37 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

Chapter 37 Yan Zhuguang had anticipated that the people from the Qiuming Elixir Hall would delay to prepare their escape, but she hadn't made any preparations herself—nor did she need any. After all, by her side stood Yun Mixue. Her senior sister was a Nascent Soul stage master, and how could these mere Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement stage individuals from the Qiuming Elixir Hall slip away under her eyes? Yan Zhuguang had absolute faith in her senior sister. As expected, Yun Mixue did not disappoint her. Her Nascent Soul stage spiritual sense permeated the surroundings, making it impossible for any of their petty tricks to escape her notice. As soon as the directional teleportation array was laid, Yun Mixue's spiritual sense flared, and the array base was instantly enveloped in a sheet of frost and snow. The figures from Qiuming Elixir Hall flickered between disappearance and reality, with the Foundation Establishment stage shopkeeper blushing red before violently spitting a mouthful of blood onto the now dimmed array, which promptly transformed into a layer of blood-red frost—the sight of which chilled their hearts. "Sir," Qiao Qiao, supporting the shopkeeper who was suffering from the backlash of the array, tightly pursed her lips and glanced towards Yun Mixue who, like an ice jade statue, stood silent and motionless. Then she turned to Yan Zhuguang, saying, "Victory or defeat, our skills are inferior. Miss Yan, do what you will; I have no complaints." Yan Zhuguang wore a peculiar expression. "Strange. What does your lack of complaints have to do with me? If I wish to punish you, why should I care whether you're complaining?" Qiao Qiao's face stiffened, unsure of how to respond further. Having said her piece, Yan Zhuguang ignored them, turning her attention instead to the matter previously interrupted by these people from the Qiuming Elixir Hall. "Senior Sister." Yun Mixue responded, "Her body is still recovering; she won't regain consciousness so soon." Yan Zhuguang nodded. "Then, Senior Sister, what should we do about these people?" Yun Mixue decided, "Let Miss Su decide when she wakes up." The one who suffered was Su Qian'er, not them, so naturally, it should be left to Su Qian'er to decide how to deal with them; they could not make decisions on her behalf. Yan Zhuguang found nothing strange about this, as it was indeed characteristic of her senior sister. However, before Su Qian'er regained consciousness, these people couldn't be allowed to feel at ease. Such despicable people who coveted another's fiancée, attempted to silence her, and even stooped to defaming her by alleging relations with a servant to exonerate themselves, could not be let off easily. "Senior Sister, to prevent these individuals from causing further trouble, I think it's necessary to take some measures." Yun Mixue noticed the thoughts running through Yan Zhuguang's mind and indulged her, saying, "Do what you want. Do you need my help?" Yan Zhuguang shook her head. "Everything can't always rely on Senior Sister. Just watch." Yan Zhuguang turned her gaze towards the people of Qiuming Elixir Hall. Her look made them shiver internally. "What are you planning to do?" With a wave, a green light fell at their feet, and the greenery below grew wildly, transforming into long "grass ropes" that curled toward them, reaching with tooth and claw. Naturally, the people of Qiuming Elixir Hall wouldn't sit idle. They secretly prepared spells for protection, and upon seeing the "grass ropes" approaching, readied their spiritual energy to counterattack. At that moment, Yan Zhuguang casually remarked, "If you wish to become ice sculptures and then turn into snow sand bit by bit, go ahead and resist." With a smile still on her face, she made a gesture as if inviting them. Recalling how the blood instantly froze upon hitting the ground, they shivered and halted any thoughts of resistance. Ultimately, life was more important; they gritted their teeth as the slender grass leaves enveloped them layer by layer. However, what bewildered Qiao Qiao was that these grass leaves seemed to merely grow longer without any magical abilities; if she wanted, she could nearly break free effortlessly. Did she really believe such mere grass could hold them? She couldn't have been so naive to simply rely on this! The young master of Qiuming Elixir Hall, Qiao Qiao, the shopkeeper, and the two old servants were all wrapped up like dumplings by the wildly growing grass leaves. Yan Zhuguang tugged, and the ends of the grass leaves they were entangled in flew into her hand. Yan Zhuguang shook the ropes lightly. "Don’t try to escape, or face the consequences yourself." Qiao Qiao and the others glanced at the rope ends, then down at themselves; their current state made them feel akin to pets on leashes, turning their faces sullen with anger. If they hadn't realized her intention by now, they'd be fools. This woman intended to humiliate them! The smile on Yan Zhuguang's face appeared demonic to them, and she seemed the very embodiment of ruthless malice. Yan Zhuguang disregarded their thoughts; even if she knew she might simply laugh at them. So what if she were heartless as a snake or scorpion? Were these people even qualified to judge her? "If you were disobedient and ran off before Miss Su awoke, what could I do? I had no choice but to bind you; surely, you understand." Qiao Qiao gritted her teeth, wishing her glare could kill Yan Zhuguang, but dared not truly attempt to break free, speaking through clenched teeth, "Miss Yan, kill us if you