45 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

**Chapter 45** Qiu Qiao opened his mouth, intending to speak, but ended up coughing up a large mouthful of blood, staining the front of his clothes a deep red. His gaze met with Su Qian Er's, eyes filled with a thousand unspoken words directed at her. "You don't need to make excuses anymore—I don't want to hear them," Su Qian Er said, turning her head away and covering her ears. She addressed Qiao Zhen Bang, "Grandfather, I don't want to see them anymore." Qiao Zhen Bang was exuding a fearsome aura, looking every bit intimidating as he glared at Qiu Qiao, hoping to hear what he had to say. But upon hearing Su Qian Er's words, he immediately responded, "All right, dear, Grandpa will make sure he can’t ever appear before you again." "My dear Qian Er, Grandpa will find you a good husband next time, alright?" Qiao Zhen Bang comforted Su Qian Er as he raised his palm high, ready to strike at Qiu Qiao. Qiu Qiao was terrified, a fierce determination flashing in his eyes as he glanced at Yan Zhu Guang out of the corner of his eye. "Wait, Master Qiao, I have something important to say." Qiao Zhen Bang scoffed coldly, "Qian Er doesn't want to hear any more from you, and you need not expect to argue your way out of this with me. If you dared to harm Qian Er, you should've anticipated today's consequences." "Petty person." A formidable force gathered in Qiao Zhen Bang's palm, and Qiu Qiao paled at the sight. "Don't kill me—I know." He opened his mouth wide, his throat moving, yet he found himself suddenly mute, unable to produce any sound. What was happening? Why couldn't he speak? Qiu Qiao wanted to reveal the secret realm and blueprint to exchange for his life. He knew that the blueprint was secretly left to Su Qian Er by her grandfather, and she hadn't told Qiao Zhen Bang about it, which was why Qiao Zhen Bang was unaware of its existence. This was also the reason he had plotted against Su Qian Er to seize the blueprint. Now that Su Qian Er had handed the blueprint to that woman, if Qiao Zhen Bang killed him, the treasures of the secret realm would truly fall into Yan Zhu Guang's hands. Qiu Qiao was unwilling. He had gone to great lengths, even going so far as to kill his fiancée, Su Qian Er, all for that blueprint. Yet, instead of achieving his goal, he had been caught. Su Qian Er was still alive, yet he was about to die. How could he reconcile with that? Yan Zhu Guang had obtained so easily what he had strived for so desperately. Why should it be so? What he could not obtain, no one else should easily acquire. As long as he revealed the secret realm, what could Yan Zhu Guang rely on, even with a Nascent Soul stage backer? The Qiao family supporting Qiao Zhen Bang wouldn't easily let her keep the blueprint. But why, despite wanting to tell Qiao Zhen Bang about the secret realm, could he suddenly not utter a word? If he couldn't offer something substantial, he would lose his life. He was certain that Qiao Zhen Bang would show no mercy. Qiu Qiao had not anticipated finding himself in this predicament. He had considered the possibility of his actions against Su Qian Er being discovered but hadn't imagined that he would have no escape route and that today marked his inevitable demise. Ultimately, it was all because of Su Qian Er. Qiu Qiao thought she had changed, become a stranger. When Qiu Qiao looked into her eyes earlier, he felt she was a different person. Despite the hatred in her gaze, it was as if she was looking through him at someone else. Who else could she possibly see? If it were the former Su Qian Er, Qiu Qiao was confident he could gain her forgiveness and her plea on his behalf. Yet with the current Su Qian Er, he knew that anything he attempted would be in vain. Hence, as Qiao Zhen Bang prepared to make his move, in that fleeting moment, Qiu Qiao's mind raced, and he completely relinquished any hope of relying on Su Qian Er, focusing instead on other ways to escape. Right, Yan Zhu Guang—although he couldn't speak, and his spiritual sense was impeded by his injuries, rendering him unable to voice the secret realm's whereabouts to stop Qiao Zhen Bang, Yan Zhu Guang remained an option. He hadn't disclosed the exact location of the secret realm to her yet, and surely Yan Zhu Guang wouldn't allow them to kill him so easily. With this thought, Qiu Qiao turned his head, full of anticipation, looking to the doorway where Yan Zhu Guang stood, hoping she would speak to save him. Yet, unexpectedly, Yan Zhu Guang gazed at him with a look of amusement, simply spectating and with no intention to intervene. For reasons unbeknownst to Qiu Qiao, the thought suddenly crossed his mind: perhaps he couldn't reveal the secret of the realm because this woman had done something to him. At that very moment, Yan Zhu Guang curled her lips, seemingly confirming to him that yes, she had indeed interfered. Qiu Qiao's eyes widened, his finger trembling as he tried to point at Yan Zhu Guang, wishing to loudly denounce this treacherous woman to everyone, but the next instant, Qiao Zhen Bang's palm descended. With a loud crash, blood streamed from Qiu Qiao's orifices, and he fell backward, dying with his eyes open, still in a pointing position. His manager followed closely in his footsteps. Yan Zhu Guang watched with some regret; she had even taken the trouble to use an illusion spell to sow discord among Qiu Qiao's subordinates, hoping to witness a scene of betrayal between master and servants. Yet Su Qian Er was so ruthless and Qiao Zhen Bang so decisive, he killed all four of them without hesitation. Yan Zhu Guang's gaze subtly fell on Su Qian Er, whose fiancé, whom she both loved and hated, had died, yet she seemed relieved. How intriguing. After Qiao Zhen Bang had dealt with the four, he turned to console Su Qian Er once more, but Su Qian Er merely lowered her eyes and remained silent. Yun Mi