"Ahem..."
He coughed lightly, feeling a bit awkward, and reached out to take the bowl. To cover his embarrassment, he didn’t let Zhiwei feed him but lowered his head to take a sip himself.
The spirit porridge was warm and fragrant, slipping into his stomach and transforming into a stream of warmth.
"The master knows now." His voice softened, "The master was a bit unsettled, overthinking things."
Zhiwei saw his expression relax and finally felt at ease, quietly kneeling beside him and watching him drink the porridge.
After finishing the bowl of spirit porridge, Chen Ye felt much better all over.
Man is iron, rice is steel.
Even as an immortal cultivator, eating still brings enjoyment.
"Alright, the master’s feeling much better."
"Master, should you rest a bit more?" Zhiwei retrieved the empty bowl.
"No need."
Chen Ye shook his head, his expression firm,
"I’ve been unconscious for three days, and the sect is in disarray. Since Steward Sun and the others have been rescued, as the guardian of the Herb Pavilion, I must personally go see them and reassure everyone."
"Where is Master going? I’ll go too!"
The door creaked open, and Qing Jun’s small head peeked in; she’d been listening outside for quite a while.
"Alright then." Chen Ye smiled helplessly, extending his hand, "You two, come with me; let’s see for ourselves. The situation at the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District is probably more chaotic than we thought."
"Mmm!"
Qing Jun happily stayed by her master’s side, it had been a long time since she’d gone out with him!
...
As soon as they stepped out of the room, the Herb Pavilion disciples waiting in the courtyard were initially shocked to see Chen Ye appear, then erupted in suppressed cheers.
"Guardian Chen!"
"Guardian, you’ve awoken!"
For the past three days, they’d been leaderless, the sect disconnected, and the market in a state of panic. These low-tier disciples had been terrified out of their wits.
Chen Ye’s awakening was undoubtedly a shot in the arm for them.
"Quiet." Chen Ye raised his hand, and the crowd stopped their cheers, though they remained visibly excited.
He looked around and said solemnly, "Mei Suxin has been executed, and the demon cultivators’ main forces have retreated. Where are Steward Sun and the fellow disciples recuperating?"
A quick-witted disciple stepped forward to lead the way, "Guardian, Steward Sun and the others are healing in the quiet chamber in the rear courtyard."
Chen Ye nodded and passed through the fragrant hall, making his way to the rear courtyard.
Even before entering, the sounds of sobbing could be heard.
He pushed the door open to see a small quiet chamber with seven or eight disciples, either sitting or lying down, all injured and looking despondent.
They’d suffered greatly at the hands of the demon cultivators and were here to heal.
Steward Sun sat by the bed, his arm in a sling, comforting a young pharmacist who had lost a leg, tears streaming down his aged face.
"Old Sun." Chen Ye called gently.
Steward Sun trembled, turned sharply, and upon seeing Chen Ye, the resourceful and capable old man could no longer hold it together. He struggled to get up and pay his respects:
"Guardian! I... I am incompetent! I’ve failed your trust! Liu and Awang... they’re all dead!"
"Old Sun, no need for formalities, sit down peacefully."
Chen Ye quickly stepped forward, pressing his shoulder, feeling a heavy heart as he took in the tragic scene before him.
From their missing limbs, one could infer the torment they had endured.
Some pharmacists even had vacant stares, as if they’d lost their souls.
He retrieved several bottles of healing elixir from his Storage Ring and handed them to Zhiwei.
"Zhiwei, distribute these, stabilize their injuries first."
These pills were of the highest quality, beyond what ordinary pharmacists could afford to use.
Chen Ye wasn’t trying to win hearts, he simply offered them out of kindness.
Then, he turned to Steward Sun, his voice deep and strong:
"The mastermind Mei Suxin has been slain by me, avenging our fallen brothers. Rest assured, with me here at the Herb Pavilion, even if the sky fell, it wouldn’t collapse."
"Mei Suxin... dead?"
"Guardian, you’ve killed that demoness?!"
The survivors in the quiet chamber, upon hearing this, felt a surge of intense satisfaction.
Most had been found unconscious and sent directly back to the Herb Pavilion, thus they were unaware of the events at the Baiyang Manor.
Only a few Foundation Establishment cultivators knew the story.
Thus, the Herb Pavilion disciples were just now learning this news.
