Chapter 3 of Chuan Tian Wu Shen (3/730)

"It's a fracture."

The head of the medicine hall, with his weathered face, said calmly.

"Specifically, three places on both ankles are fractured. Here, here, and here."

His wrinkled hand poked at the ankles.

Xiahou Ying stared blankly at the bandages wrapped around her ankles.

Seeing the bandages wound tightly like a cocoon, a sense of absurdity washed over her.

"…Broken?"

"Yes, exactly three places are broken."

"No, how could my legs break from falling from there?"

And three places?

The head of the medicine hall nodded.

"Yes. Still, it's a stroke of luck. You fell so well that only three places broke cleanly."

What the hell, what is this old man saying?

How can he call it lucky when someone's legs are broken!

"Are you kidding me? People's bodies don't break that easily! Speak some sense!"

"Didn't I tell you, young master? Your body is weaker than you think."

"No matter how weak, not to this extent!"

I'm so frustrated.

This old man isn't joking around with me.

"People's bodies aren't made of porcelain!"

"Exactly."

"…What?"

"You remember what I said before, don't you? I said your body is like porcelain itself."

"What, what kind of body?"

"Porcelain body."

"…."

"Hmm, but if you take the decoction I prescribe, your bones will heal quickly."

"…."

She was speechless.

Comparing a human body to porcelain?

A body that shatters with a single tap?

'I had a body that could withstand even the toughest of trials!'

From the time she was called the Tyrant until she ascended, she never even dislocated a finger.

But now, a body that breaks with a single tap? It was utterly foreign.

'…Did I wake up in this kind of body? With such a frail frame?'

Swish, swish.

Whether the old doctor knew what Xiahou Ying was thinking or not, his hand waved back and forth in front of her.

"Hmm, it seems you also have a mild concussion. Fortunately, I'll prepare another decoction for you. Given your frail body, you need to be extra careful from now on."

Xiahou Ying let out a hollow laugh.

"Damn it…"

"Anger isn't good. Try to think positively…"

The head of the medicine hall continued to give a long list of precautions, but Xiahou Ying didn't hear a word.

Her gaze drifted into the air.

'What have you done to me! You damn immortals!'

What sin did I commit to be thrown into this body?

You perverted bastards! What kind of minds do you have to do such a terrible thing?

Deep anger mixed with a sense of helplessness.

'Fuck… I have to stay here until my body recovers, don't I?'

Oh… wow…

Xiahou Ying suddenly laughed, a hollow laugh echoing softly.

"Heh."

The doctor was startled by the eerie atmosphere.

"…Young master?"

"Heh heh, heh heh heh."

It seems I'm stuck here, thanks to the setup by those immortal bastards.

The great Tyrant, no less.

"Heh heh heh heh."

To think that I, who was called the best, would end up with such a frail body.

Her expression twisted, and her laughter gradually faded.

Jinchianshang, who had been watching, looked at the doctor.

"Head of the medicine hall, why…?"

The head of the medicine hall, who couldn't understand the reason, was flustered.

"Well, it seems to be due to the shock… Hmm! First, I'll prepare the decoction I prescribed."

"Y-Yes."

"I'll come to check your pulse every day at this time!"

The head of the medicine hall hurriedly left.

Xiahou Ying watched his retreating back with a blank expression.

Then, suddenly, anger welled up inside her.

Since waking up in this body, anger had been rising uncontrollably.

A gurgling sound came from her throat.

"You, you damn immortal bastards… Ugh!"

Unconsciously clenching her teeth, a groan escaped her lips.

The pain in her jaw made her feel even more helpless.

Not being able to control even this pain, she couldn't even feel anger anymore.

All she could do was sigh and feel her words stuck in her throat.

"Master, the decoction is being prepared, so please wait a moment."

Xiahou Ying nodded slowly.

'…I can't do anything with this body. Nothing at all.'

Whether it's ascending or anything else, going to Tian Shan in this state would be a death sentence.

Even climbing over a wall and falling could be fatal.

In the end, Xiahou Ying had no choice but to change her mindset.

'…First, I need to check if I still have my inner energy and then strengthen my body.'

Her past experiences and insights were deeply etched in her mind. Among the vast knowledge, there were methods to train her current body.

No matter how fragile it is, if I train it, it will become strong.

Xiahou Ying calmed herself.

It wasn't for nothing that she had seized the opportunity to ascend six times over ten years.

Controlling her emotions was no problem.

Going to Tian Shan was just delayed a bit.

Although her body was much weaker than before, she could still train and strengthen it.

The only advantage of getting a new body was the abundance of time.

Rumble.

As her mind calmed, she felt hunger.

"Hungry and frustrated."

She realized her new reality. Her past body never felt hunger, but now she was extremely hungry.

"I need to eat something first."

Xiahou Ying tried to shake off her sense of futility and absurdity as she waited for Jinchianshang.

Since he served Nangong He, he would surely bring food.

How long had it been?

Creak!

"Master, I'm here."

"Ah!"

Xiahou Ying exclaimed in amazement.

Jinchianshang carried a tray as big as a child's torso.

Then, the servants followed, each carrying similar-sized trays.

The large table quickly filled with trays.

Seeing the covered trays, Xiahou Ying smiled warmly.

"You've really been taking care of this body for a long time. You come right when needed."

"For many years now."

"Give me the decoction first."

"Why so eager? Take this first."

Jinchianshang lifted the lid of the tray he was holding.

Five neatly arranged bowls of steaming hot decoction were on the tray.

Xiahou Ying's eyes widened.

"…Just because my legs are broken, I have to drink all of this?"

"This is for that. One bowl here."

