Li Tianjue had been staring at Su Luo and immediately noticed.
His heart skipped a beat, and he tightly gripped her soft hand. "Luoluo, are you awake? How did you sleep?"
Su Luo had actually regained consciousness a long time ago.
But she couldn't open her eyes or move.
This feeling of exhaustion was unbearable, as if she had become a vegetable, unable to utter a sound. She vowed never to use this move lightly again.
However, Su Luo was also pleasantly surprised to find that her mental power had strengthened again. Normally, she could only scan her surroundings within a three-zhang radius with her mind, but now, anything within a ten-zhang radius could not escape her observation.
Since she couldn't open her eyes, Su Luo didn't know what was happening and could only wait patiently.
She calculated that she could previously control a hundred birds. Because she had expended her mental energy controlling the blood ants, she had broken through a critical point. Now, she could control a thousand small creatures without feeling mentally exhausted.
Su Luo was aware of everything that had happened outside these past two days.
This was because she heard everything when her second senior brother and Xiao Guo spoke to Li Tianjue when they came to see her.
The Seven Stars Sect had lost some disciples, and many had fled. The sect was in chaos. Sect Master Wan Qitai had not fled; he was captured by Shang Xie Shaoqing and Chu Tianshu and was currently managing the remaining Seven Stars Sect disciples. Su Luo and her companions were temporarily staying within the Seven Stars Sect.
The recruitment points in the city had also been suspended. The matter had been kept quiet, fortunately without causing widespread panic.
There were still many matters to be handled regarding the Seven Stars Sect's wrongdoing. Chu Tianshu had been discussing this with the royal family of the Lingxiao Kingdom for the past two days. Given Chu Tianshu's status, the Emperor of Lingxiao Kingdom did not dare to neglect the matter and guaranteed it would be handled properly.
...
After an unknown amount of time, Su Luo finally regained the ability to move.
She struggled to open her eyes, but even this simple action was difficult. Her eyelids fluttered, and her eyelashes trembled. She exerted all her strength, and immediately heard Li Tianjue's surprised and anxious voice.
"Luoluo! You're alright, you're finally awake!?"
Li Tianjue's eyes were full of concern and overflowing joy, something Su Luo had never seen before.
He hadn't slept for two days and looked a bit haggard. His deep eyes were bloodshot, but he was still devastatingly handsome. A few strands of hair fell by his temples, and a patch of stubble had appeared on his chin. The smile on his face was like the sun breaking through the clouds, leaving Su Luo somewhat stunned.
Senior Brother was always so handsome!
However, normally, no matter how happy he was or whatever good news he received, he would only offer a faint smile, which was already quite a lot.
She had only been lying down for two days, and upon waking, Senior Brother was actually this happy?
And he was calling her Luoluo now?
Suddenly, Su Luo had an idea to tease Li Tianjue.
"S-Senior Brother..." Su Luo managed to speak with difficulty.
Although she could open her eyes now, speaking was still inconvenient. Her muscles felt sore all over, like the aftermath of overexertion. She tried to lift her hand but could only manage to lift the blanket slightly. The soreness in her arm made her wince in discomfort.
Li Tianjue's brows furrowed. "Luoluo, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
"Senior Brother, I-I feel so unwell... I'm in so much pain..." Su Luo spoke half-truthfully, exaggerating by furrowing her brows and forcing a pained expression. "Could it be that I'm... dying?"
Li Tianjue's mind exploded.
How could this be!?
He quickly checked Su Luo again but found no abnormality within her.
Her blood and qi were flowing smoothly, and her spiritual energy was abundant. She was perfectly fine!
"I feel so unwell, I can't get up..."
Su Luo looked at Li Tianjue pitifully, her eyes on the verge of tears. "Perhaps it was because... I overexerted myself before... My head hurts, and I'm weak all over, I feel so unwell..."
As she spoke, she tried to move her hand again. Indeed, a sour ache surged through her, and her expression became even more exaggerated.
