Lu Jing's mother stood up gracefully and knelt beside her son's wounded body. From her robes, she produced a small jade pill and gently placed it between his bloodied lips.
Shortly after, Lu Jing's wounds began to visibly heal before their eyes. His broken jaw realigned, his teeth restored, and the swelling subsided. Within minutes, his injuries vanished completely, leaving no trace behind.
Lu Jing blinked his eyes open, a hint of his usual arrogance returning to his expression. He looked up at his mother, puzzled. "Why did you refer to that girl as the 'Divine Dragon Princess'?" he asked.
His mother met his questioning look evenly. "Because that is her true title," she replied. "Whoever wields the Golden Palm of the Heavenly Mandate is of the Imperial Bloodline."
Lu Jing's eyes widened in astonishment. "The Imperial Bloodline? No wonder she, a Spirit Condensation Realm, could defeat me. But why would a princess be in the Physician Hall?"
A faint smile touched his mother's lips. "That is what you must now discover," she said cryptically. "Use your cunning mind, my son. What purpose could bring a Dragon Princess to the humble door of the Physician hall?"
Lu Jing's brow furrowed as he considered her words. Suddenly, a realization dawned on him. "The Dragon Rot Curse..." he breathed. "She's here to find a cure."
His mother nodded approvingly. "Indeed. The Imperial Bloodline is afflicted, and she seeks the wisdom of the Physician Hall to heal them." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "This is no mere game, Lu Jing. Tread carefully, and watch your tongue. Your life may depend on it."
Lu Jing's jaw tightened, a spark of determination kindling in his eyes. "Oh, I will," he vowed. "Next time I will prepare a lesson for The Divine Dragon Princess, she has much to learn about the ways of our family."
*FLICK*
"Aw!" Lu Jing winced as his mother flicked his forehead. Rubbing the spot, he looked at her with confusion.
"I am your mother, that's why I am giving you a reminder but never utter the same sentiment in front of others or else I would not be able to save you from punishment." With a graceful movement, she rose to her feet. "Now, confine yourself to the Iron Confinement until the Tranquil Spirit Realm opens."
"Iron Confinement? But that's a punishment and why?" Lu Jing protested.
"Do you have no shame? Entire clan knows that a mere girl from Physician Hall came to your manor and beat you like a dog." She raised her eyebrow questioning. "Do you still want to face the ridicule of everyone now?" Her words were laced with disapproval.
"Why not? She is the princess…" Half-way through his retort, Lu Jing suddenly felt his own words did not make sense, a girl beat him like a dog, no excuse is going to change that fact or make it better. He averted his gaze, jaw tightening as he realized the wisdom in his mother's words. "...No, Mother," he conceded reluctantly. "I will go to the Iron Confinement."
Seeing his son will be obedient she nodded in approval and left floating away, her entourage of drapes and long fabrice trailing behind giving her an aura of fairy as she vanished. Lu Jing scratched his head in frustration but obediently resigned himself to the Iron confinement deep below the clan's manor.
With a nod of approval from his mother, Lu Jing watched as she floated away, her entourage of flowing fabric trailing behind her like the wings of a fairy. He sighed in frustration, scratching his head, but knew better than to defy her wishes. With a resigned sigh, he made his way to the Iron Confinement deep below the clan's manor, knowing he had no choice but to face the consequences and hide from the shame of his defeat.
"Have you completed your tasks for the day?" Physician Hong asked as he remained immersed in his herb studies, not looking up as Ming Mei bowed to him.
Ming Mei, who was usually very cheerful and adorable in front of Physician Hong, taking advantage of him with her cuteness, was now very serious, ashamed and guilty. After waiting for a few moments, she nodded, answering the question.
"Come, let me examine," Physician Hong gestured, his tone gentle yet authoritative.
Ming Mei came forward and extended her arm, and Physician Hong, with a practiced hand, inserted his silver needle into a vein under her wrist. A dark hue rose from her skin as it covered the silver needle.
"You've pushed your bloodline too far; the rot has deepened further." Physician Hong removed the needle, and a faint glowing green verdant essence rose from his fingers, cleansing the dark hue on the needle and returning it to its pristine state.
He dipped the needle back and forced his verdant essence into her veins. Ming Mei gritted her teeth in pain, but did not whimper or let out a sound of pain, though a tear did trickle down her cheek.
"You'll need to work harder on your Eternal Life Core Elixir Essence; mine isn't quite compatible here," Physician Hong gently reprimanded. He smiled faintly a moment later, pride clear in his eyes as he observed Ming Mei's affection for her new junior brother."You did this for your junior brother. Why not seek his further assistance in return?"
"If he could deduce from the small excerpt earlier, then after reading all my years of studies, he must have achieved some form of enlightenment, don't you think?" Physician Hong's eyes sparkled with hope, but Ming Mei couldn't meet his gaze, like a liar and thief.
"You!" Physician Hong exclaimed, though nothing escaped his observant eyes. He acted angry, but was laughing inside. "You are willing to make sacrifices for your new junior brother, and yet you are jealous of his talent? How disappointing."
Ming Mei understood that her master was pulling her leg, and her cheerfulness and adorableness returned as she pouted cutely.
"Fine, fine. But do not delay it, it's now a matter of great importance for you too," Physician Hong said, his usual serious expression returning as he returned to his studies. Ming Mei nodded and left for the night.
Lu Sheng, unaware of all this, was sleeping like a pig on the stone floor of his room.