Chapter 59: Spirit Plunder (Part 4)

Three days later, inside the woodshed of Tianyin Palace at the Xuanyin Qin Sect.

Lin Fan was dressed in tattered hemp clothes. He slowly opened his eyes, feeling as if his entire body had been crushed by time, utterly exhausted.

He felt as if his bones had been struck by countless blunt instruments; his lips were cracked, and his throat felt as if it were on fire.

His vision was blurry, but a crisp, melodious call reached his ears.

"Look, everyone, he's awake!"

At the sound of that voice, Lin Fan was helped up.

A young girl from the Xuanyin Qin Sect helped him lean against the wooden wall of the woodshed, her eyes filled with a hint of pity:

"Old man, you finally woke up. I found you on the back mountain. You are so old, why did you come up the mountain alone? Where are your children and grandchildren?"

Lin Fan blinked weakly a few times, his vision gradually clearing, and the figure before him slowly overlapped with his memories—it was none other than Cuier, whom he had once spent every day with!

His heart jolted violently, and he forced a hoarse voice from his throat: "Cuier…"

Cuier paused slightly, a flash of confusion crossing her eyes, but she still responded gently: "That's right, old man, my name is Cuier. Did you mistake me for someone else?"

She brought a bowl of medicinal soup to Lin Fan's lips: "Here, drink this; perhaps you will feel better."

Lin Fan mechanically opened his mouth and drank the medicinal soup. The warm liquid slid down his throat, bringing him a sliver of strength.

He panted slightly, his vision becoming clearer, but endless, complex emotions welled up in his heart.

Lin Fan's heart sank as he understood that he had lost his True Spirit. Although he was barely twenty, he was now like a sixty-year-old man; he would likely not live more than three to five more years before dying of old age.

He could not let Cuier know his true identity, nor could he let her grieve for him.

He forced a smile, masking the bitterness in his heart:

"That's right, I mistook you for someone else. I have a niece about your age, and just like you, she is very bright and lively."

Cuier was amused by him, her bright eyes flashing as she playfully responded: "Old man, you really know how to compliment people."

She then took a small cloth bag from her bosom and handed it to Lin Fan:

"Here, take this. These are spirit fruits from our Xuanyin Qin Sect. Eat them slowly and recover well."

Lin Fan's eyes flickered, and he immediately asked: "Cuier… how is Lin Chen?"

Hearing Lin Chen's name, Cuier paused slightly in surprise. I didn't expect even you to know of Senior Sister Lin Chen's reputation.

It is Senior Sister Lin Chen, after all; not only is she beautiful, but she is also the number one on the challenge leaderboard, and she even withstood the Lightning Tribulation three days ago.

Who wouldn't know of such a legend?

She then smiled and said: "She should be in the Qimeng Courtyard right now, being taught by Fairy Qimeng."

Lin Fan squeezed out a few more words in a hoarse voice:

"I… want to see her."

Cuier looked at Lin Fan's expectant expression and nodded gently:

"That's true. Since you've come, you should definitely see Senior Sister Lin Chen. Rest well for now, and when your body is a bit better, I will take you."

Lin Fan nodded slightly, his heart filled with complex emotions.

"Senior Sister Cuier, we should go!" a female Disciple behind Cuier urged.

"Alright, I'm coming!" Cuier looked at Lin Fan: "Rest well here, I'll come to see you later."

Cuier returned to the side of the Disciple behind her,

"Today is a lecture personally given by Fairy Fanyin. Senior Sister Cuier, you are her Personal Disciple, we cannot be late…"

The sound of their conversation faded as their footsteps moved further away.

"Yes, I know. Let's go this way; I know a shortcut…"

Qimeng Courtyard.

In the courtyard of Fairy Qimeng, Lin Chen lay quietly on her familiar large bed.

Sunlight spilled onto her through the curtains, her exquisite face like a blooming flower, attracting a passing butterfly that landed slowly on the tip of her nose.

As a breeze blew by, the butterfly gently flapped its wings and flew away, and Lin Chen also slowly awakened in this tranquility.

"Lin Fan… Lin Fan…"

She tried to call out to Lin Fan within her spiritual consciousness, but she only felt a void, and her heart couldn't help but tighten.

