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Chapter 288 The "Painless" Pill
For nearly a year and a half after the Heavenly Dao Assembly, Yuan Caiwei stayed in Danshan, helping Yuan Chen wield the sacred artifact.

She walked into the courtyard wearing a purple dress, and her figure looked much slimmer, with a waist that was more slender than before. Under the snow, she had the beauty of a lotus flower in the snow.

She arrived in Shengjing in the early morning, delivered the pills to the Heavenly Academy, rested briefly, and then went to Ji You's courtyard, but couldn't find him.

Later, it was the disciple guarding the mountain gate who sent her a message saying that Ji You was currently staying at the Wulu Trading Company, so she brought her younger brother here.

Actually, she had already anticipated that Yan Shuyi would be there on her way here, so she was somewhat prepared.

In fact, Yan Shuyi was the same. She knew that her "plastic best friend" was always looking for opportunities to cheat on her. She had even secretly gone to Jizhai without telling her, so she wasn't surprised by Yan Shuyi's arrival.

However, although both of them knew this, they pretended not to know.

"Sister Caiwei is here again?"

"With the new year approaching, my younger brother and I came to the Heavenly Academy to deliver the pills. Knowing that Sister Jianzhu would be here with Young Master Ji, we came over to see her."

Ding Yao glanced at her appraiser and thought to herself, "See? Even Miss Yuan knows you want to stick close to the young master. She doesn't need to ask to know you'll be here."

Yan Shuyi felt like she was being treated like a stingy woman who was always looking for a lover, and her eyes narrowed involuntarily.

Wei Rui was taken aback, wondering why there were two older sisters, when she heard Zhuo Wanqiu whisper a few words in her ear.

After sending Ji You to the sacred site of the sages, Yuan Caiwei secretly ran away to Fengzhou, where she bumped into Yan Shuyi, who wanted to hear the people of Fengzhou call her Madam Ji.

The two cunning women spent a whole day in Ji Village.

During this time, Yan Shuyi always addressed Yuan Caiwei as a guest, which Yuan Caiwei resented, so she started calling her "sister" instead.

The only one who was hurt was Yuan Chen, who was truly treated as a guest.

The daughter of the Pill Sect is a bit older than the young master of the Spirit Sword Mountain, so logically she should be the older sister. However, the way she calls Yan Shuyi "older sister" is a way she secretly wants to marry into the family.

Yan Shuyi, with a stiff little face, called her "sister," just as she had when she called her a guest, her possessiveness of food undisguised.

However, the little appraiser knew in his heart that he probably couldn't handle it alone in the future, and even with Ding Yao's help, it might not be enough. Yuan Caiwei might be the savior to share the burden, so he restrained himself a little.

Indeed, in the end, you still need to have good health!
Ji You got up and went into the house, took a stool and handed it to the two siblings, asking them to sit down. Then she looked at Yuan Chen and noticed that he had lost a lot of weight, just like Yuan Caiwei.

"Isn't Yuan Chen getting enough to eat on the mountain?"

Yuan Caiwei looked at Yuan Chen: "My brother isn't doing well with the sacred artifact, so Father won't feed him..."

Ji You looked at her again: "Then why has even Miss Yuan lost weight?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chen immediately said, "My sister always has a dark face. She gets so angry when she sees that I can't do things that she can't eat. She even stares at me while I'm being punished by kneeling. Brother-in-law, don't be fooled by my sister's gentle appearance today."

Yuan Caiwei was making lanterns like the other girls at the table, as if she were at home. When she heard her younger brother complaining, she couldn't help but give him a cold look.

Yuan Chen hid next to Ji You, thinking to himself, "It's one thing to be fierce on the mountain, but to be fierce here is to be careful that your brother-in-law doesn't spank you."

In the past, when they were on the mountain, Yuan Chen would often say that he would ask his brother-in-law to spank him when he saw Ji You, so even though he only said it to himself, Yuan Caiwei knew what her younger brother was thinking.

At this time, the sky was getting dark.

Several women were making lanterns, while wisps of smoke began to rise from the backyard, mingling with the white sky.

Ji You was already starting a fire to cook, and was stir-frying the cured meat in the iron pot.

While he was cooking, he could hear Yan Shuyi and Yuan Caiwei having a conversation that sounded like a fake friendship.

The arrogant ghost asked calmly, "Now that the pills from the Pill Sect have been delivered, should you return today or tomorrow, sister?"

Yuan Caiwei replied, "Sister, it's boring up on the mountain. I plan to stay here until the New Year before going back."

