"Wow, why is Brother Qin holding Xiaohong?"
Amidst a chorus of astonishment, Yun Wu widened her eyes, full of curiosity. Wei Wan, standing beside her, immediately covered her mouth.
Only then did Yun Wu notice that Qiu Zhihe didn't look too pleased.
Si Minglan giggled, "Qiu Zhihe, your husband is really considerate. Not only did he rescue someone, but he's also carrying her down. As expected, a newlywed concubine indeed captures everyone's affection!"
"Third Senior Sister, stop it."
Fang Xue tugged at Si Minglan and remarked to Qiu Zhihe:
"Sister Qiu, Uncle Qin has always been prudent. There might be some unforeseen developments on the mountain."
By this time, Qin Gengyun and his companions had flown down from the rainbow, with the seven-colored arch retreating back to Immortal Flying Peak. Qiu Zhihe frowned slightly:
"Something's off with Xiaohong."
The group approached, only to see Luo Xiaohong in Qin Gengyun's arms, her cheeks flushed, muttering in a daze:
"Sister... I want roasted meat."
Qiu Zhihe looked towards Qin Gengyun, "What's going on?"
Qin Gengyun whispered, "We'll talk about it when we get back."
Qiu Zhihe glanced at the drowsy Luo Xiaohong in his arms, nodded, and without further delay, the group quickly left from below Immortal Flying Peak.
Countless cultivators around appeared utterly bewildered.
"What on earth happened?"
"Isn't that a Tao Spirit Body? Why did she descend Immortal Flying Peak with Qin Gengyun?"
"The Tao Spirit Body is truly beautiful! No wonder she's ranked tenth on the Beauty Ranking!"
"How improper to let Qin Gengyun hold her in public! I want a turn too!"
"Damn, just the thought of that wretched Qin Gengyun surrounded by beauties at night makes me so jealous I could explode!"
"What treasures did Qin Gengyun, Orchid Fairy, and Xu Caiji manage to acquire?"
As night fell.
Inside the inn.
"Xiaohong swallowed the Immortal Sword she birthed?"
After hearing Qin Gengyun's account, Yun Wu looked worriedly at Luo Xiaohong lying on the bed.
"But why is she still unconscious?"
Qiu Zhihe placed her fingers on Luo Xiaohong's fair wrist and spoke calmly:
"Xiaohong is reconstructing her Tao Heart."
Qin Gengyun said, "On Immortal Flying Peak, Xiaohong's junior brother also mentioned it. Xiaohong didn't want to perish the world, which shattered her Tao Heart. Now that she has absorbed some of the spiritual power meant for purifying the world, it's a prime chance to reconstruct her Tao Heart."
"How long will it take?"
Fang Xue asked.
Qiu Zhihe shook her head, "A Tao Spirit Body only appears once in ten thousand years. Xiaohong's situation is unprecedented across the Hongzhou Continent; no one can predict."
Wei Wan suggested, "So, what should we do now? Should we send Xiaohong to Cyan Lotus Mountain?"
At this moment, Luo Niansheng's voice sounded from outside, "Brother-in-law, can I come in and see my sister?"
Qiu Zhihe glanced at Qin Gengyun. He felt a bit embarrassed and had to go open the door, finding Luo Niansheng standing outside, still clad in a shoulder-baring palace dress, a smug smile on her face.
She had deliberately called Qin Gengyun "brother-in-law" just to remind Qin Gengyun and Qiu Zhihe that her sister was a properly wedded concubine.
Qiu Zhihe showed no expression, and Mo Xiaolan, standing nearby, held her hand, fearing she might strike out at Luo Niansheng.
"Taoist Friend Luo, please come in."
After all, being Luo Xiaohong's elder sister, Qin Gengyun found it hard to refuse, so he stepped aside to let her enter.
Luo Niansheng felt she had bolstered her sister's standing in this domestic drama, smiling as she walked in. Seeing Luo Xiaohong lying on the bed, she exclaimed in shock:
"What's wrong with Xiaohong?"
