Chapter 179: A Casual Helping Hand?
“Your Majesty is hesitating.”
“I don’t understand what Your Majesty is hesitating about.”
“Internal strife is rampant within the Human Race, with outward harmony but inner discord, yet ultimately, they are the greatest race in the world today.”
“The Ancient Remnant Race of yesteryear was at its peak, daring to claim the title of the greatest race in the world, and the Human Race was far inferior to them!
“Your Majesty must not hesitate any longer; this is an opportunity not seen in a thousand years—”
“What are you dogs saying? A subject should not pressure Your Majesty, but rather alleviate Your Majesty's worries.”
At one quarter past the hour of Wei, snowflakes fluttered outside the Imperial Palace, and rime ice hung heavy.
The Human Race envoys, who were seeing the Yao Emperor for the first time, slowly departed the palace city under the watchful eyes of the Yao officials.
During this audience, the Yao Emperor did not display strong Battle Intent towards the Human Race, a result that greatly relieved the envoys who had been on tenterhooks for a long time.
In their view, this mission might soon come to an end.
Some young officials from Great Xia even felt a lingering sense of unfulfillment, chattering endlessly about what they had witnessed today along the way.
The Great Xia imperial family had been in decline for many years, and the status of Human Race officials had always been very low. They often had to be subservient in front of cultivators, never imagining that one day they could directly face the Yao Emperor.
Only Ji You, however, did not feel the joy of things settling down.
The Yao Race is willing to mend relations with the Barbarian Race, but that doesn't mean they want to be at odds with the Human Race. This sentence sounds gentle, but it cannot truly be considered an answer.
Especially since these words came from the Yao Emperor's chief minister, and not from the Yao Emperor's own golden mouth, it means there will be many more twists and turns.
In Ji You's view, the Yao Emperor's hesitation might far exceed imagination, which is why he had his chief minister give an ambiguous answer first.
This matter would likely need a few more days of deliberation before the Yao Emperor would personally speak. Ji You returned to his room and, with a plop, spat out a jade bead he had been holding in his mouth.
Before setting out on this journey, he had spent a fortune at Qionghua Pavilion to buy a jade platform capable of transmitting messages from the Snow Region, and this jade bead was the activation device for the communication jade platform.
With his hands unusable, he had kept this jade bead in his mouth, fortunately, he hadn't needed to use it.
At this moment, the snow outside the window began to intensify, falling heavily like goose feathers.
Ji You sat in his wheelchair, wrapped in a thick scholar's cloak, constantly contemplating the potential complications.
Yao Emperor, ministers.—
Then, after about an hour of quiet, the pristine Yu Garden suddenly filled with the continuous sound of carriages.
Many Yao Race members entered the Yu Garden, their hurried figures weaving through it, delivering various types of invitation cards: lacquered red, gold-embossed, tassel-hung, all sorts.
The aesthetic of the Yao Race is actually not as refined and delicate as that of the Human Race; instead, it is more unrestrained and rugged.
This can be seen from the Imperial Palace, which only has black and white colors.
In fact, resources are extremely scarce in the Snow Region, and it's difficult to develop more refined aesthetics and craftsmanship, so these invitations appear particularly sincere.
Every Prodigy from the Immortal Sect received several invitations, and they couldn't help but marvel at how well the Yao Race could assess the situation. Seeing that the Yao Emperor had no intention of starting a war, they immediately showed their desire to make connections.
“These people’s senses are always keen. It seems the two races truly won’t fight.”
“Ah, this wooden bird seems to be in the Spirit Stone business. I heard before that the snowy region demon stone is mined by him.”
“Not just that, there’s also iron ore here. That Muloge is an iron ore Yao merchant.”
Jiang Chenfeng, Huo Hong, and others gathered in the flower hall of Yu Garden, looking at the invitation cards before them, craning their necks and discussing animatedly.
After trade opened between the Human and Yao Races, the snowy region demon stone, due to its extremely high quality, had always been highly favored, but the distribution channels had consistently been controlled by Great Xia.
