Xuan Tian was sitting on the patio, facing the lake. There was a small round table beside him, with a tea set made from regular clay. It was a common tea set used in many tea houses or households. But in Xuan Tian's hands, it looked as if it were made from rare and exquisite material. The light hit him and the table at just the perfect angle. If anyone were looking at Xuan Tian, they would sigh at the beauty of the scene.
Ling Yu was carrying a tray with snacks on it. She sighed when she saw Xuan Tian. How can he make a normal scene so tranquil and beautiful? Like a painting. I want to paint him. Just exactly like this. I can't paint to save my life, but I want to paint him. Ling Yu sighed again. I must be crazy.
Xuan Tian put the cup on the table with barely a sound. "If you're sighing again, I'd take you for an old lady," he said, without looking at Ling Yu. Then he turned to her. "Why are you sighing? You've sighed twice. Why?"
Ling Yu inhaled and approached him, setting the snacks on the table. "I was sighing because I am worried about Captain Bai, Lin Jie, and Jing Xue."
Xuan Tian nodded. "Me too. But we can only trust Dr. Lin now. I believe in her skills, and I trust her."
Inside the house, Lin Qian was working on unsealing Bai Xunli's Immortal and Heart Core, with Jing Xue as her surgical partner. Now that Xuan Tian's cultivation was among the lowest, Jing Xue's was the highest. Lin Qian had no other choice. Jing Xue's spirit energy was different from Xuan Tian's or any other Immortal's. Even though it was just as strong, it was more volatile and less refined. It was quite a challenge for Lin Qian—one that she refused to back down from.
Ling Yu nodded. "I believe in her too. But Captain Bai's injuries are severe. What will happen to her cultivation? Will she regress? Do you know?"
Xuan Tian looked up at Ling Yu's frown. He found that he didn't like seeing Ling Yu's face wearing a frown. He wanted to reach out his hand and smooth that frown with his fingers. I must be crazy.
Instead, using a calm and tender voice, he tried to ease her worries. "Dr. Lin said Captain Bai's cultivation won't regress, but it may be a while before she can use it like before. The seals are too strong; they might leave a mark."
"Don't worry too much. She'll be fine," he added.
Ling Yu nodded again, as if to assure herself. "Okay. I'll try."
She lifted the tray. "Well, Shizun asked me to deliver these snacks to you. He said something about you enjoying snacks with your tea. He sure is spoiling you." She gave a little pout.
Xuan Tian looked at the snacks. "I'll enjoy them. Please say thank you to your Shizun for me. And tell him he doesn't need to do this. If I want to eat, I'll get them myself."
"You won't be able to tell Shizun otherwise. He really cares about you." Ling Yu pouted a little.
Xuan Tian was amused. "Are you jealous that your Shizun gives me attention?"
"No!"
"But you look jealous."
Ling Yu put the tray on the table with a bang and she looked at Xuan Tian, dead-panned, "Well, I'm not. You're wrong. Your eyes has problem. Go ask Lin Jie later to check them."
Then she turned around and left. If she turned around and saw Xuan Tian, she would saw that he was wearing a smile.
------------------------------
Lin Qian exhaled in relief. She wiped the sweat from her forehead. She looked at the massive silver-white wolf in front of her, who also looked exhausted.
"Thank you, Jing Xue. You were a tremendous help. Without you, I couldn't have done it. Again, thank you."
Jing Xue nodded slowly. He was exhausted. He had spent most of his spirit energy assisting Lin Qian. He hadn't expected to be this drained. He touched his snout to Lin Qian's arm.
"I used more spirit energy than I expected. I have to go recover. I'll go to the General and report to him about my condition. You can report Captain Bai's condition yourself."
Lin Qian nodded. "Okay. I'm sorry you had to use so much of your spirit energy. I'll go and apologize to the General too."
Jing Xue shook his head slowly. Then he shrank to his normal dog size and left the room to find Xuan Tian.
------------------------------
Ling Yu headed back to the kitchen. Calling it a kitchen was a little too much. There was only a table and a small stove there. Mid-Level Cultivators—more commonly known as Immortals—didn't need to eat to live. They did it out of habit and enjoyment. Half-setup kitchens were pretty common in the houses of Immortals.
Ling Yu put her tray on the table and sighed. It's weird. My mind keeps going back to that time in Iron Wall's room. Yes, Ling Yu was troubled. Her mind kept circling back to that moment; she kept seeing Xuan Tian's eyes, how nice his nose was, how perfect his eyebrows were, how kissable…
Ling Yu shook her head. What's wrong with me? Why do I keep thinking about him? I have to focus.
She shook her head again, and this time she caught sight of Jing Xue walking slowly past the kitchen door.
He's out! So lifeless! What's wrong?
Ling Yu immediately rushed to exit the kitchen and called to him, "Jing Xue!"
Jing Xue stopped, and slowly turned his head to Ling Yu and waited.
Ling Yu caught up to him. "Are you okay? What's wrong? Is Captain Bai okay?"
Jing Xue only looked up at her, lifeless. He shook his head slightly. Then he turned to face forward and continued his 'long' journey to find Xuan Tian on the patio.
Ling Yu, worried about him and Captain Bai, followed him.
Behind her, she heard a door close. She turned around and saw Lin Qian had just closed Captain Bai's door.
"Lin Jie," Ling Yu called her. "Is everything okay?"
Lin Qian looked up at her and smiled. "Yes. Jing Xue and I are on our way to update the Gen… I mean, Xuan Tian Shengzun."
The two of them walked slowly behind Jing Xue.