Zhou Heng spoke with great modesty, "Young Master Xiao, it's a pleasure to et you. I am Zhou Heng, rely an insignificant rural doctor."
"Master Zhou must be extraordinary to have treated the second young miss," remarked Xiao Shaodong, noting that Zhou Heng's manner and martial prowess were far from ordinary.
"You flatter , it was re luck. Young Master Xiao is truly impressive, already a royal physician at such a young age," Zhou Heng continued humbly.
"Doctor Zhou, please just call Changyou." The formal title felt awkward to him.
Li Xia rolled her eyes at their verbal sparring and flattery. Li Hui was equally exasperated – was this really the ti for them to be complinting each other?
"Gentlen, could you please inform of Xia Xia's condition?" Li Hui interjected.
Xiao Changyou and Zhou Heng both looked at Li Xia, clearly waiting for her permission to speak. Li Hui turned to Li Xia, who sighed and explained her situation to him.
In simple terms, Li Xia's power and body were like a lake and its dam. As long as she didn't use this power, the water and dam remained in balance, coexisting peacefully for a ti. But when she used this power, it was like constantly adding water to the lake. Eventually, the dam would be unable to withstand the pressure and break. The consequences of that breach were obvious enough that Li Hui didn't need them spelled out.
"Is there a solution?" Li Hui knew that with Li Xia's personality, asking her not to use her power was impossible.
"I've developed a new prescription," Zhou Heng said, producing a list of ingredients.
Li Hui took it, noting many unfamiliar herbs. "I'll send people to search for these."
"I've already gathered most of the ingredients. We're only missing these last three," Zhou Heng said, pointing to the bottom of the list.
Xiao Changyou leaned in to look. "Thousand-year snow lotus and ten-thousand-year snow frog. The Precious Plant Pavilion has those."
This was exactly what Zhou Heng had been waiting to hear. "Thank you, Changyou."
"I can provide those two ingredients for you. But I have two requests," Xiao Changyou said, noting the intent gazes of Li Xia and the others. "First, I hope the second young miss can help gather herbs in the mountains. Second, I'd like Doctor Zhou to treat a patient for ."
Upon hearing Xiao Changyou's demands, Li Hui's expression darkened. "Xiao Changyou," he said sharply.
Xiao Changyou hurried to explain, "The final ingredient in this prescription, Purple Jade Ginseng, is also sothing I need. I suggested the second young miss gather it because it can only be touched by a maiden – n are forbidden from handling it."
Li Hui clearly didn't believe him. Zhou Heng, however, knew this to be true. "Purple Jade Ginseng is indeed more potent when gathered by a maiden."
"What nonsense is this?" Li Xia was skeptical. The idea of herb-gathering being gender-specific seed absurd to her. Such gender discrimination was unacceptable.
"It's true. dical texts record that the potency of Purple Jade Ginseng is halved when gathered by n," Xiao Changyou insisted, producing an ancestral dical text from his robes that detailed this information. He explained that Purple Jade Ginseng grew on cliff faces, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon as it matured.
"I'll go gather it," Li Xia agreed.
"Absolutely not," Li Hui objected, concerned about the dangers of the cliffs.
"Brother, don't worry. I promise I'll return safely," Li Xia said. Before anyone could react, she had already floated ten ters away, the dical text in hand.
"That little sorceress – her powers have grown again," Zhou Heng remarked, only to receive a death glare from his left. He turned to see Li Hui staring daggers at him. Zhou Heng wasn't afraid of Li Hui, but he could tell that Li Xia cared deeply for her family. If she found out he had offended her brother, Zhou Heng suspected he'd be lucky to escape with his life. He cleared his throat and turned to Xiao Changyou. "Tell about this patient."
As Xiao Changyou detailed the case, Zhou Heng set aside his earlier playfulness and listened intently, considering potential treatnts.
"Young Master, perhaps we should build up the fire," suggested Qing Zhu nervously. The sounds of wild beasts in the deep forest and the presence of over a dozen corpses nearby had unnerved the typically timid servant.
