Unexpected Night 3

Su Qing had no desire to wield the knife. She’d never even slaughtered a chicken—how could she carve two bloody gashes into Tianning’s shoulder and neck? It was asking too much.

But Xuejin Sword was wary of Tang Yueling, trembling threateningly whenever she got close. Tang Yueling huffed, glaring coldly at it.

Red Rust Sword pulsed with eager red light, as if ready to brawl again. For once, it shared Tang Yueling’s indignation.

Su Qing thought Tang Yueling was already being unusually kind. She hadn’t even uttered her usual lines like, “Why should I help her?” or “What’s in it for me?”

Since Tang Yueling was compromising, Su Qing couldn’t let her clash with Xuejin Sword. Gritting her teeth, she decided, “You’re stronger—hold her. I’ll cut.”

As for the Numbing Pill and Regeneration Talisman, Tianning could work to repay Tang Yueling later. She couldn’t afford it now.

Tang Yueling smirked, pulling a Numbing Pill, a razor-sharp dagger, and a Regeneration Talisman from her storage bag.

Su Qing took the dagger. Tang Yueling pried open Tianning’s lips, slipping in the pill.

It dissolved instantly, taking effect fast.

Tang Yueling summoned an immortal-binding rope to secure Tianning, her arm around Tianning’s shoulders. With a hint of glee, she urged, “Hurry—Numbing Pills work fast but fade quickly.”

“Right now?” Su Qing asked.

“Of course!”

Taking a deep breath, Su Qing gripped the dagger. @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

The blade sliced into the festering wound, dark red blood gushing instantly. Thanks to the pill, Tianning didn’t convulse as before.

But her furrowed brow and pained expression showed she still felt it. Su Qing’s hand wavered.

“She’s still in pain!”

“No kidding,” Tang Yueling snapped. “If she felt nothing, she’d be dead from my pill. Keep going!”

Sweat beaded on Su Qing’s forehead, but her hand stayed steady.

She only had two modes: all in or not at all. Tilting her wrist, she angled the dagger’s tip into the wound’s edge.

This was her job.

Oddly, she thought of peeling potatoes in the kitchen—knowing how to carve out pesky wormholes, how to cleanly remove rot. The dagger cut smoothly through tissue, excising decayed flesh until clean blood flowed. With a deft twist, she scooped out the rot entirely.

Tianning’s neck arched, face deathly pale, drenched in cold sweat. Tang Yueling held her firmly, preventing any struggle.

“Now she feels pain? Where was this earlier?”

As the rotted flesh left her body, Tang Yueling incinerated it with a Fire Technique. Su Qing, focused, mirrored the process on the other wound, carving out the decay.

Tang Yueling pinned Tianning’s neck, holding her close, while her other hand conjured flames to burn the diseased tissue.

With the wounds clean, she channeled spiritual energy, activating the Regeneration Talisman and pressing it onto Tianning.

The sixth-grade talisman lived up to its rank.

A white light flashed, and flesh regrew rapidly, covering exposed bone in moments. The itching of new growth was worse than the pain of cutting. Tianning thrashed, eyes snapping open, a broken groan escaping her throat.

The new flesh was pale pink.

Mirror Lake’s waters gently lapped, soothing the healing wounds.

Exhausted, Su Qing collapsed into the water, relieved.

She wiped the dagger and returned it to Tang Yueling, who untied the rope. Looking down at Tianning, Tang Yueling smirked. “What now? You owe me even more.”

Tianning looked rough—wet black hair clung to her pale face, eyes blank as snow. Xuejin Sword hummed joyfully beside her.

A faint breath rasped from her throat.

Su Qing spoke for her. “A thank-you will do.”

“Forget it,” Tang Yueling scoffed. “The pill’s wearing off—she’s barely conscious.”

Expressionless, she pinched Tianning’s damp cheek. “Such a pretty face, but your words and personality are awful.”

Scanning around, Tang Yueling noticed Red Rust Sword had vanished again.

She was tired of this chase-and-flee game. Who’d believe Tang Yueling spent nearly a month coaxing a sword? She’d bought a sword stand, crafted a top-tier sheath, and hoarded a storage bag of sword tassels—enough for twenty years of daily swaps. She’d even woven one herself!

Lying in the lake, staring at the dim red sword bond in her palm, she muttered, “Not one good thing!”

Su Qing barely heard, too drained to focus.

The lake water washed over her aching muscles, easing clogged meridians, nourishing her exhausted body.

Pure bliss.

Though her body craved the comfort, her mind, ever diligent, frantically recited the *Clear Mind Technique*.

