Chapter 139

As the ancients said, doctors are hard to cure themselves; my clumsy wife has been bedridden with a lingering illness for a long time. Although she has slightly improved now, her foundation remains unstable.

Since you, senior, are present, I, the junior, humbly request that you diagnose my clumsy wife's pulse.

If these Nine-Pure Spirit Leaves are suitable, please leave a few plants for her to consume.

Mo Zhanggeng looked at the large bundle he was holding, his old face a bit embarrassed: "Um, Nine-Pure Spirit Leaves, indeed there are many. Well, I'll go take a look at your wife."

Divine Doctor

The group arrived at an exquisite courtyard, where a slender woman with distinct features, dressed in plain clothes, emerged gracefully.

Xue Jin hurried forward to support her: "Wanrun! How did you get up? Quickly go back to rest; this is the Healing Hand Divine Doctor Elder Mo, whom I invited to take your pulse."

Ji Wanrun lived up to her name: her visage was kind, her delicacy like water, making one feel pity upon seeing her.

She bowed slightly to Mo Zhanggeng: "I, a weak and sickly woman, trouble the Divine Doctor."

Tuan Tuan looked at her, tilting his little head: "Strange, strange—how does this auntie look like a child?"

Xue Jin wore a look of tenderness as he supported Ji Wanrun into the house, where a charcoal brazier burned, warm as spring.

A boy about five or six years old rose from beside the table: "Father, Mother."

Spring-Returning Hand

"Your mother said it." Xue Jin nodded, helped Ji Wanrun to sit at the table, "This is my son Xue Zhi You."

Xue Zhi You was very well‑behaved; upon seeing a group enter, he immediately saluted: "Xue Zhi You has seen the elders."

Mo Zhanggeng nodded: "Good."

Tuan Tuan looked at him, thinking the little boy was so weak, weak as if about to die.

The others took their seats, and Mo Zhanggeng sat on the brocade stool beside Ji Wanrun.

Ji Wanrun extended her slender, fair wrist, demeanor gentle, with a sickly frailty in her brows: "Thank you, Divine Doctor."

Mo Zhanggeng placed his hand on her wrist, closed his eyes and focused.

After a moment, he withdrew his hand: "Madam, your pulse is superficial and floating, seeming to have stagnation; it indeed shows a history of chronic illness, yet there is no sign of vital Qi depletion."

Xue Jin heard this, his expression instantly relaxed: "Very good, then."

Xue Zhi You looked up happily at Ji Wanrun: "Great, Mother!"

Ji Wanrun raised her hand, patting his crown: "Ling Er is truly obedient; mother has no worries."

"You must also be well nurtured; only when your body improves greatly can mother be at ease."

Xue Zhi You, with a face full of filial admiration, nodded: "Mm, child understands."

Mo Zhanggeng looked at Xue Zhi You: "Your complexion, young master, is indeed lacking."

"Since we are one family, the causes of illness may be related; perhaps let this old man examine together, and we might find some root."

Xue Jin hurriedly ordered Xue Zhi You to also extend his wrist; Mo Zhanggeng took the pulse again, this time his brows slowly furrowed, his fingertips lingering on Xue Zhi You's wrist for a long while, his expression solemn.

"Strange! Truly strange!" he withdrew his hand, "Madam's pulse indicates a chronic illness just beginning to recover; though superficial, it is not weak."

"But the young master's pulse shows a state of foundational depletion, far from an ordinary weakness! The two ailments are completely different!"

Xue Jin nodded: "Senior, you may not know, Ling Er was not born of Wanrun."

"His birth mother died six years ago in a difficult delivery; Wanrun is the wife I remarried."

"Ling Er was premature, thus his body has always been weak. Though I have carefully nurtured him, he remains far more frail than ordinary children."

"The mother and child, one plagued by chronic illness, the other long‑term weak, I am deeply worried."

"Fortunately, Shen Tong prayed to the deities for blessings upon them; only now can they be safe and peaceful."

Mo Zhanggeng suddenly understood: "You obeyed that Da Xia Shen Tong for the sake of the mother and child?"

