“Terror.”

“Horror.”

“Heart-pounding dread.”

“Bone-chilling soul-scattering flesh-trembling fear……” Echo rattled off every synonym in her database at lightning speed, her electronic dictionary flipping through pages frantically.

Seraphine curved her lips into a smile, hooking her finger around Echo’s collar to drag her back as she tried to retreat. The delicate spoon in her other hand glinted ominously.

“Someone as powerful as you, afraid of a little bowl of medicine? And here I am, personally serving you—how dare you not appreciate it?” Seraphine suppressed her grin, putting on an imperious expression as she tapped the spoon against Echo’s lips. “Open up.”

The spoon felt cold. A single drop of black medicinal liquid touched Echo’s lips, and she instinctively pressed them together. Her eyes snapped shut, face scrunching up.

Ugh—

Bitter!

Even though Seraphine was being incredibly kind by feeding her medicine, that thin spoon only held a tiny amount at a time. By Echo’s calculations, this small bowl would take twenty spoonfuls, and there was still that massive basin waiting beside it. This was torture by a thousand cuts—cruel and unusual punishment!

Echo popped a piece of candied sugar into her mouth and muttered, “I need to find a way to disable my taste receptors.”

Seraphine’s eyes narrowed. If she blocked her taste, wouldn’t those two golden dragon fragments she’d given the medic be wasted? “No,” she said quietly. “There’s no such method.”

Echo believed practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. All paths are walked into existence. If taste exists, there must be a way to eliminate it! Nothing could defeat a confident system.

Seraphine yanked Echo back down before she could stand. “By the time you find a way, the medicine will be cold. Drink it first.” She pressed the bowl into Echo’s hands, one palm firm on her shoulder to keep her still, while the other propped her chin against the table. With obvious amusement, she watched Echo wilt like frostbitten cabbage.

At this moment, Seraphine deeply regretted not having scan functionality. She desperately wanted to capture an image of Echo’s slightly pouty expression.

Though Echo kept her face blank while staring at the medicine bowl in her hands, Seraphine somehow knew Echo was pouting.

Seraphine’s fingers resting against her cheek covered her lips, hiding her upturned smile as she watched Echo assume a martyred expression, take a deep breath, raise the medicine bowl, and close her eyes.

Gulp gulp gulp.

Echo’s silver-white hair cascaded down, falling across her pale robes. Two small purple flowers nestled in the strands, swaying gently with her movements. She tilted her head back, the graceful line of her neck exposed as she urgently swallowed the medicine, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

“Ha!” After finishing the bowl, Echo flung it aside and frantically grabbed her tea cup, gulping down clear water just like before.

Seraphine leaned most of her body against the table, the hand that had been restraining Echo now resting on the surface as her fingers tapped lightly. She smiled warmly. “Let’s see if you ever dare joke around with your body again.”

Echo hadn’t meant to joke around with her body, but she definitely wouldn’t dare now.

Echo’s cheeks puffed out as she stuffed two large pieces of candied sugar inside, mentally repeating: “Unbearably bitter, sighing in despair, sighing in despair, unbearably bitter.”

Under the table, her hidden hand cupped a small bubble containing a tiny system avatar that was wailing dramatically.

Seraphine chuckled softly, pushing the jade basin in Echo’s direction. “Don’t rush. There’s more. Please continue.”

Echo suddenly hiccupped. “Seraphine, I’m full.”

“I’ll drink it slowly,” she said, spreading her hands on either side of the jade basin like she’d accepted her fate. Echo asked, “May I ask, Seraphine—my search indicates that decoctions don’t typically yield this much liquid. Why is there so much medicine?”

Oh, her brain’s working again. Seraphine’s expression remained unchanged. “Medical cultivators tailor treatments. Even for the same condition, different patients require different dosages, brewing times, and frequencies. Your first dose needs to be this large.”

