Su Jiu's injuries were undoubtedly severe. Even after taking a Great Restoration Pill, she could not recover immediately. Though the Eldest Princess had inflicted the initial wounds, much of the subsequent damage came from forcing herself to fight the Black Water Snake through the pain.
The battle finally ended with the Black Water Snake's capture. The Merfolk Tribe's youngest princess was imprisoned as well.
As for Jiao Zhen, her condition was also extremely poor.
Although Jiao Zhen had not died on the spot, she had suffered grave, life-threatening injuries. Otherwise, Su Jiu's internal organs would not have nearly been shattered.
At that moment, Qi Song was treating Jiao Zhen in her bedchamber.
A day later, Qi Song emerged, his face slightly pale.
The Queen, who had been waiting outside, saw him sigh, helplessness written across his face. "Her life has been saved."
The news undoubtedly delighted the Queen, but it also left her faintly uneasy, for there was not the slightest trace of relief in Qi Song's expression.
After some thought, the Queen could not help asking, "Will there be any lasting complications?"
Qi Song hesitated, then nodded. "Perhaps you could call them complications."
The Queen was puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"Her cultivation is completely destroyed. She will never be able to cultivate again, and she has only twenty years left to live."
The Queen froze. "How can that be? We are the Merfolk Tribe, blessed by the heavens. Jiao Zhen is still young. How could she have only twenty years left?" Clearly, the Queen did not quite believe Qi Song's words-or rather, she dared not believe them.
"Princess Jiao Zhen's injuries were too severe. Even after treatment, her liver will begin to fail. That deterioration will ultimately kill her twenty years from now."
"How can this be!"
Qi