73 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

In a serene corner of the courtyard was a small emerald pond, its edges graced by a weeping willow, its branches bending gently to touch the water’s surface. As the breeze caressed the branches, they stirred the pond into ripples that spread in concentric circles, distorting the two delicate silhouettes reflected in its depths. Near a stone table beneath the willow, two figures—one clad in red and the other in white—were engrossed in a conversation, their topic unknown. Yun Moxue’s crimson dress accentuated her striking features, her vibrant confidence making her seem almost radiant. Her red lips moved gracefully, casting an enchanting spell. Reflected in her dark eyes was Yun Moxue, dressed in pristine white, exuding a chill akin to frost. She stood like a lone plum blossom in the snow, proud yet not piercing, emanating a distinctive warmth and gentleness. Yun Moxue’s gaze, clear as the open sky and gentle as falling snow, rested tenderly on the lively young girl before her, wrapped in endless indulgence and acceptance. "This knifefish is the best," Yan Zhuguang said as she carefully placed a whole one on Yun Moxue’s plate. The knifefish was not large; once the head and tail were removed and it was roasted, it was about the size of a hand. "When I first entered the secret realm, I landed on a small island. I had no idea where to find Senior Sister, so I followed memory towards a place that seemed marked." "The island was surrounded by water, and as I flew close to the surface using my sword, a whole school of knifefish chased me a good way." "I've encountered those sharp-mouthed, fierce fish before." Yun Moxue delicately picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks, placing it lightly between her lips. It melted instantly upon contact. The fish was sweet and tender, harmoniously blended with countless spices. Somehow, the complex flavors complemented one another, creating a taste as rich and splendid as a tapestry. "Is it good?" Yan Zhuguang asked, supporting her chin with her hand holding the chopsticks, her eyes full of anticipation as she looked at Yun Moxue. Yun Moxue nodded, "I have never tasted anything this delicious." Yan Zhuguang's face lit up with an inescapable smile, her eyes curving blissfully, as if she had received the highest praise in the world. "If Senior Sister likes it, then have some more." Yun Moxue continued to eat, her actions expressing her appreciation for Yan Zhuguang’s culinary skills. Yan Zhuguang occasionally added more dishes to her plate, and Yun Moxue reciprocated; their mutual exchange soon saw the entire meal vanish. Yan Zhuguang pulled out a cleansing talisman to tidy the dishes, and with a wave of her hand, the tableware was put away. "Next time I have some free time, I'll cook for Senior Sister again. There are still plenty of ingredients in that secret realm. Even if I don’t repeat any, I can still prepare several meals. Senior Sister won’t refuse, will you?" "Then I look forward to it." For someone still in the Foundation Establishment stage like Yan Zhuguang, food might not have been an urgent need, but for someone at the Nascent Soul stage like Yun Moxue, she could entirely forgo it. For cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage, food was unnecessary and could potentially introduce impurities into their bodies. Cultivators at this stage strive to keep their bodies pure and hardly ever consume food. Yet, for Yan Zhuguang, the pleasure derived from delicious food outweighed the minor inconvenience of removing impurities afterward. The enjoyment justified the effort spent, so she was quite willing to invest time in honing her culinary skills. Moreover, she was confident that her cooking preserved the benefits while eliminating the detriments, sometimes strengthening her abilities even further. As for Yun Moxue, she showed little interest in gourmet delights. Having been raised on ambrosia, her path to cultivation was paved with fasting pills, and by the time she reached the Golden Core stage, even those became unnecessary. Her statement of never having tasted such deliciousness wasn’t merely to please Yan Zhuguang. Her upbringing exposed her only to the raw flavors of spiritual herbs, never to such delicately crafted dishes. These meals were an extension of Yan Zhuguang’s affection, and Yun Moxue would not disappoint her, even finding herself looking forward to the next time. Though the concept of digestion didn’t apply to cultivators, the two strolled around the emerald pond after their meal. Yan Zhuguang recounted her earlier experiences at the remnants of the Qiao Clan estate, "Senior Sister, did you notice anything unusual at those ruins?" "I suspect," Yun Moxue began, "that what razed the Qiao Clan wasn’t a spell but a formation." "A formation?" Yan Zhuguang asked, intrigued. "Why do you think so, Senior Sister?" Yun Moxue paused, pointing at the ground with her fingers, and a sliver of white light shot down, leaving a small crater. "If a powerful spell were to hit the Qiao Clan estate, it would have left a mark like this." Yan Zhuguang observed the small indentation and nodded. "Indeed, the remnants don’t show the impact from such energy. It feels