There wasn't much to do in the afternoon.
Fang Xuan, remembering his severely injured persona, mostly stayed in bed, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing.
Ning Xian seemed to have returned to her usual aloof demeanor, quietly pounding herbs in the yard and sorting drying medicinal plants.
Occasionally, she would enter the room to see if he needed water or to tuck in his quilt.
But Fang Xuan always felt that senior sister was a little... different today.
Beneath that coolness, there was an inexplicable awkwardness, hard to pinpoint.
It was as if she wanted to say something to him, wanted to do something, but her hands and feet were tied, leaving her to pace in place.
The most obvious instance was nearing dusk when Ning Xian brought in a bowl of medicinal congee.
She sat by the bed as usual and scooped a spoonful.
Then, her movements halted.
She held the spoon suspended in mid-air, her gaze fixed on the surface of the congee, occasionally darting a quick glance at Fang Xuan.
A faint pink blush visibly spread across her ears.
She pursed her lips repeatedly; the words, "Let me feed you," rolled in her throat countless times but just wouldn't come out.
Fang Xuan just found her struggling, hesitant look...
He felt... a temptation...
......
Ultimately, Fang Xuan took the spoon and ate the congee himself.
Ning Xian seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, yet also a little disappointed, sitting silently by his side.
After he finished eating, she collected the bowl and spoon, then left without a word.
......
By early evening, Fang Xuan felt his bones would turn to jelly from lying down so long, so he wanted to move a little, using the excuse of going to the outhouse behind the house.
He gently pushed open the door and just as he peeked out halfway, his gaze casually swept across the yard and settled on the corner, under an old tree.
Ning Xian was squatting under the tree, her head bowed, her slender fingers circling a dry grass stem on the ground, round and round.
The afterglow cast a warm golden hue on her thin figure, yet it inexplicably exuded a sense of helplessness.
Fang Xuan's steps faltered.
He knew he had probably overdone it this time...
Where was his cool, aloof senior sister, such a formidable presence?
......
She seemed to hear the sound of the door opening and quickly stood up, turning to face him.
Her face still bore that distant, detached expression, as if the helpless figure squatting on the ground, circling her fingers, had merely been Fang Xuan's imagination.
But a trace of unmasked panic still lingered in her eyes.
"Hm?" Ning Xian looked at him, her voice steady, betraying no emotion, "Didn't we agree... you shouldn't get out of bed?"
Fang Xuan coughed dryly, forcing a weak expression onto his face:
"Senior sister, I'm just going to the outhouse..."
Ning Xian frowned slightly, her gaze sweeping over his face.
Fang Xuan felt a prickle of unease under her gaze, knowing what might happen, and quickly thought of saying, "I can manage myself."
But Ning Xian had already walked over, extended her hand, and supported his arm.
"I'll help you."
"N-no need, senior sister? It's just a few steps..."
"Less talk." Ning Xian cut him off.
Fang Xuan: "......"
But thankfully... his greatest fear didn't materialize. Senior sister forcibly helped him to the door, then moved away.
Although he had seen her completely exposed yesterday... and she had been bound, at least he had been unconscious. It was fine.
After all, he had already seen what he should and shouldn't have seen of senior sister's body before... he had seen even more than he should have...
But now, in broad daylight, even though he was feigning injury, he was fully conscious...
【Detected host experiencing shame and anticipation under Master Ning Xian's mandatory supervision, aligning with a scenario of a training target under strict master control. Training value +1!】
Fang Xuan: "......Shut up, I don't want to hear that right now."
.......
Outside, Ning Xian stood quietly, her cool face expressionless.
Only the fingers hanging by her side unconsciously squeezed each other again.
When Fang Xuan finally shuffled out, Ning Xian immediately stepped forward to support him again, silently escorting him back to bed and carefully covering him with the quilt.
"Rest well, no getting out of bed."
She dropped this phrase, gave him another look, then turned and left.
Fang Xuan lay in bed, staring at the bamboo roof, letting out a long sigh.
Was senior sister's concern-induced chaos a bit too... practical?
It seemed he couldn't fake this injury for too long.
Fang Xuan rubbed his nose, pondering inwardly.
