"Yes." Rongjing nodded. Even as Yun Qianyue recounted each hardship he'd endured, his expression remained calm and serene, as if she were speaking of someone else, not him.
"While the Cold Poison Pill suppressed the Love-Inducing Poison, it also damaged your heart meridian, leaving behind a lingering chill. That's the frozen blockage I sensed in your heart meridian. Not long after that, you received a blow that almost cost you your life. If my guess is right, you were saved from death's door by that charlatan Lingyin. He then sealed the injury along with the Cold Poison, keeping you alive but blocking the flow of your meridians. You had to rely on the Tianshan Snow Lotus to sustain your gradually weakening heart meridian, along with powerful inner strength. That's how you've survived until now." Yun Qianyue paused and analyzed.
"Yes." Rongjing nodded, showing no surprise at her accurate deductions.
"Heavens really favored you, didn't they?" Yun Qianyue suddenly exclaimed, looking at him with admiration. "To have gone through all that and still be alive—I'm impressed! You're definitely not human!"
Rongjing turned away, as if at a loss for words.
Yun Qianyue didn't speak further. She continued circulating her inner energy within Rongjing's heart meridian, frowning in concentration as she analyzed, her lips sometimes pressed together and sometimes parted, her expression changing with each thought.
Rongjing glanced back at her, observing the liveliness on her face up close.
After some time, Yun Qianyue looked up, her expression unusually serious. "I've thought of a way to restore your meridian injuries, undo Lingyin's seal, and revive the flow of your dried-up heart meridian through your eight extraordinary meridians. However, I'm only half certain. It might be unbearably painful, beyond what you can endure. Do you trust me enough to try?"
"Sure," Rongjing nodded, his expression gentle yet indifferent. "It's just a worn-out life; do whatever you like."
"Spoken like a true man! If I accidentally kill you, I'll burn some paper offerings for you," Yun Qianyue said instantly.
Rongjing suddenly smiled, a vibrant smile that could rival the blooming of a lotus. He replied softly, "Alright."
Seeing him agree, Yun Qianyue took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and focused intently.
Rongjing's face remained calm and composed, but if one looked closely, there was a hint of determination hidden in his brows.
"I'll channel half of my energy into the center of your heart meridian and leave half outside. Then, with a double assault, I'll break through the seal placed by that charlatan Lingyin. I'll use my energy to heal the decade-old injuries. You only need to encapsulate my energy, like building a wall around it; it must be enclosed completely. If it scatters even slightly inside you, I'm afraid we'll fail before we even begin, and your body might explode. This is the hardest part. Once we pass it, I believe our merged inner power can drive out the cold poison." Yun Qianyue spoke clearly, enunciating every word. "How about it?"
"Alright," Rongjing nodded.
"I'm the type who downplays even a seven-out-of-ten chance as five out of ten. You've got to trust me; stop looking like you're about to die. Think of it as an all-or-nothing, sink-or-swim. Worst case, you'll reincarnate in eighteen years as a hero again," Yun Qianyue ended her serious explanation with a playful comment.
"Got it," Rongjing chuckled.
"Shall we start?" Yun Qianyue asked.
"Yes," Rongjing nodded.
Neither spoke further, wholly focused on the task.
Yun Qianyue knew that helping Rongjing now was impulsive. Though she wasn't fatigued, he surely was. Attempting to treat his old wounds and illnesses wasn't the ideal timing. Yet, who says an imperfect moment can't yield results? She relied on her resolve and their shared determination in this moment. Difficult times often bring fortune, a truth she had always believed in. For her, this must succeed.
Rongjing shared her sentiments exactly. Despite perfect timing and circumstances, Lingyin had failed twice. And over the last ten years, every attempt Rongjing had made to heal himself had failed. He had already given up, but here she was, offering to treat him in less-than-ideal conditions. Lingyin's energy hadn't matched his own, leading to minimal results, but Yun Qianyue's power and his were of a similar source. This gave him hope. Watching her determined expression, his confidence surged. Regardless of the outcome, it was worth trying. Perhaps... just maybe... they'd succeed.
This time, Yun Qianyue advanced slowly, wary of even the slightest mistake. Carefully, she channeled her energy to break through the gaps in Lingyin's seal, injecting her qi into his heart meridian bit by bit. Each time her energy settled into his meridian, merging with his own, she proceeded to the next phase. Patience was one of her virtues; she had once taken down an international drug cartel, meticulously infiltrating and dismantling it over five years, which earned her a promotion to general.
Rongjing remained still, letting her work her skills. He closed his eyes as if in sleep.
Time ticked by slowly.
After two hours, Yun Qianyue spoke softly, "Rested enough? Let's begin!"
"Yes," Rongjing nodded. Instantly, his qi surrounded hers, creating an impenetrable wall.
Yun Qianyue was momentarily surprised and praised him, "Impressive! You've recovered so quickly—your qi is twice as strong as before."
YOU ARE READING
The Dandy's Duchess
Chick-Lit"The Dandy's Duchess" tells the story of the youngest and most talented general of the National Security Bureau, who sacrifices his life for his country and finds his soul transported to another world, where he is reborn as Yun Qianyue, the only leg...
