As Xu Fu’s sorcery gradually unfolded, a door was torn open in the air. He then shouted at Zhang Liusun, “The gateway is ready—where is the bronze figure?”
Zhang Liusun remained seated, unmoving. With a single wave of his hand, the bronze figure soared into the air and leapt straight into the dark, shadowy portal.
At this moment, the portal shimmered with black light, and streams of black and white energy crisscrossed and spiraled within. As the bronze figure entered, a furious shout rang out. The inscriptions covering its body transformed into starlight, scattering into the luminous gateway. The bronze figure’s previously stiff limbs began to move, and its body expanded rapidly until it matched the portal’s height. Stretching its limbs outward, it immediately braced the four sides of the glowing doorframe.
Slowly rotating his hands, Xu Fu conjured one strange talisman after another, imprinting them onto the bronze figure. The figure radiated brilliant, colorful light, emitting dazzling radiance.
The portal in the sky gradually stabilized, its dark interior occasionally flashing with faint halos, like the distant stars—mysterious and unfathomable.
Xu Fu’s voice, now slightly weary, announced, “The gateway is open. Please proceed.”
Mei Qing curiously glanced at the portal above, finding it dark and impenetrable. He felt a slight curiosity, puzzled about where the gateway led. He turned to look at Zhang Liusun, whose expression remained calm and indifferent. Yet Mei Qing couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss behind the portal.
As he pondered, he reassured himself that everything had been accounted for. Xu Fu should no longer have any reason to oppose him. As for Zhang Liusun, although he coveted the child cauldron within Mei Qing, he wouldn’t dare act rashly before they exited, lest he provoke both Mei Qing and Xu Fu. Even if he somehow managed to outwit them both, he would be trapped in this desolate place with no hope of escape. As for after they exited, Mei Qing would have to take his chances. If luck was on his side and his suspicions were correct, Zhang San, Master Ku, and Bi Zhen would likely be waiting outside to rescue him. With their immediate support, not only would he have help, but Zhang Liusun, being half a Celestial Sect member, wouldn’t dare kill him outright, especially with Zhang San’s influence. At worst, Mei Qing would have to hand over the child cauldron, but he had already gained enough from it anyway.
Still, Mei Qing glanced at Zhang Liusun again. Zhang remained as calm as ever, but Mei Qing couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, as though he had forgotten something. However, urged by Xu Fu’s repeated calls, he decided to set his doubts aside for now and focus on leaving this place.
Mei Qing swiftly activated a protective talisman gifted by Zhang San, wrapping it around his body before summoning his spirit crane. He glided gracefully into the luminous portal.
As he entered the gateway, Mei Qing caught a glimpse of Xu Fu’s face suddenly changing. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the massive bronze figure waver.
Startled, Mei Qing poured all his energy into breaking free, but an immense pressure, like a mountain, suddenly crushed down on him, rendering him completely immobile. His spirit crane let out a mournful cry before reverting to its paper form and vanishing.
At that moment, Mei Qing realized that the bronze figure, which had been holding up the portal, had suddenly withdrawn its support. Like a colossal mountain, it crashed straight toward Xu Fu. Without the bronze figure’s support, the portal teetered on the brink of collapse. Mei Qing, caught in the middle, was instantly trapped by the overwhelming pressure.
He felt his bones creak under the strain. Although protected by Zhang San’s talisman, the energy required to tear open the gateway was immense. Without the bronze figure’s support, Mei Qing’s strength was nowhere near sufficient. He heard a few sickening cracks, and sure enough, Zhang San’s talisman shattered almost instantly.
Panicked, Mei Qing clenched his teeth and, following the method taught by Zhang Liusun, channeled his energy, causing his infant soul to tremble. With sheer force of will, he forcibly separated the child cauldron from within his body.
A wave of excruciating pain, like having his heart torn apart, surged through him. His vision darkened, and even his formidable spiritual awareness wavered. At this critical moment, with no time to hesitate, Mei Qing formed a mystical seal, desperately holding onto the last vestiges of clarity. In an instant, he hurled his consciousness into the child cauldron he had just separated.
Just as his consciousness entered the cauldron, Mei Qing felt it tremble violently under the external pressure. Then it began to deform and shrink, collapsing inward toward his body.
After that, everything went black. Mei Qing felt as though he were drifting in a vast, dark cloud, eventually losing all consciousness.
