Jian Dan had already seen enough of the Tan Song family's way of doing things to understand why Jian Jun refused treatment. But right now, the most important thing was seeing their senior sister. Everything else had to wait. She quickly let anxiety and apology show on her face as she spoke,
"Fairy Tan Song, please don't be offended. Senior Sister Qingfeng's temperament is upright. She probably just doesn't want to owe you. But treatment should come first. If her foundation is damaged, how can she ever serve the Tan Song family in the future or repay your life-saving kindness?"
Jian Jing immediately played along, nodding in agreement.
That one line about "serving the Tan Song family and repaying the kindness of healing" put Tan Songjia in a much better mood. She felt that Jun Qingfeng's two junior sisters at least knew how to speak politely, so she nodded. "In that case, follow me."
She rose and led them slowly toward a more secluded courtyard, leaving Tan Songyu behind with a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes.
As a fellow cultivator, he knew all too well. If his sister's methods had been aimed at her, she'd never agree. And Jun Qingfeng? Her spiritual roots, talent, courage, and foresight were in no way inferior.
To think that someone from another continent had dared to drag the Yu Tao family into danger. Even though he'd been injured herself, there was no way she'd stoop to being under the thumb of someone who called themselves her savior.
Tan Songjia understood this as well. If Jun Qingfeng's injuries weren't treated soon, they'd affect her foundation permanently. Keeping a crippled cultivator who'd never advance again was useless. Even if she admired her, the family would never allow it, especially now that their ties with the Immortal Realm were cut off.
The appearance of these two might be the breakthrough she needed. So she didn't stop them from meeting. After all, these outsiders had no power to resist them.
It didn't take long before they arrived at a small courtyard. The main room's door was shut tight, protective restrictions layered over it. Tan Songjia went forward and knocked against the barrier.
From inside flowed a woman's voice, low and rich as honey "Fairy Tan Song, I'm injured. I can't join your guard squad. Don't waste time on me."
The moment Jian Jun's voice came through, both Jian Dan and Jian Jing finally felt their hearts settle.
Tan Songjia didn't waste words. She turned toward them and gave a slight nod, signaling them to respond.
Jian Dan immediately called out, "Senior Sister Qingfeng, it's me, Yunzu. I came under the sect's orders to find you."
For a while, there was no response. Then the door opened, and Jian Jun stepped out.
Her elegance was still there, but her face was pale and her aura unstable. Jian Dan and Jian Jing took a step forward, about to bow, but Jian Jun raised a hand to stop them.
"You two have worked hard."
She then turned toward Tan Songjia and cupped her hands politely. "Thank you, Fairy Tan Song, for bringing my fellow disciples."
"Qingfeng, you're too polite. I just hope you won't keep refusing treatment."
Jian Jun didn't answer. She simply turned and walked back inside. Jian Dan and Jian Jing also gave a formal salute in thanks before following her.
Once the restriction was restored, Tan Songjia lingered, staring at it. She hesitated, then finally couldn't resist and released her divine sense, trying to eavesdrop.
But the moment she touched the barrier, it bounced her out. Her expression finally changed a little. Still, she only waved for someone behind her, whispered a few instructions, her eyes full of determination, and left the courtyard.
Inside, Jian Dan and Jian Jing found the room simply decorated. A screen divided the space.
The front was a small reception area, complete with tables and chairs made of high-grade spirit jade. A celadon tea set sat on the table.
The screen itself was painted with a starry night sky, the points of light shimmering as if they'd been cut directly from the heavens, radiating an endless vastness.
Behind the screen was only a single bed, built from ten-thousand-year golden nanmu wood, elegant and luxurious.
One glance was enough to make Jian Dan curl her lip in disdain. They wanted to cage Jian Jun like this?
"Hmph, this junk isn't even worthy of being placed before Senior Sister."
She flicked her hand over her storage bracelet and produced a "Heaven and Earth Guarding Formation." After inserting a high-grade immortal stone, the array spread out, shielding them. Only then did the three sit down.
"Jian Jun, Fairy Tan Song said you were injured?" Jian Jing couldn't hide her worry anymore, so she asked straight away.
Seeing them, Jian Jun's lips curved slightly. She had a lot she wanted to ask and even more she needed to explain, but she couldn't brush aside her senior sister's concern. She sighed softly.
"Senior Sister, I've made you worry. Yes, I'm injured. My dantian's damaged. Because I refused to serve as the Tan Song family's guard, they…"
"Jian Dan, can you treat it?" Jian Jing didn't hesitate, directly turning to her.
"Yes, Senior Sister, don't worry. Let me check."
"Yunzu already has a Dao name?" Jian Jun smiled lightly, not making much of her injury.
"That's thanks to you. You pulled her into the Law Enforcement Hall early on. She's now the Hall Master of the War Hall, recognized by both Tian Yun Zhēnzūn and Tian Hong Zhēnzūn."
Jian Jing wasn't exaggerating, just stating facts.
Hearing that, Jian Jun's face lit up with a rare smile. She felt hrt decision back then had been the right one.
While they talked, a thread of Xianyuan energy as fine as hair flowed from Jian Dan's fingertips into Jian Jun's meridians. After a moment she pulled back, her brows furrowed.
It was even worse than she'd thought. Her meridians were almost entirely severed, tangled into a chaotic mess. Her dantian was cracked, barely holding together. If she tried to circulate spiritual energy, it'd shatter completely. As for her sea of consciousness, she didn't dare probe recklessly.
No wonder Tan Songjia had only urged her to accept treatment. Right now, only an immortal pill could heal her. But if she accepted her gift, that'd mean acknowledging her as her master. That was something Jian Jun could never accept.
"Junior Sister, how is it?"
"The situation's terrible. Senior Sister's barely hanging on." She didn't sugarcoat it.
"Senior Sister, was your sea of consciousness damaged too?"
"No. Master left a safeguard in me, protecting it."
"And your meridians?"
"That was from a second round of injuries."
Jian Jing's expression turned grim. She rarely saw her junior sister look so serious. She whispered, "Does this mean we really have no choice but to ask that Tan Song Fairy?"
"You don't need to worry. Let me first explain the situation here, along with the resources we've gathered, and about the other disciples. I hope you can bring them all back safely."
Jian Jun understood her own condition too well. There was no hiding it from Jian Dan, who had already checked her pulse. She'd already made preparations long ago. This was just a slight adjustment, nothing that'd ruin the larger plan.
Jian Dan's brows furrowed deeply. She was giving up. She'd already prepared for the worst. She was certain of it now. In their past life, Jian Jun must not have returned from the spatial rift. Otherwise, with her holding the Heavenly Sword Sect together, it'd never have declined so quickly.
As for Jian Li, who had been the strongest sword cultivator of their generation, she wondered—had he entered the spatial rift in search of Jian Jun, or had he been lost during the great battle against the insect horde at the spatial node? Both were possible.
"Liu Chuan, do you still have any immortal pills?"