Heart Protection

When Tian Yao woke up, he discovered he was laying on a soft daybed .

------It had been a long time since he slept on such a soft and warm bed . He laid there for a long time . It wasn"t until he heard Yan Hui"s voice from outside the room did he recall his thoughts .

"I want three orders of wontons . The meat kind with lots of meat . I want extra meat . Don"t skimp on the meat . "

"Alright . Would you like to add any soup or vegetables to your order?"

"No . If you have any good alcohol, bring a jar . "

The waiter nodded and clattered down the steps .

Tian Yao struggled upwards, but when he moved, he felt a sharp pain in his chest . He helplessly laid back down . Yan Hui heard his movements and walked into the room to his side .

She glanced at him: "Don"t try to be tough . I examined you . You have internal injuries, so just quietly lay there for a few days . "

Yan Hui didn"t need to say that for Tian Yao to realize the extent of his injuries . When he had been knocked into the tree by the burly demon, Tian Yao knew his wounds weren"t minor . He couldn"t even struggle up . It was just that he was so used to enduring pain . It wasn"t until he jumped into the river that the pain was too much for his body to handle . That"s why he fainted .

He didn"t continue along with what Yan Hui was saying . Instead, he changed the topic: "Xian cultivators under the Dao avoid eating meat and drinking . Are you not concerned you"re harming your cultivation?"

Yan Hui rolled her eyes: "You still have the guts to ignore me . " She snorted, "If it wasn"t for me eating so much, do you really think I would"ve had the strength to haul your deadweight onto the bank?"

Tian Yao moved his head around . His shoulders felt sore and swollen, as if someone had been dragging him . He asked Yan Hui: "You really did haul me out . " His tone wasn"t skeptical but certain .

Yan Hui really did drag him out . She also almost ripped his pants in the process . . . . . .

She cleared her throat . She turned her head and sat down by the table to get a drink of tea .

The room was silent for a long time . In the end, Tian Yao broke the silence: "Didn"t you say you wouldn"t help me?"

"I didn"t want to help you," Yan Hui pouted . "But I am a righteous and benevolent girl . How could I let someone be killed by demons in front of me . . . . . . "

Tian Yao"s eyebrows furrowed, and he interrupted her: "You saw me?"

"Your heart protection scale allowed me to . "

"Oh . " Tian Yao slightly looked down . His slightly hidden eyes concealed what he was thinking .

Yan Hui didn"t mind him interrupting her this time . She continued to talk: "Because I saw, as someone who has been cultivating for a long time, I couldn"t block my conscience . I had to save you . "

Yan Hui said it so carelessly, almost like a joke . However, anyone would"ve known that scenario last night was dangerous . It was extremely likely that she would"ve died along with him . . . . . .

But she still came .

Tian Yao closed his eyes . In his mind, he could still see her standing in front of him, her silhouette bathed in moonlight .

"Since you came back and saved me, you can"t leave anymore . "

Yan Hui put down her cup: "Who says I can"t leave? My body has legs . If I want to leave, then I leave . I can go anywhere I want . It"s just seeing you weak like this . . . . . . " Yan Hui paused . "If you were being chased by xian cultivators of the Dao, then I don"t care . But if you fall in the hands of demons, then I can"t just let it go . You listen carefully, my conscience barely extends to protecting you from bullying demons . "

Tian Yao turned his head to look at her . He only paid attention to the latter part: "How do you plan to protect me?"

"I have a good friend . She has a collection of rare treasures . Perhaps there"s something that can mask your scent and not make it so enticing to demons . "

Tian Yao nodded: "It"s true . I need it . How far does your friend live from here?"

"Not far . She lives in Yong Zhou City . "

"We will go tomorrow . "

Yan Hui shot him a glance: "With your frail body? Drop that idea . Peacefully rest here for two days instead . If we go, you might make your wounds worse . I"m not going to treat you . " At this moment, it was like Yan Hui suddenly thought of something . From the side, she took a piece of paper and brush and wrote one word, "Bill" . She said: "What"s done is done, but the bill still has to be totaled . From yesterday till now, I gave you treatment, I gave you lodging, got you medicine, etc . There is a whole series of expenditures that I need to record and stick on your head . . . . . . "

"It"s find that you don"t have money right now . This is for just in case when you strike it big . I don"t want more from you . Returning what I itemized is fine . Ah, actually I should add on interest . . . . . . " As she was talking, she started to calculate it out on her fingers .

