Chapter 87 Little Enchantress

"Of course!" She Meier declared proudly, "Not to boast, but I, She Meier—wait, Bai Xiaoyue, did you just call me 'Miss She'?"

"Yes," Bai Xiaoyue answered earnestly, "Miss She, is there anything wrong with addressing you this way?"

"No!" She Meier became surprisingly excited. "Bai Xiaoyue, I actually like you calling me that... It's just, I always thought I hadn't treated you very well before. I assumed you'd hold some resentment toward me."

"Hehe..." Bai Xiaoyue smiled cheerfully. "Nothing in this world remains unchanged, least of all us humans. Miss She, the misunderstandings we had before were just because we didn't know each other well. I believe, once we've spent more time together and come to understand each other, we'll definitely become good friends!"

"Bai Xiaoyue, do you really feel that way?" She Meier asked, half in doubt.

Bai Xiaoyue nodded emphatically. "Yes, I mean every word."

"Good!" She Meier agreed without hesitation. "Bai Xiaoyue, from now on, I see you in a whole new light!"

"And me!" Tu Xiaomeng seized the moment, shouting, "Miss She, you should see me differently, too!"

"You?" She Meier turned her gaze on Tu Xiaomeng, her expression darkening. "Tu Xiaomeng, I haven't even settled accounts with you yet. Just now, who was it that called me a 'little enchantress'?"

Tu Xiaomeng silently lamented her misfortune, but then her eyes spun with mischief. In a flash, she scrambled up from the pile of 'Five-Colored Spirit Stones,' scurried over to She Meier, and very affectionately took her hands. "Hehe, Miss She, how could I dare insult you? When I called you a 'little enchantress,' wasn't that a term of endearment? 'Little' means young and promising, 'enchantress' means alluring and beautiful, and 'essence' means exceptional and extraordinary—in short, Miss She, when I call you a 'little enchantress,' I'm praising you for being young and accomplished, both alluring and outstanding!"

"Really?" She Meier blinked, pondering for a moment, and found Tu Xiaomeng's reasoning rather convincing. Her brows relaxed. "Tu Xiaomeng, are you sure that's what you meant?"

"Of course!" Tu Xiaomeng replied sweetly. "Miss She, you're a heroine among women, a role model for all of us. I envy you—how could I possibly slander you?"

"Hehehe..." She Meier broke into a bright smile. "Tu Xiaomeng, you really have a way with words! But isn't 'little enchantress' a rather... eccentric nickname?"

"Hehehe, it's certainly unique!" Tu Xiaomeng, relieved, immediately seized the opening. "Miss She, if you're not comfortable with it, I won't call you that anymore. How about I just call you 'Sister Meier' instead?"

"Mmm, that does sound much nicer," She Meier nodded in agreement. "Alright, Tu Xiaomeng, from now on, you may call me Sister Meier..."

"Well, things sound lively out here!" Before She Meier had finished, Master Qingxu emerged from the bedroom, beaming. "Miss She, Danzi, you're back already?"

"Yes!" She Meier replied with a bright smile. "Master Qingxu, I have not failed in my mission. I've brought back both the 'Heart Elixir Fruit' and the 'Revival Stone'!"

"Ah, that's wonderful!" Master Qingxu was overjoyed. "Miss She, you've worked hard!"

She Meier smiled gracefully. "It was no trouble at all."

"Master!" Yan Chixia called out with deep feeling, striding quickly to his teacher. "Look, these are the 'Heart Elixir Fruit' and the 'Revival Stone'!"

As he spoke, he presented the treasured items in both hands for Master Qingxu to see.

Master Qingxu examined them closely, his excitement mounting. "Yes! They're exactly as described in the 'Compendium of Rare Stones and Mystic Fruits.' These are indeed the 'Heart Elixir Fruit' and the 'Revival Stone'! Danzi, just now while I was asleep, I dreamed that you brought these treasures back. I was so happy in the dream that I woke up—and here you are, truly returned!"

"Is that so?" Tu Xiaomeng piped up. "Master, did you actually dream this time?"

"Hehe," Master Qingxu laughed heartily. "Xiaomeng, this time I really did dream it!"

"Oh?" Yan Chixia blinked. "Master, did I hear right? Just now, Xiaomeng called you 'Master'?"

"She did!" Tu Xiaomeng answered gleefully before Master Qingxu could speak. "Brother Yan, I've got wonderful news for you: Sister Bai, myself, and Song Ta'er have all become disciples of Master Qingxu! From now on, the four of us share the same master!"

"Really? That's fantastic!" Yan Chixia exclaimed with delight. "Xiaomeng, Sister, Song Ta'er, congratulations!"

"Congratulations to us all!" Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta'er replied in unison.

Yan Chixia could no longer contain his boundless joy. "Yes! Congratulations indeed... Now we can all live together every day! Master, Sister, Xiaomeng, Song Ta'er, I have great news for you too: today I broke through my cultivation 'bottleneck' and entered the 'Golden Core' stage! And so did She Meier—she's reached the 'Golden Core' stage as well!"

"Really?" Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta'er were all amazed and envious. "You two... are incredible!"

"Ah?" Master Qingxu was elated. "Danzi, you've achieved the 'Golden Core' stage in your cultivation? Hahaha, that's wonderful! I've been waiting for this day so I could teach you how to establish a 'spiritual barrier' and... cough, cough... cough, cough, cough..."

Before Master Qingxu could finish, his 'Scorched Meridian' affliction flared up again. Instantly, the smile froze on his face and he began coughing violently, wracked with pain.

"Master!" Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta'er cried out in unison, their faces turning pale with fright.

She Meier remained calm and composed by their side. "Everyone, don't panic. Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, Song Ta'er, you stay here and look after Master Qingxu; Yan Chixia, I know how to refine the 'Scorched Gold Pill.' Quick, come with me to make it."

"Alright!" Yan Chixia responded at once. "Sister, take care of Master. I'm off to the alchemy chamber! She Meier, let's go."

"Coming!" She Meier answered, hurrying after Yan Chixia.

In no time, the two of them arrived at the alchemy chamber. At once, She Meier's eyes fell on the 'Ruyi Alchemy Furnace' set atop the stone table.

"Ah, the 'Ruyi Alchemy Furnace'!" She Meier exclaimed in delight, rushing forward for a closer look.

The 'Ruyi Alchemy Furnace' resembled a small, three-legged censer, carved from meteoric iron, its hue a deep violet, with embossed patterns of auspicious dragons soaring among clouds...

"It's exquisite!" She Meier admired it, her excitement barely contained. "Yan Chixia, according to my master, once the 'Ruyi Alchemy Furnace' is activated, it becomes a completely transparent crystal, able to change size at will. During the refining of Golden Cores, the golden dragon coiled around the furnace will soar inside, breathing true flames to smelt the herbs... Is that really true?"