So Shen Yue would set the calming technique to last longer, preventing the little tree spirit from foolishly running over every day.
This little tree spirit was also quite something; as soon as it arrived, it would start leaking water. Shen Yue could only keep comforting it, though she couldn't understand what it was whimpering about, their communication hampered by a language barrier.
Xuan Cheng paid little attention to the little tree spirit that seemed to have very little spiritual power.
Shen Yue’s complexion hadn’t improved by descending the mountain; she remained pale and sickly, though her lips were full and a vibrant red. Her three thousand silver strands were loosely tied, her hair appearing exceptionally smooth. Perhaps she was truly ill, which lent a touch of frailty to her brows.
She did not appear well at all.
"Senior Brother," Xuan Cheng asked with concern, "are you feeling unwell?"
Shen Yue lowered her head slightly, extending her jade-like fingertips to her forehead. Her silver hair cascaded down, her clear, noble, and cold eyes conveying an unapproachable aloofness.
When she spoke, her voice was surprisingly soft, "I am fine."
She seemed to dislike discussing this matter further. As she turned to leave, Xuan Cheng suddenly grasped her wrist with considerable force, yanking Shen Yue towards him and raising his hand to touch her cheek.
The skin he touched was soft and cold. Xuan Cheng’s handsome brows immediately furrowed, and even his usually flamboyant and wicked expression turned cold, devoid of any smile.
"This is what you call being fine? Are you hiding something from me?"
Generally, those who reached the Mahayana stage of cultivation were beyond the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. With Shen Yue's cultivation level, it was unlikely she could catch a cold or any illness, unless she was injured.
However, it was not impossible for her to suffer from other ailments, such as a heartache.
Shen Yue's entire body stiffened, her lips pressing together slightly. The little tree spirit, perched on her shoulder, seemed to sense Shen Yue's emotions and began to whimper.
Xuan Cheng’s face darkened. He held her wrist, but before he could examine it, she wrenched herself free.
Infuriated, he felt even more certain that something was amiss, his voice becoming more forceful. "Xi Yu, are you truly keeping secrets from me?"
Shen Yue tucked her wrist into her sleeve, her expression unreadable. "No."
If Shen Yue hadn't so quickly withdrawn her hand, he might have believed her. But her evasive attitude was highly suspicious.
"If it's truly nothing, then why won't you let me touch you?" He looked at Shen Yue's pale and sickly face, a surge of annoyance and frustration rising in his chest, making him feel restless and uneasy all over. "Or is it that you don't want me to touch you?"
In fact, Xi Yu had always strongly disliked being touched or approached. She rarely smiled, seemed distant from all her senior and junior brothers, and often kept to herself.
Yet, towards one particular young man, she always showed leniency. Her favoritism towards that youth was evident to everyone, drawing envy, admiration, and more than anything, resentment.
She couldn't be touched, but could that young man touch her?
Fearing Xuan Cheng would try to examine her wrist again, Shen Yue hid her hand within her voluminous sleeves. She disliked such direct physical contact. Her hand trembled beneath her sleeve, and she forced herself to remain composed, not revealing anything unusual. "It is a heartache; there is no cure. You need not speculate further."
Xuan Cheng also found it hard to believe anyone in this world could harm Shen Yue, but her overly pale complexion still worried him.
Xuan Cheng smoothed the expression from his face, his brows regaining their usual dashing and spirited demeanor. He spoke lazily, his tone casual, gently advising, "Don't overthink things. Aren't there hot springs on Yunling Mountain that nourish the spirit and soul? When you have time, go soak in them. Don't just stay in the Xinqing Palace all day; you'll get sick even if you aren't."
Xuan Cheng knew better than anyone that Shen Yue's heartache wasn't caused by brooding, but had existed from the very beginning, dating back several hundred years.
However, he chose not to mention it, partly out of selfish reluctance.
He gazed intently at the white-robed immortal before him, her hair brushing against her icy brows, as if dusted with frost. In recent years, her expressions had become fewer and fewer. Xuan Cheng had rarely seen her smile.
Xuan Cheng did not linger long and left in a hurry. Besides his cultivation, he also managed some affairs of the Qingyun Sect. Since Shen Yue was no longer the sect leader, many matters were handled by the various elders.
Shen Yue also found peace in this, free from any worldly troubles. She felt unburdened, playing chess by herself and brewing tea, never feeling bored.
The Qingyun Sect had been quite lively these past few days with the arrival of new disciples, all of whom were boisterous. Initially, they were all proud and difficult to discipline. Although they possessed keen talent, they also carried an ingrained arrogance from being doted upon. After spending time in the Qingyun Sect, this arrogance would be worn away, replaced by maturity and growth.
It could be considered a period of peaceful convalescence. Shen Yue was now completely serene, turning a deaf ear to worldly affairs and paying no mind to anything within the sect, thus becoming the most leisurely person in the Qingyun Sect.
The little tree spirit was, after all, a minor celestial being, sustained by dew and nourished by the essence of the sun and moon. Shen Yue discovered that this little tree spirit not only whimpered but also made chirping sounds, though it only did so when it was in a very good mood.
For instance, she had been accompanying the little tree spirit these past few days, and it was clearly very happy. It clung to her fingers affectionately every day, making chirping noises. Though Shen Yue couldn't see it, she had a strong sense of its happiness, which in turn improved her mood slightly.
Shen Yue played chess against herself at a stone table beneath a peach tree. The little tree spirit had been very active lately, running around everywhere, chasing butterflies. It never managed to catch any, but it fluttered about energetically itself.
It also often picked flowers and placed them near Shen Yue's hand.
Holding the flowers, Shen Yue suddenly became lost in thought. It seemed that hundreds of years ago, there was also a child who would pick many flowers for her every day. They were fragrant, yet not pungent; instead, they had a pleasant scent.
She couldn't recall it clearly anymore, only that she and the child had made a promise. But when she rushed to meet them, the child was nowhere to be found.
The Xinqing Palace had many peach blossoms, but few other types of flowers. Shen Yue didn't know where the little tree spirit had picked these flowers from.
Seeing Shen Yue staring blankly at the flowers, the little tree spirit let out a whimper.
Shen Yue snapped back to attention, her brows softening, her usually icy voice imbued with an unbelievable warmth.
"They're beautiful, very fragrant. I like them very much."
The soft, green creature twisted its body joyfully, nearly getting tied in knots, hopping and bouncing in her palm, chirping merrily. It rubbed against Shen Yue's fingertips, incredibly clingy.
Shen Yue knew it was happy, and she couldn't help but feel a little happy herself.
So easily content.
The fragrance of the flowers was enchanting, and the pink petals slowly drifted down, dazzling the eyes.