"Save me..."
He weakly raised his hand, looking both terrifying and pitiable.
Rong Zhi almost rushed forward but stopped herself.
He was also outside the circular formation. He definitely wasn't the real Chu Qingze.
It seemed the other side had made their move, and something unclean was approaching.
She clenched her fists, pretending not to see.
At that moment, the scene before her seemed to become shrouded in mist, transforming into a prison.
Inside the cell, Xia Yunting was nailed to a rack, his body covered in countless wounds. His white robes were stained with blood, and he was still weakly calling Rong Zhi's name.
"Xiao Mo..."
"Xia Yunting..."
Rong Zhi suppressed the pounding of her heart. Even knowing it was fake, she couldn't help but worry.
Numerous steel nails were embedded in Xia Yunting's body. He looked at Rong Zhi and, with immense effort, tore himself free. The nails ripped through his flesh, creating countless gaping wounds, a scene of utter devastation that made Rong Zhi’s heart leap with dread.
"Xiao Mo, I'll take you home... I'll take you back to Medicine King Valley..."
Back to Medicine King Valley...
That was Rong Zhi's initial reason for approaching Xia Yunting.
Seeing him utter those words in such a weak voice, Rong Zhi felt a whirlwind of emotions—sweetness, bitterness, joy, and sorrow—surge within her.
He crawled a few steps and then lost all strength, collapsing on the ground, gasping for breath.
"Xiao Mo... I'm running out of time. Hurry, come with me... I've already prepared everything."
Rong Zhi felt a prickle of unease. Though her mind knew it was fake, her feet involuntarily began to lift.
She walked slowly forward.
A glimmer of light appeared in Xia Yunting's eyes—a complex mix of anticipation, affection, and pain.
As Rong Zhi walked, she stumbled on something and suddenly jolted awake.
This wasn't real!
She quickly retreated.
The "Xia Yunting" then began to crawl towards her with a frenzied, four-limbed scramble. His appearance gradually shifted, transforming into a white-haired old man.
Behind her, "Chu Qingze's" cries could be heard. He had somehow transformed into a stranger without legs.
All of it was fake!
Rong Zhi also saw many "acquaintances"—Gu Xinlan, Liu Hong, Uncle Yu, the village chief, and many of the young disciples from Medicine King Valley.
Most of them were injured, pitifully begging her to save them.
As a physician, Rong Zhi fought the urge to cross the edge of the formation countless times, but she always remembered Chen An's parting words.
Don't go out!
To avoid the distractions, she simply sat cross-legged on the ground and began to meditate.
As her inner energy circulated within her body, the sounds around her gradually faded. However, after a short while, they became clamorous again.
The internal energy within her became agitated, chaotic, and began to rampage through her meridians.
*Pfft!*
Rong Zhi couldn't help but cough up a mouthful of blood.
When the Plum Blossom Guards found the place, they saw only a person lying on the ground, with a small pool of blood beside them.
"Commander, the National Preceptor said it's this person. Shall we take her back?"
One of the Plum Blossom Guards said with a cupped fist salute.
"She appears injured. Be gentle, and don't harm her. If she truly is the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, then she is a treasure to the royal family."
Xiao Jianli appeared calm, but his heart was a tempest.
Zhi'er, you didn't hide. You were found after all...
What should he do?
In the darkness of the night, a squadron of Plum Blossom Guards silently escorted a young woman back to the imperial city, without alerting anyone.
The entire imperial family was alerted by this news.
The Emperor, Jin Jinghong, personally came to the Qian Ji Pavilion.
"Your Majesty, the person has been found. However, she is unconscious and appears to be severely injured. If not treated properly, her life is in grave danger."
Cheng Yichen's tone was heavy. If another death occurred, he truly wouldn't know what to do.
Jin Jinghong's stern gaze fell upon Rong Zhi, lying on the bed beside him. A faint scar was visible on her throat, her clothes were blood-stained, and her small face was deathly pale.
Her frail appearance did indeed make her look as if she could die at any moment.
"The Imperial Medical Academy has plenty of disciples from Medicine King Valley. Have them attend to her."
Once the person woke up, her identity could be immediately verified.
"Your Majesty, what your humble servant is referring to is not external wounds, but rather..."
Cheng Yichen raised his eyes and met Jin Jinghong's gaze. The meaning was conveyed entirely through their eyes.
It wasn't physical pain, but an internal ailment, a wound of the soul.
Such an injury could only be healed by Cheng Yichen alone.
"What do you intend to do?"
"I request Your Majesty grant me a quiet environment. Also... now that the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley has been found, can those children be released?"
Jin Jinghong narrowed his eyes, his expression as cold as ice.
"It's not yet certain if she is the real one."
"Your Majesty, the art of resurrection is extremely complex. I dare say that I am the only one in this world who can perform it. Furthermore, only a resurrected individual could attract so many lost souls. You must have heard about the situation in the imperial city."
It was rumored that tonight, an anomaly occurred in the imperial city. Many homes reported terrifying wails—of women, children, and the elderly—but when they opened their doors, no one was there.
The citizens of the imperial city were in a state of panic, many lighting lamps at night, afraid to sleep.
Besides bringing Rong Zhi back, Jin Jinghong had also dispatched many people to appease the public, claiming assassins were creating a disturbance and were being apprehended.
