Chapter 42

Mei Jiangxue knocked on Nalan Ruyue's door and saw her sitting alone by the window, gazing at the bright moon, the silver light casting a melancholic and regretful expression on her nearly perfect face.

"Nalan, what's wrong with you today? Why have you been so distracted since you came back and didn't even rest in your room?"

Mei Jiangxue always doted on her two disciples. Nalan's righteousness and Chenxing's aloofness reminded her of her younger self, though she wasn't old yet.

Every time she saw her two disciples, it was as if she was transported back to those days.

Nalan Ruyue turned her head and looked at her master, her eyes flashing with a hint of unwillingness: "Master, what if I did something wrong?"

"If you did, then it's done. Who hasn't made mistakes?"

Mei Jiangxue was always overly indulgent and protective of her disciples, treating them like her own children.

"What if I did something wrong to someone who didn't deserve it?"

Mei Jiangxue, with her sharp mind, immediately understood the meaning behind Nalan Ruyue's words.

"Are you talking about that boy named Bai Chen?"

Nalan Ruyue fell silent. Mei Jiangxue knew her disciple's character well—she hated evil and could not tolerate any wrongdoing.

But at the same time, Nalan Ruyue was so committed to justice that she would never question her desire for it. Even if she encountered injustice on the road, she would intervene.

"He was transporting ten million catties of grain to Xizhou to help the people affected by the disaster."

Nalan Ruyue recounted the information she had gathered in Xizhou, her face growing more and more troubled.

Mei Jiangxue pondered for a moment, surprised that the boy had a good side.

She hadn't expected that Bai Chen would use ten million catties of grain for disaster relief.

"He didn't even use his own name. The bandit he rescued from prison wasn't a random killer but a righteous thief. The people of Xizhou even erected a longevity tablet for the thief."

Nalan Ruyue's gaze lost focus, looking at Mei Jiangxue blankly: "That's ten million catties of grain! How could he have it? He must have some ulterior motive, right... Master?"

"Everyone has a purpose for what they do. Don't worry about his motives. That boy collected the grain to help the disaster victims, and you intercepted his convoy to help them too. So you didn't do anything wrong."

"Is that so?"

"Of course." Mei Jiangxue gently stroked Nalan Ruyue's hair.

Ah—

Suddenly, a scream from the wine cellar below startled Nalan Ruyue, who was leaning on Mei Jiangxue.

"What happened?" Nalan Ruyue recognized the scream but couldn't place it.

Mei Jiangxue's brows furrowed slightly, but when she looked at Nalan Ruyue, her expression remained calm.

"Nothing, I encountered a rogue today, and your senior sister is teaching him a lesson."

Nalan Ruyue was already in bed, and Mei Jiangxue smiled lightly: "Rest well."

In front of her disciples, Mei Jiangxue never showed her cold side. Nalan Ruyue and Gong Sun Chenxing enjoyed her motherly care.

...

"Chenxing, what are you doing?"

When Mei Jiangxue descended to the wine cellar, she saw Bai Chen, covered in injuries, and Gong Sun Chenxing standing beside him with a sword in hand.

For the first time, Mei Jiangxue felt anger towards her senior disciple.

In fact, after hearing Nalan Ruyue's words, she already felt that she had made a mistake.

But she was unwilling to admit it and didn't want her disciples to feel guilty.

However, seeing Gong Sun Chenxing's actions still made Mei Jiangxue angry.

Bai Chen, lying on the ground, looked at Mei Jiangxue and smiled bitterly: "Senior, it seems you care about me a lot."

"Master, this boy deserves to die!" Gong Sun Chenxing gritted her teeth, her expression out of control.

"Release him from the Hundred Flowers Burial and let him go." Mei Jiangxue's expression was stern, and her tone left no room for argument.

If it were her, she might have killed Bai Chen, but Gong Sun Chenxing was not the one to do it.

She could kill without hesitation, but Gong Sun Chenxing needed a reason.

The previous reason was clearly not enough for Gong Sun Chenxing to kill Bai Chen. If she did, she would be haunted by her mistake for the rest of her life.

