With those thoughts in mind, Master Yujing followed Luo Wushuang as she led him toward the bedside.
After a mere glance, Master Yujing’s brow furrowed.
This girl, Shangguan Liqian, was being besieged by the power of countless Vengeful Spirits and shattered souls, all clawing at her spirit. Logically, the agony should be no less than having one’s bones scraped and the marrow sucked dry.
Yet, despite her pale complexion, he noted that she did not betray a single hint of pain upon her face.
Master Yujing was startled, but he could not help but feel a deep sense of admiration.
He had previously sensed that the solitary, harsh aura of the Ziwei Star in this world was exceptionally heavy, and he had wondered how the Tianfu Star could possibly suppress the Emperor’s innate isolation.
Now that he saw her, the truth became clear.
This Lady Shangguan was surely no ordinary mortal!
Luo Wushuang watched nervously as Master Yujing entered the Inner Hall. Instead of taking a pulse, he simply stared blankly at her sister, which made her heart hammer against her ribs.
“Sister, this is Master Yujing.”
Shangguan Liqian appeared far more composed than the Empress. She nodded slightly and spoke with an apologetic tone.
“I am unable to rise to greet you. I hope the Master will not take offense.”
“Lady Shangguan is too kind.” Master Yujing pressed his palms together in a return greeting and began to scrutinize her complexion.
A dark cloud loomed over her head, her brow was blackened, and a vile, evil aura was churning within her—this was a portent of extreme calamity.
If nothing was done to intervene, then she would surely…
Sighing softly to himself, Master Yujing looked at the anxious Empress.
“Lady Shangguan is not suffering from a physical ailment,” he explained. “Rather, she is haunted by an evil, yin-natured aura. It is this that causes her to endure the constant agony of being pricked by needles and flayed by knives.”
“As for her legs, the situation is even more severe. They have completely lost all sensation.”
Luo Wushuang’s face turned deathly pale at the mention of needles and knives.
She knew her sister must be in pain, but she had never imagined it reached such a horrifying degree.
Needles and knives… Just thinking about it made her heart ache so much she could hardly breathe.
Although she didn’t fully believe in the monk’s talk of ghosts and gods, she refused to let go of even a sliver of hope.
Even if her sister couldn’t be fully cured, just easing the pain would be enough.
“Does the Master have a way to treat her?” Luo Wushuang asked, her heart rising into her throat.
After the Imperial Physicians had failed one after another, she didn’t dare hold too much hope. She was terrified of reaching the same dead end as before.
“I shall first suppress the pain in Lady Shangguan’s body. As for the legs, we shall discuss them afterward.”
As he spoke, Master Yujing took out a set of ordinary-looking silver needles from the cloth bag at his side.
With a flick of his wrist, dozens of needles were precisely embedded into the acupoints on Shangguan Liqian’s body.
Master Yujing’s kind eyes closed slightly as his hand began to move his prayer beads. A low, rhythmic Buddhist Chanting began to resonate throughout the hall…
A wave of low chanting echoed, and an invisible force seemed to circulate around Shangguan Liqian.
After an uncontrollable muffled groan, the silver needles on her body seemed to develop a mind of their own, vibrating slightly within her acupoints.
As the needles trembled, Shangguan Liqian felt a warm current flowing through her body. The piercing pain that had felt like thousands of needles was slowly beginning to recede.
Before long, fine beads of sweat broke out on Master Yujing’s forehead.
Luo Wushuang watched intently, the veins on her clenched hands bulging beneath her sleeves from the sheer tension.
It wasn’t until a hint of color returned to Shangguan Liqian’s pale face and her furrowed brow finally smoothed out that Master Yujing let out a long breath. He leaned forward, his hands twisting the silver needles with a rapid, rhythmic motion.
Following his movements, a faint black mist actually began to rise from Shangguan Liqian’s body.
Once the black mist had dissipated, Master Yujing withdrew his hands, and the silver needles flew back into his grasp.
Seeing him finish, Luo Wushuang rushed forward.
“Sister, how do you feel now?”
Shangguan Liqian shook her head and patted Luo Wushuang’s trembling hand.
“Much better,” she said softly. “It doesn’t hurt as much now.”
She then turned her gaze toward Master Yujing and offered her thanks. “Thank you, Master.”
“You are most welcome, Lady Shangguan.”
After scrutinizing her condition once more, Master Yujing shook his head and spoke with a helpless tone.
“Lady Shangguan is haunted by evil spirits. I will likely need to suppress them several more times before the stinging pain in your body is completely eliminated.”
Luo Wushuang breathed a sigh of relief, but quickly asked, “And my sister’s legs? Does the Master have a solution for that?”
Master Yujing fell silent for a moment before sighing.
“Lady Shangguan’s legs have been plagued by this evil aura for a long time. You must find a place where spiritual energy converges and use the Earth-Vein Purple Reishi. Only then will there be a glimmer of hope…”
Luo Wushuang’s brow furrowed tightly.
Earth-Vein Purple Reishi? What is that?
And as for a place where spiritual energy converges… did her palace count?
Master Yujing’s eyes were calm and profound, as if he could see through her confusion. Before she could ask, he spoke.
“The Earth-Vein Purple Reishi grows only at the spiritual eyes of the earth veins. It is extremely rare and possesses the power to bring the dead back to life and reshape bones and sinews. As for a place of converging spiritual energy…”
Master Yujing paused before continuing.
“While the palace is surrounded by Dragon Qi, it is not the most suitable location.”
“I beg the Master to guide us,” Luo Wushuang said. Having witnessed his abilities, her attitude had become much more respectful.
Master Yujing let out a long sigh, his expression becoming detached.
“In the Far North, there is a place called the Spirit Spring Valley. It is a location where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathers. If Lady Shangguan can be sent there and treated with the Earth-Vein Purple Reishi, her legs may yet recover.”
Hearing his words, hope flickered in Luo Wushuang’s heart, but it was accompanied by a deep worry.
The Far North was a land of bitter cold and the journey was long. With her sister’s current physical weakness, how could she survive such a trek?
Seeing the hesitation on her face, Master Yujing sighed again.
“I have only temporarily suppressed the power of the Vengeful Spirits within her. If she is not sent to Spirit Spring Valley and the Earth-Vein Purple Reishi is not found soon, even I will be powerless to help.”
Luo Wushuang’s expression became grim.
She bestowed a mountain of gold and silver upon Master Yujing—though he had no use for it—and arranged for his stay in the palace. Then, she held Shangguan Liqian in her arms, falling into a heavy silence.