Although the Dan Sect does not practice immortality techniques, the days of alchemy can become tedious after a long time. Yuan Caiwei had not left the mountain for a year and a half, and her trip to Shengjing was also intended to give her a good rest.

To be honest, although she was also watched warily by her appraiser sister during the last winter and couldn't do anything with Ji You, she really enjoyed those lively and leisurely days, except for the incident where she lost her younger brother while the three of them were at the lantern festival.

Yan Shuyi then casually asked her if she had a place to stay, and Yuan Caiwei replied that the backyard of Wulu Trading Company looked quite large.

As a result, Ji You, who was cooking by the stove, could feel the sword energy rising and falling at any time.

Around 1 p.m., the courtyard door was pushed open again, and Kuang Cheng, wearing a cotton robe, walked in from outside.

Today was unusually lively, and with Wei Rui also present, Ji You sent a clerk from Wulu Trading Company to deliver a message to Kuang Cheng, inviting him to a small gathering.

When Kuang Cheng entered, he was somewhat surprised to see Wei Rui: "Why is Miss Rui here as well?"

"I was afraid that Sister Yan would really break off all feelings, so I decided to come and persuade Young Master Ji to take the initiative. But when I came in, I found Sister Yan making paper lanterns with Young Master Ji, and after she finished, she even asked for praise..."

"There is such a thing..."

"Sister Yan is such a good liar."

Kuang Cheng's lips twitched slightly: "I told you not to worry, but why is Miss Yuan here too?"

Wei Rui couldn't help but lower her voice: "Just like last time, they came to see Young Master Ji. Sister Yan is jealous."

Looking at the aloof and peerless Fairy Yan and the Dan Sect's daughter who was murmuring in her voice, Kuang Cheng couldn't help but sigh, "A good body can conquer the world."

Then he rolled up his sleeves and, like Yuan Chen who was tending a fire to avoid the "battle between the two sisters," began to help Ji You.

After one dish after another was cooked, Ji You carried the plates into the house.

At this moment, the young apprentice of Lingjian Mountain got up from the tea pavilion and followed him into the room with a cold expression, staring at him for a long time.

Ji You reached out and picked up a slice of meat, feeding it to Yan Shuyi's moist mouth: "Dinner's almost ready, go wash your hands."

The young appraiser gave him a cold look, then obediently went out to wash his hands.

Yuan Caiwei and Yan Shuyi also got up at Ji You's glance and put their hands in the warm water basin.

Dinner was served in the warm glow of candlelight. It was not yet dark, but the snow outside the window had begun to fall more heavily.

Yuan Chen was clearly starving, his chopsticks falling non-stop as he exclaimed that his brother-in-law's cooking was excellent and that he would eat it every day from now on. This drew everyone's attention, and they couldn't help but silently call him a silly boy.

Because, apart from Kuang Cheng and Wei Rui, he was probably the most politically correct guest at the table.

After dinner, Yuan Caiwei looked at the falling snow outside the window, wondering if she could stay. Before she could even think of a way to ask, Yan Shuyi, who said he had "met Ruier's lover's friend and come over for a meal," pulled her back to the Wei family's villa.

Actually, when the young appraiser saw Yuan Caiwei come to see Ji You this time, he wasn't as jealous or wary as he was last time.

Because she hadn't seen it last time, and now that she had, it would be deadly, she herself didn't dare, so she figured Yuan Caiwei wouldn't dare either.

However, she was afraid that Yuan Caiwei might actually dare to do it, so she chose a safer approach and took her back with her.

On a snowy night, Yuan Caiwei was assigned to a bedroom in the east wing of the villa.

The Wei family villa was heated by underground fire channels, which were dug under the house. The smoke from burning firewood would circulate through these channels, bringing heat into the house.

In addition to this method, a thick plush carpet was laid on the floor of the room to prevent the heat supplied by the floor heating from dissipating too quickly.

At this moment, Yan Shuyi and Yuan Caiwei were sitting on a blanket, their two pairs of snow-white feet facing each other, their pink toes like blooming flower petals.

This scene gave both of them a feeling of spending winters together in Lingjian Mountain when they were children.

After her body temperature had calmed down a bit from braving the snow, Yuan Caiwei, who was looking around the room, suddenly spoke.

"How did Sister Appraiser gain control of the sacred artifact back then?"

Yan Shuyi snapped out of her reverie after hearing this, her beautiful brows furrowing slightly. After pondering for a while, she asked, "Is Yuan Chen really in trouble?"

After hesitating for a moment, Yuan Caiwei nodded: "Yuan Chen has been trying for more than a year, but so far he still cannot awaken the sacred artifact. Father is very angry about this. Yuan Chen's claim that the family is not feeding him is not an exaggeration."

