38: Chapter 38 Little one, you didn't want... your sister to fail at Foundation Establishment, did you?

Once Liu Feng left, that suffocating pressure dissipated along with him.

The two young girls let out a long sigh of relief, their tense bodies finally relaxing.

The girl in the yellow dress tilted her little face up, her big eyes blinking as she looked on with full admiration: "Thank you for saving us, Uncle! My name is Su Xiaoxiao, and this is my sister, Su Qingxue."

She looked petite and exquisite, her height only reaching Xu Changkun's chest, and with her hair in twin tails, she appeared exceptionally childish.

However, she had developed extremely well; beneath her goose-yellow dress, her curves were exquisite and well-defined, exuding a unique charm that lay somewhere between youthful innocence and maturity.

Su Qingxue sheathed her long sword, stepped forward to offer a bow, her tone carrying a hint of respect and probing: "Junior Su Qingxue thanks Senior for stepping in to save us. May I dare ask for your honorable name?"

She sized up Xu Changkun, secretly shocked in her heart.

That pressure from just a moment ago was undoubtedly from the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"My humble surname is Xu, Xu Changkun," Xu Changkun said indifferently. "I only just reached the Foundation Establishment Stage recently."

"So it is Senior Xu." Su Qingxue bowed again.

Su Xiaoxiao, however, did not have so many reservations. She blinked her big eyes and leaned in close to Xu Changkun: "Uncle, you are such a good person! Unlike that Liu Feng, he's terrible! He even wanted to steal our ice heart lotus!"

There was a faint, sweet fragrance about her, like honey, which was refreshing and heart-warming.

"Are you rogue cultivators?" Xu Changkun asked, his gaze sweeping over the two of them.

"You could say that." Su Qingxue's expression dimmed slightly, her tone carrying a touch of distance. "My sister and I travel everywhere, with no fixed abode. Thank you for stepping in today, Senior; if there is a chance in the future, we will certainly repay you."

Xu Changkun saw Su Qingxue's wariness, but he didn't mind. After all, it was a good thing for two female cultivators to be vigilant when traveling outside.

"This place is not suitable for a long stay," he reminded them. "Liu Feng is vengeful, and the Liu Family has considerable influence in Qingyang City; they might retaliate. What are your plans for the future?"

Su Qingxue pondered for a moment, her brows slightly furrowed: "We will leave the Qingyang region as soon as possible..."

"Sister, I... I can't walk anymore." Su Xiaoxiao suddenly tugged at her sleeve, her little face scrunched up, and cold sweat seeping out on her forehead.

"What's wrong?" Su Qingxue was alarmed.

"My wound hurts so much..." Su Xiaoxiao pointed to her left shoulder.

It could be seen that the clothing on her shoulder had been soaked through with fresh blood, and the originally bright red bloodstains were now strangely tinged with a wisp of black energy.

"Poisoned?" Su Qingxue's face changed drastically, and she hurriedly checked the wound.

Xu Changkun stepped closer and took a look: "It's 'Black Wind Poison,' the Liu Family's unique poison. Although it's not fatal, if the poison is not forced out in time, it will corrode your meridians and leave behind permanent damage."

Hearing this, Su Qingxue's face turned even paler. Although she was at Qi Refining Level 10, she was not skilled in detoxification.

She gritted her teeth and looked at Xu Changkun, a flash of struggle in her eyes, which finally turned into pleading: "Senior, since you know this poison, is there a way to cure it? As long as you can save my little sister, this junior is willing to pay any price!"

Xu Changkun pondered for a moment: "Detoxification is not difficult, but I do not have any ready-made detoxification pills on hand. We need to find a quiet place to use golden needles to force the poison out."

He looked at Su Qingxue: "I have a residence in Qinghe Town. If you two don't mind, you can stay there temporarily to heal your wounds. After you have recovered, you may come and go as you please."

Su Qingxue hesitated. Going to the home of a strange male cultivator was undoubtedly escaping the wolf's den only to enter a tiger's lair. But looking at her sister's painful expression, she had no other choice.

Su Xiaoxiao, however, had eyes that lit up. Although she was grimacing in pain, she couldn't help but say: "Okay, okay! Uncle is a good person! Sister, let's go, my wound really hurts so much..."

