Chapter 5: Spiritual Qi Pill

“If Ling'er needs it, then do as she says. In any case, that courtyard is empty; it’s just that no one has lived there for a long time. Xiu Gu, hurry and send people to clean and tidy the courtyard. Ling'er and I will bring our things over shortly. You are... what was your name again...”

She had thought her father wouldn't agree with her, but unexpectedly, Mu Shengtian's brow furrowed as if he were suppressing immense pain. After a pause, he looked toward Wanling and gave a slight smile while instructing Lady Liu. Looking at Chun'er, who was accompanying Wanling, he knit his brows and asked, his expression as if he were trying to recall Chun'er's name.

“Replying to Master, this servant is Chun'er...” Wanling couldn't make sense of her father's attitude toward her; she truly didn't understand what they were trying to pull. However, she had a faint, clear feeling that Second Mother was following her father's lead.

Seeing that Chun'er still looked dazed, Wanling lightly nudged the hand of Sui Mu Wanxia, who was moving away to walk toward her side. Only then did Chun'er snap out of her stupor, kneeling respectfully and looking toward Mu Shengtian.

“Oh, look, I forgot. Get up quickly... Chun'er, go and pack Ling'er's and your things casually. Just take the important items; I will prepare a courtyard for you both in the front estate with the Madam. Go on. Ling'er, all these years it has been Father, Father...”

Upon Chun'er's explanation, Mu Shengtian let out a melancholy sigh and patted his head, looking as if he had only just remembered, as he gave her instructions. After watching Chun'er bow and leave, he finally looked at Wanling. With a hint of moisture in his eyes, he stepped forward, grasped her hand firmly, and said with a choked voice

“Father...” As his large hand gripped hers, Wanling felt a surge of power rushing in from her fingertips. It was a power that made her entire body feel feverish and caused an uncomfortable, continuous expansion. That power felt like a current of qi surging through her fingertips; it was so immense that she found it difficult to control, even having the illusion that she might explode from the force. She wanted to pull away, but her body was paralyzed; she could only look at the man before her in panic and let out a low cry.

“Don't worry, Father won't hurt you. Father was only testing to see if you possessed Martial Qi. I didn't expect that it was still... It is all Father's fault. Father failed to take care of you back then, which caused you to fall ill shortly after birth, and your body has been like this ever since. All these years, Father thought you lacked Martial Qi and thus neglected you. Father failed to fulfill his responsibility as a father. Father is guilty; Father has failed your mother... Ling'er, can you give Father a chance to protect you, cherish you, and take care of you again, alright? Ling'er.”

Mu Shengtian looked at Wanling's tension and panic with gentleness before withdrawing his hand, and that previous current of qi abruptly stopped. Seeing Wanling let out a long breath of relief, Mu Shengtian stepped forward again. His slightly rough, large hand rose as if to stroke her hair, and seeing that she did not instinctively flinch, his eyes carried a trace of regret and helplessness. He paused, looking at Wanling again with expectant, watery eyes...

Chapter 7: Spirit Qi Pill

One had to know that before her transmigration, in the original host's memories, this father had never once looked at her directly. Now, although she didn't know what he was up to, a man of an age sufficient to be her father and who looked quite imposing was pleading with her like this.

A voice in her heart prompted her to wonder why he hadn't shown her more care before, and she wanted to ask if he knew who had drugged her. Although Wanling's heart was suppressed by a belly full of confusion, incomprehension, and even an indescribable bitterness—thinking perhaps this was a subconscious reflection of the original host's body—at this moment, she simply gave a faint smile and turned to look at Mu Shengtian.

“Father, don't say that. It is also Ling'er's fault for being useless and bringing shame to our General's Mansion. I...” After saying this, she lowered her head in guilt and gloom. Since they were going to act, she would play along with him; she wanted to see what this father would say next.

“Silly child, no matter what, you are Father's child. It was Father's failure to care for you that made you this way; what right does Father have to blame you? Child, this is a treasure Father brought back from the capital this time. Here, it is for you...”

