In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

"I'm here." Su Han immediately bent down and took her hand. "How are you feeling? Elder Mu just came by and said you're recovering very well." He then told her about the Hundred Herbs Nourishing Meridian Pill.

Biyao nodded gently, then turned her gaze to Lu Xueqi beside her, revealing a faint, sincere smile: "Miss Lu, thank you."

Lu Xueqi remained aloof, only nodding slightly: "You should take your medicine." She reminded her, her tone calm, yet conveying a subtle concern.

Su Han quickly took out the pill, carefully dissolved half of it, helped Bi Yao sit up, and fed it to her little by little. He was very gentle and careful, afraid that she would choke.

Biyao obediently finished her drink, but her gaze involuntarily drifted towards Lu Xueqi. The woman in white stood quietly a few steps away, watching Su Han's cautious movements with an expressionless face. However, the hand gripping the Tianya Sword seemed to tighten slightly for a moment before slowly relaxing.

After giving her the medicine, Su Han helped Bi Yao lie down again. Bi Yao seemed a little better. She looked at Su Han, then at Lu Xueqi, and suddenly asked softly, "Did I sleep for a long time? What time is it outside?"

Su Han glanced at the dim light outside the hall and shook his head, saying, "There is no distinction between day and night inside the tower, but according to the time, it should be the afternoon of the second day. You have been unconscious for almost a day and a night."

“So long…” Biyao murmured, then looked at Lu Xueqi as if she remembered something, “Miss Lu, weren’t you… supposed to go back to Qingyun Mountain to report?” She remembered that Su Han had said that Lu Xueqi was only recuperating for one day.

Lu Xueqi paused for a moment before saying, "There's no rush. Your injuries aren't stable yet, and this place..." She paused, not finishing her sentence, but her meaning was clear: Biyao's identity was special, and if she left, Su Han and the Zhenyue Tower alone might not be safe. Her staying here was partly for Biyao's sake, but perhaps... there were other considerations as well.

Biyao was incredibly intelligent and immediately understood Lu Xueqi's unspoken meaning, a complex warmth welling up in her heart. This proud daughter of the Qingyun Sect had repeatedly broken her rules, hesitated, and even risked being reprimanded by her sect for the sake of her, this "demon sect enchantress."

“Miss Lu,” Biyao looked at her, her eyes clear, “I will always remember your kindness. But my identity is special, and you have already delayed your return to the mountain to report for me. If you stay any longer because of me, it may cause controversy, which would not be good for you.” She paused, her tone serious, “My injuries have stabilized. With Su Han here, Elder Mu taking care of me, and Senior Shi… Shi is here to oversee things, I will be fine. You… you should go back as soon as possible.”

She spoke earnestly, out of consideration for Lu Xueqi, because she didn't want to owe any more favors, and even more so, because she didn't want to put Lu Xueqi in a dilemma because of herself.

Looking into Biyao's sincere eyes, Lu Xueqi felt that complex emotion welling up inside her once more. This woman was clear about her likes and dislikes, and equally clear about her gratitude and resentment. She had saved her out of genuine kindness, without expecting anything in return. And now, her advice to leave was also heartfelt, as she didn't want to implicate anyone.

"I know what I'm doing," Lu Xueqi said simply, and then said no more. But her attitude made it clear that she wouldn't be leaving for the time being.

Seeing this, Biyao stopped trying to persuade him. Some things are better left unsaid. She looked at Su Han again and asked softly, "Su Han, how... is your injury?"

Su Han smiled and reassured him, "I'm fine, I just used up a lot of my true energy. I'll be fine after a few days of recuperation. As for you, you must listen to Elder Mu and rest quietly. You're not allowed to have any more wild thoughts, and you're not allowed to move around recklessly."

His tone carried a natural concern mixed with an unquestionable "command," which brought a faint blush to Biyao's pale face. She softly hummed in agreement, closed her eyes, and her lips curled up slightly.

The hall fell silent once more, with only the soft light of the spirit lamps casting its glow upon the three figures.