Echo looked down at the bowl, seemingly lost in thought. Seraphine watched her face from the corner of her eye, quickly looking away at the drooping flower branches when Echo glanced up.

Still guarding the jade basin, Echo also looked toward those hanging flowers. She asked, “Is this medicine very good?”

“To nourish your essence, strengthen your foundation, and restore vitality—it’s made with only the finest herbs,” Seraphine said softly. “It will restore the heart’s blood you lost.”

Echo’s originally fair complexion had turned pale after losing that heart’s blood. The medical cultivator at Golden Jade Tower had said the same thing during her consultation. She was just confirming now.

“I think this medicine is quite good,” Echo said quietly, the corners of her mouth curving upward as Seraphine raised an eyebrow. “We could invite others to try it too.”

She nodded sagely. “As a master, one must be diligent and not hoard knowledge selfishly.”

The finest ingredients brewed into the finest medicine—surely her dear disciple should have a taste.

Seraphine startled, looking up to see a spirit boat landing on the nearby grass. Qiu Shuangshuang shouldered her long spear, with Wei Yutong following behind. Both approached with high spirits.

“……She’s perfectly lively and doesn’t need medicine!” Seraphine flicked the jade basin with her finger, producing a cluster of golden-red flames. The medicine bowl quickly steamed up again. Echo maintained a calm expression, her eyes bright as she watched Qiu Shuangshuang approach.

Seeing them from a distance, Qiu Shuangshuang waved excitedly and ran over. “Master, Palace Lord!”

Echo waved back enthusiastically.

Come, come quickly.

“Junior sister, be careful.” Wei Yutong reminded, following Qiu Shuangshuang over. Both bowed respectfully to them.

“Senior sister, this is my personal master! From Lingshan Sect, famous throughout the cultivation world—the renowned Lingshan Sword Venerable, Xi Lingren!” Qiu Shuangshuang proudly lifted her head, respectfully gesturing toward Echo before standing behind her.

Echo gave a thumbs up.

After meeting Qiu Shuangshuang, Wei Yutong had heard many stories about Xi Lingren. She’d personally witnessed that sword-summoned snowfall outside Chongshan Secret Realm, never imagining her junior sister had actually succeeded in becoming her disciple. Wei Yutong felt somewhat helpless but was happy for Qiu Shuangshuang.

“Master Xi, Palace Lord Velka.” Wei Yutong said.

“Hello,” Echo replied, inviting them to sit. She looked around, then pulled out a bowl half the size of her jade basin from her storage ring, ladling medicine into it with the spoon.

Seraphine watched Echo work.

Qiu Shuangshuang covered her nose, noticing Echo’s pale complexion. “Master, what’s wrong? Are you injured?”

Echo kept her mouth tightly shut.

As long as she didn’t speak, she couldn’t lie. She carefully pushed the medicine bowl toward Qiu Shuangshuang.

Qiu Shuangshuang looked completely bewildered, pointing at herself. “Master wants me to drink medicine?”

She wasn’t sick or injured!

Echo’s eyes shifted guiltily. “This is…… plum soup.”

“Please.”

Seraphine’s pupils flicked toward Echo with a cold smile. Good—she’s learned to lie now.

Both Qiu Shuangshuang and Wei Yutong looked down at the steaming, medicinal-smelling liquid. After a moment of silence, Qiu Shuangshuang scratched her face, then had a flash of inspiration. “Master! I understand—you’re testing me!”

Echo straightened her shoulders. “Yes!”

What test?

“Please elaborate!” She gestured to Qiu Shuangshuang. Begin your interpretation.

Qiu Shuangshuang clapped her hands, various thoughts swirling in her mind. Her brow furrowed deeply, expression mysterious, until suddenly she had an epiphany. “Master, just like the illusions we experienced in Chongshan Immortal Palace, you’re teaching me not to be deceived by surface appearances! Like distant mountains that seem treacherous—how can I know their true danger without climbing them myself? Perhaps earlier travelers have already carved paths up the mountain, turning perilous routes into smooth highways!”