By the bed, Sect Master Qi Meng, who had been sleeping, was startled awake by her voice. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, a joyful smile on her lips.

"Lin Chen, you finally woke up! Don't interfere with the Heavenly Tribulation again next time. Fortunately, Teacher stepped in to save you."

"Sister," Lin Chen asked urgently, "Do you know where Lin Fan went?"

Sect Master Qi Meng paused slightly, her brows furrowing in confusion:

"Lin Fan? Isn't that the pseudonym for your Incarnation? Where could he go?" As she spoke, she pressed her forehead against Lin Chen's, whispering, "You don't have a fever! Wait, it must be because you fainted from hunger! Lin Chen, wait for me, I'll go make you something to eat right away!"

"I'm not hungry… I just want to know news of Lin Fan…" Lin Chen's voice gradually lowered, and a wave of unease surged in her heart.

Sect Master Qi Meng had already stood up and was hurrying outside.

Lin Chen tried hard to support her body, but her limbs were weak.

A name suddenly flashed through her mind: "Bai Youyou. That's right, she must know Lin Fan's whereabouts."

She struggled to get up, but could only roll weakly off the bed. The sound immediately attracted Sect Master Qi Meng back.

"Little Sister!"

Sect Master Qi Meng hurried to help Lin Chen back onto the bed, her expression full of worry.

"Why are you so careless? Lie down properly and don't move around!"

Lin Chen felt anxious, her voice weak but firm.

"Sister, I want to find Lin Fan. Please, take me to see Bai Youyou. She must know where Lin Fan is!"

Sect Master Qi Meng paused, then shook her head,

"Bai Youyou's status is too high; it is not easy to see her casually. Your body is still very weak right now. When you are better, I will take you to find her."

Lin Chen gripped the bedsheet in frustration, her voice trembling slightly,

"But I cannot wait. I need to know how Lin Fan is. Will he…"

Sect Master Qi Meng comforted her softly: "Lin Chen, calm down. Lin Fan will be fine. You need to recover to be able to face everything."

Lin Chen closed her eyes, trying hard to calm the anxiety in her heart.

Sect Master Qi Meng inwardly smiled bitterly.

"Isn't Lin Fan just the spiritual Incarnation of my silly little sister? If she is fine, Lin Fan is naturally fine. She really was struck by lightning; her brain isn't working well."

Just then, Lin Chen suddenly spoke, startling Sect Master Qi Meng: "Sister, I want to eat something that can quickly restore my strength. The more, the better!"

"Alright!" Sect Master Qi Meng replied, hurrying downstairs to find food.

Before long, Sect Master Qi Meng came upstairs carrying a basket of spirit fruits. The basket was full of colorful, varied fruits that made one's mouth water.

She picked out a few and said cheerfully:

"This is a Spirit Honey Fruit, which can quickly replenish spiritual power; this is a Glazed Fruit, which can restore Origin Qi; and this is a Star Fruit, which tastes delicious and can strengthen one's Physique."

Lin Chen looked at the spirit fruits before her, her eyes flashing with desire. Ignoring her image entirely, she immediately grabbed a Spirit Honey Fruit and shoved it into her mouth, crunching away wildly.

"Little Sister, slow down! Slow down!" Sect Master Qi Meng quickly tried to stop her, feeling both anxious and amused.

Lin Chen couldn't care about her worry at all. Her mouth was full of the sweetness of the spirit fruit, and she felt a warm current surging through her body; the feeling of exhaustion seemed to be instantly dispelled.

"So delicious! Give me another!" As she said this, Lin Chen grabbed a Glazed Fruit and continued to wolf it down without hesitation.

Watching her like this, Sect Master Qi Meng shook her head helplessly, thinking: "This silly little sister really makes one want to laugh and cry at the same time."

But she also breathed a sigh of relief; at least Lin Chen had an appetite, which meant her body was gradually recovering.

"After I'm full, we'll go find Bai Youyou. She must know Lin Fan's whereabouts," Lin Chen said indistinctly while eating large mouthfuls.

Sect Master Qi Meng had black lines on her forehead. So you're just eating to quickly restore your strength so you can go find Lin Fan?