After completing her disguise, Lu Ning felt slightly more at ease.
She took out the remaining high-grade healing medicines that Ji Linglong had forced upon her from the system space.
Looking at the pills and spirit fruits emitting thick spiritual energy, Lu Ning’s heart felt complicated.
She hadn’t expected these “handouts” to become her literal lifesaver now.
Recovering her senses, Lu Ning swallowed a pill radiating a strong aura of life.
It melted instantly, turning into a pure, warm current that surged through her body.
Under the nourishment of this immense medicinal power, her Golden Core, which was riddled with cracks, began to slowly repair itself.
Lu Ning sat cross-legged, focusing on refining the medicinal energy.
Half a day later, when she opened her eyes again, her injuries were mostly healed.
Although her cultivation had only recovered to the Foundation Establishment level, she could at least move without difficulty.
She stood up, stretched her body, and prepared to leave this forbidden area.
She needed to find a place to learn about the current situation in Hundred Blossoms Valley.
However, before she could take more than a few steps, the crisp sound of silver bells and the laughter of women reached her from nearby.
Startled, Lu Ning quickly hid behind a large boulder and peeked out cautiously.
A few young women wearing the disciple uniforms of Hundred Blossoms Valley were walking toward her, carrying flower baskets and chatting.
Hundred Blossoms Valley only recruited female disciples; Lu Ning knew this well.
Their cultivation levels weren’t very high — mostly at the Foundation Establishment level — but Lu Ning didn’t dare lower her guard.
She knew that while their combat power might be weak, their methods with medicine and poison were endless and unpredictable.
The leader appeared to be about 17 or 18 years old.
She was very pretty, with a pair of lively eyes flashing with a cunning light.
Wearing a light purple disciple robe with an exquisite medicine gourd hanging from her waist, she seemed to hold a high position.
The moment Lu Ning saw her, her pupils constricted.
Hua Lingyue!
She was Sect Master Su Yuexi’s personal disciple, the Eldest Senior Sister of Hundred Blossoms Valley, and a Soul Transformation Stage powerhouse.
Lore about this character from the game Immortal Demon Era immediately flooded Lu Ning’s mind.
She was an NPC who had left a deep impression on Lu Ning, simply because she was a complete weirdo.
She possessed the one-in-a-million Hundred Herbs Physique.
Her talent in both medicine and poison even surpassed her master, Su Yuexi. But this woman was a total slacker who spent her days idling around.
Her favorite hobby was verbally flirting with the beautiful junior sisters in the sect.
The reason she had become Su Yuexi’s disciple wasn’t out of respect for her strength, but simply because she was captivated by Su Yuexi’s gentle and peerless beauty.
She had publicly declared more than once that her goal in life was to become someone like her master.
Naturally, everyone thought she meant becoming a respected pillar of the righteous path like Su Yuexi.
Only Lu Ning knew she actually meant “becoming her master’s person” — meaning she wanted to be a successful master-romancing rebellious disciple.
Unfortunately, Su Yuexi’s level was too high, and she never succeeded.
Eventually, this oddity with top-tier talent gave up on herself in the late game and became a minor character who just filled space.
Recalling Hua Lingyue’s bizarre personality, Lu Ning felt slightly more relieved.
‘With this plain-looking appearance I have now, she couldn’t possibly be interested in me, right?’
‘Moreover, her current target should be her heavenly beautiful master.’
As Lu Ning plotted, Hua Lingyue, who was laughing with her sisters, suddenly sensed something.
She whipped her head toward Lu Ning’s direction.
“Who’s there!”
Hua Lingyue’s voice was clear, laced with a hint of vigilance.
Lu Ning cursed her luck, knowing she had been spotted.
She stopped hiding and slowly stepped out from behind the boulder.
When Hua Lingyue and her junior sisters saw this stranger, their expressions shifted instantly.
“Who are you? How dare you trespass into the forbidden area of our Hundred Blossoms Valley!”
With a flash of her body, Hua Lingyue blocked Lu Ning’s path.
Seeing the confrontation, Lu Ning hurriedly cupped her hands toward Hua Lingyue and forced what she hoped was a friendly smile.
“Fair immortal, this humble one is Lu Fan, a traveling rogue cultivator. I entered this place by mistake and didn’t mean to offend. I hope you can be magnanimous.”
“Lu Fan?”
Hua Lingyue’s brow furrowed slightly as she heard the name.
She sized up the female sword cultivator who called herself “Lu Fan.”
Plain looks, a cold aura, and cultivation only at the Foundation Establishment level.
She looked like a typical rogue cultivator.
However, Hua Lingyue caught an unusual scent from her.
It was a strange fragrance mixed from countless types of top-tier spirit medicines.
The scent was very faint, impossible for an ordinary person to notice.
But to someone with the Hundred Herbs Physique, it was as clear as a firefly in the night.
How could a common rogue cultivator have such an aura?
A sharp glint flashed in Hua Lingyue’s eyes.
“A traveling rogue?” A playful curve touched the corners of her lips.
“Do you know this is the Fallen Immortal Gorge, a forbidden area of Hundred Blossoms Valley? Valley rules state that any outsider who trespasses here will have their cultivation crippled.”
Lu Ning’s heart sank.
She knew the woman was trying to intimidate her.
“I truly entered by accident,” she explained again.
“Furthermore, I’m not here to cause trouble.”
A brilliant excuse flashed through Lu Ning’s mind.
“To be honest, I came here hoping to join Hundred Blossoms Valley. I wish to abandon the sword and pursue medicine.”
“Abandon the sword for medicine?”
Hua Lingyue’s expression grew even more peculiar.
She sized up Lu Ning once more.
The sharp sword intent on this woman didn’t seem fake; she was clearly a skilled practitioner who had trained for years.
Giving up the sword to study medicine in their valley?
It was a terrible excuse.
“Oh? You want to join our valley?”
Hua Lingyue’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“We can discuss the apprenticeship later. However, since you trespassed, I must take you back for judgment by the Law Enforcement Hall according to the rules.”
Before Lu Ning could respond, Hua Lingyue flipped her wrist.
A rope made of countless vines appeared out of thin air, binding Lu Ning tightly.
Lu Ning was shocked.
She tried to resist but found her internal True Essence suppressed by a strange force, making it impossible to move a muscle.
“You…”
Lu Ning looked at her with a mix of shock and anger.
“Don’t waste your energy,” Hua Lingyue laughed triumphantly.
“This was refined from a 1,000-year-old spirit vine, specifically designed to deal with dishonest people like you. But don’t worry.”
Hua Lingyue leaned in close, a mischievous smile playing on her pretty face.
“Before I hand you over to the Law Enforcement Hall, I’ll personally ‘examine’ your body. I need to make sure you didn’t take anything you shouldn’t have from the forbidden area. Especially…”
She reached out a finger and gently hooked Lu Ning’s chin, her lively eyes full of curiosity.
“Where did that pleasant medicinal fragrance on you come from?”
Lu Ning was completely stunned.
A body search?
And a body search by this genuine lesbian flirt?
This was a disaster!