Chapter 985: Mom and Dad Are Bad Guys

The scent of medicinal herbs filled the clinic.

The child sat in a chair, swinging her legs as she nibbled on candied fruit.

"Nianyi, Nianyi. I told you to eat less candied fruit. It'll rot your teeth."

"Mom, Nianyi wants to eat it. It's yummy."

Tong Nianyi was almost two years old. Her parents ran a clinic in Qiuyuefang to treat the local residents. Whenever they were overwhelmed with patients, the little girl was left to play in the clinic all by herself.

At two, she didn't have many interests. If she liked anything, it was sweets. Candied fruit was her favorite, but she occasionally sneaked into the apothecary to steal a bit of licorice. Unlike the other herbs, the licorice was sweet and utterly delicious.

Tao'er let out a helpless sigh and tapped Tong Nianyi's forehead. "Keep eating them, then. Eat too many, and your teeth will all fall out."

"They won't! Nianyi's teeth are super strong."

Right as Tong Nianyi said this, her expression suddenly changed.

Tao'er paused and hurriedly stepped closer to check on her. "What's wrong?"

Tong Nianyi reached up to her mouth, and a moment later, a tiny tooth dropped into her palm.

Tong Nianyi blinked, looking entirely innocent. "My tooth fell out."

Tao'er gave a helpless smile and lightly knocked her knuckles against the girl's head. "Does it hurt?"

"Mom's knocking hurts," Tong Nianyi said, clutching her head.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Tao'er clarified, "Mom is asking about your tooth. Does it hurt?"

Tong Nianyi looked at the tooth sitting in her palm. "Nianyi doesn't know if it hurts."

She poked the little tooth and asked it, "Do you hurt?"

Tao'er was so amused by her daughter's antics that she was left entirely speechless.

She let out a soft sigh and stroked Tong Nianyi's hair.

The two of them walked out of the clinic and into the courtyard.

"Mom, why do we have to throw the tooth on the roof?"

"Throwing it up there is the only way to make sure Nianyi grows a new tooth."

"It'll grow just by throwing it?"

"That's right."

Young Tong Nianyi took this as the absolute truth, her eyes widening at how utterly amazing that sounded.

Summoning all her tiny strength, she hurled the tooth in her hand up onto the roof.

"I threw it up!" Tong Nianyi cheered before muttering to herself, "Please bless Nianyi to grow a new tooth very soon."

But her mother's next words instantly wiped the smile off her face.

"Nianyi isn't allowed to eat candied fruit for the next few days. They're all confiscated."

"Ah! Mom, no! No! Nianyi wants to eat them."

"No!"

No matter how much Tong Nianyi whined and fussed, it was no use.

She soon realized her mother was being completely serious this time.

Tong Nianyi compromised. "Can I eat licorice?"

Tao'er looked exasperated. She crouched down and said, "You can't eat anything sweet."

"Ugh..."

Tong Nianyi was instantly miserable.

She ducked her head and grumbled, "Mom won't let Nianyi eat sweet things. Nianyi doesn't like Mom anymore. Hmph."

She let out a soft huff and turned her head away.

Just then, a figure stepped out of the clinic.

"What's going on here?"

Tong Zhihuan looked down at Nianyi. "Oh my, whose little girl is this? Why does she look like she's being bullied?"

Tong Nianyi immediately ran over to hug her father's leg, complaining, "Dad, Mom won't let me eat sweets."

Tao'er put her hands on her hips. "Nianyi is talking nonsense. You lost a tooth because you ate too many sweets. How can you blame Mom for not letting you have them?"

Tong Zhihuan realized what had happened and laughed. "So that's what this is about."

"Dad, buy Nianyi some candied fruit. Please?" Tong Nianyi pleaded.

Tong Zhihuan just smiled. "Dad won't buy them for Nianyi either."

"Ah?"

"Not only will I not buy them, but starting today, Nianyi isn't allowed to eat anything sweet. Everything is confiscated."

"No!"

"Mom and Dad are big bad guys!"

With that, Tong Nianyi burst into tears.

She wailed, sobbing violently.

Even at her young age, she already knew this trick worked wonders.

Today, however, things seemed different. Her parents just watched her cry without changing their minds.

"Waaah! Nianyi isn't going to talk to Mom and Dad anymore! Not ever!"

Tong Zhihuan and Tao'er exchanged a look and threw their hands up in defeat.

Regardless, there was no way they were giving her any candy.

While the fuss continued in the clinic, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed through the air, followed by loud shouting.

"Doctor Tong! Doctor Tong!"

A young Daoist priest sprinted all the way down the mountain without daring to pause for even a second, rushing straight through the neighborhood to reach the clinic.

Tong Zhihuan was momentarily stunned.

Before he could even ask, the young priest cried out, "Master is dying! Master, he..."

Tong Zhihuan went rigid, and shock washed over Tao'er.

Tong Zhihuan urgently said, "Watch Nianyi. I have to go!"

Tao'er scooped Nianyi into her arms and gave him a sharp nod.

Tong Zhihuan grabbed the young priest and surged forward. Moving like a phantom, he blurred through the marketplace and shot out of the neighborhood in the blink of an eye.

The young priest's face was etched with terror; the sheer speed making him forget to even scream.

In a matter of breaths, they arrived at the foot of Liuyun Mountain.

Scaling the mountain took only a few breaths more.

The turbulent trip left the young priest's stomach churning violently. He immediately dropped into a squat by the temple gates and retched.

Tong Zhihuan had already rushed into the temple and arrived at the bedside.

"Priest!"

Daoist Fuyun forced his eyes open, his vision struggling to focus on his visitor.

"Mister Tong..."

Tong Zhihuan stepped closer. "Let me check your pulse first."

Daoist Fuyun weakly waved a hand. "I know my fate. There is no need for a pulse check..."

He let out a long breath, having already let go of all attachments to life and death.

Tong Zhihuan opened his mouth, a tangle of complicated emotions swirling in his chest.

Years ago, right in this very room, by this exact bed, Priest Xuanhuang had lain just like this. Tong Zhihuan had been completely powerless, forced to watch helplessly as the priest passed away.

"No!"

Tong Zhihuan shook his head, his eyes reddening. "You'll be fine, Priest. I will definitely cure you. I will!"

With a wave of his hand, he summoned his Silver Needles.

In the blink of an eye, the Silver Needles plunged into various acupoints across Daoist Fuyun's body.

Raising two fingers, he channeled Magical Power straight into the old man's body.

Using the Silver Needles as conduits, he drove the Magical Power through Daoist Fuyun's acupoints, circulating it to break through his physical limits and stabilize his failing vitality.

Daoist Fuyun let out a shallow gasp. "Mister Tong..."

"I was once the emperor of West Xiao. My fate was sealed long ago... nothing can change it now."

Tong Zhihuan froze at those words. "What?"

A faint smile touched Daoist Fuyun's lips. "Let it go."

The meager sliver of vitality Tong Zhihuan had just managed to stoke suddenly dissipated in a flash.

The sudden collapse sent a wave of backlash straight into Tong Zhihuan. He shuddered, his face immediately draining of color.

Outside, the young priest finally recovered his senses and frantically rushed into the room.

"Master! Master!"

The young priest turned to Tong Zhihuan. "Doctor Tong, how is my master? Is he going to be okay?"

Tong Zhihuan opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Daoist Fuyun weakly grasped his disciple's hand. He let out a long breath. "My disciple... my disciple..."

The young priest panicked. He gripped his master's hand tightly and leaned closer.

"Master, I'm here. I'm right here."

Daoist Fuyun lifted his trembling hand and rested it on the boy's head, gently patting his hair.