Chapter 198: Three in One Room

Ever since Yuan Caiwei walked into the courtyard today, Yan Shuyi had felt like a startled kitten with its fur standing on end.

But she refused to admit she was jealous.

In her view, jealousy was something only petty, narrow-minded women did—women who spent their days obsessed with love and longing, rejoicing when they gained, grieving when they lost, their emotions entirely tied to men, with no grasp of the grander currents of the world, their horizons pathetically small.

Their entire lives were spent merely seeking a good husband, supporting their men and raising children.

She was certainly not that kind of woman; she did not get jealous—she simply hadn't poked anyone in a long time and felt a restless itch in her fingers.

This ordinary, unknown man was truly drawing bees and butterflies.

Even if Mengshan's fiancée was one thing, there was also someone who had chased him all the way from Danshan to his home…

Four major acupoints: abdomen, chest, back, and waist—didn't that mean he'd have to take off his clothes?

Yan Shuyi thought that if she hadn't been traveling to Shengjing, hadn't happened to meet this stranger, and hadn't been invited to his home for dinner tonight, she had no idea what might have happened.

The young inspector, lost in thought, suddenly narrowed her eyes, then casually rubbed her own lower abdomen before looking up at Yuan Caiwei.

Yuan Caiwei was now bowing her head, lost in thought, unaware—and her delicate nose wrinkled slightly.

At that moment, a voice called out: "Hurry and wash your hands, dinner's ready"—prompting Yan Shuyi to instinctively stand and rush to the porcelain basin to wash her hands…

It had become a habit over the past half-month of wintering, nearly a conditioned reflex.

Seeing this, Yuan Caiwei couldn't help but feel her eyelashes tremble.

She had known Yan Shuyi for many years; in her memory, the young inspector of Lingjian Mountain had always been stern and expressionless.

When Lingjian had chosen her, she had single-handedly upheld Xuanjian Peak, maneuvering skillfully between the watchful eyes of Tianjian Peak, her immortal poise aloof and detached from the world.

She had seen Yan Shuyi's haughty superiority, her ethereal, otherworldly grace.

She had seen her, at the Immortal Gathering years ago, wearing her crown for the first time, seated among the seven sect leaders, radiating an aura of supreme pride.

So even though she knew Yan Shuyi and Ji You had something between them, she still couldn't imagine what it would look like for Yan Shuyi to be fond of a man.

Until today, seeing her alternate between jealousy and instinctive obedience, she couldn't help but be astonished.

Ji You now entered the room to fetch wine and glanced at Yuan Caiwei: "You should wash your hands too."

"Understood."

Yuan Caiwei obediently rose and walked to the porcelain basin, dipping her hands into the warm water, her expression subtly altered.

After he said "you should wash your hands too," she suddenly understood.

No matter a woman's status, all women instinctively obey their husband's words…

Even someone as stern as the young inspector had her gentle, adorable side—only visible before her husband, unseen by anyone else.

"It's terrifying."

"?"

Yuan Chen, axe in hand, stood by the wall of stacked firewood, watching Ji You emerge from the house with his mouth slightly open: "Is this what women are like after falling in love?"

Ji You looked at him: "What do you know?"

"I won't even mention the young inspector—she still scares me a bit—but just now, as soon as Brother-in-law spoke, she went to wash her hands. Normally, who would dare command her? She's the next leader of Lingjian Mountain!"

Yuan Chen then pointed at his sister: "My sister feels the same—she never smiles at me, but with Brother-in-law, she's like a completely different person."

Sisters have always held a natural dominance over younger brothers, especially since he became a direct disciple of Yu Danzong—his sister had become both mother and master, stern as ever; Yuan Chen had once thought his sister was simply born this way.

Ji You couldn't help but smirk: "I must really be a beauty who brings disaster."

Yuan Chen turned to look at him: "Why disaster?"

"You think I'm calm now, flipping dishes while cooking—but I'm actually worried I won't survive the night."

Yuan Chen suddenly remembered those brutally killed potatoes and instinctively held his breath.