However, deceiving the common people did not deceive himself.
Those ghostly cries were clearly from genuine lost souls.
If it weren't for a resurrected individual, how could so many have been drawn here?
Jin Jinghong's doubt began to dissipate.
"So many people cannot be accommodated all at once. I will have people sent back in batches."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Cheng Yichen bowed as the Emperor left. Simultaneously, the members of Qian Ji Pavilion received orders to withdraw, leaving Cheng Yichen with a quiet environment.
"I didn't expect the National Preceptor to be so compassionate. Before the person's identity is confirmed, you're already anxious to release the vessels."
Jin Yunfei glared at the person on the bed with suspicion, his tone laced with sarcasm.
How could such a frail-looking girl, not even twenty years old, be the renowned Valley Master of Medicine King Valley from years ago?
"The Emperor has ordered that all unauthorized personnel must leave Qian Ji Pavilion. Please excuse yourself!"
No matter how dissatisfied Jin Yunfei was, the Emperor had issued the order.
"Hmph!"
Qian Ji Pavilion fell silent. Without the tragic cries of the girls, all the disciples withdrew. Cheng Yichen closed the doors and windows, then affixed talismans to the four corners and lit candles, just as he had done before at Gu Shen Tang.
He looked at Rong Zhi on the bed and sighed.
"Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, you are too useless. Captured so quickly, you have no one to blame. You cannot blame me."
He placed seven lamps in front of Rong Zhi. The flickering lights represented her life.
If all seven lamps extinguished, she would die.
Amidst the swaying candlelight, Cheng Yichen watched Rong Zhi idly.
"I thought you would guess my intentions. Turns out you're so foolish, you didn't even try to evade."
He had already emphasized the gravity of the resurrection art enough. Even the slowest person should have guessed that the royal family was not benevolent and that capture would lead to dire consequences. Yet... he had overestimated this Valley Master of Medicine King Valley.
Could one's brain become useless after rebirth?
Meanwhile, as soon as the Emperor returned to the palace, he received a report from the Ministry of Justice.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, General Xia has confessed. He was responsible for the Seven Kill Blood Array last time. The evidence is conclusive."
Emperor Jin Jinghong's face turned cold. Such an incident occurring at the same time as Xia Yunting's confession was a blatant defiance of imperial authority.
Did a few military achievements grant one the right to be so reckless?
"What evidence was found?"
Two constables entered, one carrying a sketch and the other a statue. They knelt on the ground.
The Minister of Justice said, "Both of these items were found in the General's residence. Furthermore, the housekeeper, Xia Jin, has confessed that Xia Yunting did indeed set up the Seven Kill Blood Array. The eyewitness is outside."
Jin Jinghong's gaze fell upon the drawing, and his pupils constricted. Thirteen years ago, arcane arts were strictly prohibited throughout the imperial city, and even talk of ghosts and spirits was forbidden. To think someone would openly engage in such practices. In any case, it was unforgivable.
"There is no need to bring in the eyewitness. Execute him immediately as a warning to others."
The Minister of Justice looked up in surprise. "Your Majesty, that is General Xia. Over the years, he has recovered lost territories at the border and has achieved considerable merit. Executing him so readily might incite public dissatisfaction."
"I say what I say. Go and do it."
"...Yes." The Minister of Justice withdrew dejectedly.
Not long after, Jin Jinghong called out into the void, "Come out." A dark figure landed on the ground.
It was Xiao Jianli.
"What has the Grand Tutor's mansion been up to lately?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor's family can enter and exit the Ministry of Justice prison at will, as if it were an empty territory. The Prime Minister has been serving them like a subordinate."
Jin Jinghong's expression turned ashen upon hearing this.
Relying on the Empress Dowager’s backing, he truly disregarded the law!
"Keep an eye on the Chen family."
"Yes."
When Rong Zhi woke up, she vaguely heard people discussing outside.
"Did you hear clearly? Xia Yunting is actually going to be executed?"
"Perfectly clear. The Emperor himself gave the order, and the Minister of Justice has already gone to carry it out. It will happen in the next couple of days."
"Wasn't the matter still under investigation?"
"It has been investigated. The array diagram was found in the General's residence, and the General's housekeeper testified. The evidence is overwhelming. This time, he has touched the Emperor's deepest taboo. Even General Xia is useless."
...
Rong Zhi slowly opened her eyes.
Was she dreaming? She seemed to have heard that Xia Yunting was to be executed.
Footsteps approached from outside, and a shadow fell over her. Cheng Yichen's white-haired appearance came into view.
A smile appeared on his youthful face.
"You're awake?"
As her consciousness returned, Rong Zhi realized this was not a scene from her dream.
Qian Ji Pavilion!
She suddenly became clear-headed, her memory still fixed on the moment she was surrounded by countless lost souls in the opera house.
"Did you have a nightmare? Fortunately, I arrived in time, or you would have been devoured by that swarm of vengeful spirits."
Cheng Yichen leaned closer and whispered, "Although your constitution is somewhat susceptible to yin energy, it shouldn't have attracted so many lost souls in such a short time. What have you experienced recently? Whom have you met?"
Seeing his confident demeanor, Rong Zhi suddenly felt a sense of unease. Had Chen An's formation been discovered?