Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Attending the Banquet

Ning Xuan kept her eyes closed. For some reason, her mental state had been fine right after the acupuncture session, but on the way back, she had found herself growing more and more exhausted.

"I don’t want any water. My head hurts. Come over and massage it for me," Ning Xuan said, her eyes still closed.

"Of course, Contractor." Lin Mo quickly put the cup back down and walked softly behind Ning Xuan, placing his long fingers on her temples.

Lin Mo’s pressure was acceptable as he slowly kneaded Ning Xuan’s temples. His technique was a bit clumsy; Ning Xuan could feel that the pressure wasn’t even, sometimes heavier, sometimes lighter. Clearly, he had probably never done this before.

However, Lin Mo was carefully observing Ning Xuan’s reactions. After just a few minutes, he had adjusted the pressure until it was even, finding the level that felt most comfortable to her.

When Lin Mo saw Ning Xuan’s breathing gradually steady and her knitted brow slowly relax, his own tension began to ease.

Under Lin Mo’s massage, the fatigue in Ning Xuan’s head gradually subsided, replaced by a wave of drowsiness. Although it was a bit unusual, she didn’t feel anything wrong with her body and decided to get some sleep.

Seeing her open her eyes, Lin Mo immediately stopped and asked, "Contractor, are you feeling unwell?"

"No, you did a good job. I’m sleepy. I’m going to get some sleep," Ning Xuan said. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Please wait a moment. I’ll go prepare the room for you." Lin Mo had stayed here before, so he was very familiar with all the amenities.

But when he saw the items in the bedroom, Lin Mo was stunned for a moment. The sheets and duvet cover were made of Heavenly Silkworm Silk, the pillow was filled with Moon God Flowers that could calm the mind and focus the spirit, and most absurdly, the entire mattress was woven together from Energy Baryte. He certainly hadn’t enjoyed this kind of treatment during his stay at the Seven Star Divine Mountain.

Lin Mo’s fingertips brushed over the Heavenly Silkworm Silk sheets, smoothing out every wrinkle. At the same time, he gathered Fire Element Energy in his palm, warming every inch of the bed.

When Ning Xuan lay down on the bed, a faint, elegant floral scent filled her nose. A stream of pure energy rose from the mattress beneath her, enveloping her completely.

Lin Mo stood with his hands at his sides in the shadows cast by the bed curtains, watching as Ning Xuan quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Just as Lin Mo was about to lower the bed curtains, Yan Fuzhen grabbed his hand, his gaze fixed gravely on the little white cat clinging to Ning Xuan.

"Don’t you think this little thing seems to have grown a bit?" Yan Fuzhen’s gaze was so sharp that the little white cat trembled in fear and snuggled deeper into Ning Xuan’s embrace.

"Has it? It looks the same as before to me," Lin Mo said hesitantly.

Yan Fuzhen placed his hand on Ning Xuan’s wrist to check her pulse. Her heartbeat was strong, her breathing rate was normal, and her spiritual power was stable. She seemed to be fine.

Ning Xuan frowned and turned over to face the inside of the bed. Yan Fuzhen lowered the bed curtains and withdrew from the room.

Ning Xuan slept for three hours. When she woke up, she felt refreshed and invigorated. She could feel a boiling sensation in her blood, indicating that the special energy produced within it had accumulated too much. She immediately sat cross-legged and began her Cultivation, circulating the Guiding Spirit Scripture.

Ever since her Companion Spirit awakened, the special energy Ning Xuan refined would split—part of it formed particles of light in her blood, part of it entered her meridians and acupoints, and a small amount went into her lower abdominal Dantian, where it was stored as reserve energy.

This time, as Ning Xuan was cultivating, a small amount of the refined energy overflowed from her body and was absorbed by the little white cat.

Just as Ning Xuan finished regulating her breath, she heard voices from the outer hall. It was Lin Mo. "Auntie, the Contractor is asleep. She hasn’t woken up yet. We’ll eat after she wakes up."

Ning Xuan checked the time on her Light Computer and stretched. ’I can’t believe I slept for so long after just arriving in a new place.’

Zhu Hongying was just saying to Lin Mo with a smile, "Miss Ning has worked so hard to treat Yun Han. Eating can wait. We’ll go when she wakes up."

Ning Xuan came out at that very moment. "Mrs. Zhu, you must think me foolish. I just woke up, and I’m not really hungry. Why don’t I go check on the patient again?"

Ning Xuan planned to perform acupuncture on Yun Han one more time. If he still didn’t respond, she would have to leave. The Alchemist competition was drawing closer, and she needed to practice her alchemy techniques to prepare for it.

"Miss Ning, there’s no hurry. It’s already late today. I’ve prepared a banquet to welcome you. We can put the treatment off until tomorrow. Come, come, I have a Hundred Fruit Brew that’s been aged for over a century. It’s sweet, fragrant, and can even cleanse the impurities from one’s body. It’s quite rare. Come and try some with me." Zhu Hongying’s expression was much better than it had been that morning; she seemed spirited and full of life.

The reason Zhu Hongying wasn’t in a hurry for Ning Xuan to perform acupuncture on Yun Han again was that Zhu Hongxing had told her Yun Han’s Life Force was now steadily, albeit slowly, increasing. There was no sign of it depleting or slowing down. He suspected that the acupuncture technique Ning Xuan used that morning had taken effect and was clearly still working, so there was no need for frequent, intensified stimulation.

"There’s no need, I have to go back for the competition—" Ning Xuan tried to refuse, but Zhu Hongying grabbed her hand. "That can wait a day or two. You came all this way for Yun Han. I must treat you to the very best I have to offer."

Zhu Hongying enthusiastically led Ning Xuan to the magnificent and opulent banquet hall in the main palace of Seven Star Divine Mountain. Ning Xuan was left speechless as she gazed at the hall, which looked like a Heavenly Palace. Compared to this, the quarters she had just been staying in could only be described as quiet and elegant.

The banquet hall was incredibly spacious. The floor was paved with jade bricks carved with lotus patterns. As night had fallen, rows of Glazed Phoenix Lamps floated in mid-air, their wicks burning with crimson flames that bathed the entire hall in a golden, dazzling light.

In the center of the hall was a magnificent jade table over a dozen meters long. The tablecloth covering it was made of some unknown material that shimmered like flowing water. Arranged artfully on the table were exquisitely prepared delicacies of beast meat, sliced so thinly they were translucent. Jade-like nectars in delicate cups gave off waves of fruity aroma.

Since coming to this world, it was the first time Ning Xuan had seen a banquet so exquisite, so delicious, that it actually whetted her appetite.

Zhu Hongying was in high spirits, believing there was now hope for her son’s recovery, and she was a gracious and attentive hostess. Ning Xuan, in turn, earnestly savored the fine food. After tasting the Hundred Fruit Brew, her enthusiasm for the meal soared. It was a fruit wine, sweet and mellow. A warm current spread through her as she drank it, feeling incredibly pleasant. Persuaded by Zhu Hongying, she drank cup after cup until she gradually began to feel a bit drunk.

Yan Fuzhen watched her with some concern. He hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn’t stop her.