2: Chapter 2 A Shocking Incident on the Street

Ye Chen also retreated a bit, leaning his body against the doorframe of the pharmacy.

He saw a young girl in white sitting on the horse in the middle of the procession.

It was Lin Qingxue.

She wasn't wearing a veil today, and her face was even paler than when he had caught a distant glimpse of her at the market last time—so pale it was almost transparent.

Her lips lacked color as well, pressed tightly together.

Those eyes stared straight ahead, devoid of emotion, just cold.

But Ye Chen noticed that her knuckles were turning white from how tightly she gripped the reins.

The procession moved forward at an unhurried pace. As they passed the pharmacy entrance, Lin Qingxue suddenly turned her head and glanced over.

Ye Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively lowered his eyelids.

But that gaze didn't shift away.

He could feel her looking at him—or rather, looking at his neck.

The jade pendant on his chest grew hot without warning.

It wasn't the lukewarm heat from before; it was scorching, like a piece of red-hot charcoal.

Ye Chen almost couldn't resist clutching his chest, but he forced himself to endure, his fingers digging hard into the doorframe.

Lin Qingxue's gaze lingered on his neck for about two breaths. It was brief, but long enough for cold sweat to break out on Ye Chen's back.

Then she turned her head back and continued forward.

Just as Ye Chen breathed a sigh of relief, a guard's startled cry suddenly came from ahead: "Young Miss!"

He jerked his head up.

Lin Qingxue's horse had suddenly bolted, its front hooves rearing high as it let out a shrill neigh.

The girl on the horse's back swayed, lost her grip, and fell straight down toward the side!

The crowd erupted into Chaos. The guards reacted extremely quickly, and the two closest ones already lunged forward, but they were still a step too slow.

Ye Chen didn't think at all.

His legs were faster than his brain; he charged forward, knocking aside a fat man watching the excitement, and reached out to catch her.

She felt icy to the touch.

It was like catching a block of ice. That frigid Qi surged up his arms, freezing him until even the gaps between his bones felt numb.

But he didn't let go, holding the falling person firmly.

Lin Qingxue landed in his arms, feeling very light. Her eyes were still open, her pupils somewhat dilated, and her lips moved slightly without making a sound.

Ye Chen saw a trickle of blood spill from the corner of her mouth, mixed with tiny ice shards that glistened under the sunlight.

"Let go!"

"You're looking for death!"

Two blades were simultaneously pressed against his neck. The edges were tight against his skin; one more fraction and they would draw blood.

The two guards' eyes were bloodshot as they glared at him.

"I can save her."

Ye Chen heard his own voice; it was dry, but very steady.

"What did you say?"

The guard on the left had a scar on his face stretching from his brow to his chin, and his gaze looked ready to devour someone.

"I said, I can cure her illness."

Ye Chen repeated himself, holding the person in his arms tighter.

Lin Qingxue coughed again, and more blood mixed with ice shards sprayed out, splashing onto his lapel and quickly condensing into dark red ice granules.

"But if you delay any longer, she'll truly be beyond help."

The Scar-faced Guard stared at him as if trying to bore a hole through his face.

Another younger guard nearby lowered his voice: "Brother Scar, the Young Miss's condition..."

"Shut up."

The Scar-faced Guard barked, his gaze lingering on Lin Qingxue's deathly pale face before returning to Ye Chen's.

"You'd better be telling the truth." He gritted his teeth, pressing the blade down half a fraction further.

"If you can't save her, I'll skin you alive."

"Take him back to the manor!"

The Scar-faced Guard sheathed his sword and waved his hand. "Quick!"

Ye Chen was pushed onto another horse, still holding the unconscious Lin Qingxue in his arms.

The horse was a guard's mount, its saddle still stained with mud. He sat upon it and looked down at the person in his arms.

The jade pendant was so hot that the flesh on his chest was aching.

The Chaos appeared before his eyes again, and the jade booklet slowly unfurled, golden characters floating onto the blank page:

[Target detected for recording: Lin Qingxue]

[Physique: Profound Yin Body (Early Awakening)]

[Status: Qi and blood backflowing, frigid Qi eroding Meridians, on the verge of collapse]

[Record now?]

Ye Chen didn't hesitate, chanting in his mind: "Yes."

The writing on the page changed:

[Recording successful]

[Name: Lin Qingxue]

[Current Bond: Chance Encounter (Grey)]

[Initial Gift available for activation: Profound Yin Body · Frigid Qi Resonance (Passive) — Allows for small-scale endurance and conversion of Profound Yin Frigid Qi]

As the writing appeared, an extremely thin, bone-chilling current of Qi seeped out from Lin Qingxue's body, drilling into Ye Chen's body through his arms.

Ye Chen let out a muffled groan, nearly falling off the horse.

That feeling was like an ice needle stabbing inward along his blood vessels; everywhere it passed, his blood felt like it was about to freeze.

But that frigid Qi circled once through his body, and upon reaching his heart, it suddenly changed.

