38 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

**Translation of Chapter 38:** **Setting the Scene** At the request of Yan Zhu Guang, Yun Mi Xue first took Su Qian Er back to the Dan Hall for a rest, as the Qiuming Dan Hall had been requisitioned. Meanwhile, she leisurely led Qiu Qiao and his entourage for a stroll around Danye City. **Avoiding Scandal** It was essential to maintain the spotless reputation of her Senior Sister. Even though the fault lay with Qiu Qiao and his companions, the retaliatory actions could be executed by her but not by the Senior Sister. Letting people recognize and spread rumors about the Senior Sister wouldn’t end well. Unaware of Yan Zhu Guang's considerations, Yun Mi Xue merely assumed she was concerned about Su Qian Er, and without much thought, she left with her. However, her spiritual awareness stayed anchored on Qiu Qiao and his group, forming a powerful pressure to prevent any sudden hostility towards Yan Zhu Guang. **Keeping a Check** Under Yun Mi Xue's oppressive spiritual insight, Qiu Qiao and his companions behaved, afraid of making any reckless moves. Even when pointed at and ridiculed in Danye City, they could do nothing but grit their teeth for the sake of their own lives. Qiuming Dan Hall held a modest fame in Danye City, with Qiu Qiao being well-known as the heir of the Hall. It piqued curiosity to see a group from the Hall paraded around, tethered by what appeared to be an ordinary grass rope, drawing significant public interest. **Whispers and Rumors** It didn’t take long for word to spread, and shopkeepers and runners from nearby establishments rushed out to observe the spectacle of Qiuming Dan Hall. Everyone loves a bit of gossip, including cultivators. What had the Qiuming Dan Hall people done to end up submissive to a girl at the foundation stage, bound and unable to resist? Yan Zhu Guang's striking beauty inevitably led the onlookers to speculate about some romantic scandal — like men willingly being led around just for her smile. However, these Dan Hall folks seemed too gallant to be upset. **Questions Arise** Some simply speculated, while others boldly questioned. Someone with a grudge against Qiuming Dan Hall halted the procession, asking the girl, "Miss, what crime have these Qiuming Dan Hall people committed for you to bind them like this?" Flaunting a grin, the beautiful girl replied, "Do you know these people?" He confidently answered, "I suppose I do." **A Connection Revealed** “Then you must know one of them has a fiancée," she pointed out. The mention of a fiancée made the crowd's curiosity even stranger. "Naturally, everyone knows. Su Qian Er, granddaughter of Qiao Zhen Bang from the famous Qiao Family in the alchemy world. A master alchemist’s granddaughter from a prestigious family — of course, everyone knows her!” The Qiao Family is renowned in the cultivation world, controlling a vast portion of alchemy resources. Even a branch family carries considerable influence. Though Danye City officially reports to Tianyu City, the practical control over various Dan Halls lies with the Qiao branch family, particularly Qiao Zhen Bang’s lineage. **A Marriage Worth Envy** There was envy when Qiu Qiao secured an engagement with Su Qian Er. Despite her poor health and innate deficiencies, marrying her would grant access to endless resources from the esteemed Qiao Family. Even if Su Qian Er couldn’t pursue the immortal path and possibly faced an early death, the association with the Qiao Family came with irrefutable advantages. Qiu Qiao, having reaped benefits from their alliance, effortlessly advanced from the Qi Condensation stage to the Foundation Establishment stage using the Qiao Family's resources. **Time for Reckoning** And now, rumors circulated about Qiu Qiao being led through the streets by a beautiful woman, who mentioned Su Qian Er. Could this possibly disrupt the engagement? Upon hearing this, the girl calmly stated, "Good that you know. This man named Qiu plotted to harm Su Qian Er and got caught red-handed by me. Su Qian Er is injured and currently resting. Would anyone notify her family? I offer a generous reward.” Who could have foreseen this after presuming Qiu Qiao merely sought a dalliance; he had nerves in attempting to harm Su Qian Er. **Outcry from the Crowd** "To harm Miss Su is outrageous. A bold act indeed. No reward needed, Miss. We will report this to the Qiao Family!" "Quite right. Such audacity should not go unpunished." "Lady, leave them with us, and we’ll ensure they face justice from the family head!" "Thank you for your offer," she replied, aware that her Senior Sister needed to interrogate these individuals herself. "For everyone's safety, I'll hold them at Qiuming Dan Hall. Kindly help inform the Qiao Family; Miss Su is recuperating there." **A Collective Justice** Clearly, Qiu Qiao had made many enemies, with numerous individuals eager to see his downfall. Yan Zhu Guang knew nothing of Su Qian Er's connections. Encountering Su en route, and being disinclined by nature to engage deeply with others, she hadn’t inquired further, only that Su was Qiu’s fiancé. **Plot Unfolds** Seeing Qiu go to great lengths for Su's blueprint, even willing to eliminate her, suggested a desperation to conceal any link to Su Qian Er’s death. Had she been an ordinary person, Qiu would have eliminated her completely. His roundabout attempts hinted at Su’s significant standing. Yan Zhu Guang's strategy was to post a notice at the task board, seeking someone knowledgeable to alert Su’s family, yet lucky stars aligned with the gathered crowd aiding her cause. Those eager