"Senior, we were just playing. Don't be so nervous, right, Miss Gong Sun?" Bai Chen smiled, looking at Gong Sun Chenxing with a dismissive gaze, as if the injuries on his body were nothing.

"Shut up! You despicable scoundrel." Gong Sun Chenxing's voice was cold, and her eyes were filled with hatred.

Mei Jiangxue didn't understand why her two disciples lost their composure whenever they saw this boy.

Their usual composure and grace seemed to vanish.

Looking at the nearly疯狂的女人，哪里还像是那个以沉着冷静著称的七秀星舞。

"Actually, it's quite nice here. I really don't want to leave. I have someone to take care of my meals and drinks, and a few beautiful ladies take turns serving me. It's like heaven on earth."

Mei Jiangxue's temper flared at Bai Chen's words. What he said sounded so offensive, as if this place were a brothel.

"If you don't leave now, you'll never leave."

Bai Chen used all his strength to stand up, and both Mei Jiangxue and Gong Sun Chenxing were taken aback, their eyes wide with surprise.

Bai Chen's injuries were severe, and he had been subjected to the Hundred Flowers Burial for almost half an hour. Yet, he still had the strength to stand, which made them wonder how his body could withstand such punishment.

Bai Chen stretched his limbs and smiled at Mei Jiangxue: "Thank you for your hospitality, Senior. If I have the chance, I will repay you twofold."

These words were like a slap in the face to Mei Jiangxue and Gong Sun Chenxing. The look in Gong Sun Chenxing's eyes showed how angry she was.

"Don't forget, you're still under the Hundred Flowers Burial. Are you overestimating our patience?"

Bai Chen burst into laughter: "Senior, I'm starting to like your naivety. Do you really think the Hundred Flowers Burial can make me bow?"

Mei Jiangxue felt a wave of dizziness. Bai Chen's words were infuriating. If she hadn't promised to let him go, she would have killed him on the spot.

"I will remember you, Bai Chen!" Mei Jiangxue suppressed her anger. She was more composed than her disciples, who showed their emotions openly.

"I will remember you too, Senior." Bai Chen smiled: "By the way, I must thank you for the pill formula you gave me. I found it very useful. If you need anything in the future, I will offer it at a discount."

Mei Jiangxue's face hardened as she stared at Bai Chen: "You can refine the Full Yang Pill?"

"I may not be very talented, but I have grasped its essence." Bai Chen was already by Mei Jiangxue's side, his provocative tone driving her to the brink of madness.

The Full Yang Pill, like the Three Yang Pill and the True Yang Pill, used the same materials and was of the same grade, but the refinement techniques and effects were vastly different.

The Three Yang Pill allowed martial artists to release their true qi before reaching the innate stage, but it was harmful to the body and hindered future progress.

The True Yang Pill reduced this harm to a negligible level, making it beneficial and even slightly enhancing one's cultivation, earning it the title of a superior-grade pill.

The Full Yang Pill was even more advanced, surpassing the True Yang Pill in every aspect. For those at the fifth stage or above but below the innate stage, it had no side effects and could even boost one's cultivation by one level. Though not of a high grade, it was known as a minor holy-grade pill.

In the entire martial world, only a few grandmasters could refine the Three Yang Pill, and among ten grandmasters, only one might be able to refine the True Yang Pill. Among a hundred grandmasters, only one might be able to refine the Full Yang Pill.

Anyone who could refine the Full Yang Pill was a highly respected guest in any major sect, including the Seven Stars.

This was why Mei Jiangxue was so shocked, though she had some doubts.

The Seven Stars currently had several grandmasters in residence, all renowned in the martial world, but none could refine the True Yang Pill, let alone the Full Yang Pill.

One of her missions this time was to find a grandmaster who could refine the Full Yang Pill for the Seven Stars.

Mei Jiangxue blocked Bai Chen's path, and he smiled and turned back: "What? Senior, are you reluctant to let me go?"

"Refine three Full Yang Pills for me. The materials will be provided by the Seven Stars, and we will consider our grudge settled."

