So what if I'm paralyzed!

Le Qianxue let a drop of blood fall into the medicine cauldron, added several more herbs, and began to refine the potion. Yuan Tianci happened to look over and saw Le Qianxue guarding the cauldron with both hands; soon, a faint glow radiated from it, seeming almost magical. No matter how many times Yuan Tianci witnessed this, he could not help but marvel, for it was indeed real—Le Qianxue possessed this unique talent, one no other could wield.

Yuan Tianci momentarily forgot his quest for the ancestral scroll, his gaze fixed on Le Qianxue. Time slipped by as he watched, and he suddenly realized she had already finished refining the medicine. Beads of sweat dotted Le Qianxue’s forehead; she took out the freshly formed pill and smiled gently.

She sighed in relief. “Thankfully, it worked.”

Without delay, she fed the pill to Zhan Lianjing, whose pallor was ashen and terrifying. Her hand touched his cheek, finding his skin cold, her expression grave, though she withdrew her hand soon after.

Le Qianxue could guess who was responsible for Zhan Lianjing’s injury, and her anger grew, stirring her desire to confront the culprit.

Yuan Tianci approached, and upon seeing Zhan Lianjing’s complexion, he knew the prince’s life was saved. He felt a surge of joy—Le Qianxue truly possessed the power to bring the dead back to life!

“How fortunate you came,” Yuan Tianci exclaimed. “Otherwise, I might not have been able to save him.”

Le Qianxue said nothing, her mind preoccupied with the mystery of how Zhan Lianjing came to be hurt.

“Qianxue, are you alright?” Yuan Tianci assumed she was exhausted and reached out to touch her forehead.

Le Qianxue brushed his hand aside. “I’m fine.”

She stood, gathered her belongings, and asked, “Did you find anything?”

Yuan Tianci shook his head. “Nothing at all. If that object is here, it must be hidden elsewhere.”

Le Qianxue acknowledged this—it made sense, though considering Zhan Lianjing’s temperament, it was unlikely.

“I have something to attend to; I’ll be leaving now,” she said.

“But his breath is still so weak—are you just going to leave?” Yuan Tianci protested.

“No need to worry. The medicine I gave him will reconnect his meridians. The assailant didn’t destroy his internal energy, and with his profound cultivation, he’ll recover fully within half a month,” Le Qianxue explained.

Yuan Tianci’s eyes widened in understanding. “So that’s how it is—your medicine is truly extraordinary.”

It was no surprise; Le Qianxue’s reputation as the Ghost Doctor was built upon her exceptional potions. Even her most basic remedies were worth a hundred taels of silver. The pill she had just made was infused with her own blood, making it both rare and powerful.

Le Qianxue took her things and said, “You stay and look after him. I must go.”

Yuan Tianci agreed, resigned to his role as Le Qianxue’s attendant, obeying her every command.

Le Qianxue left the chamber; outside, Hao Yue and Zhui Xing waited anxiously. Seeing her, they barely had time to ask before she said, “His Highness is safe now. Master Tianci is watching over him. I’m leaving.”

Hao Yue, tears in her eyes, nodded. They hurried inside to check on Zhan Lianjing’s condition.

Le Qianxue departed the prince’s residence. Though someone offered to escort her, she declined.

It was midnight; the streets lay empty and silent. Only the Thousand Buddha Pagoda was ablaze with light, its lamps never extinguished.

Le Qianxue arrived at the pagoda, initially blocked by guards, but after a brief standoff, the guards stepped aside. Master Wenzhi had learned of her arrival and sent word to allow her through.

Le Qianxue ascended to the tenth floor, where she found Master Wenzhi dressed in black, holding a jug of wine and drinking merrily.

She frowned. “So it was you! Why did you harm him?”

Master Wenzhi knew precisely what she meant, but was puzzled as to why Le Qianxue had come to demand an explanation. His sharp gaze swept over her.

“Girl, are you here to fight for his sake?” he asked.

“I’m simply curious!” Le Qianxue replied.

Indeed, Master Wenzhi was a monk, yet he had nearly taken a life—and there was a connection between him and Zhan Lianjing. Tonight, she wanted clarity.

Master Wenzhi stared at her, then chuckled. “That’s not how it sounds. If you were only curious, you wouldn’t be so angry. The way you look now, it’s as if I’ve killed your lover and you’ve come for revenge!”

Le Qianxue denied it at once. “Impossible! I’m just curious!”

Still, her heart murmured—she and Zhan Lianjing did share a bond, and with the matter of the ancestral scroll entwined, her urgency to uncover the truth grew stronger.

