Shen Tianhua's weathered face was a masterclass in shifting expressions.
In all his long years, he had likely never eaten so much in a single meal.
Yet, determined to make a breakthrough, Shen Tianhua gritted his teeth and plunged ahead. He picked up his rice basin and dug in.
At that moment, the old man was a true gourmand of the highest order. The likes of which had never been seen before.
Even Ye Qingyun, who usually fancied himself quite the foodie, had to concede defeat.
"Take it easy, Old Master."
Watching the way Shen Tianhua was eating—as if he were fighting for his life—Ye Qingyun couldn't help but advise caution.
"No matter, this old man can handle it," Shen Tianhua mumbled, his mouth full.
Beside them, Xiao Shi was too busy stuffing her own face to care about what state her master was in.
Ye Qingyun finished his meal quickly. He simply sat there, watching this pair of frantic eaters.
The longer he watched, the more Ye Qingyun felt a little nauseous.
The three plates of dishes on the table had been practically licked clean. Xiao Shi had picked up the plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, dumped her rice directly into it, stirred it vigorously, and continued to gorge herself.
Shen Tianhua refused to be outdone. He slammed the plate of braised pork right into his rice basin, scraping up every last scrap of meat and sauce until it was spotless.
Ye Qingyun stared in utter astonishment.
Wasn't this a bit too extreme?
This looked like starving ghosts being reincarnated! Just how many years had it been since they last had a proper meal?
Before long, Xiao Shi couldn't take it anymore. She dropped her bowl and sat there, letting out a series of heavy hiccups.
Ye Qingyun hurriedly poured her a cup of water, terrified she would throw up right then and there.
Shen Tianhua glanced at his disciple.
*Hmph! Ginger is spicier the older it gets [1]. You little girl still need to practice for a few more years.*
Shen Tianhua resumed his battle. At the same time, deep down, he was consumed by doubt.
He had eaten so much already; why hadn't he broken through yet?
Seeing that the basin of rice was almost empty, Shen Tianhua felt as though his stomach was about to burst.
Just as he managed to swallow his very last mouthful with great difficulty, an unprecedented wave of energy surged from deep within his body.
In an instant, Shen Tianhua felt an indescribable, all-encompassing comfort wash over him. He felt as though he had grown several years younger.
Earlier, by studying that lotus painting, his cultivation had broken through to the Late Heaven Reaching Realm, and he had gained additional lifespan.
And right now, although Shen Tianhua hadn't broken through to a new realm, his body was bursting with renewed vitality.
He could clearly feel that another hundred years of lifespan had just been added out of thin air.
This came as a massive, pleasant surprise.
Even without a breakthrough, gaining lifespan was an extremely rare and precious feat. After all, with a longer lease on life, he would have sufficient time to pursue higher realms.
From now on, Shen Tianhua would no longer be plagued by the anxiety of approaching the end of his days.
"This old man... this old man can still eat!"
Shen Tianhua wanted to keep going. He had figured it out now: as long as he ate more, there were bound to be benefits.
Whether it was a breakthrough in cultivation or an increase in lifespan, these were things he desperately needed. To achieve them, he would grit his teeth and keep eating even if it meant bursting his stomach.
Ye Qingyun was left speechless.
"Ahem, Senior is certainly blessed with an astonishing appetite, but the food I had prepared has been completely finished by the two of you." Ye Qingyun brought out the empty rice cooker to prove his point.
Seeing this, master and disciple felt a mixture of regret and relief.
"Master, I'm a bit too full."
"Quiet. I feel like throwing up, too."
Looking at the expressions of utter misery on the pair, Ye Qingyun didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Have some digestive tablets."
Ye Qingyun produced two small medicinal pills. He had made them himself—under the strict tutelage of the system, of course.
"Digestive tablets?"
Both Shen Tianhua and Xiao Shi wore expressions of confusion. But since they were a gift from an expert, they had to be extraordinary items.
The master and disciple swallowed them down.
Before long, both of them felt a great deal of comfort in their stomachs. After circulating their spiritual energy for a moment, the discomfort had practically vanished.
"Many thanks, Young Master Ye!"
Shen Tianhua, pulling Xiao Shi along with him, bowed respectfully to Ye Qingyun.
Ye Qingyun waved a hand. "Old Master, you mustn't eat like that again in the future. Ruining your health would be no laughing matter."
He then looked at Xiao Shi. "And you should keep a closer eye on your master. Don't go indulging in such reckless binges together."
Master and disciple felt intensely awkward.
If the food here hadn't been genuinely delicious, not to mention capable of boosting cultivation and extending lifespan, they would never have eaten so much.
