The Art of Subduing Dragons

Chapter 47

This reminder of favorability made Luo Qingci feel a mix of emotions. She retracted her hand and just stared at Ruan Li.

It wasn't until Ruan Li couldn't bear the gaze any longer, looked away, and wiped her tears that Luo Qingci realized the atmosphere between them had become somewhat subtle.

She quickly withdrew slightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable herself.

"You..."

"You..."

They both spoke at the same time, then stopped simultaneously, and then said in unison, "You go first."

Luo Qingci couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, you go first."

"Are you still feeling uncomfortable now?" Ruan Li was really worried. How could Chi Qing, with such high cultivation, cough up blood for no reason?

"I'm not uncomfortable anymore. Don't I look much better now?" Luo Qingci felt warm inside and didn't want Ruan Li to worry, so she spoke lightly.

"That's good."

Earlier, the emotional reunion had overwhelmed them, and the joy of seeing each other again after so long had diluted the awkwardness of being apart for years. But now that they had truly reunited, Ruan Li felt a bit at a loss.

Luo Qingci, though not feeling any such awkwardness, still felt a bit uneasy. After a moment of silence between them, she broke the ice, "Did you apprentice under Luo Qingci?"

Ruan Li nodded. Thinking of the formula in the Chiyang Bell, she couldn't help but ask, "The recipe you left for me, which can allow me to blend in among humans without being discovered—is it real?"

Luo Qingci felt a twinge of sadness and anger at the thought of this. "Yes, back then, the immortal sects were all hunting down escaped dragons. I thought you would need it. But time was tight, and I couldn't prepare the materials for you, so I left you the recipe. You didn't use it, right?"

"Hmm, when I found the recipe, he saw it too. I was shocked and didn't understand why you did it. But he said the recipe was problematic, that using it would only cause harm, so he destroyed it."

"Him! How absurd." Luo Qingci had previously wondered why the little dragon hadn't used the recipe. Although she had vaguely guessed, she was still furious after hearing the confirmation.

Mo Yan's cultivation was incredibly high. Even if he wasn't proficient in medicine, he should have been able to tell if the recipe was flawed. Moreover, how could he not even try? The method he used with Ruan Li clearly caused great harm. Calling it a wolfish medicine would not be an exaggeration. Not only was the later cultivation life-threatening, but even the initial use must have caused Ruan Li immense suffering.

"I'm sorry." Ruan Li felt guilty. She had been young then, and after being abandoned by Chi Qing, she harbored deep resentment. Plus, Mo Yan had angrily berated her for being naive. She had wavered and trusted him enough to show him the contents.

"It's not your fault. How is your body now?"

"Although there are still some lingering effects, it has improved a lot over the years in Tianyan Sect." She didn't want Luo Qingci to worry, so she downplayed it.

"These years... has he been cruel to you?" Luo Qingci had been holding back, but she finally asked.

Although the mask covered most of Luo Qingci's face, Ruan Li could still sense her guilt.

She reached out to stir the fire in front of her, adding more wood. The flames danced across her face, revealing a hint of a smile. Ruan Li, only twenty years old, had matured but still carried the youthful look of someone who had yet to fully grow up. Though she smiled, there was a calmness and steadiness that spoke of maturity.