At that time, Song Yao was trying hard to read medical books.
To keep herself from falling asleep so quickly, she had come up with a method.
She would rotate between medical books, pill manuals, and herbal medicine books.
She could always absorb at least a little bit that way.
Although the current results were negligible and she still hadn't broken past the hurdle of the tenth page, it was some progress at least.
By the time Jiang Jin arrived, Song Yao was already on the verge of passing out.
To nurture herbs, Baicao Peak was protected by a special barrier, preventing even a single flake of the deep winter snow outside from seeping in.
The courtyard was always as warm as late spring.
When Jiang Jin pushed the door open and entered, he saw the youth dressed in a light green Daoist robe, reclining lazily on a bamboo lounge chair under the veranda.
Her black hair was held up by only a single wooden hairpin, with loose strands falling down, and the book in her hand was lazily propped against the tip of her nose.
Her eyes were half-squinted, looking half-asleep. When she was quiet, her elegant and beautiful features were almost dazzling.
Jiang Jin unconsciously softened his breathing and slowed his steps.
He walked over step by step, reached out to pull the book from her hand, and glanced at the title page.
Treatise on the Eight Meridians' Illnesses.
An introductory book for medical cultivators.
He felt a slight wave of joy in his heart.
He had previously thought that if she could take up medical cultivation as a secondary path, she would be a great help to him in the future.
Both of them had great talent and were of similar age. Once their cultivation levels rose in the future, they might even be able to make a grand name for themselves in the cultivation world.
As he was thinking, Song Yao sleepily fluttered her eyes open.
Seeing him, most of her sleepiness instantly vanished, and she asked in a slightly raspy voice, “Why are you here?”
Tomorrow was the Grand Sect Tournament. Why wasn't he practicing his swordplay instead of wasting time coming to her courtyard?
But he had come at just the right time.
She sat up slightly, lowering her head to rummage through her spatial pouch for the newly refined Qi-Replenishing Pills.
Jiang Jin cleared his throat. “I have something to tell you.”
Finding the porcelain bottle, Song Yao held it in her hand, looked up, and gave him a friendly smile. “I have something to tell you too.”
Jiang Jin: “...You go first.”
Song Yao: “You should go first.”
Asking someone to test medicine for her was a bit unethical, so she needed to figure out how to phrase it.
Jiang Jin hesitated for a moment, set the Treatise on the Eight Meridians' Illnesses down on the stone table, and looked at her with his dark eyes, his tone serious. “I hope you won't participate in tomorrow's Grand Sect Tournament.”
Song Yao paused. “Why?”
Could it be because she broke through too quickly, and he was afraid he wouldn't be able to beat her?
That shouldn't be the case.
He was seventeen, belonging to the seventeen-to-twenty-two age bracket, so they weren't in the same group and wouldn't face each other at all.
Furthermore, according to her knowledge of the plot, although Jiang Jin was the youngest in his age bracket and his cultivation rank wasn't the highest, he would rely on his strength to turn the tables and take first place.
There was absolutely no reason for him to persuade her not to participate.
Jiang Jin cleared his throat, a hint of worry appearing on his handsome face. “You are a pill cultivator, so there's no need for you to get involved in fighting and brawling. Besides, I remember your soul is fragmented and your body is weak. Spells have no eyes on the arena stage. If you get hurt, the consequences will be unimaginable.”
He paused, then added, “Furthermore, during the annual grand tournament, the Sect Master will emerge from seclusion, and several of the personal disciple senior brothers and sisters will also be present to watch the matches. If they take a liking to anyone, they will directly recruit them into the main peak. Haven't you always wanted to leave the Nine Saints Hall? If you're actually selected for the main peak, it will only become a shackle for you. It won't benefit you at all.”
Song Yao looked up and swept her gaze over his tense jawline, instantly understanding everything.
This was the real point.
He was worried she would be noticed by the Hall Master or the personal disciples, stealing his spot.
