Daily life of a cultivation judge

After hurriedly leaving the abode of Fan Ru and Ren Shu, Yang Qing halted his retreat only when he was close to the pavilion of the coalescing tranquility rivers of healing.

The shock of suddenly finding out he had been unconscious for three days and his potential releasing the abilities of a soul formation expert aside, he was also worried about Ma Yuan and whether there had been any changes for the past three days.

So immediately after he left the abode of Ren Shu, his first stop was the pavilion where Ma Yuan's daughter was staying.

As Yang Qing was making his way in he was surprised to find Ma Yuan absent at the spot he had left him at which was the forest next to the pavilion.

"Is he in?" he wondered.

"Qing'er you go in while I look at the various herbs growing here. I can't believe I've never come here. When you're done, we can head home.." said his grandfather as he bent over to study the various shrubs and plants growing in the area, with deep interest in his eyes.

Yang Qing nodded to his grandfather and quickly went up to the floor Ma Ling had been staying at.

"How is she, Tan Jue?" asked Yang Qing when he reached the floor.

There was a slight rise in his brows when he saw Ma Yuan wasn't in the room. Those present were just Ma Ling who seemed to be drinking some melon juice with a gleeful expression, and Tan Jue who seemed mildly distracted.

However, she immediately jumped up in stupefaction when she heard Yang Qing's voice, which in turn startled Ma Ling who would have almost spilled her juice if it wasn't for the quick reaction of Yang Qing who flashed and reappeared at her bedside stabilizing the juice and Tan Jue in the process.

"You're awake?!" she asked in disbelief.

"Are you okay? is your qi flow rhythmic and regular? how about your soul and mind synchronization? and body senses? movement?" 

She fired dozens of questions with no pause as she rapidly released countless diagnostic spells on Yang Qing.

"I am okay Tan Jue. If I wasn't, the valley master and the deputy master would not have let me go..." Yang Qing said with a rueful smile when he saw the glowing blue, green, and white gentle lights that were surrounding his body.

"Right, sorry about that.." Tan Jue said showing a rare look of embarrassment.

Ma Ling had her eyes wide open as she stared at Tan Jue.

"Is this still the same person who always wears that assiduous solemn face all the time and always seems unperturbed by anything?

Are they?" she curiously thought as her gaze alternated between Yang Qing and the embarrassed Tan Jue.

"I guess not. He doesn't have the same look Dad had whenever he looked at Mom. Huh...Dad? Mom? What am I saying?"

Ma Ling suddenly placed the juice down as she held her forehead in pain.

"Ma Ling, what is it?" Tan Jue hurriedly asked her embarrassed look from moments ago, gone and replaced by a devoted physician.

"Nothing, it's just a small headache senior sister Tan Jue.." she said as she smiled, to show that she was really okay.

"Okay, but, just in case can you lie down.." said Tan Jue, as she helped Ma Ling lie down.

After she was down, Tan Jue immediately formed a seal, which triggered white tendril lights to appear from the bed Ma Ling was lying on. The tendrils combined with her seal created a blue-green water bubble that had white runes floating around it.

"Close your eyes.." Tan Jue softly said to Ma Ling who nodded as she closed her eyes.

Within seconds she was already soundly asleep with Tan Jue standing over her constantly monitoring the thin blue light line fluctuations that started appearing from the water bubble.

"How is she?" Yang Qing worryingly asked.

He couldn't deploy his palace sense yet, so he could only monitor things at face value.

"It seems she just had an episode of a deep memory flash and her mind isn't able to accommodate it. It occasionally happens.." 

"And Ma Yuan?"

"He is out with Zheng Hu at the moment. He had been asking for you yesterday and I didn't have the heart to tell him your state and add to his woes, so I asked Zheng Hu to step in instead.

They left together not more than two hours ago.." 

"Did he say what he wanted?" asked Yang Qing.

From his interaction with Ma Yuan, he felt he wouldn't look for him lightly, it had to be something important to him.

"He didn't say, and I didn't want to press."

Yang Qing nodded as he took out his communication talisman to call Zheng Hu and find out where they were, though even without calling, he had an inkling where they'd be.

"Seems they're at the Thousands flavor restaurant.." he said as he put the talisman away.

"Would you be leaving now?" Tan Jue asked with a hint of worry in her tone.

"I am really okay. You know me well, I am not the type to play around with my health or life in the slightest. I am just a little worn out. The valley master said i should be back to full capacity in less than two months..." Yang Qing warmly said to ease the nerves of Tan Jue.

As a guilt-ridden person himself, he could see it written all over Tan Jue's face which was why she was behaving uncharacteristically.

"Okay.."

"By the way, I will still be continuing with what we agreed with.."

"You can't!" 

"For reasons I can't say, I need it, Tan Jue.." he said with a solemn air that made Tan Jue falter.

"If it's any consolation, I already sought the valley master and Ren Shu's approval first, and they agreed. They even said it would be good for me.." said Yang Qing to try and reassure her, even only a little.

"Those two would agree to anything you asked.." she muttered silently under her breath with clear misgivings which left Yang Qing smiling bitterly unsure of what to say.

"While that may be true in some regard, but you know when it comes to their profession, they are unwavering in their codes about it, and wouldn't agree to something they are against.."

"I know.." Tan Jue said, finally relenting.

"I can't believe I will be the one saying this, but don't push yourself.." she added.

"I won't, and thank you, Tan Jue. Next time you have a break, I'll buy you soup from the Herb Garden.."

"Okay.." said Tan Jue with a simple smile as she waved Yang Qing goodbye.

Outside Yang Qing picked up his grandfather who was not all too pleased to leave and made their way to the Thousand Flavors Restaurant, where they split apart as Yang Qing went in and his grandfather went home, where they would meet later.

Inside he found Zheng Hu and Ma Yuan discussing something, though Ma Yuan seemed half distracted. His focus only seemed to return when he saw Yang Qing coming over.

"Judge Yang Qing.." he said as he hurriedly got up to cup his fists in greeting.

"Don't get up.." Yang Qing gently said as a gentle formless energy sat Ma Yuan down.

"You feeling better?" asked Zheng Hu via secret sound transmission to which Yang Qing nodded in return.

"Tan Jue told me you were looking for me?" Yang Qing said as he took a seat opposite Ma Yuan.

"Yes.." answered Ma Yuan seeming ill at ease.

"We can continue this at my place if you want?" asked Yang Qing when he noticed the awkwardness and nervousness in Ma Yuan.

"Thank you.." Ma Yuan said as he performed a quick bow.

"I have cases to help Mao Yunru with. I will be taking my leave, Take care Ma Yuan, Boss.." said Zheng Hu as he got up.

"Does she know?" Yang Qing quickly asked.

"No. The only reason I know is because Tan Jue called.."

"Good.." said Yang Qing, visibly relieved.

After Zheng Hu left, Yang Qing and Ma Yuan followed soon after, headed to the dream cloud abode.