The jade pendant on his chest flared with heat.

The incoming frigid Qi seemed to hit a wall, paused, and then began to retreat.

But it didn't return the way it came; instead, it followed another path, slowly sinking into his Dantian.

The meager True Qi of the First Level of Meridian Opening in his Dantian didn't freeze upon meeting this frigid Qi; instead, like a starving person seeing food, it lunged forward and enveloped it.

The two currents of Qi entwined and spun several times. The bone-chilling coldness of the frigid Qi gradually dissipated, transforming into a lukewarm current that spread back into his limbs and bones.

Ye Chen shuddered.

It wasn't from the cold, but from comfort.

That feeling was like drinking hot soup in the middle of winter, warming him from his throat all the way to his stomach.

His entire body felt more relaxed, even the dull pain from being pushed by Ye Hu this morning had vanished.

He looked down at his own palm.

Beneath the skin, a faint trace of white Qi could be seen wandering before quickly disappearing.

The procession stopped at the entrance of the Lin Manor.

Vermilion gates, two stone lions, and a gold-plated plaque hanging on the lintel that read "Lin Manor" dazzled under the sun.

Seeing this display, the gatekeeper hurried inside to report. After a short while, a crowd of people swarmed out from within.

At the head was a middle-aged man in a dark green brocade robe, with a square face and a short beard; his features bore some resemblance to Lin Qingxue.

His face was ashen as he rushed down the steps. Seeing his unconscious daughter in Ye Chen's arms, his breathing grew heavy.

"What happened?"

His voice was very low, but the fury within it was obvious to everyone.

"Reporting to the Family Head." The Scar-faced Guard dismounted and knelt on one knee.

"The Young Miss had a sudden onset of her illness on the street, and this youth caught her. He said... he can cure her."

The Family Head of the Lin family, Lin Zhentian.

Ye Chen had heard of this name; at the Peak of the Wheel Sea Realm, only one step away from the Dao Palace, he was a renowned powerhouse in Qingyun City.

Lin Zhentian's gaze shifted to Ye Chen's face.

That gaze held no warmth, like a blade scraping over him from head to toe.

"You can cure her?"

Lin Zhentian spoke, his voice still deep. "Are you a physician?"

"No."

Ye Chen shook his head. "But I can save her."

"On what basis?"

"On the basis that she isn't dead yet."

Ye Chen met that gaze without flinching.

"The frigid Qi has already invaded her heart Meridians; she can last for one stick of incense at most. If you trust me, let me try. If not, I'll leave right now."

When these words were spoken, the expressions of several Lin Family Elders nearby changed.

Someone barked: "Presumptuous!"

Lin Zhentian raised his hand, silencing the man.

He stared at Ye Chen for a few breaths before suddenly asking: "What is your name?"

"Ye Chen. The Ye of the Ye family."

"Ye family..."

Lin Zhentian narrowed his eyes. "The one from the West Courtyard?"

"Yes."

Lin Zhentian asked no more.

He turned and walked into the manor: "Bring him in. To the quiet room."

...

The quiet room was deep within the Lin Manor, a small independent courtyard that was very tranquil.

Ye Chen placed Lin Qingxue on a couch covered with soft cushions and stepped back.

Lin Zhentian stood at the door, not entering.

But Ye Chen could feel that gaze nailed to his back.

He pulled those three items from his robe: red sun grass, Vermilion Fruit, and that bottle of earth core flame vine juice.

The red sun grass had been freshly picked from the rocky slopes outside the city; the leaves were a bit wilted, but still usable.

The Vermilion Fruit still gave off a sweet fragrance.

The earth core flame vine juice was in a porcelain bottle, the bottle itself feeling warm.

"What do you need me to do?" Lin Zhentian asked from the doorway.

"A basin of hot water, boiling."

Ye Chen didn't look back. "Also, a stone mortar for grinding medicine and clean cloth towels."

The items were quickly delivered.

Ye Chen placed the red sun grass and Vermilion Fruit into the stone mortar and crushed them vigorously.

The grass juice and fruit juice mixed together, turning into a dark red paste.

He dripped three drops of earth core flame vine juice into it; the paste instantly emitted a puff of white smoke and a pungent, spicy odor.

Ye Chen dipped a cloth towel into the hot water, wrung it out, and carefully wiped away the blood ice shards from the corner of Lin Qingxue's mouth.

The girl's skin was icy; touching it was like feeling a piece of jade.

He took a deep breath and applied the prepared medicinal paste over her heart.

The moment the paste touched her skin, Lin Qingxue's body jerked violently. The eyelashes of her tightly closed eyes fluttered wildly, and a rattling sound came from her throat as if she couldn't breathe.

Ye Chen pressed down on her hand.

That frigid Qi surged in again from the point of contact, even more fierce and violent than before.

He gritted his teeth; the jade pendant on his chest felt like it was about to burn. The incoming frigid Qi rampaged through his body, but with every collision, it was enveloped by the heat current from the jade pendant and dragged into his Dantian.