He felt as though he were floating in the clouds—light one moment, tense the next, alternating between hot and cold, drifting through countless eons.
He felt fire burn him, water drench him. He saw the vitality of wood, the violence of metal, the weight of earth.
It cycled endlessly, becoming him, yet not him, until he drifted into a deep slumber.
“Ahhh!” He suddenly awoke, instinctively shifting his body slightly, only to cry out in pain.
The sound made him realize that every limb and organ in his body ached unbearably. The pain was sharp and piercing, instantly silencing him. Sweat poured from him like rain.
Then he fainted again.
When he awoke once more, the searing pain had somewhat subsided.
“Ah Qing, you’re awake!” A voice filled with joy reached his ears, distant and muffled. At the sound, Mei Qing’s mind instantly cleared, and a familiar sensation surged through him.
It was Bi Zhen. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, a surge of countless pieces of information erupted like a volcanic explosion, overwhelming his consciousness like a mountain collapsing.
Startled, Mei Qing felt as though his mind were a fragile boat on a raging sea, tossed between towering waves, on the verge of capsizing.
Suddenly, a brilliant halo illuminated the space around him, containing the chaos and gradually restoring calm. The halo gently spread, gathering the scattered fragments of his consciousness. Mei Qing’s spirit relaxed, sinking into a meditative state.
When Mei Qing opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was Bi Zhen’s deeply concerned gaze.
“Ah Qing… you big meanie, you finally woke up, waaah…” Bi Zhen threw her arms around him, alternately hitting and crying.
Mei Qing felt pain all over his body, and Bi Zhen’s embrace only intensified it. He inhaled sharply but still managed a smile. “Zhen’er? Is that really you? I’m fine now. Where am I?”
He turned his head with effort, discovering that he was lying in a bed. Zhang San and Shi Mengzhu stood nearby. He hurriedly said, “Master, Mr. Shi, I’m sorry to have worried you. Is everyone okay… um…”
Bi Zhen, still frowning, retorted, “Okay? Why did you have to go in there alone? I was so scared, and I couldn’t get in no matter what…”
At this, tears streamed from Bi Zhen’s eyes again as she continued, “We waited for days. Master Ku said we should send word to the sect, and Master Tao said to try one more time. Just as we were planning to blow the place open, the stone there exploded on its own…”
Seeing Bi Zhen’s red, swollen eyes and gaunt, disheveled appearance—her clothes disarrayed, her hair unkempt—Mei Qing felt a warmth in his heart. He quietly reached out and took her hand, whispering, “I’m sorry to have worried you and Master.”
Bi Zhen lowered her head, tears flowing even more freely, as she muttered, “Now you’re saying nice things. Don’t ever go off alone like that again.”
Xu Fu’s magic gradually unfolded, and a portal was torn open in the air. He then shouted at Zhang Liusun, “The portal is ready. Where is the bronze figure?”
Zhang Liusun remained seated, unmoving. With a wave of his hand, the bronze figure soared into the air and flew straight into the dark, ominous portal.
Inside the portal, black and white streams of energy intertwined and swirled endlessly. As the bronze figure entered, a furious roar echoed, and the runes on its body scattered like starlight into the glowing portal. The previously rigid limbs of the bronze figure began to move, and its size instantly expanded to match the height of the portal. Its limbs stretched outward, firmly supporting the frame of the portal.
Xu Fu slowly rotated his hands, conjuring one strange symbol after another, which struck the bronze figure. The figure was bathed in a radiant glow, emitting a dazzling light that overwhelmed the eyes.
The portal in the air gradually stabilized. Within the dark void, faint glimmers of light flickered, resembling the mysterious depths of a distant starry sky.
Xu Fu’s voice sounded weary as he said, “The portal is open. Please proceed.”
Mei Qing glanced curiously at the portal in the air, but all he could see was darkness. He felt a slight curiosity, wondering where the portal led.
He then looked at Zhang Liusun, who remained calm and composed. Mei Qing couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more behind that calm demeanor.
Several thoughts raced through Mei Qing’s mind. He concluded that at this point, there should be no further complications. Xu Fu likely wouldn’t cause him any more trouble, and while Zhang Liusun might covet the cauldron within him, he wouldn’t risk angering both Xu Fu and Mei Qing before they left. Besides, even if Zhang Liusun had a way to scheme against both of them, he would have no chance to escape this place. Trapped in this dead end, where would he find someone to refine a new avatar for him?
