Chapter 58: The True Treasure Girl Xie Qingwu, Deep Bonds Between Master and Disciple (Seeking Monthly Votes)

After returning home and sending Zhao Zhilan and Ye Hanshuang off to their respective rooms to rest, Pei Shaoqing also returned to his room.

Xie Qingwu was in the courtyard playing pitch-pot.

Seeing Pei Shaoqing enter, she handed the remaining arrows to the maid, Autumn Leaf, and asked, "Who is that woman?"

"Master," Autumn Leaf said, bowing to Pei Shaoqing.

Pei Shaoqing waved his hand to dismiss her.

Only after hearing the footsteps fade away did he say softly to Xie Qingwu, "The Yaoguang Saintess, here to avenge the Kaiyang Saint Son, but she ended up trapping herself instead."

Xie Qingwu's face immediately showed astonishment, "I really didn't expect the Xuanhuang Sect's Kaiyang and Yaoguang to fall into your hands one after another; you wouldn't happen to be plucking the entire Big Dipper, would you?"

The Big Dipper.

Such familiar words.

Pei Shaoqing had always felt that this world might be a parallel universe to Earth, with many things that seemed similar yet were not, though that was not important to him.

"If that were really the case, I would be famous throughout Jiuzhou," he said jokingly.

"First killing Kaiyang, then capturing Yaoguang—if word of this gets out, even if you aren't famous throughout the Nine Provinces, you would at least be famous throughout Great Zhou," Xie Qingwu muttered to herself, then let out a breath and asked, "How do you plan to deal with her?"

"You don't need to worry about that." Pei Shaoqing did not answer, but instead asked, "Is there any potent Poison that works on Martial Artists, but causes no harm as long as the antidote is taken regularly after consumption?"

"You want to use Poison to control the Yaoguang Saintess for your own use?" Xie Qingwu raised an eyebrow slightly, not optimistic about this, "I don't think core members of the Xuan Sect are necessarily afraid of death; if they were afraid of death, they wouldn't be rebels."

"That's not necessarily true." Pei Shaoqing thought of the Kaiyang Saint Son and disagreed; every organization had cowards who shouted slogans, "Besides, whether she is afraid of death is one thing, and whether I can easily make her die is another. Is there such a thing or not?"

"Of course there is." Xie Qingwu not only read extensively but also had an excellent memory; she recalled as she spoke, "But every Poison passed down has a corresponding antidote. The Xuanhuang Sect has a deep foundation and many talented people; they might be able to neutralize the Poison you use."

Pei Shaoqing frowned upon hearing this.

Xie Qingwu's lips curled upward, and she looked at him prettily, saying, "If you can find the materials, this young lady can concoct an exclusive secret medicine for you. Unless she can find a spirit pill like an antidote pill left behind by an ancient cultivator, only the antidote I concoct can cure it."

"You know how to do this?" Pei Shaoqing was very surprised.

Xie Qingwu gave a proud, soft hum, turned her back to him, and stood with her hands behind her back, "Is it difficult? Do you think this young lady read all those books for nothing? If one cannot apply what one has learned, what is the use of reading? I was self-taught in pharmacology and concocted medicine to treat my brother's illness when I was seven."

Of course, she would not tell Pei Shaoqing that the reason her brother got sick was also because he had taken the medicine she concocted.

"My lady, the longer I spend with you, the more I realize you really are a treasure of a girl." Pei Shaoqing pulled her into his arms and leaned in to nuzzle against her ear.

He once thought Xie Qingwu had no skills other than beauty and family background; later he discovered she was a walking encyclopedia, and now he found out she could even concoct medicine!

There seemed to be an endless supply of treasures to be unearthed in her.

Listening to Pei Shaoqing's praise, Xie Qingwu felt happy inside, a sense of satisfaction from being recognized.

She feigned indifference and said, "I once dreamed of being an apothecary, capable of concocting pills with all sorts of miraculous effects—capable of saving lives, and also taking them."

"And then?" Pei Shaoqing asked curiously.

Xie Qingwu said wistfully, "Later, I secretly practiced alchemy at home and knocked over the furnace, burning the house down. When my father returned from court, he slapped my apothecary dream to pieces."

Pei Shaoqing's mouth twitched upon hearing this.

In other words, everything you have mastered is theoretical knowledge, and your practical experience is basically zero?

"It's fine, your husband supports you!" Pei Shaoqing turned her body to face him and said earnestly, "I will have someone set up an alchemy room for you at home tomorrow. You can focus on researching this path; write down a list of the materials you need and give it to me, and I will order people to find them."

For a talented person like this, as long as she was given enough opportunities to try, she would easily succeed.

"Really?" Xie Qingwu's eyes lit up.

She had not expected that her childhood wish would actually have a chance to be realized; this was truly an unexpected joy.

After all, while reading could satisfy one's thirst for knowledge, if one could combine the contents of books with one's own understanding and turn them into reality, it would be hard to imagine how satisfying that would be.

Pei Shaoqing nodded and said, "Really."

