CMWKSD -Chapter 39 Treating the Leg

Jiu Yue already knew when Su Ruo woke up and opened the door.

But she didn’t stop her own training—it was a kind of invisible deterrent.

It gave them the impression that, whether mentally or physically, they couldn’t hope to defeat her. Better they remain wary than grow complacent.

At breakfast—yes, Jiu Yue couldn’t tolerate just one or two meals a day; she needed three.

As she ate, the gazes from the Ji family were noticeably more cautious, filled with fear. Knowing to be afraid was fine—but the truly dangerous ones were those who didn’t know fear.

After breakfast, Jiu Yue was ready to treat Ji Chaomian’s leg, but saw him pouring water.

Ji Yiqing squatted nearby, her eyes sparkling as she watched, and Jiu Yue moved closer.

The rest of the Ji family also came over to see.

Ji Yiqing poured off the clear layer of water from the sweet potato mixture she had prepared.

Sure enough, a thick layer of white substance had settled at the bottom—like a paste but not quite, and certainly not powder.

Quickly, Ji Yiqing used a spoon to scrape the bottom layer into a tightly woven round basket.

With that done, Ji Chaomian finally felt like he had contributed. Seeing Jiu Yue, he hurriedly asked, “Sister-in-law, is this the starch you meant?”

Jiu Yue blinked. “I don’t know. I’ve only eaten it, never seen it like this.”

The Ji family: …

Still, under their current conditions, this was the closest they could manage, and it looked the most accurate.

Ji Yiqing stood and said, “Let it dry a bit. And look at the sky—it’s overcast today, no sun. You, Youqin, go to Butcher Wang and get some meat. At noon we’ll see if it works.”

Ji Youqin immediately got up and nodded.

Jiu Yue raised her chin. “Bring Big Brother inside. I’m going to start treating his leg.”

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian exchanged a glance, hearts pounding with excitement, faces flushed red, nodding repeatedly.

Ji Dahai and Su Ruo also wanted to peek inside, but they feared Jiu Yue, so they kept busy with chores while occasionally glancing at the room.

Though they couldn’t see anything, a parent’s concern for their child was natural.

Ji Yiqing helped Ji Chaomian onto the bed and hurried to get hot water to rub his leg. Jiu Yue prepared her silver needles.

Ji Chaomian had torn tendons, and once tendons break, if not properly reconnected, they retract continuously, making the gap between the ends larger.

Eventually, reconnecting them becomes much more difficult.

This was why Jiu Yue had said the earlier the treatment, the better. If a tendon had been torn for years, silver needles wouldn’t work. Medicine would be needed first to restore vitality, followed by surgery.

Ji Chaomian lay on the bed, heart racing, but he dared not show too much.

Jiu Yue washed her hands and held the silver needles at the bedside.

Thinking kindly, she asked Ji Chaomian, “It will really hurt. Do you want to bite a cloth or stick?”

Instinctively, Ji Chaomian gripped the quilt beneath him, then shook his head. If he couldn’t endure this pain, how could he accomplish anything great later?

Jiu Yue didn’t understand why these ancient people treated suffering as a test of character.

Of course, for Ji Chaomian, there was no relief possible—even anesthetic couldn’t be used.

Jiu Yue relied purely on touch and feared she might not hit the tendon’s ends.

So he had to endure the pain—and describe what he felt, so she could confirm whether she had reached the tendon.

The first needle went in. Even the ever-enduring Ji Chaomian let out a sharp scream, unable to move his leg, curling his upper body.

Jiu Yue frowned. “Hold him still. Don’t let him move.”

She knew ordinary people couldn’t withstand this pain, but if he moved, she might misjudge the placement. She didn’t want to waste effort.

Ji Yiqing quickly took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and held Ji Chaomian in place.

Outside, Ji Dahai and Su Ruo had accidentally knocked over the drying sweet potatoes and hurried to Ji Chaomian’s room.

Fortunately, everyone else had gone to work outside; otherwise, someone might have suspected abuse.

Now Jiu Yue didn’t even need to ask how Ji Chaomian felt.

If the needle hit the correct tendon, he would tremble. If it hit useless muscle within his tolerance, he barely reacted.

After inserting over a dozen silver needles in his legs, Jiu Yue checked again to ensure nothing was missed, then let Ji Yiqing release Ji Chaomian.

This pain was continuous, but slightly more bearable than the initial piercing sensation.

Jiu Yue began heating a dark paste—medicated plasters—needed to be warmed before application.

“Today’s first session, at least half an hour.”

Ji Yiqing let go. Ji Chaomian was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked. “Big Brother, can you endure it?”

He gripped the sheet, jaw clenched, veins protruding, face flushed bright red.

The pain was excruciating, despite preparation. This tearing, bone-deep ache caught him off guard. Gritting his teeth, he said, “I can!”

Ji Yiqing continuously wiped his sweat with a cloth.

Jiu Yue, holding chopsticks to heat the plaster, casually chatted. “In March next year, you’ll take the imperial examination. Have you read all the books you’re supposed to?”

Both Ji Chaomian and Ji Yiqing looked up. “Finished.”

Jiu Yue, relaxed, said, “Tomorrow I’ll go to the bookstore. Ji Yiqing, want to come see if we should get more books? You two probably can’t go to the academy in your current state anyway.”

Ji Yiqing lowered his eyes, wiping Ji Chaomian’s sweat. “Alright.”

Since he promised Jiu Yue they would study well, Ji Yiqing would keep his word.

The main reason: with Jiu Yue’s temper, who knew what troubles might come. If he didn’t rise to a certain position, he couldn’t handle the aftermath for Jiu Yue. One day, they might be on opposite sides of a prison grille.

After all, there are many extraordinary people in the world; no one could guarantee Jiu Yue’s martial arts were the strongest.

Now they were only in a small county. Later, if they went to the prefectural city, the provincial city, the imperial capital…

They would face more challenges and higher-ranking officials.

With Jiu Yue’s nature, you couldn’t stop her from stirring trouble.

The only solution was to elevate themselves—so that even if Jiu Yue caused trouble, they could protect her.

Thinking this, Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian exchanged a knowing glance.

Without options, they realized: Jiu Yue was too simple-minded, yet capable of causing chaos, with her own ways of thinking and acting.

Since they couldn’t change her now, they could only desperately improve themselves.