There were even more astonishing things to come. After Mo Qi had finished the initial processing of all the materials according to the standards for medicinal ingredients, he took these spiritual herbs into Xue Ying's room.
Mo Qi looked at Xue Ren Kui, who followed him in. "The entire healing process involves the combination of medicine and vital energy, transmitted into her body through me, this human furnace. This process will require skin contact. If you can accept that, I will proceed."
Xue Ren Kui increasingly felt that this fellow was being deliberately mysterious. A human furnace, the combination of medicine and vital energy – these were things he had never heard of or seen before.
"But I want to see how long he can keep up this charade. When he can no longer pretend, his true colors will eventually be revealed. At that time, don't blame me for being ruthless."
"What kind of skin contact?" Xue Ren Kui asked coldly.
"Palm to palm," Mo Qi replied.
Xue Ren Kui let out a sigh of relief. "You may."
The next moment, Mo Qi brazenly climbed onto Xue Ying's bed. Xue Ying was already unconscious. He propped her up, then let her fall back, propped her up again, and let her fall back again.
Seeing this, Xue Ren Kui stepped forward and gently held Xue Ying's shoulder. Xue Ying sat up steadily, but her head lolled to one side. Fortunately, it lolled to the side, so her face could not be seen.
Because she was so thin, emaciated to the point of being unrecognizable, her eye sockets were sunken and her cheekbones were prominent, giving one a chilling sensation.
Her hands were like chicken claws, bare and bony, feeling rough to the touch.
Mo Qi, disregarding the sensory details, immediately began placing the medicinal ingredients into his mouth one by one, then joined his palms with Xue Ying's. Xue Ren Kui's eyes widened like copper bells. "This scoundrel is clearly here to swindle spiritual herbs! He's doing it so brazenly."
"Fine, I'll watch further. Let's see how you get out of this."
A moment later, Xue Ren Kui's eyes were still wide open, but his expression had shifted from rage to shock.
Mo Qi's entire body began to glow red. From several feet away, one could feel waves of heat washing over them, and wisps of steam rose from the top of Mo Qi's head. He truly looked like a furnace, and one could almost hear the gurgling sound of boiling water in Mo Qi's stomach. A rich medicinal aroma quietly permeated the room.
This was truly miraculous. Xue Ren Kui was greatly astonished. Regardless of whether it was effective, the display itself was certainly convincing.
After another moment, smoke began to rise from the points where Mo Qi's palms and Xue Ying's palms were connected. A moment later, mist also began to rise from the top of Xue Ying's head. Her previously pale face gradually regained a hint of color.
During this process, Mo Qi had indeed made some subtle calculations. He had added ingredients to enhance his Vajra Indestructible Battle Robe. He had previously been unable to find these medicinal ingredients, so he had substituted them with other spiritual herbs. He had written them on the list casually, as he could use anything available. He never expected Xue Ren Kui to prepare every single item he listed. The cultivation world in the Northern Region was indeed richer in resources than the Nine Divine Realms.
As he transmitted the medicinal power and vital energy, he was surprised to discover that as his physique improved, the vital energy and spiritual energy he transmitted to the other person became even more refined.
Unexpectedly, his little trick had coincidentally aided in the healing. Mo Qi was secretly delighted, while continuously channeling his Blazing Fire power to refine the spiritual herbs. As the herbs were gradually transformed, Xue Ying's complexion visibly improved. Because Mo Qi had added herbs that replenished qi and blood, as well as those rich in nutrients, all this medicinal power was absorbed by Xue Ying. Her originally gaunt body gradually became fuller. Although she was still very thin, she no longer looked so ghastly. As a warm current coursed through her body, Xue Ying's previous extreme weakness vanished without a trace. She slowly opened her eyes.
When she saw the white-clothed youth sitting before her, a look of grief and indignation reappeared in her eyes. She tried to struggle and pull her hand out of Mo Qi's grip. Mo Qi held it tightly, as there was only a little medicinal power left, and he couldn't let the effort go to waste.
Xue Ren Kui also noticed the obvious changes happening to Xue Ying. He felt that this treatment was effective. Regardless of whether the illness was completely cured overall, this particular treatment was successful. He also feared that the effort would be in vain, so he held Xue Ying's shoulder firmly. Under the impetus of his spiritual power, Xue Ying couldn't move an inch.
Xue Ying struggled for a long time with no success, and a tear rolled down her cheek. Suddenly, she felt a churning sensation in her stomach, and a surge of heat rushed upwards. Unable to help herself, she opened her mouth and spat out a mouthful of thick black qi, emitting a foul odor that lingered for a long time before dissipating.
At this point, the spiritual herbs within Mo Qi were completely consumed. He unleashed his Ice Snow Divine Ability, and his body gradually cooled down.
After Mo Qi and Xue Ren Kui released their hands, Xue Ying slumped back and lay on the bed. She then pulled the quilt over herself and covered her head.
Xue Ren Kui gave Mo Qi a look, signaling him not to disturb her. Then, they both retreated from the room.
Jin Yan had been waiting outside, pacing back and forth like an ant on a hot pan. Seeing the two emerge, she immediately rushed forward and asked Mo Qi, "How is it?"
