A Cripple with Severed Meridians

Because his name had sounded like Song Qingshu's, he had been mocked by his friends more than once and even earned the nickname King of Rebounds. Back then, he had been full of confidence and brushed it off with a laugh. He had never imagined that he might truly become that tragic rebound, Song Qingshu.

"Come in." After a moment of silence, the woman in green at the table spoke flatly.

Song Qingshu was now eighty percent certain that this was the world of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. No one would go to such lengths to set up a scene like this just to deceive him. More importantly, he clearly remembered that he had already died.

Judging from their conversation, this should be the Lion-Slaying Tournament at Shaolin Temple. Song Qingshu had been beaten so badly that he was gravely wounded, and the woman in green was naturally Zhou Zhiruo, his wife in name.

Song Qingshu instinctively pretended to remain unconscious. In the original story, Song Qingshu and Zhou Zhiruo's marriage had always been one in name only, and Zhou Zhiruo had never felt much for him. Besides, after all the portrayals in various television adaptations, Song Qingshu had a deep impression of just how calculating and ruthless Zhou Zhiruo could be. If she found out that the real Song Qingshu had been replaced by him, she would definitely strike without hesitation with the Nine Yin White Bone Claw and send him straight to the afterlife.

Song Qingshu had already died once, and he had no desire to experience that again. Just then, Zhang Wuji walked in as well. "How are Senior Brother Song's injuries? Take me to see him."

Zhou Zhiruo did not turn around when she saw him enter. She merely said coldly, "Every bone in his body has been shattered. His injuries are extremely severe. He will most likely not survive. I do not know whether he can make it through the night."

Song Qingshu could not help but smile bitterly at her words. This little wench really has no conscience. The original owner of this body was her husband, at least in name, and his life is hanging by a thread, yet she does not care in the slightest. Does she want him dead so she can become a pretty widow and throw herself back into Zhang Wuji's arms?

Zhang Wuji said, "You know my medical skills are decent. I am willing to do everything I can to treat him."

His words kindled hope in Song Qingshu's heart. Zhang Wuji had inherited the true teachings of the Butterfly Valley Medical Immortal. With him treating him, his life should be safe.

Zhou Zhiruo asked, "Why do you want to save him?"

Lying on the bed, Song Qingshu was utterly bewildered. He silently pitied the original owner of this body. Looks like you really didn't amount to much. Your wife can't wait for you to die.

Zhang Wuji froze, then said, "I have wronged you deeply and feel immensely ashamed. Moreover, you showed mercy today and spared my life. Since Senior Brother Song is injured, I naturally must do all I can."

Zhou Zhiruo said softly, "You showed mercy first. How could I not know? If you can save Brother Song, how should I repay you?"

Something was wrong with this scene. Why did it feel like a pair of lovers pouring out their hearts to each other? And that "how should I repay you"... When a woman asked a man so plaintively, what if he asked her to give herself to him? Song Qingshu could practically see a green glow rising from the original owner's forehead. Though Zhou Zhiruo was not his wife, he felt the same pang of sympathy.

Zhang Wuji said, "One life for another. Please show mercy to my godfather." Zhang Wuji's words made Song Qingshu breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Zhang Wuji was indecisive in matters of love. If he had Wei Xiaobao's personality, then with just a little shamelessness, would Zhou Zhiruo not have thrown herself into his arms?

Zhou Zhiruo pointed toward the inner room and said flatly, "He is inside."

Zhang Wuji came to the bedside, examined Song Qingshu's injuries, and said, "Madam Song, I truly cannot say whether I can save Senior Brother Song's life. Will you allow me to try?"

The moment the words "Madam Song" left his mouth, Song Qingshu found Zhang Wuji increasingly pleasing to the eye. If you cure me, I will let your flirtatious exchanges with Zhou Zhiruo slide. Song Qingshu silently calculated. Indeed, the original Song Qingshu had reason to hate Zhang Wuji, but he had only inherited Song Qingshu's body; there was no need to inherit his hatred as well. As for his earlier displeasure, it had entirely come from Zhou Zhiruo being acknowledged as one of the great beauties of the martial world, stirring up a man's possessiveness in him.

Thinking about it now, that woman had not been entirely wrong when she said Song Qingshu had problems with his character. Society was like this. Unless one was a spoiled second-generation rich kid waiting to eat and die, or a mediocre nobody with no ambition, anyone who struggled would eventually be assimilated by society's great dye vat.

What distinction was there between good people and bad people in this world? The misfortune of bad people was that they let most people see their bad side. As for good people, whether intentionally or not, all they showed everyone was their good side.

Song Qingshu was the tragic former case. His dark side had been thoroughly displayed before that woman by his rival in love, so he became the bad man. The woman had never seen his rival's dark side, so even after Song Qingshu had been killed by that rival, she remained in the dark and still believed the man to be a gentleman.

While Song Qingshu was lost in thought, Zhang Wuji had already begun setting his bones. The pain was so intense that Song Qingshu wished he were dead, but since he had yet to understand the situation in this new world, he only dared pretend to mutter in his sleep instead of crying out.

Zhang Wuji aligned his shattered bones, took out the Black Jade Intermittent Ointment, and used the Nine Yang Divine Skill to send the medicine's efficacy into every broken bone in Song Qingshu's body. After the time it took an incense stick to burn, he let out a long breath and said to Zhou Zhiruo, "Senior Brother Song's life is no longer in danger, but... but..."

Not a trace of joy appeared on Zhou Zhiruo's face. She asked blandly, "Speak freely."

"Senior Brother Song's meridians have all been severed. I fear he will never be able to practice martial arts again." Zhang Wuji's words struck Song Qingshu like five thunderbolts. He was instantly dumbfounded. In a world of martial arts, the meaning of becoming a cripple needed no explanation.

"You need not blame yourself. Saving his life was already no easy task." Zhou Zhiruo still spoke with that indifferent tone. Song Qingshu found it strange to hear. It seemed as though those two were the married couple, while he was merely an outsider. Well, he really was an outsider.

Then Zhang Wuji, worried that Zhou Zhiruo would be unable to defeat Shaolin's Three Du, tactfully explained the power of the Vajra Subduing Demon Formation and hoped that she could join forces with him to break the formation.

Zhou Zhiruo refused decisively. "We once had a marriage agreement, yet my husband is now fighting for his life. Moreover, I spared your life today. Others will surely say I still harbor old feelings for you. If I ask for your help again, every hero under heaven will curse me as shameless and promiscuous."

Zhang Wuji said anxiously, "As long as our consciences are clear, why care about what others say?"

"What if my conscience is not clear?" Zhou Zhiruo's retort filled the entire room with an ambiguous atmosphere.

Song Qingshu smiled bitterly and offered his deepest condolences to this body's original owner. This is such blatant seduction. It is simply Pan Jinlian reborn, Yan Po Xi returned to the world! Ah, poor Brother Qingshu, what sins did you commit in your previous life? Not only has your body been taken over and reborn by me, but from the looks of it, you cannot even keep your wife.