The White Lotus Sect Master: The Ice Phoenix Sect Master

Li Jue's vision blurred as he lay weak in Li Feng's arms, the poison gnawing at his very core. His trembling hand caressed her cold, delicate cheek as his lips barely moved.

"What… is your name… Fairy?"

Li Feng placed her own delicate hand atop his, her ethereal snow-white hair cascading over her shoulders. With a soft voice, laced with a hint of sorrow, she whispered,

"My name is… Li Feng."

With those words, she reached into her storage ring and took out a Heavenly Purification Pill—a peak-tier Sky-Grade Healing Pill, renowned for purging all but the deadliest poisons. Without hesitation, she swallowed the pill and closed her eyes, allowing its potent medicinal essence to circulate through her meridians. A faint silver glow radiated from her skin as the energy coursed through her veins, purifying her damaged organs and strengthening her fragile state.

As soon as her strength recovered slightly, she placed her slender fingers on Li Jue's chest, her palms glowing with a gentle but powerful Moonlight Essence Qi, a unique attribute of her cultivation technique, the Ethereal Lotus Scripture—a Peak-Saint Grade Healing Technique known for harmonizing Yin and Yang energies to accelerate recovery.

Li Jue felt a surge of warmth spread through his body as her Qi entered him, soothing the raging poison in his veins. He let out a low groan as pain and relief clashed within him.

For a long while, she continued, carefully controlling the energy flow, ensuring his meridians weren't overwhelmed. Finally, as his complexion improved slightly, she exhaled softly, her forehead covered in a thin layer of sweat.

Li Feng wiped the moisture off her brow and looked down at him, her voice gentle but firm.

"It's dangerous here in the open. You're still injured, and I can't keep my guard up forever. Let's find a cave and get healed."

Li Jue, still weak, barely nodded, his body too drained to respond.

Seeing his state, Li Feng frowned slightly and turned her gaze to the massive corpse of the Frostfang Serpent lying nearby.

"But first," she murmured, "the serpent's Beast Core—it's the same attribute as mine. It'll help us heal faster."

Without further ado, she gently adjusted Li Jue in her arms, shifting his weight so she could move freely. With a flick of her wrist, a Moonlit Jade Dagger, a Peak-Sky Grade Weapon, appeared in her hand. She sliced open the serpent's thick, icy flesh with precision, retrieving a glistening Frost Essence Beast Core from its depths.

Storing the core away, she lifted Li Jue effortlessly, her movement graceful yet powerful. Though her frame appeared delicate, she carried him with ease, her strength undeniable even in her weakened state.

After a short flight through the dense forest, she landed before the entrance of a secluded cave, hidden beneath a cluster of frost-covered boulders. Placing Li Jue down gently, she cast a quick glance at him before stepping inside.

The cave was spacious, illuminated by faintly glowing Azure Spirit Crystals embedded in the rocky walls, giving the entire cavern an ethereal glow. A soft mist curled around the floor, the residual energy of past cultivators who had once meditated here.

Li Feng's voice was soft,

"This is my cave. Let's rest here."

Li Jue, barely conscious, weakly nodded before falling into a deep, exhausted slumber.

---

The flickering light of Azure Spirit Crystals cast a soft glow across the cave as Li Feng carefully placed Li Jue on a stone bed covered with a layer of soft spirit beast fur. His breathing was shallow, his body still trembling from the poison lingering in his meridians.

With a wave of her delicate hand, she summoned a set of Sky-Tier Defensive Formations, engraving the air with intricate silver runes that shimmered before settling into an invisible protective barrier around them. The cave pulsed for a moment, then stilled, as if sealed away from the world.

Li Feng exhaled and turned back to Li Jue.

From her storage ring, she retrieved a collection of High-Grade Healing Resources—Golden Yang Rejuvenation Herbs, Frost Spirit Lotus Leaves, and Heavenly Essence Dew, each a treasure capable of accelerating recovery. Alongside them, she took out two Saint-Grade Healing Pills and handed one to Li Jue, gently parting his lips to place it on his tongue.

"Swallow," she commanded softly.

Though weak, Li Jue instinctively obeyed, the pill dissolving into a warm, flowing energy that spread through his injured body. He let out a slow breath as the pain dulled slightly.

Satisfied, Li Feng took her own pill, then sat cross-legged beside him, her slender fingers glowing as she began pouring her Moonlight Essence Qi into his meridians.

As the energy flowed, Li Jue stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. His gaze met Li Feng's soft, yet determined silver eyes.