Xue withdrew her glance, bypassing the four corpses, and looked at Qiao Zhen Bang. "Master Qiao, it seems everything has been settled here." Qiao Zhen Bang snapped back to his senses, remembering the Nascent Soul expert he had overlooked. "I apologize for my rudeness earlier. May I ask if you are the renowned Yun Ancestor, Xianzong's Lian Ji Xianzi?" A ripping sound suddenly echoed in the confined space of the pill hall—small in reality, but now within a room filled with sharp-eared cultivators, it couldn't escape notice. Yan Zhu Guang's gaze had never left Su Qian Er. Hearing the sound, she lowered her eyes, seeing that Su Qian Er had torn her own sleeve. Dressed in fine fabric, even after enduring a chase, her clothes had remained merely disheveled but intact. Now, this untrained person had torn it—she must have used tremendous force. Yan Zhu Guang narrowed her eyes. The moment Su Qian Er tore her sleeve, she quickly glanced toward Yun Mi Xue, but upon seemingly seeing something frightening, she shuddered and bowed her head rapidly. Standing beside Yun Mi Xue, Yan Zhu Guang knew that Su Qian Er wasn't looking at her. She scanned the area out of her peripheral vision, noticing nothing unusual. What was wrong with her? Could something invisible to them have frightened her? Yan Zhu Guang etched this observation in her mind. No one paid much attention to her accidental tearing of the sleeve. Their focus wasn't on a physically weak, ordinary person, simply assuming she was internally conflicted and stirred by recent events about her fiancé. In response to Qiao Zhen Bang's inquiry, Yun Mi Xue nodded affirmatively and told him, "After everything that's happened, with Master Qiao by Miss Su's side, I feel assured." "Thank you for your concern, esteemed Yun. Had it not been for you, my granddaughter..." Qiao Zhen Bang sighed, "It is my poor judgment that led to Qian Er falling into a trap, making a spectacle for you to see." Yun Mi Xue shook her head. "None could have anticipated this," she explained. "However, Master Qiao, there is no need to thank me. The one who saved Miss Su was my junior sister, Yan Zhu Guang. She was the one who discovered Miss Su's whereabouts." Qiao Zhen Bang looked at Yan Zhu Guang behind Yun Mi Xue. "So it was this young lady." Yan Zhu Guang stated, "I encountered Miss Su midway on her journey to the Autumn Bright Pill Pavilion and was employed to escort her here. After delivering her safely, I had already left, but I ran into my senior sister on the road, who happened to be heading here as well, so I served as the guide." Yan Zhu Guang explained the process of rescuing Su Qian Er, only glossing over how she located her without elaborating. Qiao Zhen Bang's suspicion turned to reluctant belief, saying nothing further. "Thank you, Miss Yan, for your righteous support. Is there anything you require? If it's within my ability, I won't refuse." Yan Zhu Guang shook her head. "I helped Miss Su out of moral obligation, not seeking any reward. There's no need to do so." Qiao Zhen Bang was about to insist when Yan Zhu Guang added, "If Master Qiao wishes to fulfill a request, why not consult with my senior sister instead?" Yan Zhu Guang turned to Yun Mi Xue. "Do you have any requests, senior sister?" Yun Mi Xue shook her head. "No, Master Qiao needn't worry about it." "With such noble character, I cannot simply receive this aid for nothing," Qiao Zhen Bang paused, glancing between Chu Ning Yan and Yun Chang Yue, "Did you not seek to inquire about her grandfather?" Qiao Zhen Bang gazed at Su Qian Er, who kept her face buried against her collarbone, lost in thought. "Qian Er?" Su Qian Er trembled slightly, lifting her head in dazed confusion. Qiao Zhen Bang lovingly repeated his call, but Su Qian Er shook her head, "I know nothing about my grandfather. He never spoke of his matters to me." Qiao Zhen Bang nodded, apologetically addressing Yun Mi Xue, "I apologize, esteemed Yun. Qian Er's grandfather truly is like that. He travels extensively and rarely returns. Even when he visits Qian Er, it's only briefly. Although he cares very much for Qian Er, he doesn't share much about his own matters with her." Yun Mi Xue nodded in understanding, "Thank you, Miss Su, for informing us. If that's the case, we won't trouble you anymore, Master Qiao." Since there was no further information to gather and with Su Qian Er having family to rely on, there was no reason for them to stay. After all, the matters of the Autumn Bright Pill Pavilion were ultimately Qiao family's internal affairs, and it wouldn't be appropriate for outsiders to linger. Yun Mi Xue, leading Yan Zhu Guang and the others, took her leave from Qiao Zhen Bang. Despite being unable to reciprocate the favor, since Yun Mi Xue and Yan Zhu Guang declined any reward, Qiao Zhen Bang couldn't insist on them making requests. After the demise of Qiu Qiao and the others, there were still plenty of affairs to address, including the future of the Autumn Bright Pill Pavilion, which needed resolution, so Qiao Zhen Bang had no reason to delay. Thus, Yun Mi Xue led Yan Zhu Guang and the group away from the Autumn Bright Pill Pavilion. "Let's head to Tianyu City with senior sister," Yun Mi Xue said to Yan Zhu Guang. "I have some matters to discuss with you." Yan Zhu Guang quickly nodded, "Alright. I was concerned that with the conclusion of the Autumn Bright Pill Pavilion affair, senior sister might not take me along." Ideally, matters concerning the uncertain and suspicious Su Qian Er would end here and wouldn't pursue them further. Yun Mi Xue shook her head with a hint of helplessness, "Why would I not? Didn't I agree to let you assist?" "Senior sister," Chu Ning Yan looked at the two of them, curiosity evident in her gaze. Yun Mi Xue replied, "We will discuss the details once we're back in Tianyu City." With that, the four of them departed from Tan Ye City, heading towards Tianyu City.