Wasn't this overpowered protagonist supposed to be proud and arrogant? What was with him coming over to make roundabout excuses to stop her from participating?
Her eyes were too clear, giving Jiang Jin the illusion that he was being seen right through, and his cheeks grew slightly warm.
Feeling inexplicably guilty, he reached out and grabbed Song Yao's wrist, forcing himself to say, “I only came to advise you because I know your ambitions lie elsewhere. Don't you want to be a medical cultivator or a pill cultivator? Once I enter the main peak, I'll build a good relationship with Eldest Senior Brother and have him teach you. I will definitely not leave you behind.”
Song Yao: “?”
Leave behind what?
She suspiciously glanced at his hand gripping her wrist, then at the youth's flushed cheeks, feeling like something was off.
Why was he getting so touchy-feely?
And saying such high-sounding words.
To ask an opponent to withdraw from the tournament, he really had some nerve to say that.
It seemed the overpowered protagonist wasn't as pure and high-minded as written in the book.
She calmly pulled her hand away, feeling a bit mischievous as she asked, “Then why don't I just enter the main peak myself and have Eldest Senior Brother teach me directly?”
“Y-You're a pill cultivator, and with your fragmented soul, how could it be that easy for you to enter the main peak?”
Jiang Jin clearly hadn't expected her to ask back, and he was thrown off-balance. “Besides, your health is poor, so entering the main peak wouldn't be of much use to you. I'm different. I'm a sword cultivator. If I train under the Hall Master, I will definitely achieve great things...”
Song Yao couldn't help but chuckle.
She used to think this overpowered protagonist was just a bit conceited, but now he seemed to have something wrong with his head.
She interrupted his long-winded speech. “Since it's not that easy for me to enter the main peak, what are you afraid of?”
This single sentence completely shut Jiang Jin up.
He opened his mouth, his ears turning so red they looked ready to bleed. “A-After all, you have a good relationship with Second Senior Sister. What if she chooses you as her personal disciple...”
Song Yao raised her eyebrows. “I have a good relationship with Second Senior Sister? Are you blind? She owes me two hundred thousand spirit stones and refuses to pay me back.”
Jiang Jin: “...I'm just saying what if.”
“Is Second Senior Sister accepting disciples, or is the Hall Master?”
Song Yao smiled. “If your aptitude is truly superior to mine, would the Hall Master choose a weakling like me instead of a... sword cultivator destined for great things like you?”
Jiang Jin: “...”
He was left utterly speechless by her retort, his chest feeling tight and congested.
This was a bit different from what he had imagined.
Since she liked him, how could she refuse to agree to such a small request?
As a weak and sickly girl, wouldn't it be enough for her to be a medical cultivator and follow behind him in the future? Why did she have to strive to become a personal disciple?
It was a complete waste.
He took a deep breath, wanting to say more, but when he saw her clear, innocent eyes that seemed to hold the warmth of spring water, he swallowed his words back down.
Forget it.
Considering her fragmented soul and weak body, even if she did go up on the arena stage, she might not be able to compete for a personal disciple spot anyway. There was no need to lock horns with her over this.
Besides, the annual grand tournament was a major event for the sect. Since she was set on going, trying to stop her would only make him look petty and classless.
Softening his tone, he gave a slightly awkward warning: “Forget it, go ahead and participate tomorrow. However, weapons have no eyes on the arena stage, and your body is weak to begin with. You must be careful and absolutely do not push yourself too hard.”
Song Yao: “...”
Participating in the grand tournament was a given. Why did it sound like charity coming from his mouth?
She didn't reply, only letting out a soft chuckle as she leaned lazily back onto the lounge chair.
Jiang Jin felt like she was mocking him. Feeling slightly embarrassed, he changed the subject and asked, “What were you going to tell me just now?”
She had almost forgotten.
Song Yao didn't feel a shred of guilt now. She opened her palm and handed him the pill. “The Qi-Replenishing Pill I just refined. Help me test it.”
Out of medical benevolence, she still added a warning: “There are side effects, but it won't kill you.”
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