"It"s find that you don"t have money right now . This is for just in case when you strike it big . I don"t want more from you . Returning what I itemized is fine . Ah, actually I should add on interest . . . . . . " As she was talking, she started to calculate it out on her fingers .

Yan Hui looked even more serious and solemn than when she saved Tian Yao yesterday .

Tian Yao watched her . After a few moments, he turned his head aside and pretended to sleep .

When night came, Yan Hui spread out a blanket in the corner of the room to sleep on . The reasoning behind her actions didn"t escape Tian Yao . Of course it was to save money .

Since she didn"t make a fuss, Tian Yao just let her be .

He woke up in the middle of the night because of thirst . He resisted it for a while, but in the end he opened his mouth: "Yan Hui . "

No one responded . Tian Yao thought she was asleep, so he called out two more times . Yan Hui didn"t stirr . He couldn"t help thinking back to that day in the abandoned temple when Yan Hui was suffering under sleep paralysis . Tian Yao frowned . He endured the sharp pain in his chest and stood up . He moved to the corner where Yan Hui was sleeping .

He saw Yan Hui was sweating . Her eyes rolled under her eyelids . Tian Yao shook her .

Yan Hui"s eyes snapped opened . Compared to the last time, she was much calmer . She didn"t immediate sit up . Instead, she laid there and gathered her breath . Then she slapped the floor and angrily said: "Now it"s coming every day! There"s no end to this!"

Yan Hui looked at Tian Yao: "Do you have any heart techniques to drive away demons? Teach the chant to me . The heart technique you taught me that night was pretty useful . "

"You have my heart protection scale . Teaching you my heart technique is most appropriate . " Tian Yao continued, "However, I don"t know any heart techniques to expel demons . I never had those troubles . "

Yan Hui helplessly sighed: "Oh well . You should go back to sleep . "

For the rest of the night, Yan Hui stayed awake and watched the sky brighten .

The next day, she was extremely tired . She resisted until noon . Then, she took a small nap but didn"t dare sleep heavily .   But when night fell, Yan Hui couldn"t resist any longer . She fell asleep sitting on the floor while leaning against the wall .

As expected, the same thing happened . She had sleep paralysis again .

When she woken up again by Tian Yao, Yan Hui was in a rage . She loudly berated: "I can"t do anything about your matters or situation! There"s not point in paralyzing me in my sleep!"

Hearing those words, Tian Yao slightly raised an eyebrow: "You have a history with that demon?"

Hearing those words, Tian Yao slightly raised an eyebrow: "You have a history with that demon?"

Yan Hui"s face contorted for a moment . She wiped the sweat from her face . Then after a long silence, she spoke: "I didn"t know before . But tonight she kept yelling in my ear . I guess we are now . . . . . . "

Tian Yao watched her and calmly waited for her to continue .

Yan Hui glanced at him . This was a long story, and she originally didn"t plan on telling him . However after seeing the moonlight through the window, if she didn"t talk to someone, then she would fall asleep again .

She sighedand said: "Actually, she paralyzed me in the past . . . . . . "

Actually, this female ghost could be considered an old acquaintance . The ghost also placed a big role in getting Yan Hui expelled from the Chen Xing Mountain .

Two months ago, the xian cultivator meeting at Chen Xing Mountain had just finished . The disciples returned to their daily routine . Yan Hui went about her usual schedule: attending morning lectures, practicing martial arts, practicing meditation, and occasionally arguing with her senior disciples, making relationship worse . The days pa.s.sed peacefully with no disruptions .

Until that fateful day when Yan Hui suddenly had sleep paralysis .

