Upon arriving at the Medical Hall, Jiang Qingyi sought out the female Deacon there, a woman named Chen Yun.
In truth, Jiang Qingyi did not like Chen Yun.
Her master had saved Chen Yun during a mission.
After that, Chen Yun would visit Lingqian Peak from time to time.
Even a blind man could see that Chen Yun was in love with her master!
What made Jiang Qingyi both angry and helpless was that her master was a genuinely kind person, gentle with everyone.
Moreover, every time her master felt unwell and went to the Medical Hall, he always sought out Chen Yun.
Even though Chen Yun was a decent person, Jiang Qingyi simply didn't like her.
The closer Chen Yun got to her master, the more Jiang Qingyi disliked her!
If it weren't for the need to clear up the doubts in her mind, Jiang Qingyi would never have come here.
After taking a deep breath, Jiang Qingyi stepped into Chen Yun's room in the Medical Hall.
As she opened the door, she saw Chen Yun taking the pulse of another Cultivator.
Chen Yun looked up, and when she saw Jiang Qingyi, she froze for a moment.
As a woman, how could Chen Yun not sense Qingyi's hostility toward her?
In fact, Chen Yun knew exactly why Qingyi was so hostile.
"Fellow Cultivator, you were struck by the Profound Nether Palm. Although you expelled the cold energy in time, two of your meridians—the Celestial Snow Vein and the Heart Kindness Vein—are still somewhat damaged. Fortunately, the injury is not serious.
I've written you a prescription. Just head to the main hall to have the herbs prepared.
For the time being, don't take on any missions. You must rest and recuperate."
"Of course. Thank you, Doctor Chen." The man stood, clasped his hands in a bow, and left with the prescription.
Jiang Qingyi shut the door behind her. With her brow furrowed and a hostile look on her face, she walked over and sat down in front of Chen Yun.
"What's the matter, Sister Jiang? Are you feeling unwell?" Chen Yun asked with a smile.
"I'm perfectly fine," Jiang Qingyi said coldly. "I'm here to ask you about my master's condition!"
Chen Yun's brow furrowed. "Has Xiao Mo's condition worsened?"
"Yes." Jiang Qingyi nodded. "My master's health is getting worse and worse. His face is as pale as a sheet, and I can even feel his Life Fire growing weaker."
"Hold on."
Chen Yun hurriedly stood up, went to a medicine cabinet, and took out a small vial, which she handed to Jiang Qingyi.
"What is this?" Jiang Qingyi asked, taking the vial.
"This vial contains a Celestial Spirit Pill, an elixir I refined myself. It might help alleviate your master's condition a little." A flicker of sorrow passed through Chen Yun's eyes. "I'll go to Lingqian Peak tomorrow morning to check on him again."
"What on earth is wrong with my master? Is he really in this state just because he was injured by someone and it damaged his Root Bone?
But your medical skills clearly aren't the best. If his Root Bone were truly damaged, my master would have sought out the Hall Master of the Medical Hall!
So why does he always come to you for treatment!?
Are you two hiding something from me!"
Jiang Qingyi clutched the vial, her eyes locked on Chen Yun.
"It's true that his condition isn't just because of an injury, but I will not tell you the reason," Chen Yun said, her expression serene.
"Tell me!" Jiang Qingyi's tone was laced with killing intent.
Chen Yun shook her head. "I want to tell you. I think what your master is doing is incredibly irresponsible to himself. But I promised him I wouldn't reveal a single word to you."
SHING!
A flash of sword light streaked past Chen Yun's eyes.
In an instant, the tip of the Profound Frost Longsword was pressed against Chen Yun's neck.
"It's useless even if you kill me." There was not a hint of compromise in Chen Yun's eyes. "I've told you, I won't say anything. Besides, even if you found out, I don't think you could handle it."
Jiang Qingyi bit her lip, pressing the longsword forward. The sharp tip broke Chen Yun's skin, and a bead of crimson blood trickled slowly down her neck.
But Chen Yun still didn't say a word, merely watching Jiang Qingyi with a calm gaze.
CRASH!
Jiang Qingyi swung her longsword to the side, and a medicine jar burst apart.
A dark concoction spread across the floor, seeping into the cracks between the wooden planks.
The two stared at each other for a long time before Jiang Qingyi finally spoke, enunciating each word. "My master... how much longer does he have to live...?"
"Thirty years..." Chen Yun finally answered. "Your master only has thirty years of his life left. Perhaps not even that long..."
"Thirty years... Thirty years... How... How is that possible...?"
Jiang Qingyi stumbled back a few steps, her gaze unfocused, the hand gripping her sword trembling.
To a mortal, thirty years was not a short time; one might even call it very long.
But to a Cultivator, what difference was there between thirty years and three months?
'There are so many things I haven't said to Master, so many things I haven't done with him.'
"Impossible!"
Jiang Qingyi's head snapped up, her longsword once again aimed at the point between Chen Yun's brows.
"Liar! You must be lying to me! My master is a Great Cultivator at the late-stage Nascent Soul Realm! He should have a lifespan of at least three thousand years! And he's only in his early thirties! How could he possibly have only thirty years left to live!"
Chen Yun met Jiang Qingyi's eyes and said nothing, simply watching her in silence.
Jiang Qingyi bit down hard on her lip, her teeth breaking the delicate skin. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
After three breaths, like a deflating ball, Jiang Qingyi lowered her longsword.
She knew Chen Yun wasn't lying to her.
'Chen Yun is in love with her master; she would never joke about his life.'
'As a Medical Cultivator, she would be incapable of making such a joke.'
"What in the world happened to my master...?"
The light drained from Jiang Qingyi's eyes, replaced by a hint of darkness. She looked utterly broken.
But as soon as the question left her lips, she let out a few cold, dry laughs. "How stupid of me. To think I'd still ask you... You're not going to say anything, are you...?"
"I'm sorry." Looking at the young woman before her, Chen Yun felt she understood her completely.
Chen Yun knew of the relationship between Jiang Qingyi and Xiao Mo.
Without Xiao Mo, Jiang Qingyi might still be wandering the streets, liable to have starved to death at any moment.
It was Xiao Mo who had saved her, taught her cultivation, and turned her into a Sword Cultivator whose fame shook the world.
To her, Xiao Mo was the most important person in the world.
"Is there any way to save my master?" Jiang Qingyi looked up, her gaze pleading. "Any way at all! I'll do anything!"
"There's no other way..." Chen Yun shook her head. "I've tried every method imaginable."
Chen Yun sighed. "Qingyi, you're the most important person in his life. In the days that follow, just be with him as much as you can..."