Chapter 4: Getting a SOS card from the male partner

"Qiang Yuzi, what's wrong with you? Can you hear me?"

Tao Xi asked anxiously.

Qiang Yu's consciousness was hazy. He vaguely heard someone calling his name.

The cold flower's toxicity had hit him too suddenly this time. He hadn't yet found a new seller for the Fire Spirit Pill he had taken last time. Normally, his condition flared up once a month, but this time, it had struck in just half a month.

"Cold..." Qiang Yu murmured weakly.

It was already too late to find a doctor.

"Is there any way I can help right now?" Tao Xi thought, panicked.

Oh! She suddenly remembered—the original book described that most members of the Yin Tribe possessed their own musical instrument, the Ling Yu Yin. It could be used for three effects: attack, control, and healing.

Since she had entered the book, she hadn't had time to check what her instrument spirit was.

"Let's try waking it up first. If it works, I can use it to create a healing effect and alleviate Qiang Yu's pain."

Tao Xi forced herself to calm down, then entered her sea of consciousness. Floating steadily within was a luminous flute-shaped object.

Following the inherited memories of her original body, she summoned her instrument spirit. The moment she picked up the flute, her fingers moved instinctively. She played, allowing muscle memory to guide her.

As the flute's melody filled the air, Qiang Yu's tightly furrowed brow eased slightly.

Tao Xi didn't notice the dense, milky-white aura gushing from her sea of consciousness, flowing toward Qiang Yu's.

In his weakened state, Qiang Yu had no way to resist the external intrusion into his mind.

Suddenly, Tao Xi found herself in an unfamiliar place, her face filled with confusion.

Towering, rare plants—some seemingly mutated—surrounded her. In the distance, the roars of wild beasts echoed.

Then, out of nowhere, a rabbit-like creature the size of an adult dog charged toward her.

Tao Xi stood frozen in terror, unable to move.

"No way, no way! I haven't even had a chance to kiss, hug, or carry the male supporting lead, and I'm going to die like this?!"

But just as she was preparing for the worst, the beast ran straight through her and continued on.

Realization dawned on Tao Xi—she had entered some sort of illusion.

Calming herself, she wandered aimlessly.

Then, the sounds of a fierce battle reached her ears.

She quickened her pace and saw a massive, fire-covered bird locked in combat with a lone figure whose back was turned toward her.

The fight seemed to be nearing its end.

With a final strike, the man pierced the bird's heart and extracted a fiery-red inner elixir from its chest.

When he turned and wiped the blood from his face, Tao Xi gasped.

"Isn't this the male supporting lead?"

But... he looked nothing like the jade-like gentleman she remembered.

This man, clad in dark red, his eyes fierce and intense, was a stark contrast to the gentle figure in her impression.

Qiang Yu swallowed the inner elixir and immediately began meditating, seemingly attempting a breakthrough.

However, mid-breakthrough, he suddenly coughed up blood.

His skin turned red-hot, heat radiating from his body.

With visible determination, Qiang Yu retrieved a cold white flower from his storage ring and swallowed it.

Gradually, his overheated skin returned to normal.

At that moment, he turned toward Tao Xi's direction.

Startled, Tao Xi thought he could see her.

But when Qiang Yu left without any reaction, she realized he hadn't noticed her presence after all.

Like a ghost, Tao Xi silently followed him back to the Yao Clan.

Upon returning, Qiang Yu transformed once again—gone was the ruthless warrior; in his place stood the familiar gentle Qiang Yu, dressed in green with calm, soft eyes.

After returning, he immediately took some spirit stones and headed to an underground auction house. There, he spent a fortune to buy a Fire Spirit Pill.

Tao Xi frowned.

"Didn't he just use that cold white flower to cure the fire poison? Why does he need another Fire Spirit Pill?"

Her questions were answered two nights later.

A layer of frost had formed on Qiang Yu's brows. Before the cold poison could fully erupt, he took the Fire Spirit Pill.

Qiang Yu's Perspective

At that time, he had been at the peak of the Green Rank. Relying solely on daily cultivation, breaking through would have taken at least a year.

But if he consumed the inner elixir of a spirit beast, he could significantly shorten that time.

Through investigation, he discovered that only one fire-attribute spirit beast of the Green Rank met his criteria.

Hunting a higher-level beast would have been too dangerous. This one was just right.

However, he hadn't expected the inner elixir to contain fire poison.

Luckily, he had previously collected a Hanqi Flower, which could neutralize fire poison.

Hanqi Flowers were a paradoxical miracle drug. While they could cure all fire-attribute poisons, they themselves contained cold poison.

The cold poison would attack seven times in total, requiring him to take a detoxifying Fire Spirit Pill before each occurrence.

However, the Fire Spirit Pill was rare—found only at underground auctions where scarce treasures were traded.

Back to Tao Xi

Tao Xi had exited Qiang Yu's memories before he completed his breakthrough, so she had no idea that his strength had deviated from the original book's depiction.

The only clue had been his completely different demeanor while fighting the Fire Spirit Beast.

Returning to reality, she was momentarily dazed.

"Did the male supporting lead have hidden attributes the original author never mentioned?"

Then, shaking her head, she dismissed the thought.

"No, no, maybe he just changed outfits. Who looks that gentle while hunting, anyway?"

But right now, Qiang Yu was still suffering from cold poison!

She had no idea how she had entered his memories earlier, foolishly mistaking it for an illusion.

Still, this trip wasn't without gains—the Fire Spirit Pearl could cure cold poison!

And conveniently, her original body's storage ring contained one!

Without hesitation, Tao Xi took out the Fire Spirit Pearl and pressed it into Qiang Yu's mouth.

Moments later, Qiang Yu's consciousness slowly returned.

As his gaze landed on the worried woman before him, he was momentarily dazed.

He had never seen his mother since birth.

His only blood relative—his father—had never once shown him concern.

All he had ever been told was that he must become a worthy heir of the Medicine Clan.

Despite his title as heir, he had received no real benefits from the clan.

Yet now, this Holy Maiden of the Sound Clan was worried about him?

What could she possibly gain from helping him?

"My dear, are you feeling better?"

Tao Xi's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"I knocked on your door for a long time, but there was no response, so I broke in.

When I saw you unconscious, I didn't have time to call for help. I used my instrument spirit to suppress your cold poison instead."

She did not mention that she had accidentally entered his consciousness.

In the original book, a cultivator's sea of consciousness was as important as their heart.

Right now, their relationship was still in its early stages. She couldn't afford to let him know about this.

After a pause, Qiang Yu took out a green jade token from his storage space and handed it to her.

"If it weren't for Miss Tao's help, my situation would've been much worse.

This jade token is bound to my blood. If you're ever in danger, crush it, and I will come to your aid immediately."

Tao Xi blinked, feeling flattered.

Without thinking, she accepted it.

"I saved the male supporting lead's life, and now he owes me a life-saving favor... rounding it up, doesn't that mean we have a lifelong bond?"

With a bright smile, she responded, "Thank you, Qiang Yuzi~"

And just like that, their relationship took another step forward.