156: Chapter 156 The Two Women Meet: From Now On, Call Me Sister

Deep in the Medicine Spirit Abyss, the ambiguous atmosphere finally began to settle as time passed.

It was unknown how much time had elapsed.

Xiao Yu's long eyelashes fluttered a few times before she finally opened her eyes slowly.

What met her gaze was the soft light of the Night Pearls on the cave ceiling, no longer that despairing purple sea of fire, nor that heart-wrenching burning pain.

My body... feels so light.

That was her only thought.

The meridians that were originally damaged by forcibly devouring the Heavenly Flame were now not only healed but even broader and tougher than before.

The Three Thousand Blazing Flames inside her body, which were originally extremely violent and required her constant distraction to suppress, were now obediently huddled in a corner of her Dantian, like a tiger with its teeth pulled, incredibly docile.

"Awake?"

A lazy and somewhat teasing voice sounded by her ear.

Xiao Yu's body stiffened suddenly, and memories flooded back like a tide.

The man who pinned her to the ground... that rough, almost overbearing treatment method... and finally, that shameful plea for mercy...

"Ah—!"

She let out a low cry like a startled rabbit and instinctively tried to sit up, but it pulled on her aching body, making her gasp in pain and fall back limply.

"Hiss..."

Xiao Yu's face was as red as if it were dripping blood. She found herself covered in a large black man's robe. Although it covered the heart-pounding marks, the clothes were full of that man's scent.

Overbearing and extremely aggressive.

"What? Still haven't come to your senses?"

A face so handsome it made one grit their teeth leaned in. Xu Chen squatted by the white jade steps, playing with a strand of her red hair that had been burnt slightly curly, with his signature wicked smile on his lips.

"You sounded quite nice when you were begging for mercy just now. Why don't you call me 'husband' again?"

"You... you rogue!"

Xiao Yu was ashamed to death. She grabbed her sleeve to cover her face, her voice carrying a sob:

"Who... who called you that! That was... that was because you forced me!"

"Oh? Forced?"

Xu Chen raised an eyebrow and lightly tapped her smooth forehead, which had returned to its original state.

"Then who was the one holding onto me and wouldn't let go just now? And who said 'don't stop'?"

"Xu Chen! I'm going to kill you! I'll go down with you!"

Xiao Yu completely broke down, flailing her arms and legs trying to pounce and bite him, only to be easily suppressed by one of Xu Chen's hands.

"Alright, stop messing around."

Xu Chen put away his playful attitude and helped her straighten the large robe on her body, his tone becoming a bit more serious for once.

"That life of yours was snatched back from king yama by me. Since I've also received my payment, our account is settled."

"From today on, you are my, Xu Chen's, person. As long as I don't nod, king yama won't dare to take you."

Although these words were overbearing, they carried a reassuring sense of protection.

Xiao Yu's struggling movements slowly stopped. She looked at the man in front of her, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Although he was bad, rude, and even took advantage of her...

But it was undeniable that at the moment he rescued her from the sea of fire and used his body to block the fire poison for her, her proud heart had already completely fallen.

"Who... who is your person..."

She muttered softly, her voice so small even a mosquito couldn't hear it, but she didn't refute him again.

"Can you still walk?" Xu Chen asked.

"My legs are weak..." Xiao Yu spoke the truth, her face turning even redder.

"So delicate."

Xu Chen complained, but his body was honest. He turned around directly and half-squatted down.

"Get on, I'll carry you out. Otherwise, Liu Hanyan will get anxious waiting and start nagging again."

Hearing the name "Liu Hanyan," Xiao Yu's body stiffened instantly.

Right.

Liu Hanyan was still outside.

What did this count as? An affair? Or... being caught in bed?

Although she was apprehensive, she still obediently lay on Xu Chen's broad back. That thick and warm touch made her unable to resist pressing her face against him, and a sense of dependence she had never felt before grew in her heart.

...

Outside the Medicine Spirit Abyss, in front of the defensive formation's light curtain.

Liu Hanyan stood quietly with her back to the two. Her simple and elegant Alchemy Robe swayed gently in the breeze, looking exceptionally lonely.

Actually, although she didn't look at the commotion inside, she heard it clearly.

As someone who had been through it, how could she not understand that kind of sound?

Was she jealous?

Definitely. Which woman would be willing to share her man with someone else? Even if that woman was her junior sister.

But she knew better that if it wasn't for this, Xiao Yu would surely die.

"Sigh..."

Liu Hanyan sighed lightly, adjusted the expression on her face, and tried to make herself look dignified and generous. After all, she was the Tower Master and the first woman Xu Chen acknowledged; she couldn't lose the poise of the "primary wife."

Just then, steady footsteps came from behind.

Liu Hanyan took a deep breath and slowly turned around.

She saw Xu Chen walking out with huge strides, carrying Xiao Yu, who was wrapped up like a rice dumpling.

Xiao Yu buried her face deep in Xu Chen's back, not daring to look at Liu Hanyan at all, like an ostrich caught doing something bad.

