Chapter 37: Returning to Qingyun Sect

The attending physician's words were clear.

Translated, they meant: "Kid, you don't have long to live. Spend all your money quickly so it doesn't go to waste when you're gone."

Chen Huaian had no choice but to return to the hotel. It was already past 9 PM.

"Sigh, being able to earn money is useless if this illness can't be cured even with money," he muttered. He opened the game and saw that Li Qingran had stopped meditating. She was sitting by the window, staring at the moonlight outside, lost in thought.

This girl must also be worried about what would happen tomorrow.

But she didn't need to worry.

With 500,000 yuan in his bank account, it was a fortune for this game. There were so many things he could do with it. A top-grade Hunyuan Pills of Heaven Restoration cost only 100,000 yuan. With 500,000 yuan, he might even be able to buy the life of a Nascent Soul cultivator!

"If only I could spend money to buy my own life," Chen Huaian shook his head. Unfortunately, his life wasn't a game, and no one would send him a life-changing item from outside the game.

Tomorrow, Li Qingran would return to the Qingyun Sect.

And he would go to Tianmen Mountain to film the variety show.

"Changing my fate still depends on me. At least now I have 500,000 yuan to do many things I never dared to dream of before. In a way, isn't that already changing my fate?"

Chen Huaian lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling and talking to himself.

His previously anxious mood instantly calmed down.

Things couldn't get any worse.

From here on out, every step was a blessing.

"Sigh, nothing to do for now. Let's give that black cat an acupuncture session."

He finally remembered there was another living being in the room and pulled the black cat out of the shoebox.

The black cat had been sleeping and was still dazed when Chen Huaian placed it on the sofa. But it quickly regained its senses, let out a pitiful "meow," and limped a few steps on the sofa before turning to meow at Chen Huaian again.

How could Chen Huaian resist?

He stared at the black cat, which was also limping, and stroked his chin, pondering: "What acupuncture technique should I use? The Meridian Opening Needle had a good effect last time. Although there might be risks, it's already limping. Even if there are side effects, it doesn't matter. Besides, my luck isn't that bad."

The black cat stared at Chen Huaian, also thinking.

**[Hehe, aren't I adorable? Hurry up and give me the acupuncture. Heal my injuries so I can have a better chance of getting my paws on your treasures… Hehehe!]**​

"Let's go with the Meridian Opening Needle. Take a gamble, and maybe the bicycle will turn into a motorcycle!" Chen Huaian took out the silver needles and began his work on the black cat.

Half an hour later, the black cat looked at its now completely limp right leg, deep in thought.

**[Hiss—! This isn't right, this shouldn't be happening…]**​

**[Could it be that this guy doesn't know how to do acupuncture? But my leg was fine before!]**​

It had only been pretending to limp, but now it was truly crippled.

A large, expressionless face appeared in its field of vision.

"You and I are fated."

Chen Huaian spoke with a solemn expression, masking his guilt. He could tell the black cat's right leg had completely lost sensation, as stiff as a wooden stick.

"In that case, I'll take responsibility for you. From now on, your name is 'Ba Ji.' In the human world, naming a pet means taking it under your wing. You must grow up healthy. You'll eat what I eat, no pickiness allowed…"

Chen Huaian rambled on as he placed the bewildered Ba Ji back into the shoebox and closed the lid. He thought to himself, "A little cat doesn't understand anything. I'll fix its leg once I've mastered the Meridian Opening Needle."

Then, leaning on his crutch, he went downstairs to buy some steamed buns.

Today, with money in hand, he could afford not just buns but also a chicken leg.

The door slammed shut.

The shoebox on the table shook violently.

**[Ahhhh! My leg!!!]**​

**[Damn human kid, just you wait! Don't let me find a chance to get back at you!]**​

At noon, Chen Huaian had already fallen asleep, but the electronic girlfriend game on his phone was still running.

As the clock struck 12, a game notification popped up:

**[Your remaining lifespan: 72 days]**​

"Have you heard? That Li Qingran is returning to the sect!"

"Li Qingran? Who's that…"

"The one who injured Junior Sister of Chixiao Peak. They say it was intentional. Ugh, how could she dare to come back?"

"Whether it was intentional or not, injuries happen during sect competitions. Is Chixiao Peak really that sensitive?"

"Enough talking, Li Qingran is here!"

The disciples turned their gazes toward the entrance of the Qingyun Sect.

At some point, a slender figure had appeared there. She wore a green and white Daoist robe, her black hair tied with a white ribbon at the back. In her right hand, she held a moon-white flying sword. The morning breeze gently lifted the two strands of hair in front of her forehead, and the hem of her robe and the sword's tassel fluttered in the wind.

Her steps weren't fast, but in no time, she had reached the square in front of the main hall.

"Is that Li Qingran?"

"Huh, everyone says Mu Baishuang is beautiful, and Li Qingran was jealous of her taking her place at Chixiao Peak… But now, looking at her, Li Qingran seems much more beautiful than Mu Baishuang…"

"Ha, Li Qingran was always more beautiful than Mu Baishuang. I felt it was a pity when she was expelled from the sect."

Li Qingran stood firmly in the square, her eyes meeting the various gazes around her.

The Qingyun Sect had a total of 1,200 cultivators, and she could clearly hear the buzzing of their discussions.

She didn't know what they were saying.

Probably nothing good…

"Li Qingran, there's nothing to fear."

She tightly gripped the Su Xian sword, its scabbard icy cold.

The blade, forged from thousand-year-old black iron, emitted a frosty chill that mingled with the morning mist.

But she didn't feel cold. Instead, her heart gradually calmed, and the tension faded.

She wasn't standing here alone.

She wasn't without support.

Even though she couldn't see Senior, she could feel a gentle gaze watching over her.

Every day and night, whether she was cultivating, eating, sleeping, or bathing… that gaze would appear from time to time.

At first, she would feel shy and awkward, but later, she would feel uneasy without it.

At some point, she had become deeply dependent on Senior.

She knew it wasn't good, but she couldn't control her feelings.

She waited for what felt like an eternity, though the sun had only shifted slightly.

The elders and disciples from various peaks arrived one after another. The doors of the main hall opened, and Sect Leader Wu Duantian walked out, followed by three personal disciples. From Chixiao Peak, five beams of light descended. A green flying sword led the way, and Daoist Qingxuan stepped off the Xuan Yuan Sword, followed by Xiao Yifeng, Yun Zimo, and Zhang Hanxiao, the three inner disciples of Chixiao Peak, who landed on the square. Lu Changtian arrived last, his flying sword carrying Junior Sister Mu Baishuang.

Li Qingran's gaze met Mu Baishuang's behind Lu Changtian. Her eyes were calm.

But Mu Baishuang seemed frightened and quickly hid behind Lu Changtian.

A loud shout suddenly rang out, making Li Qingran's ears ring.

"Li Qingran! Do you admit your guilt?!"