TDIC 06

Chapter : 6 (Revised)

Li Lingjiang returned the bowl into Yin Wu’s hands. The little immortal, at some unknown moment, had produced a candy and, as if presenting a treasure, held it out to her: “Master, eat this and it won’t taste bitter anymore.”

She didn’t take it. She stared at Yin Wu for a few seconds before averting her gaze and lowering her head to start tidying the gauze in her hands. She explained, “It’s unnecessary. I can’t taste anything anyway. You eat it.”

Yin Wu’s eyes widened slightly. Feeling a little down, she lowered her head and put the candy away. After tidying everything, she leaned on the edge of the bed with her hands clasped, looking up at Li Lingjiang.

Her lips pouted in a displeased expression.

Li Lingjiang caught sight of it from the corner of her eye and couldn’t help but smile—truly still a child.

Shifting slightly so her protruding shoulder blades pressed against the head of the bed, she reached out to smooth Yin Wu’s messy hair. The other person stiffened immediately; her fingertips touched a momentary softness before quickly withdrawing. Li Lingjiang watched as Yin Wu’s ear tips flushed red.

“What are you embarrassed about? Show me the wound.” Li Lingjiang patted the person who had buried their head in her arm, failing to notice the sly glint that flickered in Yin Wu’s eyes.

Yin Wu obediently rolled up her sleeves. Today, she was wearing a simple white hemp outfit, somehow acquired from somewhere—it looked particularly worn, but on her, it held a rustic beauty.

The little immortal’s skin was very pale, her body temperature slightly higher. Li Lingjiang, without hesitation, reached out and drew her close to inspect the wound. She held Yin Wu’s arm, feeling the firm muscles and the veins pulsating beneath. She cast a brief approving glance before withdrawing her gaze.

Good natural talent. With proper training, she would surely achieve greatness.

Li Lingjiang inspected the wound silently. The right arm bore several scratch marks where the white of the bone faintly showed, flesh peeling outward, discolored unnaturally. Improper treatment had caused signs of pus and inflammation. With only a little pull, Yin Wu winced in pain.

Li Lingjiang raised her eyes and frowned. Yin Wu immediately shrank her neck, looking at her innocently, softly asking: “Master… is it serious?”

Li Lingjiang’s tone was unpredictable. She patted the bed, indicating for her to sit: “Does it hurt?”

Yin Wu was about to shake her head but met Li Lingjiang’s jet-black eyes. She stammered honestly: “Yes, it does.”

Outside, the wind had begun to blow, rattling the old wooden cabin. The creaking became the only sound in the silent mountain. Dry, shriveled branches scratched the window cloth—it looked eerie at first glance. The wind howled, and if one listened carefully, it carried a faint tone of weeping.

Li Lingjiang’s hair fell across her cheeks, her eyes focused, fingers pinching dragon whisker grass. Xiao Hei held a piece in its mouth, while Xiao Bai leaned against her. Her fingers gradually sharpened, the skin turning a dark purplish-black. With an almost frightening sound, she moved slightly, scattering the powdered herbs over Yin Wu’s wound.

The pus quickly absorbed the powder, darkening. Yin Wu twitched in pain, tears rapidly filling her eyes, tightening the heart of anyone watching. Li Lingjiang gently blew on it: “It won’t hurt in a moment. Bear with it.”

Yin Wu bit back her tears and smiled at her, curiously watching her hands: “Have you regained your magic?”

“No.”

Li Lingjiang repeated the same explanation and picked up a gauze to bandage her: “My original form is a magical lion. I naturally have absolute strength. This isn’t difficult.”

Yin Wu seemed enlightened by the new knowledge: “I see… so the ears on your head are lion ears too?”

At the mention, Li Lingjiang’s ears twitched, soft fine hair becoming delicate and cute. Yin Wu felt an itch in her palm, an impulse to reach out and touch.

She resisted, looking away and changing the topic: “Master, you’re very skilled.”

