Chapter 75 Illness

Yun Qian was enduring the persistent, dull pain in her head, struggling to focus her scattered attention. Hearing her name, her heart tightened. She subconsciously pinched her palm with her fingertips, using that sharp pain to make herself more alert.

She took a deep breath and stood up. Her pale face was almost devoid of color, faint dark circles were under her eyes, and her lips were somewhat dry.

However, when she spoke, her voice was clear and fluent, as if those complex Formation changes had already been carved into her bones: "Reporting to Mr. Gao, the Kun position governs Earth and is suited for sinking; one must guide the Spiritual Qi to make the Earth Qi descend... The Li position governs Fire and brightness; one must turn 'brightness' into 'obscurity' to weaken its perception, trapping the target in confusion..."

Her answer was clear, logical, and had unique insights. She even added her own understanding of the subtle flow of Formation energy based on what Mr. Gao had explained.

A low murmur of amazement and admiration arose in the classroom. If it were usual times, Yun Qian would have felt proud upon hearing it, but at this moment, she didn't have the energy to pay attention at all.

Mr. Gao's eyes also revealed undisguised appreciation as he nodded repeatedly: "Good! Very good! Yun Qian, your Comprehension Ability in the Dao of Formations is truly the best I have seen in recent years! This solution is not only accurate but also shows Spiritual Qi, capturing the essence of Formation changes!"

Facing everyone's gazes and Mr. Gao's praise, Yun Qian tried hard to force a faint smile.

She only felt the blood vessels at her temples throbbing, and the needle at her temple seemed to drill a little deeper. After standing for just a moment, her vision began to blur slightly.

She sat back down almost immediately, her fingers quietly pressing against her aching temple.

The long lecture finally ended.

Yun Qian sat at her desk, head lowered, lost in thought.

"Yun Qian, your complexion is very bad. Are you feeling unwell? If you have any difficulties, feel free to tell me."

Yun Qian looked up; it was actually Mr. Gao who had specifically walked to her desk to express his concern in a low voice.

A warmth spread through Yun Qian's heart, immediately followed by a surge of bitterness.

She lowered her eyelids, not daring to look into Mr. Gao's sincere eyes, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum: "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Gao... It is just... my monthly cycle has arrived, and I am feeling a bit uncomfortable. I will be better in a few days."

This was the least suspicious excuse she could think of.

Mr. Gao was a man, so he felt a bit awkward upon hearing this and could not ask further, only urging: "Oh, I see. Then you must rest more and not overexert yourself."

"Yes, I understand, Mr. Gao." Yun Qian nodded gently.

However, while this excuse could deceive Mr. Gao, it could not deceive Shen Qi, who was constantly watching her.

Shen Qi had seen the state Yun Qian had been in these past few days.

She had witnessed with her own eyes how terrifying Yun Qian's headache was, and she knew this definitely could not be explained by a "monthly cycle." Watching Yun Qian grow thinner by the day, with the exhaustion and pain in her eyes almost overflowing, Shen Qi's heart tightened.

Days rose and set, and Yun Qian survived another day at the school.

She slowly strolled home with Shen Qi.

As they got closer to home, Yun Qian began to feel afraid.

She did not want her brother to see her like this; he would definitely be worried.

Forget it, her brother knew about her illness better than anyone. She and her brother had depended on each other since childhood; what was there to hide from him?

Just as she nervously pushed open the courtyard gate, all that entered her view was Aunt Yang Peilan's busy figure in the kitchen.

Where was her brother?

Aunt Yang Peilan said that her brother had originally planned to pick them up from school, but he suddenly received an urgent mission and had gone out of the city to hunt monsters again.

Yun Qian couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, but for some reason, she felt empty inside.

At this moment, Shen Qi, who had been observing Yun Qian from the side, finally couldn't hold back anymore. She pulled Yun Qian into the room and sat her down.

