Nonsense. You think Ling Ju and I are going to do it?!

Ling Ju's presence was simply too powerful. Though she was only at the Golden Core Peak, she had left a powerhouse at the Nascent Soul Peak struggling to catch his breath.

At Ling Ju's words, the black-clad elder could only look as if he were about to cry.

"But even if I don't say anything, people are bound to find out about this... It's not something I can control..."

Ling Ju's expression remained cold. "You only need to keep your own people's mouths shut. Of course someone will find out eventually. The Cloud Monster Emperor will be the first to know. When that happens, tell him that Senior is living in seclusion here and doesn't want to be disturbed. Saving Yun Qiyao is already the greatest favor Senior could have bestowed upon the Cloud Monster Royal Family. Don't push your luck and make a scene for everyone to hear."

Seeing the murderous intent already showing on Ling Ju's face, the black-clad elder nodded again and again.

The elder was deeply shaken. Ling Ju was clearly only at the Golden Core Peak, yet her Dao Intent and imposing presence already made her seem like a mighty figure at the Spirit Emergence Stage.

Just then, Jing Pu, who was frowning as he examined Yun Qiyao from a distance, suddenly called out without turning around, "Ling Ju, come over here."

As soon as Jing Pu's words rang out, Ling Ju's icy, murderous expression instantly gave way to a sweet, obedient look. She released the black-clad elder and trotted straight over. "Coming, coming!"

It was as if she had become a completely different person in the space of a heartbeat.

The black-clad elder stood there, still catching his breath and struggling to process what had happened. Meanwhile, Ling Jing and Lie Chun hurried toward Jing Pu as well.

As Ling Jing passed the black-clad elder, she suddenly stopped. Looking at the dazed old man, she gave him a strange smile and whispered in his ear, "If you offend Senior, he really will kill you. Your whole family will die, too."

At Ling Jing's out-of-the-blue threat, the black-clad elder clenched his teeth. This was going too far. He had already promised not to tell anyone, and he would certainly keep his word.

But when the black-clad elder turned to look at Ling Jing, ready to speak, he froze. Fear once again appeared on his face.

Nascent Soul... Nascent Soul Early Stage?!

H-How was that possible?!

Hadn't Ling Jing been at the early Golden Core stage before? How... How had she suddenly reached the Nascent Soul Early Stage?!

What?!

Ling Jing drew back the Spiritual Power she had released and followed Lie Chun toward Jing Pu without looking back. "Don't tell anyone about my strength, either."

Jing Pu had no idea what had just happened. He was examining Yun Qiyao's body.

When Ling Ju reached his side, she asked curiously, "Senior?"

Jing Pu immediately replied, "Help her sit up."

Ling Ju nodded and reached out to support Yun Qiyao, who had woken up and was blinking silently.

But Yun Qiyao seemed to strongly dislike Ling Ju and didn't want her touching her at all.

Seeing this, Jing Pu pursed his lips and looked at Yun Qiyao, who was trying to dodge Ling Ju's hand. "If you still want to get better, listen to me. Otherwise, I'll pull out the needles right now, and you can leave."

Only after Jing Pu said this did Yun Qiyao obey, looking rather aggrieved as Ling Ju helped her sit up.

Once she was upright, Yun Qiyao looked at Jing Pu as he felt her pulse and suddenly said, "Senior, just tell me what you want. As long as it's something from the lower realm, I'll make sure you get it."

Jing Pu frowned slightly as he looked at Yun Qiyao. What an imperious princess. She had woken up without even saying thank you, and instead said something like that—as if he had only saved her for some reward.

Yun Qiyao had no idea what Jing Pu was thinking. If she had known, she would have felt terribly wronged.

She thought this was the most practical way to show gratitude: say what you want, and since you saved my life, I'll give you what you want. That was true gratitude. Just saying thank you would have seemed insincere.

But perhaps because she had been pampered since childhood and always spoke bluntly, Yun Qiyao's words came across as rather condescending.

When Jing Pu didn't reply, Yun Qiyao immediately said again, "Just tell me, Senior. As long as it's something from the lower realm, I'll make sure you get it."

Jing Pu pursed his lips as he looked at her. "Just be quiet."

Then he ignored Yun Qiyao and calmly continued feeling her pulse. A few seconds later, he nodded slightly. Good. Everything was going exactly as he'd expected.

The five large growths inside Yun Qiyao had already shrunk quite a bit.

If things continued like this, with one treatment each morning, noon, and evening, she would be completely healed in less than a month.

Jing Pu looked up at the black-clad elder in the distance. "Hey, you. Come here."

At Jing Pu's call, the dazed black-clad elder hurried over in trepidation, unsure what Jing Pu wanted.

Jing Pu said directly, "I can cure her. It'll take about a month. From now on, bring her here every morning, noon, and evening. Each acupuncture session will take half an hour."

Since it wasn't troublesome, Jing Pu decided to take the job. He'd worried it might be some difficult, incurable ailment, but now that he'd seen it, it was a minor problem—an easy favor. Besides, saving a life was better than building a seven-tier pagoda.

Jing Pu's simple words filled Yun Qiyao and the other members of the Demon Race with excitement.

But even as he rejoiced, the black-clad elder remembered Ling Ju and Ling Jing's warnings. The next moment, he turned to Jing Pu and said, "Then, Senior, please let the young lady lie here for a while. I have something to take care of. I'll be back soon."

The black-clad elder planned to go outside and pass on Ling Ju's warning to the other black-clad men.

Jing Pu replied, "Have them carry her into the room first."

Everyone nodded repeatedly. After they moved Yun Qiyao onto the bed inside, the black-clad elder hurried off with his men.

Jing Pu took out the acupuncture kit and looked at Ling Jing and Lie Chun. "You two, go outside and play ball. Don't come in."

Ling Jing and Lie Chun hadn't wanted to stand around watching anyway. At Jing Pu's words, they immediately left, ready to get back to "Crow Sits on a Plane" and "Tornado Destroys the Parking Lot."

Once Jing Pu had prepared the acupuncture kit again, he pulled the five silver needles from Yun Qiyao's body.

Lying on the bed, Yun Qiyao looked at Jing Pu in confusion. "Didn't you say half an hour?"

Half an hour was right, but earlier Jing Pu had only intended to treat those five growths. He hadn't planned to treat all of Yun Qiyao's condition. But since he'd just said he would see the treatment through and cure her, he would have to remove every last one.

There were still quite a few small ones in Yun Qiyao's chest and breasts, so he would remove those, too.

Jing Pu closed the door, then looked at Yun Qiyao. "Take off your clothes."

Yun Qiyao lay on the bed, blinking her pretty eyes as she stared at Jing Pu in a daze. "W-Who... me?"

Jing Pu raised an eyebrow. "Obviously. Who else would it be? Do you think Ling Ju and I are going to do it?"

Yun Qiyao stared blankly at Jing Pu. "Th-Then... how many... how many pieces should I take off?"

Jing Pu's expression was blank. "All of them."

(The two updates for today are done. Give me some recommendation votes, all right?)