"What about the others?"

"Isn't this what you usually take?"

"Five bowls of tonics? Even if my body is weak…"

"What are you talking about?"

Jinchianshang placed a straw on the table and pointed to it.

"There are more over there?"

"What?"

"Ten bowls of decoction to protect your mind and body, ten bowls of tonics to regulate your energy, and five bowls of decoction for your chronic illness. A total of twenty-five bowls."

Xiahou Ying's mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened.

All the trays on the table were tonics?

'…You drink all of this every day?'

Does this guy fill his stomach with medicine?

I can't even drink water like that.

While Xiahou Ying was in a daze, Jinchianshang placed the straw in her mouth.

Sip, sip, sip.

Xiahou Ying, as if under a spell, automatically moved her mouth to drink the decoction.

Even when she couldn't see clearly after waking up, she could find and use the straw.

"Good, you're drinking well. Keep going, sip, sip!"

"Damn."

"Don't swear. Positive thinking, positive mind. That way, the medicine will work better."

The bowls emptied one by one. As expected, the tonics were incredibly bitter.

But there was a strange feeling of health improving.

Gulp, gulp!

She finished the bowls, feeling a deep sense of doubt.

'How does this body manage to drink all of this every day?'

Before long, all twenty-five bowls were in Xiahou Ying's stomach.

"Ugh!"

A bitter taste rose from her throat.

Her insides felt full of decoction.

She wiped her mouth roughly and frowned.

"Next time, bring them in pill form!"

"I have pills here."

"…."

Crunch, crunch!

Xiahou Ying's eyes widened as she chewed the pill Jinchianshang offered.

"What? What is this?"

"It's called Jinling Pill, made by the head of the medicine hall."

"Do you eat this every day?"

"You take three a day."

"Wow!"

Xiahou Ying was genuinely amazed.

The level of the Jinling Pill was impressive.

Just one pill made her body feel warm and her breathing easier.

It seemed to have excellent effects on replenishing vital energy.

Taking a deep breath and regulating her breathing, she felt her mind clear.

It was definitely a top-tier tonic.

To think he took three of these a day.

The wealth of the Nangong family was truly evident.

'The decoctions weren't ordinary either. Not quite elixirs, but close.'

Xiahou Ying rubbed her chin.

'Now that it's like this, should I stay here for a while and take the medicine?'

Thinking about it, there was no reason to refuse when they were feeding her so diligently.

She needed to train her inner energy and body anyway.

It seemed better to take as much as possible and build up her constitution.

Then, when she went to Tian Shan, ascending would be much easier!

'That would be beneficial. Since it's delayed anyway, rushing might lead to failure.'

Her gaze swept over the luxurious room of Nangong He.

'If I were Nangong He, I don't think anyone would say anything if I acted like him.'

Enjoying such luxury for a while didn't seem bad.

'While I'm here, I'll be Nangong He, then.'

Xiahou Ying, or rather Nangong He, made up her mind.

As she was organizing her thoughts, the servants rushed into the room.

Seeing them each carrying trays, Nangong He looked at Jinchianshang with a dubious expression.

"What's this…?"

Jinchianshang directed the servants loudly.

"It's time for lunch."

"…I'm full."

"You have to eat it all."

Seeing the luxurious food piled up like a mountain on the table, Nangong He had a blank look.

"All of it?"

"Is it not enough?"

"…Bring me a spoon."

"Here."

Jinchianshang handed him a golden spoon.

Jinchianshang carefully selected rice and side dishes and placed them on a small tray in front of Nangong He.

"Wow, a golden spoon."

"Would you prefer a silver spoon?"

"Never mind."

Taking the spoon, Nangong He hesitated.

It was heavier than expected, and he had to use strength to scoop each spoonful.

Lifting the rice to his mouth was a struggle.

'Scooping rice is such a delicate task?'

It was different from climbing a wall and surprisingly difficult.

It made him wonder if this body could handle daily life.

Shiver.

Unbelievably, after eating about half a bowl, his hands started to tremble.

Glancing up, Nangong He saw Jinchianshang staring at him intently.

"…What?"

"Are you scooping it yourself?"

"Rice? Am I a child?"

Even a three-year-old can scoop their own rice; he couldn't do that.

"Try the ginseng salad."

"What kind of salad?"

"Ginseng salad."

"…Is ginseng salad served as a side dish?"

Seriously, who would coat ginseng with seasoning and make a salad?

"…Here."

Nangong He quietly chewed the ginseng salad Jinchianshang brought out.

'Wow, what luxury.'

There was more ginseng in this side dish than he had ever eaten in his life.

The rice bowl, spoon, and everything else exuded immense wealth.

If his body were fine, he could enjoy such luxury.

'If my body were fine.'

Nangong He decided he needed to properly check his body's condition.

He needed to know his body's state to determine what he could gain and how to manage it in the Nangong family.

Just taking the medicine and food that came at random would make him live like this forever.

"I'll clear the table."

Jinchianshang and the servants quickly cleared the table.

Nangong He said to Jinchianshang, who was leaving the room.

"Hey, I want to be alone today, so don't come in."

"Excuse me? I can't do that."

"No, you can. Don't come in."

"I can't. The head of the family will scold me!"

"Then wait outside. Leave."

"No, no! Master, I really can't…"

"Leave. If you don't, it'll be awkward."

Intimidated by Nangong He's threat, Jinchianshang reluctantly left with a pained expression.

Nangong He stared at the door for a moment, then turned his head.

With the annoying servant gone, it was time to get to work.

Nangong He regulated his breathing.

"Alright, let's check my qi and blood first, shall we?"