Fairy, Don’t Be Afraid, I’m Blind

Chapter 129: The Method to Help Master’s Wife Recover

Passing through the courtyard, two leaning immortal willows came into view. Their intertwined branches formed an archway, their long, cascading green leaves resembling two elegant celestial maidens bowing in welcome. These willows, enchanted to guard the natural entrance to Third Elder’s private quarters, stirred at her presence.

There was no need for any elaborate mechanism—simply by Third Elder’s approach, the two willows gradually straightened themselves, clearing a path for her to enter the hall.

You Su, perceiving everything through his spiritual sea, marveled inwardly. If even trees moved out of respect, then perhaps the dancing spirit plants weren’t just idle talk after all.

Following closely behind Third Elder, You Su inhaled the lingering, intoxicating fragrance she left in her wake. Despite trying to calm his racing thoughts, he hesitated at the threshold of the inner chamber.

He understood Ye Qingchen’s actions—if it were him, he wouldn’t allow some outsider from another peak to so brazenly enter the inner sanctum reserved only for Third Elder’s solitude.

But why had Third Elder brought him here?

“Are you coming in or not? Do you think I’m going to devour you on the spot?”

Third Elder had already pushed aside the curtain of willow branches and entered the hall. Turning back toward You Su, who had stopped moving, her expression grew impatient.

After what had happened between them, unless she truly intended to kill him—which seemed unlikely—whatever awaited him inside was something he deserved to face.

With this resolve, You Su clenched his teeth, parted the willow branches, and stepped inside.

The two willows that had stood upright bent back down once You Su crossed the threshold, blocking Ye Qingchen, who had stealthily followed, along with his furtive gaze.

What was called the “rear hall” turned out to be a specially cultivated field of extraordinary flowers.

Upon entering, the overwhelming scent of countless blossoms filled the air, almost dizzying in its intensity. Even the most inconspicuous flower tucked away in a corner would be enough to drive the flower-loving immortals of the celestial realms into a frenzy.

No wonder Third Elder carried such a layered, fragrant aura—she spent her days surrounded by these blooms.

Unable to see, You Su proceeded cautiously, careful not to touch any of the precious flowers. Yet, these rare blossoms seemed to possess a life of their own, clustering around the legs of this unfamiliar visitor regardless of their height.

“In my youth, when spring robes were light, I rode my horse leaning against a slanted bridge, while red sleeves beckoned from every tower.”

You Su felt that this fragment of poetry from his fragmented memories perfectly captured the scene before him.

Moved by the moment, he slowed his pace, gently brushing his hands over each flower’s petals. When he encountered a particularly pleasing fragrance, he took an extra deep breath, responding to the flowers’ silent yearning to be admired.

Third Elder watched with growing irritation as the detested man dared to touch her carefully nurtured blooms. She opened her mouth to reprimand him, her disdain flaring, but a flicker of curiosity held her back, and she ultimately decided against it.

Instead, she pursed her crimson lips and made her way to a swing-like chair formed naturally by intertwining vines. Gracefully lowering her voluptuous figure onto it, she crossed her smooth, flawless legs, revealing a glimpse of her pristine calves beneath the lifted hem of her green dress.

Though men were despicable creatures, she too cherished flowers. Rarely did she witness such harmony between a person and a sea of rare blooms, and she found herself unwilling to disrupt the beauty of the scene.

Moreover, she couldn’t deny that You Su’s handsome, refined features complemented the brilliance of the flowers, creating a picturesque sight. The only flaw, in her eyes, was that You Su wasn’t a woman.

“Have you sniffed enough yet?”

As You Su wandered about, inhaling deeply here and there, Third Elder—who was well aware of her own allure—felt oddly self-conscious. Taking the jade gourd from her waist, she deliberately tapped it to draw his attention.

You Su immediately bowed and apologized: “Please forgive me, Third Elder. This is my first time encountering such an array of exotic scents, and I couldn’t help but indulge.”

“A man like you actually enjoys flowers?”

Third Elder feigned disdain, though deep down, she knew love for flowers transcended gender.

“It’s not so much that I enjoy them,” You Su explained. “Since I’ve been blind since childhood, my sense of smell is heightened. Encountering flowers with such unique fragrances brings me joy.”

Third Elder glanced at You Su, her earlier disdain fading. It made sense that someone unable to behold the splendor of flowers would greedily savor their scents instead.

“So among these myriad blossoms, which one do you like best?” she asked curiously.

She still vividly remembered how You Su had once complained about the overpowering scent of summer flowers halfway up the mountain. Now, she wanted to find out which type he preferred so she could mock him accordingly.

“The flower I like best isn’t in this garden—it’s the humble wild chrysanthemum of the mortal realm.”

You Su recalled Junior Sister bringing him a basketful of wild chrysanthemums to celebrate his birthday, filling him with warmth.

Third Elder blinked her beautiful eyes, her tone turning serious.