Actually strictly speaking, it wasn"t sleep paralysis because the female ghost didn"t paralyze Yan Hui down until she couldn"t move . The ghost only appeared in Yan Hui"s dreams and endlessly wailed: "Save my daughter, Save my daughter, Save my daughter . "

Yan Hui endured it for two days, ignoring the ghost .

But Yan Hui"s principles didn"t allow for a third time . On the third night, she let loose her temper .

When Yan Hui was woken up by the wailing, she reigned in her temper and left the room . She walked to a remote area and then drew a spell, letting the ghost out .

Yan Hui told the female ghost: "I don"t know who you are nor who your daughter is . Just because I can see ghosts doesn"t mean you can just enter my dreams and disrupt my life . It isn"t right . "

The female ghost was clothed in white . Behind her swayed three white fox tails . Judging by the ghost"s aura, it was a recently deceased three-tailed fox demon .

For fox demons, the greater their tails meant the greater their strength . Back in Qing Qiu, the head of one of the demon clans was a nine-tailed fox demon . It was said the head was about to become a xian . Yan Hui hadn"t seen the leader before and had no interest . She told the fox demon: "Although you"re a dead demon, you"re still a demon, yet you have the audacity to enter Chen Xing Mountain . Such impudence . However, it does show a little character . I won"t deal with you . You should quickly leave and go reincarnate . "

The three-tailed fox demon didn"t leave . She only looked at Yan Hui with a face filled with grief and started to talk about her situation: "My daughter was taken by people from Chen Xing Mountain and locked away in Xin Xiu Peak . Please, save my daughter . She"s just a child . "

"It sounds very pitiful," interrupted Tian Yao . "But based off your "saving is having high moral character, not saving is as it should be" view, you probably didn"t feel anything . "

Yan Hui coldly looked at Tian Yao: "Do you know how many unreasonable requests I"ve gotten from ghosts? Some are so pitiful, but it"s actually a trick . Some will fake circ.u.mstances so you"ll help them . When you go to help, you"ll find out the real objective is to kill you and reincarnate in your body . "
"It sounds very pitiful," interrupted Tian Yao . "But based off your "saving is having high moral character, not saving is as it should be" view, you probably didn"t feel anything . "

Yan Hui coldly looked at Tian Yao: "Do you know how many unreasonable requests I"ve gotten from ghosts? Some are so pitiful, but it"s actually a trick . Some will fake circ.u.mstances so you"ll help them . When you go to help, you"ll find out the real objective is to kill you and reincarnate in your body . "

" . . . . . . "

"That"s why every time I hear something like this, of course I"m suspicious . " Yan Hui curled her lip and said: "And I had another reason for not wanting to help her . . . . . . "

Tian Yao looked at Yan Hui . She crossed her legs together, looking like before when the female disciples gathered together to gossip, and said: "You know that Chen Xing Mountain has 28 peaks, right?"

"Yes . They were named after the 28 Xiu Constellations . As natural spell arrays, Chen Xing Mountain"s spirituality is more potent than other places"

Yan Hui nodded: "That"s right . Every peak has a different shifu in charge of it . As for the Xin Xiu Peak the three-tailed fox demon mentioned, it belonged to Ling Fei . . . . . . " Yan Hui paused . Her expression became disdainful . "Ling Fei is Chen Xing Mountain"s famous cold-faced beauty . Everyone in Chen Xing Mountain knew she loved my shifu . " Yan Hui continued: "So I don"t like her . "

Tian Yao looked at Yan Hui . He heard her indifferently say: "The reason is simple . It"s because I was jealous . "

Tian Yao was silent .

Yan Hui liked her shifu . Tian Yao knew she probably liked her shifu sometime in the middle of their a.s.sociation . However, Tian Yao couldn"t help be surprised after hearing her admit it so frankly .

At the same time, he suddenly realized he felt conflicted about it . But the strange thing was, he didn"t know why he was feeling conflicted .

Perhaps it was because a shifu-disciple relationship was seen as immoral in the eyes of xian pract.i.tioners of the Dao . Even the demon clans did not permit that kind of relationship . They believed it was not ethical .