Su Qingxue sighed and bowed deeply to Xu Changkun: "Then we will disturb you, Senior."

"It is no trouble."

The three of them returned to Qinghe Town together.

On the way, although Su Xiaoxiao was injured, her mouth never stopped. She lay on Xu Changkun's back, chattering incessantly, her voice crisp and pleasant, like silver bells.

Returning to the Xu Family, the two girls were completely stunned by the scene before them.

They had originally thought it was just an ordinary residence, but they didn't expect it to be so imposing. Especially after entering the backyard and seeing the lively scene of a group of beautiful women and swarms of children, the two of them widened their eyes even further.

"Uncle..." Su Xiaoxiao lay on his back and stuck out her pink, tender tongue, "Are these... all your wives, concubines, and children?"

"Yes." Xu Changkun admitted it frankly.

Su Qingxue gave him a complex look and thought to herself: This person... is truly "philanthropic."

That night, Xu Changkun hosted a banquet.

Su Qingxue did not speak much, her demeanor was appropriate, and she maintained a sense of vigilance throughout. Su Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, quickly started chatting with the other concubines, especially liking to pester Huo Linger; they were of a similar age and their personalities were compatible.

"Sister Linger, yours are so big!" Su Xiaoxiao stared at Huo Linger with an envious look, "What did you eat to grow them like that?"

Huo Linger blushed and pinched her cheek in annoyance: "Yours aren't small either!"

After the banquet, Xu Changkun escorted them back to the guest room.

The wound on Su Xiaoxiao's shoulder needed to be treated immediately. Xu Changkun ordered people to prepare hot water and golden needles, and brought out his treasured healing medicine.

"Uncle, could I trouble you to help me force the poison out?" Su Xiaoxiao sat on the edge of the bed, tilting her face up and looking at him pitifully.

Su Qingxue frowned slightly and stepped forward: "Senior, men and women should not touch; it is better if I do it. You only need to tell me the acupoints."

"Sister, you are clumsy; the last time you bandaged me, it hurt me to death." Su Xiaoxiao pouted, mercilessly tearing her down, "And this poison is so potent, what if the treatment isn't clean? It's better to let Uncle do it; he is a Foundation Establishment cultivator and is definitely better than you."

Su Qingxue was speechless, her face flushed red.

Xu Changkun looked at the two sisters, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes: "If Miss Su is worried, you can watch from the side."

Su Qingxue had no choice but to nod in agreement.

"It might hurt a little, bear with it." Xu Changkun took out the golden needle and roasted it over the candle flame.

"Uncle, be gentle, okay." Su Xiaoxiao turned around and slowly pulled down half of her clothing. The hideous wound looked particularly glaring against her snow-white skin.

Su Qingxue stared tightly from the side, her palms full of sweat.

Xu Changkun looked focused, his needles moving like flying. As the golden needle pierced the acupoints, spiritual power was transmitted along with it.

"Mmm..." Su Xiaoxiao let out a muffled groan, cold sweat pouring down her forehead.

"Does it hurt?" Xu Changkun softened his movements a little.

"A little..." Su Xiaoxiao's voice was soft and glutinous, carrying a sobbing tone, "But Uncle's hands are very warm, it doesn't hurt."

She turned her head, her big eyes watery like a wounded little deer: "Uncle, you are really good to me."

A quarter of an hour later, the black blood had been forced out, the wound was covered with spiritual medicine, and the bandaging was complete.

"It's done." Xu Changkun put away the golden needle, "Don't let it touch water for the next few days, and avoid spicy food."

"Yes!" Su Xiaoxiao nodded obediently and put on her clothes.

Suddenly, she leaned close to Xu Changkun and planted a "smooch" on his face: "Thank you, Uncle!"

Xu Changkun was stunned and touched his cheek; the warmth and softness of the young girl's lips seemed to still linger there.

"Xiaoxiao! Don't be rude!" Su Qingxue was startled and hurriedly reprimanded her.

"What does it matter? Uncle is a good person and he saved us!" Su Xiaoxiao stuck out her tongue, looking innocent.

