62 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

Chapter 62 The restoration of the Tianxin Lotus Seed was far from complete. Although Su Qian Er had stopped bleeding, the pain in her body did not cease; instead, it pierced her to her core, growing ever more excruciating. This is no exaggeration. She felt like her bones, beginning from the spine, were shattering inch by inch, grinding into dust under some mysterious force. Su Qian Er even pondered whether she should abandon her desire for cultivation. Perhaps dying outright would be a relief. Sweat blurred her vision, and her mind was a blank slate owing to the pain. A voice whispered in her ear, urging her not to succumb to sleep but to endure until the end, assuring her that her body would heal in time. She thought, as immense as the pain is now, she couldn't fall asleep even if she wanted to. More terrifying than the fractures was the regeneration. Where her bones once shattered, new growth filled the void, a feeling that drove her mad with its itching sensation akin to fresh flesh forming anew. Through hazy eyes, Su Qian Er glanced at the two women attending at her bedside. Were it not for their earnest demeanor, she might have suspected malice on their part. Was she too naive to trust these two? Seeing Su Qian Er suffer so, Yun Mi Xue felt a pang of remorse. She had not anticipated the Tianxin Lotus Seed's restoration of innate flaws to be so agonizing. "This is a complete restructuring of her body," Yan Zhu Guang, who kept a constant watch on Su Qian Er, remarked. Such an all-encompassing transformation was indeed alarming. "The current pain is temporary. Endure it, and a new life awaits." Su Qian Er took his words in, a bitter thought forming slowly. It's easy to speak of watching someone else suffer—why not try it himself? She felt she might just be in agony until her last breath. Su Qian Er found no consolation in his words; if anything, it irked her even more that he spoke so nonchalantly. In her pain-induced haze, she slipped into a fugue of riddled thoughts. Yan Zhu Guang was unaware of Su Qian Er's resentment born from agony. Even if he knew, he wouldn't mind. What did he not understand? In a past life, he endured far worse. Blood and bone exchanges were nothing to fear. For Yan Zhu Guang, anything that advanced his cultivation was worth a bit of pain. Was Su Qian Er so coddled that she feared a touch of hardship? The system felt some pity for Su Qian Er, having witnessed how brutally its host treated his own body without mercy. Her current suffering might not even register as worthy of empathy in his eyes. The restoration took a considerable time, long enough that the Qiao Family came to inquire. It was inevitable that secrecy would invite suspicion; Su Qian Er had already consumed the Tianxin Lotus Seed, leaving the Qiao Family unable to intervene. Yun Mi Xue therefore confided in them. The Qiao Family members couldn't help but investigate, finding Su Qian Er laboring under pain yet clearly improving physically. They remained skeptical of Yun Mi Xue and Yan Zhu Guang despite apparent progress. Some stayed to keep vigil with them, while others sent word to Qiao Zhen Bang. Yun Mi Xue and Yan Zhu Guang's actions by delivering medicine first and speaking later caught the Qiao Family off guard. However, as they indeed acted from goodwill and, apart from looking pained, Su Qian Er exhibited no other irregularities, they grudgingly acquiesced. Yet, when asked what spiritual medicine they gave Su Qian Er, Yun Mi Xue remained silent while Yan Zhu Guang feigned ignorance, claiming it was a request from an old friend, knowing nothing more. This left the Qiao Family in a bind. They needed to confirm what she ingested. Su Qian Er had consumed innumerable spiritual elixirs since childhood to no effect, yet somehow, this one produced results? Persistent in their concern over Su Qian Er's medicine, Yan Zhu Guang remained unfazed, stubbornly refusing to divulge, while Yun Mi Xue silently guarded Yan Zhu Guang, leading to a stalemate. Though formidable, only the upper echelons of the Qiao main family and the Fenghua Celestial Sect spoke on equal terms. Yun Mi Xue, a titled disciple of the Fenghua Celestial Sect, and Yan Zhu Guang, a sect insider, commanded more respect than those present from the Qiao Family. Despite the inappropriateness of exerting dominance in another's house, they acted under Su Qian Er's father's request, and as Su Qian Er consented to the medicine, Yun Mi Xue felt compelled to protect Yan Zhu Guang's secret using her authority. Despite their disgruntlement, the Qiao Family, wrangling with hardships, had little choice but to defer to the authority of the Fenghua duo, reluctant as they were. An uneasy tension lingered until Su Qian Er’s pain eased, thawing the chilly stalemate. With a gentle moan, Su Qian Er sat up abruptly. That sudden surge of vigor startled everyone in the room. Ignoring the unusual atmosphere, she grabbed the bedding, crudely wiping away grime purged from her body's transformation. Raising her now fair arms for a look, she clenched her fists and flexed her muscles, brimming with delight. She leapt from