Liu Qingxuan reported the incident to the sect, and the news ignited a wave of fury throughout the Yunmiao Sect. Word spread quickly that a group of powerful elders was already en route to provide reinforcements.

In the days that followed, Zhang Xian devoted himself to Liu Qingxuan’s recovery. Despite his focus, he made sure to visit Li Fuxi daily to monitor her condition.

Finally, on the third day, the Joyful Poison within Li Fuxi’s body was completely purged. She returned to her own cabin to recover in solitude.

Zhang Xian pushed the door open and stepped inside. He found Li Fuxi sitting cross-legged in a meditative stance. Though her face remained pale, her breathing had finally stabilized.

“Master,” he said softly.

Li Fuxi opened her eyes. Over the past few days, she had extended her spiritual sense and knew Zhang Xian had been staying in Liu Qingxuan’s room. She already had a sense of what had transpired.

“What is the situation with Supervisor Liu?” she asked.

Zhang Xian gave a bitter smile. “The passion poison flared up. Captain Yunshang could only save one person, so I had to take care of the other.”

“Oh? Then why did you choose to save me?” The question left her mouth before she could think. Realizing it sounded inappropriate, she quickly pivoted. “Is she alright?”

“She is fine. She just needs rest,” Zhang Xian replied. “I’ve been looking after her, and the cultivation she lost should be replenished soon.”

Hearing this, Li Fuxi felt an inexplicable pang of sourness in her heart.

She told herself it was guilt. She had come here to supervise Zhang Xian on Lin Yinyin’s behalf, yet she had nearly been compromised herself.

“This matter isn’t your fault,” she said. “But you should consider how you will explain this to Liu Huaigu. Jianchen schemed for so long, only for you to reap the benefits.”

Zhang Xian offered an awkward smile and changed the subject. “By the way, what is the deal with that bald monk? You seemed to recognize him.”

“I saw him years ago at a martial arts gathering in the Southern Region,” Li Fuxi explained. “He is from the Mountain Chan Monastery. Back then, we were both at the fourth level of the Golden Core realm. I defeated him.”

“That golden array with the swastika symbol… is he from the Joyful Chan Monastery?” Zhang Xian asked. “It didn’t look like an orthodox technique. Does Mountain Chan Monastery not care?”

The six major powers of the Southern Region all claimed to be righteous. An array that forced aphrodisiacs on people felt far too sinister.

Li Fuxi shook her head. “That array isn’t from the Joyful Chan Monastery. They believe in the harmony of yin and yang—a path for two people to comprehend the Great Dao together. This was different.”

She frowned, her voice lowering. “Jianchen used to be quiet and reserved. Furthermore, he originally came from the Six Paths Chan Monastery.”

Zhang Xian’s brow furrowed. If both his temperament and his techniques had changed, something was deeply wrong.

“It isn’t just Jianchen,” Li Fuxi continued. “The sudden surge in power among the Muling Sect members is abnormal. They were recovering from injuries far too quickly during the fight. There is a hidden force at play here.”

She looked at him curiously. “How did you figure out they were the problem so quickly?”

“I guessed,” Zhang Xian admitted. “It was suspicious that only one cultivator returned from that minor world. Lu Qing singled him out as a scapegoat to stop us from investigating further.”

He shrugged. “As for the soul-searching technique, I was bluffing. If they had kept their composure, I would have been out of options.”

Li Fuxi snorted lightly. “You are far too clever for your own good.”

“You proved there is a conspiracy,” she added, her tone turning serious. “But be careful. They will likely return. Your friend’s minor world is still in danger.”

“I’ve already asked Yun Wanqing to guard the entrance,” Zhang Xian reassured her. “She has people setting up defensive arrays now. Our enemies prefer to act in the shadows; they won’t charge into a fortified position recklessly.”

Li Fuxi’s expression darkened slightly. “You certainly have a close relationship with her.”

“We’re just friends,” Zhang Xian sighed. “Anyway, Master, what about your cultivation?”

“It’s fine,” she said dismissively. “I used a secret technique to force a breakthrough. Since I was already at the sixth level of the Golden Core before, the damage isn’t fatal. I’ve dropped to the second level, but I’ll stabilize in time.”

Zhang Xian wasn’t convinced. He quietly summoned his system to check her status.

[Li Fuxi: 67-point Daughter of Destiny; Current Favorability: 45]

He realized her foundation was likely damaged again, even if she wouldn’t admit it. But he also noticed something else: her Favorability had increased in secret.

Zhang Xian had already given her Immortal Ascension Pills and Heaven-Seizing Heart-Mending Lotus Seeds. However, such treasures lost their efficacy after multiple uses. He needed a different approach.

Thud!

He slammed a massive chest onto the floor, shaking the room.

“Master, I don’t know how else to compensate you,” Zhang Xian said. “There are 50,000 high-grade spirit stones in here. Use them to buy whatever medicine you need.”

Li Fuxi stared at the chest, stunned. “What did you say?”

“50,000 high-grade spirit stones,” he repeated. “I know sword cultivators aren’t usually wealthy. Take these and improve your living conditions.”

Li Fuxi was speechless. She hadn’t even seen 5,000 high-grade stones at once in her entire life. Selling her entire peak wouldn’t fetch that much.

“It’s too much… I can’t accept this,” she managed to say, though her voice lacked conviction.

“Master, are you sure?” Zhang Xian teased. “I was going to give these to Chief Liu Huaigu as a betrothal gift. If you don’t want them, I’ll just give them all to her—a nice round 100,000.”

Li Fuxi gritted her teeth, her small fists clenching.

“Fine… leave them,” she snapped. “I’ll just hold onto them for you.”

Zhang Xian cheered internally. The “jealousy” trick worked every time.

[Ding! Successfully gifted 50,000 high-grade spirit stones. 30,000 stones exceed Li Fuxi’s limit. Converted return: 2,000,000 high-grade spirit stones.]

Well now, Zhang Xian thought, Master has also been filled up.

He glanced at the mountain of wealth in his system space. He was running out of things to buy.

“Just what kind of power is behind you?” Li Fuxi asked, her cheeks flushing with a mix of shame and excitement. “No one in the Southern Region can produce this much liquid wealth.”

She couldn’t help it. With this gold, she could move from being a penniless ascetic to the wealthiest lady in the sect. She could finally maintain her swords with the finest materials.

“My family just owns a few mines,” Zhang Xian said non-chalantly. “If you run out, just come to me. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied.”

Li Fuxi looked at him nervously. She suspected he had used this same “wealth offensive” on Lin Yinyin and Liu Qingxuan.

Then, a memory flashed in her mind—of how she had clung to him while poisoned, begging for a kiss.

“Master? Why is your face so red?” Zhang Xian asked.

“It’s… it’s just the heat from the hot springs!” she stammered, avoiding his eyes. “And about what happened when I was poisoned… don’t you dare tell anyone.”

Zhang Xian looked blankly at her. “Master? What are you talking about? When were you poisoned?”

Li Fuxi exhaled in relief. “Good. Now leave. I need to rest.”

“Your disciple takes his leave.”

After he left, Li Fuxi let out a long sigh. She tried to meditate, staring at the calligraphy of the word “Calm” on her wall, but her heart wouldn’t settle.

“This place is too luxurious,” she whispered to herself. “It’s bad for the soul.”

And yet, her heart felt strangely empty the moment he walked out.

[Ding! Current Favorability: 48]