to report to the Qiao Family would eagerly step on Qiuming Dan Hall. Having set in motion the necessary arrangements and public disgrace, Yan Zhu Guang no longer played the spectacle, retreating to Qiuming Dan Hall with the subdued group. **Desperation in Silence** Bound and unable to murmur a defense under Yun Mi Xue’s spiritual restraint, Qiu Qiao and others could only lower their heads amid mocking or pitying gazes. Our collective shame weighed heavily, but resentment simmered against Yan Zhu Guang. Any chance for revenge in the future would be pursued tenfold. Yan Zhu Guang noticed the glint of malice in their eyes, her heart steeling with cold amusement. **No Tolerance for Threats** She had no intention of leaving loose ends like Qiu — someone who could endure the humiliation of being paraded yet remain a potential threat, akin to a venomous snake hidden in shadows. Yan Zhu Guang was no naïve newcomer. Though the ropes seemed mere weeds, their heads, clasped in her grip, provided her full control. Underestimating her as a novice, riding the coattails of her Senior Sister, was a grave mistake on their part. Unbeknownst to them, Yan Zhu Guang's toxin-infused Qi had seeped into their dantians, a lethal presence she could exploit at will. Entrusting them with thoughts of retribution? Never. **Settling Matters** Returning to Qiuming Dan Hall, she discarded the lead and sought Yun Mi Xue. “Senior Sister, I have sent word to Su's family; they should soon arrive.” Yun Mi Xue nodded. **Recovery and Resolution** Su Qian Er rested on a recliner in the courtyard. "Su is recovering steadily," Yun reassured. Yan nodded. Rescuing Su Qian Er already stretched the bounds of obligation, but accommodating her family out of deference to the Senior Sister seemed fitting. **A Deeper Inquiry** Curiosity piqued, Yan asked, "What were you intending to discuss with me earlier, Senior Sister?” Yun Mi Xue replied, “It's a matter that needs beginning from the past.” Years ago, speculation arose around Fenghua Immortal Sect’s sect master's mysterious demise near Tianyu City. Yun Mi Xue and the elders had been there investigating. Unfortunately, Tianyu City's lord offered little cooperation, forcing Yun's group to deploy alternative methods for investigation. After persistent years of inquiry, a lead surfaced: the previous sect master had a conflict with a mysterious Su-named cultivator. **Unfolding the Mystery** Considering the sect master’s Divination Stage prowess against a mundane Golden Core cultivator, such a conflict itself was unusual and even witnessed by others — certainly peculiar. While their conversation remained unheard, it marked a significant clue, propelling them to trace and explore any substantive findings stemming from this connection. The Su-named cultivator's mysterious nature posed challenges with no apparent affiliations. After exhaustive investigations, connections were drawn to Qiao Family’s branch, identifying him as a son-in-law who perished with his wife, leaving behind an ailing daughter, Su Qian Er. **The Clouds of Conspiracy** Deep affections for his granddaughter often led the Su cultivator back to visit. Shortly after disputes with the former sect head, this elder vanished. Hopes rest now with Miss Su Qian Er, possibly bearing knowledge of this enigmatic titular Su. Assigning two titled disciples to find Su Qian Er within the Qiao Family resulted in setbacks, learning upon arrival that her fiancé, heir to Qiuming Dan Hall, had taken her under his care. **Continuing the Tale** It so happened that Qiuming Dan Hall was located in Danye City, near Tianyu City. Upon receiving the jade arrow’s message, Yun Mi Xue personally ventured to Danye City to seek out the hall. Originally, she intended to visit the heir, hoping for a meeting with Miss Su. Unexpectedly, she stumbled upon Qiu Qiao's attempts to harm the young woman. Had it not been for Yan Zhu Guang tracking Su Qian Er's whereabouts, and if they had been even slightly delayed, Su might not have survived. Such a loss would have severed any leads concerning the previous sect master. **Dire Consequences Averted** "I see," Yan Zhu Guang mused after hearing the story, marveling at the unlikely coincidence. Realizing she had saved Su Qian Er twice, thus indirectly aiding her Senior Sister twice as well, she couldn't help but smile and shake her head. "Now we merely await Miss Su’s awakening, to ask if she knows anything about her grandfather." Yun Mi Xue nodded in agreement. **A Voice in Her Mind** At that moment, an odd voice reverberated within Yan Zhu Guang's mind. “Would you like to accept the main quest to assist Yun Mi Xue in uncovering the truth behind the former sect master’s death?” “What?” Yan Zhu Guang’s thoughts paused. The response came back as just a simple letter, “g”. “What do you mean by 'g'?” Yan Zhu Guang asked the system silently, her expression unchanged. Apologetically, the system explained, “This main quest is notoriously difficult to trigger. To my knowledge, no host has ever activated it before. I am curious; how did you do it? It’s truly peculiar.” Pondering for a moment, Yan Zhu Guang felt a sudden spark of realization. "Could it be the blueprint?" Another simple “g” from the system followed. **Conclusion** The narrative wraps up with hints of deeper entanglement between Yan Zhu Guang and the evolving mysteries of the cultivation world, reflected through both human and system interactions. (Note: Continuation and exploration of the system feature might be common in ongoing narratives, introducing subtle fantasy elements that intertwine with the character’s journey.)