The Shangqing Rejuvenation Pill entered the woman's mouth, and Di Xiao used his spiritual power to guide the medicine through her body.
The medicinal energy was quickly absorbed, and the aura of life on the woman visibly strengthened. A faint joy flickered across Di Xiao's face. But one pill was not enough. He hurriedly sent the second pill into her mouth.
As the two pills slowly released their power, the woman's aura grew steadily more stable. Di Xiao's heart tightened with nervous expectation.
"Sister, can you truly wake up…?"
As the medicinal energy was fully refined, the lashes of the slumbering woman trembled ever so slightly.
Di Xiao held his breath, not daring to make even the smallest sound.
Then—
The woman slowly opened her eyes.
Her first reaction was nervousness. "Brother, are you alright?"
Her memory was still locked in that moment long ago, when Di Xiao's cultivation went awry and she had dug out the Xuan Yin Crystal, forcing it into his body to save him.
"I am fine," Di Xiao's eyes reddened. "Xiao Ying, why… why were you so foolish?"
His accident in cultivation was nothing compared to the price she had paid, sacrificing the Xuan Yin Crystal to save him.
The woman's expression turned dazed, as if she too remembered. She had indeed cut out her Xuan Yin Crystal, so why was she still able to awaken now?
"Brother," Di Ying said softly, "for us to continue cultivating, only one of us could live on. I would rather that it be you."
Di Xiao's eyes grew redder still. "But I would rather it be you."
They had been born together, grown together, and in this vast world, each was the other's only family. Of all under heaven, only Di Ying was the one he would abandon his life to save.
"You were just a step too late. That means I win this once." Di Ying's eyes curved into a playful smile.
Di Xiao's hand trembled as he stroked her long hair.
Without the Xuan Yin Crystal, any means of recovery could only delay the inevitable. Even if she had awakened, it would not last. The two grade-nine pills could only grant her a brief period of clarity.
But even this fleeting time was the happiest he had known in thousands of years.
Had it not been for the two Shangqing Rejuvenation Pills, Di Xiao knew he would not have hesitated to kill Yun Jin. No matter her words, nothing would have swayed him.
But Yun Jin had taken out the pills, and because of them, his sister had awakened. To him, this was a debt beyond measure. With such a grace upon him, he could no longer raise his hand against Yun Jin.
The reunion between brother and sister was deeply moving. Yun Jin tried her best to lessen her presence, not wanting to intrude. She and Di Xiao both knew Di Ying's wakefulness would not last. When the medicinal power dissipated, she would sink back into slumber.
This short time was precious for them.
Yet Di Ying's gaze still drifted to Yun Jin.
A curious look appeared in her eyes.
Yun Jin quickly waved her hands. "Senior, don't mind me. You can pretend I am not here. Or perhaps, Senior Di Xiao, you could directly send me out of the temple?"
It was not that she wished to intrude, but that she truly could not leave on her own.
Di Xiao glanced at her, then introduced to his sister: "This is Yun Jin. The reason you were able to awaken is thanks to the pills she refined. However, without the Xuan Yin Crystal, you cannot store the medicine's power. Slowly it will dissipate, and when it does, you will fall asleep again."
His voice carried pain.
If not for this temple, Di Ying would long ago have perished completely. It was only because he had placed her here and nourished her with purest wood essence that her final thread of breath had lingered. Now, with the Shangqing Rejuvenation Pills, she could awaken for a short while. This was already heaven's mercy.
But the ingredients for those pills were nearly exhausted. He could not refine another batch. From here on, he would devote himself to cultivating spirit herbs in this sacred field, in hope that far in the future, his sister might again awaken.
Beyond that, he, as a brother, was powerless.
Di Ying rose from the coffin, bowed solemnly to Yun Jin, and said, "Thank you."
Yun Jin glanced sidelong at Di Xiao.
"Tsk, tsk. Born together, yet Di Ying's temperament was far more pleasant than her brother's."
"It was nothing," Yun Jin said quickly. "The pills had to be consumed soon or their potency would fade. I would not have used them otherwise."
"So pure a life essence… the grade of this pill must be extremely high." Di Ying cast a look at her brother. "Brother, she offered such a precious gift. Have you given her anything in return?"
Yun Jin waved her hands again. "No need for any reward."
So there had been no repayment.
Di Ying immediately glared at Di Xiao in reproach.
Di Xiao: "…"
He gave a cold snort. "Do you know what she asked for? She wanted the Xuan Yin Crystal and the Tian Zhao Stone!"
Yun Jin felt embarrassed. Why bring that up again!
Di Ying was surprised, but quickly softened her tone. "Benefactor, those two stones are bound to my brother's life. We cannot give them away."
Yun Jin hurried to say, "It's fine, it's fine. I truly did not know before. Now that I do, I would never bring it up again."
"Actually…" Di Xiao's voice turned cold, "it is not that they cannot be given."
"Brother?" Di Ying stared at him in shock.
Yun Jin was bewildered as well. Was this man speaking seriously, or only in sarcasm?
She quickly said, "Senior, there is no need to test me. I have already given up."
Di Xiao sneered. "You think I jest? The Xuan Yin Crystal is pure yin, the Tian Zhao Stone pure yang. They were born with us, perfectly matching our bodies. But cultivating with only yin or only yang can never reach the summit. Only by merging both, yin and yang in harmony, can true mastery be attained."
He fixed Yun Jin with a steady gaze. "I once met your master, Wandao Saint. He cultivated a secret classic of yin and yang, interweaving the two with wondrous effect. I have heard you too inherited this scripture."
Yun Jin's eyes flickered, then she nodded.
Di Xiao said calmly, "If you can completely comprehend yin and yang, perhaps you can awaken my sister fully. If you can restore Di Ying, these two stones I will hand over to you without hesitation."
"Brother!" Di Ying's voice trembled with urgency. "These stones are already one with your being. Unless you die, they cannot be removed! Why say such reckless things!"
"As long as you can live, my life means nothing." Di Xiao's voice was utterly resolute.
"Brother, do not be foolish."
"And what you did then—was it not foolishness?"
The words between them were filled with sorrow and love.
Yun Jin felt helpless.
Why must they always leap to life and death so quickly?
She cut in to break the heavy atmosphere. "Senior Di, I will dedicate myself to comprehending the yin-yang scripture. But there is no need to speak of life and death. I would never stoop to such extremes."