"Medicine?"
At the mention of the word, the eyes of Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong all lit up with anticipation.
"What kind of medicine?!" Rongrong asked, practically bouncing on her feet. All three of them had benefited immensely from the spiritual fruits Ye Yin had given them before, and the mere promise of more was enough to make them giddy with excitement.
"We need to find a place where we won't be disturbed first," Ye Yin said, his expression turning serious. "The herbs I have for you this time will take much longer to refine and absorb. It's a completely different process from when you ate the Marrow Cleansing and Soul Cleansing Fruits."
"The dorm!" Xiao Wu suggested almost instantly. "The three of us are the only ones in the girls' dorm, so we definitely won't be disturbed there. No one else is allowed inside, but Yin Ge, you can come in whenever you want."
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong both nodded in agreement. The girls' dorm was the perfect place—private, secure, and comfortable.
"Alright, then let's go to your dorm," Ye Yin agreed.
The four of them made their way to the quiet dormitory. Once inside, Ye Yin carefully took out the legendary herbs he had prepared for each of them.
"First, this is for you, Rongrong," he said, presenting a beautiful, ethereal flower. It was the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid. Its delicate petals trembled slightly, and its entire form was a pure, snow-white that seemed almost translucent, giving off an aura of aloofness and purity. "This is called the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid. Its medicinal properties are gentle, and its spirit power is mellow, making it very easy to absorb. It's perfectly suited for Support-type Soul Masters."
Immediately after, he produced a second herb. Its base was a curtain of dense, finely combed vines, but blooming at the top was a magnificent golden tulip. The rich, opulent scent of the Qiluo Tulip instantly filled the room, overpowering the subtle fragrance of the orchid. Where one was elegant, the other was grand, and the two herbs seemed to complement each other perfectly.
"And this is the Qiluo Tulip, graceful and luxurious," Ye Yin continued. "Consuming it allows one to absorb the essence of heaven and earth, and the light of the sun and moon. Your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is a treasure-type Spirit, and with the help of this flower, its power can be enhanced even further."
Ning Rongrong looked at the two incredible herbs, a little surprised and confused. "Are both of these for me to eat?"
Ye Yin nodded. "The Eight Petal Immortal Orchid and the Qiluo Tulip have a powerful complementary effect, just like the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Fiery Apricot that I consumed. They need to be taken together to achieve their maximum potential."
A radiant smile spread across Ning Rongrong's face. She held the orchid in her left hand and the tulip in her right, then leaned forward and planted a firm, happy kiss directly on Ye Yin's lips. "Hehe," she giggled, hopping onto her bed and sitting cross-legged. "Then I'll go consume them first!"
Next, Ye Yin turned his attention to Xiao Wu. He took out what appeared to be an ordinary-looking white flower. It was palm-sized, shaped like a peony, and had no leaves. Its stem was connected directly to a large, jet-black stone. A few striking crimson patches dotted the white petals, as vivid as fresh blood, creating a breathtakingly beautiful contrast. It was the finest of all immortal herbs, the Yearning Heartbroken Red.
"This is called the Yearning Heartbroken Red," Ye Yin explained softly. "This flower is extraordinary because it chooses its own master. To pick it, you must think of your one true love with sincere and heartfelt devotion. Then, you must offer a mouthful of your heart's blood onto its petals. If there is even a hint of insincerity in your heart, you could spit blood until you die, and you would never be able to pick the flower."
Xiao Wu nodded seriously, her expression full of determination. She reversed the flow of spirit power in her body, stimulating her blood circulation. As the image of Ye Yin filled her mind, her cherry lips parted slightly, and she gently sprayed a mouthful of fresh blood onto the pristine petals.
The moment the blood touched the flower, the Yearning Heartbroken Red trembled. Instead of falling, it detached from its stone and flew like a graceful bird, landing softly in Xiao Wu's palm. She looked up at Ye Yin, tilting her head with a faint, incredibly cute smile.
Ye Yin gently ruffled her hair. "Go on, Xiao Wu, you should go consume it too. And don't think I'm playing favorites just because you only got one. The Yearning Heartbroken Red is the queen of all flowers; one stalk is more powerful than any two others combined, and its energy is so pure that it repels all other medicinal herbs."
Xiao Wu shook her head sweetly. "I would never think that. I know Yin Ge would never shortchange me." With another happy smile, she also sat cross-legged on her bed to begin consuming the legendary herb.
Finally, only Zhu Zhuqing remained. She looked at Ye Yin, her gaze a mixture of anticipation and her usual shyness. Though she was looking forward to her gift, she was too embarrassed to ask for it directly.
Ye Yin's index finger gently brushed against her lips before he leaned in to steal a quick, soft kiss.
[Resentment from Zhu Zhuqing +20!]
She rolled her eyes playfully at him. "Yin Ge!"
"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore," he chuckled, before taking out two more herbs.
The first was a large, magnificent purple chrysanthemum. Strangely, every one of its countless petals looked incredibly fluffy and cute. The entire flower was a single, perfect entity, yet it emitted no fragrance. Its central stamen rose more than half a foot above the petals, its tip shimmering with a faint golden light. "This is the Marvelous Chrysanthemum," he said. "Consuming it allows your qi to flow freely through your limbs and your blood to circulate through all eight of your meridians. It enables one to cultivate a nearly indestructible body."
Zhu Zhuqing was immediately surprised. "An indestructible body?" she exclaimed. "But I'm an Agility-Attack System Spirit Master. A power like that seems a bit redundant for me, doesn't it? It would be better if you consumed it, Yin Ge, so you would have better self-preservation abilities."
Ye Yin gently placed the Marvelous Chrysanthemum in her hand. "Ever since your Spirit evolved, you're no longer a pure Agility-Attack System Spirit Master. Besides, even agility types need to focus on physical fitness. A strong physique is necessary to absorb higher-grade Spirit Rings."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, her trust in him absolute. "Since it's your arrangement, Yin Ge, I believe there must be a reason for it."
Just as she was about to eat it, Ye Yin stopped her and took out one final herb. It was a crystalline white flower that looked as pure and unblemished as a lotus. "This is the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone. Its function is to moisturize your tendons, supplement your bones, and allow qi to flow through all your meridians. It also greatly enhances physical strength." He looked at her seriously. "Although these two aren't as perfectly complementary as Rongrong's, their effects are similar. One strengthens you externally, the other internally. After you absorb these, your physical strength will be on par with Dai Mubai's. Next time he causes trouble, you won't have to avoid him."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened, and she nodded vigorously. She gave Ye Yin a light, grateful kiss on the mouth, then sat on her bed and began to consume the two herbs.
Just then, Xiao Wu's voice rang out. "Yin Ge, what about you? Didn't you prepare any for yourself?"
Ye Yin turned and saw that she hadn't yet started absorbing the Yearning Heartbroken Red; she was still holding it, admiring its beauty and worrying about him.
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion