บท 44: Being Frugal

The small group of three took out a small orb as they approached the forest. The miasma sucks out a cultivator's spiritual energy before it sucks out their life force, killing them. That is, if they survive the small patches of poisonous herbs inside that may or may not release toxic poisons into their surroundings. The orbs contained small shields that kept out the miasma of the forest for a time.

The green robed girl seemed to think of something for a bit before she turned to the girl wearing snow blue robes. "By the way, Shue'er, do you think you can keep the spiritual power in our body from leaking using acupuncture?"

The second girl tilted her head with a look on her face. "I can try... but there's only a ninety percent or so guarantee."

"Hey, hey. What do you mean 'only'? You trying to diss me since I don't know as much medicine? Ninety percent is already a high percentage okay? Just because I don't know as much medicine doesn't mean I'm stupid. I know other doctors would not be able to reach even fifty percent. Otherwise, the Death Raid wouldn't have failed so miserably." Shen Tianyu huffed with her hands on her hips, on of her hands holding the clear orb.

"It's not an absolute guarantee." Luo Shue replied simply.

"Still better than others." Shen Tianyu replied. "Have more confidence in yourself as the legendary Tian Yu's only disciple. Besides, no medical treatment is absolutely effective, even common ones. Different people react differently to different medicines after all."

"How come it feels like you know more about medicine than even my Teacher even thought you claim to not know much?" Luo Shue smiled.

"Eh? Uh... ah... just- just because I can't make pills and stuff doesn't mean I don't know anything about diseases and such at all." Shen Tianyu scratched her cheek as she looked around.

"Well, how about we try it then?" Luo Shue said as Shen pulled out a leather belt pouch with numerous acupuncture needles neatly arranged. She wouldn't pursue this further because no matter what, her Miss would still be Miss.

"Good idea!" Shen Tianyu jumped on this change of topic. "Rong Jian should try it first."

"Ah?" The party that was volunteered without their consent out of the blue, jumped. "You were the one that came out with the idea. You try it first."

'He recovered fast.' Shen Tianyu thought. "How can this be? As a man, should you not test the waters first? After all, there's still a ten percent chance it'll fail. Not only are we women, we are also Foundation Establishment level. And it's not like Shue'er could do it on herself. As a strong, dependable man, should you not help us test it first?"

"What are you so avoidant about? Are you scared of needles? It's only ten percent. You said it yourself, it's already a very good chance." Rong Jian complained as he stepped forward.

"Why are you complaining so much? You should be able to survive even if it, in the one in ten chance, does fail."

"If you agree to become my wife, then I won't complain."

"Ah?" Having that curve ball thrown in from left field, Shen Tianyu stayed rooted on the spot as she stared dumbly at Rong Jian. 'What's with this curve ball? More like, how can you actually be so calm to say that at this time.'

Only when Rong Jian got his acupuncture and shouted to them that he'll be back in a short while, did she finally snap out of her daze with a slight blush.

"Miss, do you want to wait until Young Master Rong comes back?" Luo Shue smiled at her.

"Uh..., yeah. Let's wait." She responded as she walked up next to Luo Shue.

A short while later, Rong Jian emerged from the forest with a smile on his face.

Seeing his smile, Shen Tianyu assumed it had worked. "Did it work?" She wanted to confirm.

"Yup. I still have all my spiritual power. Even if it doesn't stop it from leaking, it should slow the leakage down significantly." Rong Jian analyzed.

"Yay! We don't have to waste the Miasma Orbs now." Shen Tianyu turned to Luo Shue eagerly. "Hurry, acupuncture me."

"Yes, yes." Luo Shue walked up to her with the leather belt.

"Oh, by the way, how will you acupuncture yourself?" Shen Tianyu asked. During Rong Jian's acupuncture, she had seen Luo Shue weak behind him.

"Mm... I'll manage."

"Do you want some help? Even if I can't really make medicine, I still know some acupuncture." Shen Tianyu offered.

"Then alright. That will be easier." Luo Shue accepted.

After Shen Tianyu got her acupuncture, she helped Luo Shue. Rong Jian stood to the side, watching them. The scene of those two would seem like they were a slumber party, doing girl stuff. It would have been soothing if they weren't stabbing each other with needles in front of a forest covered in dark miasma.

"Done! Shue'er, check if I did it right." Shen Tianyu said as she put the needles in her hands back into the leather belt.

Luo Shue circulated her spiritual power to make sure it wouldn't escape and nodded. "Miss did a great job."

"Eheheh..." Shen Tianyu gave a little laugh as they walked into the forest.

...

"Hm... there's less demonic beasts than I expected." Shen Tianyu commented after running for a while in the forest.

"Why do you say that?" Rong Jian asked as he rna alongside her.

"Well, people are always saying they hear the howls of the demonic beasts and that they are scary so don't ever go into the forest... but we've run for so long and still haven't encountered a demonic beast." Shen Tianyu looked at Ring Jian with a penetrating gaze.

"Uh... why are you looking at me like that?"

Shen Tianyu turned her eyes to face forward again. "Nothing. Just that I know I the reason behind these kinds of thing is usually because there's someone strong nearby so the demonic beasts don't dare to show themselves. And since I din't know your level, I was wondering if this 'strong cultivator' is you."

"It could be." Rong Jian answered with a proud look on his face. "Is wifey impressed?"

"I'm not your wife yet."

"That's right, not yet, but you will be so what's the problem in getting used to it now?"

Shen Tianyu decided to not respond to his flirting.