As for what would happen after they left, Mei Qing could only gamble on his luck. If fortune favored him and his assumptions were correct, Zhang Shisan, Master Ku, and Bi Zhen would likely be waiting outside to rescue him. If they arrived in time, he would have strong allies, and even if Zhang Liusun tried anything, he wouldn’t dare to act rashly in front of Zhang Shisan, given his ties to the Celestial Master Sect. At worst, Mei Qing could hand over the cauldron to Zhang Liusun, as he had already gained enough from it.
However… Mei Qing glanced at Zhang Liusun again, who still appeared calm and unperturbed. Mei Qing couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, as if he had forgotten something important. But under Xu Fu’s urging, he decided to put those thoughts aside for now and focus on leaving this place.
Mei Qing quickly activated a protective talisman given to him by Zhang Shisan, then urged his spirit crane to gently glide into the glowing portal.
Just as his body entered the portal, Mei Qing noticed Xu Fu’s expression suddenly change. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the massive bronze figure begin to sway.
Panicked, Mei Qing channeled all his spiritual energy, trying to rush out of the portal. But an immense pressure, like a mountain, suddenly pressed down on him, rendering him completely immobile. The spirit crane beneath him let out a mournful cry before transforming back into a paper crane and disappearing.
At that moment, Mei Qing realized that the bronze figure supporting the portal had inexplicably let go, crashing like a mountain toward Xu Fu. Without the bronze figure’s support, the portal was on the verge of collapse, and Mei Qing, trapped inside, was immediately bound by the overwhelming pressure.
Mei Qing felt his bones creaking under the pressure. Despite the protection of Zhang Shisan’s talisman, the spiritual energy required to maintain the portal was immense. Without the bronze figure’s support, Mei Qing’s strength was far from sufficient. With a few cracking sounds, the talisman shattered, leaving Mei Qing defenseless.
In desperation, Mei Qing bit down hard and followed the method taught by Zhang Liusun, forcibly separating the cauldron from his body.
A wave of excruciating pain surged through him, and Mei Qing’s vision darkened. Even with his strong willpower, he felt his consciousness wavering. In this life-or-death moment, he couldn’t afford to hesitate. Clutching a hand seal, he focused his last bit of clarity and buried his body into the cauldron he had just separated.
As his body entered the cauldron, Mei Qing felt it tremble under the external pressure, then deform and shrink, pressing against his body.
After that, Mei Qing felt himself enveloped in a vast, dark cloud, and he lost consciousness.
Mei Qing felt as though he was floating in the clouds, alternating between moments of ease and tension, shifting between hot and cold, for what seemed like an eternity.
He experienced the heat of fire, the coolness of water, the vitality of wood, the sharpness of metal, and the heaviness of earth.
These elements cycled repeatedly, merging with him, yet also feeling foreign, until he finally fell into a deep sleep.
When Mei Qing suddenly awoke, he instinctively stretched his body, only to cry out in pain.
The sound of his voice made him realize that every part of his body was in agony. The pain was excruciating, causing his voice to falter, and beads of sweat poured down like rain.
Then, he passed out again.
When he woke up once more, the searing pain seemed to have lessened.
“Aqing, you’re awake!” A voice filled with joy reached his ears, sounding as if it came from a great distance, faint and unclear. As the voice registered, Mei Qing’s mind instantly cleared, and a familiar sensation washed over him.
It was Bi Zhen. The moment Mei Qing thought of her, his mind was flooded with an overwhelming surge of information, like a volcanic eruption, throwing his consciousness into chaos.
Panicked, Mei Qing felt his consciousness tossed like a small boat in a storm, teetering on the brink of collapse.
At that moment, a bright, luminous ring appeared around him, calming the chaotic thoughts and gradually bringing them back to order. The ring slowly expanded, gathering the scattered fragments of his consciousness. Mei Qing’s mind relaxed, and he sank into a meditative state.
When Mei Qing opened his eyes again, he saw Bi Zhen’s concerned gaze.
“Aqing… you big jerk, you’re finally awake, sob…” Bi Zhen hugged Mei Qing, crying and hitting him at the same time.
Mei Qing still felt intense pain throughout his body, and Bi Zhen’s embrace and blows made him take a deep breath. He managed to smile and said, “Zhen’er? Is that you? I’m fine. Where are we?”