“Girl, anything is possible,” Master Wenzhi said after a pause. “As for matters between him and me, you would do well to stay out of it—pretend you know nothing. Whether he survives the night is another question.”

“He’ll live through the night, you needn’t worry,” Le Qianxue replied.

Master Wenzhi glanced at the items in her hand and the faint, unusual scent of medicine lingering about her, and realized what had happened.

“I underestimated you,” the master admitted.

It seemed the old legends were true. Was Zhan Lianjing truly destined for greatness? Yet he had lost the ancestral scroll—did he still deserve such fate?

While Master Wenzhi pondered, Le Qianxue asked, “I really want to know—why did you attack him? You must know his origins, don’t you?”

Master Wenzhi set down his wine. “Girl, this has nothing to do with you.”

Le Qianxue’s heart sank; clearly, Master Wenzhi was unwilling to divulge anything. She snorted, “Fine, if it has nothing to do with me, I’ll just ask him myself.”

Master Wenzhi smiled; he knew Zhan Lianjing would never tell Le Qianxue.

He said, “Girl, I am half your master—let me ask, are you supporting him simply because he is the Prince of War?”

Le Qianxue’s face remained serene. “Master, I don’t take sides. I help those who please me. Compared to others, Zhan Lianjing is better, so I don’t mind standing with him.”

Master Wenzhi’s eyes shone with quiet wisdom. He sighed, “You are right—amid chaos, he is a rare talent. Too bad he is crippled…”

Le Qianxue’s face darkened. “What of it? Eight years ago, he sat in a wheelchair and became the Prince of War!”

Master Wenzhi heard her words and his heart grew calm, clarity dawning upon him.

He nodded. “You make a fair point.”

Thus, Master Wenzhi resolved to grant Zhan Lianjing another chance.

He said, “Girl, now you must ensure Zhan Lianjing survives.”

Le Qianxue replied, “You seek to kill him, yet now you want him to live. What do you want from him?”

Master Wenzhi took a drink, laughing. “I just want to see what fate has in store. In time, I’ll tell you everything. For now, follow my instructions.”

Le Qianxue pursed her lips, finding monks troublesome—always so secretive. Still, it was enough that Master Wenzhi would tell her in the future; a little patience would serve.

She muttered, “Got it. Just promise me you won’t attack him again. This month is an inauspicious one—his martial skills are weakened, or you wouldn’t have succeeded so easily.”

As she turned to leave, Master Wenzhi spoke in a low voice, “It seems that even if I don’t kill him, he may not have long to live.”

Without looking back, Le Qianxue said, “Master, let us see whether I can save him.”

Master Wenzhi’s expression grew somber; he had earlier heard rumors of a formidable Ghost Doctor in the capital…

Le Qianxue knew some of his secrets, and now he understood her abilities. He could not help but think—she truly was Le Qianxue. If she had remained ordinary, that would have been stranger still.

Le Qianxue returned to the General’s Mansion near dawn; Yin Susu had waited all night for her.

“How did it go?” Yin Susu asked. “Is Zhan Lianjing alright?”

Le Qianxue, exhausted from the effort of refining medicine, collapsed onto the bed, her voice barely audible. “He’s fine…but I feel like I’m dying…”

Yin Susu knew she always grew weary after refining medicine, but this time she seemed even more fatigued.

She brought water to wipe Le Qianxue’s face, then heard her murmur, “Susu, there’s something I can’t figure out.”

“Tell me,” Yin Susu said.

Le Qianxue recounted what had happened with Master Wenzhi; she and Yin Susu shared no secrets.

Yin Susu’s face grew serious. “So, Master Wenzhi and Zhan Lianjing are connected.”

“Yes, but Master Wenzhi refuses to explain,” Le Qianxue replied.

“There’s nothing to be done—he’s far superior to you, and it’s unlikely he would harm Zhan Lianjing, since no one knows his origins,” Yin Susu said. “Anyway, with Master Wenzhi involved, the ancestral scroll’s whereabouts unknown, and Young Master Yuan vanished without a trace…”

At this moment, even Yin Susu felt anxious.

Le Qianxue nodded. “No need to rush. Young Master Yuan has a master above him—we’ll stay put and watch how things unfold.”

“That makes sense,” Yin Susu agreed, feeling reassured. With Le Qianxue by her side, she knew her great vengeance would one day be fulfilled.

The next day, word of Zhan Lianjing’s injury did not spread; Le Qianxue, having gone to bed late, skipped her lessons.

She indulged in a day’s idleness, feeling fully content.

But in the afternoon, visitors arrived from the Prince’s residence.