Despite his lack of cultivation, Yan Zi's expertise as an alchemist shone through. Normally, identifying an injury like this would have been a matter of minutes for any skilled alchemist. But without the ability to channel his own spiritual energy, he had to rely entirely on observation and Yan Ru's cooperation, making the process painstakingly slow.
Yet, Yan Zi remained unfazed. His sharp mind, honed through years of studying alchemical texts, worked tirelessly. With each passing moment, he analyzed the faint fluctuations in Yan Ru's qi flow, connecting the dots based on her reactions and the subtle signs he observed.
After some time, a spark of realization flickered in his bright blue eyes. He released her wrist gently and sat back slightly, his expression a mix of concern and urgency.
"I've figured it out," Yan Zi said, his voice steady but serious.
Yan Ru blinked, tilting her head in curiosity. "What is it? Is it bad?"
"It's not just a minor ache," Yan Zi began, his tone grave. "The pain in your wrist is caused by an overflow of spiritual energy while cultivating. When the energy running through your meridians is too abundant and not refined properly, it begins to put immense strain on specific points in your body. For you, it seems to have concentrated in your wrist."
Yan Ru frowned slightly, her clear brown eyes narrowing in thought. "Overflow of energy? That doesn't make sense. I've always been careful during cultivation. How could this happen?"
Yan Zi sighed, crossing his arms. "It's not entirely your fault. With the kind of spiritual energy you must have encountered in the secret grounds, it's easy to lose control, even for someone as skilled as you. The problem is, if this isn't treated in time, the excess energy will start to burn your meridians."
Yan Ru's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of alarm crossing her face. "Burn my meridians?"
Yan Zi nodded. "Yes. Right now, the pain you feel is a sign that the affected area is struggling to handle the energy. If it continues unchecked, the pressure will build up to the point where the meridian could... well, explode."
"Explode?!" Yan Ru exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief.
Yan Zi shot her a calm but firm look. "Yes. And before you ask, no, I'm not exaggerating. A damaged meridian is one thing, but a burst meridian is catastrophic. It could cripple your ability to cultivate permanently. And considering your position as a top genius of the clan, I doubt you want that."
Yan Ru's expression shifted to one of unease, her earlier confidence replaced by a rare vulnerability. She looked down at her wrist, the faint redness now feeling far more ominous.
Yan Ru's gaze flickered back to Yan Zi, a sudden thought dawning on her. Her brows furrowed as confusion filled her face. "Wait... how do you know so much about this? You—" Her eyes narrowed slightly. "You're not cultivating, so how could you—?"
Yan Zi raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. "Did you forget what I told you earlier? I'm an alchemist. I've studied these things in detail. Injuries like yours are practically basic knowledge for someone like me."
For a moment, Yan Ru froze. Her lips parted slightly in shock, her clear brown eyes scanning his face as if trying to gauge if he was serious. "You're... an alchemist?"
Yan Zi tilted his head, a hint of amusement in his gaze. "What, you didn't know? Did you think I've been sitting around doing nothing this whole time?"
Yan Ru blinked rapidly, her cheeks flushing faintly. "I—well, no. I mean, I just thought..." She trailed off, biting her lip as if embarrassed to admit her assumptions.
Yan Zi sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Tsk. Typical. Everyone just assumes I'm useless because I can't cultivate. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to meet someone with such low expectations of me."
Yan Ru's face turned a deeper shade of pink, and she crossed her arms defensively. "I didn't say that!"
"You didn't have to." Yan Zi smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Your reaction says it all."
Yan Ru huffed, looking away. "Fine, maybe I didn't know. But still, you could've mentioned it earlier instead of letting me make a fool of myself."
Yan Zi chuckled softly, shaking his head. "What can I say? I like to keep people guessing. Makes life more entertaining."
Yan Ru took a deep breath, her earlier embarrassment giving way to a more thoughtful expression. "Alright, fine. So you're an alchemist. That explains how you figured out my injury. But if you're so knowledgeable, why didn't you just say so from the start?"
Yan Zi's smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Because it doesn't matter if I know what's wrong. Without cultivation, I can't treat you the way a normal alchemist would. I can only guide you through the process and hope it's enough."
Yan Ru studied him for a moment, her expression softening. "Even so... it's impressive. I've never met someone who could do so much with so little."
Yan Zi glanced at her, caught off guard by the unexpected compliment. For a brief moment, he didn't know how to respond. Then, with a small shrug, he said, "Well, don't get used to it. I'm not exactly in the habit of playing healer for spoiled geniuses."
Yan Ru laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
"But," Yan Zi added, breaking the lighthearted moment, "it's not too late. We caught it early, which means there's still time to fix it."
Yan Ru looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and doubt. "You... you can treat it?"
Yan Zi hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to lie to her, but the truth wasn't exactly reassuring. "I can help," he said slowly. "But it's not going to be easy. Without my own cultivation, I can only guide you through the process. You'll have to do most of the work yourself."
Yan Ru raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a faint smirk. "Trust you completely, huh? That's a lot to ask from someone who was sulking on a rock just a little while ago."
Yan Zi sighed, shaking his head. "Tsk. Do you want my help or not?"
Yan Ru laughed again, nodding. "Alright, alright. I'm in your hands, Alchemist Yan."
Yan Zi remained calm, his hands steady as he gently held Yan Ru's wrist. Her anxious expression hadn't gone unnoticed by him, but he didn't let it distract him. He had seen far too many injuries during his studies as an alchemist, and despite lacking cultivation, he still had his knowledge and a sharp mind to rely on.
