Chapter 98: I, Immortal Chen, Want to Live!
ăQingran, where are you two planning to go?ă
"Ah! Master!"
Walking down the mountain path with Yue Qianchi, Li Qingran suddenly froze, blinking her big eyes as she looked around. Realizing belatedly that her master wasnât actually there, she lifted her gaze to the sky, her face lighting up with joy.
"Master, Senior Sister and I are heading to Lingxi Valley to seek medicine~"
ăLingxi Valley? That far?ă
"Thereâs no other choice~" Li Qingran explained, "Elder Liu searched the entire herb garden and could only gather part of the ingredients needed for the Hundred Herbs Detoxification Pill. The rest can only be found in Lingxi Valley, so I plan to head there and search for them."
Saying that, she pulled Yue Qianchi, who was looking completely lost, in front of her.
"Master, this is Senior Sister Yue Qianchi. The Sect Master arranged for her to accompany me. With her watching over me, this journey will be much smoother."
Yue Qianchi glanced around, but no matter how she looked, she couldnât see the so-called "Master" Li Qingran was speaking to.
Awkwardly, she followed Li Qingranâs gaze and forced out a polite smile, clasping her hands in greeting. "Senior⊠uh, hello?"
This was too weird.
Who was Li Qingran even talking to?
She hadnât heard any voice at all.
Was someone speaking directly into Li Qingranâs mind? If so, this was beyond awkward.
Yue Qianchi dug her toes into the ground, feeling utterly embarrassed. She might be the revered Senior Sister of the Sword Pavilion, but outside the sect, she was actually quite shy.
ăYour Virtual Girlfriend has left the Sword Pavilion. Team Mode activated.ă
A small team interface appeared in the upper left corner of Chen Huaiâanâs screen.
Li Qingran was the team leader, marked by a chibi avatar with a little red flag.
Chen Huaiâan was in the second slot as the vice leader, represented by a white-haired Immortalâs avatar, but there was an unknown ăSpirit Transformationă buff attached to his name. áčáŒÎÇđ±Đê©
Yue Qianchi wasnât automatically included in the teamâher name popped up as a pending request:
ăAllow Yue Qianchi to join the team voice chat?ă
"Uh⊠sure." Chen Huaiâan twitched his lips.
The bearded guy had mentioned that some Awakened had companion spirits called ăDivine Brushă with abilities similar to his.
But he doubted any other Awakened had a companion spirit as entertaining as his.
ăSword Pavilion Senior Sister - Yue Qianchi has joined the team.ă
With that notification, Chen Huaiâan found he could now access Yue Qianchiâs basic info.
ăYue Qianchi - Senior Sister of the Sword Pavilionă
ăTraits: Alcoholic, Loyal, Protectiveă
ăBio: Witnessed her parents perish in a fire as a child, nearly dying herself. She was later rescued by Sword Pavilion Master Su Qinian. A Golden Single Spiritual Root cultivator, she practices the Xuanwu Sword Intent and is the Sword Pavilionâs true personal disciple.ă
It seemed that once someone became an ally, more of their details became visible, even including a brief life history.
Chen Huaiâan found this feature very reassuring.
"Oh wow, not bad. This is like having a follower in an MMO, huh?"
He had been a bit wary of Yue Qianchi, worried she might have ulterior motives for getting close to Li Qingran. After all, his Virtual Girlfriend was a walking treasure trove, and he couldnât possibly monitor her 24/7.
But thankfully, this was just a game.
With one simple information display, all his worries vanished.
Suddenly, Yue Qianchi heard a voice directly in her mind.
ăSo, youâre Yue Qianchi? I often hear my disciple mention you.ă
Startled, Yue Qianchi jumped slightly.
However, her adaptability was strong. She quickly turned to Li Qingran, teasing, "Looks like Junior Sister talks about me quite a lot, huh?"
Li Qingranâs face instantly turned crimson.
She fidgeted with her fingers, unable to meet Yue Qianchiâs gaze. "I-I donât talk about you that much⊠Master is exaggeratingâŠ"
ăWith you watching over Li Qingran, I can rest assured.ă
Chen Huaiâan meant it as a compliment, but his words had an unexpected effectâLi Qingranâs eyes reddened.
