene.
"Old man, let's go." Long Shaoyun glanced at the Sword Madman, who was still eating meat, and headed down the mountain as soon as the words left his mouth.
"Young Master, I'm really not old. Didn't I tell you I'm not even fifty years old yet?" The Sword Madman muttered, holding his precious sword as he trailed behind Long Shaoyun in protest.
"I say you're an old man, so you're an old man."
"Fine, then I suppose I'm a brainless old man."
Watching Long Shaoyun and the Sword Madman leave, Shangguan Qingyun turned to look at Shangguan Youran with lingering fear. "Daughter, tricking you down the mountain this time was your father's fault, and I almost led you into a bottomless abyss. Fortunately, we emerged safe and sound."
"As long as you know it, just mind your own business less in the future," Shangguan Youran gave Shangguan Qingyun a sideways glance.
"Huiguang, you are a good man. It is Youran's good fortune to have met you," Shangguan Qingyun said, shifting his gaze back to Huiguang with a sincere expression.
"Amitabha! Patron Shangguan need not take it to heart."
"Daughter, our Lin Family actually harbors a secret. The reason your father hasn't told you for twenty years is that I didn't want to make you sad." Shangguan Qingyun's expression suddenly turned solemn.
"What secret could possibly make me sad?" Shangguan Youran asked, puzzled.
"It concerns your mother."
"My mother?" Shangguan Youran's body shuddered. "Didn't you tell me my mother passed away on the day I was born?"
"That was a lie your father told you. In truth, your mother was taken away by your grandfather." As if recalling a painful past, Shangguan Qingyun's eyes suddenly grew somewhat misty.
"Why did Grandfather take my mother away?" Shangguan Youran's voice suddenly rose a notch.
"Because... I am merely a mortal. I... am not worthy of your mother."
"You're just a mortal? What do you mean? Could it be that Mother is not a mortal?" Shangguan Youran's eyes widened in shock.
"That's right. Your mother is a member of the God Race."
"Boom!" A roar echoed in Shangguan Youran's head, and her body swayed as if she might collapse. Fortunately, Huiguang had quick reflexes and caught her by the waist just in time.
"Then what is the Lin Family's purpose in trying to seize our Shangguan Family estate?" After a long moment, Shangguan Youran spoke again.
"It is simply because before your mother left, she left me three sticks of God-Summoning Incense. These three sticks can compel a certain deity in the divine realm to do three things for me."
"I heard that deity once received a favor from your mother, which is why that promise exists," Shangguan Qingyun confessed.
"Then why didn't you use this incense to bring Mother back?" Shangguan Youran asked, uncomprehending.
"It's not that I didn't want to, but before your mother left, she said that this deity would not help her return to the mortal world, so the use of these three incense sticks must be reserved for something else."
"Daughter, the Lin Family already knows that our Shangguan Family possesses the three sticks of God-Summoning Incense, so... we must return home immediately."
"Huiguang, come home with me." Shangguan Youran grabbed Huiguang's hand and headed straight down the mountain.