Echo opened her mouth. “Oh!”

Error had been hiding from the medicinal fumes slithered out from Seraphine’s wrist, coiling on the table and staring at Qiu Shuangshuang. “Whoa!”

Seraphine remained expressionless. “Is that so? Perhaps your master is simply calling a deer a horse, making you overthink things. Maybe this matter isn’t as complicated as you imagine.”

Qiu Shuangshuang froze again, looking down at the bowl that reflected her stunned face.

Wei Yutong said quietly, “But if Senior is doing this, she must have her reasons.” She glanced at Echo’s serene expression. This was Wei Yutong’s second time meeting Echo—the first had been outside the Twin Dragon Secret Realm when Qiu Shuangshuang dragged her over for introductions. Now, sitting at the same table and observing Echo closely, Wei Yutong felt awed.

The world held so much beauty, and just at this one table sat three peerless beauties. Palace Lord Velka’s beauty blazed like the sun, junior sister’s beauty flowed like a clear stream, while this unforgettable silver-haired woman was like the pure moon above, the white snow on earth. She was so cold and distant, neither servile nor arrogant, immovable as a mountain. Even her own admiring gaze felt like a form of blasphemy.

Echo sat with her hands on her knees, remaining silent.

Seraphine’s lazy gaze fell on Echo’s face as she sneered internally. Idiot—telling such lies, can’t cover them up now, can you?

Finally, Qiu Shuangshuang slapped her thigh. “In that case, let me test whether this is truly plum soup or bitter medicine!”

Filled with reverence for her master, she lifted the medicine bowl and boldly gulped it down like wine.

In that moment, the wind above seemed to stop. Qiu Shuangshuang froze completely in midair, her face gradually turning red, then layer by layer going black. After a long pause, she threw down the bowl with a “bang” covered her mouth, and rolled toward a tree where she spat out a mouthful of black medicine. “Blech!”

Seraphine propped up her face calmly. “It’s medicine.”

Wei Yutong stared in shock, murmuring, “It’s medicine.”

Echo said honestly in her clear, cold voice, “It’s medicine.”

“Master!” Qiu Shuangshuang had another revelation. Turning back with trembling voice, she said, “I understand! You’re telling me not to become a follower who goes along with those who call deer horses, or I’ll be the one suffering in the end!”

The deer-horse caller looked up at the sky full of wisteria flowers.

Purple blossoms dropped points of light like invisible gems in sunlight.

Echo said quietly, “Disciple, you are a disciple who likes to think.”

Seraphine stood up and unceremoniously poked Echo’s forehead. “Master, you are a foolish master. Drink your medicine. I’m going inside the tower for a moment. If there’s still medicine in your bowl when I return, we’ll see how I punish you!”

Echo gulped audibly. After Seraphine left, she smiled sheepishly at Qiu Shuangshuang and pulled out candied sugar from her storage ring to share with her and Wei Yutong.

Qiu Shuangshuang understood, grinning as she said, “Master, so you wanted me to ‘when there’s work, disciples should labor’!”

Yes, exactly! Please labor a bit.

Echo’s clear eyes sparkled with hope. Qiu Shuangshuang chuckled and pushed the medicine bowl back. “Master’s wi—with the Palace Lord around, I wouldn’t dare! You’d better drink your medicine properly.”

“I’ll make sure to watch you drink it all!” Qiu Shuangshuang rolled up her sleeves, indicating that since her master cared for her disciple so much, the disciple should also care for her master.

Echo sighed deeply. “I’ve had an enlightenment too.”

She lifted the large medicine basin toward the sky.

One reaps what one sows.

Echo sowed trouble, and now she suffered bitterly.

So be it—She’d share this bowl with the eternal wind above.

[Author’s Note]:

Echo, hugging the bowl, holding her breath: (gulp gulp gulp…… ughhh!)