She chanted forty cycles before noticing a red fruit and stopping.

Where’d it come from?

Hungry, she wanted to eat it.

But when did she get it?

Digging through hazy memories, she recalled: the wine vendor gave it to her when she delivered Master Wang’s wine.

That was nearly a month ago.

Still edible?

The fruit was red, large, glossy, and plump—fresh-looking. Spiritual fruits weren’t like mortal ones; it should be fine.

She offered one to Tang Yueling. “Want a fruit?”

Tang Yueling took it, inspecting it curiously. “Where’d you get this? Rare for this season.”

Su Qing had a practical question. “Can I eat it?”

“It’s edible.”

The moment Tang Yueling said “edible,” Su Qing devoured hers. Sweet-tart, refreshing, but with a strong, boozy aftertaste she didn’t love.

“…” Tang Yueling, holding her fruit, added, “It’s a type of wine fruit. The longer it sits, the stronger it gets. How long’s yours been?”

“Uh… a month?”

That was Su Qing’s last clear thought.

“You’re drunk already?”

“Not drunk. I can handle more.”

“You’re *so* drunk.”

A burning heat spread from her stomach, scorching upward, buzzing through her chest and lungs. Her face flushed, steam rising from her head. The world tilted, colors fading, ears ringing, mind mush.

What was she doing? @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

Why was she here?

Glancing at her waist, her wooden sword floated on the water like a delicate boat.

Her sword. Right—she was here to practice.

Naturally, she drew it and strode to the shore, leaving wet footprints.

The wooden sword sliced the air, Carefree Swordplay flowing instinctively: draw, pull, lift, block, strike, stab, point, stir, press. Each move was polished, transitions seamless, even when mixed and matched, fluid without a hitch. @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

The Carefree Swordplay’s essence shone through her.

Tang Yueling saw the hard work behind it. Mastering basic swordplay to this level in a month demanded immense effort.

Eyes wide, she said, “Are you insane? Practicing swordplay now? Who gets drunk and thinks, ‘Time to swing a sword’?”

Su Qing ignored her, *Clear Mind Technique* raging within. Mirror Lake’s abundant spiritual energy surged into her, guided by her sword moves, flushing her blocked meridians, gathering inward.

Sensing the air’s spiritual flow, Tang Yueling gasped, “Inducing qi?”

The tight barrier in Su Qing’s body wavered under the spiritual tide, loosening but clinging to its final defense.

Unrushed, she practiced as always—nothing more.

The world dimmed, the moon high.

Looking up, moonlight filled Su Qing’s dark eyes. Sometimes, she wished it shone just for her.

To come for her alone.

Her steps grew lighter, her strikes stronger.

As *Clear Mind Technique* surged, spiritual energy amassed, condensing into mist on her skin.

Her wooden sword, fueled by spiritual energy, sprouted buds, blooming red plum blossoms. Sliced by sword qi, petals scattered, dancing in her black hair like a formless storm.

Finally, as *Clear Mind Technique* completed its last cycle, the gathered energy flowed, rushing to her dantian.

The stubborn barrier broke. Her shriveled spiritual root welcomed its first wave of qi.

Though sparse, it was as precious as rain in a drought.

At last, she induced qi, entering the Qi Refining stage.

Warmth flooded her limbs, her body tightening then lightening, expelling impurities. She felt refreshed, senses sharp. The world expanded—closing her eyes, everything remained vivid.

She had a second pair of eyes: divine sense.

The alcohol and impurities flushed out, leaving her reeking.

Cultivators’ senses were keen, and Su Qing now saw their world. She could spot details a hundred meters away, hear a nest of eight rabbits—big and small—chirping in the woods.

*Stop chirping; you’re making me hungry.*

But it also meant smelling her own stench.

She stank.

Tang Yueling, pinching her nose, tossed a cleaning talisman from afar.

Su Qing thanked her, activating it with spiritual energy. Instantly, she was spotless, odor-free.

At some point, Tianning had woken, standing in the water, taking it all in.

As an innate sword body, she understood swords best. Looking at Su Qing, she said, “I couldn’t fathom why no sword chose you at the Sword Tomb. So many would’ve liked you.”

Arms crossed, Tang Yueling said dryly, “Now you’re all sweet-talk.”

Her words carried a barb, stinging slightly.

Tianning pursed her lips, silent, a bit sullen.

Unsatisfied, Tang Yueling pressed, “What, no words for me? I saved you—no thanks? The Numbing Pill and Regeneration Talisman didn’t fall from the sky. Say thank you!”

Su Qing watched Tianning’s icy face crease, radiating reluctance and struggle.

“…”