He turned his head with effort and realized he was lying in bed. Zhang Shisan and Shi Mengzhu were by the bedside. He quickly said, “Master, Master Shi, I’ve worried you all. Is everyone alright… uh…”
Bi Zhen, still upset, said, “Alright? You had to show off and go into that cursed place. I was so scared, and I couldn’t get in…”
Tears welled up in her eyes again as she continued, “We waited for you for days. Master Ku even said he would call for reinforcements, but Master Zhang said to try one more time. Just as we were about to blow the place open, that stone exploded on its own…”
Mei Qing saw that Bi Zhen’s eyes were swollen, and she had lost weight. Her clothes and hair were disheveled, and her face was pale and haggard, a far cry from her usual radiant self. Mei Qing felt a warmth in his heart and secretly reached out to hold Bi Zhen’s hand, whispering, “I’ve troubled you and Master.”
Bi Zhen lowered her head, tears streaming down her face, and said resentfully, “You say that now, but don’t you dare go off on your own again.”
Mei Qing quickly agreed, but his mind wandered back to his experiences in Jieshi. He remembered escaping into the cauldron but had no idea what happened afterward or how he managed to survive. He urgently asked, “Zhen’er, you said the Qianjin Ye exploded? What happened next?”
“Next? Next you came out!” Bi Zhen said angrily. “I don’t know when you appeared, but the Qianjin Ye suddenly exploded. I was taken out by the masters. Later, we thought the explosion was strange, not like something we caused, but more like it came from inside. So we went back to check, and there you were, lying naked on the ground, fast asleep!”
From Bi Zhen’s account, it seemed that Xu Fu had tried to break the formation but was sabotaged by Zhang Liusun, causing a spatial rift that allowed Mei Qing to escape. However, the exact details remained unclear.
Mei Qing turned his head and saw Zhang Shisan by the bedside, his face a mix of concern and mischief. Mei Qing blushed and called out, “Master!”
Zhang Shisan chuckled and moved closer to the bed, looking Mei Qing over. “My good disciple, you really outdid yourself this time. You had quite the adventure, didn’t you? Your little wife here nearly went crazy. If you hadn’t come out, she might have eaten me alive!”
Mei Qing tightened his grip on Bi Zhen’s hand and said with a smile, “Master, you’re exaggerating. Zhen’er is very particular about her food and would never eat just anything. Besides, your meat is tough and sour—no one would want to eat it.”
“You little rascal!” Zhang Shisan rolled his eyes. “You just came back to life, and you’re already making fun of me? Are you saying if my meat were tender, you’d cook me?”
The two of them bantered back and forth, while Bi Zhen, embarrassed, blushed deeply and called out, “Master,” before lowering her head in silence.
“Alright, alright,” Zhang Shisan said. “Girl, Mei Qing is fine now. Let’s not disturb him anymore. Let him rest a bit, have some food, and we can talk later. You’ve been by his side day and night for so long—you need to rest too. Go back to your room!”
Xu Fu’s magic gradually unfolded, and in the air, a portal was torn open. He then shouted at Zhang Liusun, “The gateway is ready. Where is the bronze figure?”
Zhang Liusun remained seated, unmoving. With a wave of his hand, the bronze figure soared into the air and flew straight into the dark, ominous portal.
Inside the portal, black and white currents of energy intertwined and swirled endlessly. As soon as the bronze figure entered, a furious roar was heard. The runes on its body scattered like starlight into the luminous gateway. The previously rigid limbs of the bronze figure began to move, and its body instantly expanded to match the height of the portal. Its limbs stretched outward, firmly propping up the frame of the gateway.
Xu Fu slowly rotated his hands, conjuring one strange symbol after another, which struck the bronze figure. The figure was bathed in a radiant glow, emanating a dazzling light that captivated all who saw it.
The portal in the air gradually stabilized. The dark void within flickered with faint halos, resembling the mysterious expanse of a distant starry sky.
Xu Fu’s voice, tinged with exhaustion, said, “The gateway is open. Please proceed.”
Mei Qing glanced curiously at the portal in the air, finding it too dark to discern anything. His curiosity piqued, he wondered where the portal led.
He then looked at Zhang Liusun, who remained as calm as ever. Mei Qing couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more behind that composed demeanor.
Several thoughts raced through Mei Qing’s mind. He concluded that at this point, there should be no further oversights. Xu Fu likely wouldn’t cause him any more trouble, and while Zhang Liusun might covet the inner cauldron within him, he wouldn’t risk provoking both Mei Qing and Xu Fu before they left. Even if Zhang Liusun had a way to scheme against both of them, he would have no chance to escape this place. Trapped in this dead end, where would he find someone to refine a new avatar for him?
