Silly Girl; The Sword Art Of Feng-Hua . . .
The Pei-Yuan Dan Bead wasn't just a simple remedy; it was a potent elixir capable of cleansing impurities from her body while strengthening her organs. Su Ye-Yue's body reacted swiftly, and she experienced a sharp pain in her belly. This rapid response was a testament to her exceptional aptitude for cultivation, as it was not a typical reaction to the purification process.
In the time it took for an incense stick to burn, faint footsteps heralded Su Ye-Yue's return. She groaned and complained about feeling unwell, suspecting that Cha-Eun Xiao had given her a cathartic pill.
"No, I didn't," he reassured her with a warm smile. "Take some rest, and you'll feel better in just a few moments."
His words weren't mere comfort; they were based on the knowledge that the expulsion of impurities would temporarily disrupt her body's functions. However, this discomfort was a natural part of the self-adjustment process. After a few hours, the discomfort would subside, leaving her feeling refreshed and benefiting from the purification process.
"Well, I should probably go home then," Su Ye-Yue replied weakly. "My stomach feels terrible, and it wouldn't be proper for me to stay here."
"Don't worry," Cha-Eun Xiao insisted. "Stay the night here. I've already sent my men to inform your father. Besides, I wouldn't be at ease if you were to go back feeling like this."
Initially, she appeared quite unwell, but his concern seemed to provide her with some relief. Su Ye-Yue smiled broadly, revealing her canines. "Are you really worried about me?"
Wen-Ren Chu-Chu, in a similar situation, might have been concerned about her reputation, but Su Ye-Yue's pure heart focused on Cha-Eun Xiao's sincerity. He nodded and replied, "Yes, I am."
"Very well," Su Ye-Yue agreed happily. "Then please prepare a room for me. I need to rest and take a bath. I'm exhausted and sleepy."
After the anxieties of the past few days, she was indeed tired.
...
It was now midnight.
Cha-Eun Xiao sat cross-legged on his bed, deeply engrossed in his cultivation. He harnessed the power of the East-rising Purple Qi, which surrounded his body like a scorching mist. This time, he sought to control its intense heat.
In his palm, he held three pieces of Sky Crystal Sand, items he had acquired at the auction. The searing energy of the East-rising Purple Qi converged at the center of his hand, creating a sensation akin to holding a miniature sun.
Concentrating all his efforts, he operated the energy rapidly, striving to complete the formation of this miniature sun as swiftly as possible. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he worked diligently.
The pieces of Sky Crystal Sand in his hand began to rotate slowly, enveloped by the scorching energy of the East-rising Purple Qi. Remarkably, the Sky Crystal Sand pieces turned red-hot but showed no signs of melting.
It was truly astounding that the Real Soul Fire, derived from the East-rising Purple Qi and considered one of the world's most powerful forces, failed to melt the Sky Crystal Sand!
Cha-Eun Xiao let out a sigh, his body feeling drained as he ceased his martial arts practice and set aside the Sky Crystal Sand pieces. Frustration crept into his voice as he muttered to himself, "My cultivation is insufficient... I can't melt it."
His intention had been clear: to melt the Sky Crystal Sand pieces and create a weapon suitable for his current abilities. Yet, despite giving it his all, he had to acknowledge his limitations.
"Molting the Sky Crystal Sand, even for advanced fire-attribute martial arts, typically requires a cultivator to reach at least the eighth level of the Grade of Diyuan," he reflected. "But the East-rising Purple Qi isn't an ordinary martial art... I may fail now, but I believe I can achieve it once I reach the third level..."
With a resigned breath, he continued, "For now, there's nothing I can do but wait until I reach the third level of the Grade of Diyuan and see what happens then."
Turning his attention to the Sword Art of Feng-Hua book that Su Ye-Yue had obtained at the auction, he couldn't help but shake his head in slight disbelief. As expected, it was just as he had suspected—a fragmented version, missing crucial information.
With her extraordinary aptitude, following this incomplete guide might lead her to excel initially, but it could potentially hinder her progress after reaching the Grade of Tianyuan. Worse yet, it might even lead to long-lasting side effects.
Determined to help, Cha-Eun Xiao decided to complete the book. Drawing upon his extensive knowledge of martial arts acquired during his travels, he used the Sword Art of Feng-Hua as a foundation. Although it was far from a supreme technique, he had to make sure it wasn't overly conspicuous to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
Afterward, he incorporated a copy of the "Scripture of Yin," the premier martial art for female practitioners, into the book.