The Immortal Sect had no objections to this, but the Worldly Families had much to say, as they believed that if they could purchase directly from the Yao Race, the price might be much lower.
Especially the core of the Spiritual Vein, which is of great importance to cultivators; the core of the Snow Region's Spiritual Vein was even more alluring.
So, in their opinion, this banquet was worth attending.
“Young Master Huo, which household are you planning to visit?”
Huo Hong held the invitation and looked at it for a while: “I’m not going. Tonight, I plan to meet with Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang for a small gathering.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan, Yan Qiubai, Jiang Chenfeng, Jiang Yuerou, Shi Junhao, Xiao Hanyan, and others couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Last night, Night Chill invited them to Yu Garden, and Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang was also present.
At that time, Huo Hong showed great interest in Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang, displaying a refined demeanor and humorous speech, truly embodying the style of a noble Young Master.
They had already noticed it then and knew what he was thinking.
Huo Hong was the illegitimate son of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion’s Sect master, and a half-brother to the direct disciple Huo Xingzhong, but he had never been acknowledged by his family.
The reason was that Huo Hong’s mother was merely a maid by the Sect master’s side at the time. It was when the Mountain and Sea Pavilion’s Sect master had a mishap while comprehending the Dao, and evil thoughts attacked his mind, leading to their intimacy.
So, Huo Hong’s identity had been quite awkward since birth, yet his ambition was not small.
Wanting to establish a connection with the Yao Race was his way of finding a backing for himself and also a way to secure his path to becoming a wielder of artifacts, which was easily understood in the Qingyun World.
At the same time, Gongshu Chou also received several letters, some of which were for Ji You, so he brought them to him: “These are invitations from various Yao Race tribes. Do you want to go?”
Ji You took the invitation upon hearing this, looked at it for a long time, and his brow gradually furrowed: “Gongshu, could you please invite Dr. Baili for me?”
“Are you feeling unwell again?”
“I’m not unwell, I just have some things I’d like to ask.”
“Alright, I’ll go invite him.”
Ji You thanked him, watched him leave the room, and then turned to look at the blazing red stove.
At this moment, snow began to fall outside the window again, and visible cold Qi rose from outside the city.
Not long after, the door was opened.
Dr. Baili arrived with Gongshu Chou, followed by Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang, who gracefully entered the room, calmly brushing off the fallen snow from her body, and then looked up at Ji You.
After just one glance, her gaze gently shifted away again.
Dr. Baili sat down in front of Ji You: “What’s wrong, Young Master Ji?”
“Dr. Baili, I have some questions I’d like to ask you.”
“I am merely a doctor. Although I have served the Yao Emperor for many years, I only know how to treat illnesses and save lives. I am completely ignorant of the world’s changing tides. Young Master Ji, asking me is useless.”
Dr. Baili knew that the Human Race envoy delegation had their first audience with the Yao Emperor today, and he assumed they had been rebuffed and wanted to inquire about something, so he spoke frankly and directly stated he wouldn't.
Ji You shook his head upon hearing this: “I’m not asking you about the Yao Emperor; I’m asking about my condition.”
“In that case, you may ask, Young Master.”
“How much longer will it take for my hands to recover?”
Dr. Baili opened his hand and held his wrist, feeling his pulse for a long time: “Your injury is recovering faster than I imagined, but it will take at least a month to fully heal.”
Ji You blinked: “Recover completely?”
“Only enough for simple lifting. It will take even longer to fully recover.”
Ji You frowned slightly: “Then, Dr. Baili, do you have any miraculous methods that would allow me to use my hands now?”
Dr. Baili looked at him: “What do you mean by ‘use’?”
“Like before.”
“This old man is powerless.”
“I don’t mean a full recovery, but rather a temporary use. Even if they return to their current state afterward, it’s fine.”
Dr. Baili looked at him with a strange expression: “Young Master, why do you have such a need?”
Ji You thought for a long time before speaking: “I just want to relieve myself personally.”