Ji You then carried all the dishes to the dining table and called out calmly to the two women to come eat.

A wise man remains unshaken in crisis—because the more flustered you are, the more suspicious you seem; better to be open and calm.

To ensure continuity and vitality, you must have this kind of mental resilience.

My constitution is clearly evolving toward a stud's path—drawing bees and butterflies is no lie; if this keeps happening, Yan Shuyi, this jealous little thing, will acidify herself to death just from pouting.

"Young Master Ji, I've discussed with Inspector Yan about treating your arm."

Ji You lifted his gaze: "Arm?"

Yuan Caiwei set down her chopsticks and spoke softly: "I found an ancient prescription at home—combined with the right technique, it can help your arm recover better."

"How should we proceed?"

"You'll need to take off your upper clothing…"

Ji You suddenly recalled the scene of an aunt and niece practicing in a flower patch and thought: Yu Danzong really doesn't want me to survive tonight—this arm doesn't even need to heal well.

But as Yuan Caiwei explained the principle clearly, Ji You realized the doctor didn't need to remove her clothes.

After dinner, nightfall slowly settled.

Firewood crackled in the stove, and several sweet potatoes were slowly softening inside.

Yuan Chen sat beside the hearth in the main room, tossing firewood into the stove, his eyes darting toward the western side room.

Meanwhile, Ji You sat in the side room, swallowing the pill Yuan Caiwei had given him, then slowly undressing to reveal his broad chest.

Yuan Caiwei and Yan Shuyi stood before him, staring intently.

The former bit her thin lips, recalling that night in the Danshan herbal pool—her mind filled with fiery shapes.

The young inspector, by contrast, gazed coolly, her expression detached yet fixed for a long while.

Some women's eyes are naturally lively, as if they speak—Yan Shuyi was one such woman; one could read in her gaze: "This inspector has seen it all"—yet her cold face was slowly flushing red.

Healing was a serious matter, normally confined to doctor and patient alone.

But ever since Ji You entered the western room with Yuan Caiwei, Yan Shuyi had been entering without expression, again and again.

The first time, she came for a cup, stared for a long while, then walked out indifferently; after a while, she returned for a cushion, stared briefly, then walked out again.

Then came the bronze mirror, the quilt, the padded mat…

Ji You thought: If you're uneasy, just stay—no need to dismantle my room—so he repeatedly invited her to remain.

Finally, the young inspector reluctantly stayed, watching Yuan Caiwei's every move with intense focus.

"Does Yuan Chen really not know the technique?"

"Human bodies are frail; if spiritual energy invades carelessly, irreversible damage occurs. He has no experience—I'm afraid I'll hurt Young Master Ji."

The young inspector turned her head: "Do you have experience, Caiwei-sister?"

Yuan Caiwei nodded gently: "After finding the ancient prescription, I practiced it countless times at home."

"How did you practice?"

"I practiced based on imagination…"

Before the New Yuan, Yu Danzong had to deliver the promised elixirs to the other six immortal sects in exchange for their year-long protection.

So for the past month, Yu Danzong had been extremely busy.

As a top-tier fifth-rank alchemist, Yuan Caiwei was the core alchemist of the sect; to find time to practice this technique amid heavy alchemical duties, she could only do so late at night.

Thinking of this, Yan Shuyi's heart stirred slightly.

Ji You also realized this, glancing at Yuan Caiwei.

The re-formulated pills he received during his mission to the Snow Realm—weren't those also brewed by her and Yuan Chen through the night?

Without those pills, after taking the Warlord's punch directly, his body would never have survived the journey to the Demon Emperor's city.

And then there was the young inspector, outwardly aloof but inwardly caring for him too.

Had she not sent Yan Chuan to follow him, he might have been shot dead from afar by the Warlord's arrow.

Tianjian Mountain had long coveted Lingjian Mountain's authority; Yan Shuyi bore immense pressure, constantly closing herself off to break through her realm.

Yet she kept breaking her seclusion because of his founding a family and his mission to the Snow Realm.