more like someone deliberately shaved it away, or extracted the whole place." "To erase the Qiao Clan would be simple for a Dividing Spirit stage practitioner with one large spell. Why go through such effort?" "Does Senior Sister think it resembles some sort of sacrificial ritual?" "Sacrificial?" Yun Moxue's expression shifted subtly. "Are you suggesting the Qiao Clan members were used as a sacrifice by demon cultivators?" Yan Zhuguang nodded. "This ritualistic approach... I can’t think of another possibility aside from a sacrifice." "You remember my finding that odd crack, right? The demonic aura it retained was peculiar." Yun Moxue nodded. "That aura remained after an attack on a formation, and it had to be significant enough not to breach the protection." "We’ve reached the same conclusion," Yan Zhuguang continued. "Whether through a demonic grandmaster’s spell or a sacrificial formation, the culprits behind this shouldn’t have failed to breach the Qiao Clan’s defenses." If the power capable of mass sacrifice were at play, it wouldn’t be less than what they had initially suspected. The Qiao Clan's formations couldn’t endure attacks beyond the late Nascent Soul stage, which would crumble upon minor contact, so how could there be demon aura remnants? "The second Qiao son suggested that the demon cultivators tried shaking the formation to instigate panic, not an unfounded guess." "To frighten the Qiao Clan?" Yun Moxue asked. "Yes, Senior Sister. Consider this: demon cultivators are notorious for their brutality and extract sustenance from fear and bloodshed. They savor tormenting souls before death to absorb malevolent thoughts." "If a demon attacks the formation without breaking it, fear naturally arises. Such fear can become a sacrificial offering. If the clan was used for sacrifice, they must have endured endless suffering." The notion of psychological torment, in addition to physical, stirred Yun Moxue’s empathy. "Why were the Qiao family targeted by such ruthless demon cultivators?" Massacres for cultivation aren’t unheard of, especially near demon territories. Yet a massacre deep within the celestial domain was unprecedented before the Qiao Clan. Hence, the incident garnered such commotion. Yan Zhuguang hesitated before addressing Yun Moxue. “Have you considered why Su You Mo Jun would send Su Qian Er to the Qiao family?” "That descendant of a demonic Su cultivator married a Qiao lady," Yun Moxue noted. "To keep Su Qian Er's identity concealed, Su You Mo Jun entrusted her to the Su line." "Conceiving a child for cultivators is difficult, and longer still between celestial and demon unions. Preparations must have existed between the former head and Su You Mo Jun. The Su offspring married a Qiao daughter and soon 'birthed' Su Qian Er..." Yan Zhuguang glanced at Yun Moxue. "Did they marry to keep Su Qian Er's heritage hidden?" "I believe so." "Perhaps the Qiao family had ties to the Blood Demon Domain, catching Su You Mo Jun's interest to hide Su Qian Er there." "And now, leading to their extermination by demons, there must be unresolved factors we aren't aware of." Yan Zhuguang shook her head and suggested, "Let’s not get entangled in these thoughts. Senior Sister, we should focus on other matters instead." Yun Moxue didn’t point out Yan Zhuguang’s initial instigation. “Alright.” For the time being, Yan Zhuguang would put aside her inquiry into Su Qian Er. Su Qian Er, having been reborn into this world, has already uncovered the mysteries of her current identity. However, understanding the deeper enigmas surrounding her requires more than just the existing clues of this world. It demands careful observation and deduction from her future interactions and developments. After all, rushing won’t yield answers. Yun Moxue and Yan Zhuguang rested in the small courtyard for a while, but with no one returning, Yun Moxue reached out to the Elder and Zhu Ning Yan, inquiring about their whereabouts. The Elders were still near the secret realm investigating traces left by the Blood Demon Domain. They were diligently gathering residual energy in the barren mountains, seeking to unravel the mystery behind the former sect leader's death. Progress had been made. As for Yun Chang Yue and Zhu Ning Yan, they were still wandering aimlessly, searching for signs of the demon cultivators. Since it was discovered that demon cultivators frequented where the former sect leader had fallen, it was essential to continue tracking down these leads for more information. After contacting both groups, Yun Moxue and Yan Zhuguang decided to join the "search for traces of demon cultivators." However, their approach differed from Zhu Ning Yan and the others. There was uncertainty whether Su You Mo Jun might target Yan Zhuguang, who possessed the Celestial Heart Lotus. Therefore, they were cautious of those from the Blood Demon Domain. If Su You Mo Jun intended to act against them, perhaps simply showing their faces would be enough to attract the "traces of demon cultivators," or in other words, those intending to harm Yan Zhuguang might come to them. Thus, the two were not actively seeking traces of the demon cultivators but rather planning to lure those potential threats to Yan Zhuguang into revealing themselves.