Demoness, Stop! - Chapter 31 - Chapter 31 – Reuniting With Zhou Zixuan

In the cultivation world, the best Dao companions were alchemists.

A second-tier alchemist, as long as he wished, could use pills to help even a partner with poor talent successfully reach Foundation Establishment, as long as there were enough materials. Therefore, male alchemists were very popular among the female disciples in the sect—and female alchemists were likewise well regarded.

Cultivation was ultimately for longevity. After reaching Foundation Establishment, one could gain over a hundred additional years of lifespan. For this extra century or so of life, most people were willing to sacrifice their bodies and become dependents of others.

Especially if the alchemist was also handsome, many female disciples would even actively pursue him.

Senior Brother Zhao, whose parents had neither given him good looks nor extraordinary alchemy talent, could only secretly envy Li Yu.

The two chatted and laughed along the way. Before long, they arrived in front of a lush green mountain peak.

Around this peak, within a radius of ten miles, were terraced medicinal fields filled with herbs. Faint figures could be seen busy among the fields.

Senior Brother Zhao pointed ahead and said, “That’s Biyun Peak. Let’s first report at the peak’s gate.”

Li Yu and Senior Brother Zhao belonged to Danding Peak and couldn’t enter Biyun Peak freely. They had to report at the gate first. The gate was at the foot of the mountain. Clearly, Senior Brother Zhao was not here for the first time and was very familiar with the place. Approaching a disciple on duty, he smiled and said, “Junior Brother Wang, you’re on duty today, right? I’m here to find Sister Zhang. Please pass the message along.”

Then he turned to Li Yu and asked, “Junior Brother Li, who are you here to see?”

Li Yu replied, “Her name is Zhou Zixuan.”

The disciple on duty took out a conch shell from his pocket, spoke into it, and soon a figure flew down from the mountain—a young woman, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, not yet thirty.

The woman was of average looks and ordinary build. Upon landing, she gave Senior Brother Zhao a plaintive look and said, “You haven’t come to see me for over half a month.”

There seemed to be a flicker of some fiery emotion in her eyes as she spoke.

Senior Brother Zhao smiled awkwardly and said, “You know Elder Han’s temper—always working people to the bone. I come to see you whenever I have time…”

Then he looked at Li Yu and said, “Let me introduce you—this is Junior Brother Li. He’s here looking for a friend as well.”

When Zhang Qianqian saw the strikingly handsome junior disciple, her eyes flashed. She then said, “So this is the one looking for Sister Zhou. She’s tending to the spiritual fields right now—come with me.”

Li Yu followed Sister Zhang down to a spirit field at the mountain’s base.

This spirit field was about one mu in size. The herbs growing there were familiar to Li Yu—it was the Blood-Clotting Vine, something he had been working with extensively recently. A familiar figure was bent over, busy among the fields. It was Zhou Zixuan, whom he had not seen for many days.

“Sister Zhou, someone is looking for you…”

Zhou Zixuan pulled out a weed from the spirit field. Hearing someone call her, she turned and saw a familiar figure. After a brief surprise, her face lit up with joy. She hurried to the field and exclaimed happily, “Li Yu, why have you come…”

Li Yu smiled and said, “I came to see you.”

Zhou Zixuan was leaner and thinner than a month ago. Looking at Li Yu, she said apologetically, “Sorry, I’ve wanted to come see you for a long time, but I’ve been too busy with the spirit field…”

Li Yu replied, “It’s okay. I’ve been busy too. I just had a few free days and came to visit you.”

Senior Brother Zhao timely said, “You two talk first. Junior Sister, let’s go over there.”

After pulling Zhang Qianqian aside, Senior Brother Zhao asked, “You’re still the one assigning tasks in the spirit field, right?”

Sister Zhang nodded and said, “Yes, why?”

Senior Brother Zhao glanced toward Li Yu and Zhou Zixuan, then said, “In the future, assign lighter tasks to the junior sister over there. Don’t let her be too busy in the spirit field.”

Sister Zhang was stunned at first, then angrily said, “New recruits just entering the sect are supposed to do these heavy tasks! Zhao, are you feeling sorry for her just because she’s pretty?”

