Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 61 | A Token of Devotion | Novela.app

Chapter 61 - A Token of Devotion The refinement was complete. By any conventional metric used in the cultivation world, their progress had been nothing short of staggering. The room was still thick with the lingering, bittersweet scent of medicinal herbs and the residual heat of the furnace. However, pills of such potency—designed to forcibly elevate one's cultivation base—were not items to be consumed recklessly. To swallow them all in one breath would be to invite a chaotic surge of spiritual energy that could easily shatter a cultivator's meridians or leave their foundation riddled with cracks. With practiced efficiency, the two men set about dividing the results of their labor. They sorted the shimmering, translucent spheres into separate jade vials, the clinking of glass against stone echoing softly in the quiet room. Each took a vial and tucked it securely into their respective storage bracelets. They had already reached a silent agreement: over the next month, they would focus on a steady, disciplined approach to integration, ensuring that every drop of medicinal essence was properly absorbed and tempered. Nie Shiyun watched as Zhai Bairong finally extinguished the Azure Lotus Remnant Flame. The flickering, ethereal blue light died down, plunging the room into a soft, natural twilight. Seeing his companion lean back as if to conclude the day's work, Nie Shiyun spoke up. "Aren't you going to finish refining Duan Mingyu's share of the Golden Sun Flower while you're at it? You have the momentum now." Zhai Bairong did not move toward the ingredients. Instead, he shifted his weight, sliding across the floor until he was sitting directly beside Nie Shiyun. The rustle of his silk robes was the only sound in the room for a moment. "There is no rush for that," he murmured. He turned his head, his gaze fixing on Nie Shiyun with an intensity that felt almost heavy. "You are here with me now, but after the day after tomorrow, we will be forced apart for a time. Even though I know our reunion is not far off, the mere thought of the coming days without you is... difficult to endure." Nie Shiyun felt a sudden, sharp tug at his heartstrings. Seeing Zhai Bairong like this—his heart and mind entirely focused on him—brought a profound sense of satisfaction. In the original novel, this man had been a cold, distant figure of tragic elegance, but here, he was warm, vulnerable, and devoted. Nie Shiyun reached out, his palm pressing against the small of Zhai Bairong’s back, pulling him closer until their shoulders brushed. "By the way," Zhai Bairong said, his voice dropping to a more serious register. "Because you chose to stop at the top eight during the conference, you did not receive a Bone-Refining Pill. That is a peerless spiritual medicine, of a grade that even I cannot currently refine with my own skills. It is invaluable for tempering the physical body to withstand the pressures of higher realms. Perhaps... you should take my portion." Nie Shiyun didn't even let him finish the sentence. "Absolutely not," he interrupted firmly. "It’s not as if you were awarded a surplus. You would be giving up your own chance at a perfect foundation for nothing. How could I possibly accept such a sacrifice?" "You need it more than I do," Zhai Bairong insisted, his eyes searching Nie Shiyun’s face for any sign of wavering. To him, Nie Shiyun was a dual-root cultivator who had to work twice as hard to maintain his pace. He truly believed that giving up his own prize was the logical choice for their shared future. Nie Shiyun sighed, touched by the gesture but resolute in his refusal. He placed a hand over Zhai Bairong’s, squeezing gently. "That isn't necessarily true. Look at me—I am a cultivator with dual spiritual roots, yet am I not currently standing on equal footing with you? I have my own unique methods for advancement, Bairong. I am not nearly as fragile as you seem to think." He was, of course, referring to his knowledge of the world’s secrets and his own specialized techniques, but to Zhai Bairong, it sounded like the quiet confidence of a man with hidden depths. "Let us not speak of this again," Nie Shiyun continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Find a suitable time and consume the pill yourself. I will not take it from you, and I won't have you falling behind on my account." Seeing the iron-clad determination in Nie Shiyun’s eyes, Zhai Bairong finally let out a soft breath and nodded. He didn't push further, but the look he gave Nie Shiyun was filled with a lingering, quiet devotion that spoke louder than any promise.