As for what would happen after they left, Mei Qing could only gamble. If luck was on his side and his assumptions were correct, Zhang Shisan, Master Ku, and Bi Zhen would be waiting outside, ready to rescue him. If they arrived in time, he would have significant support. Moreover, Zhang Liusun, being half a member of the Celestial Master Sect, would likely not dare to kill him outright, given Zhang Shisan’s influence. At worst, Mei Qing would have to hand over the inner cauldron, but he had already gained enough.
However… Mei Qing glanced at Zhang Liusun again, who remained as serene as ever. Mei Qing couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, as if he had forgotten something. But under Xu Fu’s urging, he decided to set those thoughts aside and leave this place first.
Mei Qing moved his hands swiftly, first activating a protective talisman given to him by Zhang Shisan to shield his body. Then, he urged the spirit crane beneath him to gently float into the luminous portal.
Just as his body entered the portal, Mei Qing noticed Xu Fu’s expression suddenly change. At the same time, he caught a glimpse of the bronze figure’s massive form swaying in the corner of his eye.
Mei Qing was horrified. He channeled all his energy, trying to rush out of the portal. But the immense pressure around him, like a mountain pressing down, made it impossible for him to move even an inch. The spirit crane beneath him let out a mournful cry, transforming back into a paper crane before disappearing.
At that moment, Mei Qing realized that the bronze figure, which had been propping up the portal, had suddenly let go. Like a massive mountain, it crashed straight into Xu Fu. Without the bronze figure’s support, the portal was on the verge of collapse. Mei Qing, caught in the middle, was instantly bound by the overwhelming pressure.
Mei Qing felt his bones creaking under the pressure. Despite the protective talisman from Zhang Shisan, the energy required to break through the portal’s formation was immense. Without the bronze figure’s support, Mei Qing’s strength was far from enough. With a few cracking sounds, the talisman shattered, unable to hold.
Panicked, Mei Qing didn’t have time to think. Gritting his teeth, he followed the method taught by Zhang Liusun, circulating his energy and forcibly separating the inner cauldron from his body.
A wave of excruciating pain, like having his heart carved out, surged through him. Mei Qing’s vision darkened, and even with his strong spiritual awareness, he felt his mind wavering. In this life-or-death moment, there was no room for hesitation. Mei Qing formed a hand seal, clinging to the last shred of clarity, and buried his body into the inner cauldron he had just separated.
As his body entered the cauldron, Mei Qing felt it tremble under the external pressure, deforming and shrinking, pressing against his body.
After that, Mei Qing felt as if he was enveloped in a vast, dark cloud, and then he lost consciousness.
Mei Qing felt as if he was floating in the clouds, alternating between moments of lightness and tension, hot and cold, for what seemed like an eternity.
He experienced the burning of fire, the drenching of water, the vitality of wood, the lethality of metal, and the solidity of earth.
These cycles repeated, transforming him, yet it felt as if it wasn’t him, until he finally fell into a deep sleep.
When he suddenly woke up, Mei Qing instinctively stretched his body, only to cry out in pain.
The sound made him realize that every part of his body was in agony. The searing pain was unbearable, and beads of sweat poured down like rain. Then, he passed out again.
When he woke up again, the burning pain seemed to have lessened.
“Aqing, you’re awake!” A voice filled with joy, seemingly from a great distance, reached his ears, though it was unclear. The voice brought Mei Qing’s mind back to clarity, and a familiar sensation filled his body.
It was Bi Zhen. As soon as Mei Qing thought of her, a flood of information erupted in his mind like a volcanic explosion, overwhelming his spiritual awareness, causing chaos.
Mei Qing was startled, feeling like a small boat in a raging storm, tossed between peaks and troughs, on the verge of capsizing.
At that moment, a bright halo of light appeared around him, restraining the chaotic spiritual energy, gradually calming it. The halo slowly spread, gathering the scattered spiritual energy. Mei Qing’s mind relaxed, and he sank into a meditative state.
When Mei Qing opened his eyes again, he saw Bi Zhen’s concerned gaze.
“Aqing… you big jerk, you’re finally awake, wuwu…” Bi Zhen hugged Mei Qing, both hitting and crying.