“Every flower here is considered noble in the outside world. Are you telling me you’ve smelled them all and still prefer the lowly wild chrysanthemum?”

You Su nodded in affirmation.

“What’s your reason?” Third Elder pressed, intrigued.

Her cultivation revolved around the Dao of Nature, where every blade of grass and tree held equal value without distinction between high and low. However, this mindset only emerged after reaching her current level of enlightenment. In her younger years, she too had obsessed over acquiring rare flower species, which led to the creation of this floral paradise.

Hearing You Su’s response, she was curious how an eighteen-year-old boy could harbor such steadfast affection for something as ordinary as a wild chrysanthemum.

“In the mortal realm, there’s a poem that says, ‘Chrysanthemums choose frost and wind, not because springlight excludes them.’ When I was young, I often lamented my blindness and consoled myself with the thought that my condition was a choice to endure hardship rather than fate mocking me. That belief helped me persevere. Looking back now, it seems quite amusing.”

You Su spoke warmly, his smile gentle as he added:

“I don’t love the wild chrysanthemum itself—I simply admire the resilient version of myself I imagined in my youth.”

Though spoken lightly, his words revealed the arduous journey of a blind child growing into the accomplished individual he was today.

Someone who spent their days surrounded by flowers must possess a kind heart. Third Elder was touched by You Su’s sincerity, her gaze softening like water as she murmured:

“You needn’t be modest. Your achievements prove that this resilience wasn’t mere fantasy—it was reality.”

“Thank you for your affirmation, Third Elder,” You Su replied graciously, exuding refined elegance.

Seeing his demeanor, Third Elder felt a pang of pity. Humans naturally extend more compassion to those perceived as weaker.

“Did Qingchen give you trouble?”

“No, Senior Brother Qingchen didn’t trouble me,” You Su answered truthfully.

“Qingchen has always been rather exclusive…”

“Perhaps it’s because he values his sect deeply that he behaves this way. I understand.”

Third Elder furrowed her delicate brows upon hearing this, a shadow of doubt crossing her mind. Was her second disciple’s behavior truly motivated solely by loyalty to the sect…?

In truth, Ye Qingchen hadn’t been a disciple she actively sought out. Instead, the Ye family had thrust him upon her as repayment for favors she owed their former patriarch during her early years. Now established and renowned, accepting a talented descendant of the Ye family as her disciple seemed fitting.

Though male, she endured teaching him with patience. Admittedly, he was an excellent disciple in many ways. But his behavior often irked her silently, and despite numerous attempts to correct him, little progress had been made. As Ye Qingchen advanced to the Feather Transformation stage, his conduct seemed to worsen. She even sensed inappropriate emotions toward her, though he never voiced or acted on them overtly, leaving her unable to draw definitive conclusions.

This situation troubled Third Elder greatly. With no evidence to verify her suspicions and no one to seek advice from, she could only treat Ye Qingchen more sternly, hoping to discourage any inappropriate feelings and preserve their hard-won master-disciple bond.

“That is…”

Third Elder had intended to ask You Su’s perspective as a disciple regarding such situations but abruptly cut herself off.

She loathed You Su—a filthy man who had tainted Lotus Peak and forced Thirteenth Elder into sharing a bath with him. Praising him moments ago had already pushed her limits, let alone nearly confiding in him. She berated herself internally.

Third Elder shook her head, reminding herself: This man is vile! He’s the reason Lotus Sword Venerable’s spirit platform is damaged, and the repeated depletion of her strength! His pitiable background doesn’t justify the favoritism shown to him!

“What is…?” You Su prompted.

“Nothing. Let’s discuss the matter at hand.”

Third Elder resumed her usual cold tone, erasing the fleeting tenderness she had shown earlier as if it had never existed.

A matter serious enough to summon him here for a private discussion…

You Su steeled himself and respectfully said: “Third Elder, please enlighten me.”

Third Elder glanced at You Su before delivering a startling revelation:

“Your master isn’t in seclusion because of progress—she’s recovering from an injury.”

An injury?!

“M-Master is injured?”

You Su couldn’t believe it. He had assumed Third Elder called him here to discuss his own issues, not that something was wrong with Master’s wife.

“Do you think I’m lying?” Third Elder retorted sharply.

You Su struggled to process this shocking news. Until now, he hadn’t questioned the reason behind Master’s wife’s seclusion, simply assuming she was making a breakthrough.

Since joining the Mystic Firmament Sect, life had been improving steadily. He had gained a senior sister who cared for him deeply, a more affectionate Master’s wife, a new identity, and greater strength. Everything seemed to be heading in the right direction, so he naturally assumed the same for those around him.

“Is Master’ wife… having trouble with her cultivation?”

“You know about it?” Third Elder’s tone grew colder.

“I guessed. Master never told me. Before coming to the Mystic Firmament Sect, I noticed a strange black blotch in her abdomen within my spiritual sea. But after arriving here, it disappeared, so I didn’t think much of it.”