The wisp of True Qi in his Dantian thickened and expanded at a rate visible to the naked eye.

First Level of Meridian Opening... Meridian Opening Second Level...

The Bottleneck was like a layer of paper, pierced through with a single poke.

Cold sweat broke out on Ye Chen's forehead, half from the freezing cold and half from the pain.

He could feel something within his body cracking and reorganizing.

His bones made faint cracking sounds, his muscles tightened, and the speed of his blood flow increased.

On the couch, Lin Qingxue's breathing gradually stabilized. The frightening greenish-white layer on her face slowly receded; though she was still pale, she at least regained some signs of life.

Her eyelashes fluttered again, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Lin Qingxue looked at Ye Chen for a long time before slowly shifting her gaze to the dark red medicinal paste on her chest.

"You..."

She spoke, her voice very hoarse. "Who are you?"

"Ye Chen."

Ye Chen let go of her hand and took a step back, his legs feeling a bit weak.

The newly born True Qi in his Dantian was still racing around; he had to expend effort to suppress it.

"Of the Ye family."

Lin Qingxue didn't speak, looking at him for another moment before closing her eyes.

At the door, Lin Zhentian stepped inside and reached out to check his daughter's pulse.

His face remained expressionless, but Ye Chen saw his shoulders relax very slightly.

"Scarface."

Lin Zhentian turned and spoke to the outside, "Take Young Master Ye to the guest room to rest. Treat him well."

"Yes."

The Scar-faced Guard responded, his gaze toward Ye Chen now different from before.

There was less ferocity and a bit more of something complex.

Ye Chen followed him out, and upon reaching the door, he took one last look back.

Lin Qingxue was still lying on the couch with her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling slightly.

The light from outside the window leaked in, shining on her face, her eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyes.

The heat of the jade pendant slowly faded, returning to its warm and smooth touch.

Before him, the jade booklet silently unfurled, revealing several new lines of text:

[Target: Lin Qingxue]

[Bond Level increased: like old friends (Green)]

[Cultivation Infusion: Wheel Sea Realm Third Level (Partial) converting...]

[Acquired Talent: Profound Yin Perception (Elementary) — Allows for small-scale perception of Profound Yin Qi and related Physique fluctuations]

Ye Chen's footsteps paused for a moment before he continued forward.

The guest rooms of the Lin Manor were much better than Ye Chen's leaky house.

The floor was paved with blue bricks, the windows were bright and clean, and a carved wooden bed stood against the wall, covered with a plain-colored brocade quilt.

A teapot and cups sat on the table, steam still rising from the spout.

The Scar-faced Guard escorted him to the door but didn't enter, only saying: "Young Master Ye should rest first. If you need anything, just instruct the servants outside."

His tone was much more polite than on the street, but that hint of scrutiny remained in his eyes.

Ye Chen nodded, closed the door, and stood leaning against it for a long while.

His chest was still aching slightly—not the pain of an injury, but the newly born True Qi in his Dantian rampaging about.

The True Qi of the Meridian Opening Second Level was more than ten times stronger than his original pitiful sense of Qi; it was like a wild dog just released from its cage, joyfully racing through his Meridians.

Ye Chen walked to the bedside and sat down, trying the method taught in the Green Wood Art to guide the True Qi through a cycle in his body.

The True Qi wasn't very obedient, stopping and starting, but it eventually followed the Meridians. After completing one cycle, that feeling of swelling pain finally subsided slightly.

Before him, the phantom of the jade booklet still floated.

[Host: Ye Chen]

[Realm: Meridian Opening Second Level (Early Stage)]

[Bound Beauties: 1]

[Current Bond: Lin Qingxue (like old friends · Green)]

[Unlockable Functions: Beauty Directory (1/?), Bond View, Cultivation Conversion]

Ye Chen's gaze lingered on the words "Cultivation Conversion."

With a thought, that line of text brightened slightly, revealing a more detailed explanation:

[Once a Bond is established, a portion of the other party's cultivation can be obtained via infusion. The infusion ratio and conversion efficiency increase with the Bond Level.]

[Current convertible cultivation: Wheel Sea Realm Third Level (Approx. 30%)]

[Begin conversion?]

Wheel Sea Realm Third Level, thirty percent...

Ye Chen licked his somewhat dry lips.

Lin Qingxue was in the Wheel Sea Realm; even if it was only thirty percent, it was an astronomical figure for someone like him at the Meridian Opening Second Level.

But conversion required time, and the commotion would likely not be small.

He glanced at the tightly closed door and ultimately suppressed the impulse.

This was the Lin family, not a place where he could Breakthrough in peace.

Just as he was thinking, footsteps came from outside, very light, stopping at the door.

"Is Young Master Ye in?"

It was a young woman's voice, gentle and mild.

Ye Chen stood up and opened the door.

Standing outside was a maid in a light green dress, about fifteen or sixteen years old, holding a tray with a bowl of steaming porridge, two small side dishes, and a plate of white steamed buns.