Hua Furen thus died before Yan Jiaojiao and the others. When the villagers buried Hua Furen's body, Yan Jiaojiao and the others learned that the villagers also knew about the Hua family's past, but never expected the young master of the Hua family to become a demon.
Yet, from beginning to end, not a single villager blamed Hua Furen. Instead, they were saddened by her suicide by poison, given her lifelong contributions to the village.
Yan Jiaojiao and the others had nothing to say about it, only sighing that those who are pitied often have something detestable about them.
By the time they left the village and returned to the Ge Nan Academy, it was already morning. As soon as Yan Jiaojiao landed, she looked at Luo Guiyuan and handed him the Night Ghost Demon Inner Core, saying, "Sect Leader Luo, you will keep your word, right? When can I come to collect the Mingzhu Pill?"
Luo Guiyuan glanced at Shangguan Yuan, who was smiling, then at the black inner core, and took it from Yan Jiaojiao's hand impatiently, saying, "Five days later!"
With that, Luo Guiyuan flicked his sleeve and left. Shangguan Yuan winked at Yan Jiaojiao and followed Luo Guiyuan, "Senior Brother, is there anything I can help with? After all, it's a pill refined for my disciple, and I'm willing to lend a hand."
Luo Guiyuan: "Get lost!"
Knowing that Shangguan Yuan would be supervising, Yan Jiaojiao felt even more at ease. The Mingzhu Pill was within reach.
"Junior Sister Yan, I'll go check on Senior Brother Sheng's injuries first." Jiang Yiling also cupped his fists and prepared to take his leave. After Sheng Mo Bai sent the message back to Ge Nan Academy, the Sect Leader arranged for him to remain at the academy to recover. Among them, Sheng Mo Bai's injuries were the most severe, so he had to go see him upon their return.
Yan Jiaojiao naturally wanted to go too, so she said, "Let's go together. We'll report that we're safe. Otherwise, he'll surely keep worrying."
Yan Jiaojiao's words were reasonable, but she completely forgot that Sheng Mo Bai had been spreading rumors that she was his fiancée. To Jiang Yiling, it sounded like mutual concern between a young couple, and he immediately realized he didn't want to be a third wheel.
"Uh. Junior Sister Yan, you go first. I just remembered I'm still a bit sore. I'll go treat my wounds first." After speaking, Jiang Yiling even used a teleportation spell and left.
Leaving Yan Jiaojiao frowning, "Are children nowadays so pampered? I was beaten until I vomited blood and didn't complain, yet these two have to lie down first."
But despite her grumbling, Yan Jiaojiao still walked towards the detached residences in the small woods as instructed.
This was Yan Jiaojiao's first time in the residential area for high-ranking members. Each person here lived in a single-story house with a small courtyard. However, because the senior brothers and sisters had set up restrictions, outsiders could not see the houses within the barriers; all they saw was a beautiful small forest.
Yan Jiaojiao walked along the forest path obediently. Since the houses were distributed on both sides of the path, she couldn't see through the barriers at the moment. If she stepped off the path, she might accidentally bump into a barrier. Only the nameplates erected along the roadside could distinguish who lived behind them.
After walking for a while, Yan Jiaojiao quickly found the nameplate that read Sheng Mo Bai. She reached out and tapped the upright wooden sign, and the sound of a small bell echoed. In a moment, a small house with a courtyard appeared about two meters behind the wooden sign.
Sheng Mo Bai poked his head out of the window, his face full of pleasant surprise: "Jiaojiao!"
The door was unlocked, and Yan Jiaojiao walked in, only to see that Sheng Mo Bai was actually lying in bed, his body wrapped in bandages, like a mummy. That's why he could only weakly poke his head out of the window to greet her.
"It's great that the Sect Leader saved you all!" Sheng Mo Bai couldn't get out of bed, so he only looked at Yan Jiaojiao with his eyes, "You came to see me as soon as you got back, without even time to change your clothes."
Yan Jiaojiao awkwardly shifted her body. This person was really acting strangely. Logically, shouldn't he first ask about the upcoming battle with the Night Ghost Demon? Why was he paying attention to such trivial matters?
"Why are you all wrapped up like this?" So, Yan Jiaojiao deliberately changed the subject.
Sheng Mo Bai immediately put on a mournful face, "It's because that Night Ghost Demon planted demonic threads in my wound. The junior disciple who treated me said that wrapping it with herbs like this will help it heal faster. I can barely move now, and it's driving me crazy."
Yan Jiaojiao tilted her head, "Is that so?"
Perhaps this was some new therapy. She used to just pull them out directly, and the remaining external injuries would heal on their own.
Children nowadays were indeed too pampered. Yan Jiaojiao deepened this realization, unlike her, who had lived for thousands of years and had thick skin.
"Yan Jiaojiao, why are you here?"
A clear voice came from behind. Yan Jiaojiao turned to see Xu Changzong entering with a bowl of medicine. The medicine was still steaming, clearly just boiled.
Yan Jiaojiao was startled, "Xu Changzong, are you treating Sheng Mo Bai's injuries?"
Xu Changzong glanced at Sheng Mo Bai, who was wrapped like a mummy, cleared his throat, "Yes."
Sheng Mo Bai also looked surprised, "You know each other?"
Yan Jiaojiao gave Sheng Mo Bai a look as if he were an idiot, "Xu Changzong and I were admitted at the same time.
Although there aren't many new disciples, it's not a problem to at least nod acquaintances, let alone with Xu Changzong.
"That's right." Sheng Mo Bai reacted, not feeling ashamed but proud, "Jiaojiao, my little bride, is so smart. Look, I got injured saving you, and my brain has become slow. Don't you want to give me some reward?"
"If you talk nonsense again, I'll give you a big surprise," Yan Jiaojiao said, pretending to draw her sword.
Sheng Mo Bai quickly pleaded, "No, no, I..."
Before he could finish, Xu Changzong stepped in from the side, holding the bowl of medicine in front of Sheng Mo Bai, "Senior Brother, the medicine works best when it's hot."
The steam rushed into Sheng Mo Bai's face, and the bitter smell hit him instantly. Sheng Mo Bai's playful mood vanished in an instant. He frowned, "Why do I have to drink medicine again? This medicine is so bitter."
"Good medicine tastes bitter. Drink it a few more times, and you'll get better faster," Xu Changzong said seriously with a blank expression, "Senior Brother, you don't want to be wrapped in bandages forever, do you?"
Sheng Mo Bai helplessly looked askance at Yan Jiaojiao, "It's inconvenient for me, feed me as a thank you."
Yan Jiaojiao was about to refuse when she saw Xu Changzong, without a word, grip Sheng Mo Bai's chin with one hand and lift the bowl with the other, directly pouring it into his mouth. The scalding medicinal liquid was all swallowed by Sheng Mo Bai in no time.
"Wow! You're trying to scald me to death!" Sheng Mo Bai's face contorted like a chrysanthemum. If he weren't a cultivator, this temperature would have really scalded his intestines!
Xu Changzong simply said expressionlessly, "It works better when hot." With that, he turned to leave, then looked at Yan Jiaojiao, "You come with me. Senior Brother needs to rest."
"Ah?" Sheng Mo Bai's disappointment was evident, but he could only watch the two leave, sighing to himself.