Chapter 55: Are You Sure He's Unconscious?
Inside the courtyard.
Li Yingling sat on a stone chair beside a stone table, poring over an enormous, thick book.
Yesterday's incident at Chanlin Temple had been full of gossip, but except for the final part—which she barely understood—the rest had gone completely over her head. Every bit of cultivation-world "common sense" had to be explained to her, and most of it… by her own junior brother.
How did he know so much? Had he been studying while she was out shopping and having fun?
That shameless little junior—secretly working hard behind her back!
In the end, Li Yingling found that this "gossip" had been the most frustrating one she'd ever eaten.
She never expected that to understand cultivation gossip, one actually had to be knowledgeable. No way—she needed to study hard. Very hard.
Just then, Chu Xingchen, finally well-rested, pushed open his door—and the first thing he saw was his disciple reading intently.
He blinked in surprise. "Yingling… are you feeling all right?"
Without looking up, she flipped a page and replied firmly, "I'm fine!"
Chu Xingchen rubbed his temples. "Then something must be wrong with me… because I'm seeing you reading."
At that, Li Yingling slammed the book shut and stood up, glaring. "Why do you make it sound like I'm some kind of idiot who never reads?"
Chu Xingchen chuckled. "Whether you like reading or not is still up for debate, but that you are an idiot—that's already proven."
Idiot?
From the moment she could remember, that word had never been used on her.
When she was young, the two things people praised her for most were her looks—and her brilliance.
"I'm telling you," she huffed, "if I'm an idiot, then there's not a single smart person left in the world!"
Chu Xingchen fought back a smile. "All right, genius. I'm heading out for a walk—want to come along?"
Genius?
It sounded like a compliment, but coming from her master's mouth, it carried that same irritating sarcasm.
Li Yingling hesitated, then sat back down with a sulky look. "I'm not going. I'm going to study! Next time something happens, you'll all have to ask me."
Chu Xingchen shrugged, respecting his disciple's determination.
Learning more never hurt anyone, after all.
Now, where to go today?
The tavern, to drink for free again… or fishing?
Forget it—better to listen to music at the tavern. If he went fishing again, he might end up catching something he shouldn't.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, Chu Xingchen made his way toward the entertainment district.
But before long, he noticed something odd. It was nearly noon—normally the streets should be bustling with people.
Why were they so empty today?
He hadn't heard of any major event or restriction either.
Confused, he continued toward the tavern and entered easily, as usual, with his face pass.
Yet what greeted him inside was even stranger. The once-lively establishment was nearly deserted. A few musicians sat on the stage, idly plucking strings, clearly bored for lack of customers.
Wanyun, dressed in a light blue gown, hurried over with her pipa in hand. Seeing him, her tone turned playfully plaintive. "Young Master, you finally remembered poor Wanyun."
Chu Xingchen frowned. "Why's the street—and this place—so empty today?"
"You don't know what happened at Chanlin Temple last night?"
"Of course I do. I was right there in the side hall watching everything."
At that, Wanyun's eyes lit up. Everyone knew—anyone who had been in the Chanlin Temple side hall during the temple fair was either rich or very rich.
So this gentleman wasn't just talented—he was wealthy too.
She explained eagerly, "Word spread all over the city last night. It turns out the mysterious benefactor who's been secretly donating money to help Yuzhou City and nearby areas during every disaster—was actually the abbot of Chanlin Temple!"
She paused, then sighed softly. "Now everyone who's free has gone to the temple to pay respects. If only I weren't bound by contract, I'd go too. Instead, I'm stuck here singing alone."
Chu Xingchen nodded in sudden understanding—but he pretended not to notice her hint.
He was here to relax, not to get tangled up.
Smiling faintly, he said, "What's there to see in a crowd? How about I tell you exactly what happened yesterday at Chanlin Temple?"
Wanyun's eyes lit up again immediately, and she nodded enthusiastically.
After all, gossip was a universal human instinct.
——————
Not long after Chu Xingchen left, someone knocked on the courtyard gate.
Li Yingling, still deep in her studies, sighed softly, stood up, and went to open the door.
As soon as the door swung open, she saw Zhao Wanqing standing there, her face pale with anxiety.
"Excuse me! Is Senior Chu here?" Zhao Wanqing asked urgently.
Li Yingling frowned slightly. "Master? He just went out."