You Su felt a pang of regret. He should have realized earlier—the blotch clearly wasn’t something that belonged on a Void Realm expert.

Third Elder sighed softly. “She concealed her injuries through spells. When you’re in a high position, how can you let others see your vulnerabilities?”

Injuries hidden from others were undoubtedly severe.

“Does Third Elder know what kind of injury Master’s wife sustained?”

“Her spirit platform is broken.”

Once again, Third Elder’s words left You Su stunned.

“How can the spirit platform break?”

As someone in the Spirit Platform Realm, You Su understood that the spirit platform was the foundation of cultivation, painstakingly built over years of practice. He had never heard of it breaking.

“Everything has its limits. If you exceed your capacity, you’ll lose limbs. Why shouldn’t the spirit platform break? That black blotch you sensed earlier was the external manifestation of the crack in her spirit platform.”

“What happens when the spirit platform breaks?”

“The spirit platform is like a water container. When the container breaks, the water flows out uncontrollably.”

You Su furrowed his brows tightly. This meant Master’s wife’s Void Realm cultivation was continuously draining away. Yet, despite this dire situation, she had still planted an Immortal Seed in him—a process that severely damaged her foundation.

Moreover, You Su realized another crucial point:

Before appearing indistinguishable from mortals, Master’s wife had shown no signs of the black blotch until after everything settled in Chuyun City. This meant she sustained the injury there. But she had vanished for quite some time—why would she return to Chuyun City only to get hurt?

The answer was obvious.

“Please, Third Elder, tell me how I can help her recover!” You Su clasped his fists together and bowed deeply, his voice firm.

He knew Third Elder wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of bringing him here just to make him worry idly. There must be a role he could play if he was deemed worthy of knowing this truth.

Third Elder watched You Su’s determined expression and softened slightly. “At least you have some conscience. It’s not wasted on your master, who has sacrificed herself repeatedly for you.”

You Su didn’t know which sacrifices Third Elder referred to as “repeated.” Urgently, he asked:

“You Su is foolish. I haven’t realized all that Master’s wife has done for me. Please, Third Elder, guide me!”

Third Elder sighed mournfully. “Despite her grave injuries, she still planted the Immortal Seed in you. Now, she can only seal the cracks in her spirit platform while in seclusion; otherwise, her cultivation will plummet uncontrollably once she emerges. Recently, upon learning your name was to be announced publicly, she even considered leaving seclusion early to protect you—but thankfully, you persuaded her otherwise. After your battle with Zhou Changwen, your body was utterly depleted. Rather than allowing you to recover slowly and risk damaging your foundation, she chose to transmit power to you via the Immortal Seed, using her own cultivation to heal you quickly. But she didn’t stop there. Despite risking irreversible decline, she replenished the emptied Immortal Seed fully for you. Her condition now is precarious.”

Third Elder deliberately omitted the details of arranging their shared bath to transmit energy, unaware that You Su already knew the truth.

You Su lowered his eyelids, finally understanding why he had bathed with Master’s wife that night—and why Third Elder harbored such resentment toward him. The Profound Qi flowing into him from the water had come directly from Master’s wife, explaining its familiarity.

He had thought that after entering the sect, he would find ways to repay Master’s wife properly. Instead, without contributing anything to Lotus Peak, he had become a “leech,” sustaining himself by consuming her cultivation.

More importantly, given Third Elder’s candidness today, there was no reason to omit that detail…

Upon reflection, it became clear that Third Elder likely knew nothing about his physical condition. From every angle, the person wielding the sword to relieve his affliction that night could only have been Master’s wife. His assumption that Master’s wife had enlisted Third Elder stemmed merely from denial—he couldn’t bring himself to believe the truth.

Master’s wife, how could you go to such lengths…

Slap!

You Su struck himself hard across the face, gritting his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury.

He was angry—angry at his complacency, his self-deception, and his hypocrisy. All along, he had spoken of repaying Master’s wife but had done nothing substantial.

This slap startled Third Elder momentarily. She could sense the heavy guilt and remorse radiating from the boy. Softening her tone, she consoled him:

“I’m telling you this not to make you wallow in self-pity but to help you understand how much your master cares for you—and to take responsibility for aiding her recovery.”

“Through fire and blade, You Su will not hesitate!” his voice thundered like a drumbeat.

“If you have this resolve, that’s good. Fire and blades are not mere metaphors,” Third Elder’s tone warmed slightly. “Do you know where your master attained enlightenment and broke through to the Void Realm?”

“The Jade Ring Pool.”

Third Elder nodded slightly. “Enlightenment during Feather Transformation leading to the Void Realm isn’t achieved randomly—it depends on the location holding one’s lifebound object. I’ve scoured ancient texts, and most methods to repair the spirit platform seem hopeless. However, one method remains viable: replacing the lifebound object. Your master’s lifebound object is the lotus root heart within the Jade Ring Pool.”

“And the only person who can retrieve it now… is you.”