Chapter 60: Healing
Ying Xuejian’s words felt like a signal, marking the end of the Ying family.
Among everyone present, perhaps only Ying Tianxin remained calm.
When he learned of Ying Xuejian’s identity and her name, he knew that they had been utterly abandoned.
For the Ying family to make such a decision, it was likely due not only to the foolish actions of the Ying family but also to this Ying Xuejian herself.
Ying Tianxin quickly understood the reason behind it.
Ying Xuejian’s talent was likely extraordinary.
According to others, Ying Xuejian had been confined to a dark dungeon from a young age, her limbs restrained. Aside from a daily meal, no one had ever taught her to speak, let alone practice cultivation.
Yet, even so, within just a few days of leaving the dungeon, her cultivation level reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Such talent was something even the combined disciples of the Ying family could hardly match.
In fact, Ying Tianxin misunderstood; over the years, the Demonic Heart had been teaching Ying Xuejian cultivation in secret.
At that moment, Ying Tianxin had already accepted his fate.
Ying Nanyang and the others tried to resist, but in the face of Ye Ying, they had no chance to fight back.
Their own shadows suddenly moved, snapping their necks before they could react.
Until their dying moments, their eyes remained open, still not understanding how they had died.
…
The next morning, Ying Tong and a few others passed by the Ying mansion.
A crowd had gathered outside the entrance, watching the scene. People kept moving in and out, carrying out corpse after corpse in terrible condition.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, who could have done this? Overnight, hundreds of the Ying family members were all killed. The entire Ying family was drowned in rivers of blood—no mercy at all. I heard they didn’t even spare the dogs.”
As one of the Four Great Families, the Ying family’s fall evoked mixed reactions—some sighed with pity, while others took pleasure in their misfortune.
“I heard the other three families immediately locked down the entire Shifang City after hearing the news.”
In the crowd, Ying Tong spoke to Ye Ying. “Have you confirmed that everyone was dealt with?”
Ye Ying nodded. “There may still be a few people scattered outside, but they haven’t transferred the curse.”
“Good.” Ying Tong nodded.
The people Ye Ying referred to were those exiled years ago by the Ying family’s patriarch in a purge, including Ying Xuejian’s biological parents.
The Ying family never found them, but Ye Ying did; they had settled down in a small town, living peacefully as if they had long forgotten everything about the Ying family.
Only, the mother spent an hour each day in a small shrine at home.
Inside the shrine, there was a tablet inscribed with “In Memory of Beloved Daughter.”
Ying Tong shared this with Ying Xuejian.
After hearing it, she was silent for a moment, then seemed to dismiss it, perhaps truly having moved on.
…
Due to the lockdown in Shifang City, they couldn’t leave for the time being.
In the inn.
Ying Tong chose a spot near the window.
Ever since she had used her own blood to mark the parchment, she’d felt a force pulling her somewhere.
“Grand Aunt, where will we go next?” Ying Shao’an asked.
At this, Ying Tong thought for a moment and said, “To the Imperial City.”
Shifang City was part of a country called Tianchen.
Three days later, the lockdown in Shifang City was lifted.
The Ying family’s former territory was divided among the other three families.
During those three days, members of the three families tried to locate Ying Tong and her companions.
After all, the commotion Ying Tianxin had caused was significant, so finding where they stayed wasn’t hard for the three families.
However, Ying Tong couldn’t be bothered to argue with these people, so she sent Ye Ying to give them a warning. Only then, on the third day, was the gate of Shifang City finally opened; otherwise…
…
Upon arriving in the Imperial City, they immediately saw a crowd gathering around something.
“Grand Aunt, it looks like it’s an imperial edict,” said Ying Shao’an.
Agilely, Ying Shao’an squeezed to the front of the crowd and then squeezed back out, now holding a yellow imperial decree.
It read that recently, the Noble Consort had contracted a strange illness, one causing unbearable pain. The emperor was now summoning renowned physicians from all over the land to come to the palace to treat her, with a reward of ten thousand taels of gold and a title of nobility for anyone who could cure her.
Just then, a group of soldiers on tall horses, clad in armor, rode over.
“Who took the imperial decree?”
“It was me,” Ying Shao’an said, raising his hand.
The soldiers looked at him with furrowed brows. Just a child—could he really treat an illness?
“Boy, do you understand what it means to take up this decree?” one of them said. “If you fail to cure the Noble Consort, not only will you lose your life, but you may also put your friends in danger.”
At this, the soldier glanced toward Ying Tong and the others.
Ying Shao’an wanted to say that it was fine, they weren’t afraid of the risk, but he didn’t have the courage. Instead, he shouted confidently, “What nonsense! If I dared to take this on, of course I’m fully prepared!”
Seeing Ying Shao’an so stubborn, the soldier decided not to warn him further; as they say, good advice is wasted on the willfully reckless.
And so, Ying Tong and her companions were escorted to the palace, where numerous other physicians had already gathered—each one an elderly man with white hair and beard.
In the field of medicine, age often inspired confidence.
Especially those elderly men with fully white hair and beards.
Amidst them all, Ying Shao’an stood out conspicuously; to the unknowing eye, he might have looked like a stray child who had wandered in by mistake.
Ying Tong and her companions were led to another palace hall to rest for a while.
“Grand Aunt, will Shao’an be alright?” Ying Xuejian asked in a low voice.
From Ying Xuechen, she had previously learned that Shao’an’s situation was remarkably similar to her own. For reasons beyond his control, the first ten or so years of his life were a complete blank, and in truth, he had studied medicine for no more than a month.
A month! For an ordinary doctor, that might be just enough time to glance at the basic medical texts, let alone retain any of it.
“You must trust him.” Ying Tong was brimming with confidence in Ying Shao’an, for he was a prodigy in both medicine and poisons, recognized even by Tiandao.
If he couldn’t heal the Noble Consort, it was likely that no one could.
“And if he can’t cure her, we can always just leave him behind and make a run for it.”
As he waited to see the Noble Consort, Ying Shao’an sneezed, muttering quietly, “Who’s cursing me?”
Half an hour later, Ying Shao’an entered, surrounded by admiration from the crowd.
“Looks like he succeeded.”
At that moment, a head palace maid entered, bowing respectfully to Ying Shao’an. “Sir, to thank you for curing the Noble Consort’s long-standing illness, His Majesty has prepared a banquet in your honor, and he invites you and your friends to attend.”
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