Chapter 728: Chapter 573: Did You Ever Truly Like Me?

At this rate, Jing Ci will die. It’s just a matter of sooner or later...

"The Moon God Tree alone can’t save her, I’m afraid. Besides, after all these years, it’s a shadow of its former self."

The being inside Tushan Meng spoke slowly, its tone indifferent.

Tushan Meng didn’t answer, instead continuing to channel her Spiritual Power, doing everything she could to help the Moon God Tree heal Tushan Jing Ci.

"You Fox Race are so sentimental. To have survived from the Ancient Times until now... you’re quite lucky."

The woman’s voice was tinged with mockery.

"You knew full well your precious disciple would go to Tushan for his wedding."

"You also knew that with her personality, she was bound to do something crazy."

"You were scheming, hoping she would kill Xiao Mo in a fit of rage. That way, your precious disciple could sever this karmic bond, free from all attachments, with no more weaknesses for others to exploit."

"But for all your calculations, the one thing you didn’t account for was that your precious disciple would be this obsessed."

Tushan Meng still didn’t refute her.

Her silence was an admission.

Tushan Meng had, in fact, thought exactly that.

"Sigh..."

The woman sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in her voice as she continued.

"I know that even though you made that deal with me, deep down, you’ve never truly trusted me."

"But, Tushan Meng, you have no other choice now. I’m the only one who can save her. If you don’t believe me, feel free to go find some other Medical Cultivators."

She paused, a faint, almost imperceptible hint of a smile in her voice.

"Of course, that’s assuming she can hold on long enough for you to find a Medical Cultivator who can save her."

"But now, if you wait a few more days, your precious disciple will truly be gone. Her talent and Root Bone are exceptional, and to think she reached this stage by pursuing the Dao through ’emotion’... Are you really willing to let her die?"

"To you, she is the future of Tushan, isn’t she?"

As the woman’s voice faded from her mind, Tushan Meng stood alone, her brow furrowed. She stared grimly at Jing Ci beneath the Moon God Tree, as if weighing the pros and cons over and over in her heart.

After about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, she finally spoke, her voice low and weary. "Name your price. What do you want this time?"

"Save her first, then I’ll tell you." The woman’s tone was casual, as if she had expected this all along. "Don’t worry, what I want isn’t excessive. Besides, I’m sure you’ll agree when the time comes."

Before her words had even faded, a soul gracefully emerged from Tushan Meng’s body, slowly taking solid form.

The woman wore a simple white dress, but its hem was so short it barely covered the tops of her thighs. Her long, fair legs were completely exposed, glistening like fine porcelain.

With unhurried steps, she walked toward Tushan Jing Ci, her posture poised and calm.

The woman reached Tushan Jing Ci’s side, slowly crouched down, and reached out, gently stroking the top of Tushan Jing Ci’s head.

"You should leave," she said without turning her head. "Don’t let anyone disturb me for the next two months."

Tushan Meng watched the woman’s back, her brow slightly furrowed. After a moment’s hesitation, she finally asked, "I’ve known you all this time, yet I still don’t know your name."

"My name...?"

The woman looked up, her gaze passing over the branches of the Moon God Tree toward the distant horizon. In her usually indifferent eyes, a soft, reminiscent light flickered for an instant.

It was the first time Tushan Meng had seen such an expression in her eyes, the first time she felt the woman had a touch of "humanity."

"I have many names I go by. The Ten Thousand Races have given me many names as well."

She paused slightly, her voice softening.

"But my favorite is still the one my sister gave me."

"Yuan... My name is Yuan."

"Yuan..." Tushan Meng whispered the name, searching her mind for any memory associated with it, but found nothing.

"Leave now." Yuan said no more, giving a light wave of her hand.

Tushan Meng gave Tushan Jing Ci one last, deep look. After a moment’s hesitation, she finally cast her indecision aside and turned to leave.

Beneath the Moon God Tree, only Yuan and Tushan Jing Ci remained.

