Chapter 165: Chapter 158 Xia Xue’s Thoughts
Encouraged by Xiao Lin, Xia Xue’s mood soared even more. Even though breakfast was perfectly prepared and ready to eat, Xia Xue was unfazed and said directly, "Xiao Lin, I heard you say the essence of your Nine Dragons Needle Technique is to stimulate the intrinsic potential of the human body, enhancing its resistance. The Nine Dragons True Qi has the ability to restore vitality. As long as there is life, it can be treated, right?"
Xiao Lin understood Xia Xue’s intention from her words. However, Niu Niu’s mother’s vitality was almost extinguished. Unless his Nine Dragons Needle Technique reached perfection, achieving the level of immediately administering nine needles, or perhaps even reaching a state where needles are unnecessary yet effective, it would be nearly impossible to revive the little life remaining in Niu Niu’s mother.
As for Niu Niu’s mother’s own potential, it was nearly exhausted under the strain of her strong willpower over the past two years. In her currently deteriorated body, there was almost no potential left to tap into. Otherwise, replacing her kidney wouldn’t have been impossible.
"At most, I can extend her life by two to three months. That’s the limit. Her body has no potential left to offer; it’s been completely depleted over the past two years by her willpower. Although the Nine Dragons True Qi has the capability to restore vitality, Niu Niu’s mother’s body simply can’t bear too much of it. If there’s too much, she can’t handle it; if too little, it wouldn’t help much!" Xiao Lin wasn’t stingy with his Nine Dragons True Qi, but given Niu Niu’s mother’s critically exhausted state, in another month, even if his Nine Dragons Needle Technique became perfect, it wouldn’t save her.
However, Xia Xue, upon hearing Xiao Lin’s words, did not feel disheartened. Rather, she excitedly expressed, "Xiao Lin, I know Niu Niu’s mother’s physical condition, and I understand she is almost at the end of her rope with no potential left to tap. But what if her health improves? What if she can endure more Nine Dragons True Qi?"
Xiao Lin’s eyes lit up, as he hadn’t considered this angle before, though his expression quickly dimmed again with a sigh, "Of course I know if her health was slightly better, it could be fully restored. It’s just that from yesterday’s report, it seems I am powerless; I can at best extend her life by three months!"
"Xiao Lin, both you and I know that a person’s potential is endless, and the amount of potential depends on the body’s own strength. Now, Niu Niu’s mother’s body is indeed very weak, on the verge of collapse. But if she, like you, cultivates True Qi as a protective shield, wouldn’t that enhance her potential?" Xia Xue asked seriously.
Xiao Lin was taken aback, having not thought from this perspective. But the idea of cultivating True Qi isn’t such an easy feat? Even getting started with the basics discourages most people, let alone a severely ill patient bedridden, tortured by illness every day—how could they concentrate on cultivation?
"Do you think everyone is like you, a total anomaly!" Xiao Lin thought jealously, though he did not voice it out, ensuring Xia Xue remained unaware. Otherwise, it wouldn’t bode well for her future cultivation.
"You’re right, if Niu Niu’s mother could cultivate True Qi, it would indeed be a promising approach. Once her body allows for it, replace her kidney and treat everything systematically, there’s a possibility of recovery!" Xiao Lin pondered, admitting Xia Xue’s theory was valid. If Niu Niu’s body possessed True Qi, complemented by the stimulation of Nine Dragons True Qi, her internal potential would increase, and so would her resistance, making a full recovery possible.
"But, the possibility is extremely slim, because Niu Niu’s mother..." Before Xiao Lin could finish, Xia Xue eagerly cut him off. "What do you mean impossible? I think Niu Niu’s mother can cultivate the Profound Lady Heart Scripture you taught me! I’ve been practicing it every night before sleep for the past few days, and it seems I’ve already passed the first stage!"
"What? You’ve passed the first stage?" Xiao Lin widened his eyes, looking at Xia Xue a bit incredulously. It wasn’t just an anomaly; it was outright defying nature! Was the Profound Lady Heart Scripture really this exaggerated?
"Yes, it says that when you can sense the presence of the entire Dantian Sea of Qi and feel the subtle changes in the air currents around you, then absorb energy from the outside to enrich the Sea of Qi in the Dantian, this should be the state of entering the second stage, right?" Xia Xue widened her eyes looking towards Xiao Lin in Yanjing, finding his exaggerated expression amusing. Is it not just cultivation?
Xiao Lin was at a loss for words towards Xia Xue, then remembered what Xia Xue mentioned before, saying, "But what if Niu Niu’s mother isn’t suitable to cultivate the Profound Lady Heart Scripture?" Thinking that not everyone is as exceptional as you are. It took Xiao Lin a whole month and a half to sense the existence of the Sea of Qi Dantian, feel the energy from the outside, then absorb it into the Sea of Qi Dantian! And he considered himself a prodigy, starting cultivation at the age of three or four. But compared to Xia Xue’s cultivation speed, he was like the glow of a firefly on the ground, while Xia Xue was akin to the Moon in the sky—the difference was enormous.
"What do you mean suitable or not suitable? Isn’t Niu Niu’s mother a woman too? Didn’t you say the Profound Lady Heart Scripture is most suited for women to cultivate?" Xia Xue argued back.
Hearing Xia Xue’s remark, Xiao Lin grew more frustrated—did she think everyone was like her? He had seen many with promising talents, but even someone as extraordinary as the Military Advisor had tried the Profound Lady Heart Scripture without success. Could Niu Niu’s mother successfully cultivate it? Only Xia Xue turned out to be this anomaly.
