Chapter 194: Treatment Complete, Job Done

So that was it. Chang Yang finally understood why the medicinal fields had suddenly been destroyed—the entire field had collapsed into the ground, burying the herbs that had taken years to cultivate. At first, he thought it was caused by a subterranean tremor, but what puzzled him was that only the area of the fields was affected. The village and surrounding forests showed no signs of movement at all, which he couldn’t make sense of.

He never expected the real reason to be the villagers’ greed. They had hollowed out the riverbed digging for gold. The medicinal fields were right beside the riverbank, and after days of heavy rain, the soil eroded, leading to the collapse. When they went to save what remained of the herbs, the water hadn’t yet receded, so they hadn’t discovered what had really happened beneath the river.

Then he remembered the villagers’ reaction when they’d arrived the night before—their guilty looks, the unnatural way they avoided his eyes. He’d assumed they were ashamed for ganging up on a child, but now it was clear—they were hiding the truth!

“Master…” Chang Ping hesitated for a moment before adding, “I suspect the one who first found the gold was that child they called the disaster star.” That would explain why they blamed him for everything—and of course, the gold itself had long since been taken away by others.

Chang Yang’s anger surged instantly. Just how black could these villagers’ hearts be? They had caused the collapse themselves out of greed, yet not only did they conceal the truth, they even had the audacity to pin the blame on a child barely a few years old.

His face darkened. So be it. If the heavens are so cold, then the Medical Valley will simply plant fewer fields this year!

---

The child woke up the next day. He was still dazed and quiet, but his eyes would light up slightly whenever Yun Jiao appeared. It seemed he understood that the people of the Medical Valley were helping him. Although he still instinctively shrank into the corner like a frightened little animal, he obediently took the medicine and food brought to him. The way he devoured his meals so hungrily was heartbreaking to watch.

Old as he was, Chang Yang couldn’t stand seeing a child suffer. Though he was wary of the demonic energy within the boy, he couldn’t stop himself from checking on him frequently. Remembering how the child had clutched Yun Jiao’s candy so dearly, he sent his disciples to the market to buy piles of sweets, nearly filling the boy’s small hut to the brim.

It was clear Chang Yang had become completely attached. He was constantly coming up with excuses like, “I remember there’s a stall at the market that sells good glutinous rice cakes. The weather’s nice today—Chang Ping, go buy some, will you?”

After running to the market more than ten times in a single day, poor Chang Ping could only twitch his lips and answer helplessly, “Yes, Master.”

Watching the old man’s doting-grandfather demeanor, Yun Jiao couldn’t help but think of another old man back at her sect who, despite being the same age, still acted like a mischievous child. She sighed deeply—same age, such a vast difference!

Wait—hold on!

Where did her ancestor go?!

Σ(°△°|||)︴

Don’t tell her he ran off to the market too!

Yun Jiao reacted swiftly, grabbing her own master before he could slip away to “browse the stalls.” Honestly, not a single one of these old men could be trusted!

“Daoist Yun, what do you plan to do with the child?” Chang Yang asked worriedly, glancing toward the hut behind them. Sending the boy back to Lijiao Village was out of the question—it would be sending him to his death. Besides, the child’s gentle and obedient nature made it hard for anyone not to feel protective.

He didn’t cry or complain; even after the pain-numbing talisman wore off, he endured the agony of bone-setting in silence. When the pain became unbearable, he would simply curl up under the blanket, biting it to keep from crying out, drenched in cold sweat. He seemed terrified of being disliked—every movement was careful and cautious. Chang Yang had discovered this by accident the previous night, and it made his elderly heart ache unbearably.

He wanted to keep the boy in the Medical Valley—to let him recover, grow stronger, maybe even take him as a disciple. But the Valley wasn’t equipped to care for a child like this. They were healers, not mystics. As skilled as they were in medicine, when it came to spiritual arts… well, if they called themselves second-to-last in the rankings, no one would dare claim first place.

– -|||

If the demonic energy ever flared up again, he’d have no idea how to handle it.

“How about sending him to the Celestial Masters Hall?” Yun Jiao suggested. She understood his concern perfectly. She wouldn’t trust the “bottom of the class” Valley with something this serious either. The boy’s case required professionals—official mystic handlers.

Chang Yang nodded, having had the same thought. He sighed. “Alright. Once his health improves a bit, I’ll ask for his opinion. If he’s willing, we’ll send him there.”

Then he remembered—the boy still couldn’t speak. His throat was fine, so he must have known how to talk before. Likely, the villagers’ cruelty had traumatized him into silence. Recovering would take time.

Yun Jiao had no objections. Their work in the Valley was nearly done. Though she disapproved of the villagers’ actions, she and the healers had still purged the demonic energy from the few infected remaining in Lijiao Village. The Medical Valley, however, would never again entrust them with cultivating spirit herbs.

With everything settled, Yun Jiao didn’t linger. She grabbed her fidgety old master and took her leave. On the way, they stopped by the market to buy vegetables for dinner and a few new snacks before returning to Qingyang Temple.

She was just about to start cooking when a cloud descended from the sky. From it stepped Yuan Jiang, who hadn’t been seen in quite some time.

“Disciple greets Master,” he said respectfully, bowing to Ye Yuan.

The latter ignored him completely, calmly sorting through his storage pouch filled with newly bought snacks, not sparing his “foolish disciple” so much as a glance.

Yuan Jiang seemed entirely used to this treatment. Without missing a beat, he turned to Yun Jiao with a warm smile. “Little niece-disciple, how have you been lately?”

“Uncle Yuan.” Yun Jiao greeted him while passing some of the overflow snacks (her master’s fault for buying too many) back to Ye Yuan. “You’re back already? Did you find out what happened?”

Yuan Jiang’s expression shifted slightly. Glancing nervously at the man beside her, he nodded stiffly. “More or less…”

“Oh.” Yun Jiao didn’t press. She simply picked up the vegetables on the table. “Then I’ll go make dinner first. Uncle, feel free to rest.”

Just as she stepped out, she turned back and added, “Oh, right, Uncle—your class still owes two lessons. Don’t forget to make them up tomorrow!” Then she headed off toward the kitchen.

Yuan Jiang: “…”

This little niece really didn’t waste a single ounce of usefulness, huh?

When Yun Jiao’s figure disappeared, the man sorting through snacks finally stopped. Lifting his gaze, he looked at his foolish disciple with a cold, unreadable expression.

Cold sweat broke out down Yuan Jiang’s back. He hesitated, wondering if he’d made a terrible mistake coming here.

“M–Master…” he swallowed hard, steeling himself before bowing. “I came because… the Emperor… wishes to come and pay his respects to you.”

“Oh?” Ye Yuan’s expression instantly cooled. Without looking at him, he rolled a white candy between his fingers, his voice low and icy.

“He’s courting death, is he?”

“…”

(End of Chapter)