Chapter 144: Half-Healed Song Bai

Junyang smiled and nodded, saying, "Indeed. It seems we truly made the right choice in picking him back then. I never expected him to possess such genuine alchemy talent; this is something far beyond the ability of ordinary alchemists."

You Xiyue nodded in agreement. "Indeed it is."

Junyang continued, attempting to divert You Xiyue's attention. "Fan Lihua has already reached the True Saint realm. She is preparing to head home and have a showdown with her old man."

"..." You Xiyue curved her lips in a helpless smile. "She really is... quite daring."

"Knowing her temperament? She is already planning to go give Fan Wuwu a beating in a few days. If she actually goes, I might just tag along to watch the fun," Junyang said with undisguised schadenfreude.

You Xiyue's expression finally softened just a fraction.

At that moment, however, the treatment inside the room had already begun.

With all preparations complete, Lanshi finally prepared to begin extracting the subjugation needles that could be removed.

Both Lanshi and Yun Jianxin wore grim expressions.

Yun Jianxin's hands were even trembling slightly.

Pampered and sheltered like a young master in a honeyed jar all his life, he was utterly shaken to the core by the scene before him, clutching the tray and waiting for Lanshi to make her move.

Lanshi cast a deep look at Song Bai and asked hesitatingly, "Are you truly certain you do not want to be rendered unconscious? It will hurt immensely..."

Song Bai curled the corners of her lips. "Do not worry. Go ahead and extract them without hesitation; I will not struggle."

Lanshi was clearly still apprehensive.

Song Bai could only offer comfort. "The illusion techniques of our Fuzhu clan can help me alleviate the pain. Rest assured."

Lanshi let out a breath. How could she fail to see that Song Bai was merely trying to comfort her?

Use illusion techniques? Song Bai hardly even had the strength left to sit upright.

Yet, since the patient herself was offering such comfort, what kind of alchemist would she be to continue fussing like a nervous mother?

Finally, Lanshi placed her hand upon the thick subjugation needle.

"Brace yourself."

Song Bai let out only a muffled groan, continuing to smile as she said, "Mn."

Lanshi channeled her spiritual energy bit by bit into the subjugation needle, and when she felt that the spiritual energy had completely enveloped the needle, she glanced at Song Bai, exerted force, and pulled it out swiftly.

Blood sprayed forth instantly.

Yun Jianxin dared not delay any longer. Even with his face splattered with blood, he quickly pressed gauze over the wound, applying the healing pills You Xiyue had left behind along with crushed dreamsleep mushroom powder.

Fortunately, the pills were remarkably potent, and the bleeding was soon stemmed.

Lanshi looked sideways at Song Bai.

The pale, slightly chapped lips and the beads of cold sweat oozing out all testified to Song Bai's extraordinary endurance.

Yet it had been nothing more than a muffled groan.

Yun Jianxin followed Lanshi's gaze and looked at Song Bai.

He figured he would probably be adding another person to his list of idols today.

What kind of endurance was this?

He let out a soft sigh.

Then, he heard Song Bai say softly, "Continue."

Lanshi nodded. "Very good."

Yun Jianxin released the gauze he was pressing down, stood up, and made space for Lanshi.

The two of them did not dare to spare even a fraction of their focus—neither in extracting the subjugation needles nor in promptly staunching the bleeding from the wounds.

Just like that, the treatment lasted for a full five hours.

Lanshi looked at the subjugation needles gathering in the tray.

Clearly, this was not even half of the total amount.

Finally, she wiped the sweat from her brow.

"Let the wounds on her body recover for a couple of days before we figure out how to extract the ones in other areas."

Song Bai truly had no strength left to speak.

She moved her lips.

Lanshi could not hear what she was saying.

"Get some sleep. You've worked hard."

Song Bai finally closed her eyes, and her consciousness faded rapidly.

Yet, even in sleep, her body kept twitching uncontrollably.

