After all, they were the local bullies here.

That was part of his reasoning for helping them earlier.

However, he still said,

"These people from Undying Island are all highly skilled in Martial Arts. We can’t let our guard down.

"If you do manage to find any trace of them, don’t engage. Report back here first so we can gather our forces. It would be best if we could capture them all in one fell swoop!"

Zhai Xing nodded.

"Alright. What Young Hero Fang says makes sense. We’ll do as you suggest."

"Exactly. Don’t forget that our junior sister Wenwan might be in their hands. A rash move could endanger her. We must be extremely cautious."

Lan Yue added from the side.

This was no small matter, and Zhuji Pavilion was hardly an uninvolved party.

Zuo Qingshuang also wanted to get involved.

However, her internal injuries hadn’t fully healed. Lan Yue urged her to stay put and recuperate in Yuqing Pavilion, insisting they would handle it.

Zuo Qingshuang was not known for a gentle temperament, and the mere thought of what had happened at Zhuji Pavilion made her want to jump up and down and curse someone out.

She was about to fly into a rage at Lan Yue’s words, but she suddenly thought of Fang Shuwen and couldn’t help but look his way.

"Young Hero Fang, your Inner Strength is sublime. I wonder, could you help me heal?"

Fang Shuwen’s Muscle Strengthening Scripture was a Divine Technique that possessed healing properties.

Back at Qiuyue Nunnery, he hadn’t dared to try it. For one, they were facing a powerful enemy; for another, Zuo Qingshuang’s injuries had been too severe for him to risk it.

That was why he had let Ye Feihua and the physician handle it.

Now that her injuries were mostly healed, Fang Shuwen naturally didn’t mind giving it a try.

He stood at once, moved behind Zuo Qingshuang, and began to channel the Muscle Strengthening Scripture, a Divine Technique. He then slowly pressed his palm against her back.

"Nnh..."

Zuo Qingshuang let out a soft sound, her face flushing instinctively.

’That sounded so mortifying.’

But as she felt the surge of Fang Shuwen’s vigorous Inner Strength, she found it impossible to suppress the sound.

Her mind couldn’t help but flash back to what Lan Yue had said.

She instantly cursed Lan Yue to hell and back in her mind...

’If that woman hadn’t been spouting all that nonsense, why would my mind start racing at the slightest odd feeling?’

’When Fang Shuwen healed me at Zhuji Pavilion, I didn’t have a single stray thought.’

Fang Shuwen felt her True Qi flowing erratically, as if she couldn’t control it. He was taken aback for a moment.

"Elder Zuo, focus your mind. Don’t let your thoughts stray."

His words only made it worse. As soon as he spoke, Zuo Qingshuang felt her cheeks burn.

Though she knew it was impossible for Fang Shuwen to see her thoughts, she still had the mortifying illusion of being completely exposed.

Fortunately, she was a master of the highest caliber, and her Golden Jade Divine Technique was the ultimate art of Zhuji Pavilion. She quickly centered herself and helped Fang Shuwen guide his Inner Strength, allowing it to course freely through her body.

Wherever the True Qi passed, her internal injuries began to heal at an astonishing rate. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

She couldn’t help but marvel.

When Fang Shuwen had used his Inner Strength to purge her of poison before, she had sensed that his Divine Technique was anything but ordinary. Now, she was absolutely sure.

Injuries that would have taken at least a month to heal were completely cured in a short time thanks to Fang Shuwen’s efforts.

As Fang Shuwen withdrew his Inner Strength, Zuo Qingshuang’s eyes snapped open, a golden light flashing within them.

In a blessing born from disaster, her Golden Jade Divine Technique had actually broken through to the Eighth Realm!

She was now only one realm short of Lou Yuxiao’s Ninth Realm.

Overjoyed, she turned and couldn’t resist grabbing Fang Shuwen’s hand.

"Young Hero Fang, I truly can’t thank you enough for this!"

Fang Shuwen smiled, thinking nothing of it.

"Does this mean your injuries are healed, Elder Zuo?"

"Not only are they healed, it was a blessing in disguise! I am now, without a doubt, the second-strongest master in Zhuji Pavilion!"

She and Xu Chongshan had both been stuck at the Seventh Realm. Now that she had broken through, she had surpassed him, naturally making her the second-strongest master.

Zhou Qingmei couldn’t help but be happy for her master, while Lan Yue and Zhai Xing offered their congratulations as well.

With Zuo Qingshuang’s internal injuries healed, they had gained another powerful ally.

Without wasting words, Zhai Xing immediately found the pavilion’s Elders and began arranging the search for Cyan Blue Valley.

All that remained was to wait.

Zhai Xing and Lan Yue arranged a room for Fang Shuwen, and Zhou Qingmei volunteered to show him the way.

Seeing how cheerful she was on the way, Fang Shuwen couldn’t help but ask,

"Why were you so upset earlier?"

"Huh?"

Zhou Qingmei blinked. She had already forgotten she’d been upset. His question reminded her, and she couldn’t help looking at Fang Shuwen.

"Whose fault do you think it was?"

"Me?"

Fang Shuwen felt completely baffled by the accusation.

"Let me ask you..."

Zhou Qingmei suddenly put a hand on her hip, striking a pose as if to interrogate him.

"How long have we known each other?"

Fang Shuwen didn’t need to count on his fingers to know the answer.

"A few months, I suppose."

Zhou Qingmei paused. ’Only a few months?’

’Why does it feel like I’ve known Fang Shuwen for years?’

Still, she pressed on, her voice firm.

"It hasn’t been long, but we’ve been through life and death together, haven’t we?"

"That’s true."

Fang Shuwen nodded. Their friendship had been forged in those very moments.

"Then why do you always call me Miss Zhou?"

Zhou Qingmei said with a huff.

"Don’t I have my own name?"

"...Well, calling you by your full name would feel a bit impolite, wouldn’t it?"

"Then you can just use my given name."

"Qingmei?"

Fang Shuwen ventured.

"Mhm!"

Zhou Qingmei nodded in satisfaction.

Fang Shuwen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

"So, this was all just about how I address you?"

"Is there a problem with that?"

Zhou Qingmei huffed.

"Every time you call me Miss Zhou, I feel like we’re strangers who barely know each other. But... we do know each other well."

"Alright, alright."

Fang Shuwen sighed in resignation. He didn’t understand her way of thinking, but he didn’t dislike it, either.

He gently called out her name twice.

"Qingmei... Qingmei?"

"Mhm!"

Zhou Qingmei responded with great satisfaction.

Fang Shuwen suddenly smiled.

"What are you smiling at?"

Zhou Qingmei keenly picked up on his amusement.

Fang Shuwen just shook his head, saying nothing.

He just found it strange that simply saying her name now left a sweet and sour taste in his mouth...