Qin Gengyun briefly explained Luo Xiaohong's condition. Luo Niansheng's eyes instantly reddened, her voice choking up:
"Brother-in-law, my sister didn't hesitate to shatter her Tao Heart to avoid harming you all. Such deep affection; you mustn't let her down!"
Si Minglan chuckled softly, "Taoist Friend Luo, it seems your experiences at Immortal Brew Tower over the centuries have honed your ability to conjure tears at will."
Qin Gengyun found it amusing as well; Luo Niansheng's nature was entirely different from Luo Xiaohong's. Xiaohong was naive and pure, while her sister turned out to be a master of nuance.
Luo Niansheng, seeing through the comments, didn't feel awkward at all. She naturally tucked away her sorrowful expression and drew a delicate invitation card from her chest.
This invitation, unlike the one for the Immortal Ascension Night Banquet, felt more elegant and gentle, exuding a warm sense of kinship.
Luo Niansheng extended the invitation with both hands to Qin Gengyun, Mo Xiaolan, Qiu Zhihe, and Xu Caihe, saying:
"My mother is overjoyed to hear the three of you successfully acquired treasures and returned safely, inviting the three of you and Saintess Xia to join her at Immortal Brew Tower tomorrow night."
After a pause, Luo Niansheng continued, "My mother said that tomorrow is an occasion for friends to gather, firstly to celebrate your fruitful return, secondly to express gratitude to Taoist Friend Qin for saving Xiaohong, and thirdly... my mother has urgent matters to discuss, so please ensure your presence."
Qin Gengyun was a bit surprised, "Shouldn't your mother primarily be inviting Xiaolan?"
Wei Ying considered Sheng Tanglian a great benefactor. She had waited three hundred years at Immortal Brew Tower for Sheng Tanglian's descendants; surely she would invite Mo Xiaolan to the feast.
Luo Niansheng replied, "My mother says she will visit the Orchid Fairy individually in the future."
Qiu Zhihe spoke up, "In that case, we will certainly attend the next evening."
"Thank you all for gracing us with your presence."
Luo Niansheng hesitated for a moment, "May I have another look at Xiaohong?"
Qin Gengyun nodded, "You are Xiaohong's sister, of course, you may."
Luo Niansheng stepped forward, sat by the bed, and gently caressed the delicate cheek of the unconscious Luo Xiaohong:
"Sister, actually, every time you came to Immortal Brew Tower, I secretly watched you from afar, as did our mother. Despite being so close, our family couldn't acknowledge each other."
"Now that you've finally escaped Yu Weixian's control, at last, our family can reunite."
This time, Luo Niansheng's eyes genuinely reddened as she softly brushed aside Luo Xiaohong's bangs. Luo Xiaohong murmured in her sleep, opening her little mouth:
"Mmm, I want the porridge my husband made."
Luo Niansheng was taken aback, a relieved smile appearing on her face. She rose and gracefully bowed to Qin Gengyun:
"Brother-in-law, I never imagined your love with Xiaohong to be so deep. Now I have peace of mind."
From her perspective, the fact that Qin Gengyun personally prepared porridge for Luo Xiaohong signified an excellent relationship.
Little did she know that Qin Gengyun originally made porridge to "medicate" Luo Xiaohong.
Qin Gengyun understood her misunderstanding but found it hard to explain, so he merely smiled.
Luo Niansheng then also respectfully greeted Mo Xiaolan, before taking her leave.
After Luo Niansheng left, Qiu Zhihe suddenly looked at Qin Gengyun with a half-smile:
"Husband, you treat your concubine very well."
Everyone else wisely remained silent. Qin Gengyun knew that his wife's jealousy had been triggered again and quickly explained:
"Wife, you know I consider Xiaohong like a little sister."
Zhou Ling'Er mumbled quietly, "That's the same thing my father said when he took on a concubine."
Everyone looked at her in shock, and Qiu Zhihe's expression grew even darker.
Zhou Ling'Er quickly covered her mouth and hid behind Xu Caihe, pretending nothing happened.
Qin Gengyun coughed and said seriously, "Wife, don't you think Senior Wei's invitation for tomorrow is a bit odd?"