Immortal Martial Emperor

Yun Mengyao had suffered these episodes many times before. Although Hong Yu was worried, he didn't panic.

He first grabbed a sheet from the bedside, lifted the soaking wet Yun Mengyao out of the bathtub, wrapped her in it, and laid her on the bed.

Once out of the bathtub, the chill emanating from Yun Mengyao's body grew even more terrifying.

If Yun Mengyao had been shaking like someone with a high fever before, now, without the warmth of the hot bathwater, it was as if she'd been plunged into an ice cellar, shivering violently. The breath she exhaled instantly turned into a plume of white mist upon contact with the air.

One could only imagine how cold Yun Mengyao was now.

"Yaoyao, hang in there."

Hong Yu helped Yun Mengyao sit up cross-legged and gently pressed his palm against her back.

A faint stream of Elemental Power seeped into Yun Mengyao's body. The vigorous energy instantly coursed through her. Elemental Power was the fundamental Primordial Energy of a Martial Artist and had the inherent effect of warming the body. As Hong Yu's Elemental Power circulated within her, the intensity of Yun Mengyao's trembling subsided considerably.

Even the faint, cold air she breathed out gained a trace of warmth.

'I have to get her to take those medicines as soon as possible.'

Hong Yu let go of Yun Mengyao and retrieved the medicinal herbs he had exchanged for that day with the utmost speed.

These herbs were supposed to be simmered over a low flame for one or two hours before being consumed, but time didn't permit that now. Left with no other choice, he could only stuff the herbs—so bitter they made his scalp tingle—into his mouth. Forcing down the intense urge to vomit, he chewed them, piece by piece.

He then spat the medicinal juice from the chewed herbs into a prepared bowl. Repeating this process, it took him a good three to five minutes to finish chewing one dose of herbs.

By now, Hong Yu's mouth was so bitter it was numb, and he couldn't speak at all.

Even when he breathed, he felt the thick taste of medicine pour straight into his chest, an extremely unpleasant sensation.

He didn't have time to worry about it. Cradling the bowl in his hand, he gently pulled Yun Mengyao close and tried to pour the half-bowl of medicinal juice into her mouth.

But this time, Yun Mengyao's episode was far more severe than any before. The moment the medicinal juice entered her mouth, she immediately spat it back out, completely unable to swallow it.

'What do I do?'

Watching Yun Mengyao's face grow paler and paler, Hong Yu was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Memories from the past five years surfaced in his mind, bit by bit...

In the first few months after he had awakened, he couldn't accept the reality of his transmigration. He was gloomy and despondent all day, like a walking corpse. It was this cute and slightly mischievous girl who had stayed by his side, taking care of everything for him, never leaving.

Every time he came home from cultivating, this lovely girl would greet him with a syrupy-sweet welcome and have a hot meal ready.

After joining the Underground Alliance and becoming a Hunter, he had faced life-and-death situations on many missions. But every time he returned home, he would receive the most selfless care, listening to her clear, intimate calls of "Brother" that soothed away the various setbacks he encountered outside.

It could even be said that if Yun Mengyao hadn't always been with him, he would never have been able to adapt to this world so quickly.

He might still be in a daze, just waiting for death.

'I've got it!'

Hong Yu's eyes lit up.

He looked down at the weak girl in his arms and took a deep breath. "Yaoyao, hold on. Brother is here. You'll be okay!"

"Ngh..."

Yun Mengyao murmured in pain.

As if by instinct, or perhaps because she had really heard Hong Yu's words, she nuzzled her small, cold head against his chest.

'This girl...'

Lovingly stroking Yun Mengyao's tender little face, Hong Yu poured the medicinal juice from the bowl into a bamboo tube.

GULP!

Hong Yu then put the tube to Yun Mengyao's lips, slowly pouring the juice into her mouth and guiding it down until the girl slowly swallowed it into her stomach.

These were all medicines of the Fiery Sun Attribute, just barely able to suppress the cold poison in Yun Mengyao's body.

Once the medicinal juice entered her, Yun Mengyao's trembling figure clearly began to calm.

'It's almost over.'

Hong Yu shook his head helplessly and administered the last mouthful of medicine to Yun Mengyao.

