Chapter 21

For the first few dozen needles, Xiao Che handled them with ease. However, as sweat began to appear on his forehead, his left hand, which held the needle, started to tremble slightly, and his movements became noticeably slower. What used to take just one breath to insert a needle gradually became several breaths... After thirty needles, it took even longer each time.

If Xia Qingyue had turned back, she would have noticed that Xiao Che always used his left hand to insert the needles. He was not left-handed, nor was his left hand more skilled. The reason was the Heavenly Poison Pearl that appeared on the palm of his left hand.

Each time a silver needle was inserted, the Heavenly Poison Pearl in his palm would flicker slightly. The power of the Heavenly Poison Pearl silently seeped into Xia Qingyue's body. Of course, this power was not toxic but purifying. The Heavenly Poison Pearl had the ability to purify all poisons in the world, and this "poison" not only referred to deadly poisons but also harmful or excessive impurities in the body. However, this was different from the process of washing the marrow and refining the meridians. Using the ability of the Heavenly Poison Pearl was the main reason why Xiao Che went to such lengths to insert the needles for Xia Qingyue today.

Dispelling the cold and unblocking the meridians were just side effects and a cover. What he was truly doing was to "penetrate the mystic" for Xia Qingyue!

One minute passed... ten minutes passed... a quarter of an hour passed...

Strands of cold air slowly rose from each silver needle. After a full half-hour, a total of fifty-four needles had been inserted into Xia Qingyue's back. At this moment, Xiao Che's hand finally paused, but the pause lasted for less than half a minute before he suddenly extended his hands, and both hands moved swiftly, pulling out the silver needles from Xia Qingyue's back at an incredible speed. In just a moment, all fifty-four silver needles had disappeared from Xia Qingyue's back.

Xia Qingyue's jade-like back remained smooth and white, as pure and flawless as the finest white jade, leaving no trace of the procedure due to Xiao Che's exceptional skill.

"It's done..." Xiao Che put away the silver needles and took a long breath.

The moment all the silver needles were removed, Xia Qingyue felt as if she had suddenly floated into heaven, a warmth and comfort enveloping her entire body, making her almost disbelieve that this was her own body.

She pulled her clothes back on and immediately circulated her mystic energy. When she activated the Ice Cloud Technique, she was startled by the fact that her mystic energy almost instantly responded to her will, flowing through her body at a speed and smoothness far beyond what it had been before.

After nearly four years of practicing the Ice Cloud Technique, she still often found it difficult to fully control. But now, feeling the flow of the Ice Cloud Technique within her, she was completely certain that her current state allowed her to fully control the technique. The speed of her practice would naturally increase to a new level!

Originally, she had not held much hope, but now she was filled with surprise and deep shock... amazed that what Xiao Che had said had actually come true! And the effect seemed even better than he had described!

She believed that if her master saw her current state, he would also be greatly surprised!

"Now... do you believe it?"

Xiao Che's voice sounded in her ear, but it was unusually hoarse and weak. Xia Qingyue turned from her shock to look at Xiao Che, seeing him leaning weakly against the bed, his forehead and clothes drenched in sweat, his face pale and frightening, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.

Thinking about the mystic energy he had poured into each needle, a pang of pain suddenly appeared in her heart... a feeling like being pricked by a needle. This feeling caused a slight disturbance in her emotions, as she unexpectedly felt a sense of pain for this man who was only nominally her husband and with whom she had no real connection.

"I believe... I believe you are truly a divine doctor." Xia Qingyue looked at him with a complex gaze: "It turns out that the person everyone in Liuyun City looks down upon has such astonishing abilities... But you know very well that I have no feelings for you and will leave you forever after a month... Why did you expose these things to me? Why did you give me such a great favor and work so hard for me?"

Favor... this was indeed an immense favor.

"Three reasons." The exhausted Xiao Che panted, but his face was full of smiles: "Almost everyone looks down on me, but you have the absolute capital to look down on me. Yet, you didn't. Instead, you always tried to protect my poor dignity... Last night, you went out to look for me because you were worried and quietly brought me a blanket... I will always be better to those who are good to me!"