Tian Yao didn"t say anything and remained silent .

Yan Hui continued: "But she also didn"t like me . Probably . . . . . . . because of jealousy too . Oh, that"s right . Speaking of Ling Fei, you might also know her . " Yan Hui looked at Tian Yao: "Before she became a shifu at Chen Xing Mountain, she was called Su E . She"s the little sister of Han Guang Sect"s Zhenren Su Ying . "

 Tian Yao was startled . He was silent for a long time . When he finally spoke, his tone was slightly cold: "I didn"t know . "

Because Su Ying never told him anything about her family or close friends .

When Tian Yao woke up, he discovered he was laying on a soft daybed . ------It had been a long time since he slept on such a soft and warm bed . He laid there for a long time . It wasn"t until he heard Yan Hui"s voice from outside the room did he recall his thoughts . "I want three orders of wontons . The meat kind with lots of meat . I want extra meat . Don"t skimp on the meat . " "Alright . Would you like to add any soup or vegetables to your order?" "No . If you have any good alcohol, bring a jar . " The waiter nodded and clattered down the steps . Tian Yao struggled upwards, but when he moved, he felt a sharp pain in his chest . He helplessly laid back down . Yan Hui heard his movements and walked into the room to his side . She glanced at him: "Don"t try to be tough . I examined you . You have internal injuries, so just quietly lay there for a few days . " Yan Hui didn"t need to say that for Tian Yao to realize the extent of his injuries . When he had been knocked into the tree by the burly demon, Tian Yao knew his wounds weren"t minor . He couldn"t even struggle up . It was just that he was so used to enduring pain . It wasn"t until he jumped into the river that the pain was too much for his body to handle . That"s why he fainted . He didn"t continue along with what Yan Hui was saying . Instead, he changed the topic: "Xian cultivators under the Dao avoid eating meat and drinking . Are you not concerned you"re harming your cultivation?" Yan Hui rolled her eyes: "You still have the guts to ignore me . " She snorted, "If it wasn"t for me eating so much, do you really think I would"ve had the strength to haul your deadweight onto the bank?" Tian Yao moved his head around . His shoulders felt sore and swollen, as if someone had been dragging him . He asked Yan Hui: "You really did haul me out . " His tone wasn"t skeptical but certain . Yan Hui really did drag him out . She also almost ripped his pants in the process She cleared her throat . She turned her head and sat down by the table to get a drink of tea . The room was silent for a long time . In the end, Tian Yao broke the silence: "Didn"t you say you wouldn"t help me?" "I didn"t want to help you," Yan Hui pouted . "But I am a righteous and benevolent girl . How could I let someone be killed by demons in front of me " Tian Yao"s eyebrows furrowed, and he interrupted her: "You saw me?" "Your heart protection scale allowed me to . " "Oh . " Tian Yao slightly looked down . His slightly hidden eyes concealed what he was thinking . Yan Hui didn"t mind him interrupting her this time . She continued to talk: "Because I saw, as someone who has been cultivating for a long time, I couldn"t block my conscience . I had to save you . " Yan Hui said it so carelessly, almost like a joke . However, anyone would"ve known that scenario last night was dangerous . It was extremely likely that she would"ve died along with him But she still came . Tian Yao closed his eyes . In his mind, he could still see her standing in front of him, her silhouette bathed in moonlight . "Since you came back and saved me, you can"t leave anymore . " Yan Hui put down her cup: "Who says I can"t leave? My body has legs . If I want to leave, then I leave . I can go anywhere I want . It"s just seeing you weak like this " Yan Hui paused . "If you were being chased by xian cultivators of the Dao, then I don"t care . But if you fall in the hands of demons, then I can"t just let it go . You listen carefully, my conscience barely extends to protecting you from bullying demons . " Tian Yao turned his head to look at her . He only paid attention to the latter part: "How do you plan to protect me?" "I have a good friend . She has a collection of rare treasures . Perhaps there"s something that can mask your scent and not make it so enticing to demons . " Tian Yao nodded: "It"s true . I need it . How