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墨書 Inktalez
Chu Xi had a very successful retreat this time. The Cosmic Vitality Pill was extraordinary; it not only eliminated the mixed medicinal powers she had absorbed before but also directly elevated her cultivation from the Mid Stage of Cautionary Practice to the Refining Heart Early Stage.
She could now be considered one of the top female disciples of her generation.
After advancing, she immediately came to find Li Hong to share the news. Faced with her feelings, Li Hong had many thoughts, but he decided not to dwell on those matters for now.
Some things were more important at the moment.
The matter of alchemy had been placed on the agenda of the entire Nine Li Sect. Successfully refining an Earth-Level pill that even Heavenly Grain found difficult to produce was significant for all Nine Li Sect Disciples. Alchemy would certainly continue, but the scarcity of herbs and pill formulas was currently the biggest challenge.
Therefore, it was essential to organize the celestial herbs brought out from the Ancient Celestial Field. Although Elder Yao had promised to take on this major project, he only had two Pharmacists under him and desperately needed help. Li Hong thought it best for the meticulous female disciples from Nine Purple Peak to handle this task.
Hearing this, Chu Xi's eyes lit up. She nodded and said, "Master is still in seclusion. I will discuss this with the managing Master Uncles when I return. However, you should first get the consent of Sect Leader Uncle."
This went without saying; Li Hong also felt it would be more appropriate for Master Spirit Stone to take the lead on this matter.
The two immediately went together to find Spirit Stone.
Upon hearing their intention, Spirit Stone laughed heartily. "You two think just like me. Your Sect Leader Uncle has been discussing this with me these past few days. He wants to establish a Heavenly Pill Hall, on par with the Artifact Hall, and find someone to serve as the first Chief Elder of the Heavenly Pill Hall. I’ve been worried about who to choose, but now that you mention it, I remember that Elder Yao from Revival Valley is indeed the most suitable candidate! There’s no time to waste; I’ll go to Nine Separation Peak and discuss this with your Sect Leader Uncle. Haha, the first generation of the Heavenly Pill Hall! Just thinking about it gets my blood pumping. I might as well put my name down as a part of it and serve as a Guardian Elder for the Heavenly Pill Hall."
The Gale Fire Sword was immediately summoned, and with one foot on it, Spirit Stone soared away with his sleeves billowing in laughter.
Watching that swift red light vanish into the sky, Chu Xi turned to Li Hong, her eyes sparkling as she smiled and said, "Shibo is truly a straightforward person; decisive and admirable."
Upon hearing this, Li Hong couldn’t help but ponder as he looked at Chu Xi. Was there something more behind her words?
Chu Xi brushed a strand of hair away from her jade-like cheek and smiled brightly. "I wonder if Chuxiong has come out of seclusion yet? Let’s go check."
Li Hong nodded. The girl had grown up; her schemes were sharper now. When one approach didn’t work, she quickly changed the topic. Yet he still smiled gently in response.
He understood Chu Xi's heart. This heart had never changed, even when she was scheming and pressing forward step by step.
Chuxiong had already emerged from seclusion and was sitting in the living room, stroking the Big Silver Ball and Small Silver Ball beside him.
He looked radiant, his muscular frame filling out the tight white robe he wore. Sitting there, he took up a large portion of space, making the originally spacious living room feel quite cramped and dim. The Silver Ball, who was not small in stature, appeared like a pitiful toy compared to him.
As soon as Chuxiong saw Li Hong, he jumped over, clapping Li Hong on the shoulder with a hearty laugh: “Haha, I’ve just broken through to the Refining Heart Early Stage! I can now transform spiritual energy into liquid! Thanks to the Cosmic Vitality Pill, all thanks to you!”
Li Hong carefully examined Chuxiong's Dantian. Indeed, there was a blazing fire within Chuxiong's Lower Dantian, and the spiritual energy had successfully transformed into liquid, forming a small vortex that spun slowly.
