The Divine Doctor

Night fell, and the Zhang Family was ablaze with lights. Inside the Main Hall, all the elders had gathered.

"Master, when did you become close with the Yang Family and Zhao Family without telling us?"

Tang Xiulan swept away her earlier gloom, replaced by confidence and pride.

Although they had fallen out with the Liu Family this time, misfortune had turned into a blessing. With the Yang Family and Zhao Family protecting them, how could they not be delighted?

"Clan Leader, the Yang and Zhao Families have made it clear this time that they will share honor and disgrace with us. I believe that in the time ahead, our Zhang Family's standing will rise with the tide."

"Hehe, who would have thought the Clan Leader had long since forged such deep friendships with the two great families? Our Zhang Family will surely become the fourth of the Four Great Powers in the future."

"..."

In their eyes, the Yang and Zhao Families had acted entirely because of their Clan Leader. As for Qin Jishi, they were certain those families had only exchanged a few words with him out of respect for their Clan Leader.

"Foolish!"

Their words made Zhang Jinhua frown deeply. "Have none of you considered that the Yang and Zhao Families came here because of Jishi?"

Because of Qin Jishi?

They clearly did not believe it. Could it be because Qin Jishi had some brute strength?

"Master, I know what you are thinking." Tang Xiulan spoke in a mocking tone. "You want to credit Qin Jishi with the achievement and raise his prestige within the family?"

So that was it.

The elders suddenly understood.

Zhang Jinhua: "..."

After the banquet, he had spoken with Qin Jishi alone. Zhang Jinhua had asked him whether the Yang and Zhao Families had come because of him.

Though Qin Jishi had neither admitted nor denied it, he had said one thing.

"The Yang Family and Zhao Family may have come because there is someone or something in the Zhang Family they fear."

Someone or something in the Zhang Family they feared?

Those words left Zhang Jinhua with no choice but to suspect something. From beginning to end, he had never been able to see through Qin Jishi.

As for what the elders believed, Zhang Jinhua could not be bothered to explain. After all, he had no proof directly pointing to Qin Jishi.

On their wedding night, inside the bridal chamber, Qin Jishi stood with his arms folded, leaning against a pillar. Zhang Shiqing sat properly by the bed, and the two simply stared at each other.

In the end, Zhang Shiqing could not hold back. "Tell me. What is your relationship with the Yang Family?"

"None." Qin Jishi was utterly indifferent.

"Hmph, you may be able to fool others, but not me." Zhang Shiqing's beautiful eyes shifted slightly as she spoke calmly. "The look on Clan Leader Yang's face today was clearly one of inquiry when he looked at you. Do you dare say you have no relationship?"

"Hehe." Qin Jishi chuckled without saying a word.

"Answer my question." His attitude made her somewhat displeased.

"I am not your prisoner." Qin Jishi straightened up. "Sleep."

"Do not come within ten paces of me." Zhang Shiqing's voice carried an icy chill that brooked no defiance.

"Then where am I supposed to sleep?" Qin Jishi frowned in displeasure. Apart from the large bed, the entire room only had four chairs. Could it be any more bare?

"The bed is yours. I'll go outside." Zhang Shiqing said as she rose.

"Forget it." Qin Jishi refused. He pulled over a chair, placed his legs on the table, and closed his eyes.

Though there was no affection between him and Zhang Shiqing, he still had a man's pride. He could not bring himself to let a woman leave while he slept alone in a soft bed.

The red candles swayed gently, casting an ambiguous glow over the bridal chamber.

The room soon fell into prolonged silence. Both wore bright red clothes—one sat coldly and quietly by the bed, while the other lounged lazily in his chair. All they could vaguely hear was their own breathing.

Minute by minute, time passed. Before long, the night deepened. Zhang Shiqing shifted from sitting by the bed to sitting cross-legged upon it, drawing spiritual energy into her body.

Mmh~

A pained moan suddenly shattered the silent night, and Qin Jishi opened his eyes.

Pain was clear on Zhang Shiqing's face. Their eyes met, yet neither spoke.

After a moment, Zhang Shiqing ignored Qin Jishi again, slowly closing her eyes. A layer of icy chill coiled around her body.

"Let me ask you something." Qin Jishi spoke blandly.

Zhang Shiqing did not react.

"Your profound energy is extremely abundant. By all reason, you should have broken through to the Mystic Spirit Realm long ago. Why have you been unable to do so? Is there a problem with your meridians?"

Zhang Shiqing remained completely still, with no intention of answering him.

Qin Jishi's expression did not change despite being ignored. From the way Zhang Shiqing cultivated, she seemed to practice an ice-element cultivation art. He said nothing more, resting his hands behind his head as he watched her leisurely.

The time it took to drink a cup of tea!

The time it took for an incense stick to burn!

Qin Jishi remained expressionless, simply watching her.

Zhang Shiqing had never been disturbed while cultivating before. Now, with Qin Jishi staring at her like this... Though she sat cross-legged with her eyes closed, focusing her mind as ice-element energy surged through her body, she could still feel his gaze fixed upon her.

Qin Jishi simply watched her, from top to bottom, from left to right, never looking away for even a moment. That piercing gaze made it impossible for her to calm down. She felt uncomfortable all over. After all, she was only a young girl. Even if she despised Qin Jishi, achieving a heart as still as water was still asking too much.

Zhang Shiqing truly could not endure it any longer. Her beautiful eyes snapped open, and she shot him a cold sideways glance. "Why do you keep staring at me?"

"Nothing. I'm waiting for you to answer my question." Qin Jishi's voice was calm.

Zhang Shiqing: "..."

If looks could kill, he would already be dead beyond death.

"Hehe." Qin Jishi smiled faintly. "Don't you want to break through to the Mystic Spirit Realm?"

"What do you mean?" Zhang Shiqing forcefully suppressed her anger.

"It's simple." Qin Jishi's expression turned serious. "When I watched you cultivate just now, your profound energy was abundant, but it circulated very slowly. I imagine there is a problem with your meridians."

A flicker of emotion passed through Zhang Shiqing's eyes, though she clearly did not believe him.

Liu Kai had been badly wounded by his sneak attack this time, but that only proved he had some brute strength. What could he possibly know about meridians?

Yet Qin Jishi's next words made her heart tremble slightly.

"Whenever you circulate your profound energy through one full grand cycle, doesn't it become even harder to circulate afterward? Your whole body turns cold, and your Dantian is flooded with profound energy until the pain becomes unbearable."

Zhang Shiqing's gaze shifted, and she asked instinctively, "How did you know?"

Qin Jishi continued, "And whenever you feel yourself about to break through, you always fall short at the crucial moment. Then, for a period afterward, your entire body turns cold, your limbs ache, and you become weak beyond measure."

Zhang Shiqing's eyes rippled violently again, because every word Qin Jishi had said was exactly right.

"And one more thing!" Qin Jishi's faint smile suddenly vanished, replaced by a solemn expression. "If I am not mistaken, you have not seen your monthly blood for a long time, have you?"

Zhang Shiqing: "..."

Ignoring Zhang Shiqing's killing intent entirely, Qin Jishi said lazily, "Do you believe me now?"

"How do you know?" Zhang Shiqing knitted her brows slightly.

"Observation, listening, questioning, and palpation."

"You're an alchemist?"

"What is an alchemist worth? People call me the Divine Doctor." Qin Jishi's face was full of sincerity.

"If you are making fun of me, get out." Zhang Shiqing said coldly, her face expressionless.

Qin Jishi remained calm. "Don't you want to advance to the Mystic Spirit Realm?"