far does your friend live from here?" "Not far . She lives in Yong Zhou City . " "We will go tomorrow . " Yan Hui shot him a glance: "With your frail body? Drop that idea . Peacefully rest here for two days instead . If we go, you might make your wounds worse . I"m not going to treat you . " At this moment, it was like Yan Hui suddenly thought of something . From the side, she took a piece of paper and brush and wrote one word, "Bill" . She said: "What"s done is done, but the bill still has to be totaled . From yesterday till now, I gave you treatment, I gave you lodging, got you medicine, etc . There is a whole series of expenditures that I need to record and stick on your head " "It"s find that you don"t have money right now . This is for just in case when you strike it big . I don"t want more from you . Returning what I itemized is fine . Ah, actually I should add on interest " As she was talking, she started to calculate it out on her fingers . Yan Hui looked even more serious and solemn than when she saved Tian Yao yesterday . Tian Yao watched her . After a few moments, he turned his head aside and pretended to sleep . When night came, Yan Hui spread out a blanket in the corner of the room to sleep on . The reasoning behind her actions didn"t escape Tian Yao . Of course it was to save money . Since she didn"t make a fuss, Tian Yao just let her be . He woke up in the middle of the night because of thirst . He resisted it for a while, but in the end he opened his mouth: "Yan Hui . " No one responded . Tian Yao thought she was asleep, so he called out two more times . Yan Hui didn"t stirr . He couldn"t help thinking back to that day in the abandoned temple when Yan Hui was suffering under sleep paralysis . Tian Yao frowned . He endured the sharp pain in his chest and stood up . He moved to the corner where Yan Hui was sleeping . He saw Yan Hui was sweating . Her eyes rolled under her eyelids . Tian Yao shook her . Yan Hui"s eyes snapped opened . Compared to the last time, she was much calmer . She didn"t immediate sit up . Instead, she laid there and gathered her breath . Then she slapped the floor and angrily said: "Now it"s coming every day! There"s no end to this!" Yan Hui looked at Tian Yao: "Do you have any heart techniques to drive away demons? Teach the chant to me . The heart technique you taught me that night was pretty useful . " "You have my heart protection scale . Teaching you my heart technique is most appropriate . " Tian Yao continued, "However, I don"t know any heart techniques to expel demons . I never had those troubles . " Yan Hui helplessly sighed: "Oh well . You should go back to sleep . " For the rest of the night, Yan Hui stayed awake and watched the sky brighten . The next day, she was extremely tired . She resisted until noon . Then, she took a small nap but didn"t dare sleep heavily .   But when night fell, Yan Hui couldn"t resist any longer . She fell asleep sitting on the floor while leaning against the wall . As expected, the same thing happened . She had sleep paralysis again . When she woken up again by Tian Yao, Yan Hui was in a rage . She loudly berated: "I can"t do anything about your matters or situation! There"s not point in paralyzing me in my sleep!" Hearing those words, Tian Yao slightly raised an eyebrow: "You have a history with that demon?" Yan Hui"s face contorted for a moment . She wiped the sweat from her face . Then after a long silence, she spoke: "I didn"t know before . But tonight she kept yelling in my ear . I guess we are now " Tian Yao watched her and calmly waited for her to continue . Yan Hui glanced at him . This was a long story, and she originally didn"t plan on telling him . However after seeing the moonlight through the window, if she didn"t talk to someone, then she would fall asleep again . She sighedand said: "Actually, she paralyzed me in the past " Actually, this female ghost could be considered an old acquaintance . The ghost also placed a big role in getting Yan Hui expelled from the Chen Xing Mountain . Two months ago, the xian cultivator meeting at Chen Xing Mountain had just finished . The disciples returned to their daily routine . Yan Hui went about her usual schedule: attending morning lectures, practicing martial arts, practicing meditation, and occasionally arguing with her senior disciples, making relationship worse . The days pa.s.sed peacefully with no disruptions . Until that fateful day when Yan Hui