"Xiao Yuè Yuè?"
"Pfft haha—Xie Yue, does Brother Tian treat you like a little sister?"
Hearing Yan's teasing and meeting Qian Renxue's strange gaze, Xie Yue's face instantly flushed with embarrassment. He retorted angrily, "Yan, stop talking nonsense! Brother Tian just wrote it wrong!"
"..."
Hu Liena watched their bickering and sighed in relief. Thankfully, Brother Ye Tian hadn't given her any weird nicknames.
"This guy~" Qian Renxue murmured softly, never expecting Ye Tian to have such a mischievous side.
"Hmm?!"
Suddenly, Qian Renxue's phoenix-like eyes narrowed sharply. The water in her cup began rippling violently as the entire table shook!
Focusing her gaze, she couldn't help but feel dazed. Jin Yue'er was actually running on all fours across the tabletop—moving like a spider or a cockroach, crawling with eerie smoothness until she reached Hu Liena's front.
If Ye Tian were here, he'd definitely classify Jin Yue'er among the bizarre species.
"Ah!" Hu Liena gasped, startled by the sudden face appearing before her.
"Little sister~" Jin Yue'er's eyebrows, eyes, and even her small mouth curved into unnatural arcs. Her smile was extremely peculiar—even chilling! It made Hu Liena shiver uncontrollably, feeling a deep sense of unease.
Even Xie Yue and Yan stared at Jin Yue'er as if facing a formidable enemy.
"Y-Yue'er sister, is there something you need?" Hu Liena asked cautiously.
Jin Yue'er wore what she considered a warm, infectious smile. She pointed foolishly at the jar and said, "Little sister~ Can you give this medicine to your sister? I can trade you lots of delicious food or Gold Soul Coins for it~"
Hearing this involved the Marrow Cleansing Pill, Xie Yue immediately became serious. He urgently warned, "Little sister, don't trade with her!"
"I know, brother. Nana isn't stupid," Hu Liena replied, hugging the bottle tightly and completely ignoring Jin Yue'er.
"Why won't you trade?!" Jin Yue'er turned her head toward Xie Yue, immediately making him retreat slightly.
"We need to take it ourselves," Xie Yue swallowed hard, mustering his courage to speak.
Yan also leaned backward, his heart pounding. What kind of people are Brother Tian's friends? This one is so creepy! If we sent her to the orphanage... she'd definitely scare a whole group of children to tears!
"Take it yourselves? That won't do!" Jin Yue'er widened her eyes and quickly said, "You're still young and don't understand—all medicine carries some toxicity~ It's not good for children to take too much. Let your sister test it for poison first... hehe!"
After letting out two strange laughs, Jin Yue'er extended both Dragon Claw Hands, preparing to grab toward Xie Yue.
"Yue'er!" Qian Renxue frowned and was about to intervene when a familiar voice drifted in.
"Toxic, you say? Then I won't give you any from now on, to avoid harming your health."
Hearing this voice, Jin Yue'er froze momentarily, her limbs stiffening slightly. Just as she was about to look up, a small hand reached over, directly probing into her embrace. After exploring briefly, it retrieved the small porcelain bottle containing ten pills.
"Ah!" Jin Yue'er first stared blankly, then her expression shifted to one of panic, immediately becoming agitated.
"Ye Tian, give me back my medicine!"
"Why should I? Didn't you say my medicine was toxic?"
Ye Tian stood behind Hu Liena.
With a teasing smile, he shook the small porcelain vial in his hand toward Jin Yue'er.
"Brother Ye Tian!"
Xie Yue looked as if he had seen a savior, his relief palpable.
"I was just joking with them!"
Jin Yue'er's smile was uglier than a cry as she knelt on the table, stretching out her hands.
"Ye Tian, give it back to me~"
"Get down from the table first."
Ye Tian glanced toward Qian Renxue, signaling for her to return to her seat.
"Alright, I'll go back right now."
Pouting, Jin Yue'er nodded repeatedly.
She retreated exactly as she had come, scrambling on all fours so swiftly that even Ye Tian was momentarily stunned.
Once she had smoothly settled back into her seat, sitting upright with an eager expression, she pleaded, "Can you give it back to me now?"
"Of course."
Ye Tian returned to his spot with a smile and handed her the small vial.
"Hmph~"
Jin Yue'er snatched it back in a huff.
Clutching it to her waist as if it were a priceless treasure, her face showed a mix of fear and worry as she said, "Ye Tian, you can't really abandon me!"
"Don't worry, I was just joking with you earlier."
Ye Tian shrugged nonchalantly.
"That's good. Actually, even if you hadn't come back, I wouldn't have really tried to snatch it."
Jin Yue'er hung her head, her voice muffled.
She raised a hand to rub the spot where Ye Tian had tickled her, her expression turning slightly awkward.
"Heh, I know."
Ye Tian nodded slightly.
He was well aware that Jin Yue'er wasn't a bad person.
Seeing Jin Yue'er's unusually docile demeanor, not only did Hu Liena and the other two regard Ye Tian with admiration, but even Qian Renxue couldn't help but smile.
"And also~"
Jin Yue'er suddenly looked up.
Staring intently at Ye Tian with a serious expression, she declared, "You touched my body earlier, so you have to take full responsibility! You have to keep me supplied with Pills for the rest of your life!"
"Pfft—!"
Jin Yue'er's words nearly made Qian Renxue spit out her tea.
Ye Tian touched Yue'er? When did that happen?
Soon, Qian Renxue recalled the moment when Ye Tian had retrieved the medicine earlier. But could that really count?
Ye Tian frowned. "Don't say things like that carelessly; it could easily be misunderstood!"
"You'd better be careful."
Jin Yue'er hummed twice and said no more.
Instead, she opened the vial in her hand and began taking the medicine.
She wasn't speaking recklessly.
Since childhood, her grandfather had taught her that if any member of the opposite sex touched her without permission, she must kill them! If she couldn't do it herself, her grandfather would take care of it personally!
But Ye Tian was helping to restore her health—he clearly couldn't die. Besides, he was her good friend, and she couldn't bear to kill him anyway.
So, the only option was to give Ye Tian a chance to atone for his actions~
Jin Yue'er poured all ten Marrow Cleansing Pills into her mouth, her body trembling uncontrollably. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, her eyes widened, fixed directly on Ye Tian.
According to her grandfather's teachings, did that mean only Ye Tian could touch her body from now on?
Hu Liena and the others stared dumbfounded at Jin Yue'er, then glanced nervously at the Marrow Cleansing Pills in their own hands, swallowing hard.
Was the effect of this medicine really that intense?
"..."
Qian Renxue turned to look beside her.
Ye Tian spread his hands helplessly toward her, clearly not taking Jin Yue'er's words seriously.
But Qian Renxue seemed burdened with concern. She understood Jin Yue'er better and could clearly sense that Yue'er had been utterly serious when she said those words!
"Alright."
As Jin Yue'er snapped out of her daze.
Ye Tian didn't plan to drag things out any longer. With a smile, he waved his hand, and steaming delicious dishes appeared on the table.
"I've already brought the food. Let's eat first."
"It smells wonderful~"
Yan's eyes lit up, while Hu Liena glanced up at Ye Tian.
"Not as fragrant as Brother Ye Tian~"
"What's the use of me being fragrant? You can't eat me anyway."
Ye Tian tapped Hu Liena's head with mild exasperation.
"Haha..."
Hu Liena couldn't help but let out a crisp laugh.
"..."
——
Time slips away easily, reddening cherries and greening plantains.
In the blink of an eye,
Five months passed.
Inside the Wisteria Residence's 'Eternal Heaven'.
Ye Tian remained clad in his Taoist Robe, seated cross-legged on the Purple Cloud Prayer Cushion beneath the Pill Furnace.
Ethereal white mist swirled around him.
The room was filled with billowing Pill Fragrance.
Ye Tian cradled the Flawless Nascent Pill in his hands, holding it from last night until this very noon.
Beneath him, a purple Spirit Ring slowly rotated.
Suddenly!
The Spirit Ring trembled violently along with Ye Tian's body!
In that instant, the Pill Fragrance in the room noticeably intensified.