Jiang Lingsu walked straight back to her room. “Senior Brother, wait until I call you before coming in.”

“Alright.”

She entered alone, still feeling somewhat dazed. Is Senior Brother actually serious? Or is he up to something? But then again, who would really be taking advantage here?

He had no reason to lie for such a thing. After mulling it over, Jiang Lingsu decided to give it a try. Her icy toxin wasn’t something an ordinary person could endure to begin with. About thirty minutes later, she tidied up her messy room.

She rarely did a thorough cleaning because Senior Brother never entered her quarters. It’s perfectly normal for girls to have more belongings, right?

Now, at least it seemed presentable on the surface.

A large bath barrel had been placed in the room. Wrapped in a chest cloth, Jiang Lingsu stepped into the tub. The blue-green water bubbled gently. Floating within were Whispering Flowers, Immortal Dragon Rock Leaves, and Luhua Petals. They were spiritual herbs essential for treating her condition.

Her lotus-white arms and slender shoulders remained above the water, a glimpse of delicately defined collarbones visible. Strands of damp black hair clung to her skin.

Then, she turned to the door. “Senior Brother, you may come in now.”

As she spoke, she instinctively covered her chest. A faint blush spread across her pale face, perhaps from the water’s temperature.

“Coming, coming...”

Light footsteps approached, then stopped after two breaths.

Jiang Lingsu inhaled softly. The water felt scalding, and patches of red bloomed across her fair skin.

Qi Yuan’s voice came from outside. “You’re bathing?”

She protested, “I’m wearing clothes!”

His tone brightened with interest. “Filming a TV drama?”

Bathing while clothed, wasn’t that what they did in TV shows? Curious though he was, he remained behind the folding screen.

“Men and women should keep proper distance. I am a married man, I must avoid suspicion. I’ll help you from here,” Qi Yuan said calmly.

He even felt rather emotionally intelligent about it. Back on Blue Planet, there were sayings about propriety between men and women. Qi Yuan couldn’t go that far, but he understood basic decorum well.

Jiang Lingsu murmured from the tub, “Avoid suspicion? Thank you for the trouble, Senior Brother.”

Qi Yuan added enthusiastically, feeling considerate. “Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying your figure isn’t good, or that you aren’t beautiful. It’s just about propriety between men and women!” 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

He only clarified so she wouldn’t overthink as a patient. Besides, he was telling the truth. His junior sister was one of the most beautiful women in the Divine Radiance Sect. Even loose robes couldn’t conceal her figure. He truly didn’t dislike her.

Jiang Lingsu froze in the bath. She bit her lip, nearly wanting to leap out and punch him.

“Senior Brother, you’d be better off mute,” she muttered.

How could someone so handsome and talented ruin everything the moment he spoke?

“I get it.” Qi Yuan assumed his warmth had overwhelmed her. “Are you ready? Senior Brother’s Nascent Soul is about to enter[1]!”

Curiosity flashed across Jiang Lingsu’s face “...Ready.”

What exactly was her senior brother’s Nascent Soul? Suddenly, the room fell silent. She focused intently on her surroundings. Through the screen and clothing rack, she saw Qi Yuan standing motionless.

His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he chanted softly, “O’ radiant and blazing Nascent Souls, heed my command! Sweep away all misfortune!”

As his voice fell, an ancient aura filled the room. Primordial Qi surged, rippling through space. A projection of a graceful maiden manifested. Her expression was distant, half-asleep. The Nascent Souls remained dormant, acting only on instinct. Yet, even in death, instinctive reverence remained.

Her voice was clear and ethereal. “I obey the Heavenly Sovereign's command.”

A terrifyingly powerful aura swept through the room. It felt like an endless ocean stood behind the screen.

Jiang Lingsu’s eyes widened, her heart pounding so wildly it rang through the thick obstruction. At a glance, she could tell the projection was no Violet Palace cultivator. “Yin Spirit!”

Next to this woman, even the lofty Violet Palace experts she had encountered seemed as fragile as ants.

Jiang Lingsu no longer dared remain seated in the bath. Like a lotus rising from the water, she stood gracefully. “Greetings, Senior!”

The blue chest wrap bound her bosoms tightly. Freed from the loose robes, the curve of her body against her smooth, flat abdomen grew even more pronounced, forming a tall, alluring silhouette. Her slender waist and graceful, exquisitely proportioned lines were fully revealed.

The maiden showed no emotion whatsoever. Meanwhile, Qi Yuan quickly closed his eyes, yet what the maiden saw still appeared clearly in his mind. He could see even with his eyes closed, a sensation both strange and unsettling.

Since red and blue are always paired, why isn’t she wearing red below?

That was the first thought that popped into Qi Yuan’s head. Something like a white bath towel was wrapped around her hips, clinging like a tight skirt. Though puzzled, he exercised high emotional intelligence and didn’t ask. The biggest difference between adults and children was that the former could control their curiosity.

Besides, asking would reveal he saw what the Nascent Soul saw. Her outfit was far skimpier than on a beach or some holy maidens, yet respect was still due. One should not look at improper things.

He hurriedly said, “Junior Sister, sit down quickly. We’re treating your injury!”

Without overthinking it, Jiang Lingsu sat back. She examined the Yin Spirit, her thoughts racing. The Yin Spirit was silent like a corpse, exuding immense pressure.

How did Senior Brother manage to find such a Yin Spirit? Could it be...?

Her thoughts went to Blood-Clothed Sword God, who had ravaged the Cuiyun Continent.

At that moment, the maiden stepped forward, touching Jiang Lingsu’s shoulder lightly. A vast divine spiritual energy spread like the ocean. Jiang Lingsu felt her own beginning to boil. Her snow-white skin flushed pink like a cooked lobster.