Looking at Yun Qian's bloodless face, Shen Qi's eyes were full of worry and anxiety: "Qianqian, don't hide it from me anymore! Is your head... is it aching terribly again? Even worse than when Brother Yun was home last time, right?"

Yun Qian looked at Shen Qi's concerned eyes and knew she couldn't hide it anymore.

She nodded wearily, her voice trembling slightly, almost imperceptibly: "Yes... it hasn't had a major flare-up since last time, but... but it never stops. It feels like needles are pricking me. I'm so tired..."

"You mean to say that although the headache isn't as severe as before, it has been happening constantly!? No! This can't go on!" Shen Qi said decisively, gripping Yun Qian's cold hands tightly, "We can't drag this out any longer! We have to tell Brother Yun!"

"No, there is no need to tell Brother Yun. He has been working so hard lately all because of me," Yun Qian said, lowering her head and muttering.

Shen Qi also fell silent.

In fact, this morning, the two attentive girls, Yun Qian and Shen Qi, both noticed that Yun Bai had been seriously injured.

"Yes, Brother Yun, he this morning... right?" Shen Qi said.

"Yes. Sister Jiang Shuanger's father is a famous Alchemy Great Master and physician. Sister Jiang Shuanger personally brought Brother Yun back, so it must be because Brother Yun was seriously injured. Brother Yun thought I didn't notice, but how could he hide it from me?" Yun Qian said firmly.

Regarding Yun Bai's injury, Shen Qi was only guessing, but Yun Qian was very certain.

What Yun Qian didn't say was that the reason she was so certain was that during her process to Cultivate, she discovered she could "see" the scene within ten zhang without using her eyes. She only learned after flipping through many books that this was the "Divine Sense" perception that only legendary Innate Cultivators could master.

The wound that Yun Bai only covered with his clothes was completely exposed to her perception.

That shocking wound on Yun Bai's chest looked as if it would split him in two.

It was too terrifying. Yun Qian closed her eyes; every time she recalled the injury on Yun Bai's body, her heart would begin to twitch.

"Then let's go find Sister Jiang Shuanger! We'll ask for her help and request her grandfather, Great Master Jiang, to take another look at you! Great Master Jiang is knowledgeable and experienced; perhaps... perhaps he might have other ways to temporarily alleviate it?" Shen Qi said upon hearing this.

Yun Qian subconsciously wanted to refuse.

For the sake of her illness, Brother Yun had already shouldered such heavy Spirit Stone debts and taken risks time and time again... She did not want to add to Brother Yun's burden and worry anymore.

But the persistent, dull pain in her head, along with the subsequent dizziness and feeling of weakness, eroded her willpower like a tidal wave. She was too tired, so tired that she just wanted to close her eyes and fall asleep.

Just at this moment, a commotion suddenly came from outside the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Who is it?" Shen Qi hurried forward to open the door.

She opened the door and saw two people, both wearing moon-white Alchemy robes. One was a beautiful, charming young girl with red lips and white teeth; the other was a clean-shaven, refined middle-aged man.

It was actually Jiang Shuanger and Great Master Jiang.

The ancients said: "Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives."

The ancients truly do not deceive me.

"Sister Jiang Shuanger! Great Master Jiang!" Shen Qi's eyes lit up, "However, Brother Yun is not here; he has gone out on a mission again."

"Ah? Then his injury—" Jiang Shuanger was startled upon hearing this, subconsciously blurting it out, but immediately shut her mouth. Because she had promised Yun Bai not to tell Yun Qian and the others about his injuries.

Jiang Shuanger felt both annoyed and worried. This Yun Bai, he really has no regard for his own life. He had been so seriously injured this morning, yet he had gone out of the city again by evening.

At this moment, Great Master Jiang spoke: "It is fine. This must be Miss Shen Qi, right? We have come this time to represent the State Religion and find Miss Yun Qian."

"Find me?" Yun Qian also walked over at this time.

"Yes. It is for the seasoned bigu pill you refined." Great Master Jiang said with a kind smile.