Chapter 48: Chapter Forty-Eight: Minor Changes

Ling Xiao's aura was 2.8 meters, freezing the few junior disciples into shiver-shiver.

Shi Ran felt relieved; this was the infirmary, not a battlefield—luckily her master returned in time!

A whiff of mushroom mixed with meat fragrance drifted over; Shi Ran sniffed, excitedly saying, "Master, it smells so good! What delicious thing did you bring?"

Ling Xiao said nothing, merely giving Wei Yuzhu a cold glance; Wei Yuzhu trembled all over, standing ramrod straight, "Um, Elder, I suddenly remembered I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave! I'll come see Junior Sister Shi another day!"

Having said that, she tugged at Ruan Xinli's sleeve, not even glancing at Gu Yusheng, turned and left, not daring to linger a moment.

Ruan Xinli, however, was steady; she bowed gently and said, "There are still a few outer sect disciples decocting medicine; I need to supervise them. Elder, Junior Sister Shi, Senior Sister Mei, Senior Brother Gu—I'll come again when I have time!"

Having said that, she also left, a fragrant breeze trailing her as she departed. Before stepping out, Ruan Xinli suddenly turned her head to glance at Gu Yusheng, her eyes full of myriad tenderness; Gu Yusheng's heart stirred, and he gave a slight nod.

That shameless one was flashing his powers again; Shi Ran didn't want to look at him, but pressed on, "Master, what are you holding? It smells so good!"

"Chicken soup with a few mountain mushrooms!" Ling Xiao picked up the bowl, "For now you can only have some soup." No thinking about braised spare ribs or the like!

Ling Xiao stirred the chicken soup; its fresh, sweet aroma drifted into Shi Ran's nose. She gulped hard, waiting for Ling Xiao to feed her.

But their familiar manner was truly shocking; Mei Ruoxue's gaze darted between their faces, momentarily unsure whether to stay or leave.

Gu Yusheng's inner stirring was even stronger; his impression of Shi Ran remained at the stage where her confession to him had failed, turning love into hatred—when would Shi Ran, toward Master....

Ling Xiao sat on the edge of Shi Ran's bed, suddenly feeling the small room a bit crowded, "Anything else?"

"No....."

Mei Ruoxue answered instinctively, then realized what she'd said: "Then, Master, we'll head back for now and come see Junior Sister another day!"

Shi Ran had been unconscious for many days; now she was ravenous. Hearing that, she waved a hand: "Senior Sisters and Brothers, take your time leaving—you're also injured; go back and rest properly, no need to worry about me!"

It would be better if they didn't come—whenever Gu Yusheng arrived, the place filled with flirtatious chatter; Mei Ruoxue, upon touching Wei Yuzhu or Ruan Xinli, seemed to become another person. Though she was naturally the aloof senior sister, she forced herself into sweet talk, not aimed at her, yet she felt awkward; better not to come, let her heal in peace.

Mei Ruoxue also sensed Shi Ran's coldness; these days she didn't even know what had come over her, turned into someone she herself didn't recognize—no wonder Shi Ran acted this way. She awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, managing a smile: "Junior Sister Shi, heal well; I and A Sheng will come again another day."

"Mm-hmm!" Shi Ran beamed, just as bright and sweet as ever, making anyone who saw her feel warm.

Gu Yusheng suddenly lowered his head, clenched his fists in an empty place—lying through his teeth!

Even if she acted ever so convincingly, he wouldn't believe her; after all, she had been scheming since childhood, using any means to achieve her goals—look, even the Master had been fooled!

He wouldn't let her get her way! All he could do was find a chance to let the Master see her true colors!

The two eyesores had gone; Shi Ran reached out expectantly: "Master, may I have the bowl?"

Ling Xiao paused, then slowly stirred the chicken soup, leaving no room for argument: "Sit properly, open your mouth!"

Huh? Shi Ran opened her mouth blankly; a spoonful of chicken soup slipped gently into her belly—temperature just right, fresh with a hint of chicken fat aroma, upon tasting there was also the umami of mushrooms, as if carrying a breath of spring, lightly soothing Shi Ran's restlessness.

Finally she got to eat something substantial; Shi Ran sighed. These days she'd lain in bed, drinking nothing but medicinal broth—drink it down and she'd become a medicine person!

Speaking of medicine persons, Shi Ran puzzled: "Master, Master's Granduncle is also a Healing Cultivator Venerable—why don't we go home and let him treat us?"

The word 'home' was used perfectly; Ling Xiao lightly tugged at the corner of his mouth, then naturally fed Shi Ran another spoonful: "Master's Uncle has gone out wandering; your situation is more urgent, and the healing cultivators and medicinal stones here are the best in the realm, so we came here."

Wow! Ling Xiao actually said so many words at once; Shi Ran felt a bit delighted: "Master, you spoke so many words this time! That's great—people should talk more, or else they'd stay ice-cold!"

So cold that even female cultivators dare not approach you! Shi Ran swallowed the last sentence back into her stomach, but her eyes darted left and right—obviously she had nothing nice to say!

Ling Xiao sighed: "Sit still, don't move around, be careful of the wound!" Another spoonful!

The wound still hurt a bit! Shi Ran became honest, but her mouth couldn't stop: "Master, the one who wounded me is the Demon Lord's Holy Maiden—Si Tong, that is, the one who previously lured me to give Sister Mei poison!"

Ling Xiao's eyes paused, then he nodded to show he understood.

Another spoonful of chicken soup entered her belly; Shi Ran continued, "Master, the Demon Realm is surely stirring; we must make plans early!" Hurry up and send Gu Yusheng out for training, otherwise every few days one of his harem concubines will appear—she fears Mei Ruoxue can't handle it!

Ling Xiao endured, nodded, and fed her another spoonful.

Shi Ran didn't notice Ling Xiao's displeasure, and chatted with him about gossip: "Master, I'll be able to get out of bed in a few days; let's hurry back home. If we stay longer, Junior Brother Gu will bewitch another little female cultivator—tsk tsk, utterly sinful!"

Ruan Xinli's gaze was practically drawing silk; Mei Ruoxue couldn't even handle Wei Yuzhu, and now another utterly compliant Ruan Xinli shows up—when the time comes, Mei Ruoxue will be the one to break down, and the unlucky one will be her, Shi Ran!

Mei Ruoxue, feeling stifled, couldn't help but take it out on Gu Yusheng day after day; then Gu Yusheng would think she was bullying Mei Ruoxue, and with his petty nature, he'd surely seek revenge!

Being forced to hang out with the protagonist crew was already miserable enough, yet she also had to muddle about with these female side characters; Shi Ran unconsciously touched her neck, wishing she could keep her neck and head connected for a few more years!

This time Ling Xiao couldn't hold back, but he insisted on finishing the chicken soup before saying, "A Sheng… A Sheng, are you popular among the female cultivators?"

"Very popular!" Shi Ran's eyes widened: "Master, you don't know—he's handsome and tall; stand him in a crowd and he's a crane among chickens. Plus, he knows how to win girls' favor—sweet mouth, polite speech, gentle bearing; out of ten female cultivators, eight like him!"

Ling Xiao lowered his head, fingers tightly gripping the hem of his clothes, and asked softly, "And what about you?"

While Shi Ran was happily chatting, she didn't catch that—"Huh? Master, what did you say?"