He chuckled and patted Chuxiong on the shoulder, pointing at Chu Xi: “Now both of you have advanced to the Refining Heart Stage; it’s truly a cause for celebration. Come on, big brother will give each of you a treasure. But this one for you, I’ll keep it for now; without a Cosmic Bag, I’m afraid you’ll lose it. Who told you to be so careless!”
Upon hearing about the treasure, Chuxiong immediately beamed with joy. However, when he heard it would be kept with Li Hong first, his smile froze as he muttered: “If you want to give a gift to Chu Xi, just give it directly; why drag me into it!”
“You little rascal!” Li Hong laughed and scolded, jumping up to pat Chuxiong on the head—Chuxiong was now a tall man standing eight feet high; without jumping up, Li Hong couldn’t reach his head.
The two exchanged glances and simultaneously recalled their childhood memories, bursting into hearty laughter.
Li Hong took a Cosmic Vitality Pill from his Cosmic Bag and tossed it to Chu Xi casually: “Here, this is your congratulatory gift. Take it; it will definitely be useful in the future.”
Chu Xi didn’t need to open it to know what it was. She asked in surprise: “How do you still have more? You’ve given us so many; what about yourself?”
Li Hong smiled without answering. Even after giving one to Chu Xi, he still had five Cosmic Vitality Pills left. Even counting Chuxiong’s share, he still had four left—there was no need for Chu Xi to worry.
After a brief contemplation, Chu Xi put it away in her Spirit Bag: “I’ll keep it for you for now; if you need it later, I can give it back.”
“Why would I need it back? If you want to keep it, then keep it! A girl is always so fussy,” Li Hong waved his hand dismissively.
Chu Xi was not annoyed at all and smiled, saying, "Aren't we here to celebrate? How can we celebrate without wine? Today, I brought a lot of delicious food." She began to pull things out of her Spirit Bag, and soon the table was filled with a variety of dishes. There were chicken, wine, fruits, and many exquisite snacks that seemed to be crafted by Chu Yan.
Li Hong felt a stir in his heart and thoughtfully looked at Chu Xi, stroking his chin. "So you had this planned all along."
"What did I plan? It's been a long time since we had a good gathering. There's no better day than today!" Chu Xi playfully stuck out her tongue and made a cheeky face.
This familiar expression had not been seen on Chu Xi's face for a long time. Back then, she was still young and seemed to care about nothing but one thought—how to improve her cultivation. Now, she had many more thoughts on her mind. Feeling somewhat sentimental, Li Hong opened the Wine Jar, revealing Aged Hua Diao. The wine was a rich golden color and smelled fragrant. He poured a cup into a small porcelain cup and handed it to Chu Xi. "If you're going to drink, then drink heartily. I've never seen you drunk before."
"Alright, today I'll let you see! Hmph, I won't stop until I'm drunk!" Chu Xi shot a glance at Li Hong defiantly and downed the drink in one go, then turned the empty cup towards him.
"Girls should drink less; let's eat instead." Chuxiong grabbed a roast chicken and tossed a greasy chicken leg towards Chu Xi.
Chu Xi pouted playfully. "Are you looking for a fight?" With a flick of her delicate fingers, red light flashed, and the plump chicken leg shattered into pieces, scattering meat and grease all over Li Hong.
Li Hong chuckled and jumped up, exclaiming, "What are you two doing? Is this flirting?"
Chu Xi froze instantly, almost unable to believe her ears. Her face slowly turned pale, and her hand holding the small wine cup trembled slightly.
Chuxiong laughed and scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about? Even if it's flirting, it's you two who are always being mushy with each other. Hmph, do you think I'm an idiot?" He took the roast chicken without the leg and happily started to munch on it.
Li Hong clearly saw Chu Xi's face turn pale in an instant, and a hint of regret quietly rose from his heart. He quickly said, "Come on, come on! I was just joking. Don't you want to drink? Today I'll accompany you." He took the small wine cup from Chu Xi's hand and poured more.