The atmosphere between the three became somewhat strange and awkward for a moment.

No one spoke first.

Xu Chen, however, was thick-skinned and acted as if nothing had happened, smiling at Liu Hanyan:

"It's done. Her life is saved, and the fire is settled. It's just that this girl's constitution is too weak; she couldn't handle a few rounds of tossing."

Listen to that, is that even human speech?

Xiao Yu was so ashamed she pinched Xu Chen's shoulder hard, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.

Liu Hanyan looked at the way these two were "flirting," and the jealousy in her heart grew stronger, but she still maintained that gentle smile on her face.

She stepped forward, her gaze falling on Xiao Yu's exposed ankle, which was white again but still somewhat red and swollen, and her eyes softened slightly.

"It's good that you're okay."

Liu Hanyan's voice was light, yet it carried an undeniable power.

She reached out and lightly patted Xiao Yu's back.

"Junior sister, how much longer are you going to hide? We are both hundreds of years old; we should take responsibility for what we do."

Hearing this familiar voice, Xiao Yu's body trembled. She hesitated for a long time before finally raising her head slowly.

Their eyes met.

Former rivals, two people who fought to the death for the top spot in the Dan Tower and for a man, were now meeting in such a situation.

Xiao Yu looked at Liu Hanyan's calm and beautiful face, feeling extremely guilty.

After all, she was the one who confidently said Liu Hanyan was no good before, but in the end, she messed up and had to rely on Xu Chen to save her this way. And... her current appearance indeed had a suspicion of "stealing the man."

"I..."

Xiao Yu opened her mouth, all her usual sharp-tongued energy gone. After a long time, she only managed to squeeze out a stiff sentence:

"What are you looking at! I... I did that to subdue the Heavenly Flame! It wasn't for... that!"

Stubborn as a dead duck.

Liu Hanyan looked at her "strong in appearance but weak in heart" look and couldn't help but burst into laughter with a "puchi" sound.

This laugh was like ice and snow melting, and a hundred flowers blooming.

She shook her head, not exposing her junior sister's clumsy excuse, but reached out and naturally helped Xiao Yu tidy the messy strand of hair on her forehead.

"Fine, fine, it was for the Heavenly Flame."

Liu Hanyan's tone was as gentle as coaxing a child, but in the next second, her eyes narrowed slightly, revealing the unique majesty of a primary wife.

"However, since you've entered the Xu Family's door, some rules still need to be established."

Xiao Yu was stunned and looked at her warily: "What rules?"

Liu Hanyan smiled slightly, not putting on any airs of a Tower Master, but took half a step forward and said in a low voice that only the three of them could hear:

"Although you entered the family later than me, you are still my junior sister. I am not the kind of jealous woman who can't tolerate others."

"We fought for hundreds of years for empty fame without a result."

"Now that we both belong to the same man, we are one family."

At this point, Liu Hanyan paused, looking directly into Xiao Yu's eyes, her smile gentle yet unquestionable:

"Xiao Yu, the past grievances are wiped clean."

"But from now on... shouldn't you change how you address me and call me 'Sister'?"

Sister.

These two words were like a binding spell, making Xiao Yu freeze.

She looked at Liu Hanyan. This woman who used to make her jealous, refuse to submit, and even grit her teeth in hatred, now had no mockery or contempt in her eyes, only a kind of tolerance and acceptance.

It was the kinship she had longed for since childhood but had pushed away with pride.

Xiao Yu's eyes suddenly felt a bit sore.

She bit her lip and turned her head away, not wanting her tears to fall, but the words of refusal simply wouldn't come out.

Xu Chen felt the emotional fluctuations of the woman on his back, gave her a little bounce at the right time, and acted as a mediator with a smile:

"Calling her 'Sister' isn't a loss. Liu Hanyan promised to bring all the Dan Tower's resources as a dowry. If you call her that, you'll have a share of that dowry too."

"Who cares about a dowry!"

Xiao Yu cursed with a sob, then took a deep breath, and as if using all her strength, squeezed out two words like a mosquito's hum:

"...Sister."

The voice was small, but clearly audible.

The smile on Liu Hanyan's face bloomed instantly; it was a joy from the heart. Hundreds of years of estrangement finally vanished in this moment.

"Aye."

She responded and reached out to hold Xiao Yu's somewhat cold hand.

"Since you've called me 'Sister,' then from now on... Sister will look after you."

"Alright, now that the family is reunited, some things should be put on the agenda."

Xu Chen looked at Liu Hanyan with burning eyes, then at Xiao Yu on his back, his gaze becoming fiery.

"Liu Hanyan, although the previous Nine Revolutions Replenishing Heaven Pill had a prototype, the heat was still a bit off."

"Now this girl Xiao Yu is also 'fire'power fully unleashed."

"Since everyone is here... why don't the three of us work together to complete that final step?"

Liu Hanyan and Xiao Yu were stunned at the same time.

"Three... together?"

"Refining pills?!"