Yet, upon second thought, Ye Qingyun's words must carry a deeper meaning.
Shen Tianhua pondered this in his heart for a moment, and realization suddenly dawned on him.
"The expert is warning me that haste makes waste, and one shouldn't bite off more than one can chew!"
A wave of profound shame washed over Shen Tianhua.
Having cultivated for so many years, he should have understood this principle long ago. Yet earlier, faced with temptation, he had lost his composure, exposing his frailest and most undisciplined side. It truly was inexcusable.
An expert was indeed an expert. He had seen right through him, yet offered such a tactful and gentle reminder.
"Your advice, Young Qingyun, is engraved upon this old man's heart."
Shen Tianhua bowed solemnly to Ye Qingyun once more.
Having finished their meal, Shen Tianhua and Xiao Shi did not linger any longer and chose to take their leave.
This trip had allowed them to successfully meet Ye Qingyun, and they had reaped a bountiful harvest. It could be said they hadn't made the journey in vain.
Ye Qingyun escorted them out of the courtyard and watched as they headed down the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, Shen Tianhua looked back up at Fuyun Mountain, filled with deep emotion.
"Who would have thought? The expert dwelling in these mountains is so extraordinary. Today truly opened this old man's eyes."
"Master, since this expert is living in seclusion here, why don't we come to pay our respects often? Perhaps we might receive further guidance from him?" Xiao Shi suggested.
Shen Tianhua's face, however, sank.
"Absolutely not!"
Xiao Shi was startled. "Why?"
"The expert lives in seclusion here to practice in tranquility, and even more so to experience the mortal world in the guise of an ordinary person.
"Didn't you notice? From beginning to end, he never once carried himself as an expert, nor did he ever touch upon matters of cultivation.
"Perhaps this expert has already reached an unfathomably profound realm—one where he has forgotten his own extraordinary nature and truly regards himself as an ordinary mortal."
At this, a look of reverence crept into Shen Tianhua's eyes.
"If we frequently come to disturb him, we might disrupt his state of mind. Should we incur his displeasure, that would be a grave sin indeed!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Shi felt her master's reasoning made complete sense.
"This disciple was foolish."
Shen Tianhua looked at her. "As long as you understand now."
Master and disciple were just about to leave when they suddenly noticed a woman approaching from a distance.
The woman also spotted the pair and couldn't help wearing a look of confusion.
"Excuse me, did the two of you just come down from Fuyun Mountain?"
The woman stepped forward and bowed. It was none other than Bai Suyin.
"Indeed. Are you heading up?"
Xiao Shi looked Bai Suyin up and down; seeing that she was so young and possessed such exquisite beauty, her expression turned somewhat peculiar.
***
**Chapter 28: A lone man and a lone woman doing cupping therapy**
***
"I am going up to pay my respects to Young Master Ye," Bai Suyin said.
She was indeed here to see Ye Qingyun.
The last time she had accompanied Chi Yanyu to Fuyun Mountain, Ye Qingyun had personally treated her with cupping therapy.
Today happened to mark the exact half-month mark. Bai Suyin had come as promised.
Shen Tianhua glanced at Bai Suyin and could tell at a glance that her cultivation wasn't high—merely Late Spirit Opening.
Her aptitude, however, was exceptionally good; she was a natural-born talent for cultivation. Compared to Xiao Shi, she was only a fraction behind.
Shen Tianhua couldn't help the urge to take her on as a disciple rising within him.
"Young lady, whose disciple are you?" Shen Tianhua asked.
Not daring to be negligent, Bai Suyin bowed deeply.
"To not keep it from Senior, this junior is a disciple of the Nine Spirits Sect."
Shen Tianhua nodded.
"Gongsun Yue's disciple... What a pity. With aptitude as good as yours, falling under his tutelage is a complete waste of heavenly treasures."
Bai Suyin felt somewhat awkward.
After all, she was a disciple of the Nine Spirits Sect, yet the white-haired old man before her was openly looking down on her master, Gongsun Yue. This made Bai Suyin rather displeased.
"Senior, my sect may be small, but I must ask you to choose your words carefully," Bai Suyin said.
Xiao Shi curled her lip slightly.
"Do you even know who my master is? The mere Nine Spirits Sect... Even if your master Gongsun Yue were standing right here, he'd have to call himself a junior in front of my master."
Bai Suyin grew angry.
"The two of you insult my sect! Even if my cultivation is low, I must defend the dignity of my sect!"
Xiao Shi was amused.
She was naturally headstrong and willful, and for some reason, the moment she laid eyes on Bai Suyin, she found the other girl thoroughly grating. Seeing that Bai Suyin looked ready to fight, she was more than happy to oblige.
