Chapter 152: Ning Xiaochuan is an Upright Heart Nurturer

Chapter 152: Ning Xiaochuan is an Upright Heart Nurturer

"Is there really an Emperor in this world?" Ning Xiaochuan's heart was filled with curiosity.

Yue Mingsong said, "Who can say for sure? But the Emperor's Tomb Forest is indeed a strange place, filled with ancient graves and tombs that have existed for thousands of years. Six days ago, the celestial phenomenon of the 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons' appeared above the tomb forest, shocking the entire Emperor's Ruins."

The celestial phenomenon in the Emperor's Tomb Forest drew the Natives of the Emperor's Ruins to the area, resulting in casualties among the disciples of the Emperor's Martial Palace. Now, the entire Ghost Dream Wilderness had become unsafe.

"These Natives must know something. The Emperor's Tomb Forest wouldn’t just produce a celestial phenomenon for no reason," Ning Xiaochuan pondered.

For the warriors of the Emperor's Martial Palace, the phenomenon in the Ghost Dream Wilderness was merely a celestial event. But for the Native warriors, it might hold some other special significance. Naturally, their levels of concern differed.

A disciple at the Peak of the Seventh Level of the Divine Body Realm had died by the small lake, proving that the surrounding area was unsafe. The four of them—Ning Xiaochuan, Jin Quexi, Xie Mengyao, and Yue Mingsong—found a hidden cave to take temporary shelter.

Jin Quexi was the most severely injured. A broken crimson sword had pierced through her body, its flames continuously expanding her wound and weakening her further.

"Lie down first," Ning Xiaochuan instructed before reaching to undo her robes.

"What are you doing?" Jin Quexi wore a guarded expression, thrusting her battle sword into the ground and summoning a blade of sword energy.

However, the exertion aggravated her injuries, nearly causing her to faint from the pain.

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head lightly, taking the sword from her hand. He supported her waist and gently laid her on the ground.

Rip.

He opened her robe, revealing her snow-white body clad only in a light cyan undergarment. A faint fragrance lingered around her, accentuating her graceful curves.

Jin Quexi’s figure was naturally well-developed, being a few years older than Yu Qianqian and Xie Mengyao. Every contour was perfectly defined—where it should rise, it rose; where it should dip, it dipped.

Her chest was tightly bound with thick white gauze, flattening her ample bosom beneath.

The reason for this was simple: female warriors often engaged in combat. Without tightly binding their chests, vigorous movements would cause excessive motion, greatly hindering their speed and precision.

The broken crimson sword had struck just above her chest, below the collarbone.

Ning Xiaochuan’s gaze remained calm as he condensed a small blade of Profound Qi at his fingertip, preparing to cut through the gauze.

Jin Quexi reached out with a jade-white hand, gripping his wrist tightly. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, her long lashes framing dark pupils as she bit down on her pearly teeth, staring straight at him.

Ning Xiaochuan paused, unsure whether to proceed.

From a distance, Yue Mingsong tilted his head, eyes wide as he urged, "Go on, go on! Ning Xiaochuan is an Intermediate Heart Nurturer. He’s doing this to save you—it’s for your own good. You should trust him. It’s just a layer of cloth… just a layer of cloth…"

Yue Mingsong licked his lips, craning his neck so far it nearly snapped as he strained to get a better look.

"Swish!"

Jin Quexi gripped her war sword again and swung it, unleashing a slash of Sword Qi that sent Yue Mingsong scrambling out of the cave in terror. But he was a step too slow—a chunk of flesh was sliced off his calf by the Sword Qi.

"If you dare take another look, I’ll gouge out both your eyes!" Jin Quexi finally collapsed from exhaustion, her war sword clattering to the ground with a loud clang.

Yue Mingsong gritted his teeth in pain. This wasn’t the first time he’d experienced Jin Quexi’s ferocity. If he had actually peeked, she would’ve undoubtedly plucked out his eyes once she recovered.

Was there anything this vicious woman wouldn’t do?

"What’s with the hostility? You’ll never get married at this rate. Well, I won’t get to see it anyway. Xiaochuan, you better look your fill—go ahead and touch her too! Your Senior Jin Quexi definitely won’t get mad. She’d probably enjoy it. Damn, being a Heart Nurturer must be great. I’ll reincarnate as one in my next life!" Yue Mingsong rubbed his hands together, letting out a grating laugh.

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head lightly and carefully unwrapped the layers of white gauze covering Jin Quexi’s chest, revealing a pair of plump, ample "white rabbits." Who would’ve guessed that beneath that gauze, Jin Quexi had such impressive assets?

Though Jin Quexi was usually icy and ruthless toward outsiders, at this moment, she was as shy as a young girl, her eyes tightly shut, her long lashes trembling faintly.

Ning Xiaochuan kept his gaze steady, his fingers lightly brushing against the broken sword embedded in her. Instantly, a scorching wave of heat radiated from the blade.

"This is a broken Third Grade Mystic Artifact-level war sword, infused with the Power of Fire Essence. No wonder even Senior Jin Quexi’s cultivation couldn’t force it out of her body." His expression turned grave.

"Enough talk—just pull it out!" Jin Quexi trembled all over, though whether from pain or the fact that she lay completely exposed before Ning Xiaochuan was unclear.

Ning Xiaochuan enveloped his palm in Martial Arts Profound Qi and pressed it gently against the wound, channeling the energy into her body to seal the Meridians around the broken sword.

"Pop!"

With the swiftest motion, he yanked the broken sword free.

A soft whimper escaped Jin Quexi’s lips as she bit down hard enough to draw blood. Her snow-white fingers clutched desperately at the hem of Ning Xiaochuan’s pants, nearly tearing them off.

