Chapter 57

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Protagonist:

Xuan Ge

Today is the day Ruan Mei arrives at the Shen Wu Xian Zhou; the Tianbo Port bristles with armor, and banners hunt gently in the wind.

Xuan Ge stands quietly at the edge of the Observation Deck in a black-and-gold cloud-patterned general's uniform, golden eyes level on the Xing Hai, expression peaceful yet unable to conceal a general's imposing bearing.

Ling Sha at his side wears a black-and-gold short qipao, its fabric woven with subtle flowing patterns, same color and origin as his uniform, setting off her slender, graceful figure.

Ling Sha stands half a step behind Xuan Ge; no matter how much Xuan Ge dotes on her ordinarily, at this moment the hierarchy is clear — only Xuan Ge is supreme.

Before long, a black silhouette slices across the sky; the Second Army flagship descends slowly, and the Door opens.

Ruan Mei walks down in a cyan qipao at an unhurried pace, black hair coiled into a neat bun, a few loose strands falling beside her neck, gait composed.

She sweeps her gaze calmly over the figures at the port, expression unruffled, her whole bearing still that intertwining of mature elegance and cool poise.

Qin Qiong steps forward quickly, escorting Ruan Mei to stand before Xuan Ge, posture upright, and salutes solemnly with clasped fists:

"General, Lady Ruan Mei has arrived safely."

Xuan Ge waves his hand slowly, tone carrying a touch of familiar gentleness, not like giving an order but like chatting with an old friend:

"Hard work, Old Qin; a long journey is not easy — give the Second Army brothers a day off to rest properly, then rotate with the Third Army on the Frontline afterward."

"Yes!" Qin Qiong clasps fists again in acknowledgment, lingers no longer, turns and strides away.

Xuan Ge's gaze falls on Ruan Mei, open and gentle, tone respectful yet not servile:

"Miss Ruan Mei graces Shen Wu with her presence — like clear radiance entering the camp, in an instant adding a touch of refinement to this port thick with armor and killing intent.

"The Shen Wu Xian Zhou is not as exquisite as your private Shi Yan Shi, yet we have prepared the Xian Zhou's most mellow clear tea; I hope you will not find this place crude and bland."

Hearing the address "Miss Ruan Mei," a flicker of hard-to-detect surprise crosses Ruan Mei's eyes.

The corner of her lips curves into an extremely faint arc, tone calm and composed: "General need not stand on ceremony; troubling the General to come personally to welcome me is already an imposition."

Xuan Ge meant to say a few more polite words, but seeing Ruan Mei's expression remain flat with no extra response, the words at his lips are swallowed back, and the scene grows slightly stagnant for a moment.

Ling Sha silently complains in her heart about her own General.

So the big one gets called "Lady" and the small one "Miss"!

Moreover, Ruan Mei is not a Xian Zhou native; she simply isn't used to the Xian Zhou's such refined polite talk.

Besides, geniuses mostly have pure dispositions and most hate politician-style beating around the bush.

She immediately steps forward one step, proactively filling the gap, resolving the awkwardness.

"Lady Ruan Mei~" Ling Sha's tone is gentle, soft and glutinous, carrying just the right measure of respect.

"The General's sincere enthusiasm has long since readied clear tea and a resting place at the General's Mansion; let us move to the General's Mansion and converse slowly~"

One sentence both rounds out the scene and corrects the address, the measure grasped perfectly.

Ruan Mei gives a slight nod, expression still calm, tone concise: "The guest follows the host's convenience."

Ling Sha proactively leads the way, pace neither fast nor slow, perfectly matching Ruan Mei's rhythm.

On the road, she has no extra pleasantries, only picking shallow topics from Ruan Mei's research field to inquire about — neither letting the scene go cold nor prying into privacy or touching boundaries.

Every sentence fits Ruan Mei's identity, not to the point of making one weary.

Xuan Ge follows silently behind the two, watching Ling Sha's composed handling, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes.

Still Ling Sha is thoughtful and thorough; if it were him, he'd likely have talked the sky to death long ago.

Before long, the three arrive at the Dake Tang of the General's Mansion.

