Chapter 136: Candied Fruit

"I... I..." A-Dai stammered.

He wanted to say more, to explain, to express himself, but his words felt as though they were being held back by an invisible force, refusing to flow smoothly. It was true; he had saved her. Hadn't he brought her out in the end? He had simply done what he believed was right, and that was all.

Wu Qianqian's eyes shimmered with sincere gratitude. "Thank you, A-Dai. My name is Wu Qianqian. I will certainly repay you for saving my life."

A-Dai’s gaze fell upon her drenched clothes, and he struggled to force out a few words: "Miss... Wu, your... clothes... need... to be... dried."

"A-Dai, do you have any spare clothes? I cannot use my spiritual energy for the time being."

Upon hearing this, A-Dai silently handed the bowl of medicinal soup to Wu Qianqian. "Drink... the medicine..."

Without further explanation, he turned and quickly left the room. Wu Qianqian was bewildered; why had he left so abruptly? She gently picked up the bowl and took a cautious sip.

"Ugh, this is too bitter!"

Her face twisted in clear resistance, and she had no desire to take a second sip. When A-Dai re-entered the room, he was carrying a set of men's clothing.

"For... you, change... quickly."

Although his voice was clumsy, his movements were exceptionally attentive. He placed the clothes by the bedside and hurried out of the room again.

"Thank you!" Wu Qianqian shouted at his retreating back.

She quickly set down the medicine bowl, grabbed the clothes, and changed into them with practiced efficiency. Unable to even use the simplest drying spell, she had no choice but to change into clean clothes like an ordinary person. A-Dai stood a full meter-eighty, while Wu Qianqian was only a meter-fifty-five, so the clothes hung loosely on her frame.

Wu Qianqian caught a faint scent from the fabric and was surprised to find a delicate, pleasant fragrance. She hadn't expected A-Dai to be so thoughtful, even ensuring his clothes smelled so agreeable.

Yet, why was his skin similar to that of the villagers in Longevity Village? Furthermore, he seemed to have difficulty speaking—what was that about? What baffled her even more was that A-Dai did not appear to know any incantations; how, then, had he managed to save her from such a perilous situation?

Wu Qianqian called out toward the closed door, "A-Dai, I've finished changing."

Creak—

The door opened in response, and A-Dai re-entered. His eyes landed on the nearly full bowl of medicine on the table. "Miss... Wu, you... haven't... drunk... the medicine."

"Just call me Qianqian. A-Dai, this medicine is truly too bitter. I am a cultivator, after all; surely I don't need to drink it?" Wu Qianqian’s voice carried a hint of coquetry; she really did not want to consume the bitter brew.

A-Dai’s response was unyieldingly firm: "No... no... way. If you don't... drink, you... will... get... sick."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he seemed to remember something, pulling a small packet of candied fruit from his tunic. His movements were clumsy, but his eyes were filled with care as he cautiously took out two pieces and handed them to her.

"Eat... this, then... it won't... be... bitter."

"A-Dai, I never imagined you carried candied fruit with you! You are so kind!" Wu Qianqian took them with delight. She desperately needed them; the bitterness still lingered on her tongue.

However, just as she was about to eat the fruit, A-Dai stopped her. "Drink... the medicine... first. Bitter... first, sweet... after."

Wu Qianqian looked at his earnest eyes and felt helpless. Since he was her savior, she had no choice but to pout and down the bitter medicine in one go. The liquid slid down her throat, leaving a deep bitterness behind, but she immediately popped the two candies into her mouth.

The sweetness exploded on her tongue, the crisp, sugary flavor instantly dispelling the medicinal bitterness—much like how A-Dai had pulled her from the mire.

***

Deep within a hidden, secluded cave, Shi Nuo’s angry roar echoed against the rock walls: "Damn it! You useless trash! Trash!"

The ghosts trembled, not daring to make a sound. Only Shi Nuo and the spirits of Longevity Village remained in the cave; the specters and phantoms had long since departed. Shi Nuo’s small fists were clenched tight, his teeth gritted, and sparks of fury danced in his eyes. The body best suited for him had gone missing—could he not be enraged?

He had planned to transfer his soul into that vessel the moment he shed his current one. What angered him even more was his own subservience whenever he encountered someone from the Divine Realm. How laughable!

Whenever a thought of disrespect toward his master—the specter—crossed his mind, his soul would be wracked with tearing pain. "Ah, ah, ah, Master, I was wrong."

He apologized in agony until the pain finally subsided. Shi Nuo struggled to compose himself, then asked slowly, "Why was he able to break free of my control? And why has that woman disappeared as well?"

"My Lord, that brat is cunning. He must have used some trick to escape your control."

"My Lord, that woman was surely let go by that brat."

"My Lord, I think so too. That brat must have wanted to keep the woman for himself."

The ghosts spoke over one another, trying to provide an outlet for Shi Nuo’s rage.

"Shut up, all of you!!" Shi Nuo’s roar reverberated through the cave. "Go and find them! You must find them!"