44 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife
Chapter 44 "Could Miss Su tell me about Su Zhenren? What kind of person is Su Zhenren? I'm quite curious about the matters between sect elders and Su Zhenren." Su Qian Er shook her head, "Sorry, Miss Yan, if I could, I would love to tell you. It's just that I don't know my grandfather well." "I see," Yan Zhu Guang replied, somewhat disappointed. "I've heard Miss Su's grandfather is very fond of her, often visiting even when traveling afar. I assumed Miss Su would be familiar with Su Zhenren." Su Qian Er shook her head, her response ambiguous, as if saying it wasn't so, yet simultaneously suggesting she didn't know. Yan Zhu Guang continued to probe with a few indirect questions, but Su Qian Er didn't reveal any information about the blueprint. It seemed she genuinely knew nothing about it. The original Su Qian Er would not have been unaware of the blueprint, nor would she have intentionally hidden it from him, as she had personally handed the blueprint to him, rendering any concealment pointless. Even if Su Qian Er wanted to keep the blueprint a secret, she would have had the blueprint retrieved from herself first. But now, she didn't mention the blueprint at all, which was certainly suspicious. And if it was merely simple amnesia, why would she pretend everything was normal? Yan Zhu Guang placed Su Qian Er on a list of potential threats. "Does Miss Su want to check on Qiu Qiao and the others?" Su Qian Er thought for a moment and nodded, seeming to talk to herself, "I must go and see." Yan Zhu Guang stood up, "Miss Su, follow me." Yan Zhu Guang led Su Qian Er into the Dan Hall, with Su Qian Er following a step behind him. She felt a bit awkward and softly said, "Calling me Miss Su all the time feels overly formal. If you don't mind, you could just call me by my name." Yan Zhu Guang smirked slightly. Trying to fish for information, she didn't turn back, "Doesn't Miss Su also call me Miss Yan?" Su Qian Er felt a bit dejected, "Am I being too presumptuous?" She twisted the hem of her clothes. Yan Zhu Guang, in an act of mercy, offered her name, "It's not that. Addressing you as Miss Su feels more affectionate than just your name." Su Qian Er subtly exhaled in relief, "How could a name be disrespectful to the person who saved my life?" Yan Zhu Guang didn't answer. Su Qian Er glanced at her cautiously and compromised, "If you dislike it, let's drop it. I'm sorry." Yan Zhu Guang replied, "It's not that serious." When they arrived at Dan Hall, Yun Mi Xue saw them together and nodded to Su Qian Er, "Miss Su." As soon as Su Qian Er entered the Dan Hall, her attention was drawn to the four people there. Yan Zhu Guang's illusion space was hidden, and those uninitiated could only see the four standing there blankly, appearing odd. Her gaze swept over the others and fixed on Qiu Qiao, revealing a hint of resentment. She stared at him for a while before recalling Yun Mi Xue's greeting. By this time, Yan Zhu Guang had returned to Yun Mi Xue's side. Su Qian Er looked at Yun Mi Xue, slightly hesitant, "I hope I'm not intruding. How should I address you?" Yun Mi Xue didn't see any issue, responding, "My surname is Yun." Su Qian Er was momentarily dazed before refocusing, "Senior Yun." "Thank you for your concern. I've recovered well." "Good to hear you're better." Having exchanged words with Yun Mi Xue, Su Qian Er returned her gaze to Qiu Qiao and the others. Her expression grew harsher, seemingly pondering something. Her grip on her clothing's edge tightened, her hatred almost tangible as if she wished to tear them apart. Yun Mi Xue glanced at Yan Zhu Guang, who shook his head. After a while, Su Qian Er belatedly realized something was wrong with Qiu Qiao and the others. "Miss Yan, what's happened to them?" Yan Zhu Guang replied, "To prevent their escape, I used some tricks to confine them." "Do you wish to confront them in person?" Su Qian Er bit her lip, "No, there's no need." "May I hand them over to you?" "Of course," Yan Zhu Guang smiled, "It isn't our place to decide their fate, right?" "Thank you." Su Qian Er seemed lost in thought, pondering how to deal with Qiu Qiao and his group. At this moment, Yun Mi Xue sent a message to Yan Zhu Guang, "I sense a new Golden Core aura approaching." "Could it be the branch leader of the Qiao Family?" Su Qian Er's grandfather, Qiao Zhen Bang, is a Golden Core expert—if they've come for Su Qian Er, it must be him. "I fear so." "Also, the two Golden Core disciples we sent to investigate at the Qiao Family are accompanying him." It must be, Yan Zhu Guang thought, glancing at Su Qian Er, wondering how she'd handle relatives who know the "Su Qian Er" intimately. Soon after Yun Mi Xue relayed this information, there was a knock at the Dan Hall's door. The sound snapped Su Qian Er from her thoughts, and she looked at the door in confusion. "It should be your family arriving." Yan Zhu Guang explained while opening the door. Standing outside was a large group, led by a young man with a beard, his aura of spiritual energy still unsettled—a testament to his Golden Core strength. His face bore undeniable