The hall's furnishings are elegant; the teapot on the table emits faint steam, tea fragrance curling and dispersing, driving away the Xian Zhou's slight chill.

Xuan Ge takes the lead to sit at the Zhu Wei; Ruan Mei is guided to the seat of honor on the left; and Ling Sha still stands quietly at Xuan Ge's side, maintaining the proper distance for a formal occasion.

The moment he sits, Xuan Ge habitually wants to cross his legs, fully displaying a general's unrestrained ease.

But before he can move, his ankle is quietly kicked by Ling Sha — force not heavy, yet carrying an unmistakable reminder.

Xuan Ge's figure pauses; he lowers his legs without changing expression, sitting more properly, then switches to finding a topic, attempting to draw closer:

"Miss Ruan Mei, I hear you are quite close with Hei Ta of the Genius Society; that Hei Ta has an interesting temperament, and this General would like to make her acquaintance."

He isn't deliberately currying favor.

Because Hei Ta actually, like a primary school student, filed a report to his own Yuan Shuai Hua!

The Yuan Shuai repeatedly instructed: "Must not offend Ruan Mei, otherwise I will come to the Xu Ling Xian Zhou myself and fight you."

Ruan Mei's expression doesn't change, face still that faint look, yet a trace of hard-to-detect wariness flashes in her eyes.

How could she not see through Xuan Ge's probing — nothing more than wanting to drag Hei Ta into it as well.

Ruan Mei speaks faintly, tone distant yet not offensive:

"I have known Hei Ta for a long time; our friendship is decent.

Only her nature is lazy, she fears trouble most, and has never liked setting foot in places like the Xian Zhou with such strict rules — I fear it will disappoint the General."

One sentence tactfully refuses, attitude clear, yet not to the point of offending Xuan Ge.

Seeing this, Xuan Ge also tactfully stops asking further.

He knows clearly in his heart that curing the Sky-Deficit Syndrome still relies on Ruan Mei; he is unwilling to create extra branches over this small matter and provoke her displeasure.

Seeing this, Ling Sha steps forward softly, lifts the teapot on the table, and pours a cup of clear tea for Ruan Mei.

The tea liquor is clear and bright, tea fragrance mellow and rich, rising with faint steam.

Ruan Mei picks up the teacup, fingertips lightly touching the warm cup wall, takes a shallow sip, then slowly sets the teacup down.

She lifts her eyes to look at Xuan Ge, opens the door to see the mountain, cuts straight to the main topic:

"The General specially invited me to the Shen Wu Xian Zhou — surely not just to treat me to a cup of clear tea; if there is any matter, feel free to speak directly."

Xuan Ge put away the casualness on his face, his expression turning serious in an instant, his body leaning slightly forward, his tone carrying a few parts solemnity and urgent expectation:

"Miss Ruan Mei is straightforward, then Xuan won't beat around the bush either.

I invited you here today for one thing only — the Heavenly Deficiency Syndrome of the Xian Zhou immortals, do you have the confidence to cure it at its root?"

Ruan Mei fell silent for a few seconds, her green eyes flickering slightly, a trace of obvious surprise flashing in the depths of her eyes.

On the way to the Shen Wu Xian Zhou, she had not failed to speculate on Xuan Ge's various motives:

Perhaps he wanted her to develop special equipment, to improve the survival conditions and combat power of the Shen Wu Corps;

Perhaps he wanted to ask her to resolve or suppress the hidden danger of the Mo Yin Body of the Xian Zhou immortals;

Perhaps even to have her create an Activated Planet, to serve as a weapon for conquering the Huan Yu.

But she never, ever expected that what Xuan Ge invited her for was actually "seeing a doctor", to cure the Heavenly Deficiency Syndrome of the Xian Zhou immortals at its root.

The Heavenly Deficiency Syndrome, she naturally knew of it.

It was a genetic-level congenital defect innate to the Xian Zhou immortals, a rule engraved in their bloodline, difficult to reverse.

Seeing Ruan Mei remain silent, her face without the slightest expression, Xuan Ge's heart sank in an instant.

