Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter 465 Heart's Blood

Adding to this the presence of local military forces suppressing the conflict at the border, and the Yuanmiao Sect's deliberate cover-up of news about the demonic disaster…

Peace is always just a fleeting moment.

"Yes, a simple, peaceful life is the best life..." Zhong Han was also moved to reflect. "It's just that many people don't realize this..."

As the sun set, a gentle evening breeze blew, causing the trees by the lake to sway and making Zhong Han's hair float lightly.

The shadows of the two people, under the slowly setting sun, gradually lengthened and began to blur.

......

......

Night fell, dusk settled, and moonlight, like gauze, filtered through the branches of the trees, creating patches of light of varying sizes.

At the center of the Nine-Bend Courtyard, there is a main hall, with side halls on either side that are shorter.

The side hall was shorter than the main hall, but significantly wider and larger, with two rows of listless yellow lanterns hanging above the entrance, swaying precariously.

But looking inside, it was still pitch black, there wasn't a soul in sight, and you couldn't see anything clearly.

The situation at Jiuquyuan has improved significantly compared to before.

However, compared to Yangzhi Academy, the top of the Seven Academies of Jingtian, it is still far inferior.

Regardless of the amount of resources within the academy, the condition of the buildings, or the strength of the disciples.

"Alright, Junior Brother Han, that's enough for now. Don't be late for tomorrow's sparring session, because I'm planning to unleash my full power then!" Zhong Han winked playfully, cracking a rare joke. Clearly, chatting with Han Yi for a while had improved her mood considerably.

"Okay." Han Yi smiled and nodded, preparing to leave.

"Hanhan, you're finally back! I've been looking for you for ages." At that moment, a soft-spoken young woman suddenly walked out from the side hall.

Sun Mingzhen, a girl of eighteen or nineteen years old.

She exuded the breath of spring, with a youthful appearance, clear, watery eyes, and lips as pink as early spring petals. Her figure was petite and slender, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

"Mingzhen, what brings you here?" Zhong Han's face was filled with surprise and delight, clearly showing some astonishment.

"I heard you're going to have a match with someone tomorrow, and I'm worried about you..." The two women linked arms and walked together toward the secondary hall.

Seeing this, Han Yi smiled politely and left as well.

He had heard Zhong Han mention this girl before; she seemed to be his childhood playmate, someone he could talk to about anything, with an extremely close relationship, like sisters.

"Hanhan, who is this?" Sun Mingzhen turned around and asked, watching Han Yi's departing figure.

"Him? He's Han Yi, the junior brother Han I told you about before. We owe him a lot for the last inner court sparring match. We just happened to run into each other and chatted for a bit," Zhong Han explained.

"So it was your junior brother..." Sun Mingzhen immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

The two walked and talked, passing through an empty side hall and then through a dimly lit beaded corridor, until they arrived at a bright room.

The room was brightly lit, with several large candles, each as thick as a forearm, placed around the perimeter. In the center was a table laden with steaming hot food.

"Mingzhen, what is this...?!" Zhong Han glanced at it casually and saw that it was all her favorite dishes, and she was clearly very surprised.

"This is a send-off feast specially prepared for you, knowing you're going out to compete tomorrow." Sun Mingzhen clenched her fist and waved it up and down. "Go, Hanhan! Hanhan will win!!!"

"You, you..." It would be a lie to say that Zhong Han wasn't moved.

She and Sun Mingzhen grew up together and were as close as sisters, sharing a deep and sincere bond.

Sun Mingzhen came from a merchant family. She had been in poor health since childhood and was often sick. Zhong Han often argued and fought with others in order to protect her.

Zhong Han has always regarded Sun Mingzhen as her own younger sister.

Although the slight rift between the two of them due to some previous events had completely disappeared with the carefully prepared meal.

Actually, it's nothing else, it's just about Chen Lingmo.

Sun Mingzhen had tried to persuade her to accept Chen Lingmo's marriage proposal. In Sun Mingzhen's view, it was okay to suffer some grievances and humble herself if she could marry the daughter of a high-ranking member of the Three Mountains Sect.

Zhong Han had explained this matter to her good friend before. If you don't like it, you don't like it; it's not a matter of saving face.

This has nothing to do with status, background, or strength; she never judges people by these standards.

She simply looked down on Chen Lingmo.

Even so, Sun Mingzhen still tried to persuade her many times, and even specially arranged a banquet to act as Fang Shouming's advocate.

This is where the conflict arises.

The two of them lost contact for a while because of this incident.

But the quarrels between the sisters were only temporary; their long-standing friendship of more than ten years was ultimately genuine.

“Sister, I’ve really figured things out lately. Happiness is something you have to fight for yourself; you can’t just rely on others. So…” Sun Mingzhen picked up the jade-green wine pot and gently filled Zhong Han’s cup with wine.

"So, I was wrong before, and I even argued with my sister, which made her angry. I'm really sorry."

Then, she put down the wine pot, clasped her hands together, and looked apologetic.

Zhong Han looked at Sun Mingzhen with a gratified expression and smiled slightly: "Alright, Mingzhen, what are you saying? You are my own sister, how could I be angry? Now that you understand these principles, it means that my efforts have not been in vain."

After saying that, she stood up and pulled Sun Mingzhen to sit down. She had now completely forgiven her younger sister.

The two women were best friends who could talk about anything and had no secrets from each other.

Not to mention, the two of them hadn't seen each other for quite some time. Meeting again now, they felt an even stronger sense of warmth.

From various anecdotes to everyday family matters, with Sun Mingzhen's deliberate cooperation, the two women were constantly laughing and chatting.

They didn't even eat or drink anything, and by the time they came to their senses, more than half an hour had passed.

"Sister, you have a competition tomorrow, so I won't disturb your rest. Come on, sister, let me toast you and wish you a great victory."

Seeing that no one had touched the food and wine on the table, Sun Mingzhen had no choice but to pick up the jade-colored, gleaming wine pot again, pour herself a cup of wine, and offer a toast.

The reason she only poured wine for Zhong Han at first was simply because she didn't want to drink it herself...

It's not because she's frail and sickly and can't drink alcohol, nor is it because she's pregnant and can't drink...

It's simply because this wine has been spiked with something...