Chapter 20: Dreamscape

To hell with your “be good”.
Bu Xiwei retorted fiercely in her mind, but her throat couldn’t make a sound, and her body lay limp in Yu Xiu’s embrace.

The moment her body touched Yu Xiu’s, all her dulled senses slowly began to return.
The faint scent that greeted her was soft and soothing.
It wasn’t the first time Bu Xiwei had been this close and enveloped by it, yet she still found it… undeniably pleasant.

Her sense of touch also began to sharpen.
Bu Xiwei noticed that her chest was pressing against… another equally soft and full object.
Firmly pressed.

“…”
Isn’t Yu Xiu suffocating like this?! Isn’t it uncomfortable?!

Sensing the subtle unrest in the person she held, Yu Xiu adjusted their posture with practiced ease, making the position more comfortable for both of them.
She clearly had experience in “how to hold Bu Xiwei.”

A gentle warmth radiated steadily from Yu Xiu’s body—soft spiritual energy that carefully wrapped around Bu Xiwei.
This warmth flowed into her, tenderly soothing and repairing the damaged meridians in her body.

Finally able to speak, Bu Xiwei rested her head on Yu Xiu’s shoulder.
Her weak voice held obvious frustration.
“…Can you stop treating me like I’m completely useless? Am I that pathetic?!”

This time, the one holding her didn’t answer right away.
Silence stretched for a while—so long that Bu Xiwei started to feel an inexplicable sense of unease.

Then, Yu Xiu’s voice came again, tinged with a slight smile.
“…Does the Demon Lord want me to try a more intense method?”

The moment the words left her mouth, a sharp spiritual aura surged, and Bu Xiwei’s instincts screamed in alarm.
Yu Xiu no longer suppressed her power.

Spiritual energy imbued with the properties of fire and gold surged into Bu Xiwei’s body at a terrifying speed, flooding through her meridians.
It was overwhelming—utterly disregarding whether Bu Xiwei could endure it.

The stimulation was too intense.
Bu Xiwei’s body trembled uncontrollably.
Her toes, which had just regained some feeling, curled tightly.

Her darkened vision flashed with erratic golden sparks.
She buried herself deeper into Yu Xiu’s arms, and a muffled groan escaped her clenched teeth—mixed with a soft gasp.
“…Mmm…!”

The moment she heard herself, Bu Xiwei felt like she’d been struck by lightning.
…That soft, breathy, shamefully delicate sound came out of me?!

Before she could feel fully embarrassed, another fresh wave of spiritual energy crashed into her.

“…?!”

Her unfocused pupils shrank violently.
Why is Yu Xiu doing it again?!

“…Stop!”
Bu Xiwei wanted to punch Yu Xiu’s shoulder, but her limbs had no strength.
She could only shout with all her might—the only form of resistance she could muster.
“Quick—quick, stop! Ah…!”

The second surge was even more powerful.
Tears welled in Bu Xiwei’s eyes, her throat tightening with sobs.
“…I said stop! Did you—did you hear me?!”

She no longer cared how alluring her voice might sound.
Golden sparks bloomed endlessly in her mind like exploding fireworks.
She genuinely felt like she was about to die at Yu Xiu’s hands.

At last, Bu Xiwei threw her pride out the window and begged for mercy.
“Stop… stop, please, okay? I’m begging you…”

This time, Yu Xiu finally stopped.

Bu Xiwei’s vision recovered enough to see the suoh-colored fabric in front of her eyes, but her body now felt even weaker than it had been when she first woke up.

The culprit, however, sounded as composed as ever.
Yu Xiu’s voice remained calm and gentle.
She even chuckled softly.
“It seems that if I don’t hold back, the healing effect is even better.”

Bu Xiwei didn’t even have the energy to curse at her.

To be fair, compared to Yu Xiu’s previous healing technique—which was like a spring drizzle—this near-overdose of spiritual energy did work far more efficiently to mend her meridians.

After mustering a bit of strength, Bu Xiwei threw a weak punch at Yu Xiu.
The effect was as light as a feather—more like a soft pout than an attack.

“Your…”
Her voice was hoarse.
“…your meridians aren’t any better than mine. And you’re still transferring spiritual energy to me like this… Do you have a death wish?!”

She hadn’t forgotten that this blind Yu Xiu had nearly succumbed to Qi Deviation before.
Her meridians were already damaged.

The moment those words left her lips, Bu Xiwei blacked out again.

In a haze, she felt Yu Xiu gently lay her flat on the ground, placing her head on her lap.
After who knows how long, Bu Xiwei vaguely heard Yu Xiu speaking to someone through a communication talisman.

“…Don’t worry,”
Yu Xiu’s voice was calm, composed, and reassuring.
“I’m fine.”

The person on the other end clearly didn’t believe her.
“…How can you be fine, with Bu Xiwei around?! Isn’t it the Seven Souls Sect?! Head Senior Sister, you’re being… hunted…!”

Bu Xiwei couldn’t make out the full conversation—just a few scattered phrases.
But she recognized the voice instantly.

That person—Huangfu something—was the Peak Master of Jinlu Peak in the Five Elements Sect.
She seemed to have been Yu Xiu’s junior since childhood, and they had a good relationship.

Whatever Yu Xiu said next made the voice on the other end shoot up in alarm.
“Head Senior Sister! Don’t tell me you’ve really fallen for that crippled Demon Lord—just like the rumors say?!”

That sentence nearly jolted Bu Xiwei fully awake.
Yu Xiu, fallen for me?! What kind of joke is that?!

Forget that Yu Xiu just tortured me with her healing—she still has that much spiritual energy stored in her ruined meridians?! That’s proof enough that her Emotionless Dao is still rock-solid. Fall for me, my ass!

Seething, Bu Xiwei wished she could jump up and punch Yu Xiu.
Even if she knew she’d lose, she still wanted to hit her.

Yu Xiu’s tone remained as calm as ever.
“…I’ll entrust the Five Elements Sect to you… I’m relieved…”

Entrust, my ass.
Bu Xiwei sulked internally.
That Huangfu something is obviously useless. She couldn’t even handle a simple task like finding a secret realm entrance and begged you to take her instead. If the Five Elements Sect is left to her, your righteous path is doomed!

Oh, right, Bu Xiwei remembered.
Her name is Huangfu Hanrui.

“…!!”

Her eyes snapped open.
Memories tangled and fell into place.
Bu Xiwei woke from the dream.