Su Qingxue apologized to Xu Changkun: "My little sister is mischievous and has been spoiled by me; please forgive her, Senior."

"No matter, she has a true nature, it's quite good." Xu Changkun smiled, "You should rest early."

Over the next few days, the two girls stayed at the Xu Family to recover from their injuries.

Su Xiaoxiao's wound healed quickly, and with the Xu Family lacking no spiritual pills or medicine, she was jumping around in just two days. She wandered around the residence all day, curious about everything, like a happy little sparrow.

On this day, Xu Changkun was refining a batch of Qi Gathering Pills in the alchemy room when Su Xiaoxiao snuck in.

"Uncle, are you refining pills?" She leaned in front of the alchemy furnace, peeking around, her eyes sparkling.

"Yes." Xu Changkun nodded, "Qi Gathering Pills, just refining them for the children to play with."

After speaking, he opened the alchemy furnace, and inside lay ten round and full pills, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance; they were all top-grade!

"It smells so good... Uncle, you are amazing, you can even refine pills!" Su Xiaoxiao exclaimed.

Xu Changkun's heart stirred, and he took out a pill and handed it to her: "Want to taste it?"

Su Xiaoxiao took it and put it into her mouth without hesitation, chewing it like a candy bean, her eyes instantly brightening even more: "Delicious! Sweet and warm! It tastes even better than candy beans! The ones my sister refines are bitter and astringent; they taste terrible..."

Xu Changkun laughed: "Your sister can also refine pills?"

Su Xiaoxiao pouted, feeling a bit aggrieved: "Sister used to refine them, but the pills she refined were always black, and they didn't taste good. And the medicinal herbs were so expensive, so she stopped refining them later."

She suddenly remembered something, her eyes dimming for a moment, and her originally happy little face slumped: "To find the main ingredient for the foundation establishment pill, sister guarded the Luoxia Mountain Range for three whole months, sleeping in the open and eating in the wind, and was even nearly injured by a demonic beast..."

"foundation establishment pill?" Xu Changkun's heart stirred, "You sisters seem to have been drifting outside all this time? Is there some difficulty?"

Su Xiaoxiao bit her lip, a layer of mist covering her big eyes: "We... we were originally disciples of the Su Family in the Northern Cold Jade Valley. A few years ago, the family was destroyed by enemies... Mom and Dad both died, and only my sister and I escaped..."

Her voice became smaller and smaller, carrying a choke: "To protect me, sister suffered so much. She has been stuck at Qi Refining Level 10 for a long time, just because she doesn't have a foundation establishment pill..."

Xu Changkun gently touched Su Xiaoxiao's head and said softly: "It's all in the past."

Subsequently, he flipped his palm and took out an exquisite little jade bottle. He pulled out the stopper and poured out a pill.

In an instant, a rich and pure medicinal fragrance filled the entire room, making one feel refreshed upon smelling it.

"Th-this is..." Su Xiaoxiao widened her eyes, staring fixedly at that pill, her breathing becoming rapid.

"foundation establishment pill." Xu Changkun's tone was indifferent, "I refined it myself."

"foundation establishment pill?!" Su Xiaoxiao exclaimed, her little mouth slightly open, her face full of disbelief, "Uncle... you can really refine foundation establishment pills?!"

"Genuine and authentic."

"Do you want it?" Xu Changkun shook the pill in his hand, tempting her.

"Yes~" Su Xiaoxiao nodded repeatedly like a chicken pecking at rice, her twin tails swaying along with her, "With this, sister can reach Foundation Establishment!"

But Xu Changkun suddenly closed his palm, hiding the pill back in his hand, looking at her with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"Woo... Uncle is bad!" Su Xiaoxiao immediately grabbed his sleeve and shook it, her pink, tender lips pouting high, acting coquettishly, "Just give it to Xiaoxiao, Uncle is the best~"

"Uncle~" Her voice was soft and sweet, making Xu Changkun's heart nearly melt.

Xu Changkun took the opportunity to pinch her fair, tender little face, leaning close to her ear, his voice low and magnetic:

"Xiaoxiao, this pill is not cheap. You wouldn't want... your sister to fail her Foundation Establishment, would you?"