A few days later, outside the infirmary, Wen Qing is waiting for Wei Ying and Lan Zhan, with Xue Yang asking her question after question, when they arrive.
"Would a combination of oleander and foxglove be harder to detect?"
"You're just being silly now! Either one would be instant death, so why on earth would anyone think about combining them?"
"Theoretically?"
"Theo- oh, thank God," she murmurs and rushes over to them. "My mother says we're going to leave soon, is that why we're here?" She asks Wei Ying, ignoring the muted wail of disappointment from behind them.
"Hi, Wen Qing!" Wei Ying beams at her, finding it hilarious that she's still a pint-sized medical genius trapped in her eight year old body, while he and Lan Zhan are back to normal. A few days ago, he'd even found her crying happy tears about it. "I figured we could put our heads together and help Nie-Zhongzhu out."
"Isn't he almost fully recovered though?" She asks, as Lan Zhan leads the way inside.
"Oh, I'm not talking about a new injury. But it might be better if we let him explain it to us. Come on." Wei Ying follows Lan Zhan as they enter.
The Healers have given the Nie Sect Leader his own room, and Nie MingJue is visiting with him when they knock to enter.
"...can help!" Nie MingJue is telling his father, who is frantically shaking his head.
They both startle when the immortals walk in, followed by the two children. Nie XiongMeng immediately bows with his son, and greetings are exchanged. Wei Ying distracts him with questions as Wen Qing studies him, her eyes narrow and discerning. He looks alright, perhaps a little too pale but otherwise hale and hearty.
"How are you feeling?" Wei Ying asks him, coming to stand on the other side of the bed.
"Much better. Though I have Xue-Gongzi to thank, I believe. For saving my life." He bows again, clearly not over the trauma of being attacked.
Xue Yang shrugs. "I didn't do it for you," he replies honestly, and while Wei Ying stifles a snicker, Lan Zhan throws him a look meaning, don't talk if you can't be polite.
Wen Qing smacks the back of his head and he rubs it, smiling back at her. No words are exchanged, so they must have some sort of understanding between them. She turns to Wei Ying instead. "It is as you suspected, the resentment energy is taking its toll on his body and mind. I estimate about five years, give or take a few weeks."
"What?" Nie MingJue exclaims, grabbing his father's hand, while the older man frowns, glaring between Wen Qing and Wei Ying.
"You have no right to examine me without my approval!" He shouts.
"Am I wrong, though?" Wen Qing demands. "It's only a matter of time before someone figures it out, right?"
"I will not leave the Unclean Realm when it gets to that stage," he replies defensively.
"Before you go making wild accusations or taking drastic measures, just listen to us," Wei Ying warns him, waiting for him to nod. "Good. In the interests of keeping you alive, we have come to visit you this morning."
"You don't know what you're talking about," Nie XiongMeng says, sounding miserable.
"Don't I?" Wei Ying laughs, low and dangerous. "You know, there are lots of perks to being immortal." He glances at Lan Zhan, who takes his hand and nods in agreement. "One shocking improvement is being able to detect and locate any pockets of resentment energy. You might not know this but the Cloud Recesses is warded against any negative energies, not only resentment energy but even low level monsters and yaoguai. You, sir, are reeking of it. But lucky for you, that's why we're here."