Upon hearing this, Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang held her breath.
She had heard this sentence last night as well. Although she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, Xiaorou's fervent description had left her restless for a long time.
Now, hearing it again, the image resurfaced, completely out of her control.
And Gongshu Chou was also somewhat surprised at this moment, thinking to himself, so he wanted to go to the toilet. Why didn't he say so earlier? Yesterday, Junior Sister Qiubai and Jiang Yan had even asked him, saying that Ji You had been awake for half a day, but why hadn't he gone to the toilet, acting as if they were more anxious than Ji You.
Moreover, they had also instructed Gongshu Chou that if Ji You needed anything, he should just say so, as it was such a small matter that they could just casually help him.
As a result, he had held it in all this time.
Dr. Baili was also stunned for a moment, then said: “Everyone has three urgent needs, which is understandable, but such things can also be helped by others; it’s not necessarily something you have to do yourself.”
“Doctor, just tell me if there is or isn’t.”
“There is.”
Dr. Baili put away his smile: “I have a needle technique that can temporarily numb your pain and forcefully open your Meridians, allowing you to be as if uninjured for a few hours. However, this old man will not use it on you.”
Ji You couldn't help but lean forward: “If it’s a matter of money, Doctor, you don’t have to worry. Gongshu Chou can pay, and you can name your price.”
Gongshu Chou: “?”
Dr. Baili stroked his beard and shook his head: “You Human Race like to talk about the Dao. Flowers have the Dao of flowers, grass has the Dao of grass.”
Then healing also has the Dao of healing. This old man cannot act against the Dao.”
“Gongshu can add more money.”
“It has nothing to do with money. After this needle technique is performed, the injury to your arm will become even more severe. One who treats the sick must not harm others; this is my Dao.”
Dr. Baili’s attitude was very firm; he was unwilling to perform the needle treatment for him, and then he stood up and left.
At this moment, Ji You looked at Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang: “Help me.”
Feng Yang was about to leave with Dr. Baili when she heard this and couldn't help but freeze. She usually didn't bring maids when she went on house calls with Dr. Baili, and hearing this, she suddenly felt flustered, thinking to herself that this Human Race person was truly too reckless.
Help?
How could he say that so frankly?
She was the Yao Emperor’s daughter, the Yaozu Gongzhu, how could she do such a thing?
But as Ji You’s gaze gradually became sincere, this Yaozu Gongzhu suddenly felt her palms burning, as if she had touched something.
Finally, Feng Yang, as if having made a great decision, walked towards him with a solemn expression, raising her slender, jade-like fingers tremblingly, and pinching his waistband.
Gongshu Chou slightly frowned at the side, thinking to himself, should I leave?
“?”
Why is someone else trying to look at this before the Little Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain?
Ji You stared at the pair of delicate hands in front of him: “Yaozu Gongzhu, I want you to perform the needle treatment.”
Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang: “..?”
“Dr. Baili said he can make my hands recover for a few hours. Please help me, Yaozu Gongzhu.”
Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang was stunned for a long time, then her eyes widened, and she quickly turned around, opening the medicine box she carried with her.
Dr. Baili's needle technique was indeed mysterious and exquisite, and Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang, who had inherited his true teachings, was also extremely skilled in its use.
And most crucially, Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang found performing the needle treatment much easier than Dr. Baili.
The Yao Emperor’s lineage possesses powerful internal Cultivation Techniques. This Yaozu Gongzhu, though usually silent, is actually a very powerful combatant, which can be determined solely by the smoothness of her needle insertion.
Otherwise, his body would indeed be difficult to penetrate with tiny silver needles.
One needle, two needles, three needles.
Feng Yang held her breath, not uttering a single word from beginning to end, continuously inserting needles into Ji You’s hands.
As his arms became pincushions, Ji You immediately felt the stinging sensation in his arms significantly decrease, but his arms still couldn't be lifted.
“Why can’t I move yet?”
