Chapter 15

The so-called protagonist's privilege must mean that even if you stepped in dog shit, you'd find a secret manual or an immortal pill inside.

Shen Qingqiu's expression shifted through a kaleidoscope of emotions as he recalled these memories. He was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice someone calling his name. It took several attempts from Yue Qingyuan before he snapped back to reality. "What?"

Mu Qingfang handed him a piece of paper. "Take these four herbs consistently every month. Additionally, you'll need to perform energy circulation exercises with a cultivator of high spiritual power. They must assist you in maintaining the normal flow of your spiritual energy. If these steps are followed, there should be no major issues." He paused, then added, "However, it's likely that Senior Brother Shen will occasionally experience blockages in his spiritual energy flow, or sudden episodes where it fails to circulate properly."

The other three men in the room watched his reaction closely.

For a cultivator, blocked spiritual energy circulation was a terrifying prospect. Especially during a duel between masters, a single moment of lapse could mean death. Little did they know, Shen Qingqiu was actually quite satisfied with this outcome.

For a scum villain like him, who had been hit with an incurable, bizarre poison, simply surviving was already a massive concession to his pride.

Even if he knew that sleeping with the protagonist could cure the poison… could he actually do it? Could he? Ha… haha…

Yue Qingyuan sighed heavily. "If I had known this would happen, I should never have left the mountain."

Shen Qingqiu felt the tone was overly grave and hurried to reassure him. "The Immortal Alliance Conference is a major event arranged through the joint consultation of all Sect Leaders. How could it proceed without your presence, Senior Brother? This was entirely due to the underhanded cunning of the demon realm and my own carelessness. Please, Senior Brother, don't blame yourself."

If he didn't make this clear, given Yue Qingyuan's character, it was entirely possible he would never leave the mountain again for the rest of his life, stubbornly guarding Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. Who would have thought that on the other side, Mu Qingfang would also voice his guilt? "No, the fault is mine. If I had detected the demonic intruders in time, or if my skills were more refined and I could have cured Senior Brother Shen completely, it wouldn't have come to this."

"No, no, no, it's not your fault either. Ah, speaking of which, I accidentally used a hammer and made a huge crater in the ground in front of the Dome Palace…"

The three of them fell into a muddled, chaotic round of reassurances, each trying to take the blame. The scene was both chaotic and absurd, leaving Shen Qingqiu feeling deeply moved yet intensely awkward. Goosebumps prickled his skin, and his scalp tingled. Liu Qingge stared expressionlessly out the window. Only after they had finished assigning blame to themselves did he take a sip of tea and speak. "This matter must not be known to anyone outside the masters of the Twelve Peaks."

As the Peak Lord of Cang Qiong Mountain's Second Peak, possessing such a fatal weakness would be no laughing matter if it became widely known. The other three naturally understood.

Yue Qingyuan asked, "Qingqiu, do you feel the burden of being a Peak Lord is now too heavy?"

If this were the original Shen Qingqiu, he would have been eighty percent suspicious that Yue Qingyuan was trying to strip him of his authority. However, the current Shen Qingqiu knew he was genuinely concerned that overexertion would hinder his recovery. He quickly replied, "Sect Leader Senior Brother, please don't worry about me. I'm not useless to that extent." He smiled and added, "I can still walk and talk, and all my cultivation remains intact. I'm quite content."

They discussed a few more details about the day the demons infiltrated the mountain before Yue Qingyuan and Mu Qingfang took their leave. Watching them go, Shen Qingqiu felt amused, but also an indescribable warmth and sense of peace.

These fellow disciples of Cang Qiong Mountain, though their personalities varied—some easy to get along with, others not so much—were connected like branches of the same tree. They resided on separate peaks, but when trouble came, they were a reliable family (excluding the original Shen Qingqiu).

Liu Qingge set down his long-cold cup of tea. "If you didn't lack any trace of ghostly possession, I would seriously suspect you'd been body-snatched."

The one who stayed behind happened to be one of the "not so easy to get along with" ones.

To a certain extent, your guess is quite correct.

Liu Qingge continued, "You saving me in the Spirit Cave was already unbelievable. This time, during the demon realm's sneak attack, you nearly lost your life saving an obscure, nameless junior disciple. Having your spiritual power damaged by poison—you should be furious and desperate, yet you accept it calmly. None of these actions would be strange coming from anyone else. It's only when you do them that everything seems turned upside down."

Shen Qingqiu had absolutely zero desire to discuss the issue of his own character's OOC with him. He called Ming Fan in to serve fresh tea, leaned back, and said with a laugh, "Obscure and nameless? That's only for now."

Liu Qingge said, "That disciple of yours does have superior innate talent. But such aptitude… every year, the major sects select quite a few with similar potential. Yet, those who truly rise above the rest in the end are often one in ten thousand."

A sense of crisis instantly arose in Shen Qingqiu.

What if Liu Qingge became a stumbling block on Luo Binghe's cheat-strewn path? What if the two faced off directly and Liu Qingge got instantly KO'd? For everyone's sake, it was necessary to warn Liu Qingge.

He spoke with earnest concern. "Believe me, this disciple of mine will undoubtedly achieve great things in the future. I hope Junior Brother Liu will have the opportunity to guide and mentor him…"

Ming Fan was utterly miserable. He had only gone to change the tea, yet he was forced to listen to Shen Qingqiu—who had previously been united with him in hatred and dedicated to tormenting Luo Binghe—spout a stream of high praise for the boy. The degree of his heartache could only be compared to "your best friend, with whom you used to viciously trash that little bitch, suddenly getting together with the very same little bitch you both used to hate." It was so nauseating he decided to go nauseate someone else immediately.

