TRWSB – Chapter 29 Zhuang Ling’s Recovery

Zhuang Hao looked at Yi Fan and took a deep breath. “Is Sister Zhuang Ling’s condition really that bad?”

Yi Fan responded, “It depends on her luck. If she can absorb the medicinal power from the Gu worm, she might end up benefiting, becoming a master in a short period and saving decades of hard training.”

Zhuang Qian’s eyes lit up. “That sounds great.”

“But if it doesn’t work, then her only outcome is death,” Yi Fan added.

Zhuang Linyuan stepped forward. “Sir, I’ve made up my mind. I want to help Ling’er. If something happens to her, I’ll never find peace in this life.”

Yi Fan looked at him and said, “You’re truly a great father.”

He handed over a list. “These are the required herbs. Once Miss Zhuang Ling consumes them, you’ll need to help her activate their power. From there, it’s up to her own fortune to survive.”

“Thank you,” Zhuang Linyuan said.

Two days later, a torrent of water surged from Zhuang Ling’s courtyard, breaking down the gates.

Zhuang Qian, excited, said, “Sister Zhuang Ling must be better. I can feel her magical energy.”

Yi Fan, waiting inside, let out a breath of relief. “It seems she’s made it. This water surge is likely from the uncontrollable burst of her magic.”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Looks like she was lucky.”

Yi Fan stood up. “Since she’s safe, I’ll take my leave now.”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Alright.”

Zhuang Hao furrowed his brows. “Sir, please stay for a meal. My uncle wants to express his gratitude for saving Sister Zhuang Ling.”

“No need,” Yi Fan replied.

Zhuang Hao wanted to insist, but Qi Shaorong stopped him. “Let him go. He’s not comfortable in social settings like this.”

Zhuang Hao glanced at Qi Shaorong, sighed, and sat down. “Where did you find this person? He was in the capital all along, right?”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Yes, he’s always been in the capital.”

Zhuang Hao took a deep breath. “The capital really does hide many powerful figures. I thought Uncle Linyuan had already consulted every famous doctor. But Evil Doctor truly has great connections.”

Qi Shaorong looked at him and said, “Zhuang Hao, you promised to cover the treatment cost. Don’t forget to pay.”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “I know.”

Zhuang Hao went inside to check on Zhuang Ling. Her complexion was still pale, but she radiated a newfound vitality.

“Sister Zhuang Ling, how do you feel?”

Zhuang Ling smiled. “Great.” Before, her body felt like a bottomless pit, no matter how much medicine she took. Now, that feeling was gone.

“Congratulations, Sister Zhuang Ling,” Zhuang Hao said.

Zhuang Ling looked around. “Where’s the Evil Doctor and his friend? I want to thank them properly.”

Zhuang Qian frowned. “They left.”

“Gone? Both of them?”

Zhuang Qian nodded. “Yes, both gone.”

Zhuang Ling sighed. “Looks like I’ll have to pay them a visit another day to express my gratitude.”

As Zhuang Qian and Zhuang Hao walked, Zhuang Qian said, “Brother, don’t you think the Evil Doctor is quite mysterious?”

“His friend is even stranger.”

“Yeah! And they both know your ex-fiancée, Qi Shaorong,” Zhuang Qian added. “That black-robed guy even seemed to take pleasure in mentioning her.”

Zhuang Hao mused, “I feel like I’ve seen that black-robed guy before. He might be someone I know.”

Zhuang Qian asked, “Really? But do we know anyone skilled in Gu sorcery?”

Zhuang Hao shook his head. “I’m not sure. We should talk to Shen Yuan sometime. It seems my ex-fiancée isn’t so simple after all.”

Zhuang Qian recalled, “The black-robed man said your ex-fiancée is very beautiful. Do you think you’ll regret it, Brother?”

“I don’t judge people by looks. I want mutual love, not just an arranged marriage,” Zhuang Hao said.

Zhuang Qian agreed. “That’s true. With your good looks, you must be immune to beauty by now.”

Mu Xuelan stood on a high platform, looking down at Yi Fan. “Where were you last night? You didn’t come home.”

Yi Fan smirked. “Miss Mu, you never cared before. Now that we’re separated, you suddenly do?”

Mu Xuelan hesitated, her brow furrowing. “Women in red-light districts have diseases. You should be careful.”

Yi Fan laughed. “You’re so pure and noble, aren’t you? Don’t worry. I didn’t touch you before, and now that we’re divorced, I won’t touch you ever. Even if I did get a disease, it wouldn’t spread to you.”

Xiangyun, her maid, snapped, “Yi Fan, you wasted our lady’s youth, and now you say things like this.”

