Jun Xiaomo roused from her meditation after half an incense of time passed. She tried to open her eyes, only to realize that her whole body felt as though it had been completely drained of energy. Her body swayed and slammed back down onto her bed. At that moment, the door opened –

“Mo-Mo! What happened to you?!” Liu Qingmei’s hurriedly set down the piping hot bowl of porridge in her hands and ran over to Jun Xiaomo’s side.

The Jun Xiaomo now looked as though she were once again heavily wounded. Her face was sickly pale colour, while crimson red blood oozed out of the corner of her mouth. The stark contrast of these colours was chilling.

Jun Xiaomo smiled weakly. She really pushed herself to her limits earlier. She knew that her injuries were severe, yet she really underestimated the severity of her injuries. The simple act of manipulating her spiritual energy in meditation nearly killed her!

Enduring her pain and injuries, Jun Xiaomo braced herself and struggled to sit up. She gripped tightly onto Liu Qingmei’s hands, softly leaned her head on Liu Qingmei’s shoulder, and murmured, “Mum, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

Even so, the pain caused Jun Xiaomo to break out in cold sweat and shiver involuntarily. Seeing this, Liu Qingmei’s heart wrenched, pulsing with intense heartache.

Ever since receiving the Sect’s punishment, her daughter seemed to have matured overnight. Her daughter even attempted to reassure her that she was fine despite experiencing excruciating pain.

“Mo-Mo dear, if there’s any discomfort, let Mum know, alright? Don’t push yourself so hard.” Liu Qingmei said, gently stroking Jun Xiaomo’s hair.

“Mm.” Jun Xiaomo responded with a low voice. At the same time, she pressed her forehead against Liu Qingmei’s shoulder, rubbing it ever so gently and lovingly.

“What happened to Mo-Mo?” A low voice rang from outside. Immediately after that, a tall figure strode into the room.

“Big brother He, Mo-Mo’s injuries seem to have worsened.” Liu Qingmei said with concern, tacitly pleading for help. Her husband was after all in closed-door cultivation, while the Sect Elders were still furious about Jun Xiaomo’s entry into the Sect’s forbidden grounds. The only other person which Liu Qingmei could rely on for help was martial brother He Zhang, who had always been looking out for her.

“Has it? Let me take a look.” He Zhang said, promptly taking a few steps towards Liu Qingmei and Jun Xiaomo. At this instant, Jun Xiaomo’s body tensed up.

She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists.

Jun Xiaomo almost couldn’t hide the killing intent swelling from depths of her heart!

Jun Xiaomo instantaneously recognized the voice of this man. The voice which echoed in her nightmares. The voice which had tormented her for thousands of days and nights!

If Qin Lingyu were akin to a pawn in the events resulting in the annihilation of her family and her Peak, then He Zhang could only be described as the mastermind behind it all!

He Zhang was the elder martial brother of both Liu Qingmei and Jun Linxuan, and also the Sect Leader of Dawn Sect. Qin Lingyu was one of his best disciples.

How could Jun Xiaomo forget the moment of desperation where she witnessed with her own eyes her mother being violated, and yet was unable to do a single thing about it because her energy arts had been crippled! At that time, He Zhang had completely shed off his righteous and dignified appearances and had exposed his vile and depraved true nature. He Zhang yanked on Liu Qingmei’s clothing, forcing himself onto the heavily wounded Liu Qingmei, who was powerless to resist him. Jun Xiaomo father, Jun Linxuan, lay a short distance away in a pool of crimson blood, completely motionless. His eyes were wide open, as though screaming out the grievances of his death.

He…Zhang! The hypocrite who ravaged my mother like a primal beast! I killed you once in my past life. Don’t you dare think for one moment that I will spare you in this life!

Jun Xiaomo viciously bit down on her lower lips.

“Mo-Mo?” Liu Qingmei was initially about to make way for He Zhang to examine Jun Xiaomo, sensing Jun Xiaomo’s change in disposition, she sat back down.

It was only at this instance that Jun Xiaomo caught herself brooding over the hateful matters of her previous life.

“Mum, I’m fine. Let’s have martial uncle He examine me for a moment.” Suppressing the roiling hatred within her, Jun Xiaomo shook of the tension in her head and relaxed her body. As she slowly opened her eyes again, she seemed to have reverted to that simple, naïve and ignorant sixteen years-old girl who respectfully and innocently addressed He Zhang as martial uncle.

“Good girl.” He Zhang patted her head, revealing a wide smile that was no different from any other elder who doted on the younger generation.

Jun Xiaomo resisted the urge to smack away He Zhang’s repulsive hand. She slowly shut her eyes and continued to suppress her hatred and disgust for He Zhang.

“Give me your hand. Martial uncle will examine your meridians.”

Jun Xiaomo obeyed, stretching out her hand. He Zhang firmly placed three fingers on Jun Xiaomo’s wrist and swiftly sent a thread of spiritual energy throughout her body, gently probing at her meridians.

Despite being very resistant to the idea of letting this man hold her wrist and examine her meridians, she suppressed the urge to put up any form of resistance.

As it was right now, she did not have the power to oppose He Zhang. She had no choice but to maintain a cordial attitude with He Zhang so that he would not raise any suspicions about her.

After a few moments, He Zhang collected his spiritual energy. Liu Qingmei asked, “Martial brother, how are Mo-Mo’s injuries?”

