He had originally planned to pick the first option.
Not to mention that a Mixed Origin Heaven-Mending Pill cost a hundred thousand each, there wasn't even one left in the Koi Luck Pool right now.
That was a one-time event gift from the system, and judging by the warning under Option ③, the price of such a pill was definitely far more than a mere 100,000.
And more importantly—
This was just an ordinary-grade Heaven-Mending Pill, not even an immortal-grade one!
What if he picked Option ① and this damnable Qingyun Sect went into full-on berserk retaliation mode?
Sure, as a Peak Nascent Soul cultivator, he could mop the floor with a few Late-Stage ones—
But he couldn't protect Li Qingran if the whole sect came crashing down!
And with a sect like this, what you see on the surface is only part of their strength.
Who knew if they had some mysterious ancient holy land where a bunch of ancient fogeys were still in seclusion?
If you beat the junior and the elders came for revenge—he'd be screwed.
Chen Huaian rubbed the cat's head repeatedly with his left hand as his thoughts spun at lightning speed.
He didn't think he was being paranoid.
In games like this, once a cultivation-type romance simulator introduced branching dialogue choices, each one could drastically change the plotline.
One careless move and it'd be Game Over.
And when that happened, even if the game gave him a new virtual girlfriend…
So what?
It wouldn't be his Li Qingran.
After a moment of hesitation, his finger moved to Option ② and pressed down.
[Let's not discuss this matter for now. Once Qingran's situation is resolved, we can talk in private.]
The voice that emerged from the void was steady and calm—deep and trustworthy.
Wu Duantian cursed himself inwardly for being too hasty. He immediately clasped his hands and bowed slightly:
"You are right. Qingran's matter is far more urgent. I failed to prioritize properly."
He no longer expected an immediate answer.
In his mind, someone capable of refining such a god-tier elixir wouldn't need to play coy.
At most, they'd discuss compensation later.
And if it meant restoring Zhao Lingtian's dantian?
Even if it cost him everything he owned, it would be worth it.
Li Qingran wanted to remind her senior not to be taken advantage of—but didn't get the chance.
Then, in her ear, a voice sounded gently:
[Worry not. I have already made arrangements.]
So… the senior had always been aware.
She had worried for nothing.
Li Qingran took a deep breath, her heart settling.
Then she felt a bit foolish.
Someone like her senior—though he looked young—had likely lived far longer than she could imagine.
He had walked more roads than she'd eaten grains of rice.
Why would he need her to worry for him?
Instead, he was the one comforting her.
How inappropriate...
As the thought crossed her mind, her ears turned warm again.
She quickly pushed those messy thoughts aside and looked up—her gaze locking onto Xiao Yifeng, the second disciple of Chixiao Peak.
Xiao Yifeng had been quietly comforting Mu Baishuang, but suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
He turned—and met Li Qingran's cold, indifferent eyes.
A tingle crawled up his scalp, and old memories surged back.
Li Qingran, in his mind, had always been submissive—never the kind to retaliate.
Even during the worst of her pill-testing torments, she would pretend she wasn't in pain.
Even when she was beaten black and blue by spirit birds while tending the medicine fields, she would still laugh it off.
She admired his talent in alchemy.
No—he thought she admired his alchemy skills.
At some point, asking her to test pills or take care of spirit herbs stopped being a request and became an order.
It felt natural to him.
He would toss her pills he didn't need—
Even though they were likely useless or worse for her.
But he thought…
That was enough.
Was it, really?
---
"Senior Brother, what's wrong?"
He snapped back to reality, feeling a cold, delicate hand in his own.
It was Mu Baishuang. Her teary eyes were full of innocent concern.
She'd been crying ever since hearing Yun Zimo's screams, pale as a ghost.
She was clearly terrified, yet still forced herself to comfort him.
And here he was, afraid?
Afraid of what?
Xiao Yifeng didn't notice the faint red mist flickering in the depths of Mu Baishuang's pupils.
From the side, Elder Qingxuan suddenly opened his eyes and gave Xiao Yifeng a sharp glance.
A trace of confusion flickered between his brows.
That aura just now…
No.
Impossible.
His disciples from Chixiao Peak had been strictly vetted.
Maybe their hearts were a bit crooked—but nothing seriously wrong.
Even so, Elder Qingxuan silently took note of that strange aura. Just in case.
---
"Li Qingran, why are you looking at me like that?"
Xiao Yifeng found his voice, now emboldened by Mu Baishuang's concern.
He walked down from the platform and stared her down.
"What have I ever done to you? Don't forget how many pills I gave you!"
Li Qingran smiled faintly.
"Oh yes. I remember quite clearly—Fasting Pills, Bug Repellent Pills, Laxative Pills…"
She began counting on her fingers.
Laughter erupted among the disciples of Qingyun Sect.
Xiao Yifeng's face turned bright red.
Li Qingran's expression turned cold again.
"And let's not forget that 'Great Rejuvenation Pill' you gave me. The one that was actually a defective pill in disguise."
"The fire poison in that thing burned in my body for ninety-three days. I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat. At my worst, I couldn't even walk."
"You really are a model second disciple of Chixiao Peak… my dearest Second Senior Brother."
Xiao Yifeng's expression shifted.
He had known she'd bring this up.
After the last inter-peak competition, Mu Baishuang was injured, and Li Qingran had been struck by Lu Changtian—vomiting blood for days.
He was the only one who visited her.
He gave her a pill—allegedly to help her recover.
It was, in fact, a waste pill, masked with illusion techniques.
And he'd watched her swallow it, full of gratitude.
Half a minute later, the fire poison erupted.
Back then, he'd said:
"Let her feel what Little Junior Sister went through."
But Li Qingran had no proof, did she?
Would she swear an Oath to the Dao again? What if she died from it?
Didn't she fear losing fate, damaging her destiny, or becoming a short-lived soul?
---
"Junior Sister, I'm just a 7th-rank alchemist."
"I may be talented, but even I can't remove all pill toxins. How can you prove I did it on purpose?"
He crossed his arms, raising his chin arrogantly.
"You've taken pills for me for so long—you're practically an alchemist yourself. Couldn't you sense fire poison in a pill?"
"You ungrateful snake. You've gone mad. You treat all our kindness like trash."
Li Qingran stared at this arrogant, loud-mouthed Xiao Yifeng, and suddenly felt nauseous.
Even when she'd been exiled, forced to live in a moldy hut and wait for death…
She never thought her once-respected second senior would turn into such a vile worm.
But—she had no proof.
That line he spoke... only the two of them knew it.
Just as she began to falter—
A cold snort echoed from the void behind her.
---
[Interesting.]
[Xiao Yifeng, let me ask you: as an alchemist, should you be able to detect fire poison in a pill?]
Xiao Yifeng stiffened.
That was alchemy 101.
If you couldn't even identify fire poison, what business did you have calling yourself an alchemist?
He immediately nodded. "Yes, of course!"
[In that case, allow me to test your claim!]
Ten ornate jade boxes flew from the void behind Li Qingran.
Inside each was a basic, mortal-grade Great Rejuvenation Pill.
The most common of pills—its formula extensively studied and understood.
The lower the grade, the easier it was to identify any defects.
Xiao Yifeng stared, baffled.
Every one of them looked normal.
Same batch, same furnace.
So then…
What was the senior planning?