Xue Jin nodded: "The Sacred Medicine Valley never obeys anyone, but Shen Tong spoke first; if one wishes his blessing, one must obey him."

"Earlier, not knowing the senior had arrived, we were disrespectful; please do not take it to heart."

Ji Wanrun said softly: "Husband, no need to worry; Ling Er and I will be fine."

"Since we are all unhindered and the hour is late, perhaps invite the senior to the front hall for a simple meal, then return early?"

In other words, since there is nothing else, we shall see the guest off.

Tuan Tuan's brows furrowed tighter as she listened: it's that Tou Shen again!

If he didn't steal others' things, that would be fine; blessings? What blessings could he possibly give? "How does he bless you?"

Xue Jin waved at Xue Zhi You: "Ling Er, come here."

Xue Zhi You immediately stepped down from the brocade stool, walked to his side: "Father!"

Xue Jin gently pulled a thin golden chain from his neck, removed it; hanging from it was an exceptionally exquisite, gold‑inlaid‑jade Longevity Lock.

He then reached toward Ji Wanrun: "Take off what you are wearing and show the senior."

Ji Wanrun, hearing this, lowered her head, took out a golden chain from her own neck and removed it; hanging from it was a very delicate, jade‑wrapped‑gold key, which she handed to Xue Jin.

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked earnestly at the two items: "When His Highness bestowed blessings, he said this 'Heartlock Key' is a treasure he obtained with divine witness, bearing countless deities' blessings."

Xue Jin replied: "Indeed, Shen Tong said that giving each of the mother and child one of these to wear will link their fortunes, allowing them to protect each other's lives."

"That's not it!"

Tuan Tuan, upon seeing the two items, immediately understood.

She ran to them, pointing at the pair of Longevity Locks and keys, puffed up with anger: "You were tricked by him! That Shen Tong is a scoundrel!"

"These two items cannot at all let them protect each other's lives!"

"It's merely giving one of them's life to the other!"

"Little girl, how can you speak such nonsense?" Ji Wanrun lifted her eyes, brimming with tears, as if about to burst, pitifully, "His Highness and we have never met, yet he acted righteously, generously helping us; it is a kind, benevolent heart."

"You don't believe it?" Tuan Tuan tilted her little head, thought a moment, and said to Xue Jin: "Why don't you let them swap these two items and try wearing them!"

"Swap them?" Xue Jin's face showed hesitation.

Ji Wanrun's complexion changed slightly, gently urging: "Husband, this is a gift from His Highness; it cannot be treated as a game. If it angers the deities…"

"You don't dare?" Tuan Tuan stared at her: "If the gods really blessed you all, how could they then not give it again?"

Xue Jin hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth: "Good!"

He quickly hung the key from Ji Wanrun's hand onto Xue Zhiyou's neck, and shoved Xue Zhiyou's golden lock into Ji Wanrun's hand.

The two showed no abnormality.

Xiao Ze frowned: "Tuan Tuan, there's nothing different at all."

As soon as his words fell, Ji Wanrun, who held the gold lock, saw the faint rosiness on her face visibly fade at a rapid pace, a veil of weak grayness quickly settling over her brow, as if she were plagued by a long illness.

Meanwhile, Xue Zhiyou, who wore the jade key around his neck, though still frail, had a faint hint of color appear on his waxen little face!

"This… this!" Xue Jin stared, speechless.

Mo Zhanggeng and Xue Jin simultaneously reached out and placed their hands on the two's wrists.

"Her pulse! How could it become so feeble and insubstantial? It's completely different from just a moment ago!"

"Ling'er's pulse, though still weak, is actually much stronger than before!"

The truth lay bare before our eyes!

Everyone instantly understood, just as Tuan Tuan said: this was not mutual support, but entirely using one person's life to prolong another's!

It is taking from the insufficient to give to the abundant!

"The key is the gate of life, the lock is the bond of death!"

"Whoever holds the key can seize the vitality of whoever holds the lock!"

Ji Wanrun's face changed dramatically, her expression filled with panic.

Xue Jin's face filled with astonishment, his gaze toward Ji Wanrun brimming with suspicion and anger: "Your pulse has changed so drastically—do you truly not know?"