Especially after Jiang Chen heard Ling Hui'er's words, his gaze involuntarily drifted across Ling Bi'er's chest, which nearly made her faint on the spot.
Good heavens!
Ling Bi'er's face turned crimson, and she wished she could draw her sword and cut her own throat right then and there.
Jiang Chen hadn't intended any impropriety—it was simply a natural reaction triggered by the younger sister's words.
But that one glance still made Ling Bi'er feel as though she had been stripped bare and examined head to toe.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Jiang Chen cleared his throat softly. "Please sit for a moment. I'll go prepare some refreshments."
Jiang Chen was a perceptive man. He knew that if he didn't remove himself from the situation, Ling Bi'er would have no way to save face.
Only after Jiang Chen left did Ling Bi'er steady herself against a chair to keep from collapsing, gently pressing a hand to her chest.
"Hui'er, are you determined to anger your sister to death?"
Ling Hui'er was utterly nonchalant. "Sister, this Senior Brother Jiang Chen is just awful. You—one of the foremost beauties of the Myriad Phenomena Region—grace his doorstep, and that should be the blessing of several lifetimes for him! Yet he won't even give you face! Hmph, a man like that deserves to stay a bachelor for life."
Ling Bi'er was left speechless. She had clearly come to exchange insights on alchemy, but the way Hui'er put it, it sounded as though she were trying to seduce the man.
How could the proud Ling Bi'er tolerate such a thing?
"Ling Hui'er, if you spout any more nonsense like that, I'll lock you up for three years when we get back!"
This was Ling Bi'er's ultimate threat. Sure enough, Hui'er's face went pale with fright. She clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with alarm. "Sister, I won't say it anymore! I just thought you were interested in Senior Brother Jiang Chen, so I was trying to play matchmaker. A talented man and a beautiful woman—what's wrong with that?"
Meeting Ling Bi'er's murderous gaze, Hui'er waved her hands frantically, her face ashen. "I won't say it, I really won't say it."
Ling Bi'er pressed a hand to her chest, her gentle and exquisitely beautiful face turning slightly pale, tears welling in her eyes. "Hui'er, Mother passed away early. Father, years ago, ventured deep into the most perilous regions across the lands to provide for the two of us, and he was afflicted by a strange poison. You were only five then, and I was seven. On his sickbed, Father grasped my hand and implored me to look after you, to take care of you. Later, when we entered Danqian Palace, even the elders of the Herbal Hall were powerless against Father's poison. Do you understand the burden we carry? I observed that Junior Brother Jiang Chen is an extraordinary talent in alchemy, and I hoped to draw some inspiration from him. But you had to go and spout your ridiculous nonsense. Do you think I don't know about Senior Brother Shen's intentions? Do you think I still have any appetite for romantic pursuits? Until the poison in Father's body is removed, I, Ling Bi'er, will not marry. Whoever can cure Father's poison—I, Ling Bi'er, will serve him as a maidservant for the rest of my life, and what harm would that do? Hui'er, when you talk like this, my reputation is a small matter, but aren't you making Junior Brother Jiang Chen look down on us? Aren't you adding to Father's suffering?"
Ling Hui'er wasn't heartless. Her sister's words struck her hard, and tears began to patter down her cheeks. She threw her arms around Ling Bi'er, and the two embraced and wept bitterly.
"Sister, I'm wrong, please don't cry, okay? It's my fault, I'm the one who's bad. From now on I'll always listen to you. Sister, I love Father too. Like you, whoever cures Father's poison, I'll serve them for life as well."
The two sisters held each other and cried together in a heap.
It was Ling Bi'er who recovered first, suddenly realizing they were in Jiang Chen's place and that weeping like this was hardly proper.
She struggled to contain her grief, wiping the tears from her own eyes and then from her sister's. "Hui'er, stop crying. No matter what, when I go to Huanbo Mountain this time, I will find the spiritual medicine to cure Father's poison."
For a moment, both sisters felt embarrassed. This was, after all, Jiang Chen's domain. Even though he wasn't present, crying like this still felt shameful.
Fortunately, Jiang Chen's absence lasted quite a while before he returned bearing a tray of spiritual fruits. By that time, the two sisters had composed themselves.
"Junior Brother Jiang Chen, I'm sorry—you must think poorly of us now." Ling Bi'er's voice was subdued.
Ling Hui'er, meanwhile, peeked out from behind her sister, rolling her eyes at Jiang Chen.
"Junior Sister Hui'er is innocent and charming—how could I possibly hold that against her?"
Ling Bi'er cast a clear-eyed glance at Jiang Chen and let out a soft sigh. "Since Junior Brother Jiang Chen intends to enter seclusion for his training, we sisters shall take our leave."
Ling Hui'er suddenly darted out from behind her sister and stood before Jiang Chen. "Senior Brother Jiang Chen, everyone says you have the greatest alchemy talent among the younger generation. Do you dare let me test you?"
Jiang Chen laughed. "What would Junior Sister Hui'er like to test me on?"
"Have you ever heard of a poison among the world's rare poisons—a poison without equal, called the Mist of Bewitchment?"
Jiang Chen paused. Why would Ling Hui'er suddenly bring up the Mist of Bewitchment out of nowhere? From the corner of his eye, he caught Ling Bi'er's body sway ever so slightly. Clearly, this question concerned her just as much. She simply hadn't been able to bring herself to ask.
He pondered for a moment. "I once heard an extraordinary person speak of the world's rare poisons. The Mist of Bewitchment, among the Myriad Heavens' rare poisons, can barely crack the top hundred. It can't really be considered a particularly formidable poison. Calling it 'without equal' seems like a bit of a stretch, doesn't it?"
The moment these words left his lips, Ling Bi'er swayed again, nearly losing her footing.
Ling Hui'er's expression became exaggerated. "Can't even crack the top hundred? Senior Brother Jiang Chen, you're not just making that up, are you? I've heard that the Mist of Bewitchment is a poison no one in the world can cure."
Truth be told, among the Myriad Heavens Planes, the Mist of Bewitchment was indeed difficult to rank in the top hundred. But on the Divine Abyss Continent, it might well be a relatively obscure and hard-to-treat poison.
He gave a casual smile and nodded. "I only heard the man mention it in passing. It may not have been entirely accurate."
He naturally wouldn't argue with a young girl.
Sure enough, after hearing his words, the flicker of hope on Ling Bi'er's lovely face faded away once more.
Ling Hui'er stomped her feet in frustration.