Mei Qing still felt immense pain all over his body. As Bi Zhen hugged and hit him, he took a deep breath and smiled, “Zhen’er? Is that you? I’m fine. Where are we?”
He turned his head with effort and realized he was lying in bed. Zhang Shisan and Shi Mengzhu were by the bedside. He quickly said, “Master, Master Shi, I’ve worried you. Is everyone alright… uh…”
Bi Zhen, still angry, said, “What do you mean alright? You had to show off and go into that cursed place. I was so scared, I couldn’t get in…”
Tears welled up in her eyes again as she continued, “We waited for you for days. Master Ku said we should call for reinforcements, but Master Zhang said to try one more time. Just as we were about to blow the place up, the stone exploded on its own…”
Mei Qing saw that Bi Zhen’s eyes were swollen, her face thin and haggard, her clothes and hair disheveled. She looked nothing like her usual radiant self. Mei Qing’s heart warmed, and he secretly reached out to hold Bi Zhen’s hand, whispering, “I’ve caused you and Master so much trouble.”
Bi Zhen lowered her head, tears streaming down her face, and said resentfully, “You say that now, but don’t you dare go off on your own again.”
Mei Qing quickly agreed, but his mind drifted back to his experiences in Jieshi. He remembered escaping into the inner cauldron but had no idea what happened afterward or how he managed to survive. He urgently asked, “Zhen’er, you said the Qianjin Ye exploded? What happened after that?”
“After that? You came out, of course!” Bi Zhen said angrily. “I don’t know when you came out, but the Qianjin Ye suddenly exploded. Master took me out, but I felt something was off. It didn’t seem like we caused the explosion; it was more like it burst from the inside. So we went back to check, and there you were, lying naked on the ground, fast asleep!”
From what Bi Zhen said, it seemed that Xu Fu, while breaking the formation, had been sabotaged by Zhang Liusun, resulting in the rupture of space, allowing Mei Qing to escape. However, the exact details remained unclear.
Mei Qing turned his head and saw Zhang Shisan, his face full of concern but also a mischievous smile. Mei Qing blushed and called out, “Master!”
Zhang Shisan chuckled and moved closer to the bed, looking Mei Qing over. “My good disciple, you really outdid yourself this time. You had quite the adventure, didn’t you? Your little wife here nearly went crazy. If you hadn’t come out, she might have eaten me alive!”
Mei Qing tightened his grip on Bi Zhen’s hand and laughed, “Master, what are you talking about? Zhen’er is very particular about her food. She would never eat just anything. Besides, your meat is tough and sour; no one would want to eat it.”
“You little rascal!” Zhang Shisan rolled his eyes. “You just came back to life and you’re already making fun of me? Are you saying if my meat were tender, you’d cook me up?”
The two of them bantered back and forth, while Bi Zhen, embarrassed, blushed deeply and called out, “Master,” before lowering her head in silence.
“Alright, alright,” Zhang Shisan said. “Girl, Mei Qing is fine now. Let’s not disturb him anymore. Let him rest a bit, have some food, and then you can catch up. You’ve been by his side day and night; it’s time for you to rest too. Go back to your room!”
From Bi Zhen’s account, Mei Qing deduced that when Xu Fu broke the formation, Zhang Liusun must have schemed against him, inadvertently tearing open a spatial rift and allowing him to escape by sheer luck. However, the exact details remained unclear.
Turning his head slightly, Mei Qing glanced at Zhang San, whose face was a mix of concern and mischievousness. Feeling a little embarrassed, Mei Qing called out, “Master!”
Zhang San grinned and sidled up to the bed, eyeing Mei Qing with amusement. “My good apprentice, you sure know how to have fun! You had us all worried sick. If you had stayed in there just a little longer, this old master of yours might have been eaten alive!”
Mei Qing tightened his grip on Bi Zhen’s hand and laughed, “Master, come on. Bi Zhen is very particular about her food. She wouldn’t eat just anything. Besides, your meat is so tough and sour—no one would want it!”
“You cheeky brat!” Zhang San rolled his eyes. “Back to your old tricks already? If you say my meat is tender, are you planning to boil me alive next?”
As the two exchanged playful banter, Bi Zhen blushed deeply, lowering her head shyly.
“Alright, alright,” Zhang San finally said. “Girl, Mei Qing is fine now. Let’s not bother him anymore. He needs to rest and eat something before we catch up. You’ve been watching over him day and night—you need to get some rest too. Go back to your room now!”
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