69 Days Before The Imperial Banquet - 24.1 (1/2)

”Ru Wen Cheng and his disciple Ying Xiao Li is with her.” Fan Song Xue said in reply to Fan Hui Zhong's question.

Hearing his answer, Fan Hui Zhong calmed down and nodded before he thought to ask, ”But why isn't there anyone accompanying you? what about that boy, Xiao Dan?”

”Wen Cheng sent Xiao Dan out personally to procure some herbs discreetly to avoid any mishaps since he has higher cultivation than our family's servants. Besides, his sister Xiao Li stayed behind to help Wen Cheng out.”

”Your son understands. If you'll excuse me, I would just like to check up on my daughter.”

”Go. Once you get an update on her condition, come back and inform me how she's doing.”

Nodding his head, Fan Hui Zhong then left while Fan Hui Liang shot a questioningly look towards the old patriarch.

Sighing, Fan Song Xue started explaining what happened, meanwhile Fan Hui Zhong arrived at the room where Fan Zhu Xia was at and saw Ru Wen Cheng checking up on her while Ying Xiao Li was at the side cleaning up what seems to be leftover medicine.

His abrupt entrance drew the two's attention while Fan Hui Zhong's eyes remained glued on to Fan Zhu Xia's wan face and closed eyes.

”Lei Wangye, You're here!” Ru Wen Cheng exclaimed the moment Fan Hui Zhong entered.

”What happened?”

”Answering Lei Wangye, the Young Miss pushed herself too much when treating the Old Patriarch and caused her to suffer some side effects.”

Frowning at the words he heard, Fan Hui Zhong's eyes narrowed slightly as he turned his face to look at Ru Wen Cheng.

”What side effects?”

”For starters, she had exhausted her qi too much and even her high cultivation couldn't keep up with the rate of consumption which is why her body's having trouble coping with it and to make matters worse, whatever treatment she did had placed tremendous pressure on her not only physically which was already quite evident with the internal injuries that I saw she suffered but also on her mind and soul! For now, I've already stabilized her condition but it is best to let her rest while we keep a close eye on her state before doing anything just to try to wake her up.”

Coming close to the bed, Fan Hui Zhong sat beside it and gently held Fan Zhu Xia's limp hand with his own before he spoke.

”Then what should we do?”

”I've already addressed the mattet of her internal injuries and there shouldn't be any problems arising from that. Now we should wait for my disciple; Xiao Dan to come back first. I've sent him to go and get a list of herbs that I could refine to make pills suitable to adress her qi deficiency and also to lessen the damage her mind and soul suffered.”

”So there isn't anything we can do for her right now?”

”I'm sorry Master but no... All that needs to be done and can be done, this one has already finished doing it.” Ru Wen Cheng replied helplessly.

”Very well then. What about father's condition? Can you tell me more about it?”

Hearing his question, a complicated expression appeared on Ru Wen Cheng's face as he said, ”About that... the Old Patriarch wouldn't let me check up on him until I finished checking up on the Young Miss so I am unable to tell Master anything about the Old Patriarch's condition.”

Hearing that, Fan Hui Zhong couldn't help but let out a low chuckle as he shook his head.

”Stubborn, old man... Wen Cheng, go on and check up on my father first. Since nothing can be done until your disciple comes back then go on and make sure my father is okay. I'll stay here with my daughter for now.”

”This lowly one understands.” Ru Wen Cheng said in reply before shooting his disciple, Ying Xiao Li who had remained quiet and unobtrusive from start to finish a look before the two of them excused themselves and left quietly, leaving the father and daughter alone.

Meanwhile, outside the estate, Ying Xiao Dan was facing troubles of his own.

”Sir Ying, please go on ahead and escape once you see a chance!” a guard clad in Lei Sha Di Army's armor lowly said to him in an urgent manner making Ying Xiao Dan's expression turn ugly.

”I can't just leave you guys here to die!” he bit out frustratedly as he parried an attack from a black clothed man.

Currently they were on a desserted street and since it was still quite early in the morning, the commonly bustling street was empty and adding on the drizzling rain that made the skies overcast and gloomy, even the usual early risers had chosen to sleep in and linger in their homes.

The only reason that they were out here was because Ying Xiao Dan had to call upon some of his acquaintances to procure some high-quality herbs that he heard they had in their possession.

Who knew that they would meet with an ambush along the way?

It was a good thing that he had thought to ask a group of soldiers from the Lei Sha Di Army to accompany him or else he would have been dead meat by now.

The only thing he regrets is that the group of soldiers he asked where all his friends and fairly young new recruits. The only one who can be considered a veteran was their squad leader and trainer, the same person who told him to run; Luo Yang.

Luo Yang was an old friend of Min Sheng from the time he was still in the Thunder Vale Army under General Fan Hui Zhong.

Luo Yang only followed his friend's example and joined the Lei Sha Di Army when he retired due to a leg injury.

If it wasn't for this old injury then Luo Yang wouldn't be assigned to training new recruits but would be one of the few captains of the elite guards.