Of course, Xiao Lin dared not say this out loud. From another perspective, Xia Xue’s persistence wasn’t without reason. Besides, there wasn’t a better way to treat Niu Niu’s mother now. It wasn’t as if he could bluntly tell her she was some anomaly, a freak in cultivation, and he hadn’t encountered anyone else like her in this lifetime.
So, Xiao Lin quickly relented. "Alright, this is also a possible approach, we’ll try it before considering something else!"
"Mm, in the morning, we’ll head over together!" Xia Xue was in high spirits, feeling unaffected by what happened yesterday now that Xiao Lin agreed to her idea.
Xiao Lin was a bit speechless. Yet deep inside, he harbored a small expectation that Niu Niu’s mother could recover, fulfilling one of his wishes. Maybe, Xia Xue’s proposal could indeed heal Niu Niu’s mother? Treating a dying horse like a living one could possibly yield results.
Faced with Xiao Lin’s reluctance to tell Xia Xue the truth, lest it impacts her cultivation, they reached an agreement, and over breakfast, Xiao Lin realized a serious problem, urgently asking Xia Xue, "By the way, Xiaoxue, where’s Xiangxiang? Where did Xiangxiang go?"
"Xiangxiang? Ah, I forgot if you hadn’t mentioned, it seems... Xiangxiang is missing?" Yesterday’s incident happened so suddenly, and after returning from Jiangling to Yanjing, Xia Xue went directly to the first affiliated hospital without returning to the school hospital.
"When I got back to the first affiliated hospital yesterday, I didn’t see Xiangxiang. Could she be lost?" Xiao Lin said a bit helplessly. How did she go missing at this age? Xiangxiang was, after all, brought by Qin Ying, and if she got lost, a proper explanation to her parents would be hard.
"Relax, Xiangxiang probably went home. At that age, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl wouldn’t just disappear. Call to check!" Xia Xue comforted, knowing that leaving Xiangxiang was almost her decision.
Xiao Lin hurriedly made the call, neglecting breakfast, relieved when the call went through with Xun Xiangxiang’s voice on the other end, putting his mind at ease knowing nothing untoward had happened.
"I’m at the hospital. I’ll hang up if there’s nothing more!" Xun Xiangxiang’s tone was surprising, serious beyond recognition as if she was no longer the little mischievous witch, leaving Xiao Lin puzzled, hearing the buzzing disconnect afterward from Xiangxiang’s end.
"What...what happened to Xiangxiang?" Xiao Lin muttered to himself, wondering why Xiangxiang wasn’t mad, given she’d disappeared almost a full day with no calls until morning.
"Where is Xiangxiang?" Seeing Xiao Lin momentarily stunned, Xia Xue asked eagerly. Xia Xue genuinely liked this little sister, cunning yet lovable.
"She’s at the school hospital, but I didn’t see her when I was there!" Xiao Lin replied, feeling a bit frustrated.
However, hearing that nothing happened to Xiangxiang, Xiao Lin felt comforted.
Hearing that Xun Xiangxiang was alright, Xia Xue continued to eat the tempting breakfast on the table, happily telling Xiao Lin, "If I get fat, you better not leave me. It’s your fault!"
Xiao Lin was indeed left speechless. However, deep down, there was a faint hint of expectation, that if somehow Niu Niu’s mother could recover, it would also fulfill something he wished for. Perhaps, Xia Xue’s suggestion would work, and would indeed heal Niu Niu’s mother’s body. Trying anything at this point wouldn’t make things any worse.
This matter reached a consensus between Xiao Lin, who didn’t want to influence Xia Xue’s cultivation by telling her the truth. As they were eating breakfast, Xiao Lin realized an important issue and suddenly asked Xia Xue, "By the way, Xiaoxue, where’s Xiangxiang? Where did she go?"
"Xiangxiang? Ah, I nearly forgot, it seems... Xiangxiang is missing?" Yesterday’s events unfolded too quickly, and after returning to Yanjing from Jiangling, Xia Xue went directly to the first affiliated hospital, without returning to the school hospital first.
"I didn’t see Xiangxiang when I returned to the first affiliated hospital yesterday... she didn’t go missing, did she?" said Xiao Lin somewhat at a loss for words, wondering how someone grown up could wander off like that? One must know that Xun Xiangxiang was brought up by Qin Ying, and if she were to go missing, it would be a big headache.
"Oh no, where’s Xiangxiang? Please call her!" Xia Xue reassured encouragingly, trying to cool his nerves, saying that a sixteen or seventeen-year-old wouldn’t vanish, recommending to call to see. The moment Xiaoxue said it, she received news from Xun Xiangxiang, realizing everything was fine and expressing a wider smile to Xiao Lin. "Next time if I gain too much weight, you mustn’t leave me, it’ll be all your fault!"
Xiao Lin, somewhat speechless as it was his first time dealing with Xia Xue’s thought process, didn’t feel particularly surprised. Despite the lack of a typical angry reaction from an ordinary girl, his heart felt a sweet warmth instead.
"Oh, by the way, Xiao Lin, I need to talk to you about something that happens every night during practice." Xia Xue said to Xiao Lin, embarrassed.
Xiao Lin had gradually gotten used to Xia Xue’s thought process and was not surprised at all, simply replying, "What is it? Don’t you think we’re like an old married couple?"
"Who are you calling an old married couple!" Xia Xue gave Xiao Lin a sweet look and said shyly, "Well... every night when I’m practicing, I somehow... fall asleep, does this affect my cultivation?" (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for recommendations and monthly votes at . Thanks for your support!)