Chapter 71 – Fifth Rank Yuan Yang Fruit
Once the words had left her mouth, she despised herself for acting so servile to curry favour. She didn’t do anything wrong, why should she have to lower herself to acknowledge her supposed mistake!
Nangong Yu’s expression lightened slightly as he released a faint laugh, “In the future, if you repeat your mistake, this King will certainly not forgive you easily.”
Hexi was scared by those luminous eyes, they seemed to have yet another deep meaning in their gaze as they watched her. Without waiting for her to retort, she heard Nangong Yu continue speaking.
“Let’s go, there’s some distance from here to our destination, we’re talking while walking.”
Nangong Yu’s cultivation base had already reached the stage where he was able to fly, however, Hexi was just an ordinary person. Furthermore, there’s a rule in Yan Jing city that forbids martial artists from large scale fights, as well as an order banning them from disturbing people by flying in the air.
Therefore, the two of them walked side by side as they leisurely exited the tea house into the street.
Nangong Yu looked tall and handsome, graceful and outstanding, while Hexi looked elegant and refined, a pure and bright youth. The two of them walking together naturally became a grand view, able to attract the attention of all living things.
Passers-by who were coming and going occasionally turned their heads as they walked by them, their stunned gazes firmly attached to the pair. It even was to the point where they would walk right into a wall, completely unaware of their surroundings.
“If you want to remove the seal on your muddled dantian, you need a Yang object. In this world, a Yang object is very difficult to find, but fortunately, the power of your seal has gradually weakened. Now you only need to find a fiery Yang object at its peak, that will do. The effect of a fifth rank Yuan Yang Fruit[1] is more than enough.”
“Yuan Yang Fruit?”
Even though Hexi knew almost nothing about this world, she did know about fifth rank spiritual plants. Their value was so high, that no matter how much yuan she has, she would still be unable to obtain one.
Nangong Yu saw her anxious face, and looked left and right before he continued speaking to her, “Do you know the Ouyang family?”
Hexi’s expression stiffened, and shaking her head, she whispered, “I didn’t even know you were the famous Hell King, how can I know who the Ouyang family is.”
Nangong Yu leaned his head closer as he looked at her, saying meaningfully, “In the country of Jin Ling, the Ouyang family, Nalan family, and Murong family, are the three great influential families. The Master of the Ouyang family, Ouyang Zhixiong, controls hundreds of thousands of troops and horses, and was bestowed the title of the mighty General. It could be said that no one in Yan Jing city doesn’t know who he is.”
Hexi grew flustered under his gaze, and quickly said, “What does all this have to do with me?”
Nangong Yu slightly laughed, “Although fifth rank spiritual plants aren’t regarded as high level, but because of the Yuan Yang Fruit’s particular attribute, they are very rare. It just so happens that Ouyang Zhixiong has two Yuan Yang Fruit in his hands.”
Hexi’s eyes suddenly brightened, then immediately after, she frowned, “Since Yuan Yang Fruit is so precious, and Ouyang Zhixiong a famous general, how could it be possible for him to easily sell Yuan Yang Fruit to me?”
Not to mention, she couldn’t afford to buy such a precious thing!
“Of course he won’t sell it.” Nangong Yu shook his head, “However, Ouyang Zhixiong only has one son, Ouyang Haoxuan. He was considered a genius amongst his peers, as at only twenty six years old, his cultivation base had already reached Gold Core stage. Unfortunately, a year ago, when he was cultivating in Magical Beast forest, he was attacked, and not only was his cultivation base completely crippled, even the muscles and tendons throughout his body were severed. Ouyang Zhixiong had invited doctors from throughout Jin Ling, even seeking help from the Doctors Association, but he still couldn’t find anyone capable of treating Ouyang Haoxuan’s illness.”
“Ouyang Haoxuan is the only direct bloodline descendant of the Ouyang family, so if he dies, Ouyang Zhixiong’s position as the family’s Master will likely fall to a distant relative. Therefore, Ouyang Haoxuan’s illness isn’t limited to his own life and death, it also affects the fate of the whole Ouyang family. You tell me, which would be more important, two insignificant Yuan Yang Fruit, or the fate of the Ouyang family?”
