40: Apply ointment to Pei Qingying

Whoosh—

Although it was expected, hearing Zhao Qingyue say it herself caused an uproar.

Everyone looked at Chu Feng with incredible astonishment; this young man was truly brave!

He was intent on trampling Zhao Qingyue and the Shangqing Sect's dignity into the mud, and then grinding it in further.

Chu Feng snorted coldly, then slowly lifted his foot.

He no longer spared a glance for Zhao Qingyue, who lay like mud, and turned to return to Hall Master Pei Qingying and Su Qingqiu's sides.

"Let's go."

Chu Feng supported the almost unable-to-stand Hall Master Pei Qingying, while Su Qingqiu tightly gripped his other arm, as if to transmit all her recent worry through her fingertips to him.

The three passed through the silent crowd. Wherever they went, whether Shangqing Sect disciples or those who came to observe the ceremony, everyone lowered their heads and eyes, not daring to meet their gaze.

Those who had previously mocked were now ashen-faced, wishing they could bury their heads in the ground, fearing being noticed by this harbinger of doom who held the Immortal Edict.

Although the glorious divine power of the Immortal Edict had receded, its lingering aura remained, like an invisible boulder pressing on everyone's hearts.

Reaching the edge of the square, Chu Feng paused slightly.

He didn't even turn his head, yet his clear, cold voice echoed throughout the entire venue, especially reaching the trembling Shangqing Sect elders.

"Today's events arose from your Shangqing Sect's bullying of the weak. The humiliation suffered today will surely be repaid in the future!"

He tilted his head slightly, his peripheral vision sweeping over Zhao Qingyue, who was kneeling and trembling violently on the ground.

"Keep your head safe; I will come for it myself."

At these words, everyone was shocked.

Hearing this, a complex expression flickered across Hall Master Pei Qingying's paper-white face.

"Disciple..."

"Master, let's leave here first," Chu Feng's tone softened. "I'll handle everything."

He said no more, a slight surge of spiritual energy carefully supporting Hall Master Pei Qingying and Su Qingqiu. He transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the sky in an instant.

It wasn't until their figures completely disappeared that the suffocating, invisible pressure lingering over the square truly dissipated.

"Wah—"

Many disciples with lower cultivation levels collapsed directly to the ground, spitting large mouthfuls of blood. This was due to internal organ tremors caused by forcefully enduring the pressure.

More people were still shaken, exchanging glances, their faces filled with lingering fear.

"Ugh ah—"

On the high platform, Zhao Qingyue's shrill, frantic scream echoed, filled with murderous intent.

She suddenly lifted her head, her forehead a bloody mess, her once beautiful face now hideous and terrifying.

"Chu Feng! I will tear you into a thousand pieces and grind your bones to dust, sooner or later!"

...Luoxia City.

After leaving the Shangqing Sect, Hall Master Pei Qingying could no longer hold on. She coughed up a mouthful of dark red clotted blood, and her aura instantly became extremely weak.

Originally, the three planned to immediately rush back to Tiansheng Academy, but seeing Hall Master Pei Qingying's severe injuries, Su Qingqiu spoke up to remind them.

"Let's stop in Luoxia City first, buy some healing elixirs, and treat Master's wounds before heading back."

"No need."

As soon as Hall Master Pei Qingying finished speaking, she stumbled and fell directly into Chu Feng's arms.

Qingfeng Inn.

Su Qingqiu had, after all, lived in the Shangqing Sect for a long time and was more familiar with Luoxia City than Chu Feng.

She went out to buy healing elixirs, while Chu Feng stayed behind to look after Hall Master Pei Qingying.

Hall Master Pei Qingying leaned against the bed, her face transparently pale, her eyes, once as brilliant as a galaxy, now dim and lifeless.

Most alarming was that her once vast and profound spiritual energy was now like a punctured bag, slowly but continuously leaking out uncontrollably. Although slow, it was constant.