Sacred artifacts are essentially the cornerstone of immortal sects, because it is the existence of sacred artifacts that distinguishes immortal sects from those ancient families.

If Yuan Chen is unable to wield the sacred artifact, the Pill Sect may face a situation similar to that of the Spirit Sword Mountain. In fact, since the Pill Sect does not cultivate the immortal path and has no combat power, the situation may be even worse.

Currently, only I, my father, and Yuan Chen know about this matter, because everyone knows that if the direct descendant of the Dan Sect cannot control the sacred artifact, the impact will be enormous.

But she could tell Yan Shuyi because, in her eyes, they were family.

So Yuan Caiwei's words today were not false; she did know that Yan Shuyi would stick to Ji You, and that's why she came to see her.

"Sister Jianzhu is the only one among this generation of direct disciples to successfully control the sacred artifact, so I think she might have a way."

Yan Shuyi's eyelashes trembled slightly as she heard her address her as "elder sister" repeatedly. "Although the alchemy of the Pill Sect and the Immortal Path originate from the same source, they are ultimately different. Besides, it was Lingjian who took the initiative to come to see me, which is quite different from Yuan Chen's current situation." Yuan Caiwei pondered for a long time before speaking, "Given your understanding of sacred artifacts, elder sister, is it possible that some disciples are inherently unsuitable to wield sacred artifacts?"

"There are very few people in the history of Qingyun who can control sacred artifacts, and I have never heard of such a precedent before."

"My sister might have thought of another way..."

Yan Shuyi pondered for a long time, then gently opened his palm, and a radiant light flashed from his palm.

Yuan Caiwei couldn't help but stare at it for a long time: "What is this?"

"A wisp of the sacred artifact's primordial power."

"The Spirit Mirror?"

Yan Shuyi nodded slightly: "The seven sacred artifacts all come from the Heavenly Dao, so they should be of the same origin. You can let Yuan Chen try to refine them, and that will give you a good idea of ​​whether Yuan Chen can wield the sacred artifacts."

Yuan Caiwei raised her eyes: "If one cannot refine it, then one cannot become a weapon wielder?"

"That's how it should be."

“But if it’s really as my sister says, then my father could do it too. Why hasn’t he ever let Yuan Chen try it?”

Yan Shuyi looked at her and said, "It's probably because it doesn't need to be refined. If this wisp of primordial power resists Yuan Chen, the outcome is basically clear. As an observer, I certainly won't think much of it, but your father may find it difficult to face a predetermined result."

Yuan Caiwei's red lips parted slightly: "Since this is what Father thinks, is it wrong for me to do this?"

“You don’t have to do it, but you need to understand that this is unfair to Yuan Chen, because some things may not be his fault.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the storage gourd at the little appraiser's waist suddenly flashed, and a spirit stone appeared in the palm of her other hand.

As she exhaled with a breath as fragrant as an orchid, the blue color within the spirit stone gradually dissipated, and then the golden primordial power was sealed within it.

Yuan Caiwei took the spirit stone, held it in her palm and looked at it for a long time, then looked up at Yan Shuyi.

The essence of a sacred artifact originates from within the artifact itself; having an extra or missing strand won't make a difference, but it's definitely not something that can be given to others casually.

Although she and Yan Shuyi were sisters, it was only a childhood friendship. In addition, in recent years, Danzong has become friendly with Tianshu Academy and distant from Lingjian Mountain, so their friendship has weakened considerably.

Yuan Caiwei felt that if she came to seek her help based on the good old days, the young appraiser of Lingjian Mountain might not agree.

The reason she is doing this now is actually because of the relationship between the two of them and Ji You.

Yuan Caiwei felt that although her appraiser sister was always jealous, it was actually because Young Master Ji had become much closer to her.

but……

Yuan Caiwei held the spirit stone in her hand, which contained the power of origin, and fell into silence.

Honestly, she didn't know whether she should let Yuan Chen try it.

If her younger brother could be accepted by the source of the sacred artifact, that would be fine; if not, she couldn't imagine what state the Pill Sect would be in.

At the same time, she was conflicted because she knew that the young appraiser was right. If it wasn't that her brother wasn't working hard enough, but that he was wrong in the first place, then this was extremely unfair to him.

In the warm room, on a thick blanket, the two fell silent, with only their pink toes occasionally twitching.

After thinking it over for a long time, Yuan Caiwei decided that she should give it a try.

Because if Yuan Chen really can't control the sacred artifact, then this is something he will eventually have to face.

