Chapter 57: Just Answer Honestly

Fu Lingchuan clearly believed that Chu Xing was lying. Yet, the truth behind this lie was so absurd that he found it hard to believe.

A disciple at the Body Tempering Realm had accomplished something even he could not?

Fu Lingchuan tried to find a trace of a flaw on Chu Xing's face. However, on that face, there was nothing except bewilderment and a hint of confusion at being questioned by an elder.

In the end, Fu Lingchuan suppressed all the turbulent waves deep within his heart.

He waved his hand, his voice carrying a trace of exhaustion that he himself had not noticed.

"You may all disperse."

Only then did the crowd scatter in all directions.

Soon, the courtyard was left with only Fu Lingchuan, Mu Wanqing, and Chu Xing.

The tightly wound string in Chu Xing's heart, however, dared not relax in the slightest.

Yet, instead of waiting for Fu Lingchuan's next question, he was greeted by a faint purple figure carrying a lingering fragrance!

Mu Wanqing took a forward stride, completely disregarding the boundaries between men and women as she grabbed his wrist!

"Senior Sister, you..."

Chu Xing was startled, feeling an icy chill seep into his skin.

Before he could even ask, a stream of cool primordial energy probed along his wrist, swiftly circulating through his meridians as if checking whether he had suffered any internal injuries.

"You... are you really alright?"

"What about your meridians? Were they eroded by the alchemical malevolence?"

Her questions came fast and urgent, entirely stripped of her usual composure and icy demeanor.

Looking into her eyes, which were filled with worry, Chu Xing felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart. He could sense that the primordial energy probing into his body carried a trace of cautious gentleness amidst the chill, completely devoid of malice.

He gently grasped her trembling, ice-cold wrist, stabilizing the exploring current of primordial energy.

"Senior Sister, I am fine. Look, sound arms and legs, not a single hair is missing."

The warm sensation transmitted from his wrist and his steady aura finally allowed Mu Wanqing's panicked heart to slowly settle.

Staring blankly at Chu Xing, she momentarily forgot to pull her hand back.

Seeing her expression, Chu Xing's heart softened, and he was just about to say something more to comfort her.

"Ahem!"

A light cough sounded from nearby.

Mu Wanqing and Chu Xing both stiffened simultaneously, pulling their hands apart as if struck by lightning.

Only then did Mu Wanqing realize that her master was still watching nearby!

A wave of heat rushed straight to her cheeks, spreading from her snow-white neck all the way to the tips of her ears.

Daring not to look at Chu Xing for even a second longer, she hastily took two steps back and returned to her master's side.

Sure enough, Fu Lingchuan's gaze landed back on Chu Xing, and the scrutiny in his eyes was more than ten times heavier than before.

After a long while, he finally spoke:

"From today onwards, you no longer need to work in the Rejected Pills Room. Follow me, all of you."

Fu Lingchuan turned around and strode toward the Pill Hall Elder's quarters.

Chu Xing and Mu Wanqing exchanged glances, seeing a trace of puzzlement in each other's eyes before hurriedly following behind.

Walking in front in total silence, Fu Lingchuan's broad back emitted an indescribable weight. Chu Xing could sense that the mood of this Pill Hall master was not nearly as calm as it appeared on the surface.

His gaze involuntarily drifted toward Mu Wanqing beside him.

He saw her lowering her eyelids, seemingly trying to guess her master's intentions as well.

Fu Lingchuan's footsteps finally came to a halt in front of a rustic, quiet chamber.

He spoke indifferently to Chu Xing, "Wait outside."

With that, he pushed the door open and entered. Mu Wanqing hesitated for a moment before following him inside.

Chu Xing rubbed his nose and could only stand obediently outside the door, like a criminal awaiting sentencing.

The soundproofing of the quiet chamber was not entirely flawless; listening intently, he could faintly catch scattered words and phrases from within.

At first, it was Mu Wanqing's pleading voice.

"Master..."

Immediately following was Fu Lingchuan's low bark, suppressing anger yet laced with deep helplessness.

"Absurd! Do you have any idea how high the risks of this method are? How can this master allow you to—"

"But other than this, there is no other way! This disciple... no longer wishes to drag Master down..."

"Silence!" Fu Lingchuan's voice suddenly turned agitated. "Has this master studied the Dao of Alchemy for a lifetime only to be unable to protect his own disciple? This matter is utterly out of the question!"

After that, there were no more arguments, and a long silence ensued.

Chu Xing furrowed his brows, feeling increasingly uneasy. Judging by the sound of it, it seemed Mu Wanqing was begging Fu Lingchuan for something, and that matter carried immense risk.

Just as his thoughts were churning, the door of the quiet chamber creaked open from the inside.

The person who walked out was Mu Wanqing.

Her eye rims were slightly red, and her icy eyes carried a mixture of struggle and shyness.

"Junior Brother..."

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum. "Whatever Master asks you later... you... you must answer truthfully."

Chu Xing was stunned, wanting to ask for clarification.

Yet Mu Wanqing seemed to have mustered enormous courage as she suddenly raised her head, her eyes briefly locking with his.

"Also... if there is a matter that requires your help... would you... would you be willing?"

Her words came in fragments, her voice growing lower and lower until the final syllables were completely inaudible.

Before Chu Xing could reply, she fled like a startled rabbit, not daring to linger a moment longer.

"What on earth is all this?"

Chu Xing stood in place, completely baffled. Weren't they just arguing? Why would she want his help now?

"Come in."

From within the quiet chamber came Fu Lingchuan's slightly weary voice.

Taking a deep breath to banish all distracting thoughts, Chu Xing pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The furnishings within the quiet chamber were very simple: a wide purple-wood desk, several rows of bookshelves laden with classics, and a faint lingering fragrance of pills and ink filling the air.

Fu Lingchuan sat behind the desk, his eyes fixed squarely on Chu Xing.

Biting the bullet, Chu Xing stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Disciple Chu Xing pays respects to Elder Fu."

Without telling him to rise, Fu Lingchuan simply stared at him in silence.

"Raise your head."

After a long time, Fu Lingchuan slowly spoke.

Chu Xing raised his head as instructed.

"How old are you this year?"

"Replying to Elder, this disciple is eighteen this year."

"Where is your home? Who are your parents?"

"Replying to Elder, this disciple hails from the Southern Chen Domain. As for my parents, they are merely country folk."

Chu Xing answered calmly. All this information was recorded in the sect archives.

Fu Lingchuan nodded, unsurprised by the answer. He fell silent for a moment, and the aura around him suddenly shifted drastically.

"I am going to ask you a question next, and you must answer honestly without a single word of falsehood. This matter concerns Wanqing's life, and it also concerns your own future."

A chill struck Chu Xing's heart. He swept away all stray thoughts and nodded solemnly:

"Please ask, Elder. This disciple would never dare to deceive."

Fu Lingchuan took a deep breath and asked: "Let me ask you... are you still a virgin?"

"Huh?"

Thinking he had misheard, Chu Xing froze completely in his tracks.

What on earth? Why is this old man asking this?

Looking at Fu Lingchuan's utterly serious face, the corners of Chu Xing's mouth twitched uncontrollably. Could this Pill Hall master harbor some unknown, peculiar fetish? Or was this a hidden requirement for joining the Pill Hall?