After the training value rewards were settled tonight, he'd see what he got, and then tomorrow he could probably start to recover a bit.
Then, it would be time for the next "big move."
For example, finding a suitable moment, and with the most sincere tone, telling senior sister:
"Senior sister, my devotion to you... seems to have changed."
He wondered how senior sister would react. Blush? Hit him out? Or... be stunned?
He felt a slight anticipation just thinking about it.
......
As night deepened.
Confirming there was no movement outside, Ning Xian was likely still busy.
Fang Xuan immediately sat up, full of energy, and eagerly opened the system panel with his mind.
【Initiating daily mission settlement and reward distribution...】
Here it comes, here it comes! The main event.
Fang Xuan held his breath, staring unblinkingly at the virtual interface.
Hundreds of training points, would the system finally show some conscience and give him some high-grade goods?
Perhaps pills that could aid in breaking through to the Golden Core Realm, or a decent magic artifact.
He even thought of meat buns, thinking a change from the monotonous spirit buns would be nice; he was truly sick of them.
Light flickered, and the settlement was complete.
【Based on accumulated training value from yesterday and early this morning (total 608.5), rewards are converted as follows:】
【spirit bun x 16】
【Note: Detected a significant increase in host's recent training value acquisition efficiency. Conversion rate has been slightly adjusted upwards as encouragement.】
【Host, please continue to strive for early and complete training by your master!】
Fang Xuan's expectant expression instantly froze.
Then, it slowly crumbled.
Sixteen...
Plump, white, warm, with no special effects other than pure spiritual power...
Spirit buns.
Piled up in the system space like a small white mound.
System, are you a novice...
No choice, buns were still acceptable.
At least while others cultivated with weak foundations, he had devoured buns, so his foundation was naturally solid.
It was just that eating them... was choking him.
And at that moment—
"Creak."
The bamboo door to his room, of all things, was pushed open.
Ning Xian walked in, carrying a cup of warm water.
As soon as she entered, she saw Fang Xuan sitting on the bed, holding half a bun, his cheeks puffed out.
Their eyes met.
The air was silent for a moment.
"Hm! Ngh—!"
Fang Xuan was startled by this sudden inspection, choked on his breath, and swallowed hard to get the bun down.
Only after finally catching his breath and gulping down most of the water did Fang Xuan recover, leaning weakly against the headboard, still clutching the remaining half of the bun.
Ning Xian looked at the extremely plain white flour bun in his hand, and complex emotions welled up in her cool eyes.
There was chagrin, heartache, self-reproach, and a hint of indescribable bitterness.
She remembered Fang Xuan taking out a pill to save her, and his unhesitating protection of her yesterday.
She recalled his words, "Senior sister, I'll take you away..."
Yet privately, he was severely injured, with not even decent tonics, only able to gnaw on the most ordinary white flour buns, not even spirit grain.
It was her failing, her dereliction of duty as a senior sister.
She was in a difficult situation now, unable to provide him with good cultivation resources, and even his daily meals... she had neglected him.
Moreover, seeing him just now, wolfing down his food and almost choking... he must not have eaten enough again...
And also, she realized her junior brother liked buns so much, and she had never known.
Ning Xian silently made a note.
She couldn't make them, but she could learn.
There was white flour for sale in the town down the mountain; she could buy some and learn to make them.
Though they couldn't compare to spirit food, at least... they would be more palatable for him.
Also, her heart had been on edge ever since he left his room earlier.
Now, seeing him almost choke on a bun, that fear rushed back.
She couldn't let him out of her sight.
But what reason could she use to make him stay obediently where she could see him?
The terror of the hundred ghosts attacking last night, and Fang Xuan covered in blood, reappeared in her mind.
She didn't want to be alone anymore.
This long path filled with betrayal and pain, she had originally only intended to drag her broken body to its end in silence.
But now, she only wanted to live.
To live, to see him smile, to see him even act mischievous, or make her angry—anything was better than seeing him motionless, his breath faint.
Ning Xian lowered her eyes, her long, slender lashes concealing the turbulent thoughts within.
Fang Xuan watched Ning Xian's downcast profile, and for some reason, a sudden, inexplicable chill ran down his spine.
Senior sister's gaze... why did it seem different from usual?
Rate on N.U.
