Turbulence Within the Sect: Chapter 20 - Senior Sister, Are You Sick?

The scene in the mountain cave that day remained vivid in Mu Wanqing’s mind. Overwhelmed by a surge of shock and the backlash of pill toxins, her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.

The last face she saw before blacking out was Chu Xing’s, etched with panic. Yet, when she awoke, the long-standing ailment that had plagued her for so long had miraculously vanished.

Was it him?

The thought sprouted from the depths of her heart, uncontrollable. This guy, whom she had always dismissed as a good-for-nothing, had recently become incredibly mysterious: draining the Dragon Blood Grass, reviving dying seeds... and it was even rumored that he had publicly defeated Zhao Hu, a cultivator at the eighth level of Body Tempering.

Seeking answers, Mu Wanqing had waited in the cave for three nights, hoping to encounter Chu Xing again and uncover the secret he was hiding.

But that fellow never appeared.

What secret was he harboring?

This intense desire to know eventually overcame her hesitation. She had to get to the bottom of it. With that, she reached out and knocked on his door.

Upon hearing the knock, the panting and low grunts inside the room ceased abruptly. Chu Xing, on high alert and assuming it was Wang Meng’s lackeys coming to stir up trouble, walked over with a mix of hesitation and impatience and pulled the door open.

With a creak, the door swung wide.

When he saw the cold, purple-clad figure standing outside, Chu Xing was stunned.

Mu Wanqing was equally taken aback.

The Chu Xing before her was shirtless, drenched in sweat and grime, his face pale from extreme exhaustion. Even worse, a peculiar odor—a mixture of heavy medicinal scents and an indescribable, foul stench—wafted from the room.

Mu Wanqing’s cheeks flushed scarlet instantly. Both embarrassed and furious, she instinctively took a half-step back, waving her hand in front of her nose, her beautiful brows knitting together in disgust.

The glimmer of curiosity and complex emotion that had been in her eyes vanished the moment she saw this scene, replaced only by coldness and undisguised loathing.

That strange sound from the courtyard earlier, combined with this sight and smell...

Shameless! Filthy!

He really was up to something sordid!

"Senior Sister Mu?" Chu Xing, realizing who it was, was momentarily dazed, his mind fumbling. "In the middle of the night... is there something you need?"

Mu Wanqing did not answer. She merely scanned Chu Xing from head to toe with her frigid gaze, as if looking at something repulsive.

"Nothing."

She spat the word out coldly, her tone devoid of any warmth.

"It seems you are busy, Junior Brother. I apologize for the interruption."

Without giving Chu Xing a chance to speak further, she turned on her heel and vanished into the night with a cold, elegant grace. Staying a second longer was unbearable.

Chu Xing stood alone at the doorway, shivering as the night wind hit him. He looked down at himself, completely bewildered.

"Is that woman... sick?"

Chu Xing muttered to himself, closed the door, and turned back into the room.

The strange odor was even thicker in the confined space, and even Chu Xing couldn't help but wrinkle his nose. He fetched a bucket of water and began wiping his body with a cloth. The cold water against his skin helped clear his mind, which had been muddled from his intense training. As he wiped, he replayed Mu Wanqing’s horrified expression.

Why had she come? To run to his run-down courtyard in the dead of night, knock on the door, take one look, curse him, and leave?

Chu Xing pondered for a long time but could not figure out what this high-and-mighty inner sect senior sister was planning. He scratched his head, ultimately concluding that these so-called geniuses were likely all a bit mentally unstable.

Forget it. If he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't bother. Time to continue training.

The night breeze was crisp, yet it could not disperse the heat flushing Mu Wanqing’s cheeks. By the time she hurried from the outer sect back to the inner sect’s Pill Hall, her heart, usually as still as an ancient well, was pounding violently.

"Stinking pervert! Scoundrel!"

Mu Wanqing gritted her teeth, cursing Chu Xing a thousand times in her heart. The unspeakable image refused to leave her mind: his bare torso, the grime, and that nauseating, strange smell...

She must have been insane to believe that such a person could have any secrets!

Recalling the time he had stumbled upon her bathing in the mountain cave only made her face burn hotter. That had been a humiliation, and today, she had caught him acting in such a shameless manner again!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She pushed open the gate to her private quarters, but as she was about to enter, she noticed the lights were still on in her master’s pill room nearby.

After a moment’s hesitation, Mu Wanqing walked over.

Inside the pill room, a rich, medicinal fragrance greeted her. Her master, Elder Fu Lingchuan of the Pill Hall, was sitting in a grand armchair, slowly sipping a cup of hot tea. Across from him sat someone unexpected.

Elder Bai from the Contribution Hall, who was usually seen dozing off, was leaning in toward Fu Lingchuan with a mysterious expression, whispering intently and spitting as he spoke.

"Old Fu, I’m telling you, this is bizarre!"

"Which brat?" Fu Lingchuan didn't even look up, blowing on his tea with a lack of interest.

"That kid from the outer sect named Chu Xing! The one you said three years ago had poor aptitude and wasn't cut out for cultivation!" Elder Bai said, his face animated. "I’m telling you, it’s like the boy suddenly had a breakthrough!"

"Oh?"

"A few days ago, he was only at the third level of Body Tempering, asking me how to earn contribution points. And in just a couple of days, guess what? He’s at the sixth level!"

Elder Bai slapped his thigh. "I’ve lived long enough, but I’ve never seen anyone cultivate like this! Tell me, do you think he found some kind of treasure?"

Fu Lingchuan finally lifted his eyelids to look at him, stating flatly, "Then why don't you call him over and ask?"

"Heh, I’m just here to discuss it with you first." Elder Bai rubbed his hands together with a sly grin. "This kid is interesting."

Hearing this, Mu Wanqing, who had just reached the doorway, could no longer hold back. She gave a heavy sniff and stepped inside.

"Master." Mu Wanqing bowed to Fu Lingchuan, then ignored Elder Bai entirely, speaking coldly.

"Elder Bai, I’m afraid your judgment is clouded."

"Oh?" Elder Bai blinked, looking at her with a chuckle. "Miss Wanqing, what do you mean?"

Mu Wanqing’s pretty face was frosted over. Thinking of the scene she had just witnessed, her tone grew even colder. "Some people may have had the luck to improve their cultivation, but their character is vile and base—hardly fit for polite society."

With that, she didn't give either of them a chance to ask further questions and stormed out, leaving behind only a cold, resolute silhouette.

The pill room fell into a dead silence.

Fu Lingchuan’s hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air. The smile on Elder Bai’s face stiffened as well.

The two men looked at each other, seeing profound confusion in each other’s eyes.

What was going on with this girl?

Fu Lingchuan knew his disciple best; she was usually cold and self-restrained, indifferent to everything but the way of the pill. To hear her judge an outer sect disciple so harshly behind his back—and a male disciple at that—was unheard of.