He Zhang’s eyes glimmered with a flash of light, and this did not go unnoticed by Jun Xiaomo’s keen senses. As He Zhang turned his head towards Liu Qingmei, he wore on his face an expression of care and concern.

“Ai—These Sect Elders have been a little too heavy-handed with their punishment.” He Zhang sighed as he spoke. “Xiaomo’s meridians have been damaged. If we don’t treat it properly, I’m afraid it might affect her cultivation in future.”

“It’s that serious?!” Liu Qingmei’s heart sank heavily. She looked over at Jun Xiaomo with anxiousness and worry in her eyes.

He Zhang retrieved a jade bottle from his apparel, offered it to Liu Qingmei and said, “I happened to obtain this bottle of Sagely Recovery Pills. Give Mo-Mo one pill a day. These are very effective for repairing and restoring meridians.”

“I cannot accept these! These are too valuable!” Liu Qingmei hurriedly rejected the gift.

“It’s fine. I’ve watched Mo-Mo grow up. As the Sect Leader, I feel guilty and responsible for being unable to convince the Sect Elders to show mercy to Mo-Mo. Take this gift as a token of my remorse.” He Zhang said as he pushed the jade bottle back to Liu Qingmei hands. However, even after the bottle were firmly received by Liu Qingmei, He Zhang continued to hold onto Liu Qingmei’s hands, and his eyes flashed with a trace of infatuation.

At this moment, a suffocating feeling welled up within Jun Xiaomo, and she immediately coughed up a bloody sputum.

“Mo-Mo!” Liu Qingmei turned her attention away from the jade bottle of medicine, wrung her hand free from He Zhang’s grasp and rushed over to her daughter.

“Mum~~” Jun Xiaomo buried her head into Liu Qingmei’s shoulders, clutching onto her clothes tightly.

In the eyes of a normal bystander, Jun Xiaomo was being clingy to her mother because of the physical discomfort she was experiencing. Only Jun Xiaomo knew the true reason – it was to prevent He Zhang from taking advantage of her mother, and to conceal and suppress the burning hatred in her own eyes.

Liu Qingmei gently stroked her daughter’s back. Seeing her daughter experiencing such pain, she made up her mind.

“Thank you, martial brother.” Liu Qingmei tightly gripped the jade bottle in her hands. She lifted her head to He Zhang and said, “Once Linxuan returns from his closed-door cultivation, I will definitely get him to thank you properly.”

Nothing was more important than the health of her daughter. However, Liu Qingmei did not want to owe others a favour. Even if this bottle of medicine weren’t very important to He Zhang, Liu Qingmei would still feel uneasy accepting such a valuable gift.

At this time, Liu Qingmei had not the slightest clue on He Zhang’s true feelings toward her – He Zhang had concealed this too well. If Jun Xiaomo had not the benefits of her past life’s experiences, even she might not even be able to see past the righteous and dignified appearances of He Zhang – his vile and revolting true nature.

Hearing Liu Qingmei mention Jun Linxuan, He Zhang felt a trace of disappointment, but did not show this on his face. Instead, he placed his hand on Liu Qingmei’s shoulder, reassuring her, “Don’t fret over these little things. Remember, one pill a day, and Mo-Mo should be fully recovered after about one month.”

“Thank you, martial brother.” Liu Qingmei nodded. The anxiety in her tone had also subsided substantially.

As for He Zhang, Liu Qingmei still perceived him to be one of the more trustworthy people around.

On the other hand, Jun Xiaomo did not want this man with an ulterior motive loitering around her room any longer than was necessary. She pondered for a moment, and lightly said to Liu Qingmei, “Mum~ I’m not feeling well. I want to rest for a little while.”

“Okay. Lie down a rest for a little while then. You can have the porridge later.” Liu Qingmei reassured Jun Xiaomo with a gentle tap on her body, before helping her lie down on her bed.

“Mum, don’t leave yet. I want you to accompany me.” Jun Xiaomo held onto Liu Qingmei’s hand. Her pale, small face made her look fragile and pitiful.

Liu Qingmei’s heart sank again. She tucked Jun Xiaomo into bed carefully, saying, “Alright. Don’t be afraid, Mo-Mo. Mum is here with you.”

Jun Xiaomo smiled with relief, and slowly shut her eyes.

He Zhang felt that the interactions of this mother-daughter duo were rather irksome. Seeing how Liu Qingmei was fawning over her daughter, she had clearly relegated him to the back of her mind. Evidently, he was not going to get any more of Liu Qingmei’s attention that he so desired.

Forget it. We will cross the bridge when we get there. He Zhang silently thought to himself. He Zhang began making his way to the door, saying, “Martial sister, I’ve still got to handle some Sect-related matters, so I won’t bother you any further. If you need any more help, please feel free to look for me.”

“Okay. Thank you, martial brother.” Liu Qingmei gratefully nodded.

“Don’t mention it. After all, these are part of my duties as Mo-Mo’s martial uncle.” He Zhang patted Liu Qingmei’s shoulders, conspicuously letting his hand linger on her shoulders for a few moments, before turning around and finally leaving.

After hearing the sound of the door closing and confirming that Liu Qingmei was still around, Jun Xiaomo finally relaxed herself.

As soon as the tension dissipated, a wave of weariness swept over Jun Xiaomo, and she swiftly fell into a deep slumber.

Jun Xiaomo had not slept so peacefully in a long, long time.