Chapter 178: Bathing Together, Four in One

"Dear, you’ve awakened?"

"Miss!"

Qin Gengyun and Liu Su looked at Qiu Zhihe with surprise, seeing her slowly open her eyes, still somewhat weary, but her complexion was much better than yesterday.

Her apricot eyes glanced at her surroundings, and her pale face showed a hint of blush as she glanced at Liu Su.

Liu Su quickly said, "Miss, I wasn’t trying to take advantage of your husband, I did it to save you, there was no other way!"

Qiu Zhihe took a breath, her ears and neck turning red.

Bathing with her husband was already embarrassing enough, but now she was sharing a bath with her sister and husband.

It was utterly shameful!

Thankfully, judging by Qin Gengyun’s expression, she likely hadn’t revealed Xia Qinglian’s true form while unconscious, so she could continue being his wife.

Thinking of this, a weak smile appeared on Qiu Zhihe’s beautiful face.

"Third Elder Sister, don’t die! Uncle Qin, Sister Qiu, please save Third Elder Sister!"

Outside, Fang Xue was already crying.

Qiu Zhihe spoke again, "Let them in."

"Dear, I heard today that the Crown Prince of the West Imperial Dynasty was killed, likely by Si Minglan. Are you... sure you want to save her?"

Qin Gengyun said to Qiu Zhihe.

Qiu Zhihe nodded to him, "Husband, her plight resonates with me; save her this time."

Qin Gengyun was indeed hesitant inside, but seeing his wife nod, he immediately called out:

"Taoist Friend Fang, come in, we’re in the inner hall’s bathing room!"

He was at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, so transmitting his voice was no trouble, and Fang Xue, even at the front door, could hear him clearly.

Qin Gengyun then controlled his Divine Sense to send the talisman key from the bedroom to the outside.

There’s a Guardian Array at Qinhe Garden’s entrance; one can’t enter unless they break the Array or force the door.

"Thank you, Uncle Qin!"

Fang Xue’s delighted voice came from outside.

"Miss..."

Liu Su looked at Qiu Zhihe, wanting to speak but hesitated.

It’s said worldwide that the Demon Sect Saintess has killed countless people, ruthless and heartless.

Actually, Liu Su knew the Saintess had her own standards of good and evil.

To those she deemed evil, she’d strike ruthlessly and show no mercy.

But to those she considered good, she was softer than anyone.

And this Si Minglan was clearly judged as "good" by the Saintess.

In the Saintess’ view, Si Minglan’s tragic background was sympathetic, plus she helped the Saintess and Qin Gengyun conceal things from Ye Xiyue, and let Fang Xue accompany her parents—these were acts of kindness.

So at this moment, the Saintess was willing to save her.

Liu Su suddenly found it amusing that the feared Demon Sect Saintess actually acted according to good and evil. Who would believe it if told?

A moment later, Fang Xue entered carrying a bloodied Si Minglan.

"Uncle Qin, Sister Qiu, Third Elder Sister, she... ah?!"

Fang Xue was speaking anxiously but suddenly saw the scene in the bathtub, cried out in shock, turned her head not daring to look, her youthful face blushing.

Her heart pounded like crazy, thinking her eyes were playing tricks.

Uncle Qin, Sister Qiu, and that Sister Su were naked, bathing together in the tub?!

What’s going on?

Fang Xue was only sixteen and hadn’t yet encountered matters between men and women, let alone this shocking scene, which nearly scrambled her head.

Qin Gengyun coughed awkwardly, speaking to Fang Xue:

"Taoist Friend Fang, we’re using a special method to heal wounds, and it can also save Taoist Friend Si. You... hurry and undress Taoist Friend Si, bring her in."

Seeing Si Minglan covered in blood, barely breathing, Qin Gengyun cared little for propriety and instructed Fang Xue.

He and Liu Su were using Mist Spirit Eye to heal his wife, so none of the three could move.

Thus, Fang Xue had to undress Si Minglan and help her into the bathtub.

"Take Third Elder Sister’s clothes off? Bathe with you?"

Hearing Qin Gengyun’s words, Fang Xue’s mouth dropped wide, able to fit a whole cantaloupe, with her pure head seemingly jammed with a dirty metal rod, stirring her thoughts.

Her mind, originally pure as paper, was muddled.

"Hurry, your Third Elder Sister is dying!"

Liu Su urged, and Fang Xue responded, no longer worrying, quickly removing Si Minglan’s clothes.

Si Minglan wore tight black attire, the clothes full of slashes from various weapons, obviously from an assassination mission.

Soon her clothes were removed, revealing a fair, jade-like body to them.

"Badly injured!"

Liu Su couldn’t help but gasp.

Si Minglan’s plump, beautiful body was covered with wounds—sword cuts, knife slashes, burns, scorch marks, imprints—showcasing effects of various weapons and cultivation techniques.

Sword and knife wounds likely came from guards near the West Imperial Prince, perhaps some were cultivators.

Burns and scorch marks were inflicted by disciples of the Thunder Sword Sect, whose techniques release lightning, creating charred wounds.

As for the imprints, they were deeply embedded in Si Minglan’s back, collapsing her jade-like back slightly, likely breaking all the bones inside.

"Thunderclap Palm."

Qiu Zhihe said.

"Thunderclap Palm of the Thunder Sword Sect? It’s said to be a technique for disciples at the late Foundation Establishment."

Qin Gengyun remembered hearing about the "Thunderclap Palm" and, recalling rumors overheard yesterday at Moon Drinking Tower, suddenly exclaimed:

"Was Si injured by someone at Foundation Establishment Peak?"

Qiu Zhihe nodded, Liu Su clicked her tongue:

"How many people did this fox spirit fight with? She’s still alive, stubborn!"

Following Qin Gengyun’s instructions, Fang Xue placed Si Minglan into the bathtub, seating her cross-legged beside Qin Gengyun and Liu Su, forming a triangle.

She then placed Si Minglan’s left and right hands respectively on Qin Gengyun’s and Liu Su’s abdomens.

This connected their Spiritual Power with Si Minglan, enabling her healing.

During the process, Fang Xue inevitably saw the scene inside the bathtub.

Qiu Zhihe and Liu Su were fine, both women, but she dared not glance at Qin Gengyun even once, her cheeks reddened as she arranged Si Minglan.

Turning around, she quickly asked, "Uncle Qin, Sisters, is there hope for Third Elder Sister?"

A moment passed without an answer, but she heard the sound of splashing water.

Unable to resist, she turned to see the water in the bathtub swirling into two whirlpools.

One surrounded Qiu Zhihe, the other circled Si Minglan.

Si Minglan’s deathly pale face visibly grew more flushed.

Some minor sword and blade wounds began to heal slowly, though more severe wounds required more time to recover.

"Don’t worry, Xiaoxue, your Third Elder Sister won’t die; she should awaken after a day and a night."

Liu Su said to Fang Xue.

"Thank you, thank you all!"

Fang Xue gratefully bowed to the three in the bathtub, lowering her head, but seeing Qin Gengyun’s nakedness, her face turned red.

"I’ll, I’ll go out and stand guard for you."

She said, then hurriedly fled outside.