"Heh, with your pitiful bit of cultivation, you dare show off in front of me?" Xiao Shi wore a look of utter disdain.
She took a step forward, instantly releasing the aura of the Source Gathering Realm.
Bai Suyin's face changed drastically.
Source Gathering Realm!
That was a realm superior to the Spirit Opening Realm.
Although Bai Suyin possessed Late Spirit Opening cultivation, against a martial artist of the Source Gathering Realm, she stood not the slightest chance of winning and would be utterly crushed.
*To think she is of a similar age to me, yet her cultivation is so high?*
Terror gripped Bai Suyin's heart.
Looking exceedingly pleased with herself, Xiao Shi shot Bai Suyin a mocking look.
"Well? Do you still dare to fight me?"
Bai Suyin remained silent. Instead, she released her own cultivation aura.
Late Spirit Opening!
Naturally, it fell quite short compared to Xiao Shi's level. Yet Bai Suyin still did not back down.
Shen Tianhua didn't stop them; he also wanted to test what kind of capability Bai Suyin possessed.
Just as the two young women were about to trade blows, a sudden clap of thunder rang out across the sky.
The thunder shook the heavens and the earth.
All three present were startled, and simultaneously turned their gazes upward.
The previously clear skies were now suddenly rolling with dark clouds, as if a torrential downpour were about to break.
Shen Tianhua frowned. "Why is this weather changing so strangely?"
The next moment, Shen Tianhua understood why the sky had suddenly turned.
Because a true dragon was weaving in and out of those dark clouds, churning the wind and rain!
Terror seized Shen Tianhua's heart.
It was that very same true dragon he had seen when he first went up the mountain. He hadn't expected it to still be lingering in the clouds.
Meanwhile, up on the summit, Ye Qingyun was also gazing at the sky in puzzlement.
"Why is it suddenly going to rain?"
He hurried out to the courtyard to quickly gather the laundry he had been drying.
Muffled thunder rolled, and the dark clouds grew heavier.
Seeming to realize something, Shen Tianhua hastily told Xiao Shi, "Let's leave immediately. We must not cause trouble here."
Xiao Shi was stunned and somewhat perplexed, but Shen Tianhua didn't bother to explain. He grabbed hold of her and soared straight up into the air.
Seeing the two of them suddenly depart, Bai Suyin felt a mixture of astonishment and relief.
And the moment they left, the dark, cloud-choked sky suddenly cleared up again, as if the thunder and clouds from moments before had never existed at all.
"What in the world is going on?"
No sooner had Ye Qingyun brought the laundry back inside than the weather cleared right up.
He muttered curses under his breath and carried the clothes right back out to dry.
Before long, Bai Suyin arrived at the mountaintop.
"Young Master Ye."
She stood outside the courtyard and called out.
Ye Qingyun pushed the door open, and seeing that it was Bai Suyin, immediately welcomed her inside.
Bai Suyin stepped into the house.
"Young Master Ye, ever since your treatment—that cupping therapy thing—I feel much better." Bai Suyin said, somewhat shyly.
The memory of what happened the last time Ye Qingyun treated her made her heart flutter wildly.
After all, there had been other people present last time, so the feeling hadn't been quite this intense. But today...
Only she and Ye Qingyun were here.
A lone man and a lone woman, sharing a single room.
And they were about to use such a unique method for treatment.
How could Bai Suyin not feel bashful?
She had wanted to drag Chi Yanyu along with her, but Chi Yanyu was currently away from the Prince of Pingxi's Estate. Left with no choice, Bai Suyin had to come alone.
"As long as it's working, we'll continue today," Ye Qingyun said casually.
He had already fetched all the tools for cupping therapy.
Bai Suyin felt a trace of awkwardness. "Young Master Ye, please turn around first."
Ye Qingyun paused, then hurriedly turned around.
His own breathing had grown a bit hurried, and his heart was beating rather fast.
There was no helping it. He was a red-blooded young man, after all; the natural reactions were bound to occur.
*Ye Qingyun, you must keep yourself under control!*
*You cannot do anything impulsive. She is a disciple of the Nine Spirits Sect—not someone you can afford to offend!*
At the same time, a fierce internal struggle was playing out in Bai Suyin's mind.
*What if, after I undress, Young Master Ye decides to do something to me? What then?*
*Young Master Ye is a senior expert, someone even His Majesty the Martial Emperor visits in person.*
*If he really wants to do something to me... could I possibly resist?*
*But if I just submit, won't I look too loose?*
*Should I put up a token resistance first, and then give in? That seems more appropriate.*
Harboring such thoughts, her face flushed red, Bai Suyin quickly lay face down on the bed.
