116: It's never been this good

Shen Jianxing felt a sharp pain in his forehead, and his vision suddenly plunged into darkness.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a realm of Chaos and Void.

"Is this... a dream?"

This feeling of Enter Dream was completely different from ordinary dreaming. Although he was in a dream, his consciousness was very clear, even more so than usual. It was truly miraculous.

He vigilantly looked around and saw a young man in white standing behind him.

In his hand, he was toying with a Medicinal Pill that glowed with golden light.

"Temple Official Shen Jianxing greets Lord Chuping."

Shen Jianxing suppressed the surprise in his heart and bowed respectfully.

He had been a Temple Official for so long, yet he had never seen Lord Chuping in person. He had heard Liu Chunsheng say that Lord Chuping would sometimes Enter Dream to give instructions or impart martial arts. He had always yearned for this, and now his wish was finally granted.

He just didn't know why Lord Chuping had come. Shen Jianxing subtly glanced at the Medicinal Pill in Lord Chuping's hand.

Its color was as transparent as glazed glass, glistening as if about to drip, and its halo was as brilliant as the scorching sun, surrounded by a Spiritual Qi glow.

A guess suddenly formed in Shen Jianxing's mind, but he dared not believe it.

Lin Chuping looked at Shen Jianxing's changing expression with a half-smile. With a gentle flick of his fingertip, the Medicinal Pill floated between them, its golden light rippling like water.

"It seems you've guessed it."

Lin Chuping tapped his fingertip, and the Medicinal Pill slowly drifted in front of Shen Jianxing.

Shen Jianxing's heart pounded like a drum, and his breathing almost stopped—this Medicinal Pill, could it be the legendary... "Curse Breaking Pill."

As the three words fell, Shen Jianxing's pupils constricted, and his fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

He stared intently at the Medicinal Pill, his throat tight, almost unable to speak.

The holy medicine that could break the Nine Nether Heart-Eating Curse... Shen Jianxing had pondered the name Curse Breaking Pill countless times in his heart, but his elder brother had searched the entire capital without finding a trace.

Yet now, this legendary Medicinal Pill floated so lightly before him.

"Thank you, Lord Chuping, for this treasure..."

Shen Jianxing's voice was hoarse, speechless for a moment.

"Go."

The scene before him suddenly blurred, and the dream receded like a tide.

Shen Jianxing abruptly opened his eyes, finding himself still seated at his desk. Outside the window, the morning light was faint, the candle on the table extinguished, leaving only a wisp of smoke.

He looked down at his palm—a Medicinal Pill, glowing with golden light, lay quietly there, emitting a gentle Spiritual light.

"Lord Chuping's great kindness..."

He murmured softly, then knelt with a thud towards the direction of the temple.

Before his eyes, the days and nights tormented by illness over the years flashed by—those nights when he curled up in bed from pain, those days when he watched his peers gallop on horseback while he could only gaze out the window, the sweet yet bitter moments when he received letters from Su Mingyue.

Now, all this suffering would be ended by a small Medicinal Pill.

Shen Jianxing took a deep breath, then suddenly turned to face the village temple and performed a solemn bow.

* * *

"Young Master, Young Master!"

Xiaotao heard movement inside the door and entered, only to see her Young Master kneeling and kowtowing frantically.

The bronze basin in Xiaotao's hand clanged as it hit the ground, splashing warm water everywhere.

She widened her eyes, watching her Young Master repeatedly kowtow towards the Void Realm, his forehead already red with marks.

"Young Master! What's wrong with you?"

Xiaotao rushed over in a panic, grabbing Shen Jianxing's arm.

"Is your old illness acting up again? This servant will go fetch a doctor right away!"

Shen Jianxing raised his head, a long-lost brilliant smile gracing his lips.

Only then did Xiaotao notice that the Young Master's complexion was much rosier than usual, and those eyes, always filled with pain, were now frighteningly bright.

"Xiaotao, I'm going to be well soon."

Not alleviated, not suppressed, but completely and utterly well.

Shen Jianxing said softly, his voice filled with unconcealed joy, "This time, it's real."

Xiaotao froze, then suddenly noticed the Medicinal Pill glowing with golden light in the Young Master's palm.

She gasped, "This... this is..."

"Curse Breaking Pill."

Shen Jianxing said, enunciating each word, each one heavy as a thousand pounds, "Given by Lord Chuping."

Xiaotao's tears instantly streamed down her face.

As a personal maid, she knew better than anyone how much suffering the Young Master had endured over the years.

How many late nights had she, with tears in her eyes, wiped the cold sweat from the Young Master, who was writhing in pain; how many times had she watched the Young Master's trembling fingertips as he forced himself to read Young Miss Su's letters while enduring intense pain.

"That's wonderful... that's wonderful..."

Xiaotao cried, unable to speak a complete sentence, then suddenly knelt towards the direction of the temple, kowtowing three times with loud thuds, "Thank you, Lord Chuping! Thank you, Lord Chuping!"

"Young Master, this servant will immediately send someone to be your Protector."

"Go."

Shen Jianxing smiled as he helped Xiaotao up, then smoothly put the Curse Breaking Pill into his mouth.

The Medicinal Pill melted upon entering his throat, and a warm current instantly flowed through his limbs and bones.

He closed his eyes, feeling the cold curse Qi that had entangled him for years melt away like ice and snow. When he opened his eyes again, his entire being exuded vibrant vitality.

"Xiaotao."

Shen Jianxing suddenly lowered his voice, a cunning glint in his eyes, "Don't spread the word about Mingyue coming to Qingzhou yet."

Xiaotao wiped her tears, asking in confusion, "Is Young Master going to..."

"I want to give her a surprise."

* * *

Two hours later, Shen Jianxing flexed his wrists. The long-lost sense of power made him unable to resist throwing a punch, the sound of it tearing through the air making Xiaotao flinch. "She's worried enough over the years; it's time to let her see what the real Shen Jianxing looks like."

"Young Master, should we also keep it from Master and Young Master?"

"No need, but this matter should not be widely publicized. Just inform Father and Eldest Brother."

The mastermind was still hidden in the dark. If he suddenly recovered, the other party might resort to desperate measures.

With the enemy in the open and them in the shadows, for the safety of Father and Eldest Brother, they still needed to be extra careful.

Shen Jianxing said, walking into the courtyard and casually breaking off a plum branch.

With a slight flick of his wrist, the plum branch was instantly covered in frost, refracting a rainbow of colors in the morning light.

Xiaotao watched, dumbfounded—this was the "Cold Plum Qi" that the Young Master could only use at his peak!

"Go find my indigo arrow-sleeved robe."

Shen Jianxing smiled, "And prepare some osmanthus cakes that Mingyue likes. Oh, right, she mentioned in her last letter that she wanted to eat Qingzhou date shortbread? You go to the market..."

Xiaotao's tears turned to laughter as she nodded while making notes.

"I know, I know, I guarantee Young Miss Su will have a comfortable stay!"

"Young Master, are you really completely well? Does your heart still hurt?"

Shen Jianxing touched his chest. There was no longer the stinging pain of the past, only the warm Spiritual Qi remaining from the Medicinal Pill.

"I've never been this well."