Chapter 451: Everyone Has Returned

After the Hua family joined the Xuan Yuan Prefecture, its members were assigned to duties across various locations; Hua Changxi's arrival was sudden, and most of the family was currently on shift.

Thus, when Qin Feng led Hua Changxi to the courtyard where the Hua family resided, only Lady Yao, who was at home recovering from injuries, and Sheng Yuantang, who had specifically come to care for her, were present.

"General Qin!"

The courtyard gate stood wide open; Sheng Yuantang, who was practicing swordplay in the yard, spotted Qin Feng, immediately sheathed her sword, and hurried forward to greet him.

Having never seen Hua Changxi before and not knowing who she was, she merely glanced at her quickly before returning her gaze to Qin Feng.

"General Qin, do you have any orders to give?" Sheng Yuantang asked with a respectful tone and a humble demeanor.

Before Qin Feng could respond to Sheng Yuantang, Hua Changxi stepped directly into the courtyard, her steps light and swift as the wind, her gaze firmly locked on Lady Yao, who had emerged from the house upon hearing the commotion.

"Mother, how did you get injured?"

The single word "Mother" rang clear yet brimmed with urgency.

Sheng Yuantang froze, whipping her head around; when she looked at Hua Changxi again, her expression had completely changed—she had guessed her identity.

In the courtyard, Lady Yao, seeing her daughter return, felt some color rush back to her pale face: "Ninth Daughter, you're back!"

Hua Changxi covered the distance in three long strides, quickly reaching Lady Yao's side; supporting her mother's body and seeing her pallid complexion, she immediately furrowed her brows, her expression darkening sharply: "How did you sustain such severe injuries?"

Her internal organs were shattered, her right arm crushed in several places, three meridians were severed, and a chilling demonic qi clung to the wounds.

"Mother is fine," Lady Yao said, seeing Hua Changxi's darkened face; she hurriedly offered comfort, forcing a smile: "The physicians in the prefecture have already treated me, and I've taken medicinal pills; I'm much better now."

Although she said this, Hua Changxi saw at a glance that while the treatment had been timely, it was somewhat crude; the demonic poison had only been suppressed, not eradicated.

Relying solely on medicinal pills to slowly dissolve the chilling demonic qi would take far too long, during which the patient would have to endure the cold invasion day and night, suffering immensely.

"Let's go inside."

Supporting Lady Yao as they entered the room, Hua Changxi asked: "How were you injured?"

Lady Yao explained with a smile: "Your mother, along with your Second and Fourth Aunts, were on duty in the kitchen. Two days ago, the Logistics Department sent a batch of slain sea demons for the kitchen to process; unexpectedly, one of them was only feigning death, and your mother was injured while handling it."

"Does this happen often?"

"Not really; since joining the Xuan Yuan Prefecture, this is the first time it has occurred."

Hearing it was an accident, Hua Changxi said no more: "Mother, lie down; let me treat your injuries again." With that, she took out the spiritual needles she carried with her, a faint light flowing across her fingertips as she prepared to administer acupuncture.

After seeing Qin Feng off, Sheng Yuantang returned; just as she stepped through the doorway, she saw chilling blue demonic qi constantly dissipating from Lady Yao's body, while her originally pale complexion regained a rosy hue at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Witnessing this scene, Sheng Yuantang's heart shook, and she nearly held her breath.

Although she had long known that the Hua family's Ninth Daughter possessed superb medical skills and was the most renowned figure of the Dan Sheng Hall, seeing it with her own eyes was still shocking.

After all, every physician in the Xuan Yuan Prefecture possessed genuine talent and learning.

The method they used to treat Lady Hua was exactly the same as that used for the Xuan Yuan Army—a standard procedure verified by countless battle injuries, stable and efficient; even the Demon-Suppressing Army employed the same treatment methods.

The physicians of the Xuan Yuan Prefecture had originally estimated that Lady Hua would need at least half a month of rest, supplemented by daily medicinal pills, to completely expel the chilling demonic qi from her body.

Yet now—in merely the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea—Lady Hua was already radiant!

Was this the difference between one physician and another?

Having completely expelled the demonic qi from Lady Yao's body, Hua Changxi withdrew her spiritual needles: "Mother, if anyone in the family gets injured in the future, send a message to Third Brother and ask him to come back and take a look."

"The Dan Sheng Hall has a wider variety of medicinal pills and more refined treatment methods."

"Healing injuries a day earlier means less suffering and helps avoid leaving behind hidden ailments."

Once Hua Changxi had stored her needles back in their case, Lady Yao felt entirely relaxed; the bone-chilling cold she had felt for days vanished completely, and not a trace of stagnation remained within her body.

At that moment, the look in her eyes as she gazed at Hua Changxi was filled entirely with gratification and pride.

"Very well, Mother will listen to you."

Only then did Sheng Yuantang step forward gently, calling softly: "Auntie."

Lady Yao immediately took Hua Changxi's hand and introduced her: "Ninth Daughter, this is your eldest brother's fiancée. I haven't been able to move freely these past two days; she has taken care of me entirely."