anger; he glanced at Yan Zhu Guang with little regard, "Where is Qian Er?" A gentle, cool voice drifted from inside, "Lord Qiao need not worry; Miss Su is here." The young man looked past Yan Zhu Guang into the hall, first noticing Su Qian Er's unwell appearance and called out, "Qian Er." As he approached the hall, he suddenly sensed a restrained but undeniable power. His gaze shifted to a beautiful woman in white gracefully entering the room. He couldn't comprehend her strength—was she a Nascent Soul master? The man's initial fury, upon receiving the message, subsided as he stood before such a powerful figure. What right did he have to be angry here? Yun Mi Xue stepped beside Yan Zhu Guang, positioning herself between the young man and Yan Zhu Guang, blocking the intense aura emanating from him. "Lord Qiao, rest assured, Miss Su is unharmed." Yan Zhu Guang couldn't help but smile at the elegant curve of Yun Mi Xue's back. The man managed a grateful expression, "It's a great favor for you to rescue Qian Er. This junior is eternally thankful." Yun Mi Xue shook her head, "There's no need for that. Your priority should be Miss Su; she's been through a lot and needs her family now." Qiao Zhen Bang nodded and hurried to Su Qian Er, bombarding her with questions, "Qian Er, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" Su Qian Er seemed at a loss, her eyes brimming with tears that fell in torrents the next moment. "I—I..." Qiao Zhen Bang scrambled to console her, "Don't cry, don't cry. Tell me everything, and I'll stand by you." She fell into his arms, crying, "Grandfather!" "My dear granddaughter, you've suffered." As grandfather and granddaughter comforted each other, people who had accompanied Qiao Zhen Bang began entering the hall one by one. Some were from the Qiao Family, while others were the two Golden Core disciples sent by Yun Mi Xue to gather information. Coincidentally, these two were known to Yan Zhu Guang. One was Chu Ning Yan, who had accompanied Yun Mi Xue to visit Yi Miao Sect and provided Yan Zhu Guang a Yu Lu Dan for healing. The other was Yun Chang Yue, who had killed He Sheng. Yun Chang Yue was the primary reason Yan Zhu Guang had urgently left Feng Hua Immortal Sect to find Yun Mi Xue. "Elder Sister," they greeted Yun Mi Xue with a bow. Yun Mi Xue nodded, "Thank you, junior sisters, for your hard work." Only after they greeted Yun Mi Xue did they turn to Yan Zhu Guang. Being a regular inner sect disciple, she addressed the titled disciples with respect, "Greetings to Gentle Sword Fairy and Jade Hall Fairy." Yun Chang Yue, resembling Yun Mi Xue but lacking her cold demeanor, replied with a familiar warmth, "No need for formality, Zhuguang. I didn't expect to find you here. Were you looking for my sister?" Yan Zhu Guang smiled, "I was training here and was fortunate to encounter Elder Sister." "What a coincidence," Yun Chang Yue said, "when we left the sect, you were just a child. Now you've grown into a fine young lady. I promised you a greeting gift, which you haven't yet received—that was my oversight." Chu Ning Yan glanced at Yan Zhu Guang, "The one leading people through the streets must have been you—using Elder Sister's influence for your own fun." Yan Zhu Guang scratched her head sheepishly, "Wasn't I helping Elder Sister by escorting them to the Dan Hall?" "That was less escorting and more indulging your own agenda," Yun Mi Xue commented. "I would never believe Elder Sister capable of such things," Chu Ning Yan remarked, looking at Yun Chang Yue, "Would you?" Yun Chang Yue smiled, "Indeed, it doesn't seem like my sister." "Elder Sister always indulges her," Chu Ning Yan remarked, casting a sidelong glance at Yan Zhu Guang. "But these people got what they deserved. You handled it well this time." "Alright," Yun Mi Xue placed her hands on Yan Zhu Guang's shoulders, "let's stop picking on her, and let's head inside instead of standing at the doorway talking." Other than the people Qiao Zhen Bang brought and the two titled disciples, most outside were just onlookers eager for entertainment. Chu Ning Yan cast a glance over her shoulder, and those bystanders scattered like startled birds. As they turned towards the house, they heard the furious shout of the branch leader of the Qiao Family. With a strike of his palm, he aimed at the four who were still in a daze. The illusory space set up by Yan Zhu Guang flickered and shattered under the impact. Qiao Zhen Bang's attack, relentless, struck the four, immediately causing them to cough up blood. The two Qi Condensation stage old servants perished instantly. Awakened from the illusion and critically injured, Qiu Qiao and Zhang Gui suddenly became aware of their plight, confused by the situation before them. They had no idea what had transpired. One had been living a dream in the illusion, and the other was suffering a nightmare. But once the illusion shattered, and they opened their eyes, they faced their greatest fear—the branch leader of the Qiao Family. "What did Qian Er ever do to you for you to harm her so?" Qiao Zhen Bang shouted fiercely. Yan Zhu Guang stood aside, amused at the unfolding spectacle.