An Yi, it's time for soup.

What's wrong?

Shen Muxuan's curious voice came through.

An Yi opened his eyes and chuckled lightly: "It's nothing, you keep massaging."

"Oh."

Shen Muxuan nodded, then continued massaging An Yi, who was resting his head on her lap, asking from time to time: "How's the pressure?"

"It's alright. Don't worry, I won't blame you. You'll get the hang of it with more practice. Practice makes perfect."

After seriously experiencing it, An Yi raised an eyebrow and spoke.

"Mhmm, I'll do my best."

Shen Muxuan nodded like a pecking chick, a look of determination appearing on her stunning face.

According to An Yi's story, in order to save her back then,

his entire body was now eroded by cold, his internal organs damaged, his bones softened, he couldn't take care of himself, and even breathing hurt his lungs.

He was probably done for! Beyond cure!

Seeing An Yi in this state, how could Shen Muxuan just stand by and watch? Tears fell from her eyes, plop, plop.

So, Shen Muxuan volunteered, patting her modestly-sized chest, saying she would take care of him for a lifetime, be good to him forever.

"I'm hungry," An Yi said.

"I'll get it for you!"

Hearing this, Shen Muxuan carefully lifted An Yi's head from her lap, hurriedly went to fetch the prepared meal, and brought it over.

"Ah!"

An Yi opened his mouth.

So, Shen Muxuan, in her clumsy way, picked up her chopsticks, served food to An Yi, and delivered it to his mouth.

"Is the food to your taste?" Shen Muxuan quickly asked.

An Yi chewed a couple of times: "Passable, barely swallowable."

Then, he added: "Thirsty."

"I, I'm on it!"

Shen Muxuan hurriedly ran out and came back carrying a steaming hot clay pot.

She reached out, ladled out a bowl of soup, and carefully helped An Yi sit up: "An Yi, time for your soup."

An Yi:

Seeing Shen Muxuan's deeply concerned look, An Yi waved his hand and sighed, saying: "I'm afraid I don't have long to live."

Shen Muxuan's eyes reddened: "An Yi, don't say such things. Drink your soup."

A triumphant smile curled at the corner of An Yi's mouth.

This silly girl was so easy to fool, believing whatever he said!

Looking down at the soup bowl, An Yi's face turned green.

Black and murky, who knows what it was, a thick, sticky bowlful. As Shen Muxuan stirred it with a wooden spoon, steaming white vapor rose, carrying a foul, fishy smell.

Who knows what was added to this black broth, but the smell was bizarre.

An Yi's face turned pale. He rolled over and said with difficulty: "Not eating anymore. Suddenly lost my appetite."

"No!"

Shen Muxuan, who usually went along with whatever An Yi said, suddenly put on a stern face: "This soup is good for your injury! I simmered it for two whole days just to get this little bit!"

"C-can I not drink it?"

An Yi glanced at the black liquid, swallowed, and asked.

Shen Muxuan looked at him, pouting angrily, her sparkling eyes fixed on him.

In the end, An Yi gave in. With an expression of extreme difficulty, he slowly opened his mouth.

"Gag!"

An Yi, who claimed to be unable to move,

the moment the black liquid touched his throat, could no longer hold it in.

At that moment, Flaming Steps activated.

Flames coiled around An Yi's legs as he sprinted out with vigorous strides, leaned against the doorway, and vomited profusely.

Back in the mortal world, her cooking was bad, but he could still force it down.

But this black concoction... he was truly powerless!

"An Yi, y-you're better?"

Seeing this scene, Shen Muxuan's eyes went wide. An indescribable joy surged in her heart.

"I really am a genius."

Shen Muxuan revealed a proud, beaming smile, carrying the bowl as she chased after him: "An Yi, drink it while it's hot. I'll simmer another pot later! Let's eradicate this illness root and branch."

"No, Muxuan, I was lying to you!"

"Be good, don't be naughty! It's just starting to show results."

Just as An Yi was about to be forced by Shen Muxuan to drink the black liquid again,

a knocking sound came at the door.

Mu Qingyi pushed the door open and entered, then frowned slightly: "What's that smell? It's awful."

"Master, it's the soup I made. Do you want to try some? I simmered it for two days."

Shen Muxuan said happily, holding up the black liquid.

Mu Qingyi's beautiful face darkened: "Throw that soup away!"

"W-why?!"

Shen Muxuan said aggrievedly: "I simmered it for two whole days to get just this little, and the ingredients were very expensive."

"Fire Ginseng from Dragon Valley, White Bear Tail, Li Chicken, Crystal Ice Fruit... so many ingredients with conflicting properties. Are you sure it won't kill someone?" Mu Qingyi said helplessly.

Shen Muxuan argued unconvinced: "But An Yi's illness was cured by this medicine!"

Mu Qingyi showed a somewhat odd expression: "What illness does he have?"

"He..."

"We're just playing around, no illness."

An Yi smiled and covered Shen Muxuan's mouth.

Mu Qingyi was now also his woman, but if she found out he was bullying her disciple, she would still scold him.

Mu Qingyi gave An Yi a helpless glance.

She had already guessed about eighty or ninety percent of the truth.

"How has the Hundred Ghosts Sect been lately?"

An Yi straightened up and asked seriously.

Mu Qingyi frowned slightly in thought: "As of now, the Hundred Ghosts Sect has shown no movement."

"No movement? That shouldn't be right..."

An Yi pinched his chin, showing a contemplative look.

Considering the situation, he had just fought his way through the five major sects, and his forces were currently worn out and weary.

For the Hundred Ghosts Sect to ignore this completely went against all logic.

Mu Qingyi said thoughtfully: "I also feel something is off, but it's been two days, and there's been no unusual news."

These past two days, Mu Qingyi, as the Pavilion Master, had been on constant alert.

"It's fine. Everyone has rested and recovered by now. If they want a fight, then let them try! The Asura Sect isn't easy to bully."

An Yi revealed a trace of arrogance as he spoke.

Mu Qingyi still seemed somewhat uneasy and said: "Alright then, I'll go check on the alert status. It's still not time to relax."

Watching her master's figure leave the room,

Shen Muxuan fixed a fierce gaze on An Yi: "You lied to me!"

"N-no, I was just joking."

An Yi took a step back, saying awkwardly.

"You make me so mad! I'll bite you!"

With that, Shen Muxuan, looking furious, pounced over, knocked An Yi to the ground, bared her pearly white teeth, and made as if to bite him.

Seeing the soft, delicate body pouncing into his arms, An Yi wrapped his arms around her slender waist and quickly said: "Stop, stop, I admit I was wrong, okay?"

"You... do you know how worried I was? How could you joke like that?"

Shen Muxuan lay on top of him, looking utterly wronged.

An Yi looked at Shen Muxuan's reddened eyes, and a surge of tenderness rose in his heart: "Alright, I'm sorry!"

"Too late!"

Shen Muxuan's teeth left An Yi's hand. On the back of his hand was now a neat row of tooth marks.

But there was no blood; clearly, she hadn't had the heart to bite hard.

"Tsk, you dare bite me, girl!"

An Yi rolled over, turning the tables, and pinned Shen Muxuan to the ground.

Shen Muxuan, feeling An Yi's strong, masculine body against hers, blushed: "Y-you, what are you doing?"

An Yi didn't speak, slowly leaning closer to her.

An ambiguous atmosphere spread.

Slowly, Shen Muxuan also closed her eyes, blushing, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

Then, she suddenly opened her eyes and said weakly: "Sh-should we brush our teeth first? You drank the soup... the smell is a bit strong."

An Yi:

"So you know it tastes awful too?!"

"Mhmm..."