After I had given Qian Zhi one hundred years of my cultivation, although it was not a lot, I still needed to cultivate a few decades until I could regain my original vitality.
But at a time when I still had ten or so years left before regaining my full vigour – me entering the demon pond and saving Qian Zhi before his arms and legs could be severed by the demons – meant, that after coming out of the pond, I immediately pa.s.sed out.
After unhealthy Yin Qi entered my body, disturbing my primordial spirit, I reckoned I wouldn"t be awakening during the next one hundred eighty years or so.
Actually, one hundred eighty years was my own guess.
While I lay there, I was still able to hear the voices around me, although I couldn"t open my eyes or move. I heard my fellow sect members sighing and saying that I would probably never wake up anymore.
They truly look down upon me too much……
The day before Qian Zhi"s incident happened, I had sent Qian Gu away to settle some matters.
Only after I had been in an unconscious state for more than a month, did he reappear and see the me "that would never be able to wake up anymore".
I still remember that day; birds chirping outside the room, trees swaying in the wind making sounds that seemed especially peaceful to the heart.
But the moment Qian Gu opened the door, I started to feel stifled.
The sound of him suddenly falling to his knees made me feel his pain.
"Master" He whispered and stilled.
Only after a long time had pa.s.sed, did he come to my bedside.
A while later I felt his finger wandering about on my cheek.
Not weakly, but also not forcefully.
It seemed rather like a follower piously touching the deity he believed in.
Being able to touch someone"s face like this, this disciple of mine is truly one of a kind.
Internally I gave a long sigh.
"Master", he whispered next to my ear, just like that day when I had been drunk. Only this time, he was very clearheaded.
With a.s.surance, he told me: "I will let you wake up again."
I can wake up very well by myself, you don"t need to worry about that.
But I couldn"t say it.
I could only hear his footsteps getting farther away and the sound of Qing Zhi exclaiming:
"Senior Brother, you can"t go!"
"Step aside."
"You can"t go look for Yue Lao Hong! Everyone in the Jiang Hu knows her rules! What will you do if you go to her?"
After hearing "Yue Lao Hong" this name, I was quite startled. That person was a demoness with high cultivation and in the thousands of years she had been alive she had cultivated many droughts and miracle cures. It was said that there was no one she couldn"t save.
But among all the people who went to beg for her medicines she would only give them to her most beloved person. There were many people she would like on this world, but there weren"t many who would seek her help – mainly because she had another condition.
One life in exchange for another.
The one who wanted her medicine had to stay and become her medicinal test subject. She was an extremely evil demoness.
Qian Zhi tried to persuade: "Senior Brother if you go, wouldn"t you be announcing your hidden feelings to the whole world? At that time how will Master be able to show her face in Kong Ling sect! Also, that Yue Lao Hong……….. wants people"s lives, you………….…."
Qian Gu was silent for a long time.
"Qian Zhi, Master will only have you as her disciple from now on. Restrain your boisterous temperament and don"t let her worry about you."
"Senior Brother! Senior Brother!"
Outside the room it became silent again.
I thought the me right now had already been worried and disappointed enough, but I could see now that in your hearts…..
you guys……
all really don"t believe that I"ll be able to wake up by myself………
After some days had pa.s.sed, Qian Gu was able to get ahold of the medicine and he came back to feed it to me.
I opened my eyes and saw him looking at me with his moist pupils.
Suddenly, I didn"t know what to say and could only ask:
"Where is Qian Zhi?"
Qian Gu was silent for a moment.
"This disciple will immediately go and trade Qian Zhi back."
Trade him back?
I frowned:" He and you both went to look for Yue Lao Hong? Yue Lao Hong kept him?"
Qian Gu revealed a panic-stricken expression.
"How did master know…..….."
I lifted my bedcover:" I will explain in detail after I have saved him."
Qian Gu wanted to hold me back: "Master you only just woke up…….."
"Based on my age alone I"ll be able to suppress her some." I coldly looked back at Qian Gu "I know my body and my limits, but maybe some people think differently and would recklessly meddle"
Qian Gu immediately stiffened and paled.
"You"re not allowed to follow", I whisked my sleeves and left.
I actually knew that Qian Gu treats me very well, else he wouldn"t have gotten the medicine for me.
But I could not accept his kindness.
I would be deluding myself if I hoped for him to change. So, after saving Qian Zhi, it would be time to make a decision.
But Qian Zhi……….. was really not easy to deal with.