the bed, bouncing with newfound energy, "I'm healed, I'm truly healed!" Su Qian Er jubilantly announced to all, and Yan Zhu Guang, seeing her dirty appearance, kindly offered a purification talisman. Without hesitation, she slapped the talisman onto her body, which cleansed her and her clothes. In high spirits, she jumped to Yan Zhu Guang's side, grasping his hand, "Thank you, Yan Zhu." Pausing, she turned to Yun Mi Xue, "And thank you, Senior Yun." Yun Mi Xue glanced at the hands holding Yan Zhu Guang's, and seeing his covert attempt to retract them, she smiled at Su Qian Er, "No thanks needed, Su. We merely fulfilled an old friend's request, and the medicine wasn't ours, but from Zhu Guang." Shifting her gaze back to Yan Zhu Guang, Su Qian Er earnestly thanked him, "Thank you, Yan Zhu. I can feel it—I can start cultivating now. You have no idea what this means to me." It was as if she were made of water; her eyes brimmed with tears about to overflow. Yan Zhu Guang, caught in her grip, couldn't forcefully pull away. Faced with her tearful gaze, he was at a loss. As Su Qian Er repeatedly thanked him, Yan Zhu Guang comforted her to no avail, finally seeking help from Yun Mi Xue. Yun Mi Xue initially deemed Su Qian Er's grasp inappropriate but found it amusing to see the usually fearless Yan Zhu Guang so flustered. A little troublemaker unafraid of anything, thwarted by tears; Yun Mi Xue noted his vulnerability with interest. Nonetheless, she smoothly interceded, telling Su Qian Er, "Now restored to health, perhaps you should inform the Qiao Family head. He will surely be delighted." Su Qian Er paused, releasing Yan Zhu Guang's hand, "Yes, I should tell Grandpa. He'll be very happy." Finally freed, Yan Zhu Guang sighed with relief. The system giggled into its hand, rolling about in its digital space to contain its laughter, lest its mirth caused the host to be exasperated. Witnessing its host's rare discomfort was strangely satisfying! Sidling closer to Yun Mi Xue, Yan Zhu Guang prepared to take cover behind his senior should Su Qian Er reach for him again. Yun Mi Xue, noticing his cautious demeanor, couldn't help but smile, shifting slightly to accommodate him. Su Qian Er turned to the Qiao Family members, who had remained silent aside from expressing concern since her recovery, "I need to send word to Grandpa. Might I trouble you, my siblings, for a favor?" One of them responded, "We already informed the family head, who will arrive shortly." Su Qian Er frowned, "I want to inform Grandpa myself." "You currently cannot inscribe messages onto a talisman, Miss." "Can't you find another way?" Su Qian Er worried her sleeve, "I simply wish to personally tell Grandpa, just a few words." "What does Qian Er wish to tell me?" The door creaked open as Qiao Zhen Bang entered, delight lighting his face at seeing a healthier Su Qian Er, "Qian Er, you're well?" Su Qian Er moved to his side, nodding, "Yes, Grandpa, look, I've recovered." Qiao Zhen Bang grasped Su Qian Er's wrist, using his spiritual sense to assess her internal condition. Discovering that her previously deficient body was now completely restored, he was deeply moved. He patted her shoulders with both hands, his voice filled with emotion, "Good, good, very good!" They shared a moment of joy before Qiao Zhen Bang turned to Yan Zhu Guang and Yun Mi Xue with an apologetic tone, "In my excitement, I neglected you both. My apologies." "Thank you for the kindness of your gifted medicine." Qiao Zhen Bang bowed in gratitude to both Yun Mi Xue and Yan Zhu Guang. The two deftly sidestepped his bow in unspoken harmony. Yun Mi Xue replied, "There's no need for that, Master Qiao." Yan Zhu Guang added, "It's enough that Miss Su has recovered." Standing upright again, Qiao Zhen Bang's expression grew hesitant. He bowed once more to Yun Mi Xue, speaking with a touch of reluctance, "I have an impertinent request, now that Qian Er's health is restored, I must boldly address it." "You know our Qiao Family is currently facing turbulent times. With Qian Er's cultivation delayed by her previous condition for over a decade, I cannot rest easy if she stays here, needing constant supervision." "Therefore, I humbly ask if Senior Yun would take Qian Er to Fenghua Celestial Sect. Though her previous health prevented her from cultivating, she possesses a superior heavenly spiritual root, a talent that won't disgrace your sect now that she is well." As Qiao Zhen Bang finished, Yan Zhu Guang frowned. He already considered the enigmatic Su Qian Er a nuisance—avoiding her was paramount. To place her in Fenghua Celestial Sect was unthinkable! "This..." Yun Mi Xue shared similar reservations. Unlike Yan Zhu Guang, Su Qian Er was entwined with the Qiao Family, which wasn’t directly affiliated with Fenghua Celestial Sect, making her admittance unconventional. However, Su Qian Er's true identity as the daughter of the former sect leader of Fenghua Celestial Sect added complexity. By rights, she ought to be part of the sect... While Yan Zhu Guang resisted and Yun Mi Xue hesitated, Su Qian Er herself decisively and loudly refused: "Grandpa! I don’t want to go to Fenghua Celestial Sect!"