Chapter 6: Master, it’s time to take your medicine…

Inside the Inner Palace.

Gu Qinghuan gently placed Lu Ning onto the Xuanbing Jade Bed.

She gazed at the person lying on the bed, at her pale face, and reached out to check her breathing.

The breath was weak, but still steady enough.

Gu Qinghuan let out a breath of relief, but then the corners of her lips curled up into a playful smile.

She bent down, leaned close to Lu Ning’s ear, and whispered softly.

“Master, you really… gave your disciple an enormous surprise.”

“Now the entire Heavenly Demon Sect still believes you’re the powerful Sect Master you’ve always been.”

“Rest assured, I’ll help you… maintain that image perfectly.”

She gently caressed Lu Ning’s cheek, her gaze filled with obsession and possessiveness.

“See, now that you’ve ‘fallen ill,’ hasn’t all the power of the sect fallen naturally into your disciple’s hands?”

“From now on, you just focus on ‘recovering.’”

“I’ll handle all the sect’s affairs.”

“And as for your body… your disciple will… ‘take care’ of it as well.”

After finishing, she straightened up, turned, and walked out of the Inner Palace.

Outside the hall, two trusted handmaidens were already waiting.

“Your Highness, Saintess.”

“Relay my orders.”

Gu Qinghuan’s voice returned to its usual icy calm.

“From this moment on, seal off the Sect Master’s Inner Palace. No one is to approach. All food, medicine, and pills for the Sect Master must be reviewed by me personally. Understood?”

“Yes!”

The handmaidens replied respectfully.

“In addition…” Gu Qinghuan paused.

“Send someone to the Alchemy Hall and bring me all the spirit medicines in storage that nourish the soul and repair meridians. Remember, all of them!”

“Ah?”

One handmaiden hesitated, “Your Highness, those are the sect’s strategic reserves. They require authorization from the Elder Council and the Sect Master’s own command seal to…”

“Right now, I am managing all sect affairs in Master’s place.”

Gu Qinghuan coldly interrupted her.

“Just say it’s the Sect Master’s will. The Sect Master wants to use these spirit medicines to take her cultivation to the next level. Anyone who dares to stand in the way—kill without mercy!”

“Yes…”

The handmaiden shivered inwardly, dared not speak further, and hurried off to carry out her orders.

Watching the handmaiden’s retreating figure, Gu Qinghuan slowly turned back and glanced at the tightly shut doors of the Inner Palace, the corner of her lips rising into a meaningful smile.

[Master, oh Master.]

[You put on such an elaborate act just so you could rest in peace and recover your cultivation, didn’t you?]

[But how could your disciple… let you recover so easily?]

[You’re so adorable like this.]

[I want to watch you like this a little longer.]

[As for those medicines that could truly heal you, your disciple will “take care” of them for you.]

[And as for the medicine I give you to take…]

[Of course, it will be personally prepared by your disciple.]

[I’ll make sure your wounds heal slower and slower.]

[It would be best if you never recover at all.]

[That way, you’ll always have to stay by my side.]

…

By the time Lu Ning woke up, it was already noon of the next day.

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was an exquisite, breathtaking face.

Gu Qinghuan was sitting by the bed, resting her chin on one hand, gazing at her without blinking.

“Master, you’re awake?”

Seeing her eyes open, Gu Qinghuan’s face immediately lit up with a look of “joy.”

But Lu Ning’s memory was still stuck at the moment her vision went black.

She instinctively tried to sit up, only to find her whole body aching, unable to summon the slightest bit of strength.

The aftereffects of forcibly using the “Demon God Descent” were worse than she’d imagined.

“Don’t move, Master.”

Gu Qinghuan quickly pressed her down.

“Your old wounds have flared up, you need to rest.”

She supported Lu Ning, placing two soft pillows behind her back so she could sit comfortably.

“How… long was I unconscious?”

Lu Ning’s voice was hoarse and dry.

“Almost a whole day.”

Gu Qinghuan picked up the nearby warm water, scooped some with a spoon, and held it to her lips.

“You really frightened your disciple. I’ve been tending to you closely for a whole day and night.”

Lu Ning didn’t refuse.

After a few sips, her parched throat felt a bit better.

Suddenly, she realized that her elaborate Sect Master’s robes and chest bindings had been changed.

In their place was a… pink, silk nightdress with lace trim.

Lu Ning: “?????”

Her face darkened visibly, as if a cloud swept over it.

“Gu! Qing! Huan!”

“Master, please don’t be angry.”

Gu Qinghuan looked utterly innocent.

“When you were unconscious, your body was covered in blood. Your disciple had no choice but to help you change into something clean. I made this myself before. The fabric is the softest, perfect for you while you recover.”

Lu Ning roared inwardly.

This wretched disciple did it on purpose!

But now she didn’t even have the strength to be angry, so she could only glare with her eyes.

“Master, you must be hungry, right?”

Gu Qinghuan, as if she hadn’t seen the fierce glare, smiled and brought over another bowl.

“Your disciple personally made this spirit porridge for you. Please, try it.”

The bowl contained a porridge made from various spirit grains and herbs, sending out an enticing aroma.

Lu Ning was indeed hungry, but she didn’t dare to eat.

Who knew what this treacherous disciple might have put in it?

“What’s wrong? Is Master afraid your disciple poisoned it?”

Gu Qinghuan saw right through her thoughts, and laughed softly.

She took a spoonful of porridge and ate it herself first, then brought it to Lu Ning’s lips.

“See, there’s no poison.”

“Besides, I want to properly ‘repay’ Master. How could I bear to poison you?”

Lu Ning hesitated, but finally opened her mouth.

She did need to replenish her energy now.

The spirit porridge was warm and fragrant, a gentle current of warmth flowing through her empty body.

After finishing a bowl, Lu Ning felt a little stronger.

“How’s the situation outside?”

Lu Ning asked.

“Rest assured, Master.”

As she cleared away the dishes, Gu Qinghuan reported.

“The Qingyang Sword Sect cowards were so scared by your show of might, they abandoned their sect and fled overnight. The entire mountain gate is empty now.”

“Your divine power has spread throughout the entire Northern Region. All those righteous sects are cowering like quails, not daring to make a move.”

“The sect itself has also been thoroughly intimidated by you. All the elders are in awe, not daring to have any stray thoughts.”

“In short, your decisive action has had outstanding results.”

Listening to this, Lu Ning felt a bit more at ease.

At least, the immediate crisis within and without the Heavenly Demon Sect had been stabilized.

Next, she just needed to think of a way to recover her cultivation as soon as possible.

“By the way, Master.”

As if suddenly remembering, Gu Qinghuan took a jade bottle from her storage ring and handed it to Lu Ning.

“This is a ‘Calming Spirit and Energy Restoring Pill’ that your disciple refined especially for you. It uses many rare spirit medicines and will help with your injuries.”

She poured out a jet-black pill that gave off a strange odor.

“Here, Master, time to take your medicine.”

She held the pitch-black pill up to Lu Ning’s lips, her face wearing a “gentle” smile.