Chapter 336

Bai Shulan's needle insertion speed was too fast and too steady.

After she bravely overcame the fluctuation of her inner demon, and with Liu Junyan's command, she performed at her best level.

She was like a well-trained soldier, striking wherever pointed.

With each needle inserted, I felt my soul and flesh continually merging.

Within just a few dozen seconds, my consciousness had already awakened first.

At the moment the last needle fell, I gasped sharply, my body arched upward, then as it fell back, Bai Shulan and Bai Jingmo had already swiftly withdrawn all the silver needles.

The next moment, I was embraced by a strong arm: "Xiao Jiu, are you back?"

Liu Junyan wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling my upper body into his embrace.

I could hear his frantic yet disordered heartbeat.

After I hummed, he suddenly exerted force with his hands, lifting my waist almost to the point of squeezing me into his chest.

Being squeezed by him left me slightly breathless, yet I relished the warmth of his chest, making me feel utterly at ease.

At some point, Bai Shulan and the others all withdrew from the secret chamber, leaving only me and Liu Junyan embracing each other for a while.

After our emotions had settled, Liu Junyan again took hold of my right wrist and felt my pulse.

Although he is not a physician, he knows how to take a pulse.

That touch made him sense something, and his eyes showed an expression of "as expected."

He asked: "Just now, was it Feng Xianqiu who took advantage of the opening, right?"

"Yes." I asked curiously, "Āyàn, how did you know?"

Liu Junyan raised his hand to tidy my already sweat-dampened bangs, saying: "Bai Jingmo went out to call me; when I came in, I noticed the mark on your right cheek was changing."

It turned out he had sensed the power of the birth-bound curse.

As he spoke, he touched my right cheek again, frowning: "Xiao Jiu, have you truly fully merged with the other half of your soul? Why is this character still there?"

"The birth-bound curse will accompany me for life." I explained, "Besides Nirvana, I have not yet found a way to remove it."

Liu Junyan's hand stroking mine paused abruptly; evidently, Nirvana still hit him quite hard.

"That is to say, even before successful Nirvana, something could still go wrong." Liu Junyan cautioned, "Xiao Jiu, you must be careful; if anything feels off, tell me right away."

I nodded, lifted my face to smile at him: "Don't worry, Āyàn; tonight we've basically killed several birds with one stone, right?"

Bai Shulan successfully separated the remnant soul essence of my mother and fused it into Tang Xun's body; I not only endured the delusional state but also unexpectedly fused with the other half of my soul.

This night, no matter how painful or bitter, it was all worth it.

I wonder what Feng Xianqiu feels now.

He really lifted a stone and smashed it hard onto his own foot.

Just thinking about it is deeply satisfying!

Liu Junyan affectionately and proudly kissed my forehead: "Yes."

After a brief rest, I suddenly thought of Tang Xun and asked: "How is my aunt? How is her condition?"

"When you just escaped danger, she was taken away by the Seven Halls Yama." Liu Junyan explained, "Over these years, the Seven Halls Yama have used spirit butterflies to nourish her soul, subtly altering her constitution; her fusion with your mother's soul may still need a adjustment period, and the Seven Halls Yama will watch over her."

So that's how it is.

Tang Xun's fusion with my mother is different from mine and my sister's.

The birth-bound curse between those two sisters was never successful initially, so their fusion should be simpler, unlike me who still has to endure Nirvana's torment.

I am somewhat looking forward to meeting Tang Xun again; I wonder what she will become.

When we went out, Bai Shulan pressed on me again and performed a check.

In the end, the conclusion was: "For now, there is no problem."

Liu Junyan frowned: "What does 'for now' mean? Will there still be changes later?"

Bai Shulan met Liu Junyan's gaze, stared for a few seconds, then averted her eyes and said: "Xiao Jiu, after all, she has undergone a reincarnation, bearing this mortal flesh; she might not be able to bear her soul suddenly becoming whole, and for now I cannot be entirely certain—perhaps she will remain unharmed, or perhaps she will undergo a transformation."

Transformation… my eyes suddenly brightened, my heart inexplicably a little excited.

Bai Shulan gave me a sideways glance: "Xiao Jiu, aren't you afraid at all?"

"Not afraid." I said, "Bound by this mortal body, I can't do many things; if there truly is a chance for transformation, what's wrong with that?"

"Truly a newborn calf unafraid of tigers." Bai Shulan shoved a pile of bottles and jars at me, saying: "These are to nourish your body; later I will have Jingmo make a list, marking how to supplement, prescribe herbal decoctions for you to drink, insist on herbal baths, and…"

She then gave Liu Junyan a glance, sternly saying: "For the past week, marital relations are strictly prohibited."

My cheeks flushed in a whoosh.

Liu Junyan, however, solemnly responded with an affirmation.

Bai Shulan again repeatedly urged: "In the coming month at least, if you notice any change in your body—even if it's just slightly more hair loss—you must come see me, just in case."

I took her hand and soothed: "All right, all right, I've remembered; it's not like we're ten thousand eight thousand li apart—if I feel anything off, I'll rush over right away; then you won't mind me being a bother."

Bai Shulan awkwardly pulled her hand back, started ushering people out: "Alright, it's almost dawn, everyone go back; I'm tired too, I need to rest."

Outside, it was calm and still.

Returning to the Dang Pu, I still exclaimed: "There are yin soldier formations guarding the outskirts of Wufu Town, yet no disturbance occurred—this is not beyond my expectation; I didn't expect our town to be peaceful all night as well."

"No one would disagree." Hui Moqiong said, "I even kept a close watch on the town mayor's house, fearing someone from the Yellow Immortal Hall might sneak out to cause trouble; but the whole night, the mayor's house was as quiet as a grave."

He couldn't help but sigh: "It shows this Huang Fan na is no ordinary person."

Liu Junyan said: "Keep watching for a while; if the Yellow Immortal Hall behaves well, Mo Qiong, you'll take him under your wing."

Hui Moqiong immediately rejoiced: "Sure thing! I'm best at leading junior brothers; I'll definitely bring him onto the path."

Li Qingying fetched a prescription from the White Immortal Hall and brought back the herbs.

Accompanying her was Tang Tang as well.

I was somewhat surprised; Tang Xun had already been taken away, and given Tang Tang's temperament, she would surely have chased after her to Hu Shan, yet she didn't go.

She came over to ask a few sentences about my condition; after confirming I had no serious trouble, she went to help Li Qingying tend the furnace.

Li Qingying lit a stove in the courtyard to help me decoct herbs.

Tang Tang is a young lady from a wealthy family; although she is not spoiled, she is not skilled at tasks like lighting fires and cooking.

But now she moved a small stool to sit by the stove, holding a banana-leaf fan and slowly fanning the fire.

As she fanned, she drifted off in thought.

Black smoke kept pouring out of the stove, choking us to tears, but Tang Tang seemed oblivious.

This girl has something on her mind!