Shen Nong's Herbal Compendium

Mu Zibai: "?"

Noticing the strange looks everyone was giving him, Mu Zibai felt powerless to complain. What the hell did this have to do with him? He had merely taken Wenren Lingmeng's pulse.

He had only wanted to touch her, that was all. He absolutely had no ill intentions.

Feng Zhongchun spoke slowly. "Perhaps it is because of the wedding to ward off misfortune. The son-in-law and young miss may have compatible birth characters. Now that they are together, it has given the young miss a reaction. As for anything else, I cannot say for certain. From how things look now, Miss Ling Meng is already out of danger. I shall take my leave first."

Feng Zhongchun only wanted to slip away as quickly as possible. This was no place to linger.

"A wedding to ward off misfortune?"

"Physician Feng, wait a moment."

Wenren Lanzhang stopped Feng Zhongchun and motioned for him to speak aside.

"Give me a straight answer. Does my daughter have any hope of waking up?"

Feng Zhongchun looked troubled. He did not dare make any guarantees and could only say vaguely, "I truly cannot say for sure. Miss Ling Meng is blessed, and Heaven will surely protect her. Though this matter of a wedding to ward off misfortune is mysterious beyond measure, there is a fixed destiny in the unseen. Perhaps the son-in-law truly is a lucky star."

Wenren Lanzhang chuckled. "Physician Feng's medical skills are not merely outstanding. Even his fortune-telling is first-rate."

He knew Feng Zhongchun was trying to muddle through and push everything aside.

Feng Zhongchun smiled awkwardly, then cupped his hands. With oil under his feet, he fled at lightning speed.

The eighty-year-old man walked as swiftly as if he were flying.

Watching Feng Zhongchun's departing back, Wenren Lanzhang looked thoughtful. When he entered the room, Mu Xue was tending to Wenren Lingmeng, wiping her face.

Wenren Lanzhang gave Mu Zibai a look. Understanding at once, Mu Zibai stepped outside.

"May I ask what Father wishes to speak to me about?" Mu Zibai lowered his head slightly and asked respectfully.

"Xiaobai, you do not mind if I call you that, do you? Though you married into Wenren Manor, you need not change your name. Just call me Father. Father-in-law sounds rather awkward."

"Yes, Father."

Wenren Lanzhang nodded in satisfaction, his eyes troubled. "Since you have called me Father, you are one of Wenren Manor from this day onward. You have seen Ling Meng's condition. To be honest, I do not know when she will wake up. During this period, I may have to trouble you to care for Ling Meng. It may even be forever. I will not force you. Have you thought it through?"

Mu Zibai cupped his hands. "Since we are husband and wife, I will naturally do everything in my power. If I had not been willing to grow old with Ling Meng, how would I have dared step through Wenren Manor's gates?"

"Good. I hope you remember your own words." Wenren Lanzhang sighed, then continued, "I will not say more. If you lack anything or encounter any trouble, come find me at any time."

The two of them slowly returned to the room. Wenren Lanzhang spoke with Xiao E for a while as well. Mu Zibai did not know what they discussed, but he could roughly guess.

When Mu Xue looked at Mu Zibai again, her eyes were full of goodwill, perhaps because of what Feng Zhongchun had said earlier.

"Xiaobai, I will have to trouble you to look after Ling Meng from now on."

Mu Xue then gave Mu Zibai a long list of precautions, explaining every detail for fear of missing even the smallest thing.

Mu Zibai, meanwhile, felt as though life held no more joy. All he wanted was to farm points, yet he had no opportunity at all and could only listen obediently.

Please let this couple leave soon. Don't hold up my point farming!

Before long, Wenren Lanzhang and Xiao E came in.

"It is getting late, Xiaobai. Stay here and keep Ling Meng company. We will return first."

With that, Wenren Lanzhang left with Mu Xue. In his heart, he did not truly believe in a wedding to ward off misfortune, but what if it did work? He still clung to a sliver of hope.

So he simply let Mu Zibai remain here to care for Ling Meng more and keep her company.

Mu Zibai was probably miserable inside. Who could feel good about marrying someone in a vegetative state? Besides, he did not even have the right to break off the engagement. He had been abandoned by his Lineage.

The more he thought about it, the more pitiful Mu Zibai seemed.

Inside the room, Mu Zibai finally let out a sigh of relief after seeing the two elders leave. They had finally gone.

Just then, he caught a strange odor. Mu Zibai pinched his chin, frowned, and suddenly came to a realization.

"Ahem."

Xiao E coughed awkwardly. "Please step aside first, son-in-law."

Mu Zibai coughed awkwardly as well, hurriedly backing away before turning his back to give her privacy.

Perhaps this was the most devastating moment for Wenren Lingmeng. Without doubt, it was a tremendous blow to her dignity.

For someone like Wenren Lingmeng, if she knew, she might choose to end her own life. With her noble status, her dignity outweighed her life.

Or perhaps Wenren Lingmeng knew nothing at all. That would make things much easier for her. He hoped she did not know.

At this moment, Wenren Lingmeng was undoubtedly suffering unbearable torment. She truly wanted to smash her head against something and die, but she could not control her body. Why did it have to happen at a time like this?

She wanted to cry, wanted to find someone to pour her heart out to, but she could not say a single word, could not shed a single tear, and could find no one to confide in. She could only bottle it all up inside.

Living like this, she might as well end it herself.

After Xiao E finished cleaning Wenren Lingmeng and nodded at him, he could finally step forward.

He took Wenren Lingmeng's hand and said gently, "Ling Meng, it is me. I was the one speaking by your ear earlier—your husband, Mu Zibai. Don't worry. I will stay with you."

Though he did not know whether Wenren Lingmeng could hear him, Mu Zibai instinctively believed that she could.

Most people in a vegetative state were not entirely unconscious. Their awareness was merely hazy. Besides, among the many cases of such patients waking up, most had been stimulated by their surroundings.

Holding Wenren Lingmeng's hand, he talked to her about all sorts of things, rambling from one subject to another without end.

His points steadily increased. They were now nearly at thirty thousand, and it was already late at night. The shop was about to refresh.

He could forget about things like the God-tier Marrow Cleansing Pill and Supreme Profound Treasure. They required over a million points. Even if Mu Zibai never let go of Wenren Lingmeng, it would still take nearly twenty days.

The road ahead remained long and arduous.

But he could buy what was within reach first, make a tiny change, bit by bit, and grow bigger and stronger.

Looking at the shop's five items, the things he could currently afford were Shen Nong's Herbal Compendium and Streamer's Pink Companion.

Naturally, he chose Shen Nong's Herbal Compendium. He did not even spare the other item a glance and decisively ignored it.

[Points -10]

[Points -10000]

"Ahem."

Mu Zibai opened Shen Nong's Herbal Compendium. This was no ordinary medical text. In a sense, it was equivalent to a cultivation manual. Not only could it cure illnesses and save lives, it could also allow its practitioner to comprehend profound medical knowledge.

However, its focus was on saving people, making it a support-type book. It also emphasized the study of medicine, so its effects on cultivation were limited.

For Mu Zibai, it was already quite good—and quite practical for the moment. Was there not a patient right before his eyes?