"Okay."
Li An agreed.
A few disciples then escorted Tan Qingxue into her boudoir.
Zhao Gang gave some instructions, and Jing Ao also advised Li An a few words, then they all left.
Li An walked to Tan Qingxueâs side, examining her closely. On the sickbed, Tan Qingxueâs face was as white as paper, her breathing slow; in just a few days, she had become much thinner than before.
Li An placed his fingers on Tan Qingxueâs pulse, feeling it carefully.
"Although her body is barely recovering, because of the severe injury and deep poisoning, she has fallen into a deathly coma..."
He murmured.
In fact, he was somewhat hesitant. With his understanding of the Life Nourishing Immortal Skill, if he used the power of the Life Seed, there was a good chance he could save Tan Qingxue.
Back then, at the Spirit Beast Mountain Range, even though Tan Qingxue chose not to save Li An when he fell off the cliff, Li An didnât hold any grudge.
Because at that time, he deliberately hid himself, distancing from Tan Qingxue.
If it were Tan Qingxue who had fallen off the cliff, he might have made the same choice.
In recent years, Tan Qingxue had always trusted Li An deeply and was quite generous, but likewise, Li An wasnât moved or had any fondness.
To Li An, Tan Qingxue was just like Wang Zilin and Zhang Susu from Spirit Plant Mountain in the past.
Just travelers on the path to immortality.
Hence, Li Anâs attitude towards them was very simple: unless his absolute safety was guaranteed, he wouldnât help or save people.
Just like back at Spirit Plant Mountain, Li An was too weak, even Fan Jie posed a life-threatening situation for him, so even if he foresaw Zhang Susuâs fate, he couldnât interfere.
Now, in saving Tan Qingxue, he only considered whether it would cause trouble for himself.
After thinking for a while, he didnât make a decision immediately.
In the following days, Li An lived and cultivated as usual, only hiring a maid to help Tan Qingxue with bathing and such.
Meanwhile, Li An brought Gu Hong some delicacies and daily necessities for a lady every night, and the two became increasingly familiar.
That day, Li An received a letter from the sect.
Having been here for many years, Li An occasionally corresponded with Wang Dazhu and Zhao Xianâs Story, but this time the letter was from Xu Qiuhui.
In the letter, Xu Qiuhui expressed great concern for Tan Qingxue and entrusted Li An to take good care of her.
Moreover, Xu Qiuhui stated that she was already preparing for the Foundation Establishment, and would personally visit Tan Qingxue once she succeeded.
Additionally, the letter included another high-grade talisman pen, a gift from Xu Qiuhui to Li An.
After reading the letter, Li An pondered for a long time.
That evening, Li An walked into Tan Qingxueâs room, sat at the bedside, and after a long time, gently lifted Tan Qingxue, placing his palm on her back.
In the Dantian, the four leaves of the verdant Life Seed trembled slightly, and a wisp of azure green aura flowed through Li Anâs palm into Tan Qingxueâs body.
...
Darkness.
Tan Qingxueâs consciousness drifted in a void of darkness; she felt increasingly cold, increasingly cold.
It seemed like she could never escape, as if bound by the ropes of death, unable to flee, unable to breathe.
It was as if she was falling endlessly in a bottomless void.
It had been this way for a long time.
Am I going to die?
This thought echoed repeatedly in her mind.
As death approached clearly, she still had the awareness to contemplate it, and her life flashed continuously through her mind.
Once a girl in the mundane world, chosen by the Profound Yang Sect for her good aptitude, she entered the sect, and with a good talent in the Talisman Dao, she entered the Talisman Hall...
But her life was so monotonous, so simple...
Is a life of cultivating immortality really worth it? To struggle bitterly on the path to immortality, scheming against others and being schemed against, who would weep for her when she dies?
What does such cultivation ultimately yield? If she hadnât entered the Immortal Sect back then, and instead remained in the mundane world, married, had children, and aged, perhaps she might have tasted some joy in life?
As her awareness gradually faded, she began to feel regret.
She also thought of Xu Qiuhui, Sister Xu was very kind and would likely be sad for her.
