"Save the Qi Family...?"
Luo Ruying asked in confusion.
"Yes..."
"Actually, the Qi Family was already on the verge of being struck off the rolls of Nanli City..."
Qi Yuan lowered her eyes, her expression dim as she said:
"In a few days, it will be the merchant guild contest between the Qi Family and the Jiang Family."
"The merchant guild contest will determine ownership of the merchant guilds on the major streets of Nanli City."
"Once, the Qi and Jiang Families each occupied half the street merchant guilds in the city. But in recent years, relying on the backing of forces behind them, the Jiang Family began expanding without cease, forcibly seizing our Qi Family's businesses throughout the city!"
"Now, less than thirty percent of the street merchant guilds remain under the Qi Family's control..."
"How do you want me to save the Qi Family?"
Luo Ruying asked.
"I would like to ask Sister Luo to represent the Qi Family in the merchant guild contest!"
Qi Yuan earnestly pleaded.
Conflicts and disputes often arose between merchant guilds. Once those disputes escalated, they could easily lead to rivers of blood and even tragedies of entire households being wiped out!
Thus, merchant guilds gradually formed an unwritten agreement on a new method for resolving disputes.
That was the merchant guild contest!
When two merchant guilds had an irreconcilable conflict, one side could choose to challenge the other to a merchant guild contest.
The two merchant guilds would stake their respective wagers and each invite one cultivator to represent them in the contest.
The losing side had to honor the wager to the winning side.
Such contests could greatly prevent merchant guilds from secretly slaughtering one another over their disputes.
This arrangement had been proposed by an organization known as the Treasure Merchant Alliance.
The Treasure Merchant Alliance was a merchant alliance formed from countless merchant guilds throughout the world.
In name, it existed to promote mutual aid and development among merchant guilds. At the same time, it was responsible for mediating disputes between them and maintaining the alliance's stability.
To ensure the fairness of a contest, whenever two merchant guilds initiated one, members of the Treasure Merchant Alliance would generally be present as witnesses.
This merchant guild contest had been proposed by the Qi Family to the Jiang Family.
Years of oppression had finally driven the Qi Family to stake everything on challenging the Jiang Family to a merchant guild contest, hoping to reclaim all they had lost.
However, the cultivators who had originally agreed to fight for the Qi Family either suddenly refused or died in all manner of accidents...
After witnessing Luo Ruying's formidable strength, Qi Yuan began considering asking Luo Ruying for help.
In truth, she had not wanted to drag Luo Ruying into the dispute between the Qi and Jiang Families, especially since another force stood behind the Jiang Family.
But she truly had no other options, so she had no choice but to ask Luo Ruying for assistance.
"All right. I can help you fight on behalf of the Qi Family."
Luo Ruying pondered for a moment before finally nodding lightly in agreement.
On one hand, she considered it repayment for accepting this residence. On the other, she felt that if someone like Jiang Li of the Jiang Family continued gaining power in the city, the people within it might no longer be able to live peaceful, happy lives.
That was why she was willing to help Qi Yuan through this crisis.
"That's wonderful! Thank you, Sister Luo!"
Qi Yuan bowed gratefully, the huge stone weighing on her heart lightening considerably.
"No need to be so polite."
"I'll simply consider it payment for accepting this residence."
Luo Ruying said, shaking her head.
"Sister Luo! I have another request!"
"Could you take me as your disciple?"
"I can pay you additional compensation!"
After struggling for a moment, Qi Yuan still looked at Luo Ruying hopefully and spoke.
From the first moment she had seen Luo Ruying's magnificent and graceful figure, she had been deeply captivated.
Although her household had been merchants for generations, she had always dreamed of cultivating and attaining the Dao!
Luo Ruying had not expected Qi Yuan to want her as a master. After looking at her in surprise, she shook her head slightly in apology.
"I'm sorry, but I have no plans to take disciples."
She had chosen to temporarily live here precisely to lead a peaceful life, so she had absolutely no intention of taking disciples or anything of the sort.
Besides, she was still being hunted. She was even less willing to drag others into it.
"All right, then. Sorry to trouble you, Sister Luo..."
After being refused, Qi Yuan looked deeply dejected.
Since childhood, she had sought out many cultivators to take as her master and begin cultivating, but without exception, they had all refused her.
The reason was that she had been injured when she was young. Old injuries remained within her body, her meridians damaged and blocked. She simply could not cultivate effectively.
Qi Yuan believed Luo Ruying must have also seen the problem within her and felt that she could never cultivate, that her talent was insufficient. That was why Luo Ruying had refused her...
"Sister Luo, if someone's meridians are damaged, does that mean they have no hope of pursuing cultivation for the rest of their life?"
Qi Yuan raised her head toward Luo Ruying with slight unwillingness and asked.
Luo Ruying could tell from Qi Yuan's expression whom she was referring to. Though she could not bear it, she still answered seriously:
"The meridians are the spiritual pathways through which cultivators absorb and circulate the spiritual essence within their bodies and between heaven and earth. They are the foundation of cultivation."
"If one cannot absorb the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, nor circulate spiritual power to nourish the body, then one cannot truly cultivate."
"It could be said that every meridian in a person's body is like a path leading to immortality."
"The denser and broader your meridians are, the flatter and farther-reaching they are, the farther you can walk upon the path of cultivation."
"Is that so... As expected, it seems I was never fated to walk the path of cultivation in this life..."
Hearing this, Qi Yuan's expression became even more despondent.
In truth, she was not particularly surprised.
She had known this explanation long ago. She had merely asked once more so she could completely give up.
"Then, Sister Luo, I'll take my leave first..."
Just as Qi Yuan was about to turn and leave, Ning Yechen's soft chuckle sounded behind her.
"Damaged meridians indeed make cultivation impossible, but wouldn't it be enough to restore the meridians within the body?"
The moment those words fell, Qi Yuan froze in place. She turned around and stared at Ning Yechen in astonishment.
Of course she understood that reasoning.
But how many people in the world could restore damaged meridians?
She had never even heard of anyone capable of restoring damaged meridians!
Yet from Ning Yechen's words, it seemed he had a way to restore hers!
"Brother Ning, can you... help me restore the damaged meridians in my body?"
Hope could not help but ignite in Qi Yuan's heart as she looked at Ning Yechen, her eyes brimming with anticipation.
"I know a little, I know a little~"
Ning Yechen raised his head and said modestly.
Luo Ruying, standing beside him, also looked at Ning Yechen with some surprise.
So he knew medicine too, and could heal damaged meridians?
That was an extraordinary ability!
If she still possessed the cultivation she had once held as an Empress, she too could have easily healed Qi Yuan's old meridian injuries. But now, even she had no way to do so.
Yet he, a mere mortal, seemed to have a solution?!
Thinking back carefully, though, when she had been injured, Ning Yechen had brewed medicinal porridge and remarkably effective healing soups for her. Perhaps it was not so strange after all.
Perhaps he truly did know a little medicine...?
"Brother Ning, quickly tell me what I should do!"
"Do I need to prepare any medicinal ingredients?"
Qi Yuan impatiently moved close before Ning Yechen and asked eagerly.
She had never been this excited before!
Ning Yechen smiled and shook his head.
"You don't need to prepare anything."
"You only need to come inside with me and take off your clothes."
"I'll give you a few needles~"
Before you continue