Ming Fan stormed into the kitchen, where Luo Binghe was pondering what to make for Shen Qingqiu's breakfast tomorrow, and launched into a furious tirade. "Go chop firewood! Eighty bundles! Fill the woodshed! Fetch water! Are you blind? The water jars in all the senior brothers' rooms are empty!"

Luo Binghe looked puzzled. "But, Senior Brother, if the woodshed is full, where will I sleep?"

Ming Fan stamped his foot on the ground, spittle flying. "Isn't this floor flat enough? Can't you sleep here?!"

"I just filled all the senior brothers' water jars today…"

"That water isn't fresh anymore! Fetch it all again! Do it all over!"

In the past, Luo Binghe might have felt some grievance or resentment in his heart. But now, his mindset was completely different.

In his eyes, all of this was training for him.

He already had such a wonderful Shizun who thought of him in everything, who was even willing to risk his life for him (…). What training couldn't he accept? What hardship couldn't he endure?

Without a word of complaint, Luo Binghe immediately turned to carry out the tasks.

Seeing him like this, Ming Fan felt none of the usual pleasure of bullying someone. Instead, his heartache intensified.

As he walked away, he muttered and cursed under his breath. "Who knows what nerve that brat struck in Shizun for him to suddenly look upon him so favorably? 'Undoubtedly achieve great things'? 'Rise above the rest'? Even if Shizun has been bewitched by that brat's sweet talk, Uncle Liu would never mentor him. Guide him? Don't even think about it! Pah…"

Although he grumbled as he walked, his voice wasn't loud. But Luo Binghe, with his rapidly progressing cultivation and naturally keen senses, heard every word. Though Ming Fan's mutterings were fragmented, they contained all the key points. Luo Binghe pieced together the scene almost perfectly.

So, that's what Shizun said about me in front of Uncle Liu…

The feeling of having someone value you so highly in a place you cannot see was truly extraordinary.

A warm current suddenly surged in his heart, growing more and more turbulent, gradually enveloping his entire body.

Luo Binghe felt as if a firm, unwavering power had taken root in a corner of his heart and was beginning to sprout. Even his grip on the heavy wooden buckets felt stronger.

At this moment, far from feeling persecuted, Luo Binghe wore an expression of happiness and contentment.

If Shen Qingqiu were here, he might have suspected that Luo Binghe harbored a deep-seated masochistic streak…

However, Shen Qingqiu would never know that, thanks to the godly assistance of his pig-teammate Ming Fan, Luo Binghe's favorability meter had just been brushed to a new record high. At this moment, he was lying down quite contentedly.

Today, the normally aloof Qing Jing Peak had nearly had its threshold worn down. The masters of the other peaks had come with their disciples and gifts to visit the patient.

After all, when Sha Hualing issued her challenge, the Rainbow Bridge was severed and the Dome Peak was sealed off by a barrier. They hadn't been able to reach the scene in time, leaving the entire fierce battle to be shouldered by Shen Qingqiu alone, a senior. At least Cang Qiong Mountain hadn't lost too much face. Regardless of whether their past relationship was good or not, they all had to pay their respects. Shen Qingqiu accepted the courtesies graciously, took the opportunity to memorize the faces of the few Peak Lords he hadn't met before, and exchanged pleasantries to build rapport.

That night, he thought blissfully: Finally, I can sleep soundly.

Two hours later.

…Sleep soundly, his ass!

Shen Qingqiu stood in a space of chaotic nothingness, gazing wistfully at the endless horizon in the distance.

He had clearly fallen into a comfortable slumber in his own bed, wearing a relieved smile. Who could explain why he had been pulled into this space?!

Shen Qingqiu desperately wished he had a gong to bang, so the System would come out on its own, saving him from having to shout in his mind all the time. "System? You online?"

[The System provides 24-hour service.]

Shen Qingqiu: "Where is this? What's going on?"

[This is the Dream Realm.]

Shen Qingqiu: "Of course I know this is a dream. Could you find such abstract scenery in reality? I'm asking why I'm here."

Please, please don't let it be what he was thinking.

But the gods of this world truly gave him no face. The moment the thought "please no" crossed his mind, he saw an all-too-familiar figure.

Luo Binghe stood bewildered in the center of a desolate plain ahead.

Luo Binghe seemed just as bewildered by his sudden appearance. After a moment of confusion, his eyes found Shen Qingqiu in the distance. He blinked, then lit up like a lost chick spotting its mother hen—a ridiculous comparison, but apt—and hurried over, his steps light with relief.

"Shizun!" He'd been trapped in this featureless void for what felt like an eternity. Seeing Shen Qingqiu appear, his excitement spilled over, and he called out several times in quick succession.

One look at him, and Shen Qingqiu knew exactly where they were and what scene this was.

A wave of utter despair washed over him, soaking his heart in bitter tears. He managed a weak pat on Luo Binghe's shoulder. "I hear you. Once is enough."

"Yes, Shizun," Luo Binghe said quickly, his tone eager. "Why are you here too? Do you know where this is?"

Shen Qingqiu, too lazy to improvise, borrowed the System's line verbatim. "This is the Dream Realm."

"Then why am I here?" Luo Binghe asked.

Shen Qingqiu sighed inwardly. "Anyone else might have a right to be confused about their presence here. But you? It's only natural. This is your dream."