Just as she had warned, once she fell asleep, she would suffer from nightmares, trembling incessantly, and even raising her arms to thrash about unconsciously.

Yun Jianxin slumped onto the floor, staring at the sleeping Song Bai. He had never been this exhausted in his entire life; every muscle in his body ached with soreness.

Lanshi wiped the bloodstains from her person, pushed open the door, and walked out.

The stench of blood from inside the room surged out instantly as the door opened, causing You Xiyue, whose emotions had finally settled, to knit her brows once more.

"How is it?" You Xiyue asked with concern.

"A little less than half the needles have been extracted. Any more, and she likely wouldn't be able to endure it. We need to let her recover for a couple of days before continuing."

Lanshi explained patiently to You Xiyue.

"Thank you," You Xiyue said, raising her eyes with sincere gratitude.

"There is no need for such formalities." Lanshi twisted her overworked wrist. "She will undoubtedly have nightmares while sleeping. Go check on her; I am going to rest for a while."

"Mn, you've worked hard." You Xiyue thanked her once more and walked toward the room.

Yun Jianxin leaned against the wall, his spirit clearly still recovering from the shock.

You Xiyue glanced briefly at Yun Jianxin before walking over to Song Bai's side.

She grasped Song Bai's restlessly twitching arm, channeling a stream of spiritual energy that seeped inward bit by bit.

The warm and familiar aura caused Song Bai to instantly grow much calmer.

Junyang led Yun Jianxin out, leaving only You Xiyue and Song Bai in the room.

You Xiyue looked at the subjugation needles resting in the tray, clenched her fists tightly, and then slowly relaxed them.

Song Bai's wounds had been properly tended to by Lanshi and Yun Jianxin, but the two of them were undeniably exhausted from a day's hard work.

You Xiyue closed her eyes and summoned Yan Qingye.

Hearing You Xiyue's summons, Yan Qingye abandoned the batch of pills he was halfway through refining and ran out immediately, heading straight for the immortal dwelling.

Waves of the bloody stench drifted from the inner courtyard to the outer courtyard, causing Yan Qingye to quicken his pace in alarm. Judging by the scent, this was far beyond a normal amount of blood loss.

Arriving at You Xiyue's room, he knocked on the door.

"Little Master? Did you call for me?"

"Mn, come in," You Xiyue replied upon hearing him.

Yan Qingye pushed the door open and entered, his first instinct being to check whether You Xiyue was injured. Seeing her completely unharmed and whole, he let out a sigh of relief before finally noticing the person lying on the bed.

The protruding sharp needles sent a chill through anyone who looked at them, and there were so many of them. "What is this..."

"My... friend..."

"How did she get hurt so badly?" Yan Qingye walked over, carefully examining Song Bai, and immediately recognized that someone had already performed half of the treatment. "Who has already treated her?"

"Lanshi and Yun Jianxin treated her for a day and went to rest. Help me keep watch over her."

You Xiyue stood up, making room for Yan Qingye.

"She is asleep right now. Should any situation arise, you will likely understand it better than I do. Use the medicines on the table as you see fit. If you cannot handle it, call for Lanshi."

Yan Qingye nodded, acknowledging the order. "Then get some rest early, Little Master. Rest assured, your friend will certainly be fine."

You Xiyue pressed her lips together, picked up the tray, and walked out.

Yan Qingye watched You Xiyue's retreating figure, his brows furrowing with deep worry.

After watching for a moment, he turned away with a helpless sigh and refocused his attention entirely on Song Bai.

Seeing You Xiyue walk out carrying the tray, Junyang stepped forward to meet her. Lowering his gaze to look at the subjugation needles in the tray, he asked, "Little Ancestor... you..."

"He ought to experience this for himself, should he not?" A chilling light flashed in You Xiyue's eyes.

Junyang found himself at a loss for words.

It was evident that You Xiyue's patience had reached its absolute limit; any attempt on his part to persuade her otherwise would be entirely in vain.