Yet, from start to finish, she never cried out, enduring the pain through sheer willpower.

Jin Quexi’s Blood Qi had drained severely, pushing her to the brink of unconsciousness. Ning Xiaochuan quickly dripped a drop of Martial Venerable’s Blood onto the wound.

"Hiss—"

The Martial Venerable’s Blood transformed into a crimson mist, rapidly merging with her body to heal the injury and replenish her Blood Qi. In moments, color returned to her pale face.

Assured that she was out of danger, Ning Xiaochuan carefully rewrapped the white gauze around her chest, fastened her robes, and let her lie back to continue recovering on her own.

For a warrior at the Seventh Level of the Divine Body Realm, the remaining injuries could be healed with Martial Arts Profound Qi.

As Ning Xiaochuan stepped out of the cave, he spotted Xie Mengyao leaning casually against the entrance.

Her injuries weren't severe. After refining the mystic medicines, her wounds stabilized and were now mostly healed. Her alluring eyes fixed on Ning Xiaochuan, whose hands were stained with blood, and she let out a soft giggle. "Senior Jin Quexi is famously hot-tempered. Now that you've seen everything, once she recovers, she’ll definitely settle accounts with you."

Ning Xiaochuan remained calm. "Why are you with them?"

"I joined the Tianli Society," Xie Mengyao replied. Though only fifteen or sixteen years old, her figure was strikingly tall, especially her jade-like legs—slender and long, as if carved from white jade and ivory, tempting enough to make one want to push her down and part them.

Ning Xiaochuan gave a slight nod and didn’t press further.

Yue Mingsong bandaged the wound on his thigh and approached Ning Xiaochuan, whispering, "Let me tell you, you’re dead this time. That woman Jin Quexi has a temper like a Tyrant Dragon. Once she recovers, she’ll gouge out your eyes and chop off your hands. You’d better run for your life."

Ning Xiaochuan said, "To me, she’s just a wounded person, no different from any other."

"Really? Were they big?" Yue Mingsong licked his lips, eyes burning with curiosity.

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head with a faint smile.

"Pink or black?" Yue Mingsong pressed.

"Whoosh!"

A streak of Sword Qi shot out from the cave, sending Yue Mingsong flying. His body slammed into a tree over 20 meters away. Fortunately, he had conjured a Profound Qi shield just as the Sword Qi struck—otherwise, it would have sliced him to pieces.

Jin Quexi, clutching her robes and gripping her war sword, emerged weakly from the cave. She shot Yue Mingsong a frosty glare. "Ghost Dream Wilderness is extremely dangerous right now. We must leave immediately and report everything to the instructors at the Emperor's Martial Palace."

Her eyes briefly met Ning Xiaochuan’s before she quickly averted her gaze, avoiding direct eye contact.

Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "This is indeed no place to linger. The three of you should leave Ghost Dream Wilderness at once and inform the elders at the Emperor's Martial Palace."

"What about you?" Xie Mengyao’s clear, watery eyes fixed intently on Ning Xiaochuan.

"I plan to investigate Emperor's Tomb Forest to find out why those Native experts are gathering there," Ning Xiaochuan replied.

"No, it’s too dangerous!" Jin Quexi objected. "All seven of us nearly died."

Ning Xiaochuan said, "I know how to conceal myself. If it’s too risky, I’ll retreat. I won’t act recklessly."

"I’ll go with you to Emperor's Tomb Forest. I know its location," Yue Mingsong suddenly declared, his expression unusually serious, as if he’d made up his mind.

In the end, they decided: Jin Quexi and Xie Mengyao would return to the Emperor's Martial Palace, while Ning Xiaochuan and Yue Mingsong would press on to Emperor's Tomb Forest to gather intelligence.

"Senior Jin Quexi," Ning Xiaochuan suddenly called out just as she was about to leave.

Jin Quexi’s face paled slightly. She stumbled, nearly falling, before steadying herself. Nervously, she asked, "What do you want?"

Her voice trembled slightly, her heart uneasy. Even she herself didn’t understand why she felt so nervous, unable to meet Ning Xiaochuan’s gaze. This kind of situation had never happened before. In the past, it was always others who feared meeting her eyes, intimidated by her piercing stare. Today, the tables had completely turned.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "Saving you just now cost me a drop of Martial Venerable’s Blood, worth approximately one million Small Coins. Remember to pay me back."

Upon hearing this, Yue Mingsong cursed inwardly. This time, Ning Xiaochuan was definitely dead. Jin Quexi, that damned woman, hadn’t even settled accounts with him yet, and here he was demanding payment from her first. Wasn’t this just asking for death?

Yue Mingsong could already foresee Ning Xiaochuan’s fate. He had seen Jin Quexi completely naked, touched her all over, and now dared to ask her for money? Ning Xiaochuan’s audacity was too great—he was surely doomed.

Jin Quexi also gritted her teeth in anger, clenching her fists. Yet, in the end, she held back her temper and forced out a smile, saying, "Thank you for saving me, junior. However, I don’t have any coins on me right now. Once we leave Ghost Dream Wilderness, I’ll definitely repay you."

Yue Mingsong was instantly stunned. By the heavens, this wasn’t Jin Quexi’s usual style at all!

Ning Xiaochuan nodded and said, "That puts my mind at ease. After all, we Heart Nurturers don’t earn money easily. I hope senior sister can understand."

"Perfectly understandable," Jin Quexi replied through gritted teeth, the sound of grinding audible between her pearly whites.

The four of them set off together. Jin Quexi and Xie Mengyao headed out of Ghost Dream Wilderness, while Ning Xiaochuan and Yue Mingsong ventured deeper into its depths.