"First, focus on controlling your qi," Yan Zi said, his voice steady. "You need to calm your mind before you try to regulate the energy. Let it flow slowly through your meridians. Don't let it rush—if it's too fast, you'll just make things worse."
Yan Ru nodded, her expression still tight with focus. She closed her eyes and followed his instructions, trying to gather her energy and direct it through the right pathways. For a moment, the only sound was the soft rustle of her breath, the tension palpable in the air. Yet, when the flow started to gather inside her, she flinched slightly, her brow furrowing in discomfort.
"Control it," Yan Zi urged, his voice firm yet gentle. "You must slow it down. If you don't, the energy will harm your meridians further."
She bit her lip, attempting to steady her breathing. The flow of qi inside her body was like a roaring river trying to break free. Yan Zi could see the strain in her face, but she didn't give up. He admired that.
"Tsk, you're doing well," Yan Zi remarked with a small nod, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "But if you're so tense, your qi won't listen to you."
Yan Ru opened her eyes, giving him a sidelong glance, a mixture of annoyance and amusement in her gaze. "And what would you suggest, then, Mr. Alchemist? I'm trying to do what you told me!"
Yan Zi chuckled lightly. "Relax your shoulders. You're holding too much tension. Try to visualize the flow of energy like a gentle stream rather than a rushing river. If you treat it too aggressively, it'll only fight back."
Yan Ru sighed, but nodded. She exhaled deeply, trying to let go of her frustration. This time, she managed to focus better, the flow of qi becoming slightly smoother, though still not without difficulty. After a few moments, she dared to look at Yan Zi again.
"Did I do it right?" she asked cautiously.
Yan Zi didn't immediately respond, his attention focused on the flow of qi within her. He could feel the subtle shift, the excess energy starting to settle into her meridians without causing further damage. He finally nodded, a small hint of pride in his eyes.
"You've done well," he said with a rare glimmer of approval. "The pain should be easing up now. Keep regulating it like this for a while. Don't overdo it."
Yan Ru let out a relieved sigh, her wrist no longer burning with the intense pain from before. "This actually feels better," she admitted. "I didn't think it would work."
Yan Zi's gaze softened, though his expression remained serious. "You have to trust the process," he said. "Sometimes, even when you don't have all the power in the world, a little knowledge can go a long way. This is what you'll need to work on—controlling your energy, not just blasting through it."
He watched her for a moment, observing the improvement in her condition. His heart swelled slightly, a mix of satisfaction and exhaustion creeping up on him. Even without cultivation, he could still make a difference. And for the first time, he felt a sense of accomplishment that was not tied to physical strength.
As Yan Ru flexed her wrist, her expression shifting to one of surprise, she looked up at him with newfound respect. "I had no idea you could do this," she said quietly, almost as if she were speaking to herself.
Yan Zi hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He had never been one to boast about his knowledge. Instead, he merely smiled—though it was faint, it was enough to show his quiet pride. "You're not the only one with skills. But I'm still limited. Remember, you need to keep refining your control. The meridians won't heal on their own."
Yan Ru raised an eyebrow at him, a small playful smirk forming on her lips. "Well, I suppose that means you've done your part," she teased. "I'll handle the rest."
Yan Zi gave her a sidelong glance, his lips curling into the faintest of smiles. "I wouldn't be so sure about that," he replied dryly. "I might just have a solution for that too."
And with that, he reached into his pouch and pulled out a small, delicate pill. His eyes remained casual, though he could sense Yan Ru's gaze on the pill with growing curiosity.
"What's this?" she asked, her tone mixed with suspicion and intrigue.
Yan Zi held it out for her to take. "A second-tier healing pill. It'll speed up the process. Trust me, I'm not just a healer with words." His eyes twinkled mischievously. "It's a special one."
Yan Ru's eyes widened as she saw the pill. "A second-tier healing pill?" she asked in disbelief. "But those are rare. Even our clan doesn't have them easily. Most of the time, we have to buy them from outside sources. And... this is worth... what? At least 500 spirit stones?"
Yan Zi casually shrugged, his nonchalant expression making her even more surprised. "What can I say? A few favors here and there," he said, as if it were no big deal.
She stared at him, dumbfounded. "But... how? I thought you didn't have cultivation? You said you couldn't refine pills!"
Yan Zi chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "I said I couldn't refine them without cultivation. But that's the beauty of my Fire Heart Jade. It allows me to refine low-tier pills. It's slow, yes, but it works."
Yan Ru blinked, still processing. "So... you've been secretly refining pills all this time?"
Yan Zi nodded, his expression mildly amused. "Something like that." He handed the pill to her. "Take it. It'll heal you faster."
Without waiting for further argument, Yan Ru took the pill from his hand. Within moments, the internal ache that had been plaguing her for hours faded, replaced by a soothing warmth that spread through her body. Her meridians slowly began to heal, the energy properly regulated, as the pill did its work.
She sighed in relief, her tension melting away as her body relaxed. "I... I don't know what to say," she murmured, looking at him with renewed gratitude.
"Don't mention it," Yan Zi replied with a small smile. "You've helped me, too."
As Yan Ru continued to recover, her admiration for Yan Zi grew deeper, and she realized just how much she underestimated him before. In that moment, they both understood that they had crossed a threshold in their relationship, one that neither of them had expected—but both were grateful for.