Chapter Sixteen: The Wounded World

After receiving orders, Ji Zhanfei withdrew and aimlessly wandered the streets with two guards from the previous day. One of the guards, much less exhausted than Ji Zhanfei who had been riding a horse, panted heavily and said, “Brother Fei, we’ve been searching for a long time and still haven’t found that trickster... that gentleman. How about we check the Wanbao Tavern? Maybe he’ll show up there again today.”

“Good idea, let’s go,” Ji Zhanfei nodded. The three headed toward the Wanbao Tavern. Before reaching the entrance, they spotted a figure dressed in a smoky blue robe, waving a fan—the ‘Cloud and Mountain’—about to enter the establishment.

“That’s him, that’s him!” the guards shouted excitedly.

“Great, finally we’ve found him!” they exclaimed.

Wan Qi Yue looked at the three excited men before her, puzzled. She glanced behind her—no one there. Could it be they were looking for her?

Before she could ponder further, Ji Zhanfei’s large hands firmly gripped her and said, “Sir, thank you for the bronze mirror yesterday, but now my master’s life hangs by a thread. Please come with me to see him.”

“Huh?” Wan Qi Yue was confused. “He’s dead?”

Ji Zhanfei scratched his head, wondering if he hadn’t explained clearly enough. “No, not yet. But soon.”

“Since this happened so suddenly, let’s talk on the way!” Without waiting for Wan Qi Yue to respond, he hoisted her onto his horse and galloped toward the mansion.

Sitting behind him, Wan Qi Yue sighed repeatedly.

Ji Zhanfei admired this gentleman’s compassion; despite only meeting once, he was genuinely concerned for his master.

But Wan Qi Yue’s true thoughts were simply that she was sighing in frustration over not being able to taste her longed-for delicacy.

Seeing Wan Qi Yue’s worried expression, Ji Zhanfei continued, “Since we parted, my master was attacked by an assassin who shot him with a poisoned arrow. Though he didn’t die on the spot, the next day after returning home, he began coughing up blood.”

“The imperial physician said the arrow was coated with poison called ‘Sevenfold Grass Bloodvine Poison,’ and only a certain blood pill from the Sikou family can cure it.”

Wan Qi Yue’s mouth twitched as she whispered behind their backs, “Could it be the Azure Luan Blood Pill?”

“Ah, yes! That’s the name! Sir, you truly are well-informed!” Ji Zhanfei exclaimed with delight.

Wan Qi Yue silently cursed her cursed system. Surely the next step in this main quest was to have her use the Azure Luan Blood Pill to save Gong Chengling.

[System: Task 1-5 Hint: Use the Azure Luan Blood Pill to save Gong Chengling’s life.]

Ji Zhanfei then asked, “This Azure Luan Blood Pill is said to be extremely rare. Sir, you are knowledgeable and clever—do you know where we might find it?”

Wan Qi Yue looked reluctant. “I have it…”

“What?!” Ji Zhanfei halted, surprised as he turned to look at her.

She said calmly, “Take me there. I have the medicine.”

“Great, great! Wonderful!” Ji Zhanfei stammered excitedly. Regaining his composure, he flicked the reins and galloped back to Gong Cheng’s mansion with Wan Qi Yue.

But Wan Qi Yue, sitting behind him, was far from happy.

Ha! As expected—tight-fisted system.

She thought bitterly, this miracle cure hadn’t even warmed up in my hand before I had to give it away. If it weren’t for the main quest, she wouldn’t bother saving this playboy.

In the blink of an eye, Ji Zhanfei arrived at the Gong Cheng mansion. Before Wan Qi Yue could catch her breath, he dragged her straight into Gong Chengling’s room—more like barged in.

On the bed, Gong Chengling lay weak and barely conscious, while Gong Cheng Zongguo sat anxiously in a chair, lifting his eyes slightly when Ji Zhanfei entered.

Ji Zhanfei eagerly said, “Master, the fortune teller has been found. He has the Azure Luan Blood Pill!”

“What!” Gong Cheng Zongguo suddenly brightened, staring intently at Wan Qi Yue. “Sir, what price do you require to save my son?”

“Price?” Wan Qi Yue was puzzled. Clearly, he thought she was greedy for money.

“No charge.” She took the still un-warmed bottle from her sleeve and poured out a pill for Imperial Physician Li, but the steward stopped her.

“Master, this person’s identity is unverified. It would be unwise to give the heir the medicine rashly. Also, the heir was just poisoned—how is it such a coincidence that someone who once saved his life just happens to have the antidote? This person might be in league with the assassin!”

The steward’s suspicion was not without reason, and the joyful expressions in the room vanished, replaced by doubt.

Suspicious steward, worried master, dejected Ji Zhanfei, and... the delighted Imperial Physician Li.

Not trusted, Wan Qi Yue angrily flicked her sleeve and said, “If you don’t believe me, why come to find me? Give me back the medicine, I’ll leave.”

The steward respectfully bowed to Wan Qi Yue. “Sir, please forgive us. We mean no offense. The heir is the master’s beloved son; we must be cautious in all matters.”

Gong Cheng Zongguo quickly added, “Yes, yes. Sir, may I ask where you obtained this medicine? As far as I know, the Sikou family who made this medicine vanished long ago.”

Wan Qi Yue rolled her eyes inwardly. She couldn’t very well say it was a quest reward.

“It was a fortunate coincidence. If you do not trust me, just return it. This medicine is so precious I hardly want to give it away.”

“I... believe him... cough cough.” Gong Chengling, who had somehow awakened, suddenly spoke.

Startled, everyone hurried to his bedside. Ji Zhanfei helped him sit up as he stammered, “Father... I... I believe the gentleman... I will take it.”

Gong Cheng Zongguo wanted to say more but seeing his son so weak thought no worse could come of this gamble.

Frowning, he still looked to Imperial Physician Li for reassurance but saw him holding the tiny pill like a treasure, inspecting it carefully.

First, the doctor sniffed it, then tried to scrape off some fragments with a small knife.

But the pill was so smooth no flakes came off, making the doctor sweat nervously.

Feeling their gaze, he glanced up, startled and nearly dropped the pill.

Embarrassed, he said awkwardly, “I was hoping to get some flakes to study further...”

“Doctor Li, is there any problem with this medicine?”

Gong Cheng Zongguo was unbothered, knowing any healer would want to understand such a rare cure.

Doctor Li explained honestly, “There seems to be a poisonous ingredient in this antidote... but using poison to counter poison may not be impossible.”

“Enough, enough,” Gong Cheng Zongguo waved dismissively. “How bad can it get? Give it to the heir.”

Doctor Li fed the pill to Gong Chengling. Everyone watched anxiously.

In less than the time it takes for incense to burn, Gong Chengling suddenly shouted, clutched his chest, and vomited black blood, terrifying everyone who rushed to support him.

The steward reacted first, shouting, “Fraud! Fraud! Return my heir’s life! Guards, seize him!”

“Wait!” The heir, who had just coughed up blood, suddenly stood as if nothing had happened.

“Father, I’m fine now. Not only that, I feel stronger than before, and the pain from my injuries is gone.”

“Really? Truly?” Gong Cheng Zongguo hurriedly pulled him around, lifting his shirt to find the bloodvine poison gone. His color was back to normal, though the bloodstained face was still alarming.

Everyone cheered, except Wan Qi Yue and Doctor Li.

Doctor Li thought, I should have scraped off more flakes earlier!

Wan Qi Yue lamented, Oh no, my barely warmed Azure Luan Blood Pill!