I courted death and then tried to escape, so the whole sect wants to get rid of me.

At that time, Song Yao was diligently studying medical books.

To keep herself from falling asleep so quickly, she came up with a plan.

I read medical books, alchemy books, and pharmacology books in turn.

You can always absorb at least a little bit of it.

Although the effect is minimal now, and she hasn't been able to break through the tenth page barrier, at least there has been some progress.

When Jiang Jin arrived, Song Yao was already on the verge of fainting.

To cultivate medicinal herbs, Baicaofeng has set up a special barrier that prevents even the cold winter snow from penetrating the mountain.

The courtyard remained warm, like late spring.

Jiang Jin pushed open the door and saw the young man wearing a light blue Taoist robe, lounging loosely on a bamboo recliner under the eaves.

Her black hair was held up with only a wooden hairpin, with stray strands falling down, and the book in her hand was lazily held to the tip of her nose.

His eyes were half-closed, as if he were about to fall asleep, and when he was quiet, his handsome features were almost dazzling.

Jiang Jin unconsciously slowed his breathing and his pace.

He walked over step by step, reached out and took the book from her hand, glancing at the title page.

The Treatise on the Eight Extraordinary Vessels.

An introductory book for medical practitioners.

He felt a slight surge of joy.

He had previously thought that if she could assist him in medical cultivation, she would be a great help in the future.

Both are talented and of similar age. Once their cultivation levels rise, they might even make a name for themselves in the cultivation world.

Just then, Song Yao groggily opened her eyes.

Upon seeing him, her drowsiness vanished almost instantly, and her voice was slightly hoarse: "Why are you here?"

Tomorrow is the sect's grand competition. Instead of practicing his sword properly, why does he have time to come to her courtyard?

But it came at just the right time.

She sat up slightly and began rummaging through her mustard seed bag for newly made Qi-replenishing pills.

Jiang Jin coughed lightly: "I have something to tell you."

Song Yao found the porcelain bottle, held it in her hand, looked up at him and smiled kindly: "I also have something to say to you."

Jiang Jin: "...You go first."

Song Yao: "You go first."

Asking others to help test drugs is rather unethical; she needs to carefully consider her words.

Jiang Jin hesitated for a moment, then placed the "Eight Meridians Theory" on the stone table. He looked at her with his dark eyes and said seriously, "I hope you will not participate in tomorrow's sect competition."

Song Yao paused: "Why?"

Could it be that he's afraid he can't beat her because she broke through his cultivation level so quickly?

That shouldn't be the case.

He was seventeen, falling into the seventeen-to-twenty-two age range, and since he wasn't with her, they couldn't even get along.

Moreover, according to her understanding of the plot, although Jiang Jin was the youngest in their age group and his cultivation level was not the highest, he still managed to turn the tide and win the championship.

There was absolutely no reason to persuade her not to participate.

Jiang Jin coughed lightly, a hint of worry on his handsome face: "You are a pill cultivator, you don't need to do these sword and spear fighting things. Besides, I remember that your soul is incomplete and your body is weak. On the arena, magic has no eyes, and if you get injured, the consequences will be unimaginable."

He paused, then added, "Furthermore, during the annual competition, the sect leader will emerge from seclusion, and several senior disciples will also be present to watch the competition. If they take a liking to someone, they will be directly recruited into the main peak. Haven't you always wanted to leave the Nine Saints Hall? If you are actually selected to enter the main peak, it will become a shackle and will not do you any good."

Song Yao glanced up and saw his tense jawline, and her mind instantly cleared.

That's the key point.

He was worried that she would be favored by the hall master and a few of his close disciples, and that she would take his spot.

It's said that this arrogant male protagonist is proud and haughty, so what's going on with him coming here to find excuses to tell her not to participate?

Her eyes were so clear that Jiang Jin had the illusion that she could see right through him, and his cheeks flushed slightly.

He felt inexplicably guilty, reached out and grabbed Song Yao's wrist, and said with a forced smile, "I know you're not interested in this, that's why I came to persuade you. Don't you want to be a medical cultivator or an alchemist? Once I enter the main peak, I'll get on good terms with my senior brother and have him teach you. I will never leave you behind."

Song Yao: "?"

What was left behind?

She glanced suspiciously at his hand gripping her wrist, then at the boy's flushed cheeks, sensing that something was amiss.

Why did you touch me inappropriately?

And yet they say such high-sounding things.

It's amazing he could even ask his opponent to withdraw from the competition.

It seems that even the seemingly naive and ambitious male protagonist in the novel isn't as simple-minded as he's portrayed.

She subtly withdrew her hand, a wicked thought forming in her mind, and asked, "Then why don't I go to the main peak myself and have my senior brother teach me?"

"You, you are a pill cultivator, and your soul is missing, how could you possibly enter the main peak so easily?"

Jiang Jin was clearly taken aback by her question and lost his composure slightly. "Besides, your health is poor, so going to the main peak wouldn't be of much use to you. I'm different; I'm a sword cultivator. If I cultivate under the guidance of the hall master, I'm sure I can achieve great things..."

Song Yao couldn't help but laugh.

I initially thought this arrogant male protagonist was just a bit conceited, but now it seems he's also mentally unstable.

She interrupted his long-winded explanation: "Since I'm not going to get to the main peak so easily, what are you afraid of?"

One sentence shut Jiang Jin down.

He opened his mouth, his ear tips turning bright red as if they were about to bleed: "Well, after all, you have a good relationship with Second Senior Sister. What if she chooses you as her personal disciple..."

Song Yao raised an eyebrow: "My relationship with Second Senior Sister is good? Are you blind? She owes me 200,000 spirit stones and refuses to pay them back."

Jiang Jin: "...I was just saying, in case."

"Should the second senior sister take on disciples, or should the hall master?"

Song Yao smiled. "If you were truly more talented than me, would the hall master have chosen a sickly person like me instead of someone like you... a sword cultivator with great potential?"

Jiang Jin: "..."

He was speechless after being retorted, and felt a tightness in his chest.

This is a little different from what he expected.

She loves him, so why won't she grant him such a small request?

Why would a sickly young girl need to become a healer and follow him around?

What a waste!

He took a deep breath, wanting to say something, but when he saw the clear, innocent eyes of the person in front of him, as if they were filled with spring water, he swallowed his words back.

Forget it.

Given her damaged soul and weakened body, even if she were to actually enter the arena, she might not be able to secure a spot as a personal disciple. It's not worth arguing with her over such a trivial matter.

Moreover, the annual competition is a top priority for the sect. Since she is determined to go, stopping her would only make him seem petty and inferior.

He softened his tone, with a hint of awkwardness in his admonition: "Alright, you can participate tomorrow. But swords and spears have no eyes on the arena. Your body is already weak, so you must be careful and never push yourself too hard."

Song Yao: "..."

Participating in the competition is something he should do, so why does it sound like he's giving alms?

She didn't reply, but chuckled softly and leaned back lazily on the couch.

Jiang Jin felt she was mocking him, and feeling slightly embarrassed, he changed the subject, asking, "What were you trying to say to me?"

I almost forgot.

Song Yao felt no remorse this time. She opened her hand and handed him the pill: "This is a Qi-replenishing pill I just refined. Can you try it for me?"

Out of a doctor's conscience, I still want to remind you: "There are side effects, but you won't die."