She looked up, intending to tell the young appraiser her thoughts, but before she could even say "sister," she noticed that the young appraiser seemed to be pondering something as well.

The wind and snow outside the window gradually intensified, making the room feel even warmer.

Sitting on the blanket, Yan Shuyi suddenly came to her senses and looked at Yuan Caiwei. She still looked aloof, but her pink toes couldn't help but curl up.

"Does Caiwei have any pills that won't harm the body but will cause lower back and abdominal pain?"

"?"

Although Yan Shuyi is the female emperor who wields the sacred artifact, she does indeed like to stick close to Ji You.

Especially last time in Anyuan City, she was held by Deng Tu Zi and slept with him all night. Although she stubbornly refused to say it, she actually really liked that feeling.

But Ji You's waist is not the same as it used to be. Because of her fear of sex, the little appraiser doesn't dare to stay long at night.

Yuan Caiwei was stunned for a long time, and found that although Yan Shuyi still had the same cold expression, there was a hint of evasion in his eyes.

She was puzzled when Yan Shuyi brought her back, because although she didn't stay in Ji You's courtyard when she came to Shengjing last time, she knew that Yan Shuyi stayed there every day.

But for some reason, the little appraiser's sister suddenly stopped.

When she mentioned a pill that wouldn't harm the body but could cause lower back and abdominal pain, she immediately understood.

The young appraiser of Lingjian Mountain dared not stay overnight because he was afraid of sex...

Yuan Caiwei couldn't help but recall the scene she had seen in the medicine pool, as if something was rising in her memory.

Huhu——

The cold wind blew incessantly outside the window, while the room remained completely quiet.

After a few breaths, Yuan Caiwei, who had been pondering for a long time, looked up at Yan Shuyi and spoke in a barely audible voice: "Actually, I could try to make a painless pill..."

Upon hearing this, Yan Shuyi narrowed his eyes instantly, staring at her menacingly.

Yuan Caiwei had indeed seen it as well.

Ever since the last time Tian Shu Yuan asked Ling Jian Shan about the matter, Ji You had told her that Yuan Caiwei had seen something that should have been the first good thing she had ever seen. She had asked Ji You many times, but Ji You wouldn't tell her.

But after seeing it with her own eyes at the Sage Garden, she vaguely guessed what Yuan Caiwei had seen.

This matter was finally confirmed through Yuan Caiwei's words.

Because if she hadn't seen it, she wouldn't know what the pill for lower back and abdominal pain was for, nor would she have offered a "painless" pill as an alternative.

Most importantly, Yan Shuyi felt that her sisters' talk of "painless" pills was actually something she had planned for herself after seeing them.

How long does it take to refine such a pill?

"A painless... pill?"

"A pill that won't harm your body but will cause soreness in your lower back and abdomen."

"It will probably take a few days."

Yan Shuyi was silent for a moment, then looked to the side and asked, "Then... what about the ones that don't hurt?"

Yuan Caiwei looked down at the side: "About the same time..."

After a long silence, Yan Shuyi got up from the thick plush carpet and walked out of Yuan Caiwei's room with a cold expression, as if they hadn't talked about anything. However, her cheeks gradually turned red in the cold weather.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu watched this scene from the corridor in the wind and snow, and a look of bewilderment appeared between them as they looked at each other.

The appraiser always blushes when she comes out of the son-in-law's room, so why does she blush now when she comes out of Miss Yuan's room?
Meanwhile, the small house in the backyard of Wulu Trading Company was warm because of the stove, just like the Wei family's villa with its heated floor.

Inside the room, Kuang Cheng, who had not left, was listening to Ji You talk about Fengzhou.

“The sale of spirit stones has been relatively stable recently, and the price has been driven up to a very high level. The cost of the disaster relief food should be recovered.”

Ji You took a cotton blanket and draped it over her legs: "However, no matter how much grain is harvested, it can only circulate among the people, so I have been thinking about cultivating spirit seedlings. This spring, we can try it."

Kuang Cheng crossed his arms and nodded after hearing Ji You's arrangements.

As Ji You said, when the people of Fengzhou still have a surplus of grain production, it would not be of much significance to increase the grain production in Fengzhou again.

It must be like the Snowfield Demon Stone, needed by those cultivators, so that they can regurgitate the taxes they've taken.

After pondering for a long time, Kuang Cheng suddenly noticed that Ji You had taken another cotton blanket and covered his legs with it. He looked puzzled and asked, "Brother Ji, are you cold?"

Ji You shook her head, somewhat puzzled: "It's not that I'm cold, it's just that I feel a chill in my lower back and abdomen..."

(End of this chapter)