Chapter 1026: Someone’s shielding you (2/2)

Bai Yuqiao couldn’t help a wry grin. She really is my sister. Although we grew up apart, our personalities are the same.

She stopped wasting time and went back to her pre-prepared explanation. “Han Yunxi’s shielding you, so you don’t have to worry!”

Su Xiaoyu leaped off the couch so fast she almost fell on the group. Now she was nothing more than a frantic little girl. “Really? Really?! Bai Yuqiao, don’t you try and trick me!”

“If you don’t believe me you can ask Ning Jing. When spring comes, Han Yunxi and Long Feiye will come to rescue you all. If you still want to return to her side, then take good care of yourself. I heard that Han Yunxi never keeps useless good-for-nothings around!” Bai Yuqiao added.

Although Su Xiaoyu was thrilled, she still remain guarded. “In other words, you betrayed Jun Yixie? And surrendered to my master?”

Bai Yuqiao laughed coldly. “Surrender? Han Yunxi doesn’t have such skills! I’m only doing a deal with Ning Cheng, that’s all. Whether or not you believe me is up to you.”

Only Ning Cheng knew the truth. Even Ning Jing and the rest were clueless to her relationship with Su Xiaoyu and assumed she was being threatened by him. Thus, Bai Yuqiao was certain Su Xiaoyu would buy the story with Ning Jing and Mu Linger backing it up. As expected, Su Xiaoyu immediately proclaimed, “I want to see Mu Linger! Right now!”

“Fine, I’ll try and make arrangements tomorrow,” Bai Yuqiao agreed.

Su Xiaoyu couldn’t hide her desire to jump for joy, which was written all over her face. She thought she’d die at Bai Yuqiao’s hands with no hope of seeing her master ever again. I don’t even know how she’s doing right now. And has Baili Mingxiang done anything naughty recently? And then there’s Zhao mama, who’d definitely miss me. The more she thought, the happier Su Xiaoyu felt. If it wasn’t for Bai Yuqiao standing around, she would definitely be bouncing about! Even so, Bai Yuqiao could read her joy like a book.

Although Bai Yuqiao despised Han Yunxi, she silently thanked the woman after seeing her sister so happy. She had already told Ning Cheng to keep her connection to Su Xiaoyu a secret at all costs--especially when it came to Han Yunxi. If Han Yunxi doted on the girl, she should keep cherishing her without any misgivings.

As Bai Yuqiao turned to leave, she couldn’t resist asking, “Little girl, aren’t you curious about the deal between Ning Cheng and I?”

Su Xiaoyu only darted a glimpse at her. “The hell does it have to do with me?”

Bai Yuqiao spun on her heel and left, smiling until tears poured down her face.

--

The next day, Bai Yuqiao brought Su Xiaoyu to Mu Linger’s side, where she confirmed the story. Su Xiaoyu was so happy that she jumped all around the house while flailing her arms and legs. Ning Jing and Mu Linger realized then that Su Xiaoyu really was just a child.

--

Although the lush forest surrounding Tiger’s Den made it impossible to see any snow, everyone could feel the weather getting colder day after day. The true winter was on its way, which meant spring couldn’t be far behind. Besides Uncle Cheng, everyone was waiting for its arrival. The warm spring days weren’t their hope so much as Han Yunxi and Long Feiye’s arrival.

During the middle of the eleventh lunar month, Long Feiye and Gu Qishao both recovered from their internal injuries. The Returning Dragon Pill was also refined to completion. Noon was determined as a fortuitous time to open up the furnace. Even Xu Donglin and Baili Mingxiang joined them inside the Medicine Requesting Cave to witness the moment.

They watched the Pill Furnace Master use a strange technique before using all his strength to slow open one of the furnace doors. Although Gu Qishao said their materials were enough to create five Returning Dragon Pills, Pill Furnace Master had clarified that he could only guarantee the success of one fully formed pill. The others were a gamble at best. Thus, everyone had no idea how many pills they’d get today. Returning Dragon Pill was a good thing--moreover, they had given so much effort and nearly lost three lives in making it.

It would be a lie to say no one was nervous. Even Han Yunxi, who was exhausted after successive days of hard work, felt her nerves stretched taut upon this moment. She stared at the slowly opening door, which Pill Furnace Master was opening with a rare case of shaking fingers.

Gradually, they saw a corner inside the furnace covered in a pile of medicinal dregs. Expecting this, no one said a word. But soon enough, they saw yet another pile of medicinal dregs. Two piles meant that two pills were lost to them. Pill Furnace Master’s hands shook even more as he kept pulling the door down. Then there was a third pile of medicinal dregs! Three pills had been lost just like that.

“What kind of crappy furnace is this? It’s a fraud!” Gu Qishao kicked the Celestial Fire Qian Furnace, causing Pill Furnace Master to shout.

“What are you doing? Try and kick it again! Haven’t you hurt it enough?!” Even if he couldn’t do anything to change the future, Pill Furnace Master still had a temper!

“If you hadn’t tricked us, would we hurt it in the first place? Isn’t it just a crappy furnace? What are you so nervous about?” Gu Qishao’s tone turned icy.