310: Chapter 310 Healing in the Side Hall: This medicine is far more valuable than your life.

This woman appeared slender and tall, but in his arms, she was as light as a feather, with almost no weight to speak of.

Even though she had fallen into a deep coma, her slender fingers still tightly gripped that broken half-sword.

Su Qingge walked beside Xu Chen, looking at the blood-covered Lower Realm woman in her husband's arms; her beautiful eyes held no hint of jealousy, but instead revealed a touch of compassion and tenderness.

As the Saintess of the Tai Chu Holy Land and later the Young Mistress of the Ancient Xu Family, she held a supreme status, yet she well knew the cruel reality of the cultivation world where the strong prey on the weak.

For a Lower Realm woman with no background to fight her way through the Void Realm and ascend to the Upper Realm with just a sword, she must have suffered untold hardships and experienced countless moments of life-and-death despair.

The first light of dawn appeared, and a faint pale white tinged the eastern horizon.

The Xu Family's Imperial Clan manor loomed indistinctly in the morning mist, where endless floating immortal islands and divine waterfalls breathing out Chaos Spiritual Qi complemented each other, resembling a legendary ancient fairyland.

Xu Chen carried Lin Qingxue through layers of corridors, arriving directly at a luxurious side hall next to his sleeping quarters.

The hall doors had just been pushed open when the personal maid, Xiao Tao, who was waiting inside with a basin of spirit spring water for her master's morning wash, looked up. Seeing her Young Lord holding a blood-stained stranger, she was so startled she nearly dropped the pure gold basin.

“Young Lord, Young Mistress, who is this lady?” Xiao Tao’s eyes widened as she hurriedly set down the basin and came forward to meet them.

Xu Chen replied casually, “Just a stray cat that fell from the sky while I was watching the stars at the Star Observation Platform; I picked her up on the way. Go and prepare the Ice-Silk Jade Bed in the inner chamber.”

Though full of doubts, Xiao Tao was extremely efficient as an Imperial Clan maid; she immediately ran inside and readied the top-grade jade bed, which was emitting a faint, curling cold mist.

Xu Chen laid Lin Qingxue flat on the jade bed.

Even lying on such a soft and comfortable bed, Lin Qingxue’s body remained in an extremely tense defensive posture. Her brows were tightly knit, and her pale lips were pressed together, as if she were still locked in a life-and-death struggle against some invisible, terrifying enemy in her dreams.

Su Qingge walked to the bedside and carefully examined Lin Qingxue’s injuries, a look of gravity appearing on her exquisite face.

“Husband, this lady is severely injured,” Su Qingge said softly. “Seventy percent of the Meridians throughout her body are broken, and her internal organs have been cracked by violent spatial turbulence. The most troublesome part is her Sword Heart; it seems to be on the verge of collapse due to the forced overdrawing of her Origin. If it isn't stabilized in time, her entire cultivation may be lost.”

Xu Chen leaned back in a nearby carved red sandalwood chair, lazily picking up the enlightenment tea Xiao Tao had just brewed and gently blowing on the floating tea leaves.

“I know. This woman has too fierce a temperament; if I hadn't stepped in to swat that fly just now, she probably would have directly self-detonated her Sword Heart to take him down with her.”

At this point, Xu Chen looked at Su Qingge with a gentle smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Wife, you should still have some top-grade healing holy medicine, right? Take some out to keep this woman alive for now. She smashed the floor tiles of our Star Observation Platform; if she dies just like that, who am I going to collect the debt from?”

Su Qingge was amused by Xu Chen's appearance of a street rogue while actually being soft-hearted, and she let out a light laugh.

She gave Xu Chen a playful roll of her eyes, and that charmingly reproachful look instantly made the atmosphere in the side hall incredibly warm.

“Oh, husband, you are clearly being kind enough to save someone, yet you insist on speaking so mercenarily. If this lady wakes up and hears those words, I'm afraid she'll draw her sword to fight you to the death again.”

