Soon, Lvxin arranged for someone to send lunch over and there were fruits, fish, congee as well as a wide variety of food.
Tianci's eyes lit up when he saw the impressive spread laid out in front of him. He had been fed dog food or worse over the past four days.
He looked up at Hua Qiyue, as though waiting for permission.
Hua Qiyue stroked his head tenderly and said, "Go ahead, son. But you mustn't be too anxious… if you eat too quickly, you'll make yourself sick, understand?"
Tianci was delighted. He had not known Hua Qiyue for a long time but the tenderness in her eyes made him feel safe. Then, he started to gulp the food down.
Hua Qiyue's heart ached when she looked at him, and Lvxin and Youshui couldn't help but wipe at their eyes.
The most important thing right now was for Tianci's throat to be healed, and Tianpi of the Mysterious World was undoubtedly the best person to do that.
Hua Qiyue quietly stared at Tianci's face, covered in cuts and bruises, and felt the hatred in her heart grew stronger. It was as though darkness had sunk deep into her heart, so thick that it could not be erased.
It only took Tianci the afternoon to get acquainted with Hua Qiyue. He ate until he was full then good-naturedly rubbed his face against her arm. She found this comforting, as it was what he used to do, before everything went horribly wrong.
Hua Qiyue looked into her son's clear eyes. "Tianci, go play with Sister Lvxin. I'd like some time to rest, is that alright?"
Tianci nodded and there was a flicker of confusion and trepidation in his eyes.
Not long later, he was enjoying himself playing hide-and-seek with Lvxin outside.
Hua Qiyue lay in bed, clutching her green jade gourd, and entered the desolate world inside.
Tianpi sat idly on the ground, his back resting against a large rock. He looked at her, a faint smile dancing across his lips.
"I see my disciple is truly clever. She really taught those wretched people a good lesson. Tsk tsk!"
Hua Qiyue smiled and said, "Thanks for the compliment. I've come today to ask a favor…"
"This is regarding your adopted son, right? Tsk. I just can't understand it. You're the eldest daughter of the family at the height of your prime, so why would you spend so much effort to rescue that invalid?"
"Master, please be more respectful! He is not an outsider. This boy is my son," Hua Qiyue interjected coldly.
Tianpi was stunned. He didn't think that she would dare to contradict him.
Hua Qiyue bent down to plant the Long Red seed into the ground and watched as the seed sprouted, and quickly grew before her eyes.
This world was truly magical and it took less than an hour for the seed to blossom into a flower.
"Master, this might be the only favor I'll ever ask for you. If you could make Tianci speak again, I'll pay whatever price it takes."
Hua Qiyue said softly and the red glow of the arid place splashed across her face, tinting her black eyes a faint red. Her gaze was soft and her brows were like willows. Tianpi could not hold back a frown when he noticed the gentle curve of her bowed head.
"Tsk, what if I ask for you to give yourself to me?" Tianpi said with a cynical laugh.
"Sure." Her reply was flat and resolute.
The corners of his mouth twitched and he put his hand over his forehead in resignation.
"Alright, alright. I give up! I'll help you, since you're my disciple. I'm not a doctor, so I can't simply cure your son. However… I can give you the seeds for some herbs. And I hope you appreciate it — I've been collecting these for more than a thousand years! Humph."
Hua Qiyue was a little dejected at his words. "Master, won't you be able to treat his throat?"
"As I said, I'm not a doctor, and there is no cauldron for brewing potions here. You must realize that my strengths are in Qi Art and summoning the dead. Powerful as I am, I'm rather lacking in medical skills," Tianpi said exasperatedly as he passed the bag of seeds to her.
Hua Qiyue accepted the bag of seeds. "Thanks, Master."
She did not waste any more time speaking but sat on the floor to cultivate her Qi Art earnestly in accordance with how Tianpi had shown her a few nights earlier.
Tianpi studied her silently from where he sat.
He had lived in this jade gourd for at least 500 years. He was so old that ever he was not sure of his actual age.
When Hua Qiyue wore this jade gourd, he tried his best to get her to sense him but the original Hua Qiyue had been a coward, and thus useless to him.
Thus, he was surprised to see her sitting quietly, cultivating her Qi Art. He could not help but clap when a circle of light blue Qi appeared from the top of her head and did not dissipate.
"Hua Qiyue, it took me three months to attain Grand Completion Assimilation Stage. You've managed to achieve the same feat in a few nights. I think I've found myself a genius disciple!" Tianpi laughed happily, which accentuated his gorgeous features.
Hua Qiyue looked at her lousy teacher curiously. Why was a man as strikingly handsome as him trapped in such a place?