"…Fairy Jie Jie…" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

Li Feng paused for a moment before continuing to channel her energy into him.

"Your wounds are more serious than mine. You've recovered less than I have." Li Jue said weakly, his brows furrowed in concern. "You should focus on healing yourself first… I'll be—"

Before he could finish, Li Feng pressed a single snow-white finger against his lips, silencing him.

"I won't die," she whispered, but Li Jue still looked at her with worry.

Li Jue wanted to protest, but the warmth of her touch and the resolve in her eyes made his words falter. He could only watch as she continued, her energy flowing steadily into him.

A soft sigh escaped Li Feng's lips as she finally spoke.

"My injuries are old… They weren't caused by the battle with the Frostfang Serpent," she explained. "But that beast's icy Yin Qi triggered a relapse, making things worse."

Li Jue's eyes narrowed in concern.

"But…"

Before he could ask further, she smiled—a breathtaking sight, her cold beauty melting into something warm.

"Don't worry about it. My recovery is already progressing."

A short silence followed before Li Jue, though still weak, finally found the strength to ask,

"Fairy Jie Jie… Seeing your Sky-Tier Defensive Formation, the Saint-Grade Healing Pills, and your cultivation techniques, you must be a high-level cultivator. But how… how did you struggle against that serpent? And… why does your energy feel similar to mine?"

Li Feng laughed again, lightly tapping his forehead with her delicate finger.

"Silly. I'm the same age as you," she teased. "Even if you didn't know my name, you still should have called me mei mei, not Jie Jie."

Li Jue's ears burned with embarrassment.

Seeing his reaction, Li Feng's heart softened.

"Don't feel embarrassed," she said gently. "I was just teasing you."

Her silver eyes flickered with a knowing glint as she let out a soft chuckle.

"Call me Feng'er," she said lightly. "That's what the people closest to me call me."

Li Jue's face reddened slightly.

"…Feng'er," he repeated hesitantly, the name feeling foreign yet intimate on his lips.

Li Feng laughed softly.

"The truth is I'm the sect master of the white lotus sect, I was already injured before you found me," she admitted. "I was running from some enemies and was forced into hiding. My cultivation realm was severely weakened as a result."

Li Jue frowned.

"Enemies?"

Li Feng nodded but didn't elaborate.

"While I was healing in this secluded retreat, that Frostfang Serpent suddenly attacked me. Its Cold Yin Qi triggered a relapse in my old injuries, which is why I struggled against it. Otherwise…" She exhaled softly, her expression unreadable. "If I were at my peak, just my breath alone would have been enough to make that beast kneel before me. But in my current state, I had to struggle."

Then, his eyes widened as her previous words sank in. "Wait… You're saying you're the Sect Master of the White Lotus Sect?"

Li Feng chuckled again, nodding.

"Yes."

Li Jue was speechless.

The White Lotus Sect—the Second-Ranked Sect on the Entire Continent, known for its supreme ice attribute yin techniques, divine arts, and unparalleled beauty among its disciples. And yet, the legendary Sect Master was the same young woman tending to his wounds.

"I… I thought the Sect Master was an immortal beauty, a saint-like figure of untouchable grace…" Li Jue muttered.

Li Feng tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Are you saying I don't look the part?"

Li Jue's face burned.

"N-No! I mean—you're even more beautiful than the rumors say, but—"

His words trailed off as he realized what he had just said.

Li Feng's lips curled into a teasing smile.

"So, you think I'm beautiful?"

Li Jue coughed awkwardly and looked away.

"Forget I said anything."

Li Feng laughed softly, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders as she studied his flustered expression.

Li Jue couldn't help but be impressed. Even weakened, she had held her own against the serpent far longer than he could have alone.

As the days passed, the two of them slowly healed.

Sometimes, they sat in quiet cultivation, their energies stabilizing as they absorbed the surrounding Qi. Other times, Li Feng would help Li Jue regulate his meridians, her soft hands guiding his flow of energy with delicate precision.

In rare moments, Li Jue would insist on returning the favor, cooking simple yet delicious meals over a small fire. Though Li Feng initially refused to eat, preferring to rely on cultivation, she eventually gave in—her cold demeanor softening with each shared meal.

Bit by bit, their bond grew.

One evening, as they sat side by side, watching the soft glow of Azure Spirit Crystals flicker against the cave walls, Li Feng suddenly spoke.

"You've saved me twice now," she said quietly.

Li Jue turned to her in surprise.

"There's nothing in this world I can give to repay that…" she continued, her voice trailing off. "It seems I can only—"