142: Chapter 142 The illness can be cured, but one must first become an apprentice!

This scene made Ye Eagle relax slightly.

He never expected that this mysterious Mr. Su would have such a close relationship with Lei Mengsha.

"Sir, with the great battle imminent, perhaps we should wait until it concludes before proceeding with the treatment?"

Xiao Ruofeng cautiously proposed.

"It's fine. Send her over. I will ensure her safety."

Su Rui's tone was calm, yet brooked no argument.

"Thank you, sir! I'll go fetch her immediately!"

Without another word, Ye Eagle turned and strode out of the tent. The sound of hooves soon thundered in the distance of the camp as he galloped away.

"Thank you for your assistance, worthy son-in-law."

Li Hanyi released her grip and silently retreated to stand beside Su Rui.

Rubbing his waist and straightening his expression, Lei Mengsha spoke earnestly.

"No need for thanks. Between us, there's no need for formalities."

As he spoke, Su Rui took Li Hanyi's hand and gently stroked it.

Li Hanyi's cheeks flushed slightly.

It would be fine if they were alone, but with so many people present...

Lei Mengsha and Xiao Ruofeng stood side by side, with a group of female Disciples behind them.

Lei Mengsha was silent for a moment, his gaze falling on Su Rui's hand holding the young woman's. His eyes flickered, then he turned his head away.

"Ahem... I'll go make arrangements, muster the troops, and prepare for battle!" Before his words faded, he turned and left.

"I shall arrange accommodations for you now, sir." Xiao Ruofeng bowed with clasped fists and followed closely behind.

Before long, the lodgings were prepared.

Within an independent section of the camp, several elegant tents stood in neat rows. The furnishings inside were all brand new items delivered posthaste, clearly just arranged.

Su Rui gave a slight nod, his expression placid.

Meanwhile, Ye Eagle, unable to contain himself any longer, had already spurred his horse directly into Tianqi City. Not even bothering with an audience with the Emperor, he rushed straight to his residence, picked up his daughter Ye Ruoyi, and left the city again, heading straight for Qingyun Terrace.

Hearing of this, Emperor Mingde raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Ye Eagle took his child to Qingyun Terrace?"

"Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."

"Why such haste?" The Emperor's tone held a note of puzzlement.

"Your Majesty, this matter likely involves that person."

That person? Su Rui again?

"Your Majesty, General Ye's daughter was born with a deficient heart meridian. All these years, the General has sought physicians everywhere, solely to prolong his daughter's life."

Emperor Mingde nodded slowly.

This was known to many in the court.

Ye Eagle's frequent travels and considerable commotion over the years were all for the sake of saving his daughter.

He had once dispatched imperial physicians to treat her, but they were powerless—the physicians bluntly stated that without Heaven-Defying means to sustain life, she would not live past ten.

"You're saying he's now seeking treatment from Su Rui?"

"It must be that the other party agreed, which is why the General is so urgent."

"That makes sense," Emperor Mingde said softly.

However, in his view, this was merely a private matter of a military commander, not worth excessive concern.

...

While the sky was still bright, Ye Eagle arrived.

The little girl before him looked weary, frail, with a face pale as paper, her eyes holding a timid light.

Though clever and precocious, today's sudden turn of events had left her momentarily bewildered and at a loss.

"Quick, bow to the sir!" Ye Eagle's voice was urgent.

The child nodded dazedly but still obediently complied.

"Greetings, sir..." Her voice was as thin as silk, but her movements were meticulous.

Su Rui stood up and helped her rise. Under Ye Eagle's burning gaze, he gently lifted her and sat her down beside him.

Ye Ruoyi's body stiffened. She stole a glance at her father. Seeing him silent, she already had some inkling of what was happening.

[Ye Ruoyi: Four years, nine months; Aptitude: 79 (97); Evaluation: Intelligent and clever, adept at discerning people's hearts, quick-witted, meticulous.

However, suffers from Innate deficiency of the heart meridian, limiting potential; Recommendation: Accept as a Disciple, nurture diligently.]

Su Rui understood. What the Eye of Insight showed was indeed accurate.

