Chapter 283: 283. Another one is paralyzed
As the sun sets and after doing a day’s worth of “farmwork,” cutting chives the whole day, Lu Xun is exhausted, dragging his tired body back to the backyard of Lai Fu Restaurant.

He really is tired now.

Actually, when he eliminated that Drought Corpse in the Ancient Secret Realm, even though Lu Xun levelled up and recovered all of his Spiritual Power and Divine Sense, the lingering fatigue on his mental and other aspects did not dissipate.

Afterwards, he had to rescue people and rush to Qingling City, and he had no rest at all.

As for his casual and carefree appearance, it was merely a show for the disciples of the Demon Sect.

So far, the Demon Sect disciples had never seen their Young Elder in a disadvantaged situation.

Therefore, if someone were to give him a bed now, he could sleep in the same way as during the Spring Festival, right through until the afternoon.

Lu Xun, who possessed over half a million experience points, put on his bamboo hat once again, transforming back into his usual self.

Hiding behind the hat, he yawned unabashedly, completely disregarding his image, and shaking off all the burdens of keeping up appearances.

Upon entering the backyard, he saw the Spirit Crow half-lying on the doorway, looking as if it was dead.

Lu Xun immediately went over, grabbed its claws, and asked while trying to lift it up, “Hey! Hey! Are you dead?”

The Spirit Crow cracked open its eyes slightly, then slowly closed them again. It looked even more exhausted than he was.

Even when he untied the cloth strip from its beak, all the Spirit Crow did was emit a weak “chicken” sound before having nothing else to say.

Out of options, Lu Xun took out the green pearl and gave it another wave of green.

The Spirit Crow quickly regained its spirit after receiving the wave of green. Its dumbfounded face was filled with confusion, seemingly puzzled by what had just happened.

Lu Xun opened his pet interface and checked the condition of the Spirit Crow. He was surprised to find that the crow’s level had been raised to level 15!

“You can’t be serious. Did this dumb crow level up that quickly?” Lu Xun was perplexed.

Was this the result of the power of a Spirit Beast regressing to its ancestry?

So it appeared so weak because it was drained by its Bloodline Power?

Yet, Lu Xun felt that something was off…

Since he couldn’t figure it out at the moment, he chose not to think about it anymore.

He pushed open the door of the room to check on Xu Zhongcheng’s condition.

Xu Zhongcheng was still the same as before, unconscious.

Lu Xun carefully inspected with his Divine Sense the area beneath Xu Zhongcheng’s Qi Sea. It was still fragmented, and there was no improvement at Dantian.

“Sigh…” Lu Xun sighed, then entered the adjacent room. After eating two dates from the backyard, as soon as his head hit the pillow, he fell into a deep sleep.

The next day at sunrise, Lu Xun woke up.

This was because his Divine Sense sensed the aura of a Cultivator!

Someone had come inside!

Lu Xun opened his eyes, mobilizing the Spiritual Power inside his body, and then saw a familiar figure, tiptoeing quietly into the room.

“Ji Li,” Lu Xun furrowed his eyebrows, slightly doubtful if he was hallucinating.

“Ah? Lu Xun, did I disturb your rest?” Ji Li look guilty immediately, “Then continue your sleep, don’t mind me. I’ll stay outside.”

That familiar voice and the slightly submissive attitude—who else could it be if not Ji Li?

“It’s fine. Come in.” Lu Xun said, resigned.

While speaking, he subconsciously tightened the slightly open collar of his robe to prevent Ji Li from staring at him and drooling.

After putting on his black cloak and sitting on the wooden chair in the room, Lu Xun poured a cup of tea for himself and Ji Li, then asked in confusion, “Why aren’t you on the mountain preparing for the inner sect promotion exam? Why did you come down?”

Ji Li, sitting next to Lu Xun, propped up her cheek, stared at him without blinking, and said:

“Elder Qiu Shui recommended that I come down the mountain, because I’ve reached Great Perfection in the first realm, so she advised me to go to Turtle’s Longevity for training once again.”

Hearing this, Lu Xun slightly nodded.

Turtle’s Longevity had a level restriction, only cultivators below level 20 could enter. Ji Li’s current level was just right, but Lu Xun no longer had the qualification to enter Turtle’s Longevity.

“What a pity, I only went in once,” Lu Xun thought to himself.

Obtaining experience points was too easy for him now. There are too many channels, and there’s no need to crazily enter and exit such dungeons again and again.

After finishing the tea in his cup, he asked, “Then how did you know that I was here?”

Ji Li said, “I didn’t know you were here, I just came to Lai Fu Restaurant to rest. Unexpectedly, Mr. Wang Pan told me you were in the backyard, so I came to have a look, hehe!”

Being able to meet Lu Xun was even more exciting for Ji Li than finding an Immortal Artifact on the road.

She continued, “Lu Xun, what’s the matter with you in Qingling City?”

“There are some matters to be taken care of. I’ll stay for a few more days,” Lu Xun answered.

He didn’t elaborate further since he knew Ji Li wouldn’t continue asking.

She was afraid of bothering Lu Xun, afraid of affecting him, and then Lu Xun would not let her follow him anymore.

Moreover, this girl had sacrificed her brain to get that bust, and she’s not one to overthink; she was happy just sticking to Lu Xun’s side sluggishly.

She looked at Lu Xun and asked, “Lu Xun, how come senior brother Xu is also here, and it looks like he’s in a coma?”

She had mistakenly entered Xu Zhongcheng’s room first.

Lu Xun nodded, then briefed her on the encounter and circumstances of Xu Zhongcheng.

It had to be said, Ji Li was really a good listener.

As she heard about the group’s encounter with the Drought Corpse, her face filled with tension.

Then, as Lu Xun told of how he defeated the Drought Corpse, her face filled with admiration and infatuation.

Yet, when She learned that Xu Zhongcheng had lost all of his cultivation base, that the Dantian was permanently injured, she couldn’t help but stay silent.

For a while, she didn’t know what to say.

Just then, Lu Xun and Ji Li both heard a faint sound.

The sound came from the neighbouring room.

It appeared that Xu Zhongcheng has woken up.

Lu Xun and Ji Li quickly stood up, opened the door, and heard him waking up mumbling: “Water … water …”

Lu Xun’s mouth twitched. He knew that he green lighted Xu Zhongcheng every day. Xu Zhongcheng’s body lacked nothing, nor did it need to drink water.

He was not physically dehydrated, he was psychologically dehydrated after fighting against the Drought Corpse…

Cool water, perhaps, could bring him a sense of security.

Lu Xun thought for a moment, then used his Spiritual Power to lift the cool water from within the kettle, and guided it gently into his mouth.

The cold water entered his belly and seemed to comfort him; his mind was soothed.

Following that, he slowly opened his eyes.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Lu Xun and Ji Li looking down at him.

“Young… Young Elder!” Xu Zhongcheng said with surprised tone.

Before he fainted, he faintly saw a figure in a black cloak and initially thought it was a hallucination.

He didn’t expect the Young Elder was real!

Yet, Lu Xun was puzzled as he looked at Xu Zhongcheng.

Xu Zhongcheng’s tone was full of surprise, his eyes full of astonishment, but his face…

Remained expressionless.