Su Han sat down by the bed, silently circulating his internal energy to regulate his breathing, while also keeping a sliver of his mind focused on Bi Yao's condition.

Lu Xueqi walked to the window on one side of the main hall, where there was a small stone window through which she could see the blurry scenery outside the tower and the outline of the continuous mountain range in the distance.

She stood quietly, her posture as upright as a pine tree, her white clothes whiter than snow, as if she were one with the tranquil and ancient hall, or as if she might ride the wind at any moment and turn into a wisp of cool cloud on the horizon.

Time flowed slowly in this silence; no one knew how much time had passed—perhaps only half an hour, or perhaps longer.

“Su Han,” Bi Yao suddenly opened her eyes again. Although her voice was still weak, she seemed to be in better spirits than before. “I have something I want to say to Miss Lu alone. Is that alright?” Su Han was taken aback. He looked at Bi Yao and then turned to look at Lu Xueqi by the window.

Lu Xueqi also turned around, her cool gaze falling on Biyao, seemingly somewhat surprised.

“This…” Su Han hesitated, worried that Bi Yao would be too stressed.

"Don't worry, it's just a few words, it's nothing." Biyao smiled slightly at him, her eyes resolute.

Seeing that she looked serious and not joking, and knowing that he was there and the two of them wouldn't get really angry, Su Han nodded: "Okay, I'll stay outside the hall and call me immediately if anything happens."

He stood up, nodded to Lu Xueqi, then walked out of the main hall and gently closed the heavy stone door.

The stone gate separated the inside from the outside, leaving only two women inside the hall, one lying down and the other standing, one frail and the other aloof, making the atmosphere seem even more subtle and quiet.

“Miss Lu,” Biyao spoke first, looking calmly at Lu Xueqi, “please come and sit down. It’s a bit tiring for me to look up at you like this.”

Lu Xueqi did as instructed and sat down on a stone bench not far from the bed, a few steps away from Biyao.

"What do you want to say?" Lu Xueqi's voice remained flat.

Biyao did not answer immediately, but quietly looked at Lu Xueqi for a moment, her gaze clear and focused, as if trying to see something through the other's cold exterior.

“Miss Lu,” Biyao spoke slowly, her tone more serious and sincere than ever before, “I know that my existence is a troublesome, an… awkward situation for you, for Su Han, and even for the Qingyun Sect.”

Lu Xueqi's gaze sharpened slightly, but she did not interrupt.

“I am the daughter of the Ghost King Sect’s leader, and I grew up in what you call the Demonic Sect. It is common knowledge that Qingyun and the Ghost King Sect are irreconcilable enemies of the righteous and the demonic paths.” Biyao’s voice was soft, but every word was clear. “My acquaintance with him… Su Han was purely accidental, and our mutual understanding and love went against the common sense of the world, making us unacceptable to both the righteous and the demonic paths.”

“I have never regretted knowing him or falling in love with him.” A gentle yet firm light shone in Biyao’s eyes. “But I also know how much hardship, danger, and even controversy this has brought him. This trip to the East Sea almost plunged him… and you, into an abyss of no return.”

Lu Xueqi listened in silence, her fingers gripping the hilt of the Tianya sword unconsciously stroking the cool patterns on the scabbard.

“Miss Lu, you saved me. Whether it was out of a sense of duty or something else, I will never forget this kindness in my life.” Biyao continued, her tone sincere. “But that’s precisely why I am even less willing to become a burden to you, a thorn between you and your sect, and between you and the sense of duty in your heart.”

"You advised me to leave because you were afraid of implicating me?" Lu Xueqi finally spoke, her voice clear and melodious.

"Yes," Biyao readily admitted. "You didn't have to get involved in all this. If you returned to Qingyun, you would still be the revered genius disciple of Xiaozhu Peak, the future leader. But if you continue to be entangled with me, with this demonic witch from the Demonic Sect, how will your sect view you? How will the righteous sects of the world talk about you? And how will you uphold your principles?"

Biyao's question was sharp and direct, pointing directly to the contradictions and confusion that might exist deep in Lu Xueqi's heart.

Lu Xueqi fell silent again. (End of Chapter)