As Su Qingge spoke, she took out a small, exquisite mutton-fat jade bottle from her spatial immortal ring.

The moment she pulled the stopper, a fragrance so rich it was almost tangible instantly filled the entire side hall.

Just smelling this medicinal fragrance made one feel a sense of comfort throughout their entire body, as if all internal fatigue and hidden injuries were being smoothed away at that moment.

This was the Nine Revolutions Creation Dew.

Even within the unfathomably deep foundations of the Ancient Xu Family, this was absolutely considered a top-tier healing holy medicine. As long as a person still had a breath left, even if half their Physical Body was destroyed, this Nine Revolutions Creation Dew could literally grow flesh over bone and drag them back from the gates of hell.

Su Qingge carefully poured out a drop of medicinal liquid emitting a nine-colored halo into an exquisite white jade spoon, then sat by the bedside, preparing to feed it to Lin Qingxue.

The first warm rays of morning sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices of the side hall, dappling Lin Qingxue’s pale yet exquisite face.

Perhaps she felt the warmth of the sun, or perhaps the fragrance of the Nine Revolutions Creation Dew stimulated the remaining Life Qi within her.

Lin Qingxue’s thick eyelashes fluttered violently a few times, and then, a pair of eyes as cold as wintry stars suddenly snapped open.

The moment she woke up, Lin Qingxue’s mind was still in a brief blank state. However, the instinct of the Supreme Sword Sect’s Sect Master—the instinct of a lone wolf who had fought her way through a sea of corpses and blood—exploded at that moment.

An unfamiliar environment, unfamiliar scents, and an unfamiliar woman sitting by the bed trying to approach her.

“Get away!”

Lin Qingxue’s voice was hoarse and dry, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together. Completely ignoring the tearing pain from her broken Meridians, she lunged up from the jade bed like a maddened tigress.

Subconsciously, she wanted to swing the broken sword in her right hand to stab at Su Qingge, who was closest to her.

However, she had overestimated her current physical condition.

Her Dantian, depleted of Spiritual Qi, could provide no support at all. She had only just sat halfway up before her body tumbled backward uncontrollably, and the broken sword in her right hand fell uselessly onto the jade bed with a crisp metallic clink.

Su Qingge was startled by Lin Qingxue’s sudden violent reaction, and the hand holding the jade spoon paused slightly.

But she did not get angry; looking at Lin Qingxue’s eyes, which were filled with despair and hostility like a frightened small animal, her tone became even softer.

“Lady, do not be afraid. This is the Xu Family; you are safe now. The enemy who was hunting you down has been dealt with by my husband.”

Xu Family.

Husband.

Lin Qingxue panted heavily, cold sweat instantly soaking through her thin clothes.

Fragmented memories flooded into her mind like a tide.

The Star Observation Platform.

That Ye Chen, who was swatted into a bloody mist with a single palm.

And that handsome young man who stood before her, his back as majestic as a primordial divine mountain, yet who bickered with her over a few floor tiles.

Lin Qingxue whipped her head around, her wary gaze quickly scanning the side hall before finally locking onto the black-robed youth sitting leisurely in the red sandalwood chair, sipping tea.

It was him.

The man whose strength was terrifying enough to induce despair.

Lin Qingxue tightly gripped the ice-silk bedding beneath her, her body trembling slightly from extreme weakness and tension.

Although this man had saved her, in the cruel survival Laws of the Lower Realm, there was no kindness without cause. Since the other party possessed such terrifying strength, if he wanted to do something to her, she wouldn't even have the room to resist.

Seeing that Lin Qingxue’s emotions had stabilized slightly, Su Qingge offered the white jade spoon once more.

“Lady, your injuries are too severe. Drink this medicine first; it will be good for your wounds.”

Lin Qingxue looked at the spoonful of medicinal liquid emitting a strange halo and tightly shut her mouth.

She stubbornly turned her head away, her cold eyes full of refusal and wariness.