As expected, once Wanling finished speaking, Mu Shengtian gave a dry smile and looked at her with apologetic eyes, pulling a brocade box from his sleeve and handing it to her.

“This is...” Wanling instinctively took it. Upon opening it, she found a black pill inside, one that emitted a strange, refreshing fragrance. Seeing him give her a pill, Wanling couldn't help but look at him in confusion.

“You wouldn't know since you haven't practiced martial arts. In our Great Dynasty, besides martial cultivation, there is also alchemy. Martial cultivation involves Martial Qi, which not only demonstrates a person's inherent skill and ability but also signifies one's status and identity. Martial Qi is divided into seven stages. Whether using a sword, fist, or palm, they are all characterized by the user's own Martial Qi. The colors of Martial Qi are red, orange, red, green, blue, cyan, purple, and white. The highest level is white light, but that belongs to top-tier experts; in our entire Great Dynasty, those who reach that level are countable on one's fingers. Martial Qi symbolizes a person's latent energy; the higher the cultivation stage, the deeper the color. Alchemists are a highly esteemed profession in our Great Dynasty. Juniors only refine medicines for strengthening the body or detoxification, while intermediates can enhance Martial Qi or replenish energy. As for the high-level ones, a single pill can cause an ordinary person to undergo a complete transformation, or even say, break through the martial cultivation stage to enter the cultivation stage. The cultivation stage is the state of a semi-immortal body... This is a Spirit Qi Pill that Father specifically obtained from a high-level alchemist during a visit to the frontier. I heard that taking it can break through one's Ren and Du meridians and allow for a complete transformation. Come, swallow it...”

In response to Wanling's inquiry, Mu Shengtian sighed slightly and explained while holding the pill. Before Wanling could even react to his words, he flicked his finger, and the pill flew straight to her lips.

“Father...” Seeing him insist she take the medicine, Wanling instinctively tried to stop him. But as he acted, she felt a numbness spread through her body. Watching the pill approach, she found herself unable to control her mouth as she swallowed it.

“This... Father...” Thinking that he had ignored her will to give her the medicine, Wanling swallowed it, and her body regained its freedom. She instinctively lowered her head, wanting to spit the pill out, but it had already slid into her stomach. She looked at Mu Shengtian in confusion.

“Silly girl, Father told you, he won't hurt you. Try it, feel it—can you feel the difference?”

Seeing her like this, Mu Shengtian smiled slightly and placed his large hand on her shoulder as he prompted her. Wanling wanted to refuse and dodge, but her body stood rigid there, unable to struggle free. She could only helplessly close her eyes and try to feel the difference he spoke of.

Sure enough, as his hand rested on her shoulder, she felt a surge of heat, as if a current of air were crowding in her chest, swirling faster and faster as the current grew stronger. That powerful current made her entire body feel an indescribable feverishness, to the point where she felt something was about to burst from her body and was becoming unbearable. Just as she reached that limit, an unusual current of air suddenly surged from the palm on her shoulder. Following the influx of that current, the wild, chaotic air inside her was slowly swirled into a single mass, settling right in her chest.

Though this feeling was strange, the previous feverishness and chaos indeed eased significantly. Wanling thought to herself, "There is a mass of qi in my heart..."

“It seems this Spirit Qi Pill is indeed useful. Try to direct this mass of qi outward...” Hearing her, Mu Shengtian, standing behind Wanling, wore a profound, inscrutable smile. His lips parted slightly as he gave her guidance.

“I'll try...” Although she didn't trust this father, given the strangeness in her body and the feeling of being filled with power, Wanling immediately thought of directing that current of air through her palms upon his instruction.

“Ugh, it's not working, Father. I keep feeling that current is very powerful, like a crowded mass, but it's hard to release it...” After several attempts, every time she felt the current was about to emerge from her fingertips, it would reach the surface only to fail to exit. After a few more tries, Wanling helplessly stopped and looked at Mu Shengtian.

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