Li Tianjue panicked. Could there be something wrong with Su Luo that he hadn't discovered?
He wasn't an alchemist, nor did he understand complex medical techniques. Seeing Su Luo in such pain, he immediately felt regretful, blaming himself for being too careless these past two days.
"It will be alright, Luoluo. Don't think nonsense. I'll go get a doctor right away." Li Tianjue stood up, ready to leave, but Su Luo stopped him.
"No, Senior Brother! Don't go."
Su Luo softly called out, revealing a knowing and sorrowful expression. "Perhaps I'm beyond help... Controlling so many blood ants before might have drained my mental energy... But there's nothing I can do... S-Senior Brother, don't go, please stay with me, okay?"
She tried her best to hold back a smile, nearly suffering internal injuries from suppressing it.
She hadn't expected Senior Brother to be so easily fooled. A few casual words and he believed her.
How could he be fooled like this when he could have found out her condition by simply channeling spiritual energy into her for a check-up?
This was too amusing.
Li Tianjue had no choice but to sit back down, his heart filled with anxiety, his mind a mess.
He had never imagined that Su Luo would have such a serious problem after sleeping for two days.
Damn it, he hadn't found a doctor to give her a thorough examination. He had missed two precious days. It was all his fault; he had harmed her!
Li Tianjue was filled with regret and remorse, so distressed that he could barely speak.
"Senior Brother, don't be sad. I don't regret anything."
Su Luo spoke softly, feigning extreme effort, and then managed a smile at him. "Even if I die, as long as everyone else is safe, I... I will still be... very happy..."
Li Tianjue couldn't listen any longer. "Stop talking. I'll find some elixirs for you to take; perhaps that will help."
He quickly searched his storage ring, pulling out a bottle of healing pills, then a spirit recovery pill, a calming pill, a foundation building pill... He took out almost all the elixirs he had, piling them up on the bed.
As soon as he fed one to Su Luo, she spat it out and coughed violently. Li Tianjue became even more panicked.
"Does it feel bad, Luoluo... Do you still have your Spring of Life? Drink some first; perhaps it will help! No, no, I must have Tianshu invite a doctor... Luoluo, wait a moment, I..."
Seeing his incoherent rambling and panicked state, so unlike his usual self, Su Luo cursed herself for being so wicked but continued to play along with even more enthusiasm.
She quickly said, "No!"
If a doctor were to be called, wouldn't her deception be exposed?
"Senior Brother, don't go. Can you talk to me for a while..."
She weakly pulled Li Tianjue's hand and spoke with a faint breath. "I... I can't hold on, I feel so unwell..." As she spoke, she deliberately rolled her eyes. Li Tianjue, anxious, quickly channeled spiritual energy to her and even pinched her philtrum.
Ouch, that hurt. Senior Brother, be gentler!
Su Luo almost cried out.
She tightly gripped Li Tianjue's hand to prevent him from pinching her again. Li Tianjue, worried, completely overlooked the strength in her grip.
"There's something... I want to... ask you, otherwise I won't die in peace..." Su Luo looked at him feebly.
"Don't say such things!"
Li Tianjue's voice was hoarse, his hands trembling. Looking at Su Luo's discomfort, his heart felt as if it were being twisted with pain.
He never imagined that Su Luo would lie to him, especially in such a critical situation. His heart filled with shock and sadness made him lose his usual composure. He had never thought that he would lose this spirited girl so soon.
Suddenly, the sky rumbled with thunder, catching him completely off guard!
"What... what do you want to ask?" he managed to say with difficulty.
"I want to know..."
Su Luo's heart pounded faster, and she quickly said, "Last time Sister Wen asked, Senior Brother, who is the person you like... who is it?"
She was extremely curious. She had spent the entire journey back guessing, but she had no answer.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, she was determined to find out.
Li Tianjue was stunned. He hadn't expected Su Luo to care about this question.
"Tell me... Senior Brother..." Su Luo put on a pathetic act, as if it were her last wish before death, shaking his hand. "The woman you like, who is it?"