In that deceitful Lower Realm, the consequences of eating something given by another were often more miserable than death. Lin Qingxue had lived to this day by never letting down her guard against anyone.

Who knew if this strangely fragrant substance might be some kind of poison to control one's mind.

“I won't drink it.”

Lin Qingxue gritted her teeth and squeezed out those four words, her gaze as cold as a newly unsheathed sharp sword.

Holding the jade spoon, Su Qingge was momentarily caught in a dilemma. She had a gentle nature and was not used to forcing others; facing this porcupine covered in sharp quills, she was somewhat at a loss.

Just then, Xu Chen set down his teacup.

With the crisp sound of the cup hitting the table, Xu Chen slowly stood up and walked to the bedside with unhurried, long strides.

He looked down from above at the skittish Lin Qingxue; his deep eyes held no pity, but rather a playful look of seeing through everything.

“What, do you think we've poisoned the medicine because we're plotting something against you?”

Xu Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable dominance.

Lin Qingxue said nothing, only stubbornly raising her chin to meet Xu Chen's gaze without flinching. Her eyes clearly said that he could kill or torture her as he pleased, but he shouldn't think of using such means to control her.

Seeing Lin Qingxue’s 'death before dishonor' attitude, Xu Chen suddenly let out a light laugh.

He didn't waste another word, but directly reached out his slender right hand and pinched Lin Qingxue’s sharp, pale chin.

Xu Chen's movement seemed casual, but the moment his fingers touched Lin Qingxue’s skin, she felt a terrifying force that was impossible to resist lock her down completely.

She wanted to struggle, wanted to turn her head away, but found that under this man's fingertips, her body could not move even a fraction of an inch.

Xu Chen's fingers applied a bit of pressure, forcing Lin Qingxue’s cold and exquisite face to tilt up slightly, then his thumb and forefinger gently squeezed the sides of her cheeks.

Lin Qingxue’s tightly closed lips were forced open.

“Qingge, pour it in.”

Xu Chen turned to Su Qingge and instructed calmly.

Understanding his intent, Su Qingge immediately poured the Nine Revolutions Creation Dew from the jade spoon into Lin Qingxue’s mouth.

“You...”

Lin Qingxue’s eyes widened, her cold gaze filled with shame, anger, and humiliation. She wanted to spit the medicinal liquid out, but Xu Chen released her chin at that moment and instead tapped gently on her throat.

With a gulping sound,

that drop of Nine Revolutions Creation Dew slid down her throat, instantly transforming into an incredibly massive and gentle warm current that exploded through her entire body.

Xu Chen looked at Lin Qingxue’s cheeks, which were flushed with humiliation, clapped his hands, and stood over her with his arms crossed, his tone carrying a few hints of undisguised mockery and dominance.

“Put away that persecution complex of yours.”

Xu Chen looked at her.

“If I wanted to kill you, back at the Star Observation Platform, that palm that swatted the fly would have landed directly on your head. If I lusted after your body, you have no Spiritual Qi right now; I could just take you by force. What could you do besides glare?”

Lin Qingxue was choked by Xu Chen’s crude, blunt, yet incredibly truthful words.

She stared blankly at Xu Chen, her mind in a state of Chaos.

Xu Chen reached out a finger and tapped Lin Qingxue’s forehead, his mouth curving into a humorous arc.

“Don't look so aggrieved, as if you've suffered some great loss. That drop of medicine you just drank is a top-grade holy medicine of my Xu Family. Never mind your one life; if this medicine were put up for sale, it would be more than enough to buy ten of your lives.”

Xu Chen's tone was teasing, but held no malice.

“You owe me a massive favor now. Medical fees, accommodation fees, and the repair fees for those ancestral floor tiles you smashed. Before This Young Master's ledger is cleared, if you, this stray cat, dare to die, I'll go to the underworld and drag your soul back to sweep the floors to pay your debt.”

