Where Did Master Go?

Yan Jing stood frozen in embarrassment while the maids on either side of her knelt in fear, trembling and not daring to speak. Yan Jing's eyes reddened as she placed the medicine on the table, trying her best to hold back her tears. "It was my own decision to come in. It has nothing to do with them," she said, her voice shaky.

"Get out!" Xiao Ji angrily threw the medicine at Yan Jing. She didn't dodge, and the scalding liquid splashed all over her dress. I gasped as Yan Jing's tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. Biting her lip tightly, she sobbed softly and ran out. The maids pressed their foreheads to the ground, too terrified to even plead for mercy. Xiao Ji's face grew darker, and in his rage, he flipped over the table, roaring, "Get out! All of you, leave!"

"Hey, don't get so worked up," I tried to intervene.

"You, too! Get lost! I have nothing to offer you people!" Xiao Ji pushed me away, a spurt of blood suddenly gushing from his mouth.

"All right, all right, I'll go," I said, placating him while channeling my spiritual energy to heal his wounds.

"I don't need your fake kindness!" Xiao Ji pushed me away again. Thinking for a moment, I finally had no choice but to knock him unconscious with a firm tap.

"You really forced me to do something so ungraceful," I muttered, catching Xiao Ji as he fell.

"L-Lady Saintess?!" The maids looked at me in shock. I waved my hand to reassure them, saying, "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing." With that, I carried Xiao Ji to his bed under the maids' astonished gazes.

What's with those looks? Is it really that strange for a woman to carry a man?

The maids called for the imperial physician to prescribe medicine for Xiao Ji, but they were worried he would wake up and throw another tantrum. They begged me to plead for leniency on their behalf if he blamed them. Feeling sorry for them, I agreed. That night, I sat meditating in Xiao Ji's chamber, but before I knew it, I had dozed off.

Under the midnight moon, I woke with a stiff neck. In the distance, a melancholy, faint melody from a guqin drifted through the air. Rubbing my neck, I strained to listen, only for the sharp sound of a snapped string to pierce the air, followed by the crash of the instrument being smashed against a pillar. Could it be Xiao Ji? Leaping from the rooftop, I followed the sound and found Xiao Ji slumped in the lakeside pavilion, a broken guqin lying beside him.

"What a shame for such a fine instrument," I lamented, picking up the shattered guqin. Xiao Ji propped his head against his hand, not acknowledging me. The scent of alcohol clung to him strongly. Frowning, I grabbed his robe and scolded, "Hey, is losing love worth throwing your life away? Why are you doing this to yourself?"

"Throwing it away?" Xiao Ji scoffed. "With this broken body, I'd rather be dead!"

I froze, letting go of him. Speaking softly, I said, "Don't lose hope. Your bones are excellent, and your internal energy is abundant. With time, you'll get better."

"Leave. I don't need your pity," Xiao Ji said coldly, leaning against a pillar to steady himself as he walked back toward his chamber.

"I'm not pitying you," I replied in a lighthearted tone. "My master once said my spiritual energy far exceeds that of most people, but he didn't tell me that if I didn't cultivate immortal arts, my lifespan would be less than half that of an average person. So I genuinely envy your strong foundation."

"Ridiculous! Don't talk nonsense!" Xiao Ji snapped, clearly worried I might bring harm upon myself.

"All right, all right, I won't say it again." His voice lacked its usual icy aloofness. I waved my hand with a smile. Perhaps the agitation stirred the cold energy in his body, as Xiao Ji suddenly winced and clutched his chest in pain.

"Don't move. Let me suppress the cold energy for you," I said, activating the fire spirit energy within me. Without waiting for his consent, I grasped his wrist and transferred my energy. A gentle yellow light swirled around Xiao Ji, slowly driving out the chill in his body.

"It's done. But don't get so angry in the future—it's bad for your health," I said, releasing his wrist. When I looked up, I found Xiao Ji staring at me.

"There's rice on your face," he huffed before walking away with a haughty air.

"Really?!" I quickly touched my face, relieved to find nothing there.

At dawn the next morning, I washed up and prepared to consult Xiao Ji's attending physician about his condition. However, as I opened the door, I was met by a young noblewoman and a man. The noblewoman had delicate features and an ethereal air, her flowing dress lending her the elegance of a rare orchid. The man was tall and refined, dressed in a pristine white robe that exuded grace and nobility. Judging by their dew-covered attire, they had been waiting for some time.

"Are you here for me?" I asked cautiously. The man didn't reply but suddenly activated his spiritual power and attacked me. Dodging to the side, I cast a wind blade spell to block him while shouting, "Did you mistake me for someone else? Why attack me on sight?"

The man remained silent, summoning a staff to counter my spell. He flashed to my side, his palm emitting a powerful force aimed at my shoulder. Unable to dodge in time, I had no choice but to meet his strike with my own spiritual energy. The clash of our powers stirred the air, ruffling the man's smooth hair. With a sudden surge of strength, he pushed me back, stepped out of the fray, and frowned. "You're not Xiao Wan. You don't have her spells."

It turned out they were Li Wan's aunt, Li Yan, and elder brother, Li Jun. After catching my breath, I apologized and briefly explained my identity. Though they were initially skeptical and reluctant to believe I was merely a stranger who resembled Li Wan, they ultimately chose not to hold me accountable upon learning I had assumed her identity to save Xiao Ji.

When Xiao Ji learned the truth, he was stunned. After a long silence, he told me about Li Wan.

The first time Xiao Ji met Li Wan was in the backyard of the Nuwa Temple. He was seven, newly afflicted by his strange illness. One day, while wandering the temple's inner garden, he saw Li Wan fall from a tree with a startled cry. She was six at the time, having climbed the tree to avoid work. Startled by a bug, she lost her balance and fell.

Young Li Wan was proud and strong-willed. Discovering Xiao Ji had witnessed her mishap, she waved her hands and chanted nonsensical incantations, threatening that if he told anyone, he would immediately turn into a turtle.

Xiao Ji chuckled at this memory and continued. Li Wan was a prodigy in magic. At seven, she was chosen as the next Saintess, forging a marriage contract with Crown Prince Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi adored her, and Li Wan liked him too, often practicing spells in his study. Xiao Yi, who cared deeply for Xiao Ji, was forbidden by his mother, the Western Palace Consort, from meeting him in private. Li Wan acted as their go-between, and over time, she and Xiao Ji became good friends, frequently delivering messages for the brothers.

Two years ago, Li Wan's mother fell ill and passed away suddenly. Grieving deeply, sixteen-year-old Li Wan clung to her mother's side in tears, her body becoming translucent before vanishing entirely. At that moment, her aunt, Li Yan, and her father realized something was wrong and used magic to try to save her, but they couldn't stop her disappearance. However, a miracle occurred—Li Wan's mother woke up, though she fell ill again upon learning of Li Wan's fate. Later, during a demon-slaying mission, Li Wan's father tragically lost his life. Unable to bear the successive blows, her mother passed away shortly after.

It was clear Li Wan had vanished to save her mother. While the story seemed miraculous, it also carried immense sorrow. Xiao Ji shared many memories of Li Wan, but once I learned she had been his lover, I felt restless. His pained expression remained etched in my mind, and I realized I owed him an apology.