Qiu Yunru only remembered a few things from this time. It was like being dunked in and out of a pool of water over and over until the sound of the water sloshing and the voices above became muddled, making one warped and confusing sound.

  He caught a few things:

  There was Pan Fa's face staring down at him in terror. "Qiu-shixiong!" His voice sounded like that of a walrus, thick and echoey.

  There was a cool wind as they rushed down the mountain.

  There was the uncomfortable feeling of more tears on his cheeks that weren't his own.

  For a while, he floated in this state, unable to speak, move, or understand his surroundings.

  However, Qiu Yunru wasn't one to lie there and do nothing, even when he was completely immobilized. He was a top-tier game grinder who relished in maxing out every stat he could!

  Thus, he took this disorienting time to explore the ghost qi in his body.

  It was cold, and seemed to have an almost repellent nature towards his own spiritual qi. The two couldn't touch without being forced together. However, when he breathed calmly and willed them to grow closer, there were able to mix a little bit. Over time, the coldness of the foreign qi gripping his body thawed and grew warmer.

  A game menu notification pinged in the dark, gold-clouded vision behind his eyelids:

  CONGRATULATIONS! New Achievement Unlocked: Ghost Qi Familiarity Level 1!

  Since most Spring Blossoms, Autumn Fruits playthroughs didn't include a ghost realm at all, this wasn't a notification he'd ever gotten before in his previous life. However, there was a similar achievement that could usually be achieved: Demonic Qi Familiarity, Level 1-5.

  As one could guess, this achievement involved being able to consume and maintain demonic qi within one's body alongside spiritual qi. If one had reached Level 1 of Familiarity, they could consume and interact with just a small amount of demonic qi before their body shut down and began fighting itself. When one reached Level 5, you could practically become a demon yourself, and if you hid your human origins well enough, you might even be able to live among demons in the Demon Realm and be greatly respected there!

  Of course, if a player's human identity was ever revealed, they would be torn to shreds by the demon race. Demons weren't known to be friendly to outsiders, especially not humans. Who knew what a human with such demonic powers was doing in the Demon Realm? Probably spying for their Emperor or whatnot!

  Thus, Qiu Yunru figured that this achievement was essentially the same, but involving Ghost Qi.

  Perhaps it would be good in the long-term to reach high levels of Familiarity with bothe ghost qi and demonic qi. That way, no matter what situation he encountered, he could become like a chameleon to protect himself. What's more, as a lofty immortal, it would be impossible for anyone to infect him with foreign qi in order to sap his strength. He could become nearly invincible!

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  It was while pondering this that Qiu Yunru shot up in bed and gasped awake.

  Or rather, he shot up only halfway in bed. He had bashed into some one else's forehead just a few inches after trying to get up!

  There was a white flash of pain, and Qiu Yunru hissed, rubbing his forehead. When his sight cleared, he saw that this person who had been leaning over him so closely was none other than that clingy kid Li Chenyuan.

  Li Chenyuan had a red mark on his forehead that he was rubbing, and his face was pale. There were bags under his eyes that hadn't been there before.

  "Qiu-ge!" He breathed out a sigh of relief, his shoulders seeming to melt. "You're finally awake..."

  Qiu Yunru could see that he had been brought to the Jade Clouds Sect infirmary to be treated. It seemed to be early morning outside, and they had fought the corpses sometime in the afternoon...

  Just how long had he been passed out?!

  "It's been twelve hours," Li Chenyuan said, his voice hoarse with worry. He looked his shixiong up and down for any signs of continuing illness. However, Qiu Yunri looked quite well. His shining, ink-black hair spilled over his shoulders, and his inner robe was sitting wide open, exposing his chest. Li Chenyuan averted his eyes, feeling himself grow warm.

  "Twelve hours?!" Qiu Yunru blurted, aghast. He rubbed his chin, frustrated. "I really shouldn't have used so much powder. Even with that many corpses following us, I could have used half the amount. I'll have to be more careful in the future."

  Realizing that Li Chenyuan was blinking at him rapidly and sitting stiffly at his bedside, Qiu Yunru's heart panged with guilt. How long had thing kid been sitting here and watching over him like a worrying mother?

  "Li-shidi," He smiled awkwardly. "There's no need to sit and keep watch over this shixiong for so long. I'm sorry to have worried you. Spirit-Disintegrating Powder must be consumed in extreme doses to result in lasting consequences. I was really all right, just--"

  "All right?"

  The cold tone of Li Chenyuan's voice made the hairs on the back of Qiu Yunru's neck stand up. Li Chenyuan went on, gripping his robes tightly with white knuckles.

  "Qiu-ge stopped moving in my arms. I thought you were..." He bit his lip and averted his eyes, which had begun to brim with tears again. Feeling the tears on his face, Li Chenyuan abruptly turned around to hide them, his posture stiff. "This shidi was afraid you had...You..."

  Seeing this display, Qiu Yunru's heart felt like it was being pierced with a thousand tiny arrows. His chest prickled with shame.

  After looking as though he'd died in his shidi's arms, his shidi had stayed by his side for half a day until he awoke, and even carried him all the way up the mountain. Then, upon waking, he had smiled casually and said, "I was all right, how silly you were to worry!"

  What a horrible shixiong he was! How heartless of him!

  Qiu Yunru bit his lip and clenched his fists. Though he felt awful, he really wasn't sure what to do here. Whether it was a young maiden or his shidi, he didn't know how to comfort a crying person.

  Still, it wouldn't do to do nothing. No, his heart might collapse with shame.

  So, he reached out and put a hand tentatively on Li Chenyuan's shoulder. When Li Chenyuan didn't pull away, he said sincerely:

  "This shixiong is sorry. I've really worried you. I should have said something about the Spirit-Disintegrating Powder. In the future, I'll make sure Li-shidi knows about the concoctions I carry and whether they are dangerous to humans. As for this time...please let me know how I can make it up to you. I'm truly sorry."

  Li Chenyuan's eyes widened. However, he didn't turn around.

  A greedy expression flashed across his face, and he wiped at his eyes harshly with his sleeves.

  "Go to the Dragon Boat Festival with me," He said without hesitating. "Then I'll consider it made up to me."