...
The following morning, Su Ye-Yue, who had spent the night at General Ye's residence, approached Cha-Eun Xiao with a face filled with excitement and astonishment.
"Xiao Xiao!" She leaned in close and exclaimed, "Look at me! Look at me!"
Perplexed, Cha-Eun Xiao gazed at her, his expression conveying his confusion. "What's going on?" he asked.
"Ah, you clueless pig!" Su Ye-Yue pouted, then her excitement returned as she pointed to her own face. "Look at me again, closely."
Cha-Eun Xiao examined her face more attentively and inquired, "Why don't you tell me what's happening?"
This response left Su Ye-Yue feeling disheartened. She had woken up early that morning, meticulously preparing herself, only to be met with his obliviousness.
Exasperated, she said, "Haven't you noticed that my skin has improved?"
Cha-Eun Xiao shook his head, genuinely unaware of the change. "No, I haven't. Are you sure it's better now?"
Su Ye-Yue couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. She had looked in the mirror earlier that morning and noticed a remarkable transformation—her skin had taken on a healthy rosy glow, and any previous blemishes or dark spots had vanished. She felt exceptionally beautiful, almost as if she were in a dream.
Excited by this extraordinary change, she had rushed to Cha-Eun Xiao to share her joy. Yet, here he was, seemingly oblivious to the improvement.
"You are a complete moron!" Su Ye-Yue exclaimed in frustration.
However, as she reflected on the changes in her appearance after just one night of staying at Cha-Eun Xiao's house, a curious thought crossed her mind: "How is it possible that my face has become so beautiful after sleeping here? Could it be... Could Cha-Eun Xiao's house be a secret beauty haven?"
Though she didn't voice her newfound plan, she was determined: "In the future, I will definitely come here to sleep as often as I can. Humph! It is going to be my home sooner or later!"
With her Sword Art of Feng-Hua book in hand, she left with a mixture of excitement and mild irritation. Unbeknownst to her, Cha-Eun Xiao had made significant alterations to her incomplete copy of the Sword Art of Feng-Hua. She had never had the chance to closely examine the book before her departure, and with her remarkable memory, she wouldn't easily discern the changes.
Just as she left, a voice from outside reported the arrival of people from the Palace of Hua-Yang with orders to take the princess back.
Cha-Eun Xiao responded casually, "Okay."
However, a sense of panic began to set in after Su Ye-Yue's departure: "Oh no! Am I going to be caught in a lie?"
The previous night, he had claimed to have sent people to inform the Palace of Hua-Yang about her overnight stay, but that had never occurred.
Back at the palace, Su Ye-Yue faced a severe scolding from her father, Prince Hua-Yang. He was livid, admonishing her for staying overnight at her intended husband's house and chastising her for her behavior.
Despite her father's furious outburst, Su Ye-Yue remained unfazed, her indifference apparent. She knew her father had a penchant for making a fuss.
Prince Hua-Yang continued his tirade, berating her for disgracing him and their family name. Yet, all his efforts seemed in vain as his daughter merely smiled.
In an attempt to gain sympathy and attention, Su Ye-Yue leaned in closer to her mother and whispered, "Mom, let me tell you a big secret."
Intrigued, the old princess leaned in and asked, "What's the big secret?"
With self-praise in her voice, Su Ye-Yue began to reveal her secret: "I stayed overnight at Xiao Xiao's house, and when I woke up this morning, I found my skin had become beautifully smooth. Mom, look at my face. Doesn't it look more exquisite? It's smoother, isn't it? Isn't my facial skin much better now? That's a big secret, isn't it?"
The old princess, however, reacted dramatically to the revelation. Her face turned pale, and she appeared as though she had been struck by lightning.
"Slept overnight... skin became better?" she muttered in shock.
The old princess, well-informed about such matters, couldn't help but jump to the wrong conclusion: "This silly girl stayed out all night. Did she actually... with that Ye Xiao? That... Damn it."
"What exactly did you two do?" the princess demanded, her face growing greener by the moment. "You damn girl! How dare you do something so disgraceful! You are going to drive me to madness."
Su Ye-Yue was taken aback by her mother's reaction, her eyes wide with confusion. She stammered, "What disgraceful thing? I... I didn't..."