In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

Lu Xueqi remained silent for a moment. She looked into Biyao's open eyes, which held a passion and directness that she herself could not possess.

"The righteous and the demonic are on different paths." Lu Xueqi slowly uttered these four words, her voice still cold, yet seemingly carrying a heavy meaning.

Biyao's eyes dimmed for a moment, but then brightened again, with a hint of stubbornness: "So what? It's my business if I like him. It's his business if he's a Qingyun disciple. But what do these things have to do with 'I like him' itself?" She paused, her tone lowering, with a hint of barely perceptible melancholy, "I know the rules of your Qingyun Sect, I know that good and evil cannot coexist. But I just like him, I can't control it, and I don't want to control it."

Lu Xueqi listened quietly, a gentle touch stirring within her. She couldn't control it, nor did she want to. How simple, yet how difficult. And herself? Could she admit it so frankly? Even if she did, what could she do? Her sect, her principles, the responsibilities on her shoulders… these layers of shackles were far more concrete and heavier than the phrase "the paths of good and evil are different."

“He will be in a difficult position,” Lu Xueqi said, it was unclear whether she was speaking to Biyao or to herself.

Biyao's eyes flickered. She pursed her lips, looked in the direction of the side door where Su Han had left, and said softly, "I know... so I've never asked anything of him. Not before, and probably not in the future." There was a hint of self-deprecating bitterness in her voice. "For him to still be willing to hold my hand and protect me like this, I'm already... very content."

These words, spoken calmly, revealed a deep-seated helplessness and sorrow. She could love unconditionally, give everything, even sacrifice herself, but she couldn't force a result. Because she knew better than anyone that what stood between them was a chasm more insurmountable than mountains and seas.

Lu Xueqi looked at the pale-faced woman in green before her, who had just escaped death. She was the eldest daughter of the Ghost King Sect, and should have been a demoness, an enemy. But at this moment, she was just an ordinary woman tormented by love, unable to obtain what she desired. Her eyes were clear and open, yet they carried a heartbreaking stubbornness and resignation.

The string in my heart called "good and evil" seemed to be gently plucked by something, producing a subtle, discordant tremor.

"You should rest well." Lu Xueqi looked away from Biyao and instead gazed at the mysterious runes on the dome of the main hall. "The effects of the medicine need to dissipate, so you need to calm your mind and focus. Su Han is next door; I'll call him if I need anything."

She didn't respond to Biyao's frankness about "liking" her, nor did she discuss the topic that had silenced them both. Some things are heavier when left unsaid than spoken.

Biyao, sensing the awkwardness, said no more, softly humming in agreement before closing her eyes again. With Lu Xueqi beside her, although the feeling was somewhat subtle, strangely, she didn't feel nervous or uneasy. Perhaps it was because Lu Xueqi had saved her, or perhaps it was the cool, upright aura emanating from Lu Xueqi that subconsciously made her feel she could trust her. Or perhaps it was simply because they both had inextricable entanglements with the same person.

Exhaustion washed over her again, and Biyao quickly drifted into a hazy, half-asleep state. She could sense Lu Xueqi standing not far away, her aura cool and steady, like a silent guardian statue. She could also vaguely sense Su Han's familiar breathing in the quiet room next door, slowly becoming calmer and longer as he struggled to recover.

This felt strange. She, Biyao of the Ghost King Sect, was severely injured and was being protected by two of the most outstanding disciples of the Qingyun Sect (although Su Han was somewhat different) in the Zhenyue Tower of the Qingyun Sect, one openly and one secretly.

Nothing in this world is more bizarre than this.

Time flowed silently. Lu Xueqi stood there, her posture as upright as a pine tree, cradling Tianya, her eyes slightly closed, as if regulating her breathing, or perhaps lost in thought. The light from the moonstone and the Soul-Stabilizing Pearl intertwined, elongating their shadows on the ancient ground, clearly distinct yet subtly intertwined by the tranquil space and their shared object of protection. There was no conversation between them, only the even sound of their breathing and the faint, warm fragrance of the Jade Marrow Rejuvenating Pill slowly spreading in the air.

At a certain moment, Lu Xueqi suddenly opened her closed eyes, her cool gaze fixed on the entrance to the main hall. Almost simultaneously, the door to the side room was gently pushed open, and Su Han emerged. He had changed into clean blue robes, and the weariness on his face had lessened slightly. Although his true energy was far from recovered, his spirit and energy were noticeably better. The first thing he did upon entering was to look at Biyao on the jade bed. Seeing her sleeping peacefully, he breathed a sigh of relief, then also looked towards the entrance to the main hall.

Light footsteps approached, and Elder Mu appeared at the door, carrying an antique wooden box in his hand.

"Elder Mu." Su Han and Lu Xueqi bowed simultaneously.

Elder Mu waved his hand and walked in. His gaze lingered on Biyao's face for a moment before he nodded slightly. Then he said to Su Han, "Your complexion is better, but your true energy is weak. You still need to rest and should not recklessly use your true energy." He then looked at Lu Xueqi and asked, "Junior Nephew Lu's complexion is also much better. Has the backlash from the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder subsided?"

"I'm much better now, thank you for your concern, Elder," Lu Xueqi replied.

Elder Mu nodded, walked to the jade bed, and once again extended a wisp of true essence to check Biyao's internal condition. After a moment, a satisfied expression appeared on his face: "Very good, the medicine is being absorbed smoothly, and the repair speed of her meridians and internal organs is even faster than expected. Miss Biyao has a solid foundation, a firm will, and amazing recovery ability." He opened the wooden box and took out a jade bottle, "This is the 'Hundred Herbs Nourishing Meridian Pill,' which gently nourishes the meridians and assists the medicinal power of the Jade Marrow Rejuvenating Pill. Once she wakes up, she can dissolve half a pill in water and take it once a day."

Su Han respectfully accepted it: "Yes, thank you, Elder."

Elder Mu then gave some instructions on the precautions for recuperation, especially emphasizing that although the soul had been stabilized, the damage this time was no small matter. Within seven days, the Soul-Stabilizing Pearl must not be more than one zhang away from the body and must be gently nourished with spiritual energy at all times. Su Han kept all the instructions in mind.

Having finished his instructions, Elder Mu glanced at Su Han and Lu Xueqi standing side by side, then at Bi Yao sleeping soundly on the bed. His white eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, but he ultimately said nothing, only sighing softly and leaving with the words, "I'll come again later," before turning and departing. It was best for this old man to meddle in the affairs of the young.

After Elder Mu left, the main hall returned to its quiet state with the three people (one of whom was asleep).

Su Han walked to the jade bedside, carefully examined Bi Yao, and confirmed that her breathing was steady and her complexion had regained some color under the nourishment of the medicine, which put his mind at ease. He then turned to Lu Xueqi and thanked her again solemnly: "Senior Sister Lu, thank you for taking care of me earlier."

Lu Xueqi shook her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over the jade bottle containing the Hundred Herbs Nourishing Meridian Pill in his hand, and said, "It's my duty. Since you've already adjusted your breathing, I will..."

Before she could finish speaking, Biyao on the bed let out a very soft moan, her long eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. This time, her eyes were less hazy and more clear.

"Su Han..." Her voice was still weak, but much clearer. (End of Chapter)