Senior Brother Zhao quickly covered her mouth and said, “What nonsense are you talking? I’m telling you, Junior Brother Li is Elder Han’s favorite right now. Even I have to ask him for favors. How well your man does at Danding Peak depends on how you treat his woman…”

Li Yu and Zhou Zixuan sat by the spirit field. After catching up for a bit, Li Yu took out several pill bottles he had prepared earlier and said, “These are some pills I’ve been refining recently. You can keep them. I wrote the names on the bottom of the bottles—there are hemostatic ones, detoxifying ones, stamina recovery ones, calming and sleep aids…”

Since Biyun Peak specialized in cultivating medicinal herbs, Zhou Zixuan naturally understood the value of these pills. Although they were low-grade, combined they were worth a considerable amount. She repeatedly waved her hand, “I can’t accept these. These things could be sold for quite a few spirit coins.”

Li Yu stuffed the pills into her arms and said, “They’re a gift. Just keep them. I specially set these aside for you.”

Although longevity was Li Yu’s ultimate dream, he was also a very sentimental person. He didn’t have many true friends in this world—there was Jiang Li, Zhou Zixuan, and Chen Ming counted as a half…

Though he and Chen Ming had clashed in the past, that guy promised to make him a prince and even help pick out his consorts, so Li Yu was willing to grudgingly count him as half a friend.

What he could offer were these pills. Jiang Li naturally didn’t need them. Chen Ming was hanging onto a wealthy woman and didn’t need them either. So their share, one and a half, he gave to Zhou Zixuan.

Zhou Zixuan accepted Li Yu’s pills and said shyly, “I—I don’t have anything good to give you in return.”

Li Yu waved his hand and said, “Don’t be so polite. When I can refine second-tier pills, I’ll make sure you have as many Meridian Clearing Pills as you want…”

Zhou Zixuan lightly tapped his shoulder and smiled, “You think Meridian Clearing Pills are like candy that can fill you up? I’ve heard each one costs a thousand spirit coins…”

Li Yu simply smiled and didn’t say more.

Outside his cultivation practice, he really enjoyed this kind of lighthearted banter. Though he’d met plenty of people at Kunlun, most of those relationships were transactional, lacking warmth. Compared to that, he truly missed the days at Baiyun Temple.

They chatted a bit more, and then—mid-conversation—Zhou Zixuan suddenly blushed.

Li Yu, too, looked awkward.

Because from a nearby wooden shed at the edge of the herb field, soft moaning sounds had started drifting over.

Li Yu secretly cursed the dog couple in his heart. Were they in heat? There were two pure, inexperienced flowers right here. Who could withstand such vivid sounds…

Both of them fell into an awkward silence.

Fortunately, it didn’t last long. About three minutes later, peace returned to Li Yu’s ears.

Soon after, Senior Brother Zhao and Sister Zhang came out of the wooden hut. Sister Zhang’s face was flushed and her eyes almost teary. She said to Zhou Zixuan, “Junior Sister Zhou, from today on, you don’t have to worry about things in the spirit field. I’ll arrange others to handle that. You just come with me, and I’ll teach you how to extract spirit liquid from the herbs…”

Extracting spirit liquid was much easier than managing the spirit fields and came with generous spirit coin rewards.

At Biyun Peak, new disciples all had to start by managing the spirit fields. They needed to do this for at least two years before they could get lighter, more leisurely duties. Zhou Zixuan was surprised but quickly responded happily, “Thank you, Sister Zhang…”

Sister Zhang smiled and said, “We’re all fellow brothers and sisters—no need to thank me…”

As the two of them walked toward a more distant wooden hut, Zhou Zixuan curiously asked Li Yu, “Is this because of you?”

Li Yu shrugged and said, “Maybe. I get along well with Senior Brother Zhao. Maybe he asked Sister Zhang on my behalf. I have a decent network over at Danding Peak, and Senior Brother Zhao had to come to me for some favors…”

Zhou Zixuan rolled her eyes at him and said, “Senior Brother Zhao seems like an deacon disciple. What could he possibly want from you…”

Li Yu smiled and said, “Believe it or not, he even said he wanted Sister Zhang to introduce me to a young and pretty dual-cultivation partner, but I didn’t agree…”

Zhou Zixuan lowered her head and asked, “W-Why didn’t you agree?”

Li Yu said dreamily, “Senior Brother Zhao said that once I become a first-tier alchemist, many pretty junior sisters will be throwing themselves at me, and I could choose several…”