Zhao Wanqing quickly pressed, "Do you know where he went? I need to find him—it's urgent!"
"Sorry, can I ask what it's about first?"
"My younger brother's condition has suddenly worsened," Zhao Wanqing said hastily. "Senior Chu's alchemy skills are extraordinary—his medicine works miracles. I've come to beg for his help!"
Alchemy skills—extraordinary?
Li Yingling almost choked. Was that really a phrase that could be used on her master?
But seeing Zhao Wanqing's desperate expression, and knowing her master all too well, she replied, "If my master isn't fishing outside the city, then he's at the tavern listening to music. I know where he fishes—I'll go check there. You go to the tavern and find him."
Zhao Wanqing's eyes brightened with gratitude. "Thank you! I'm in your debt."
Without another word, she rushed off toward the tavern while Li Yingling headed out of the city.
Zhao Wanqing ran through the streets, quickly reaching the tavern entrance. She pushed aside the attendant trying to greet her and strode straight in.
Her eyes swept across the hall, quickly spotting Chu Xingchen, who was in the middle of telling a story to Wanyun. She rushed over.
"Senior! It's urgent—please, come with me right away!"
"What—"
"One hundred spirit stones!" Zhao Wanqing cut him off before he could finish.
Chu Xingchen instantly stood up. "Let's go!"
Wanyun blinked in astonishment as the two of them hurried out.
Gone? Just like that? The story had just reached the most interesting part!
…
Inside the Demon Suppression Bureau's infirmary.
Ah Nian was performing acupuncture, inserting several needles into the unconscious Zhao Zhengyang lying before her.
The situation was dire. The corrupted blood energy had sunk deep into his flesh. Once Zhao Zhengyang regained consciousness and his qi began circulating again, the blood energy would stir violently.
There wasn't much of it left—but Zhao Zhengyang's life was hanging by an even thinner thread.
Damn it. He hadn't even said a word of useful information yet! He'd only opened his eyes twice before vomiting blood and fainting again.
It had been a full day, and he still hadn't woken. He didn't look like he would.
And yet Zhao Wanqing had suddenly run off, saying she was going to find an "alchemy master."
Ah Nian snorted inwardly. The so-called alchemists in Yuzhou City? She knew their level better than anyone.
Fine for scratches and fevers, but when someone's half a step from death? Those useless pills wouldn't save anyone.
Poor kid…
Before she could even finish sighing, hurried footsteps echoed outside.
Turning around, Ah Nian saw Zhao Wanqing rushing in—followed by the handsome young man she'd met once at the city gate.
Before Ah Nian could ask what was happening, Zhao Wanqing grabbed her shoulders and pushed her aside. "Internal and external injuries both! His only hope is Senior Chu's elixirs!"
Chu Xingchen gave Ah Nian a polite nod of greeting, then went straight to the corner where a clay medicine pot sat unused.
A pot is a pot—it could still be used for alchemy.
He swiftly lit the fire, poured in water, and took several spirit herbs from his spatial ring to begin refining.
Ah Nian stared, dumbfounded. She had never seen alchemy performed like this.
Alchemy… could actually be done like that?
Meanwhile, Li Yingling, who had found no one by the lake, smartly guessed where her master had gone and arrived at the Demon Suppression Bureau just in time to see the final stage of his work.
Seeing the seriousness of the moment, she obediently stood to the side without interrupting.
Moments later, Chu Xingchen lifted his hand. A small, bright-green droplet hovered within a sheath of spiritual light.
"All right," he said calmly. "Open his mouth."
Zhao Wanqing immediately obeyed, prying Zhao Zhengyang's jaw open.
Chu Xingchen flicked his wrist, and the liquid medicine slid neatly into Zhao Zhengyang's mouth.
Since the patient was unconscious, Chu Xingchen had thoughtfully skipped the usual numbing herbs—after all, how could someone passed out still taste anything?
But the next moment, everyone's eyes widened.
Zhao Zhengyang's face contorted, his brows furrowing as if he'd just swallowed something revoltingly bitter and fishy.
Li Yingling stared in awe. As expected of her master—his alchemy worked even on the unconscious!
Just as Ah Nian stepped forward to check his pulse, Zhao Zhengyang's entire body began to convulse.
His left hand—the only part he could move—suddenly shot up and clawed frantically at his own throat.
Chu Xingchen froze and blinked.
"Wait… are you sure he's unconscious?"
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