Chou Ming, Xu Dayong, Wang Fang, and Li Bing glanced at Xiao Changyou and Zhou Heng, still engrossed in discussion, before joining Si Zhu to build a fire. This would drive away the circling beasts and allow them to bury the bodies of the n in black.
They cut two bamboo poles and used them to boil water, which the group drank to replenish their fluids.
As dawn broke, Li Xia returned empty-handed. Xiao Changyou rushed forward anxiously. "Couldn't you find the location?"
"I found it, but it's not mature yet. I'll return tomorrow night," Li Xia said, handing the dical text back to Xiao Changyou.
"Let's head back," Li Hui said, his expression sowhat improved.
The group returned, with Li Hui accompanying Zhou Heng to Xiao Changyou's residence. Li Xia went back to her quarters alone, where Qiu Ling had been anxiously waiting all night. Seeing Li Xia push open the window, Qiu Ling sighed in relief. As Li Xia changed her clothes, Qiu Ling moved the sleeping Qiu Shui to the bed.
After changing, Li Xia lay down to rest. Qiu Shui awoke on the couch, seeing Qiu Ling standing guard by their mistress. Rembering the previous night, she realized she had fallen asleep while on watch. Sitting up, she said sheepishly, "Qiu Ling, thank you for taking over the night watch. Go and rest now, I'll take over here."
"Sister Qiu Shui, I'm not tired at all. I'll go wash the clothes our mistress changed out of last night," Qiu Ling said, gathering Li Xia's discarded garnts and leaving.
Qiu Shui, not wanting to leave Li Xia alone in the room, nodded. "Alright, but after you finish washing the clothes, go back to your room and rest. If anything needs to be done, have Qiu Chan do it."
"Understood," Qiu Ling agreed, carrying the clothes out of the courtyard. She saw Qiu Chan bringing breakfast. "Qiu Chan, how is our mistress doing?"
"She's much better. Sister Qiu Shui is watching over her," Qiu Ling replied.
"Qiu Ling, you should rest. I'll go relieve Sister Qiu Shui," Qiu Chan said, entering the courtyard with the food. Qiu Ling washed the clothes and then returned to her room to rest.
Early in the morning, a worried Li Xin ca to check on Li Xia. Though Li Xia looked sowhat better, Li Xin was still concerned and decided to stay ho to keep her company.
"Sister, I'm sick and can't go out. Go enjoy yourself on my behalf. Co back and tell all about the fun things you did," Li Xia urged Li Xin. Having not slept the night before, she only wanted to rest. If Li Xin stayed ho to keep her company, she'd likely just watch Li Xia sleep.
Hearing this, Li Xin understood that Li Xia didn't want her to worry, so she agreed to go out and enjoy herself for both of them.
After seeing Li Xin off, Li Xia slept for the entire day. That night, she changed her clothes and entered the forest. Having confird the location the previous night, Li Xia headed straight for her target. Arriving at the cliff, she saw the Purple Jade Ginseng growing midway up, emanating a soft glow in the moonlight. She carefully approached, moving aside the guardian beast, and harvested two portions of Purple Jade Ginseng, securing them in a jade box.
As she turned to leave, she heard the whistle of sothing cutting through the air. Li Xia leapt into the sky, effortlessly dodging the hidden weapon. Seeing Li Xia hovering in midair without any support, Luo Shan and his companions, hidden in the shadows, realized they had made a grave mistake. They had angered the wrong person.
Li Xia flung the group onto the cliff. "Who hired you?" she demanded.
Li Xia's determination strengthened upon hearing Luo Shan's "I don't know" response.
"You don't know?" she asked coldly.
"My lady, it won't happen again," Luo Shan pleaded carefully.
"There will be a next ti?" Li Xia's tone was indifferent, causing Luo Shan and his companions' hearts to grow colder.
"There won't be a next ti," Luo Shan hastily promised. He decided that once he returned, he would order Tian Yi Pavilion to stop accepting assassination contracts. They had finally taken on a high-paying job, only to encounter such a formidable opponent.
"Go and find out who placed the order," Li Xia commanded. Hearing this, Luo Shan felt a glimr of hope that his life would be spared.
"Rest assured, my lady. I will definitely uncover the truth," Luo Shan said, then fled in haste with his subordinates.
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