Not too long after, Xu Nanzhi opened the door and entered. Sweeping a quick glance across the living room, she softly asked, "Su Chengyu?"
At this moment, Su Chengyu walked out from behind the door, gently encircling Xu Nanzhi’s soft waist with his arm.
Xu Nanzhi’s body stiffened for a moment before relaxing, allowing Su Chengyu to hold her.
After a good while, Su Chengyu finally released Xu Nanzhi, quietly saying, "I’ll heal you first."
Based on the method he’d used before, Su Chengyu directed his mana towards repairing Xu Nanzhi’s bone marrow and eradicating the cancer cells, a process which lasted for over an hour.
"One more treatment should achieve full recovery."
Su Chengyu announced after withdrawing his palms.
"We should see each other less after this. I’m not afraid of life or death, but I can’t put you in danger."
Xu Nanzhi tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, her movements alluring. She felt a little sticky, having broken out in sweat during the treatment.
"Okay." Su Chengyu nodded in agreement.
Xu Nanzhi then left to take a shower. Hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom, the normally gallant Su Chengyu felt his lust stirring again.
Swiftly, he sat cross-legged, silently reciting the Calming Incantation to suppress these impure thoughts.
Xu Nanzhi emerged from the bathroom wearing a bathrobe, her bare skin radiant, carrying a hint of a refined fragrance that was intoxicatingly alluring.
"If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going."
Su Chengyu rose to his feet, awakened from his meditation. He didn’t dare to look at Xu Nanzhi for too long, worried that the urge he’d ruthlessly suppressed might rekindle.
"Are you leaving already?" Xu Nanzhi softly asked.
Hearing these words, Su Chengyu, who had already taken a step towards the door, froze in place. He turned around, looking intently at her, saying, "Are you suggesting something?"
"No...I just wanted to spend a bit more time with you."
Even though Xu Nanzhi was no longer a young girl, her cheeks turned a hue of red under Su Chengyu’s intense gaze. She ducked her head and spoke in a soft voice.
With such a beauty in front of him, a buzzing sound resonated in Su Chengyu’s mind, he lost control over his emotions and quickly moved towards Xu Nanzhi.
Xu Nanzhi took two steps back, but Su Chengyu grabbed her wrist and pulled her firmly into his embrace.
He let go of her, gazing upon the flawless woman before him. Su Chengyu couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss Xu Nanzhi.
Xu Nanzhi turned her head away, which left Su Chengyu coughing awkwardly. He turned to leave, but Xu Nanzhi gently tugged at his sleeve with a complex look in her eyes.
That night spent with Su Chengyu had been the result of impulsive irrationality.
Now facing him again, even though Xu Nanzhi was normally cold, she nevertheless felt a flutter of agitation and conflict within her heart.
Once again, Su Chengyu leaned in to kiss her and Xu Nanzhi closed her eyes and turned her head away.
It was not that Xu Nanzhi was playing coy; rather, her complex feelings left her unsure of what she should actually do.
Scratching his head, Su Chengyu said, "I guess I really should leave."
As Su Chengyu turned to go, Xu Nanzhi pulled lightly on his sleeve again. Her other hand had clenched into a fist due to anxiety and conflict.
Xu Nanzhi uttered quietly, as if choked by her own feelings—countless words were bubbling in her heart, but she couldn’t bring herself to say any of them.
Without any hesitation, Su Chengyu pulled the beautiful Xu Nanzhi into his arms once again and quickly pressed his lips against hers.
Xu Nanzhi went weak all over; she parted her lips and let Su Chengyu’s tongue invade. Her restless hands slowly rose and tightly embraced Su Chengyu.
Underneath the waterfall of Xu Nanzhi’s silken hair, her exquisite face blushed. Her eyes closed, with her long eyelashes trembling and her pearly white teeth biting her enticing lower lip.
At this moment, Xu Nanzhi was undoubtedly the most beautiful and charming, just like a blooming rose, or a ripe apple on a tree, waiting to be picked by a willing suitor.
This was the first time Su Chengyu had taken the time to appreciate Xu Nanzhi’s beauty; it was so intoxicating and irresistible.
Xu Nanzhi rested her head against Su Chengyu’s arm, facing away from him, revealing her perfect, unblemished back.
"You should be going now..."
Taking a deep breath, Su Chengyu left a soft kiss on her earlobe before he got up.
"Nan Zhi, give me a little more time. I will take you back from Hong Zhen Ting. I swear I will not let you down in this lifetime."
There was no response from Xu Nanzhi. Su Chengyu left the bedroom and closed the door. Only then did Xu Nanzhi turn over, her eyes filled with complexity, clouded by worry that wouldn’t disappear.
After Su Chengyu walked out of the apartment building, he stretched lazily, feeling refreshed all over.
"Fang Qing’s fourth senior brother should have reached Lin Jiang by now. It’s a good time to meet him!"
Even though Fang Qing had informed him, Su Chengyu had no intention of running away.
A cultivator defied the heavens and faced difficulties head-on. If they constantly chose to hide, they’d lose their ambitions. Without this belief, why bother cultivating at all?
So, even though he knew his opponent was a Ninth Grade Big Master and very powerful, Su Chengyu was not afraid. If he wanted a fight, then so be it.
Su Chengyu decided to walk instead of taking a car, passing by a park. An old man had set up a street stall, displaying a plant resembling He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) on a cloth. The plant still had quite a bit of soil on it.
The old man was clearly a simple person from the rural areas of Lin Jiang. He was wearing straw shoes and his clothes were pretty worn-out. A dry cigarette hung from his mouth.
Some passersby began to gather around him.
"Old man, is this real He Shou Wu? It doesn’t look quite right. I’ve never seen such a large He Shou Wu. Is it fake?" a man asked.
"It’s not fake! I dug it up on the mountain yesterday. I’ve lived for many decades and I’ve never seen wild He Shou Wu this thick and healthy," said the old man, showing his yellowed teeth.
At a glance, Su Chengyu knew that this He Shou Wu plant was extremely valuable and also a perfect ingredient for his alchemy. Judging by its appearance, its age was likely over a hundred years.
Overjoyed, Su Chengyu thought, ’I didn’t expect to have such luck today!’