Bai Chen shook his head with a smile: "Senior, you seem to have misunderstood. I don't owe the Seven Stars anything. If you are sincere, have your disciples apologize to me first."

"Despicable scoundrel!" Gong Sun Chenxing gritted her teeth but restrained her anger, knowing the importance of the Full Yang Pill to the Seven Stars.

The Full Yang Pill was crucial for the Seven Stars. Other sects might not need it as much, but the Seven Stars craved it.

Almost all the disciples of the Seven Stars were women, whose yang meridians were smaller, making it harder to practice yang-based internal arts. The Full Yang Pill could expand the yang meridians, making it easier to circulate true qi.

Recently, the only grandmaster who could refine the Full Yang Pill for the Seven Stars had passed away, leaving a gap in their ranks. The Seven Stars needed to find a new grandmaster as soon as possible.

Bai Chen laughed, realizing he had gone from the oppressed to the oppressor.

Seeing Gong Sun Chenxing's angry expression and Mei Jiangxue's hesitant gaze, he felt a sense of satisfaction.

"Bai Chen, don't forget, you're still in my hands!" Mei Jiangxue's threatening gaze was still charming to Bai Chen.

Bai Chen, with nothing to lose, was not intimidated by Mei Jiangxue's empty threats.

"I believe you are a smart person, Senior. You wouldn't want me to make more unreasonable demands. After all, we haven't reached the point of no return."

Gong Sun Chenxing's expression was the opposite of Mei Jiangxue's, who fell silent, clearly considering Bai Chen's proposal.

Indeed, they were not enemies, not even rivals, though they had some grudges...

For the Seven Stars to have a long-term cooperation, they needed to ensure that Bai Chen had no grudges against them, especially now that they needed his help.

"Can you tell me about your sect?" Mei Jiangxue's wise eyes scrutinized Bai Chen, trying to find any trace of his identity.

Unfortunately, she found nothing.

Could it be the Five Toxins Sect? Only they could resist the Hundred Flowers Burial.

No, the Five Toxins Sect hated pill refinement. Given his skill, he couldn't be from there.

If it were the best in pill refinement, it would be the Ten Thousand Flowers Valley in Shu or the Fire Worship Sect in the Western Regions. However, the Medicine Master and the Poison Master didn't recognize Bai Chen, so he couldn't be from the Ten Thousand Flowers Valley.

As for the Fire Worship Sect, they only accepted people from the Western Regions.

Bai Chen was clearly not from the Western Regions, so Mei Jiangxue concluded he must be from a major sect in the Eastern Provinces.

As for the information suggesting the Boundless Sect, Mei Jiangxue dismissed it.

A declining sect like that couldn't produce a disciple of his caliber. Moreover, in the Qing Province area, Bai Chen's cultivation was more than enough to be a sect leader.

"Boundless Sect." Bai Chen answered honestly, knowing Mei Jiangxue wouldn't believe him.

Mei Jiangxue was unsatisfied with Bai Chen's answer and frowned: "Bai Chen, show some sincerity if you want to resolve our conflict."

Bai Chen smiled bitterly. Even if he wanted to lie, he knew so few sect names that he would be caught immediately.

But Mei Jiangxue saw his helplessness as a sign of mystery.

"Senior, sincerity is not one-sided. You need me, but I don't necessarily need you."

Mei Jiangxue couldn't contain her anger at Bai Chen's blatant manipulation.

If it were before, she would have struck him with a palm, but now she had to suppress her anger.

At that moment, Nalan Ruyue walked in, her gaze determined and complex.

"Nalan, why are you here?"

Nalan Ruyue ignored Mei Jiangxue and looked at Bai Chen: "It's all my fault. If you want an apology, I will give it to you!"

Without warning, Nalan Ruyue drew a dagger and, before anyone could react, stabbed herself in the heart.

"Nalan!" Mei Jiangxue and Gong Sun Chenxing were shocked. Mei Jiangxue quickly caught Nalan Ruyue.

Blood soaked her clothes, and Nalan Ruyue, pale and beautiful, looked at Bai Chen with a faint, weak gaze: "This is my sincerity. Are... are you satisfied now?"