Chapter 72 – Ouyang Manor
Hexi was stunned after hearing that, and after quite a while, she finally murmured, “You taking me to Ouyang Manor, is it because you want me to cure Ouyang Haoxuan’s illness?”
“What? You don’t have any confidence you’ll be able to do it?” Nangong Yu smiled sarcastically, “If you don’t have the ability to cure Ouyang Haoxuan’s illness, we better return home now, before it’s too late. Afterwards I’ll...” Just find another Yuan Yang Fruit for you.
Nangong Yu’s implications were barely spoken, yet Hexi had already raised her eyebrows, her elegant face filled with confidence as she proudly asked, “Who said I didn’t have any confidence? I can’t cure a mere meridian fracture?”
As the girl disguised as a youth said these haughty words, her beautiful phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, bursting with a silvery purple light.
Those dazzling eyes were like a whirlpool, firmly attracting Nangong Yu’s attention.
Curiously extending his hand, he gently held Hexi’s wrist as he softly asked, “Yesterday, I sent my people to give you medicine, have you used it?”
Finished asking, he lifted Hexi’s sleeve to see her arm.
Who knew that he had asked the wrong question, as once he asked it, Hexi recalled the unpleasant experience from last night. Her expression cold, she quickly withdrew her hand.
“Don’t trouble yourself. Just a small insignificant injury means nothing to me.”
That’s right, whether it’s the Hexi of her previous life, or the Nalan Hexi from this present life, she has long since become accustomed to these types of physical injuries, so they meant nothing. She has always managed everything on her own, so she doesn’t need concern from other people now.
Nangong Yu’s eyes darkened, wanting to argue with her, but seeing her stubborn face he sighed, secretly transmitting his voice into her mind instead, “Remember, don’t reveal your identity as Nalan Hexi. Nowadays, Ouyang family and Nalan family hate each other to the bone. If they knew of your identity, it’s unknown whether we would be able to get the Yuan Yang Fruit or not.”
Hexi frowned, and just when she was about to ask what grudges the two families held, Nangong Yu softly interrupted, “We’ve arrived.”
***
Ouyang Manor.
At this moment, in Ouyang Haoxuan’s room, the door and windows were tightly closed, the entire room circulating a strong medicinal smell. The air was stale, making people feel nauseous.
The inside of the room was filled with specks of candle light, also several priceless night pearls. But due to the lack of sunshine, the room was still pitch black, carrying an oppressive feeling that made a person feel suffocated.
Currently, Madam Ouyang sat on the short couch beside the bed, her hair messy, eyes red and swollen, with medicine stains not yet wiped up on her clothes.
She watched her son on the bed who had been tortured like a puppet, begging while crying grievously, “Haoxuan, Mother begs you to obediently take your medicine, all right? If you don’t take these medicines, your five viscera and six bowels will soon become exhausted and you’ll die.”
On the bed, Ouyang Haoxuan’s face was dejected, his beard had grown long and unkempt, making him look ragged, while his eyes were sunken in. His entire person was brimming with a depressed aura of one nearing death.
He laughed loudly when he heard what was said, his hoarse voice carrying despair, “Mother, I also beg you, just let me die? Living without dignity like this, without the strength to even commit suicide, then what’s the point of being alive? It’s better to kill me, let me die a clean death!”
Heard that, Madam Ouyang’s crying became even more grievous, and throwing herself on the edge of the bed, she grabbed her son’s hand, murmuring, “Xuan Er, your Father has already gone to seek help from the Doctors Association, searching all lands under the heavens for good medicine. In this world, there will inevitably be a person who will be able to cure you, you can’t give up now.”