Xuan Ge's tone became gentle and urgent, he asked softly in pursuit:

"Is there some difficulty? Or is this illness fundamentally incurable at its root?

If there are difficulties, you just say the word, whether it's experimental equipment, research assistants, or rare materials within the Huan Yu, I can find them all for you!"

"General, it's not that I can't treat it."

Ruan Mei spoke slowly, her tone calm and waveless, yet giving Xuan Ge a thread of hope.

"It's just that the Heavenly Deficiency Syndrome is a genetic-level defect, and moreover involves Abundance, it cannot be conquered in a short time. I need some time to seek a method to cure it at its root."

Xuan Ge let out a breath of relief in an instant, the gravity on his face dissipating without a trace, replaced by joy difficult to cover up:

"No problem! However long it takes, I'll allow it! Experimental equipment, research assistants, all fully provided, whatever you want, as long as the Xian Zhou has it, I'll have it all prepared for you, absolutely no neglect!"

He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, his tone becoming tinged with a careful, beseeching quality, slowing his speech:

"There is a young lady in the Dan Ding Si suffering from the Heavenly Deficiency Syndrome, named Dan Shu, her medical skills are superb, and she has also researched the Heavenly Deficiency Syndrome considerably, I wonder if you would permit her to assist you at your side?

So she can learn a bit more of the root-cure method, and in the future, also help support the common people of the Xian Zhou."

Ruan Mei nodded slightly, her expression still flat: "No matter."

She pondered in her heart — she only needed to find the method to cure the Heavenly Deficiency Syndrome at its root, hand the plan over to the Dan Shu in Xuan Ge's mouth, the subsequent promotion and application would then have nothing to do with her.

Moreover, this Dan Shu young lady suffering from the Heavenly Deficiency Syndrome, to put it bluntly, was nothing more than "experimental material" Xuan Ge deliberately pushed over.

"Miss Ruan Mei truly lives up to being a genius, harboring great righteousness, Xuan thanks you once again!"

Xuan Ge seeing this, immediately stood up, facing Ruan Mei and solemnly cupping his fists in salute, his expression respectful, without half a bit of a general's airs.

Ling Sha seeing this, also simultaneously faced Ruan Mei and bowed slightly in salute, her movements gentle and proper.

Ling Sha and Xuan Ge's solemnity complemented each other, both expressing gratitude and maintaining due etiquette.

Ruan Mei sat upright without moving, did not rise to return the salute, yet also did not show any displeasure.

She knew, this respect, needed no excessive modesty.

Xuan Ge sat down again, then raised his hand to signal Ling Sha to also take a seat.

Watching Ling Sha sit down obediently, he then slowly spoke, his tone once again becoming solemn:

"You've helped the Xian Zhou such a great favor, whether by sentiment or reason, I ought to repay you.

Whatever conditions you have, just bring them up, no matter how difficult, I will do my utmost to satisfy you."

Xuan Ge calculated in his heart: 'Ask for something difficult! So I can keep you in Shen Wu!'

Ruan Mei quietly watched Xuan Ge, her green eyes flickering slightly, a trace of imperceptible emotion flashing in the depths of her eyes.

In the rumors, the Divine Might General was overbearing and tyrannical, selfish and self-serving, knowing only conquest and slaughter.

But seen with her own eyes, he was completely different from the rumors.

He might be overbearing, might be willful, yet possessed a heart that cared for the myriad people of the Xian Zhou.

For the sake of curing the Heavenly Deficiency Syndrome at its root, he was willing to put down a general's dignity, be so polite to her, even willing to satisfy any of her conditions.

A general who devoted himself to the common people like this was also rare.

Ruan Mei thought in her heart: 'Forget it, conditions are unnecessary, as long as I can leave.'

"General need not keep it in mind, I have no conditions."

Ruan Mei's tone was flat, the depths of her eyes adding a trace of imperceptible softness.

"Only need the General to agree, once I research the method to cure the Heavenly Deficiency Syndrome at its root, allow me to return."

Xuan Ge smiled kindly, that smile seemingly childlike and innocent, but he did not nod, nor did he speak.

Ruan Mei:..........