This was a terrible sign of severe damage to her Dao foundation. If the injury couldn't be stabilized in time, her cultivation would likely plummet.

Her red sword robe was already tattered, revealing deep, bone-visible wounds underneath.

Upon these wounds lingered pale blue runic light, the corrosive power left by the Nine Heavens Profound Clarity Grand Formation, preventing the wounds from healing.

Chu Feng's heart tightened at the sight, but he didn't have any healing spiritual medicine on him.

Just then, Hall Master Pei Qingying took out a small porcelain jar from her storage ring and handed it to Chu Feng.

"Help me apply the medicine."

Chu Feng took a deep breath, subconsciously holding his breath.

Before he could speak, Hall Master Pei Qingying pulled off her tattered clothes.

As her inner Ruyi (ruyi) was removed, only a crimson undergarment remained.

Chu Feng gazed at her back, which was as smooth and white as jade, and felt a moment of trance.

Her skin was exquisite, like the finest mutton-fat white jade, so delicate that not a single pore was visible.

However, across this perfect jade back, several hideous formation scars crisscrossed, marring the ultimate beauty. Chu Feng's heart was a mix of anger and pity.

A moment later, after painstakingly applying the ointment to all the wounds on her back, Chu Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief, intending to help Hall Master Pei Qingying put on her outer garment.

However, just as he picked up a pile of clothes from beside the bed, he saw Hall Master Pei Qingying hand him a roll of clean gauze.

"Bandage it."

Hall Master Pei Qingying's voice was still weak, but noticeably much better than before.

Chu Feng immediately froze, his cheeks feeling a little hot.

"Master, there's a difference between men and women. How about we wait for Qingqiu to come back and help you bandage it?"

Hearing this, Hall Master Pei Qingying suddenly turned her head, her dim eyes glaring at him, her tone carrying a clear hint of displeasure.

"You ungrateful brat, all these injuries on me, my Dao foundation almost destroyed, it's all for you. And now you're talking about the difference between men and women to me?"

She seemed to be acting out of pique, or perhaps she was too weak to care much, as she directly reached out and pulled off the small undergarment that barely covered her.

She clearly knew the awkwardness of the moment, but her injuries and that inexplicable emotion made her choose to be unyielding to the end.

Chu Feng took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the distracting thoughts in his heart, telling himself that this was for healing.

He picked up the gauze and began to wrap it around Hall Master Pei Qingying's armpits and front.

The room was silent, and their breathing was clearly audible.

The gauze needed to be tightly fitted to secure the ointment, and his arms would inevitably have to wrap around Hall Master Pei Qingying's chest.

She bit her lip tightly, not allowing herself to make any strange sounds.

In her heart, she had already cursed Chu Feng a thousand times, yet she inexplicably yearned for the feeling of being carefully cherished that his fingertips brought.

A moment later, Chu Feng finally finished bandaging, tying a secure knot on her back.

Hall Master Pei Qingying pulled on her clothes, still facing away from Chu Feng, the blush on her earlobes lingering for a long time.

"Does the inn have any wine?"

Chu Feng, thinking of Hall Master Pei Qingying's injuries, nodded immediately.

"I'll go ask."

...Inn lobby.

The waiter was pouring wine when the innkeeper came over.

"Who asked for the wine?"

The waiter looked up at the second floor, then said, "Room No. 1, Heavenly Character."

Hearing this, the innkeeper slapped him on the head.

"Room No. 1, Heavenly Character, and you're serving this kind of wine?"

The waiter covered his head, looking puzzled: "Isn't this already the most expensive wine?"

"Nonsense!" The innkeeper slapped him again, then took a small jar of wine from the wine cabinet. "This is the most expensive wine."

The waiter's eyes instantly widened, then he whispered, "This is Five-Whip Wine. A little makes you virile, but too much can make you lose control."

"Rubbish!" The innkeeper slapped him again. "Didn't you see that young master enter the room with two fairy-like ladies? This is exactly the kind of wine he needs."