Yi Fan shot her a look. “I didn’t beg to marry your lady. It wasn’t me clinging on.”

“You… how shameless!” Xiangyun retorted angrily.

Yi Fan chuckled. Shameless? What had he even gained from marrying Mu Xuelan? She always acted like a goddess, and Xiangyun constantly claimed Mu Xuelan was too good for him, even stirring up trouble by encouraging her admirers to harass him.

“Shameless? Your lady is still a pure maiden,” Yi Fan pointed out.

Mu Xuelan asked, “Must you speak to me this way?”

Yi Fan shrugged. “Enough. When are you moving out?”

Mu Xuelan’s face fell. “Eager to see me leave?”

“I just don’t want the Second Prince to wait any longer. It’s been years,” Yi Fan said.

Mu Xuelan’s eyes filled with confusion. “We’re over now.”

“Really? That’s a shame,” Yi Fan said coldly.

Mu Xuelan looked at him and murmured, “Yi Fan, I’m sorry.”

Yi Fan shrugged again. “No need to apologize. We both got what we needed. You wanted to humiliate the Second Prince, and I needed a marriage to break away from my family.”

Mu Xuelan felt a strange emotion, as if she never truly knew her “ex-husband.”

At the Shen residence.

“Zhuang Hao, it’s rare for you to visit,” Shen Yuan greeted him. “Did you resolve Zhuang Ling’s situation?”

“Yes, it’s been resolved,” Zhuang Hao replied.

Shen Yuan nodded. “I heard the Evil Doctor helped.”

“It wasn’t him directly. He brought someone else to do it,” Zhuang Hao explained.

Shen Yuan sighed. “He really has an extensive network.”

“Did you know that person also knows Qi Shaorong?” Zhuang Hao said.

Shen Yuan’s eyes widened. “What?”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “He even called Qi Shaorong a stunning beauty.”

“That… that’s some unique taste,” Shen Yuan laughed.

Zhuang Qian, who had come along, asked, “Is Qi Shaorong really not good-looking?”

Shen Yuan raised his hand. “I swear, truly, really not attractive.”

Qi Shaorong lounged on a rocking chair when Zhuang Linyuan, Zhuang Renquan, and Zhuang Ling arrived together.

“Welcome,” Qi Shaorong greeted lazily.

Zhuang Linyuan hurried forward. “Thank you for saving my daughter. I didn’t have the chance to thank your friend. Is there a way I can meet him?”

Qi Shaorong lazily cracked some sunflower seeds. “No need to thank him. Thank me. He doesn’t like being thanked.”

Zhuang Linyuan’s expression shifted, but he forced a smile. “Thank you, then.”

Qi Shaorong grinned. “No need for words. How about some gold as thanks?”

Zhuang Linyuan handed over a pouch. “Here are 100,000 gold coins.”

Qi Shaorong accepted it without hesitation. “Thank you. My friend appreciates your sincere gratitude.”

Zhuang Linyuan gave a dry laugh. “Alright.”

After sending them off, Qi Heng came over. “Young master, are you okay?”

Qi Shaorong shook his head. “Dealing with those old foxes is exhausting.”

Qi Heng handed him a letter. “Urgent news from the countryside. The Qi family is sending someone to find you.”

“Me? Why?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Qi Heng shrugged. “They want you to enroll in the academy in the capital.”

Qi Shaorong looked at the admission documents. “Thorough as always. Can’t have a Qi family member be an illiterate embarrassment.”

Qi Heng agreed. “Exactly.”

“Which academy?” Qi Shaorong inquired.

“Sky Blue Academy,” Qi Heng replied.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Not a bad place.”

The capital had three major academies. Saint Emperor Academy, the most prestigious, primarily admitted royalty and nobles, whose resources and superior genetics often gave them an edge. The second was Bright Elegance Academy, which had a higher ratio of female students, many of whom eventually married into nobility or royalty. Finally, there was Sky Blue Academy, whose headmaster, a commoner, despised the pretentious nobility. Most of its students were commoners, which made funding a challenge.

To address this, Sky Blue Academy created special classes to admit well-connected but mediocre students, using the tuition fees to fund the academy. Even so, Sky Blue remained the poorest of the

three schools.

Sky Blue Academy’s faculty had a chip on their shoulders. Eager to prove themselves, they trained their students to be exceptional in hopes of overshadowing the other two academies.

Qi Shaorong smiled. “It’s said that Sky Blue Academy has produced more influential figures than the other two combined. Looks like I’ll have to enroll.”

Qi Heng suggested, “Young master, if you join, we can set up a gambling pool on how long you’ll last. We’ll surely profit.”

“You’re devious!” Qi Shaorong said.