Many in the courtyard called him a Daoheart-Pure Body—but now he saw: he was clearly a Xiantianruanfanshengti.

At this moment, as the medicine took effect, Ji You's limbs became immobile.

This was necessary for treatment: while nourishing the meridians alone, the most critical rule was to use not a single speck of spiritual energy, or else the elixir energy and spiritual energy would clash—extremely dangerous.

The only solution was to use medicine to sever the patient's control over their limbs, ensuring spiritual energy wouldn't surge through the meridians.

Then Yuan Caiwei stepped forward, her alchemical energy entering Ji You's body, activating the medicine's effect, directing it toward his arms, her palms pressing against his chest.

Smooth. Soft.

But compared to the young inspector's hands, they felt slightly colder.

Over the past few days, Ji You had kissed the young inspector daily, often having her "accidentally" brush his chest.

Now he turned his spiritual sense inward, feeling the alchemical energy spread through his body, pushing the medicine's power toward his arms.

It felt pleasant, like a massage—but Ji You furrowed his brow, feigning pain.

As expected, the jealous young inspector grew much gentler.

See? You can't afford to feel good at a time like this.

But Ji You's expression puzzled Yuan Caiwei: "Does it hurt?"

"It's fine. Keep going."

"Then I'll continue."

"Go ahead."

After speaking, Ji You paused, realizing: Wait—this was backwards. "Does it hurt?" was the line a villain would ask his lover.

Yuan Caiwei stole a glance at Yan Shuyi and suddenly understood: Ji You was concerned about Yan Shuyi's feelings. Her hands tightened involuntarily—giving Ji You real pain.

Ji You blinked, looked down, and saw Yuan Caiwei suddenly wearing an innocent expression.

Yan Shuyi's brow furrowed slightly, and she softly spoke: "Be gentler. I don't know how to diagnose meridians, but I imagine it must be painful for him."

"He's faking."

「?

He pretended to be in great pain, fearing someone might mind, hoping to make that person feel better—truly thoughtful.

Yan Shuyi listened, then paused, narrowing her eyes at Ji You.

After a while, Yuan Caimei placed her hand on Ji You's back, then gently slid it downward, resting at the small of his waist: "This spot is the kidneys. Young Master Ji, hold your breath and stay calm, or you might get injured."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ji You and Yan Shuyi's expressions automatically grew serious.

Yuan Caimei's expression was equally grave; her delicate teeth bit lightly, more cautious than when she had touched his heart meridian earlier, as if afraid the moment might melt in her mouth or shatter in her hands.

After a long while, as the dantian energy flowed into him, Ji You gradually felt warmth rising in his arm, making the existing ache more pronounced…

But this was a good thing.

Because Feng Yang had told him this was the sensation of meridians opening.

"Is it working?"

"Yes, the ache in the meridians is gone, but there's still some blockage in the spiritual energy."

As Yuan Caimei's dantian energy dissipated from his body, the medicinal potency was fully spent.

Ji You gradually regained control of his limbs, sat up from the bed, and exerted slight force on his arm—feeling spiritual energy surging and colliding before it.

Yuan Caimei now placed her hand on his wrist, then set her other palm against his: "The effect is good, but this is only the first session—it's just laying the foundation for recovery. Two more sessions should do it, but avoid spicy, greasy, or cold foods for now, and wash your hands with warm water."

Ji You stared at her palm resting in his, and couldn't help recalling the demon race princess with round hips and a tail.

Pulse-taking never required such intimate skin-to-skin contact—he was certain of that.

Ji You looked up at Yan Shuyi and saw her listening intently to Yuan Caimei's instructions.

You're all taking advantage of Yan Shuyi's lack of medical knowledge.

As the three spoke and stepped out of the side room, they saw Yuan Chen sitting by the stove, clutching his ears with both hands.

He'd heard muffled sounds through the door—"it hurts," "be gentle"—sounding distinctly inappropriate for children.

"Young Master Ji, we're leaving now. We'll come again tomorrow."

Yuan Caimei glanced out the window at the night sky, then turned to Ji You.