"Young Master Ye, I'm ready," she said softly.
Ye Qingyun turned back around.
Although he had seen it once before, there had been others present last time. The two experiences were entirely different.
"Ahem, then I shall begin."
Keeping his eyes straight ahead, Ye Qingyun focused entirely on performing the cupping therapy for Bai Suyin.
Both of them harbored their own secret thoughts.
The atmosphere in the room turned somewhat ambiguous, and even more indescribably awkward.
Soon, all eight bamboo cups were placed in position along Bai Suyin's back.
Thoughtfully, Ye Qingyun even draped a blanket over her.
Seeing that Ye Qingyun seemed to have no improper intentions whatsoever, Bai Suyin felt a wave of relief, yet deep down, she also felt a tiny twinge of regret.
*Ah, Young Master Ye is truly a transcendent expert. In his eyes, I am probably no different from any ordinary woman,* she muttered internally.
Half an hour later, Ye Qingyun removed the bamboo tubes.
Just like last time, numerous tiny white worms were scraped out from inside the tubes.
The quantity, however, was far smaller than the previous time.
"It seems there aren't many venomous worms left inside Miss Bai's body," Ye Qingyun said with a smile.
Yet, all of a sudden, he noticed the color draining rapidly from Bai Suyin's face.
A mouthful of blood spewed from her lips.
She collapsed limply to the floor, plunging straight into unconsciousness.
***
**Chapter 29: Antibiotics score a major victory**
***
This gave Ye Qingyun a terrible fright.
"What's going on here?!"
Ye Qingyun hurried over, lifted Bai Suyin, and carried her to the bed.
He touched her face—it was icy cold. Truly like a block of ice.
Not only that, but wisps of bone-chilling white mist were actually drifting out with her breath.
The temperature inside the entire room began to plummet drastically at that very moment, as if they had instantly stepped into an ice cellar.
Ye Qingyun was struck with panic. "What kind of situation is this?!"
He completely lost his composure.
This was his first time encountering such a bizarre incident; he had no idea what to do.
He touched Bai Suyin's forehead again; it felt just like an ice cube.
Any ordinary person in this state would have lost their life long ago. Yet, despite being chilled to the marrow, Bai Suyin was still breathing.
"This won't do. If this keeps up, it's really going to cost her her life!" Ye Qingyun grew extremely anxious.
"Xiao Er, classmate, turn on the heating! Maximum setting!"
This house of Ye Qingyun's was even equipped with heating. It was linked to a whole-house smart system, activated simply by calling out to it.
The heating kicked on, and waves of warm air rushed into the room.
The indoor temperature began to climb.
Anxiously watching Bai Suyin, and terrified the heater wouldn't be enough, Ye Qingyun rushed to grab several hot water bottles and two thick quilts, piling them all over her.
After waiting a moment, Ye Qingyun touched Bai Suyin's face again.
Though still freezing cold, it felt somewhat better than before.
Ye Qingyun relaxed just a fraction.
"Could it be that the remaining venomous worms inside her body are reproducing?"
The thought suddenly struck him.
He had already purged a vast number of venomous worms from Bai Suyin's body over two sessions of cupping therapy. But remnants still lingered within her.
Perhaps the worms had sensed their numbers dwindling and had begun multiplying wildly, triggering this sudden crisis in Bai Suyin.
Her body hadn't been able to withstand such a massive surge of worms all at once, causing her to lose consciousness as her body temperature plummeted to freezing points.
*If only the system were still here.*
At this moment, Ye Qingyun deeply missed that infuriating Sage-Making System.
Yet the next second, his eyes lit up.
Even though the system was gone, the knowledge it had taught him remained fully intact.
All medical knowledge had been thoroughly mastered by Ye Qingyun.
"In this kind of situation, according to medical practice, the priority is to keep her body temperature from dropping any further while completely wiping out all the venomous worms in one go!"
Ye Qingyun furrowed his brow.
A targeted plan quickly formed in his mind.
Bai Suyin was a martial artist; her physique was inherently tougher than an ordinary person's. Moreover, since the venomous worms had nested within her for years, her body had actually developed a certain degree of tolerance to them.
Now that Ye Qingyun had taken timely measures to ensure her temperature wouldn't drop any further, he had bought himself precious time.
He immediately retrieved his medical kit.
It contained several standard medications that Ye Qingyun had concocted himself. While they couldn't cure major illnesses, there was one particular medicine that Ye Qingyun always kept on hand, ready at a moment's notice.
Antibiotics!
Now *that* was good stuff.