"Thank you." Xie Qingwu's eyes shimmered.

Pei Shaoqing smiled enigmatically, "Is that all you're going to say?"

"Then... you can go to my cabinet and pick out a pair of Silk Stockings you like." Xie Qingwu's pretty face flushed slightly.

Although Pei Shaoqing was very tempted, he felt he shouldn't lose his focus on his goals, "Forget it, next time. My lady, hurry and write down two copies of the materials needed for alchemy; it would be best to write down the appearance and characteristics of the medicinal herbs as well."

Every pair of Silk Stockings used is one less; they must be saved.

Besides, he felt that this world's use of top-tier materials like Ice Silkworm Silk was too monotonous—it was simply a waste of heaven's gifts. Ice Silkworm Silk should be used to make 【redacted】.

In the future, he must hide his identity and open a clothing workshop that processes Ice Silkworm Silk, specifically to benefit the vast number of male compatriots; this market had great prospects.

It might even become a tribute item.

"Alright." Having finally taken the initiative to offer a treat only to be rejected, Xie Qingwu felt a little disappointed.

…………………………

"Knock, knock, knock."

The door was knocked.

Liu Yuheng, who was bathing, asked, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Master's wife, may I come in?"

Hearing it was Zhao Zhilan's voice, Liu Yuheng's originally tense body relaxed, "Come in."

Zhao Zhilan pushed the door open and entered.

"I am bathing, close the door." Hearing the door open, Liu Yuheng softly reminded her disciple.

Zhao Zhilan closed the door and walked behind the screen.

Seeing her suddenly appear, Liu Yuheng was so embarrassed that she hugged her chest with both hands to cover her charms, and chided angrily, "What are you doing coming in, girl? Go wait for me outside the screen."

"Wow, Master's wife, you are so fair." Seeing her master in such a girlish posture for the first time, Zhao Zhilan found it very interesting, "Let me scrub your back, Master's wife."

"Go away, get out quickly." Liu Yuheng's face was flushed and very embarrassed; her hands placed in front of her could not cover her full silhouette at all, making it even more alluring.

Zhao Zhilan, however, got excited, and relying on the fact that her master couldn't get out of the tub, she started taking off her clothes directly.

"When I was little, you used to bathe me, Master's wife; now that your disciple has grown up, I want to show my filial piety to you."

"Still as mischievous as ever, I really can't do anything with you." Liu Yuheng gave her a helpless look.

"Good Mistress, your disciple is coming."

After entering the water, Zhao Zhilan sat behind Liu Yuheng and gently helped her wash her back.

Feeling her beloved disciple's attentive service, Liu Yuheng, who had originally been a bit embarrassed, gradually relaxed and leaned her entire body into Zhao Zhilan's smooth, soft embrace, "Lan'er, what did you come to find me for?"

"Today, Young Master, he..." Zhao Zhilan recounted what had happened in the public room in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum.

Liu Yuheng listened until her face turned red and her ears burned, her breathing becoming heavy, "You two are really too reckless."

She felt mortified just thinking about that scene.

"Young Master insisted on it; I didn't want to either," Miss Zhao pouted, saying with a look of grievance.

Liu Yuheng sighed helplessly; these wealthy young masters had played wildly since they were young, and there was nothing to be done about it.

"What does it feel like?" she asked, as if possessed.

Zhao Zhilan didn't hear clearly: "Ah! What?"

"N-nothing!" After realizing what she had said, Liu Yuheng understood she had asked an absurd question; with her back to Zhao Zhilan, her face was flushed red with extreme shame.

However, she was indeed very curious about what it felt like.

Zhao Zhilan did not notice her Mistress's strangeness and continued on her own: "Young Master said that since you saved him today, he will speed things up by a month and take me through the door in two months."

"That is good," Liu Yuheng nodded and said.

Zhao Zhilan hugged Liu Yuheng and said in a coquettish tone: "From now on, this disciple will serve Mistress during her baths."

"Mm," Liu Yuheng agreed with gratification.

Zhao Zhilan suddenly remembered something, "Oh, right, Mistress, Young Master also allowed me to correspond with Senior Brother."

"Is that so?" Liu Yuheng was startled for a moment.

Zhao Zhilan nodded and said, "He said he could understand the feelings between Senior Brother and me and doesn't mind us staying in contact."

"Young Master Pei is truly a gentleman; his broad-mindedness is admirable," Liu Yuheng sighed with heartfelt emotion.

She felt this was a manifestation of Pei Shaoqing's confidence in his own charm, a manifestation of his broad-mindedness.

Little did she know that Pei Shaoqing just wanted to add some excitement.

The master and disciple chatted while bathing, which was originally very warm, but suddenly, for some reason, they started messing around.

"Ah! Lan'er, you're splashing me with water."

"Hee hee."

"You stinky girl, watch me deal with you."

One was charming and mature to the point of dripping with ripeness, the other youthful and lively to the point of being fresh as dew; they frolicked and wrestled, tangled together, pushing and splashing each other, sending water flying everywhere, shaking the very ground.

(End of chapter)