Xia Qingyue: "..."

"Second reason... you are my wife, after all."

Xia Qingyue opened her mouth but could not speak.

"The third reason, and the most important one..." Xiao Che's smile became ambiguous: "I think you look very good without your clothes on."

"..." When Xiao Che teased her, she usually gave him a cold look, but this time, seeing his cheap smile on his pale face, she could not muster any anger.

"Explanation finished." Xiao Che extended his hand and pointed to the medicine pot he had brought: "Qingyue, go and drink the medicine in that pot."

Xia Qingyue gave him a deep look, did not ask what the medicine was, walked over, poured out the medicine, and drank it in one gulp.

"This is just the first adjustment. If you want to maintain your current state, you will need a total of seven adjustments. The next six days, one each day. The best time is at three in the morning, as it is the time when yin energy is strongest, and the adjustment effect is the best. Of course, whether to continue is up to you."

After saying this, Xiao Che closed his eyes in exhaustion. His physical strength was indeed severely depleted, not just an act.

"You rest well." Xia Qingyue's gaze became even more complex. She spoke softly, walked to the door, and silently closed it.

Standing in the courtyard, Xia Qingyue raised her hands, looking at her palms, her eyes misty.

What kind of person is he?

At least, I have always misunderstood him... and everyone in Liuyun City has also misunderstood him...

After Xia Qingyue left, Xiao Che's body completely slumped on the bed, lying there motionless, occasionally mumbling to himself...

"Phew... My current physical condition is too poor. Just penetrating the mystic almost exhausted me..."

"If my master knew that I asked the other party to take off their clothes, I wonder if he would be so angry that he would jump down from heaven to scold me... After all... I could perform acupuncture through clothes at the age of thirteen... I could do it with my eyes closed at the age of fifteen... Phew... time to sleep..."

...

Since receiving the letter from the Xiao Clan, the entire Xiao Sect has been immersed in an extremely unusual atmosphere. The Sect Master, Elders, and Enforcers have been busy from morning till night, preparing for the welcoming ceremony, fearing any oversight. The younger generation has been working hard, dreaming of a breakthrough in these few days to increase their chances of being taken into the Xiao Clan...

However, these things clearly had nothing to do with Xiao Che, who could be considered the most idle person in the entire Xiao Sect.

This day, at the back mountain of the Xiao Sect.

This was a cemetery that the Xiao Sect had opened on the back mountain. Most of the deceased members of the Xiao Sect were buried here.

Xiao Lie stood quietly in front of a tombstone, his white hair, full of沧桑and sorrow, fluttering in the wind, the howling wind adding a sense of desolation.

The tombstone was inscribed with "Xiao Ying."

"... Ying, I know your dream since childhood was to fulfill the wish of our ancestors, to return to the Xiao Clan, and to revitalize our abandoned lineage. Now, such an opportunity has finally come, but... it is sixteen years too late."

Xiao Lie's eyes were misty, standing stiffly there, mumbling as if in a daze...

"I know that even after so many years, you still have many concerns... Xiao Che has been crippled in his mystic veins since childhood... This is for the best. Although he is destined to be mediocre, being inactive means no struggle or resentment. Now, Xiao Che has also started a family, and I hope he can live a peaceful life... Although he is not my biological son, he was saved by you and your biological son, and I will do my best to protect his safety..."

Snap!

A slight cracking sound reached Xiao Lie's ears, making him suddenly startled, instantly snapping out of his daze, and turning to shout: "Who?"

Following his shout, Xiao Yulong's figure emerged from behind a thick, ancient tree in the center of the cemetery. Seeing Xiao Lie, he was clearly surprised, took a few steps forward, and performed a standard junior's bow: "Yulong greets the Fifth Elder... I didn't expect the Fifth Elder to be here. Did I disturb you, Fifth Elder?"

Xiao Lie's eyes flickered... He had been lost in sorrow and