Ming Shaofan, who had been writing just a moment ago, suddenly frowned sharply. With a solemn expression, he slowly laid down the carved bamboo brush in his hand.
"Biluo, go fetch the Fourth Elder."
He spoke in a deep, thoughtful tone, his gaze grave as he addressed Biluo down below the pavilion hall.
"Yes."
Biluo half-curtsied, her brows still knitted with worry as she spoke respectfully. With heavy steps, she walked out of the main hall of Qianchen Pavilion, cast a spell, and soared into the air toward the administrative quarters of the Fourth Elder of Qianchen Pavilion. A streak of emerald green light flashed across the sky above Qianchen Pavilion and vanished.
*Whoosh.*
The Fourth Elder leaped out of a carriage with a single stride, and with steady steps and a composed expression, pushed open the doors of the Pavilion Master's hall.
"What brings the Pavilion Master to seek me?"
"Elder, that woman's background is unknown. When Biluo took her pulse, she had no pulse at all... But judging by what you've heard of her divine beauty, I'm afraid..."
Ming Shaofan looked at the poised and experienced old man, Mo Qianchen, with a troubled and perplexed expression, speaking in astonishment.
"This... Pavilion Master. Could this really be true? Biluo is my most brilliant disciple, and her medical skills shouldn't be wrong."
The Elder also wore a look of shock, doubt flashing in his eyes as he exchanged glances with Ming Shaofan.
"If this is true, then this woman must have an extraordinary background. The Liúlí Light surrounding her is something never before seen in our Xiuxian Continent."
"Then we must treat her with the utmost hospitality."
Pavilion Master Ming Shaofan looked astonished, his eyes heavy with worry lest they somehow slight this mysterious Chen Liushang.
"Mmm... Mmm. Good wine. Good wine."
Having had her fill of sweet dreams and waking from her drunken stupor, Chen Liushang slowly opened her sleepy, glazed eyes. She slowly sat up and rubbed her groggy head, staring in blank astonishment at the luxurious and opulent hall before her, her face filled with wonder.
"Where is this?"
She prepared to get up, dragging her half-intoxicated body down from the couch. Her Liuxian immortal robes brushed the floor as she maintained an air of cold elegance, the flush on her face already mostly faded.
"Hmm. This is quite a nice place, too."
Her gaze swept slowly around with a look of wonder as she wandered about, picking up and examining the swords and precious artifacts scattered around the Mingxuan Pavilion room.
"What is this?"
She grasped a round object, looking closely at a cluster of exotic creatures carved upon it. Picking up the pair with her left hand, she examined them intently. Her mind still not fully clear, she wandered through the grand hall, playing with the objects with a slightly flushed, glazed face while admiring the strange artifacts.
"Hmm?"
"Someone's coming."
Suddenly, she grew alert. Her mind clearing instantly, a flash of Liúlí Light flickered in her pupils as her sharp ears caught the light footsteps approaching outside the hall.
"Miss, how did you get up? How are you feeling?"
Biluo gently pushed open the door, her silver-bell-like voice echoing softly in Chen Liushang's ear. She hurried to Chen Liushang's side, supporting her left arm, and looked at the woman who had already risen with a concerned, worried, and astonished expression.
"Such a blushing, jade-like beauty, poised and graceful, with every step leaving a lotus in her wake. Biluo... such a loyal soul... She looks just like her, back then."
With a sorrowful look, Chen Liushang stared blankly at the green-clad maiden before her. The half-intoxicated woman suddenly felt a film of tears blur her vision, and she lost her composure for a moment. With a start, she withdrew her flustered little hand and placed it gently over Biluo's slender, milky-white hand to comfort and respond to her.
"Miss, why are you crying?"
Biluo gazed blankly at Chen Liushang, whose eyes welled with tears, a trace of confusion flitting through her heart.
"I'm fine, you don't need to worry."
Her gaze never leaving the jade-green maiden, the sorrowful look in Chen Liushang's eyes suddenly gave way to a hint of resolve.
"You should rest well, Miss. This is the special hangover tea crafted by our Qianchen Pavilion; please have some."