Everyone at the Heavenly Book Academy knew she had come to see Ji You; if she stayed overnight, it would damage her reputation.

Though she didn't care about damage, even welcomed it, she still held the status of Yu Danzong.

That made her inferior to the young master of Lingjian Mountain—she'd sneak over secretly, and even if she bore a fat baby boy, no one would know.

Then Yuan Caimei picked up her medicine case and rose, escorted out the door by Ji You, and descended the mountain path with Yuan Chen.

"What did you feel when you entered the academy today?"

"What do you mean, 'feel'?"

Yuan Chen pursed his lips: "Trying to seduce your brother-in-law, caught red-handed by the young master sister…"

Yuan Caimei stopped in her tracks, staring at him with a serious gaze: "She's not married yet—why can't I?"

"But she looks like she already is…"

"That's just how it looks."

When Yuan Caimei first spotted Yan Shuyi in the courtyard, she had indeed been startled.

Because in her view, even if two people harbored feelings for each other, it meant nothing—love still had to be pursued.

But living together was different; if something truly happened, she wouldn't dare openly compete with her sister for a man.

Yet during their contact, Yuan Caimei had secretly used dantian energy once—she knew the young master sister was still a virgin.

After living together so long without conceiving, who would get pregnant first was still uncertain.

Inside the room, after seeing the Yuan siblings out the door, Ji You turned back to find Yan Shuyi standing before the stove, the fire poker glowing red-hot.

Ji You sat beside her: "Shuyi, call me brother."

Yan Shuyi: "?"

"You won't say it, but Yuan Caimei did."

After a long silence, the courtyard erupted in a clatter of clanging sounds.

Ji You was kicked several times by snow-white bare feet, yet the young master's slender, pale toes now bore several tooth marks.

"Was Yuan Caimei's hand comfortable?"

Ji You fished the roasted sweet potato from the stove: "Wasn't that just for treatment? Why make it sound so… improper?"

Yan Shuyi narrowed her eyes, thinking: If I hadn't come to hibernate here tonight, who knows whether it would've been treatment—or something else.

Thinking this, she turned to Ji You, her bright, soft eyes fixed on him for a long moment, then leaned in gently, lips slightly parted…

The next morning, dawn light spilled over Shengjing.

Yuan Caimei awoke in the small courtyard, washed her face, applied light makeup, then woke Yuan Chen.

Meanwhile, the academy disciple who had escorted them up the mountain the day before returned, delivering a second invitation from Princess Changle.

But as before, Yuan Caimei still intended to visit Ji You, and politely declined.

The two then climbed the mountain path together, drawing many glances, until they reached Ji You's gate and knocked lightly.

Yuan Chen was nervous now, thinking: I wonder if my brother-in-law is even still breathing.

Then footsteps sounded from within; the gate opened, and Ji You appeared from behind.

But what surprised the Yuan siblings was the wound on Ji You's mouth.

The wound was strange—right above and below his right corner, thin but deep, clearly bleeding.

"Young Master Ji's mouth…?"

"Oh, ate too much spicy and sour potato shreds yesterday—got too hot."

Ji You wiped his lip, feigning calm as he explained.

Yuan Caimei studied it closely, and the more she looked, the more it resembled tooth marks—her expression froze slightly.

"Come in. I've cooked porridge—let's have breakfast together."

Yuan Caimei snapped back: "Where's the young master sister?"

"She's a lazy sleeper—still in bed."

Ji You replied, but the words "love," "now," "lazy," "still," "get," and "up" all tugged at his mouth, causing sharp pain.

Yan Shuyi had bitten him with tremendous force—he suspected she'd used spiritual energy.

Otherwise, given his physical strength, such a wound shouldn't have formed.

Ji You led them into the courtyard, ladled out the white porridge, set it on the small table, and called out: "Wash your hands, time to eat."

At that moment, Yan Shuyi appeared in the doorway, yawning, and seeing the wound on Ji You's mouth, her lips curled slightly upward.

(End of Chapter)