Tian Ning had long forgotten there was ever a person named Wenren Yang.
She was not a child lacking love; raised in the Old Man's doting affection, she would not grovel for the approval of her mother and brothers. There is no one in this world who cannot live without another.
After returning to Sword Protecting Mountain, she saw Fu Hongming sitting on the usual steps from afar.
"Third Junior Sister! Little Junior Sister! Did you get the Blazing Flame Fruit?" Fu Hongming immediately went to them upon seeing them.
He had been worried during this time, afraid that the two girls would encounter danger outside. Seeing them both standing before him safe and sound, without a scratch, he could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Senior Brother! We got it!" Shi Qinxin was more excited than anyone.
"That's great, Third Junior Sister! It just so happens that I know a Dan Ding Sect Direct Disciple. I saved his life in the Secret Realm, and he owes me a favor. I can ask him to help refine Pulse-Restoring Pills."
Fu Hongming knew Shi Qinxin's alchemy level very well, so he had planned ahead.
Shi Qinxin knew her Senior Brother's kindness. Even if their Sword Protecting Mountain line was completely ruined and became trash in everyone's mouths, the senior and junior brothers had never looked down on each other; they would only help each other silently behind the scenes.
She smiled, "No need, Senior Brother. Little Junior Sister will help me refine the Pulse-Restoring Pills."
"Little Junior Sister also knows alchemy?" Fu Hongming was surprised.
Pulse-Restoring Pills are not low-grade pills. Third Junior Sister seemed very confident in Little Junior Sister.
Tian Ning patted her chest: "Senior Brother, don't worry!"
So, the three of them went to Tian Ning's courtyard together.
Tian Ning didn't waste any time; she directly took out her cooking stove and immediately prepared to start alchemy.
She knew Third Senior Sister had been waiting for this moment for a long time. She wanted to refine the Pulse-Restoring Pills as soon as possible and allow Third Senior Sister to wield her sword again.
"L-Little Junior Sister's alchemy..." Fu Hongming pointed at the cooking stove, his tone stiff. He didn't even want to say it was a Pill Furnace!
Is this really reliable?
Shi Qinxin, having witnessed Tian Ning's alchemy skills, was incredibly confident: "Senior Brother, don't worry! Little Junior Sister's cooking stove is an Ancient Artifact! It's incredibly powerful!"
Ancient Artifact?
Third Junior Sister, are you speaking nonsense?
Even the Sect Leader wouldn't have seen such a thing. How could Little Junior Sister have one!
Fu Hongming looked at her with the expression, "Are you kidding me...?"
How is it that after one trip outside the Sect, Third Junior Sister seems even crazier? Did she infect Little Junior Sister too?
Fu Hongming felt bitter in his heart. His poor Third Junior Sister!
Shi Qinxin completely ignored his sad mood. Looking at Tian Ning's busy figure, she said, "Little Junior Sister will definitely be hungry after refining the pills! Plus, she's been traveling. I should go make some delicious food. That way, Little Junior Sister can rest well after alchemy…"
She left the courtyard to prepare ingredients.
Fu Hongming was somewhat surprised. In less than half a month, their relationship had become so good?
You see, since that incident five years ago, Third Junior Sister, because of the former Fifth Junior Sister, developed a fear of women. She subconsciously felt that all women were like the former Fifth Junior Sister—hypocritical and full of schemes.
Fu Hongming had nothing to do at this time.
Today, he checked in on Master's breathing and practiced his swordsmanship. He sat in the courtyard watching Tian Ning perform alchemy and Shi Qinxin who occasionally brought in plates of dishes.
Afraid that the aroma of the food would affect Little Junior Sister's alchemy, Shi Qinxin specially used Spiritual Energy to isolate the smell from the dishes.
Long Aotien, who had spent the day picking up trash outside, saw Shi Qinxin busily cooking and bringing food to Tian Ning's courtyard upon returning.
Third Senior Sister and Little Junior Sister are back?
But what is this situation?
As soon as Long Aotien entered Tian Ning's courtyard, he saw piles of food: braised pork, crispy fried crucian carp, bamboo shoots with roast goose, northern mushrooms with chicken, steamed lamb… it was almost a full Manchu-Han banquet!
"Did Third Senior Sister make this for Little Junior Sister?" Long Aotien sat down next to Fu Hongming in shock. Although unbelievable, he still lowered his voice: "Third Senior Sister's illness… doesn't she engage in female competition?"
Since five years ago, he hadn't seen Third Senior Sister give a woman a good look. When Third Senior Sister went crazy, she would even slap a female Spirit Beast twice.
He suspected Third Senior Sister had poisoned the dishes!
"Fourth Junior Brother, your Third Senior Sister has been normal since she returned this morning until now. I can tell she genuinely cares for Little Junior Sister. It seems they must have experienced something together in the Secret Realm…" Fu Hongming said directly.
Long Aotien was shocked again. Third Senior Sister was actually able to remain normal for so long.
Fu Hongming continued: "Third Junior Sister and Little Junior Sister got the Blazing Flame Fruit."
"That's good news. Senior Brother, did you ask any Pill Cultivators you know for help? If not, I have a friend who owes me a favor…" Before he finished speaking, he suddenly saw something.
Because he was too surprised by Shi Qinxin making food for Tian Ning, he hadn't noticed Tian Ning performing alchemy in front of the Large Stove…???
Long Aotien subconsciously dismissed the idea in his mind. The Large Stove is for cooking; how could it be used for alchemy!
But… Little Junior Sister's busy appearance seems like she's really performing alchemy?
"Fourth Junior Brother, you guessed right." Fu Hongming gave him the answer.
Long Aotien: "..."
"You just let her do whatever she wants? Blazing Flame Fruit is incredibly rare; otherwise, a Pulse-Restoring Pill would not be so hard to obtain!"
"It was Third Junior Sister's idea."
Fu Hongming understood Long Aotien. Anyone who saw Tian Ning using a cooking stove to perform alchemy would have their worldview shattered! However, he had been sitting here for an afternoon, watching Little Junior Sister's skilled movements, and he felt much more at ease.
"Let's just wait quietly. I believe Little Junior Sister will succeed."
Long Aotien didn't say anything; he just kept staring at Tian Ning.
About half an hour later, Shi Qinxin's dishes were ready, and Tian Ning was almost finished. She formed a pill seal, confirmed that the pills were formed, and opened the pot lid in front of the three of them.
Ten Top-Grade Pulse-Restoring Pills lay neatly inside.
"Damn! A full furnace of Top-Grade pills? Senior Brother, did you see that too? My eyes aren't playing tricks on me, are they?!" Long Aotien grabbed Fu Hongming's collar and shook him vigorously. Although he wasn't a Pill Cultivator, he knew the concepts of Top-Grade Pills and high yield rates.
"Your eyes are fine…" Fu Hongming's exclamation was interrupted by his shaking.
"Third Senior Sister, here you go!"
Shi Qinxin took the Pulse-Restoring Pill from Tian Ning and swallowed it without hesitation.
A warm current surged through her body, her meridians seemed to be burning. She sat down on the spot and began to refine the Pulse-Restoring Pill in her body.
Tian Ning took another one and gave it to Fu Hongming: "Senior Brother, give this to Second Senior Brother. I'll split the remaining Pulse-Restoring Pills with Third Senior Sister."
"Little Junior Sister…" Fu Hongming looked a little awkward: "Thank you for thinking of Second Senior Brother."
Tian Ning looked up at the sky. Oh, it's dark already.
"Senior Brother, after I finish eating, I'm going to check how your swordsmanship is."
"..."
"