Still wearing a worried expression, Biluo—dressed in green robes like a lotus emerging from the water, looking exceptionally dignified at that moment—picked up the cup of tea with her small hand and carefully brought it to Chen Liushang.
"Very well."
Chen Liushang forced a faint smile of gratitude and took a difficult sip of the foul-tasting tea. In her heart, she thought the tea tasted bitterly awful, entirely incomparable to her own little wines, which tasted just like nectar and divine dew.
*Cough, cough!*
She couldn't help coughing, an unwilling expression crossing her face as she lost her composure slightly, spitting out more than half of the tea directly.
"This is truly awful!"
"Miss, are you alright? Good medicine tastes bitter. Please don't take offense, Miss."
Startled, Biluo quickly took back the empty teacup, an awkward expression crossing her face.
"Perhaps I should add some jade dew to the tea in the future," she offered.
"Yes, yes, remember to add the Hundred Flowers Dew from the Hundred Flowers Valley by the Qianxuan Lake," Chen Liushang chimed in while coughing and wiping the corners of her mouth, blurting it out casually.
Doubt instantly surged in Biluo's heart, a trace of suspicion flashing through her mind.
"She has never been seen in our Xiuxian Continent, and she has never left this place—how does she know about my Hundred Flowers Valley? Truly strange."
She furrowed her brows deeply, feeling that this woman was indeed a remarkable person indeed—with a pulse unlike any other, and even the divine light surrounding her being so extraordinary.
"Oh no, I let it slip."
Looking at the somewhat dazed maiden in green, Chen Liushang realized she had spoken out of turn. She immediately tried to cover her tracks.
"Upon first meeting you, Miss, I caught a faint, exotic fragrance about your person, and I knew right away that you must be someone highly skilled in medicine, bound to have ties to a place like the Hundred Flowers Valley. That's why I said that. I was being presumptuous; please don't take offense, Miss."
She put on an awkward expression, terrified lest they discover her true identity. After all, this realm of vitality had been created by her in the first place, so she naturally knew the terrain and conditions of every corner.
"So that's how it was. That puts my mind at ease. Next time, I will certainly add the jade dew from my Hundred Flowers Valley."
A look of delight washed over Biluo's face, dispelling her doubts.
With that, Biluo took Chen Liushang's small, glazed hand and checked her pulse once more. A worried look crossed her face as she thought to herself:
"Why is it still like this?"
"Miss, get some good rest. I will stay by your side; the Pavilion Master instructed me to take good care of you."
Looking at Chen Liushang, who still lacked a pulse, Biluo wore a comforting expression, though her eyes were filled with disappointment as she spoke.
Chen Liushang asked, "How long have I been asleep?"
"It... it has already been half a month," Biluo stammered, looking worriedly at Chen Liushang and her bizarre pulse.
"Don't worry, Miss. You can rest easy here."
With a faint smile hidden in her heart and a gentle expression on her face, Chen Liushang stood up, spun around, and offered reassuring words to the worried little jade-like maiden.
"See? I'm completely fine now, you don't need to worry so much."
"Then I shall take my leave. Please get some good rest, Miss."
Biluo gave a polite half-curtsy.
"Quickly, stand up. I can't bear such formalities; just be casual with me."
With a slight flutter in her heart, Chen Liushang stepped forward and gently, slowly helped the deeply worried Biluo to her feet.
"Then I'll be going."
Biluo rose, backed away toward the chamber doors, and quietly closed the door to the Young Pavilion Master's chambers.
"Hmph!"
She bit her lip, her brows deeply furrowed. Chen Liushang, who had just moments ago appeared delightfully intoxicated, suddenly turned solemn. Thinking of the fiercely loyal Biluo, a fresh wave of determination settled in her heart.
"Liuxian, she is so much like you. How wonderful it would be if it were truly you..."
The moonlight shone pristine and white, casting a prosperous, glazed glow across the entire Xiuxian Continent. The moon hung high in the sky like a bright mirror. Sitting alone by the carved window of the grand hall, Chen Liushang drank greedily from her flask of wine, her twin pupils ethereal as she gazed up at the moon. Her heart seemed heavy with endless, unforgettable sorrows as she looked out at the strange scenery before her, filled with unseen anxieties.