When the time came, it would be difficult for a gravely injured Yu Yaoguang to protect her.

The circumstances were rather complicated, and Yu Yaoguang couldn’t be bothered to elaborate, so she simply glossed over it.

But Fang Shuwen knew it wasn’t as simple as she made it out to be.

He only needed to know the general gist of the situation, and that was enough.

And with what she had said, some things started to make sense.

"So that’s why the Hundred Ghosts Hall suddenly started making provocations. They were actually trying to force you out of hiding."

"The Master of the Hundred Ghosts was seriously injured, and your condition was unknown. If you had shown yourself during last night’s provocation... they probably wouldn’t have dared to make a move."

"But since you’re hiding here to heal, they know the situation is in their favor."

"That’s why the Hundred Ghosts Hall and the Dragon Emperor Hall have teamed up to annihilate your Yuqing Pavilion!"

At these words, Yu Yaoguang sneered. She slammed her palm on the stone platform beside her and made to rise.

"How dare they! If I hadn’t been forced to abort my seclusion that night, leaving my Inner Breath unstable, how could the Master of the Hundred Ghosts have possibly fought me to a stalemate where we were both wounded?"

"That pathetic Asura Death Qi..."

Fang Shuwen froze, quickly covering his eyes with his hands and peeking through the gaps between his fingers.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! It’s not proper for you to get up like that."

Yu Yaoguang remembered her situation. When she looked back at Fang Shuwen, she was so exasperated she almost laughed.

"You talk a good game, but you could fit an egg through the gaps between your fingers."

"You little scoundrel, so dishonest!"

’He felt that was a bit unfair. He was a very honest person—refined, polite, and principled. How was he being dishonest?’

Seeing Yu Yaoguang settle back down, Fang Shuwen finally asked:

"So, about your injuries... when exactly will you be healed?"

Yu Yaoguang’s expression darkened once more.

"This Asura Death Qi is incredibly tenacious. It’s nothing like your ordinary Cold Yin Inner Strength."

"Even with the chill from this Cold Ice Pond, I can only suppress it... Expelling it completely is no easy task."

"What if I give it a try?"

Fang Shuwen offered tentatively.

He didn’t expect Yu Yaoguang to agree without a moment’s hesitation.

"Fine."

"?"

Fang Shuwen was taken aback.

"That was quick. I thought you’d at least be a little skeptical..."

"I’m aware that you healed Zuo Qingshuang in the main hall of the front mountain."

"Although I haven’t opened my eyes these past few days, I haven’t been unconscious. Wenwan has been speaking to me daily. I’ve taken note of everything you’ve done in Yuqing Pavilion."

Yu Yaoguang looked at Fang Shuwen.

"Why else would I have wanted to see you alone?"

"You didn’t actually think it’s because I’ve taken a liking to you, did you?"

Fang Shuwen was momentarily speechless.

"Even if you took a liking to me, I might not feel the same way about you."

"Hm?"

Yu Yaoguang froze, unable to stop herself from looking up at Fang Shuwen.

But Fang Shuwen wasn’t afraid of her.

"I’m only nineteen. If I were looking for a woman, I’d find someone my own age."

"...Are you saying I’m old?"

Veins throbbed on Yu Yaoguang’s forehead.

While it was true she was no longer young, her profound Inner Strength had kept any signs of aging from her face. She looked no different from a young woman in her early twenties.

After so many years in the Jianghu, she was used to men being mesmerized by her beauty. This was the first time she had ever heard someone indirectly call her old.

This truly infuriated her. Her chest heaved, sending ripples across the surface of the pond.

Fang Shuwen’s gaze was drawn there subconsciously, and he froze.

Yu Yaoguang noticed his gaze and suddenly sneered.

"Hypocrite."

"It’s just a normal reaction,"

Fang Shuwen said nonchalantly,

"People are drawn to beauty and repulsed by ugliness. They prefer pleasant scents over foul odors. You can’t help but take a second look at something beautiful. What’s the big deal?"

"..."

Yu Yaoguang wanted to retort, but she couldn’t find the right words, so she could only scoff.

"You little lecher."

’What was that supposed to mean? "Lecher," fine. But what’s this "little" about?’

Fang Shuwen was thoroughly indignant.

But he didn’t let it delay the task at hand. He stood up and moved behind Yu Yaoguang.

Gazing at her smooth back, he calmed his mind, flipped his right hand to gather the power of the Muscle Strengthening Scripture Divine Technique, and slowly pressed his palm against her.

"Such pure Buddhist Inner Strength!"

"If it weren’t for your wandering eyes just now, I would have thought you were an eminent Buddhist monk."

Yu Yaoguang’s own Martial Arts were extraordinary, so she instantly perceived the profundity of Fang Shuwen’s Inner Strength.

"Stop talking nonsense. Focus your mind. I’m helping you heal."

Fang Shuwen sent his Inner Strength into Yu Yaoguang’s body, and her own Inner Strength was immediately drawn to it.

Without any prompting from Fang Shuwen, Yu Yaoguang guided his Inner Strength, directing it to travel through her body.

She guided it specifically toward the areas corroded by the Asura Death Qi.

The moment Fang Shuwen’s Inner Strength from the Muscle Strengthening Scripture touched the Asura Death Qi, the latter reacted as if it had met its natural predator.

Yu Yaoguang’s eyes lit up.

"It’s working!"

She immediately quickened the pace. Her own Inner Strength was as vast and boundless as the sea; the only problem was that it was ineffective against the Asura Death Qi.

Under normal circumstances, her Martial Arts would have been enough to prevent the Asura Death Qi from invading her body. But when she aborted her seclusion that night, it took a significant toll on her, giving the Master of the Hundred Ghosts the opening he needed.

Once the Asura Death Qi entered her body, expelling it became exceedingly difficult—a feat that could not be accomplished by profound Inner Strength alone.

She had been relying on the chill of the Cold Ice Pond to keep the Asura Death Qi from spreading, but her attempts to expel it had been met with minimal success.

Now, with Fang Shuwen’s help, in just a few moments, the Asura Death Qi—which hadn’t budged for days—was almost completely dispersed.

A few moments later, she had made a full recovery.

Seeing this, Fang Shuwen slowly withdrew the Inner Strength he had been channeling into her body.

At the same moment, Yu Yaoguang opened her eyes.

"Not bad, kid. What exactly is this Martial Arts you practice? It seems different from any Buddhist Inner Strength I know of."

Fang Shuwen rolled his eyes at her.

"Don’t ask questions you’re not supposed to."

Yu Yaoguang didn’t take offense. Instead, she stood up directly from the pond.

Fang Shuwen’s eyes went wide, and he hastily spun around.

"You... You’re shameless!"

The sight was a bit too much for him to handle.

Yu Yaoguang glanced at him, paying no mind to his outburst.

She took a long stride over the stone platform, stepped out of the Cold Ice Pond, and held her hand out to Fang Shuwen.

"Lend me your outer robe. Or would you rather keep looking?"

Fang Shuwen instinctively took off his outer robe and handed it to her.

After she nonchalantly put it on, she scoffed.

"So, am I still old?"