Chapter 258 - 257: Had Another Nightmare

"Divine Doctor Yang, your room has been arranged."

Zhao Hongshan suddenly spoke up. He took an exquisite Purple Sandalwood Box from a servant nearby and presented it to Yang Xun with both hands.

"Thank you for putting aside our past grievances and rushing back to save my daughter. Please accept this Red Flame Reishi."

Yang Xun’s gaze fell on the wooden box. The texture of the purple sandalwood was fine and smooth, and the lid was carved with a quaint cloud pattern. At a glance, it was clearly no ordinary item.

He reached out to take it and gently opened the lid.

A warm waft of air brushed against his face, carrying a unique, rich botanical fragrance.

The inside of the wooden box was lined with premium red velvet. Lying quietly in the center of the velvet was a completely crimson reishi mushroom. The reishi was about the size of a palm. The edges of its cap displayed a flame-like hue, shimmering with a flowing halo under the light.

Yang Xun’s breath hitched slightly, and he looked up at Zhao Hongshan.

"Young Master Zhou mentioned you came for the Red Flame Reishi. Since Linglong is fine now, this Red Flame Reishi rightfully belongs to you. In addition, there is a ten million remuneration," Zhao Hongshan said, his tone utterly sincere.

"I had originally planned to save this reishi for Linglong, but you cured her illness. This debt of gratitude is far heavier than a mere reishi.

"Divine Doctor Yang, please accept it."

Yang Xun’s primary purpose for coming to Shunping City was this very Red Flame Reishi. Now that Zhao Hongshan was offering it on his own initiative, it actually made Yang Xun feel a bit sheepish.

"Mr. Zhao, Linglong’s illness is not completely cured yet. I still need to treat her a few more times. Accepting your reishi right now makes me feel somewhat uneasy."

"Divine Doctor Yang, please don’t decline." Zhao Hongshan waved his hand, his tone earnest. "You saved Linglong’s life. If you hadn’t arrived in time, she probably would have been poisoned to death.

"Let alone a single reishi, even if you asked for half of the Zhao family’s assets, I wouldn’t bat an eye."

"Alright, then it would be impolite for me to refuse." Yang Xun only made a token refusal on the surface; as soon as he finished speaking, he quickly closed the box. "Rest assured, Mr. Zhao. I will take full responsibility for Miss Zhao’s illness until she is completely recovered."

Even if it wasn’t for Zhao Linglong, he had promised to help investigate that case and seek justice for the deceased.

"Good, just stay here and rest easy. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask." Zhao Hongshan smiled, his eyes full of appreciation.

After their conversation, Yang Xun went to the arranged guest room to rest.

The room was spacious and bright. The window directly faced the lotus pond in the Zhao family’s backyard, and wafts of faint, elegant lotus fragrance drifted in through the night.

Yang Xun closed his eyes and silently circulated the Dragon and Phoenix Yin Yang Technique, extracting from his meridians the wisp of Yin Sha Qi he had absorbed while treating Zhao Linglong earlier today.

Although he had only accidentally absorbed a single wisp of Yin Sha Qi, it still took him nearly an hour to completely refine it.

It seemed the resentment of those five skeletons was exceptionally deep. Thinking about it, it made sense—an entire family wiped out, not even sparing a two-year-old child. No wonder this family was filled with unappeasable indignation.

Yang Xun lay down and closed his eyes, but found himself somewhat plagued by insomnia. Lately, he had been intimate with a woman every single day. Today, having been busy all day without even sharing a kiss, his body felt inexplicably hot and restless.

Tossing and turning for an unknown amount of time, he suddenly heard a whimper from outside, followed by a sharp scream.

He sprang up from the bed. Just as he was about to go out and take a look, he saw that Zhao Hongshan and a group of people had also woken up and were rushing hurriedly toward Zhao Linglong’s room.

"Linglong? Linglong, what’s wrong?!" Zhao Hongshan shouted anxiously.

Just as Yang Xun arrived at the door, he heard Madam Zhao scolding with a hint of impatience, "It’s the middle of the night! What are you screaming for? You woke up the whole family!

"I told you to get some proper sleep, but you insisted on letting your imagination run wild. Now you’re having nightmares, aren’t you?

"A young woman like you, acting so neurotic all day long—what would people say if word got out!"

Through the half-open door, Yang Xun saw Zhao Linglong sitting on the bed. Her face was as pale as paper, her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, and her amber eyes were filled with lingering terror. She tightly gripped the edge of the blanket, her fingers trembling slightly. Her lips quivered, but she couldn’t utter a single word.

Zhao Hongshan stood by the bed, his face full of heartache. "Linglong, don’t be afraid. Dad is here."

Zhao Linglong shook her head. Her gaze bypassed Zhao Hongshan and landed on Yang Xun, who was standing at the door. Her lips moved, and her voice came out hoarse and weak. "Dr. Yang, I’m sorry for waking you up."

Yang Xun walked into the room, crouched down by the bed, and gently held her ice-cold wrist to check her pulse.

"She’s fine, just suffered a fright."

Saying that, he circulated his Cultivation Technique, channeling a wisp of gentle True Qi into her body through her pulse. The True Qi flowed warmly through her meridians, slowly soothing the surging, chilling Yin energy within her.

Zhao Linglong’s breathing gradually steadied, but her body was still trembling slightly.

Madam Zhao stood at the door, her arms crossed over her chest, her tone laced with dissatisfaction. "Alright, alright. Since the doctor says you’re fine, hurry up and go to sleep. Stop causing a fuss."

Hearing this, Zhao Linglong lowered her head, her voice so small it was almost inaudible. "Mom... can you stay and sleep with me?"

Madam Zhao’s expression shifted slightly, and she said stiffly, "How old are you, still needing someone to keep you company? I have an appointment with Madam Liu at the beauty salon tomorrow. I don’t have time to indulge this nonsense."

She paused, then added, "Besides, you’ve been constantly claiming you see unholy things lately. If you’ve really been tainted by something, don’t drag me into it."

Zhao Linglong’s body gave a violent jolt, a flash of hurt crossing her amber eyes.

Zhao Hongshan furrowed his brows and turned to look at his wife. "How can you speak like that? Linglong is your daughter!"

"Am I wrong?" Madam Zhao scoffed coldly. "She’s been acting neurotic all day. Who knows if she’s genuinely been tainted by something unholy? If you ask me, she’s just doing it on purpose to make you feel sorry for her!"

"Enough! Stop talking!" Zhao Hongshan’s face darkened, his voice growing cold. "Go back to your room."

Madam Zhao curled her lip and turned to leave.

Zhao Hongshan turned back. Looking at his daughter’s pale little face, his voice softened considerably. "Linglong, don’t listen to your mother. She just speaks without thinking."

Zhao Linglong shook her head. Tears were falling silently, but she stubbornly refused to cry out loud.

Watching this unfold, Yang Xun felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He had long noticed that the relationship between Madam Zhao and Zhao Linglong wasn’t very harmonious, but he hadn’t expected it to reach this extent.

To think a mother was unwilling to even sleep by her daughter’s side for one night, even going so far as to say, ’Don’t drag me into it.’ He wondered how a biological mother could ever say such a thing.

"Mr. Zhao, why don’t you go rest first? I’ll stay here and give Miss Zhao some acupuncture. I’ll leave once she falls asleep," Yang Xun stood up and said calmly.