Just then, Qi Yuan abruptly said, “Junior Sister, maybe this time we’ll find out you have some special constitution?”

After all, the seven top-grade disciples who joined the Divine Radiance Sect had special constitutions. For example, not only was Dong Xian a prince, a Violet Palace remnant soul also resided within his consciousness. In the end, he became the king of Great Shang. Then, there was Jiang Ran, the girl targeted by Black Rooster Demon. Thanks to her special physique, she dual-cultivated with cultivators who gained great benefit. Everyone had essentially unlocked their own “story branch.”

What about his junior sister? If her injury were cured, would she unlock hers as well? Would some Yang Spirit expert appear and take her away as a disciple? That was why Qi Yuan asked.

Jiang Lingsu felt warmth spread through her. In the presence of a Yin Spirit, she dared not speak casually, as it would be disrespectful.

Nevertheless, since Senior Brother had asked, she replied, "What special constitution? My aptitude is merely average.”

She was just being modest. In truth, she possessed a pure Water Spirit Root. Not only did it make her a prodigy across the Eastern Lands, but even within the Divine Radiance Sect, no one had matched her in ages.

Qi Yuan replied bluntly, “Your aptitude is indeed quite average. Just a pure Water Spirit Root? Mid-stage Foundation Establishment. Spiritual energy is also at standard level. Your physique is better than most female cultivators, more flexible too. Hm, your illness has made your water-attribute somewhat abnormal... Junior Sister, aside from having a larger chest and a prettier face, you’re really too ordinary. Not even as good as a villager.”

From the feedback of the Nascent Soul, he had essentially performed a full body check on her. The results were disappointing. Her talent was completely average. Not to mention attracting a Yang Spirit master, even Yin Spirits probably wouldn’t take her. Violet Palace cultivators would even find her unworthy.

Jiang Lingsu nearly couldn’t hold back the urge to kick Qi Yuan. Naturally, she assumed this information had been relayed by the maiden.

“Senior Brother, what kind of villager has a pure Spirit Root?!” she protested.

“The one in front of you is a villager. Had to look for ages before I found her in Little Gourd Village,” Qi Yuan replied lazily.

The maiden had first visualized the Water Baby and later the Water God, becoming a Great Venerable.

Jiang Lingsu was speechless. She couldn’t very well turn to the Yin Spirit and ask, “Senior, are you from Little Gourd Village?”

She couldn’t be disrespectful just because she was close to Senior Brother. Ever unpredictable, Yin Spirits stood at the pinnacle of power in the Canglan World. One could not offend them lightly.

Qi Yuan lamented. “Haa... Junior Sister, you’re really too ordinary. You don’t even qualify to become one of my Nascent Souls.”

Jiang Lingsu choked on her words. Nascent Soul? Just earlier, Senior Brother had said this Yin Spirit was his Nascent Soul. He truly dares to say anything...

She wouldn’t dare repeat such words in front of the maiden. What if the senior heard and reprimanded him?

“Here’s an idea,” Qi Yuan said. “If I remember correctly, when a disciple of a major sect breaks through to the Nascent Soul realm, they may hold a Nascent Soul Gathering. Junior Sister, I’ve decided to host one. You’ll be my doorkeeper. Greet guests and collect gifts!”

Though he was low-key, appearances still mattered. As Nascent Soul, he definitely had to host an assembly and show off a bit. To gain wealth and not return home was like walking at night in embroidered robes. If he didn’t flaunt his cultivation, what if some petty nobody tried to bully him?

“Senior Brother, if you can persuade the sect master to let you hold a Nascent Soul Gathering, I’ll gladly be your doorkeeper!” Jiang Lingsu replied.

Qi Yuan shrugged. “Easy. Convincing the sect master isn’t hard.”

With three sentences, he could empty the sect master’s storage pouch. As for Jiang Lingsu, the rich little lady would probably hand over money even if he said nothing. Thinking of this, Qi Yuan’s gaze softened. His wealthy junior sister really was quite nice.

Half an hour passed as the two chatted endlessly through the screen. They discussed every detail of the Nascent Soul Gathering with utmost seriousness. What gifts to bring, who would sit where...

Finally, he said, “Junior Sister, your injury is healed.”

As his voice fell, the maiden’s projection vanished.

The immense pressure in Jiang Lingsu’s heart disappeared completely. She examined herself carefully. The unbearable chillness had vanished without a trace. Joy bloomed across her face. Her injury was completely cured! If a Violet Palace cultivator had come, it would likely have taken several treatments. A Yin Spirit only had to treat her once. Overjoyed, she stepped out of the bath. With a wave of her slender hand, an additional gauzy veil draped itself over her graceful figure.

She walked past the folding screen and bowed sincerely. “Senior Brother, thank you.”

Qi Yuan looked at her in surprise. The thin gauze was almost transparent, failing to conceal her exquisite figure. Half veiled, half revealed—an endless allure. She had never dressed so lightly before. The junior sister he knew had always been conservative, wrapped tightly.

He couldn’t help but ask, “Junior Sister, shouldn’t you wear more? Aren’t you worried I might be a bad person?”

She replied nonchalantly, “Everything that should be covered is covered. What’s there to worry about? If that Senior Yin Spirit could see, why can’t Senior Brother?”

Qi Yuan was speechless. Indeed, perhaps he was the old-fashioned one. The Qing Dynasty had long fallen, yet he still seemed to be tying a braid.

“Even if Senior Brother were a bad person, it’s unclear who would gain or lose,” Jiang Lingsu added.

1. ***E/N: THIS SOUNDS SO WRONG ☜