Inner Mansion, side quarters.
This was the little courtyard that belonged to Wang Yue alone.
At that moment, quite a few figures had gathered in front of the courtyard gate. When Qin Jiu hurried over and saw the crowd, his heart sank.
"What are you all doing here?"
"Greetings, Family Head."
At the sound of his voice, everyone immediately bowed in unison.
Among them, Huang Jing finished bowing, then spoke with a grave expression. "Family Head, Steward Wang may not have much longer."
"Rubbish. What nonsense are you talking about?"
Qin Jiu frowned in displeasure and rebuked them. "The city is in chaos, with Demons running rampant. Instead of patrolling properly, you've all gathered here. What kind of conduct is that? Also, no one is to speak of Steward Wang returning to the Qin Mansion tonight. If anyone dares spread the word, I'll skin you alive."
With that, he passed through the crowd and entered the main room.
Only Qin Xuanzhou was inside. He was pacing back and forth, looking uneasy.
"Xuanzhou, what happened?"
"Family Head, you're here."
Qin Xuanzhou relaxed at the sight of him, then frowned and said, "At the end of the You hour tonight, Steward Wang somehow appeared in the reception hall. He was injured, his weapon snapped in two, and he was barely holding on. By the time I reached him, he had already passed out."
"What's his condition now?"
Though Qin Jiu asked, he didn't stop walking. He hurried toward the bedroom.
Qin Xuanzhou followed behind him, his voice low.
"Not good."
"I examined his injuries earlier. There was a black palm print on his shoulder, and a claw wound laced with fire poison had torn open his chest. The fire poison also sent the inner force in his body out of control, while triggering old injuries that had accumulated in Steward Wang's internal organs over the years."
"If he hadn't still had a tremendous amount of medicinal power in his body..."
"He would have died outside before he could make it back."
"I've already sent someone to fetch a physician..."
"Can a physician save him in this condition?"
Qin Jiu frowned. "Go to Four Seasons Pharmacy at once and invite Deputy Hall Master Li Yuan. Explain the situation and tell him to bring pills. If he can save Elder Wang's life, the Qin Family can give him the secret formula for raising spirit beasts."
"Also, seal off everything that happened tonight."
"Don't let anyone leak this news."
"Yes."
Qin Xuanzhou's expression tightened.
He immediately turned and left.
Qin Jiu entered Wang Yue's bedroom. Seeing the gaunt figure lying on the bed, he furrowed his brows even more deeply.
By now, Wang Yue's hair had turned completely white.
It was as if he had lost several years of his life in an instant.
His face was dark and bruised.
Qin Jiu sat down beside the bed and placed a hand on one of Wang Yue's wrists. Then he circulated his inner force and sent it into Wang Yue's body.
But as soon as the inner force spread inside,
a fierce, scorching energy swallowed it whole.
"This is fire poison?"
"How can it be so overbearing? It can even devour such pure Cold Sha inner force..."
Qin Jiu's expression changed.
He immediately sent in more inner force, only just managing to follow Wang Yue's meridians and circulate it throughout his body.
He closed his eyes and probed the condition inside Wang Yue. His heart grew more and more uneasy: three forces were locked in a struggle within Wang Yue's body. One was like a blazing sun—clearly the fire poison Qin Xuanzhou had mentioned.
As for the other two,
one was Wang Yue's own inner force, while the other carried a sinister, icy chill.
It seemed to have the same source as Cold Sha.
But its quality was far inferior to his own pure Cold Sha.
"Fortunately, those three forces are locked in a struggle, and the medicinal power of the healing pills is helping maintain a kind of balance in his body. Otherwise, Uncle Wang would have died in an instant."
Qin Jiu opened his eyes and let out a breath.
Internal Strengthening practitioners
used their inner force to nourish their internal organs, but it could not yet harden them like skin and flesh. Once inner force invaded the body, failing to purge it in time meant certain death.