Mo Qi shook his head wearily.
Jin Yan's eyes immediately dimmed, and she looked as if she were about to cry. "Did it fail again?"
Mo Qi glanced at her. "I mean, we don't know yet. We need to observe further." He then took out a few small replenishment pills and one large replenishment pill from his storage bag and handed them to Xue Ren Kui. "Whether she has recovered or not, I have done my best. I have used all my techniques and will not come again. If she recovers, she will urgently need to replenish her body, but her body is too weak for haste. Use the small replenishment pills first to build a foundation, and then use the large replenishment pill once her constitution improves."
After speaking, he turned and left without looking back. He couldn't quite understand it. He was treating people "free of charge," yet he was met with all sorts of displeased expressions, various difficulties, and a general reluctance. Who was asking whom for what?
Xue Ren Kui immediately instructed Jin Yan, "You follow him. Meet any needs he has as much as possible. Also... I hope he will continue to stay on Jade Mist Mountain for the next few days." Jin Yan acknowledged the order and left.
Mo Qi returned to Shui Ling's room. He shut the door with a bang and disappeared from sight.
When the night was deep and quiet, he tiptoed out of his room again and crept to the back of Xue Ren Kui's residence to listen for any sounds. After all, this was the fruit of his labor, and he wanted to know the results. He listened for a long time but heard no sounds of painful groans until dawn, when he finally returned.
He then lay on his bed and slept soundly. In the afternoon, he awoke to a knock on the door. Opening it, Jin Yan walked in with a joyful expression and sat down at the table. "Miss Xue is eating."
Mo Qi glanced at her sideways. "What's so surprising about eating a meal?"
Jin Yan returned his gaze. "You're missing the point. Didn't Sect Leader Xue say earlier that she was on a hunger strike? And now she's eating voluntarily, not being force-fed. What does that indicate?"
Mo Qi naturally knew what she meant. It indicated that Xue Ying's illness had been cured.
However, Mo Qi was not so optimistic, as it was an illness she had suffered from since birth. Upon hearing this, he merely smiled faintly. "This only indicates she was hungry."
Jin Yan rolled her eyes. "Why are you so lacking in confidence in yourself?"
Mo Qi shrugged, feigning indifference. "It's not that I lack confidence; I just don't worry about it. What does it have to do with me? I've done what I could. The rest depends on her fate."
Jin Yan looked at him with doubt. "Are you really that carefree?"
"That's exactly how carefree I am."
In the evening, Mo Qi crept out again and squatted behind Xue Ren Kui's house for several hours. He was discovered by a guard disciple. Seeing him acting suspiciously, the disciple thought he was an intruder and shouted, "Who's there?" Simultaneously, he moved swiftly, intending to apprehend him.
Mo Qi hastily consumed an invisibility pill and narrowly escaped back, looking disheveled. He began to chide himself, "What am I doing all this for?"
The next day, Jin Yan came to Mo Qi's room again, looking somewhat gleeful. "Miss Xue has gone out."
Mo Qi still maintained a nonchalant expression. "Isn't it normal for her to go out?"
"Not at all. Do you know she hasn't left her room for three years?"
"Then where did she go when she went out?" Mo Qi asked.
"She just stood at the corner tower for a moment," Jin Yan said with a smile.
Mo Qi took a deep breath. "This counts as going out?"
"Of course. Her room does have a door, after all," Jin Yan argued convincingly.
"Alright, I yield." Mo Qi glanced at her and suddenly said, "I'm going back. I've been away from home for a few days. Wu Si Qi is alone at the shop, and I'm afraid he can't handle it."
"Who said he's alone at the shop? Shui Ling has already gone there," Jin Yan replied.
"Ah?" Mo Qi looked surprised. "Could this girl have taken a liking to Wu Si Qi?"
Jin Yan murmured to herself, "If only she really liked Wu Si Qi. She probably thinks she's the proprietress there."
"What?" Mo Qi hadn't heard her clearly and pressed for an answer.
Jin Yan smiled slightly. "I said, wait for me here. I'll go report to the Sect Leader." She turned and left. Moments later, Jin Yan returned and told Mo Qi, "The Sect Leader said you can leave."
Mo Qi's heart sank to the bottom. "Is that all he said?"
Jin Yan nodded with certainty. "That's all."
Mo Qi was silent for a moment, then looked up at Jin Yan. "Miss Jin, thank you for taking care of me these past few days. Feel free to visit my shop when you have time."
Jin Yan nodded repeatedly. "Alright, I will if I have time."
Then, Mo Qi turned and left resolutely.
When he returned to the shop, it was closed. Opening the door and entering, he found Wu Si Qi sleeping in his room upstairs. Upon inquiry, he learned that the pills had all been sold, and with nothing else to do, Wu Si Qi had practiced for a while and then fallen asleep.
Mo Qi searched around, not seeing Shui Ling. He asked, "Where is Miss Shui? Didn't you say she came to our place?"
"Uh, she only stayed for a short while. Seeing that there were no customers, she went back," Wu Si Qi said.
Mo Qi was also exhausted and went back to his room to sleep. At least now he could get a good night's sleep.