“Mother, you mustn’t deceive me and yourself again!” Ouyang Haoxuan’s throat issued a gurgling noise, like a dying old woman’s low cough, “Even Nalan Zhengze has come and seen me but couldn’t cure me, I absolutely can’t be cured...in this lifetime, I’ve been destined to an early end. Mother, just let me die, okay?”
Chapter 73 – Ouyang Haoxuan’s Despair
“Mother only has you, this one child!” Madam Ouyang wailed, grabbing Ouyang Haoxuan’s hands, she didn’t want to let go, “If you die, what about Mother? What about your Father? Xuan Er, those people who harmed you still haven’t received retribution, and now that Ouyang family’s relatives are eager for you to die, are you truly willing? To die cowardly like this, are you in such a rush for your parents to be so full of sorrow and hatred?!!”
Ouyang Haoxuan stayed expressionless, his blank eyes projecting his despair while unwilling tears gathered.
Previously, he was Ouyang family’s most dazzling genius. Other people looked up to him, envied him, admired him, he was the pride of his parents, he was also Ouyang family’s future hope.
However, in the blink of an eye, that genius had crumbled into dust. The fine jade was covered in dust and shattered into hundreds of pieces, his cultivation base and body becoming crippled, turning him into a person who couldn’t even take care himself. Everyday, besides lying down on the bed, he couldn’t do anything. He even needed other people’s hands to help him eat, to avoid the food spilling.
He has been restricted to laying down in this dark and stale smelling room for more than a year already. In this one year, he has lost all his pride, lost his dignity, and lost his will to live. Everyday, he only longed to die quickly, rather than live life like a dead person.
However, his Mother’s words ignited the hatred and wrath lurking deep down in his heart.
Those black dressed people that schemed against him in the Magical Beast forest, those scums that dragged him into a trap, he still hasn’t personally taken revenge, personally making them pay a debt of blood with blood. How can he be willing to die! How can he be willing to give up like this!
Inside the room, brimming with Madam Ouyang’s weeping sounds, occasionally mixed with Ouyang Haoxuan’s destitute beast like yells, the atmosphere was permeated with despair, enough that it could make a person’s heart grieve.
Just at this moment, the room’s door was suddenly pushed open, and Ouyang Zhixiong entered with large steps. His face was devoid of the usual anxiousness, instead, his eyes shined with astonishment, “Madam, quickly! Quickly help Haoxuan to tidy up! The Genius Doctor has arrived, he will immediately come to give medical treatment to Haoxuan.”
Madam Ouyang startled, wiping the tears from her eyes as she asked, “Genius Doctor? Could it be an Elder you’ve invited from the Doctors Association?”
Ouyang Zhixiong shook his head, “All the Elders from the Doctors Association are mysterious, their whereabouts uncertain, how could I find them in such a short time. However, this time the one I’ve found, even though he’s not an eighth rank doctor, his medical skill has reached perfection. Believe me, he will certainly be able to save Haoxuan.”
Madam Ouyang’s eyes shined, and with a trembling voice she asked, “Re...really? My Lord, you’ve truly found a person who is able to save Haoxuan?”
“Father, you don’t have to waste your energy.” Lying on the bed, Ouyang Haoxuan remained unmoved in the slightest. Instead, the expression on his face became more mournful, “Didn’t all the doctors that previously come to Ouyang Manor say that I would live, but that my muscles and bones were dead, resulting in how I am now?”
His mouth opened a crack, and chuckling, a sinister expression spread across his face, “Every one of them fled after taking my pulse, especially Jin Ling country’s number one majestic, highly skilled doctor, Nalan Zhengze. After he diagnosed me as incurable, he unexpectedly withdrew my engagement between our Ouyang family and his Nalan family. Even more, the news that I had become a crippled person spread everywhere, making me a laughingstock throughout Jin Ling. Hahaha...indeed, he’s the country’s highly skilled doctor, a very good doctor!”
When he mentioned the Nalan family, Ouyang Zhixiong and Madam Ouyang right away started gnashing their teeth with loathing.
