Li Xingluo took out some paper and a brush and wrote something down. After a short while, he handed the paper to Song Xue.
"Prepare everything listed here and bring it to me. Remember, no one else may handle it—not even once. If you don't want your father to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, do exactly as I say. Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences."
As Li Xingluo spoke, he kept his eyes on Song Zhu. Song Xue looked at Li Xingluo, who seemed entirely serious, then turned to Song Ping, confused.
When Song Ping nodded, Song Xue took the list, said, "All right," and left the hall.
"Next, I'll apply the needles. The first treatment will be very painful..."
"Don't worry. I can bear this much pain. Go ahead, sir."
Li Xingluo nodded slightly. He merely glanced at Song Zhu, who still looked unconvinced, then took out his silver needles.
He circulated his Dou Qi and began the treatment, piercing both knees with precise strokes. Song Ping gripped the sides of his wheelchair tightly.
Sweat gathered on his forehead, trickled down his cheeks, and dripped onto his collar, where it turned into wisps of white mist and floated away.
Clouds of white mist streamed from his body, their ghastly shapes truly terrifying to behold.
Time passed by the second. Song Xue had gathered everything Li Xingluo needed and returned. She saw that Song Ping's face was pale and that his fingers had dug deep grooves into both sides of the wooden wheelchair.
Li Xingluo had no time to notice Song Xue's expression. He circulated his Dou Qi, making the silver needles quiver faintly.
Night fell before Li Xingluo finally circulated his Dou Qi and withdrew the needles.
Song Ping was completely drained. If not for his iron will, he would have passed out from the pain long ago.
"Father, how are you feeling?"
Song Xue rushed to his side at once to check his condition.
Though Song Ping was drenched in sweat, pale-faced, and terribly weak, he smiled and shook his head, assuring her that he was fine so she wouldn't worry.
"Don't worry. Your father is fine. Let him rest now. As for Old Master Song's illness..." Li Xingluo left the sentence unfinished.
"Xue'er, arrange a place for our guest to rest. We can look at Father's illness tomorrow." Song Ping gazed at the darkening sky outside. He knew Li Xingluo had spent a great deal of time treating him and had used up plenty of Dou Qi. Color was slowly returning to his face, though he remained weak.
"Then I'll trouble you, Miss Song."
Li Xingluo hadn't expected the treatment to consume so much of his strength. It seemed he had overestimated his abilities.
Song Xue led Li Xingluo out of the hall. Only one person was unhappy. Watching Li Xingluo's retreating figure, he clenched his fists, eyes brimming with hostility.
Along the way, Song Xue kept thanking Li Xingluo. Seemingly afraid she might get the wrong idea, he insisted that he had done everything for the Seven-Colored Immortal Orchid and nothing else.
The next morning, Song Xue prepared breakfast early. Afraid of disturbing Li Xingluo, she waited outside his door, changing her stance again and again.
Perhaps he was simply too tired. Li Xingluo, who usually rose early to cultivate, had actually slept in.
When she heard the door open, Song Xue woke from where she had dozed against a pillar. She rubbed her eyes and hurried to her feet, a little embarrassed as she avoided Li Xingluo's gaze.
"Did I disturb your rest?"
Li Xingluo glanced at the food nearby. Song Xue immediately picked it up with a bright smile.
After breakfast, Song Xue led Li Xingluo to the room of the Song Clan patriarch.
Song Ping and Song Zhu had been waiting for him. The moment Song Zhu saw Li Xingluo, he spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"Well, if it isn't our great benefactor. Did you sleep well last night?"
Li Xingluo wasn't stupid. He could tell Song Zhu was mocking him.
As he passed Song Zhu, a wave of pressure suddenly forced Song Zhu to bend at the waist.
Li Xingluo glared at him and said sternly, "If you weren't Miss Song's second uncle, I wouldn't let you off. Keep running your mouth, and I won't hesitate to cripple you."
One vicious glare was enough to make Song Zhu lower his head. Song Ping could only shake his head helplessly at the sight.
He hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over. "Sir, please look at my father first."
"Yes, Brother Luo Xing. My grandfather's illness is more important."
Song Xue had never seen her second uncle treat anyone like this. Ever since Li Xingluo arrived the day before, Song Zhu had been targeting him. Anyone could see it.
Only then did Li Xingluo withdraw his pressure. He let out a breath and handed Song Ping the pills he had refined the previous night.
"These pills will treat the poison in your body. Take three a day."
"Thank you, sir!" Song Ping accepted the pills and bowed with clasped hands.
Li Xingluo ignored Song Zhu, whose expression brimmed with resentment and hostility, and walked straight to Old Master Song's bedside.
A faint wisp of black Qi showed between the old man's brows. How could no one have noticed such an obvious symptom?
Li Xingluo couldn't help glancing at Song Zhu. The Song Clan was truly something else.
The examination took far less time than Song Ping's treatment.
"Brother Luo Xing, how is my grandfather?"
Seeing Li Xingluo rise, Song Xue asked anxiously.
"Your grandfather was poisoned too, and his poison is much more potent and dangerous. If we'd waited another half a month, no one would have been able to save him."
At that, Song Ping swallowed. The physician they had invited recently hadn't said anything like that.
The physician had claimed that even without treatment, Old Master Song would live for several more years. Who would have thought...
Song Xue looked at her grandfather, lying by the bedside, skin and bones, stripped of all his old vigor. Tears welled in her eyes once more.
"Brother Luo Xing, please, you have to save my grandfather. I'll pay any price."
Li Xingluo glanced at Song Zhu and said coldly, "I wonder who claimed that the Seven-Colored Immortal Orchid could save Old Master Song. If he'd actually taken it, he would have been dead in no time."
Song Ping and his daughter couldn't help looking at Song Zhu. It had been Song Zhu who invited the physician.
Song Zhu didn't dare meet their eyes now. He wanted to argue, but feared Li Xingluo's strength, so he could only bow his head.
"Brother Luo Xing, then is there a cure for Grandfather's poison...?"
"There is, but a full recovery will be difficult. The poison in his body is much more potent."
"As long as you can keep Grandfather safe, that's enough."
"Leave the room. No one is to come near without my permission. Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences."
At the threat, even Song Xue had no choice but to leave the room.
As soon as Song Zhu stepped outside, he started making trouble again. "Elder Brother, you really trust him?"
"Shut up, Second Brother. Have you finished dealing with the marketplace business?"
Seeing Song Ping's attitude, Song Zhu left, grumbling and cursing. Song Ping watched him go, his face dark and his eyes tinged with sorrow.
The people waiting outside grew more and more anxious. Three or four hours passed before the door finally opened.
Li Xingluo was drenched in sweat, his face somewhat pale.
"Brother Luo Xing, are you all right?" Song Xue asked with concern. This was the first time she had seen him like this.
Li Xingluo shook his head to show that he was fine, then handed Song Xue a list.
He repeated the same instructions as before. Song Xue looked at her grandfather lying on the bed, took the list, and left.
Song Ping pushed his wheelchair into the room and went to the bedside. He could clearly sense that the person lying there was breathing much more steadily.
"Thank you for saving my life, sir!"
"Don't mention it. There's nothing more to do here, so I'll go rest. When Miss Song returns, have her bring the medicinal ingredients to my room."
Before you continue