After reassuring everyone, Chen Ye inquired about the whereabouts of Hee Qi.
"Taoist Friend Hee?"
Steward Sun wiped his tears and quickly replied,
"He... he was placed in the quiet chamber as a guest on the third floor by the Xu Family cultivators, with special guards."
Hee Qi was a Foundation Establishment cultivator and an old friend of Chen Ye.
His treatment was naturally different from that of ordinary disciples.
Chen Ye nodded, signaling his two disciples to follow him upstairs.
Outside the quiet chamber on the third floor, two Xu Family cultivators stood expressionlessly.
Seeing Chen Ye, they immediately bowed, "Guardian Chen, Senior Hee has already awoken."
Chen Ye smiled, "Thanks for your trouble."
"Not at all, Guardian’s trust demands our utmost efforts!"
After some praise, Chen Ye pushed the door open and entered.
He saw Hee Qi leaning against the bedhead,
Always thin, after this ordeal he looked almost like skin and bones, his face sallow.
Even as Chen Ye entered, he remained motionless, resembling a withered tree.
"Master, is he..." Qing Jun asked softly.
"I severed a small part of his divine soul; he probably hasn’t recovered yet." Chen Ye moved to the bed and sighed.
The Heart Slaughter Sword slashed through the Emotion Crossing Seed, saving his life but abruptly tearing away part of his divine soul.
Moreover, injuries of the divine soul are the hardest to heal.
Chen Ye had Bai Susu’s relentless gifting of precious treasures to recover mostly in just three days.
But Hee Qi didn’t have such good fortune.
When Chen Ye approached, Hee Qi’s eyelashes trembled, and he finally looked forward.
His gaze was cloudy, only after a long while did he manage to focus on Chen Ye’s face.
"Chen... Brother Chen?" he uttered weakly.
"It’s me." Chen Ye pulled over a chair and sat, "Brother Hee, how do you feel?"
"I remember... Baiyang Manor, I seemed... under Mei Suxin’s control, killing indiscriminately." Hee Qi murmured, seemingly recalling.
He was no longer the spirited man of before, appearing as though he’d aged a hundred years.
Chen Ye sighed faintly, recalling the past. Whenever Hee Qi met him, he would laugh heartily and praise him for several lines.
But now, he resembled a mortal old man.
"At that moment, you were not in control. Now, I’ve severed the Emotion Crossing Seed, you can relax." Chen Ye sighed.
"Emotion Crossing Seed..." Two clouded tears rolled down Hee Qi’s face, "Thank you, Brother Chen, for saving my life!"
He struggled, seemingly trying to say something.
Chen Ye leaned closer, "What does Brother Hee wish to say?"
"My daughter, Shuyao..." Hee Qi used all his strength to grab Chen Ye’s sleeve, "Is she still in Lisong Valley?"
"She’s cultivating at the Lingyin Sect." Chen Ye held his hand, "I’ve already arranged for someone to take care of her, there’s no need to worry."
"That’s good, that’s good..."
Hee Qi let out a sigh of relief, yet his spirit faded even more.
Chen Ye saw his diminishing vitality, knowing his spirit was broken. Without external aid, recovery seemed unlikely.
After contemplating for a moment, he took out a middle-grade Second Tier spirit-storing stone.
"Taoist Friend Hee," Chen Ye placed the stone in his hand, "Keep this close, it can nourish your divine soul and help you recover. Your daughter awaits you, you must get better."
Hee Qi felt the stone’s cooling energy and realized it was a spiritual object for the divine soul.
Items related to the divine soul are always precious, especially a Second Tier divine soul treasure.
He opened his mouth but was interrupted by Chen Ye:
"Between us, there’s no need for words. Rest peacefully."
Then, Chen Ye smiled slightly:
"Brother Hee, you’ve wandered over half your life. From now on, why not be a guest in Lisong Valley, living with Shuyao in Lisong Valley?"
Upon hearing these words, tears welled up in the eyes of the gaunt man, and he choked:
"This gratitude is beyond words, I shall serve Guardian Chen henceforth!"
"Oh... no, you are one of my few old acquaintances. Many years ago, you saved my life; let’s stick to our old titles."
Chen Ye sincerely said.
The journey on the immortal path is long, and instead of increasing the number of subordinates, he rather wishes his old friends were still around.