And... would Li An?
No, he wouldnât.
He has deep feelings for Sister Xu, only feeling sorrow if something happens to Sister Xu, right?
Her consciousness gradually faded, disappeared...
But, at this very moment.
In this cold darkness, she suddenly felt a warm aura, as if it traversed everything, dispelling the cold, enveloping her.
She saw a large green hand coming from who-knows-where, pulling her away from the darkness...
She tried hard to open her eyes, to see clearly...
...
"No..."
On the embroidered bed, Tan Qingxue suddenly opened her eyes, uttering a faint cry.
In the room, the dim candlelight streamed into her eyes, and Tan Qingxue felt a bit dazed, this is...
She turned her head and saw Li An, waiting by the bedside.
"Youâre awake."
Li An spoke calmly, with a slight smile, "Youâve been in a coma for many days."
Seeing Li An, Tan Qingxue felt inexplicably moved, emotions churning, she threw herself into Li Anâs arms, holding him tightly, and burst into tears.
Li Anâs body went slightly stiff, but he did not move.
"Junior Brother, I thought I would never see you again..."
Tan Qingxue wept, "I regret it so much, I regret it so much! Iâm sorry, Iâm sorry. That time at the Spirit Beast Mountain Range, I didnât save you because I was looking for Spirit Medicine, can you forgive me, can you forgive me?"
She lifted her eyes, beautiful eyes filled with tears, pleading.
Li An sighed softly, and said, "Senior Sister, itâs all in the past."
"Take a good rest, Iâll be going now."
He gently removed Tan Qingxueâs hands and then got up and left.
In the dim light, Tan Qingxue watched Li Anâs departing figure, tears streaming from her eyes.
"Indeed, you like Sister Xu..."
"But how can I repay such a great favor of saving my life twice?"
...
The next day, Li An invited Zhao Gang over to re-examine Tan Qingxue.
Zhao Gang was amazed to see Tan Qingxue awake, leaving behind many pills and instructed Tan Qingxue to take them on time before leaving.
"Senior Sister, the medicinal soup is ready, drink it while itâs hot."
Li An brought the decoction in and placed it on the table.
"Thank you, Junior Brother Li..."
Tan Qingxue said gratefully.
"No need to thank me, Li An actually did nothing,"
Li An waved his hand and laughed, "It was Senior Brother Jing Ao who brought you back, and it was the shop owner Zhaoâs excellent medical skill..."
Tan Qingxue sighed silently in her heart, saying nothing further.
Just like back then, Li An quietly saved her but refused to acknowledge anything.
Could it be that Li An is truly only because of Sister Xu?
She forced herself to write a letter, entrusted someone to send it to Xu Qiuhui, expressing her gratitude to Xu Qiuhui and narrating her current situation, mentioning that Li An saved her.
Three days later, she received a reply.
That day, at dusk, after reading the letter, her face was blushing brightly.
"... Li An has an excellent disposition, since you owe him a life-saving grace twice, why not consider walking the path together? If you could have such a good partner, I would also be at ease."
She pondered over the letter for a long time.
Then, she stood up, actually tying on an apron, cooked a large table of dishes, and then went to the market, buying two large jars of Spirit Wine.
That night, she invited Li An over for dinner.
The table was lavishly set. Although Tan Qingxueâs cooking skills were lacking, all the ingredients were top-grade spiritual materials, so the aroma was irresistible.
Li An was quite puzzled, but he didnât say much, and sat down.
"Senior Sisterâs cooking is quite good."
"Really good, or just speaking against your conscience?"
"Of course, itâs really good."
"Alright, then Iâll cook every day, and you come to eat every day?"
Li An was a little surprised.
"What, is Junior Brother unwilling?"
Tan Qingxue mustered her courage, her face very red, extremely uneasy.
"That would be too troubling for Senior Sister, it would disturb your cultivation, Li An wouldnât dare," Li An said.
"Whatâs so troublesome about it..."
Tan Qingxue smiled faintly, then stood up, poured wine for Li An, "Junior Brother, shall we have a drink?"
...