Li Lingjiang replied casually: “I’ve bandaged those close to me before, and I often treated myself as well, so I’ve gotten quite practiced.”

“All done. From now on, come to me every day for bandaging. Be careful next time.”

Yin Wu’s expression remained unchanged, her smile bright. She glanced at the glaring white gauze, then casually at Bai Long before drawing back, the dragon’s blue eyes darkening, white wings flapping and settling on the floor.

“Master really is kind to subordinates,” Yin Wu said flatly. Her eyes flickered a trace of menace—if she hadn’t slept for a thousand years, how could anyone have crossed her hands?

Fortunately, this person was now under her control and wouldn’t be easily tempted again.

She clenched her fingers, a small creak, and when she lifted her head, she wore an innocent look: “Master, I heard that Qingyun Xianzun was punished.”

Li Lingjiang raised her head, frowning slightly as she asked: “Hmm?”

Yin Wu seemed startled at the memory, speaking softly: “I heard Qingyun Xianzun received severe punishment. Both hands were cut off and reattached. His body bore over twenty whip marks. The palace was covered in blood. The Immortal Emperor said it was punishment. The other immortals said he had high fevers every night, muttered nonsense during the day, and was dazed when feeling better. His wounds took a long time to stop bleeding. It was terrifying.”

“The red thread couldn’t even bind, so the Immortal Emperor had others temporarily take over his duties.”

After speaking, she looked for Li Lingjiang’s reaction. She only lightly hooked Xiao Bai’s jaw with her finger. There was nothing else in her eyes—if anything, it seemed somewhat satisfying. She said: “Isn’t that good? What does it have to do with me?”

Her tone was more cheerful than usual, clearly in a good mood.

Yin Wu’s lips curved slightly in secret satisfaction—her visit to Qingyun hadn’t been in vain; he was not a kind person.

She smiled lightly, supporting herself on her knees to get up: “I’ll go handle some matters now. If you need me, just call.”

Li Lingjiang nodded. She pushed herself to sit up, all her attention on herself, not noticing Yin Wu.

Yin Wu stood, but before taking a step, she seemed to remember something and turned back to report it. In that moment of distraction, Bai Long tripped her slightly, and she stumbled directly toward Li Lingjiang.

“Master, you’re going—”

The words cut off as Li Lingjiang lowered her head. Familiar clothes filled her view. Heat radiated from her neck, the wind continued to howl, doors and windows rattling. She had no time to care, lowering her gaze at the person cautiously lifting her head.

Yin Wu’s hands rested on her waist. Li Lingjiang’s body almost lay on the bed, only a bit of shoulder pressing against the wall, creating a small space. She felt her neck burning. Li Lingjiang thought little of it, only slightly adjusting her body. She exhaled slowly and patted Yin Wu.

“Master.” Yin Wu looked up at her. From the tips of her beast ears to her long neck, wrapped thickly in gauze, yet adding an air of mystery. In her eyes, desire flickered, almost unable to be concealed. The beast ears twitched unconsciously, expressing more than their owner.

Yin Wu chuckled softly, leaning forward slightly: “Master, I feel like I’ve seen someone very similar to you. She also had ears like yours.”

Li Lingjiang awkwardly turned her head, patiently answering: “Is that so?”

“But it shouldn’t be possible. She was so small then.” Yin Wu laughed to herself. She met Li Lingjiang’s gaze, her fingertips quickly tracing a spell along her waist.

—Silent and imperceptible.

Once finished, Yin Wu stood, full of apology, lowering her head in self-reproach: “I was knocked over by Xiao Bai. Master, are you hurt?”

The warmth instantly dissipated. Li Lingjiang instinctively looked at her heated waist. Without suspicion, she denied any injury and sat upright: “It’s nothing. What did you want to say?”

Tilting her head, Yin Wu revealed sharp teeth, like a lurking beast. She asked: “Master, do you want to sit in the courtyard? I planted flowers.”