Yuan looked up, quietly gazing at the Moon God Tree, which had weathered countless ages. Her expression was like that of someone looking at a long-lost friend.

"Sister Moon God, we meet again." The corners of Yuan’s mouth curved slightly, her smile holding endless unsaid emotions.

"You, like my sister, chose to help the Ten Thousand Races, yet you ended up like this." Her voice was as soft as a whisper. "Was it worth it?"

"The Ten Thousand Races of this world... do you still love them?"

"Are those things even worthy of your love?"

...

「In the blink of an eye, three whole months had passed since the wedding ceremony at the Seeking Immortal Temple.」

In a courtyard halfway up a mountain, Xiao Mo gradually regained consciousness from a deep stupor.

But what followed were throbbing waves of intense pain in his head.

He struggled to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt as heavy as if they were glued shut.

"Master... Xiao Mo moved... Master..."

The moment Xiao Mo stirred, he heard Jun Meng’s voice.

Not long after, Xiao Mo felt a warm, gentle stream of Spiritual Power flowing slowly into his body.

As the headache gradually subsided, Xiao Mo opened his eyes to see Jun Meng staring at him nervously.

Her beautiful foxy eyes were slightly red, clear evidence she had been crying for a long time. Faint traces of tears still clung to her lashes.

"It’s good that you’re awake."

Gui Ning, standing to the side, let out a sigh of relief.

"Xiao Mo, you’ve got some damn good luck to be alive!"

"If your *Great Dream of Yellow Millet* cultivation technique hadn’t activated on its own when you were on the verge of death, protecting your life-source..."

"If the Seeking Immortal Temple hadn’t happened to have a Ten Thousand Transformations Pill..."

"And if it weren’t for the fact that you and Jun Meng have dual cultivated, allowing your Daos to connect, and she’s been constantly transferring her Spiritual Power to you—"

"If even one of those three conditions had been missing, the grass on your grave would be waist-high by now!"

"I’ve troubled you, Senior," Xiao Mo said weakly.

"Alright, alright, enough with the pleasantries. I didn’t do much anyway." Gui Ning waved his hand and stood up. "Since you’re awake, it’s time for this old man to leave. Jun Meng, you take good care of Xiao Mo."

"Yes... Grandfather..." Gui Junmeng nodded lightly, her eyes red.

Gui Ning gave Gui Junmeng a few more instructions on how to care for Xiao Mo, then prepared to leave the Seeking Immortal Temple. Daoist Yun Xi rose to see him off.

Only Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng remained in the room. It was so quiet they could hear the soft rustle of bamboo leaves in the wind outside the window.

She carefully helped Xiao Mo sit up, her movements extremely light and slow, as if afraid of aggravating the wound on his chest.

Then Gui Junmeng picked up the medicine bowl and fed him slowly, one spoonful at a time. She would occasionally test the temperature with her lips, afraid of scalding him.

"Jun Meng..." Xiao Mo hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly, as if about to ask something.

"Don’t worry, Jing Ci is fine." Gui Junmeng’s lashes fluttered, and her voice was soft. Even without him asking, she had already guessed. "Mother said that Jing Ci is out of danger and should wake up soon."

"I’m sorry..." Xiao Mo sighed softly.

Gui Junmeng shook her head gently. She looked into Xiao Mo’s eyes, her gaze clear and calm. "Xiao Mo, you don’t have to apologize to me... It’s just... I have two questions... Can you answer them for me?"

"Mm..." Xiao Mo nodded.

"Xiao Mo..." Gui Junmeng bit her lip lightly. A light as pure as a spring lake shone in her calm eyes. "On our wedding day... you never planned on making it out of there alive, did you?"

Xiao Mo’s mouth fell slightly open, about to answer.

But her second question had already followed, falling as gently as a flower petal drifting into the heart of a lake, sending out fine ripples.

"Xiao Mo... did you truly..."

"...ever love me...?"

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