"I can't deal with those three forces for now."
"But the damage to his internal organs..."
He considered it briefly.
Then he immediately activated Withered Wood Meets Spring,
trying to use his inner force to repair the injuries to Wang Yue's internal organs.
In an instant,
a hint of delight appeared in Qin Jiu's eyes.
"It really works."
"Although it's not as effective as usual, the improvement in his internal injuries is still obvious."
As Withered Wood Meets Spring continued to circulate,
the dark, bruised color of Wang Yue's face gradually began to fade.
After roughly the time it took three incense sticks to burn,
Qin Jiu finally withdrew his hand, drenched in sweat.
At the same time,
two sets of footsteps sounded in the main room. Soon, two figures entered the bedroom together.
"Family Head Qin, it's been a while."
"Hall Master Li."
Qin Jiu looked toward the newcomer and gave a slight nod.
This deputy hall master of Four Seasons Pharmacy was nothing like its hall master. Qin Jiu had long since used Ghost Illumination to investigate him. He bore no ill will toward the Qin Family—or Qin Jiu himself—which was why he had asked Qin Xuanzhou to invite him over.
"Xuanzhou, stand guard outside. Don't let anyone disturb us."
"Yes."
Qin Xuanzhou gave Li Yuan a thoughtful glance,
then left the bedroom.
After he had gone,
Qin Jiu spoke. "The situation is urgent. Xuanzhou has already told you about it, hasn't he? If Hall Master Li can save Steward Wang, the Qin Family will hand over the secret formula for raising spirit beasts."
"Let's not rush to that yet."
Li Yuan waved a hand. "I need to examine his condition first."
"Please."
As he spoke, Qin Jiu stepped aside.
Li Yuan nodded and went to Wang Yue's side. He reached out thoughtfully, and a moment later, a glint flashed in his eyes.
"One strand of true qi and two forces of inner strength..."
"To hold on to life under those circumstances, Wang Yue must be no ordinary man. No wonder that after Qin Guihong's death, the mere name of Sick Tiger kept the various Internal Strengthening experts from acting rashly. Truly... Hm?"
"Though the forces in his body are locked in a stalemate,"
"why are his internal organs..."
He suddenly looked startled.
Then he slowly closed his eyes, his expression turning grave.
"This pure Yin Sha lingering in his body..."
Li Yuan examined him for a while.
Then he opened his eyes and looked over at Qin Jiu. When he noticed the fine sweat on Qin Jiu's forehead,
his expression immediately turned meaningful.
"Hall Master Li, how is he?"
Seeing Li Yuan glance at him, Qin Jiu immediately asked.
Li Yuan considered it before replying. "Three forces are entangled inside Wang Yue, and one of them is true qi. It's weak, but clearing it won't be easy for Internal Strengthening practitioners like us. Still..."
"It's not impossible to save him."
"Are you really willing to use that secret formula as the price for saving Wang Yue?"
Qin Jiu replied calmly, "It's only a sheet of paper. I don't value it more than a life. Hall Master Li, do what you must. The Qin Family will hand it over afterward."
"Now that's magnanimity."
Li Yuan smiled faintly.
He immediately took a bottle of pills from his robes.
First, he poured one into Wang Yue's mouth. Then he helped Wang Yue sit up, circulated his inner force, and pressed both palms against his back.
"I have to say, Family Head Qin made the right choice." Li Yuan suddenly spoke again, his words carrying an inscrutable meaning. "In truth, from the moment the County Magistrate and the others left the city, even if you gave me the secret formula, I couldn't have let you leave this place unharmed."
"But... I, Li, am willing to forge a good connection with the Qin Family and give you a piece of news for free."
"A major sect will send people to Ning'an Prefecture soon. If you seize the opportunity, you may be able to take the Qin Family away before calamity strikes. With your current Second Refining mastery, Family Head Qin, I believe that shouldn't be difficult."
Before you continue