Because of their political connections, and because of Madam Ouyang and Madam Nalan’s handkerchief friendship, the two families had made an agreement for Ouyang Haoxuan and the Second Miss, Nalan Feixue, to marry when he was of marriageable age.
Chapter 74 – Genius Doctor Is Your Master?
Previously, the graceful Ouyang Haoxuan who was handsome, talented, and outstanding, was a match to Nalan Feixue who was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage. Nevertheless, the Ouyang family had still acknowledged this marriage, including the Nalan family, who had regarded it as a decent marriage.
But who would have thought, that once Ouyang Haoxuan faced difficulties, the Nalan family would turn out to be such hostile people. Refusing to acknowledge the marriage, and then spreading Ouyang Haoxuan’s miserable condition to the public.
Ouyang Haoxuan was once a dazzling star, and now that he had fallen into the mud, naturally, the people who had originally envied him, now threw stones at him, rejoicing in his misfortune.
Now branch relatives from the Ouyang family were covetously eyeing the position of the family’s Master. Even Nalan Feixue’s people that had once admired him came to their door just to sneer at Ouyang Haoxuan. Now that he has been become a toad that can’t climb up from a mud pit, they go so far as to dare clamour around Nalan Feixue, thinking of her as a swan.
Afterwards, the Ouyang family had found out that it was Nalan Feixue and Madam Nalan who had spread those rumours on purpose. This left the Ouyang family no choice but to break the engagement, making everyone focus on Ouyang Haoxuan’s decline. No one paid any attention to the Nalan family’s ungratefulness over renouncing the alliance contract.
Due to these events, the Ouyang family hated the Nalan family to the bone. Especially the vicious and shameless Nalan Feixue, they were itching to tear her apart.
Ouyang Zhixiong started becoming angry, but seeing his son’s grief filled appearance, he couldn’t help but feel sad, his voice soft as he said, “Haoxuan, you are our Ouyang family’s hope, how can you say you want to give up? Father guarantees that this time’s Genius Doctor and the previous ones are different. Father personally saw him cure a person with broken meridians, that person is now healthy and able to walk. Believe me, he will certainly be able to cure you.”
Madam Ouyang was surprised and happy after hearing this, her voice raised in excitement, “My Lord, was what you just said true?”
“Of course it’s true.” Ouyang Zhixiong said, “Yesterday, when I was with His Highness, Hell King, together we saw that Genius Doctor save a person. His Highness, Hell King, and him are acquaintances, it’s absolutely not false!”
Madam Ouyang suddenly started crying with joy, wiping her tears as she said, “Haoxuan, Haoxuan! Did you hear that, you can be saved, you can be saved! Quick...quickly call someone to come help Young Master tidy up, invite the Genius Doctor to come in.”
Ouyang Haoxuan’s eyes brightened, but immediately after, they once again became gloomy.
It’s not that he didn’t want to be cured, it’s just that he had experienced happiness turn to disappointment for more than a year already. It caused the little hope he had carried to long be extinguished, changing it into a deep despair.
***
The moment Hexi walked into Ouyang Haoxuan’s room, she sensed depression, deathly silence, darkness, and the intense smell of medicine.
Madam Ouyang stared blankly when she saw Hexi, the light of hope in her eyes suddenly extinguishing, transforming into confusion and deep disappointment.
She didn’t think that this so called Genius Doctor would actually be a youth with red lips and white teeth, who looked weak and without any strength. He didn’t have the slightest resemblance to a high level doctor, they normally have the appearance of a sage.
However, Madam Ouyang was unwilling to give up and couldn’t help but ask, “This Young Master, may I ask, is the Genius Doctor your Master? Is it possible to invite him to come save my family’s Haoxuan?”
Ouyang Zhixiong’s complexion changed, he glanced at the smile that wasn’t a smile on the face of His Highness, Hell King, and quickly took a step forward to stop Madam Ouyang, “Madam, don’t talk recklessly, this is the exceptionally talented young Genius Doctor.”
Madam Ouyang jumped in shock, and as her heart brimmed with despair and disappointment, tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.
