"Mm." Duan Lingyun's face showed awkwardness, a flicker of unreadable emotion passing through her eyes.
"Turn around. I'll help you circulate your qi." Little Wei patted Duan Lingyun's shoulder, signaling her to turn.
Even if she was hopeless, at the very least, she should reach the Foundation Establishment stage before death.
Among cultivators, it might not count for much, but in the mortal world, she could still find a peaceful city and live comfortably for the rest of her life.
Little Wei had already mapped out Duan Lingyun's entire future.
Duan Lingyun's face paled slightly as she turned and sat cross-legged. Only then did Little Wei transfer a small stream of her own spiritual energy into Duan Lingyun—just a trickle.
It would help Duan Lingyun regulate her qi. If this little disciple messed up again, Little Wei would truly be at a loss for words.
But once the energy entered, Little Wei realized just how terrible Duan Lingyun's meridians were—like scrap metal, uneven and narrow. No wonder she kept misfiring her qi.
Little Wei abruptly withdrew her hand.
"This is a foundational issue. For now, you shouldn’t attempt qi circulation." Little Wei felt a headache coming on.
Hearing this, Duan Lingyun lowered her gaze, her fingers digging into her palms.
Was she about to be abandoned by her master?
Meanwhile, Little Wei finally dredged up something useful from the original owner’s memories—
Spirit Vein Fruit.
A fruit born from condensed spiritual energy, grown on trees in the frigid lands. A top-tier heavenly treasure, capable of nourishing meridians and healing old internal injuries. If taken alongside Marrow-Cleansing Fruit, it could even reconstruct damaged meridians.
For most people, the Marrow-Cleansing Fruit alone would suffice. But Duan Lingyun’s body was so frail that Little Wei feared she might keel over after swallowing one, leaving the entire sect to feast at her funeral.
Marrow-Cleansing Fruits weren’t hard to come by—the original owner had seven or eight in her spatial storage, gifts from the peak lords over the years.
But the Spirit Vein Fruit was another matter.
The extreme northern frostlands were treacherous—even mighty cultivators dared not venture there recklessly. But since the original owner specialized in ice techniques and had her staff, it shouldn’t be too much trouble.
Would cold-based attacks even count as attacks?
The real issue was that Spirit Vein Fruits were nearly impossible to preserve once plucked, which was why they were considered rare treasures.
Ugh, what a headache.
Seeing her master’s constant frown, Duan Lingyun’s heart sank. She knew how fortunate she was just to have been accepted into the Qingdao Sect with her wrecked body. She didn’t dare hope for more.
"Master, I can recover slowly on my own," Duan Lingyun offered.
Little Wei rolled her eyes. "Your condition is serious. For now, don’t attempt full-cycle cultivation—just use spiritual energy to nourish your meridians. I’ll go ask Sect Leader for advice."
She patted Duan Lingyun’s shoulder, a faint smile in her eyes. "Don’t worry. Since you’ve become my disciple, I’ll treat you like my own daughter. No need to call me ‘Dad,’ though—just listen to me."
Duan Lingyun: "…"
Somehow, she felt like she couldn’t keep up with her master’s erratic train of thought.
But still…
"Master… is there really a way to fix my meridians?" A sliver of hope colored Duan Lingyun’s voice.
"Mn. I know of a fruit that could help, but the place it grows is dangerous. I’ll ask Sect Leader if there’s an alternative." Little Wei’s tone was gentle.
"Okay." This time, a trace of joy brightened Duan Lingyun’s expression.
Seeing Duan Lingyun return to meditation, Little Wei finally took her leave.
The Qingdao Sect’s leader resided in Qingdao Peak, where the main hall stood. Finding him wasn’t difficult.
After all, the sect leader had just taken on a new disciple, Cheng Yuguang, and was currently lecturing him in the courtyard.
"Master, I understand." As Cheng Yuguang spoke, his refined yet stern master suddenly stood up, eyes alight with enthusiasm.
"Little Yi, what brings you here?"
Cheng Yuguang turned to see a girl of about fifteen or sixteen tilting her head at the courtyard entrance.
"Uncle." Little Wei grinned, her eyes crinkling.
For some reason, Helian Chi felt a chill down his spine. Why did this girl’s gaze seem so… scheming?
He wiped away imaginary sweat, hoping it was just his imagination.
"What do you need?" Helian Chi asked warmly.
"Let’s talk inside." Little Wei glanced at Cheng Yuguang meditating outside and nudged the tall Helian Chi.
Without question, Helian Chi led her into the main hall.
"What’s so secretive that you can’t say it out there?" Helian Chi chuckled, sipping his tea.
"Uncle, does the sect have anything like Spirit Vein Fruit?" Little Wei grabbed his arm and shook it.
"What do you need that for?" Helian Chi arched a brow. "For your little disciple?"
He thought for a moment—only that would make this lazy girl come running.
He hadn’t expected her to care so much. It was… unexpected.
"So you’ll give it to me?" Little Wei perked up instantly.
Helian Chi fell silent.
"I don’t have Spirit Vein Fruit, but I do have Spirit Vein Pills. You should be grateful our sect is the best—we have everything. This is a sixth-grade pill. Back then, the old alchemy master only refined five. Three remain in the sect. If there were only one left, I wouldn’t give it to you."
Helian Chi snorted and ruffled Little Wei’s hair.
"Come, I’ll take you to get it."
He had always indulged Gu Tianyi.
Little Wei beamed.
"Thank you, Uncle!"
Now her unlucky disciple could cultivate properly.
Helian Chi huffed but said nothing more, leading her into his study.
The hidden chamber lay behind the bookshelves. As Little Wei followed, her gaze caught on a name—
Gu Wei…
Wait.
She froze, staring at the portrait on the wall—a young man reclining against a stone pillar by a stream, eyes half-lidded, exuding tranquility.
His features carried the grace of distant mountains, sending a jolt through Little Wei’s heart.
Gu Wei… that was her name too.
Could she be…?
Before she could ponder further, Helian Chi called out, "Why are you dawdling? Hurry up."
"Coming!" She rushed after him.
The chamber was about the same size as the study. Against the far wall was a bed, while the right side held bookshelves and pill racks—clearly Helian Chi’s private treasures.
Most walls were adorned with luminous pearls or decorations, except for one conspicuously blank space behind the desk.
Little Wei’s eyes lingered on it. For some reason, she felt something should be there.
A clean rectangular patch on the stone suggested something had been removed—likely a portrait.
But… whose portrait?
Helian Chi, having retrieved the pill, noticed her staring.
"Strange. Where’s the portrait that was hanging here?" He frowned.
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