Yun Mengyao's eyes were somewhat hazy, covered in a light sheen of moisture as she stared intently at Hong Yu. "Brother, I've caused you trouble again."

"Alright, don't overthink it. I'm your brother. If I don't take care of you, who will? You rest first. I'll go get you something to eat!" The moment he finished speaking, he turned to leave.

CRACK!

In his haste, he didn't watch where he was going and slammed his head into the doorframe. His nose stung with pain, and he muttered in frustration, "Fuck, who's so inconsiderate? Closing the door and not opening it..."

Watching Hong Yu flee in a flustered and clumsy panic, the delicate young woman on the bed suddenly let out a soft giggle. Her bright eyes curved like crescent moons, looking exceptionally cute.

Her small, delicate nose wrinkled slightly as Yun Mengyao murmured, "That foolish Brother!"

Standing outside the door, Hong Yu's expression was still complex and hard to read. He murmured to himself, 'Yaoyao's episode was even more severe this time. Based on the rate of three episodes a month, it won't be long before these medicines lose their effect. When that happens, her life...'

There were two paths before Hong Yu now.

The first was to break through to the Earth Soul Realm as soon as possible and truly become a Spiritual Craftsman.

But this path had two fatal flaws. First, Hong Yu couldn't be sure if he could break through to the Earth Soul Realm before Yun Mengyao's condition became critical. Second, he couldn't be certain that the Primordial Spirit he would condense upon breaking through would be of the Fire Attribute. If it wasn't a Fire Attribute Primordial Spirit, he wouldn't be able to use Primordial Spirit Fire to help Yun Mengyao dispel the cold poison.

Strictly speaking, even if Hong Yu broke through to the Earth Soul Realm, he wouldn't be an orthodox Spiritual Craftsman.

An orthodox Spiritual Craftsman performs Alchemy by using their Primordial Spirit Fire for Refining. He, on the other hand, had inherited the Divine Medicine Scripture, which used consciousness as a source to control the Primordial Fire within an Alchemy Furnace Cauldron. There was a huge difference between the two!

As for the second option, it was, of course, to hand over the Restoring Yin Grass for the mission and request the help of the Tier One Spiritual Craftsman, Xue Butong.

However, Hong Tiande was currently devoting all his efforts to hunting down Hong Luàn's killer. It might not be long before his investigation led him to the Dead Soul Mountain Range, or even to Hong Luàn's corpse in the Valley of the Dead. Once that happened, he would definitely connect it to the 'Restoring Yin Grass' mission. At that point, 'Luoo,' the one who accepted the mission, would become his prime suspect.

Although 'Luoo's' identity was secret, and almost no one knew that he was the youngest Silver Hunter, if he used the Restoring Yin Grass mission to ask Master Xue Butong to treat Yun Mengyao, it would be tantamount to exposing his own identity.

Facing the Mid-stage Earth Soul Realm expert Hong Tiande, Hong Yu had absolutely no room to maneuver.

Even if he broke through to the Peak of the Ninth Level of the Essence Realm, he would be no match for an Earth Soul Realm expert.

Unless he could also break through to the Earth Soul Realm and open the First Layer of the Profound Celestial Tower, then perhaps he would have the confidence to challenge him.

'What on earth should I do?'

Hong Yu clutched his hair, indecisive.

In the midst of his hesitation, Hong Yu's eyes suddenly widened as a flash of inspiration struck him. 'That's right, how could I be so stupid? Since asking Master Xue Butong for help will definitely expose my identity, why don't I just distance myself from Luoo? Besides, with the resources I currently have, I can easily buy enough Spirit Medicine to refine Spirit Pills and strive to break through to the Earth Soul Realm within a month.'

A fifteen-year-old Earth Soul Realm expert would definitely be noticed by the other higher-ups in the family and be specially groomed for success.

At that time, even if Hong Tiande eventually traced the connection between him and Luoo, as long as he had no conclusive proof, he wouldn't dare to move against him openly.

At this thought, Hong Yu's taut nerves instantly relaxed.

'The next problem is how to distance myself from Luoo while still successfully completing the mission.'