Hexi had long become accustomed to this kind of situation, where she was judged by her appearance. Previously, although her medical skills were high, they were often to used to kill people, not save people. But even then, there is no doctor who wouldn’t get angry from not being trusted. So as a result, instead of becoming unwilling, her gaze coldly swept past the Ouyang couple before she then walked to the front of the bed.
Chapter 75 – If It Can Be Treated?
The ambience in the room was already heavy and gloomy, yet on the bed, it seemed to gather a hundred fold.
The strong smell of medicine mixed together with a sour, mouldy smell, as if it was trying to create the world’s gloomiest atmosphere.
Ouyang Haoxuan had been lying down in this kind of dark room. His features cold, his skin appearing a pale ashen colour, while his eyes were bloodshot in deep set sockets.
At this time, these eyes were fixedly staring at her, not a trace of hope visible, only endless darkness filled with coldness and despair.
Obviously, compared to Wu Qi, this person’s condition was more severe, regardless of whether it was his body or his spirit.
Hexi focused, grabbing his wrist to take his pulse.
Once she took his pulse, her eyebrows furrowed.
Just like she thought, Ouyang Haoxuan’s illness, compared to Wu Qi’s, was several times more severe.
The meridians throughout his body appeared to be fractured, while several fractures were in extremely crucial places. Once they were severed, forget about only losing spiritual power, just normally sitting or standing up to walk would be unachievable.
And most importantly, there was the trace of a highly toxic poison within Ouyang Haoxuan’s body, causing his meridians to wither day by day. The poison that resided in his body was the kind that if he attempted to use his internal energy, the poison would feed off it, gradually increasing and spreading.
So although fractured meridians would cause the body to be unable to operate and cultivate, a martial artist used their internal energy to live, how could they stop using that? Thus, this poison would keep accumulating until it spread throughout the body, eventually entering the dantian.
Hexi didn’t know what kind of poison it was, but she thought that the person who used this poison to sever his meridians was extremely sinister.
That person not only wanted to make Ouyang Haoxuan fall, but wanted to make him suffer endlessly painful torture before he died.
Now, Ouyang Haoxuan’s meridians were already withered, close to the extent of being completely blocked. If it was just a few days later, perhaps even she would have been unable to do anything about it.
As he laid on the bed, Ouyang Haoxuan saw the youth’s grave face, causing him to clench his hands for a moment without loosening them. He couldn’t help but sneer, and with a hiss in his voice said, “Don’t waste your energy, since you’re unable to treat me then you should quickly get lost, don’t come again to Ouyang Manor to swindle us.”
At this moment, Hexi had already finished taking his pulse. Withdrawing her hands while looking at the man’s face filled with anger, she laughed coldly, “Oh? Then if I can treat you?”
Ouyang Haoxuan was speechless, his expression sluggish as he felt himself being looked at by those cold eyes, his entire body freezing.
Ouyang Zhixiong quickly said, “Genius Doctor Xi, as long as you’re able to cure my son, my Ouyang family is willing to agree to any of your conditions.”
Hexi tapped her fingers on the table, then turned her head to look around, and suddenly, in a heavy voice said, “Open all the windows, remove this thick bed sheet, and extinguish all the candles. I need this room to be bright with daylight.”
Madam Ouyang and Ouyang Zhixiong jumped in shock.
Madam Ouyang immediately crying out in fear, “Absolutely not, ever since Haoxuan fell ill, with only a slight breeze and sunshine, his whole body will ache incessantly and spasm as dark spots appear on his skin. You...are you really a Genius Doctor, could it be that you want to kill my Xuan Er?”
At this time, even Ouyang Zhixiong was bewildered, not daring to speak.
However, Hexi only sneered, and suddenly taking out a medicinal pill, she stuffed it into Ouyang Haoxuan’s mouth, “I assure you, even when he is blown by the wind or exposed to the sun, he’ll be all right. You can all either choose to believe in what I’m doing, or just find someone better qualified than me.”