Chapter Forty-Seven: The Joy of Helping Others

Hongjian turned her head at the sound, and couldn’t help a soft exclamation in her heart, thinking, “What a coincidence?” The newcomer was not only someone she knew, but someone she had dealt with several times before. Although it had been over a year since their last meeting, his appearance had changed little. It was none other than Shi Qingxiang, the young wood-spirit root cultivator who had become a disciple under the head of the Talisman Sect.

She stared at Shi Qingxiang in a daze for a moment before suddenly springing up from the ground. Pointing at the red serpent beside her, she declared, “I killed this.” Then, moving swiftly, she ran beneath the concave stone wall, took a running leap, borrowed force from the wall, and in a few agile moves climbed up to pluck the string of black fruits, stowing them all into her pouch.

Shi Qingxiang was delighted to run into someone familiar, but seeing her actions, he couldn’t help showing an amused yet exasperated expression. He protested, “Fang Hongjian, you’re so stingy. I thought we were already friends.”

Hongjian didn’t respond. She jumped down from her perch, dusted off her hands, and interrogated him, “I was too busy fighting to notice—when did you get here?”

Shi Qingxiang’s eyes were bright. “The commotion from your fight was so loud I followed the sound right over. I just saw you display your prowess and drive that man away.”

Hongjian glared at him, momentarily lost for words—he really had witnessed the whole thing.

Shi Qingxiang approached, glancing at the corpse of the red serpent, and observed calmly, “Anyone able to enter here must be a Foundation Establishment cultivator from your Pill Cliff Sect. No one would risk their life for such a small gain. Clearly, this is a personal grudge—someone who’s taken the opportunity to settle old scores now that no one else is around.”

Hongjian ignored him, squatted beside the red serpent, retrieved her magical tool “Moon Surge” and stored it in her spatial pouch, then picked up a stick to prod the corpse. Finding no suitable spot to begin, she finally asked Shi Qingxiang, “Do you have a knife on you?”

He actually did, and handed it to her. Hongjian took it, gritted her teeth, and slit open the serpent’s belly to extract its gallbladder. She wiped the blade on a grass leaf before returning it to Shi Qingxiang. “Since you know the situation, you’d better go. Be careful—if he comes back, he might kill you too.”

Shi Qingxiang glanced around, his expression composed. “You’ve already stripped this place clean—there’s nothing left. Of course I’ll leave. Shall we go check over there together?”

Hongjian didn’t truly mean to drive him away. After the wager incident, she trusted his character, and besides, with Shi Qingxiang around, even if Jian Hui returned, he’d have to be cautious. After all, nobody could predict what unknown treasures a disciple from the Transformation stage might carry. So she stood, following behind Shi Qingxiang without the slightest guilt about using him as a shield.

Shi Qingxiang led them down a secluded path. Seeing Hongjian stoop repeatedly to gather Vitality Grass, which slowed their pace, he helplessly plucked a few stalks himself and handed them to her, lowering his voice in a whisper, “Let me help you.”

Hongjian accepted them casually, offered thanks, then noticed his bright, intent gaze. Her heart stirred. Only then did she realize the clearing around them was empty—here, speaking softly, there was little risk of being overheard. She looked back at Shi Qingxiang in surprise and caution, and asked, “What did you just say?”

Shi Qingxiang’s calm eyes brimmed with goodwill as he volunteered, “That person will definitely return. It’ll be hard for you to handle him alone. If you need help, I’m your best choice—because out of all these hundred people, only I have no connection with your Pill Cliff Sect.”

Hongjian was silent. Shi Qingxiang’s reasoning was sound, but to drag him into something so dangerous for no reason was more than she could ask.

“Why?” Hongjian didn’t suspect Shi Qingxiang of lying, but even though he’d offered, she wanted clarity.

“Why what? Why help you? Because helping others is the root of all happiness. You should try it—being too sharp in life isn’t good.”

Hongjian couldn’t help laughing.

“Heh,” Shi Qingxiang put away his teasing tone. “To be honest, meddling is actually quite fun. You have no idea how bored I’ve been this past year in your sect. Besides, I’m someone who always repays a kindness a hundredfold. Whoever treats me well, I’ll return it a hundred times over.”

Hearing this, Hongjian felt a little embarrassed and said honestly, “About that wager back then—it was my fault. I should be the one thanking you.” Remembering this, she couldn’t help but ask with concern, “That cultivation method of yours—did Master Dai find a solution for you?”

Shi Qingxiang nodded but didn’t elaborate. “There’s a fix, but it’ll take a little more time. For now, I have no trouble fighting with the Demon-Subduing Vine.”

Since he was so eager to help, Hongjian decided to accept his goodwill. At last, she solemnly warned, “Be careful—he truly means to kill me.” As she spoke, her large eyes fixed on Shi Qingxiang’s face, studying his reaction. Shi Qingxiang appeared perfectly calm, showing not the slightest surprise or alarm, and simply asked, “Who is he? Why does he want to kill you?”

Hongjian recounted her feud with Senior Brother Jian Hui in brief, lamenting, “I knew I couldn’t afford to provoke him now, so I’ve been doing everything possible to avoid conflict, but he just won’t let it go. He’s truly gone mad.”

Shi Qingxiang hadn’t expected this. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Since this secret realm is now completely shut off from the outside, it would be all too easy for him to cover up your death. Never mind, let’s make a plan. Once we capture him, we can decide what to do with him.”

Hongjian nodded, considering, “He’s badly injured—even with spiritual medicine, it’ll take him at least a night to recover.”

Shi Qingxiang disagreed. “Don’t be careless. For him to find you so quickly in such a vast secret realm, I suspect he has a way to track your movements. That puts us at a disadvantage—he’s in the dark, we’re in the open, and his cultivation far exceeds ours. One careless mistake and we could both lose our lives.”

Hearing this, Hongjian felt uneasy as well. She had always kept “Flowing Water’s Melody” sealed inside her spatial pouch, but since Jian Hui had helped her prepare the pouch, it would have been easy for him to tamper with it. Clearly, Jian Hui’s earlier arrival was no coincidence. Anxious, she resolved to throw away both “Flowing Water’s Melody” and the pouch—anything connected to Jian Hui.

Shi Qingxiang stopped her. “Don’t throw them away. With those items, he’ll still take the bait. Since he won’t recover tonight and I’m here, he won’t dare make a move. I suspect he’ll wait for you to be alone—ideally when you’re fighting a spirit beast—before striking. That gives us a whole night to lay a proper trap for him.”