When the wine was presented in front of Chu Xi, she did not take it. Her eyes glistened with tears as she stared directly at Li Hong, seemingly wanting to see into his heart.
Looking into those sparkling eyes, Li Hong felt inexplicably panicked. He pretended to drink heavily from his cup and turned to find something to joke about with Chuxiong.
Meanwhile, Chu Xi silently drank cup after cup of Hua Diao, not speaking a word. Her eyes were slightly red, and a rosy hue rose on her pale cheeks. Several strands of black hair fell from her double buns to sway by her ears as she drank alone with a melancholic expression.
She had never disregarded her image as a refined lady like this before, yet it made her even more endearing.
Li Hong's heart softened, regretting his lack of restraint. However, he didn't know how to start speaking. He gradually fell silent.
Chuxiong, on the other hand, was full and stood up, patting his round belly. Whether intentionally or not, he said, "I'm stuffed! I'm going to take Big Silver Ball, Small Silver Ball, and Little Fei for a stroll."
With that, he kicked the three lazy "pets" lying beside him out the door. Seeing Little Fei's angry expression made him laugh heartily as he grabbed Little Fei and ran off, kicking Big Silver Ball and Small Silver Ball along the way.
Li Hong couldn't help but smile, but when he turned back and saw Chu Xi's sorrowful expression, he felt a pang in his heart.
He sighed deeply, "Why do you have to—"
Chu Xi was drunk, leaning on the table while playing with a small porcelain cup. She said softly, "Why do I have to? I really do wonder. From childhood to now, apart from my master, you have treated me the best."
She paused for a moment, tears welling up in her eyes. With a slight sob, two lines of clear tears rolled down her pale cheeks and gently dripped onto the table. "Chu Hong, tell me honestly, my heart only has you. What about you? Do you really like me?"
A thunderous sound echoed in Li Hong's heart like a tidal wave.
She finally said it.
But he had no way to respond.
To answer that he liked her? The sorrowful face of Wanyi immediately flashed before his eyes; yet if he said he didn't like her, even he wouldn't believe it. He couldn't answer and could only remain silent.
Large drops of crystal-clear tears welled up in Chu Xi's eyes as she struggled to hold back her sobs.
In a moment of panic, Li Hong blurted out, "No! It's not that I don't like you; it's just..." At this point, he found himself unable to continue.
"Do you still have Wanyi in your heart? I admit she is great, but after all, she is just a mortal. Does she really deserve you? She is ultimately your sister-in-law!" Chu Xi suddenly raised her voice, "I'm sorry, I didn't want to expose this, but I just can't hold it in anymore. You two are impossible! It's impossible! You know it too, even without me saying it!" Under the influence of alcohol, she finally said what she had been wanting to express.
Li Hong felt a storm brewing inside him. He had always thought he was hiding it well, but unexpectedly Chu Xi saw right through him.
How many others have noticed? Did my second brother notice?
He suddenly felt a sense of guilt that he had never experienced even when facing Wanyi.
He knew Chu Xi was right; a romantic relationship between an uncle and his sister-in-law was unacceptable by societal standards. Did he really have to walk this path? Wanyi was just a mortal; one day her beauty would fade like that of Flower Beauty. Would he still be able to treat her with indifference then? He didn't know; he truly didn't know. This was the question he had been asking himself all along.
Perhaps societal norms didn't matter, but time was the greatest enemy.
"You probably don't know, but I decided a long time ago that I liked you. In this life, I will only love you, one man. I can't watch you make mistakes and be ridiculed by the world. You're right; I did plan this today. I've been planning it for a long time. I want to wake you up; it's like having a bone stuck in my throat—it's unbearable not to speak! You can curse me or hit me; I still need to make this clear! But you must not ignore me from now on!" Chu Xi finally broke down in tears, her tears flowing like a spring.
"You can hate me, but you cannot ignore me!"
At some point, Li Hong realized that there were also salty drops at the corners of his eyes. His heart ached unbearably as his hand slowly reached out towards Chu Xi, but that hand ultimately stopped in the middle between them...
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