wish, but you shouldn't humiliate us like this." "Humiliate?" Yan Zhuguang cast a glance at the unconscious Su Qian'er. "Is it excessive?" "I am merely taking necessary precautions and don't consider it excessive," Yan Zhuguang tapped her chin thoughtfully. "If you feel humiliated, there's a way." "Ah, how about this," Yan Zhuguang earnestly suggested, "If you feel insulted and are angry, why not self-destruct?" "The impression you've given me is so atrocious; you're no different from beasts. Only by self-destructing can you regain my respect. Would you like to try?" Yan Zhuguang gazed at them with interest, awaiting their choice. She had already predicted what they would choose. If Qiao Qiao valued dignity over life, she wouldn't have tried deceiving them earlier, even donning a 'green hat' to mislead. She was just a cowardly opportunist. Qiao Qiao's eyes glinted with malice towards Yan Zhuguang. If she escaped, she'd ensure Yan Zhuguang suffered a thousand cuts. Straightening her back, she turned her head away and stayed silent. As for the others, they lacked courage, not to mention the capacity for self-destruction—a grievously wounded man suffering from array backlash, and two mere Qi Refinement stage servants lacked the qualification. Thus, they were led away by Yan Zhuguang. The watching system found it intensely satisfying—dealing with such scum deserved this approach, angering them to death would be just recompense. However, with their thick skins, they likely wouldn't succumb to death by anger. What a bunch of sorry excuses for people. The system felt embarrassed, nearly tricked by these vermin. That Qiao Qiao, so earnest and incensed over an alleged 'green hat,' and the shopkeeper so righteously indignant—it almost believed them. Who'd have thought they concocted this? Such individuals truly were fearsome. If not for the host's cunning, even the senior sister might have been deceived, passing up the opportunity to discipline this rabble. Tsk. The system sympathized with Miss Su Qian'er. Though relishing in satisfaction, the system worried somewhat for the host. Ever since being caught by the senior sister, the host seemed to have let her true nature shine in front of her. Was this a little reckless? Would such assertiveness displease the virtuous and upright senior sister? The system cautiously watched Yun Mixue, noting her attention seemed elsewhere—she wasn't looking at the host. Was she pretending not to notice? If Yan Zhuguang understood the system's thoughts, she'd probably laugh at it. Does kindness negate discerning right from wrong? After all, Qiao Qiao and the others were at fault. She merely scared them a bit—what was the harm? Would the senior sister blame her for these vile acts? If so, the senior sister wouldn't be kind; she'd be foolish. Yun Mixue indeed saw nothing wrong with Yan Zhuguang’s actions. Although her temperament couldn't allow her to do the same, she wouldn’t stop Yan Zhuguang from venting her anger. Yun Mixue was no saint; she also had her temper. These people twisted truths and engaged in shameless acts beyond belief. What wouldn't they do against a defenseless girl or their own fiancée? Yun Mixue bore no goodwill for such evildoers. Thus, she turned a blind eye to Yan Zhuguang’s act of using her name as a threat. However, she mused, Zhuguang was still a young girl, genuine in her emotions, seeking only to give an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth—unconcerned about future repercussions. If these people were pushed to desperation, what if they retaliated fiercely? Best to keep an eye on things herself; she couldn't let Zhuguang get hurt. Qiao Qiao and others begrudgingly conceded, faces sullen, while Yan Zhuguang chuckled meaningfully, further souring their expressions. Turning to Yun Mixue, Yan Zhuguang suggested, "Senior Sister, Miss Su still needs rest. It's inconvenient staying in these isolated wilds outside the city. Should we return to town?" Yun Mixue nodded. "Good idea." "But... what about these people?" Yan Zhuguang blinked innocently. "Of course, we'll take them back to the city with us. We can't just leave them here, can we?" "And how exactly do you plan to bring them into the city, like this?" "Yes," Yan Zhuguang casually flicked the grass ropes. "Just like this, even though there are quite a few people in the city." As soon as she spoke, a strong aura erupted from Qiao Qiao and the others, an attempt to break free from the binding grass ropes and escape. "But Senior Sister will keep an eye on them for me, right?" The aura on the verge of eruption was suddenly quelled, dissipating without a trace. Yun Mixue shook her head in resignation. "You little rascal, you really are..." She tapped Yan Zhuguang's nose gently. "I never realized you were such a sly little fox." Yan Zhuguang scrunched her nose. "Senior Sister has misunderstood me. People like them don't deserve to be treated nicely." She secretly sent a message to Yun Mixue, "Besides, wasn't Senior Sister looking for that young master from this elixir hall for something?" "And you still remember what I need from him," Yun Mixue chided gently. "If it were something crucial, how could we proceed with him in this state?" Yan Zhuguang waved her soft little fist. "Even if by force, I would help Senior Sister achieve it." "No need for your fists. You've already helped enough," Yun Mixue assured. "Hmm?" Yan Zhuguang was a bit puzzled. "Let's settle Miss Su first, and I'll explain more later," Yun Mixue said, lifting Su Qian'er with her spiritual power. Yan Zhuguang nodded, giving the grass ropes a tug before telling the captives, "Let's move."