suddenly had sleep paralysis . Actually strictly speaking, it wasn"t sleep paralysis because the female ghost didn"t paralyze Yan Hui down until she couldn"t move . The ghost only appeared in Yan Hui"s dreams and endlessly wailed: "Save my daughter, Save my daughter, Save my daughter . " Yan Hui endured it for two days, ignoring the ghost . But Yan Hui"s principles didn"t allow for a third time . On the third night, she let loose her temper . When Yan Hui was woken up by the wailing, she reigned in her temper and left the room . She walked to a remote area and then drew a spell, letting the ghost out . Yan Hui told the female ghost: "I don"t know who you are nor who your daughter is . Just because I can see ghosts doesn"t mean you can just enter my dreams and disrupt my life . It isn"t right . " The female ghost was clothed in white . Behind her swayed three white fox tails . Judging by the ghost"s aura, it was a recently deceased three-tailed fox demon . For fox demons, the greater their tails meant the greater their strength . Back in Qing Qiu, the head of one of the demon clans was a nine-tailed fox demon . It was said the head was about to become a xian . Yan Hui hadn"t seen the leader before and had no interest . She told the fox demon: "Although you"re a dead demon, you"re still a demon, yet you have the audacity to enter Chen Xing Mountain . Such impudence . However, it does show a little character . I won"t deal with you . You should quickly leave and go reincarnate . " The three-tailed fox demon didn"t leave . She only looked at Yan Hui with a face filled with grief and started to talk about her situation: "My daughter was taken by people from Chen Xing Mountain and locked away in Xin Xiu Peak . Please, save my daughter . She"s just a child . " "It sounds very pitiful," interrupted Tian Yao . "But based off your "saving is having high moral character, not saving is as it should be" view, you probably didn"t feel anything . " Yan Hui coldly looked at Tian Yao: "Do you know how many unreasonable requests I"ve gotten from ghosts? Some are so pitiful, but it"s actually a trick . Some will fake circ.u.mstances so you"ll help them . When you go to help, you"ll find out the real objective is to kill you and reincarnate in your body . " " " "That"s why every time I hear something like this, of course I"m suspicious . " Yan Hui curled her lip and said: "And I had another reason for not wanting to help her " Tian Yao looked at Yan Hui . She crossed her legs together, looking like before when the female disciples gathered together to gossip, and said: "You know that Chen Xing Mountain has 28 peaks, right?" "Yes . They were named after the 28 Xiu Constellations . As natural spell arrays, Chen Xing Mountain"s spirituality is more potent than other places" Yan Hui nodded: "That"s right . Every peak has a different shifu in charge of it . As for the Xin Xiu Peak the three-tailed fox demon mentioned, it belonged to Ling Fei " Yan Hui paused . Her expression became disdainful . "Ling Fei is Chen Xing Mountain"s famous cold-faced beauty . Everyone in Chen Xing Mountain knew she loved my shifu . " Yan Hui continued: "So I don"t like her . " Tian Yao looked at Yan Hui . He heard her indifferently say: "The reason is simple . It"s because I was jealous . " Tian Yao was silent . Yan Hui liked her shifu . Tian Yao knew she probably liked her shifu sometime in the middle of their a.s.sociation . However, Tian Yao couldn"t help be surprised after hearing her admit it so frankly . At the same time, he suddenly realized he felt conflicted about it . But the strange thing was, he didn"t know why he was feeling conflicted . Perhaps it was because a shifu-disciple relationship was seen as immoral in the eyes of xian pract.i.tioners of the Dao . Even the demon clans did not permit that kind of relationship . They believed it was not ethical . Tian Yao didn"t say anything and remained silent . Yan Hui continued: "But she also didn"t like me . Probably . because of jealousy too . Oh, that"s right . Speaking of Ling Fei, you might also know her . " Yan Hui looked at Tian Yao: "Before she became a shifu at Chen Xing Mountain, she was called Su E . She"s the little sister of Han Guang Sect"s Zhenren Su Ying . "  Tian Yao was startled . He was silent for a long time . When he finally spoke, his tone was slightly cold: "I didn"t know . " Because Su Ying never told him anything about her family or close friends