While Lin Qingxue was in a daze, she suddenly felt a sharp, bloating pain in her lower abdomen.

The medicinal power of the Nine Revolutions Creation Dew was too vast; for her body with its shattered Meridians, it was undoubtedly too much to absorb at once, and the violent life force was now running wild inside her.

Lin Qingxue let out a painful groan, her forehead instantly covered in fine beads of sweat.

Seeing this, Xu Chen’s brow twitched slightly.

“You really are a handful.”

Without any hesitation, he sat down directly by the bedside.

Xu Chen reached out his right hand, his warm palm pressing directly onto Lin Qingxue’s flat and soft lower abdomen.

Lin Qingxue’s body stiffened; this was her first time having such intimate physical contact with a strange man. But before she could even form a thought of resistance, an extremely mysterious, sea-like surge of purple True Qi flowed continuously into her body from Xu Chen's palm.

That was Xu Chen's Hongmeng Creation Qi.

This purple True Qi was incredibly overbearing, yet it also carried a subtle, all-encompassing gentleness.

As soon as it entered Lin Qingxue’s body, the rampaging holy medicinal forces were like subjects meeting an absolute monarch; they instantly became obedient and, led by the Hongmeng Creation Qi, began to rapidly repair her damaged Meridians and cracked internal organs.

Even her nearly collapsed Supreme Sword Heart regained vibrant vitality under the nourishment of this purple True Qi.

Lin Qingxue felt the earth-shaking changes within her body and the reassuring warmth coming from her lower abdomen in a daze.

She secretly stole a glance at Xu Chen, who was close at hand.

The lines of this man's profile were perfect; at this moment, his eyes were slightly closed, and he was focused on guiding the medicinal power for her.

In the Lower Realm, as long as she showed a hint of weakness, it would surely bring the pouncing of countless hungry wolves.

But here, this Imperial Clan Young Lord, with his heaven-defying strength and noble status, not only didn't take advantage of her plight but also expended his extremely precious Origin True Qi to heal her.

Meanwhile, Su Qingge, standing to the side, naturally walked to the bed with a white silk handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from Lin Qingxue’s forehead.

Su Qingge looked at Lin Qingxue’s dazed expression and smiled gently.

“Lady, don't take my husband's crude words to heart. He is just like that, with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Rest here and recover in peace; absolutely no one will dare to harm you.”

Lin Qingxue slowly lowered her gaze, her long lashes hiding the complex light in her eyes.

She no longer struggled or remained guarded, but allowed Xu Chen's True Qi to circulate through her body.

Half an hour later.

Xu Chen slowly withdrew his palm and let out a long breath of turbid air.

“Alright, your life is saved. Your Meridians are reconnected; you just need to rest for a few days to be back on your feet.”

Xu Chen stood up, clapped his hands, and nodded as he looked at Lin Qingxue, whose complexion had regained some color.

“Get some good rest. Recover as quickly as possible; the Xu Family doesn't keep idle people who eat for free. Once you're better, you'll have to work for me to pay off your debt.”

After saying that, without waiting for Lin Qingxue to thank him, Xu Chen directly took Su Qingge's hand and turned to walk out of the side hall.

“Xiao Tao, keep an eye on her. If she smashes the jade bed or vases in this room again, charge it all to her account.”

Xu Chen's slightly teasing voice drifted in from far outside the hall.

Xiao Tao hurriedly gave a respectful reply.

Silence returned to the side hall.

Lin Qingxue lay quietly on the extreme-cold Ice-Silk Jade Bed, feeling the power refilling her body, yet her gaze was somewhat blank as she stared at the luxurious ceiling.

Work.

Pay off the debt.

Recalling that man's self-righteous, mercenary face before he left, a very rare, faint smile—one she didn't even notice herself—actually curved the corners of Lin Qingxue’s mouth.

This Imperial Clan Young Lord who didn't play by the rules...

Seemed to be completely different from those cold-blooded Upper Realm Cultivators she knew.