Hua Changxi looked over curiously; earlier, she had only glanced at Sheng Yuantang at the courtyard gate before her attention had been drawn away by Lady Yao.

Now examining her closely, she saw that Sheng Yuantang possessed an upright posture, gentle features, graceful demeanor, and eyes that were clear yet revealed determination.

"Eldest Sister-in-law?"

Hearing this, Lady Yao immediately tapped Hua Changxi: "They aren't married yet; call her 'Sister'."

Sheng Yuantang also felt somewhat shy at being addressed so, but she still smiled generously at Hua Changxi and said amicably: "Ninth Daughter, I am a few years older than you; you may call me Sister Yuantang."

Hua Changxi readily complied: "Sister Yuantang, thank you for coming to care for my mother."

Sheng Yuantang's smile was warm: "It is only proper."

The two exchanged smiles, the atmosphere harmonious.

Just then, a rush of hurried footsteps and clamor came from outside the courtyard.

Grandfather Hua had returned with Second Uncle Hua and Fourth Uncle Hua.

"Ninth Daughter! You've finally returned!" Second Uncle Hua's voice was loud; as soon as he entered, he shouted: "Some time ago, Third Son sent word saying you were coming back, and we dared not believe it! Never did we expect you to arrive silently today!"

Hua Changxi smiled, stepped forward, and paid respects to Grandfather Hua and the other two; though ten years had passed since they last met, everyone's spirit and vitality were excellent.

Seeing Lady Yao's rosy complexion, Grandfather Hua was overjoyed and immediately asked the reason; upon learning that Hua Changxi had healed her, he nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of gratification.

Noticing Hua Changxi looking behind them, knowing she was searching for Hua Minghe, Grandfather Hua smiled and said: "Ninth Daughter, your father is now a soldier of the Xuan Yuan Army; when not on missions, he must undergo strict training every day and will only return in the evening."

"However, your grandmother and Seventh Daughter and the others should be back soon; they are on duty in the Logistics Department and can take leave if there is a matter."

"By the way, Fourth Son and the others are all on duty in the Martial Training Hall; as long as they perform well, they too can become soldiers of the Xuan Yuan Army in the future."

"As for me, I am on duty in the Library Pavilion, while your Second and Fourth Uncles are responsible for guarding the storehouses."

"Our family has now firmly established its footing within the Xuan Yuan Prefecture."

Grandfather Hua, unsure of what else to say to Hua Changxi, simply detailed the situation of the Hua family within the Xuan Yuan Prefecture.

Second Uncle Hua and Fourth Uncle Hua also interjected from time to time, laughing or sighing; the atmosphere was quite lively, dispelling much of the strangeness born of ten years apart.

Before long, Grandmother Hua entered through the door accompanied by several granddaughters, and the courtyard instantly became bustling.

The women surrounded Hua Changxi, asking questions left and right in a clamor; some touched her hands, others pinched her cheeks, as if needing to confirm whether she had truly returned.

Even more surprisingly, Hua Dalang had also rushed back.

"Grandfather, Grandmother."

Hua Dalang first paid his respects to the elders, then turned his gaze to Hua Changxi: "Ninth Sister has returned."

Hua Changxi looked at her elder brother before her, her heart trembling slightly.

The Hua Dalang of today carried a steadiness and alertness tempered by years on the battlefield, an instinct forged through countless brushes with death.

"Elder Brother."

Lady Yao was somewhat surprised by Hua Dalang's return: "Dalang, why have you come back?"

At this, Sheng Yuantang immediately stepped forward, speaking with a touch of shyness yet openly: "Aunt, it was I who sent the message to Brother Hongyi. I thought that since Ninth Sister has returned, the siblings ought to meet."

Hua Dalang smiled slightly, offering no rebuttal.

Lady Yao looked at Sheng Yuantang and smiled with relief: "Look at me, I've forgotten everything; Third Lang and Sixth Lang must be called back as well."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi moved to stop her, but Hua Dalang spoke first: "I have already sent messages to Third Lang and Sixth Lang."

Old Master Hua and Old Lady Hua expressed their approval.

Not long after, Second Sister Hua arrived with her husband and two sons.

Second Uncle Hua laughed heartily: "It was I who notified Second Sister! Ninth Sister hasn't been home in ten years; the sisters simply must gather properly!"

Shortly thereafter, Fifth Sister Hua also arrived, accompanied by Lord He San and He Xiaoman.

The last to return were Sixth Brother Hua, along with Third Brother Hua and Zhu Qinghuan.

Looking at the now-crowded Hua family courtyard, Hua Changxi pulled Seventh Sister Hua aside and asked in a low voice: "Doesn't the Xuanfu Prefecture forbid outsiders from entering?"

Seventh Sister Hua let out an "Ah": "Where are there any outsiders? There are no outsiders here."

Hua Changxi: "......"

Seventh Sister Hua finally realized: "Relatives of those within the prefecture are permitted to enter for visits, provided they have reported it beforehand."

Hua Changxi twitched the corner of her mouth; looking at her kin gathered all together, she felt somewhat... ill at ease.