"Master, what nonsense are you saying!"
She clenched her fists, wrinkling the hem of her dress, her voice trembling.
"I am foolish and untalented, yet I am willing to travel far and wide to seek a cure for you, without a single complaint. Last night, I stayed up grinding and sorting those herbs, straining my eyes to ensure not a single mistake⊠Canât you at least try a little harder for yourself, for my efforts? Please donât say such things, as if youâre entrusting me to someone else!"
Finishing, she wiped her eyes and lowered her head, staring at her feet in silence.
Speaking so boldly to her master was improper, but she couldnât hold back.
Even if she was punished, she had to say it.
Yue Qianchi looked up at the sky, then at Li Qingran.
After a brief hesitation, she finally wrapped an arm around Li Qingran and pulled her into her ample embrace.
She didnât care whether Li Qingranâs master was up in the sky or elsewhere. She scowled and said, "Senior, you take care of your own disciple. Iâm only twenty-eightâI donât want to suddenly have a kid! Itâll ruin my chances of finding a Dao Companion!"
"Alright, alright, Qingran, donât cry." She gently stroked Li Qingranâs head.
"Listen, if your master dares to abandon you, Iâll toss you into the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain and feed you to the demonsâletâs see if he dares then!"
Li Qingran: "âŠ"
Meanwhile, in the real world, Chen Huaiâan fell silent.
He hadnât paid much attention to Yue Qianchiâs joking threat. His mind was still replaying Li Qingranâs words.
To be honest, he had always thought the Hundred Herbs Detoxification Pill was just a game quest.
He had casually mentioned that he was "poisoned," so Li Qingran went off to find the best detoxification pill for him.
But he knew the truthâcancer wasnât poison. It was something far worse.
Even with Spiritual Qi Revival, the bearded guy hadnât guaranteed a cureâonly that an Awakened might be able to try.
"So⊠someone actually cares about me? Worries about me? Fights to keep me alive?"
Chen Huaiâan murmured, his once dim eyes now flickering with a new light.
"Even if⊠even if it's just my companion spirit!"
The bearded guy had said: Companion spirits live and die with their host.
His companion spirit wanted him to live.
His companion spirit was using this game, using Li Qingranâs voice, to tell himâ
Chen Huaiâan, live on.
Donât give up!
ăAlright!ă
Hearing his voice echo through the sky, Li Qingran lifted her head slightly.
Across two entirely different worlds, their gazes met.
Chen Huaiâan pressed down on the communication talisman and took a deep breath.
ăI will not die. I⊠will live!ă
He, Chen Huaiâan, was going to survive.
"You damn heavens, after putting me through all this suffering, you still want me dead?"
"Well, screw you! Iâm going to live!!!"
Baji, curled up in the corner, trembled as it watched Chen Huaiâan shouting at the ceiling.
Boss⊠you might be powerful, but if you survive, I dieâŠ
It shook its head.
ăHeâs lost it. Boss has completely lost it!ă
ăMemory recovery always causes temporary insanity. Looks like heâs getting close to fully awakeningâŠă
ăI need to run! I must escape!ă
Meanwhile, Chen Huaiâan steadied himself.
Before, he had been indifferentâspending money, fighting demonic wolves, facing black-furred ratsâbecause he believed he wouldnât live long.
But now?
If it meant staying alive, heâd do whatever it took.
Slay demons, make money, find the best hospital.
Didnât they say there was a 1.5 million per shot miracle drug?
If one wasnât enough, heâd take ten!
If ten didnât work, then a hundred!
If those failed, there were still acupuncture techniques like the Spring Renewal Needle and Meridian-Opening Needle.
As long as he had money, he would keep upgrading treatments until he was cured.
Chen Huaiâan stood up, his heart burning with resolve.
He marched to the door, flung it openâ
And found a small figure standing there.
The sudden movement startled the girl, making her yelp as she stumbled back and fell on her butt.
Chen Huaiâan instantly recognized her.
Raising an eyebrow, he muttered,
"Three Zero?"
âŠ