“The sixteen needles just now only numbed your pain; they haven’t cleared your Meridians yet. Don’t be anxious…”
Because of the previous misunderstanding, the usually cold, silent, and imposing Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang now spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
Then she took out a silver needle, and before inserting it, she suddenly paused, looking up at Ji You.
Having studied under Dr. Baili, Feng Yang shared his adherence to medical ethics, knowing full well that this technique was not saving people, but harming them. The reason she did not delay in inserting the needles earlier was because she was flustered by the misunderstanding.
But next, she was going to forcibly open the Meridians of this Human Race person in front of her, so she couldn't help but become cautious.
“Continuing the needle treatment will forcibly open your Meridians, but it will wear off after a few hours and may even worsen your injury. Have you thought this through?”
Ji You pursed his lips: “Will it be crippled?”
Feng Yang pondered for a long time: “If it’s just for help—then it won’t.”
“What if it’s more forceful?”
“?”
Feng Yang widened her eyes, stunned for a long time: “What do you want to do to it?”
Ji You: “?”
Gongshu Chou truly couldn't stay any longer. He thought to himself, I shouldn't be in the room, I should be beneath the room, so he silently went out and stood guard at the door.
Ji You looked at Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang at this moment: “Yaozu Gongzhu, do you wish for the Human and Yao Races to go to war?”
“Although the Snow Region is difficult to survive in, causing our population to be unable to expand further, my Imperial Father says that leading our people back to the Nine Provinces is an undeniable responsibility of our Yao Emperor lineage. But I still don’t wish for war, because war will cause many deaths—”
“Then why did Yaozu Gongzhu study medicine?”
Feng Yang held the needle: “To save people.”
Ji You looked out the window: “Studying medicine can save many people, but it cannot save everyone in the world.”
“What?”
“Insert the needle.”
Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang didn't know why he said that, nor did she know what the people of the world had to do with his hands, but since the patient strictly requested it, she still inserted the needle.
Although Ji You's arm was numbed to pain, there was an indescribable sensation of soreness and swelling when his Meridians were opened.
So, soft hums continuously emanated from Ji You’s room, varying in pitch, rising and falling.
Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang listened to the sounds in her ears, and the image of that burning size once again appeared in her mind. Her fair cheeks began to flush, and her head lowered further and further.
At this moment, on the corridor, the Prodigies of the Immortal Sect had already left one after another, deciding to attend the banquet. As they reached Ji You's door, they all stopped, their expressions becoming particularly strange.
Huo Hong crossed his arms: “A mere Tong Xuan Realm, he really knows how to have fun.”
Jiang Yan and Yan Qiubai also couldn't help but open their rosy red lips wide: “He—how could he be like this?”
Gongshu Chou looked at them: “You’ve misunderstood.”
Huo Hong spoke with a half-smile: “That sound can’t be misunderstood, but I haven’t seen any pleasure houses in the Yao Race.”
“Whose girl is this?”
Before Gongshu Chou could speak, the soft hums in the room abruptly ceased.
Everyone immediately looked towards the door and saw a pair of delicate hands open the door, and Yaozu Gongzhu Feng Yang walked out, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Seeing this scene, everyone was stunned, while Huo Hong's eyes narrowed, and his face instantly became incredibly dark.
Under everyone's gaze, Feng Yang looked at them indifferently, said nothing, and then walked out of Yu Garden, her face still bearing a faint pink blush that hadn't completely faded.
And just after Feng Yang left, the door opened again, and Ji You walked out of the room.
Only then did everyone recover from their shock, and they looked at the arm that had pushed open the door, realizing that for some unknown reason, the hand that had been unusable just moments ago was now perfectly fine.
“Gongshu, please ask Elder Yan to notify everyone to gather in the West Courtyard. Something is going to happen tonight, and no one should go out.”
Ji You opened the door and looked at them: “Someone wants to take advantage of the situation and act on behalf of the undecided Yao Emperor (five hours on a high-speed train, then a flight, still furiously writing four thousand words on my phone, despite the mistakes. My diligence is evident to the heavens, please give me monthly votes!!)”