"Sir..." Ye Eagle's voice was tight, his eyes fixed eagerly on Su Rui.

"The illness can be cured, but she must enter the sect as my Disciple."

"Hurry and bow to your Master!" Ye Eagle almost blurted out, overjoyed.

As long as his daughter could live, not only would he have her become a Disciple, he wouldn't hesitate to arrange her marriage in the future.

Ye Ruoyi struggled slightly, wanting to get down and kowtow, but Su Rui held her steadily, preventing her from moving.

Her small face immediately flushed.

"Are you willing to enter my martial hall and become my Disciple?"

"Mm..." She responded softly, like a leaf rustled by the wind.

[Ding! Genius Disciple Ye Ruoyi officially enters the sect. Granting Cultivation Technique or Opportunity triggers hundredfold return—Congratulations, Host, for obtaining an 18th-grade Creation Pill.]

Su Rui remained impassive. With a turn of his palm, a jade box materialized out of thin air.

He opened the lid. A crystal-clear, emerald-green Medicinal Pill lay quietly within. A refreshing fragrance instantly filled the entire tent.

Everyone felt a moist sensation at the tip of their noses. The Qi and blood within their bodies seemed to flow more smoothly, their Meridians relaxing as if washed by warm water.

Ye Eagle's pupils constricted sharply—that mere wisp of fragrance had actually loosened his long-stagnant tendons and Meridians!

"Open your mouth," Su Rui said softly.

Ye Ruoyi obediently parted her lips. Su Rui placed the pill into her mouth, then took the warm water handed by Mu Liangyue and helped her swallow it.

[Gifting an Awakening Spirit Pill to Ye Ruoyi triggers hundredfold critical return. Host obtains an 18th-grade Creation Pill.]

The System prompt sounded. Su Rui's expression remained unchanged.

Moments later, Ye Ruoyi's entire body began to grow warm. A faint white mist even rose from the top of her head, like steaming vapor.

"Liangyue, take her to bathe," Su Rui instructed.

Watching his daughter being carried away by the woman beside him, Ye Eagle's heart clenched. He couldn't help but speak up, "Sir..."

"The damage to the heart meridian, a terminal illness in your eyes, is but a minor matter to me." Su Rui's tone was flat, yet inexplicably reassuring.

"Yes! Sir is absolutely right!" Ye Eagle repeatedly agreed. In his heart, he had only one wish: the more formidable this sir was, the better.

Not long after, Mu Liangyue led a little girl over.

With a single glance, Su Rui immediately noticed something different.

The child's Aptitude value had changed—the rating previously in parentheses had vanished. It now clearly displayed 99, two points higher than before.

Not only that, the System evaluation had added a line: "Meridians resilient, Foundation solid."

Looking at Ye Ruoyi again, her lips were rosy, her complexion bright, her eyes spirited. Where was the sickly appearance from moments ago? It was as if she had been given a new body and bones, radiating a vitality that made her almost unrecognizable.

Ye Eagle stood frozen in place, his mind struggling to process.

Was this really his daughter?

In the blink of an eye, it was as if she had been reborn.

"The problem is solved," Su Rui said lightly. "However, once matters here are concluded, this girl must come with me to Snow Moon City."

Ye Eagle was taken aback, then nodded vigorously.

"Good! I agree!"

His daughter's transformation was plain for all to see, leaving no room for disbelief.

Having made the promise, he naturally wouldn't go back on it.

Moreover, being accepted as a Disciple by such an eminent figure could only bring benefits, absolutely no harm, to Ye Ruoyi.

Over these years, he had nearly worn out his threshold seeking treatment for his daughter.

He had pleaded with famous physicians, sought out extraordinary individuals. Even the Northern Li State Preceptor Qi Tianchen, after personally examining her, could only shake his head and sigh.

Though he left a method—using True Qi to nourish the Meridians and prolong life—it ultimately treated the symptoms, not the root cause.

How could it compare to this current, thorough eradication of the chronic illness?

"Thank you, Master, for saving my life!"

Though young, the little girl was extremely sensible. She clearly understood what she had experienced. Her eyes grew warm as she knelt and kowtowed, her tone sincere.

"Enough. From now on, you'll follow me." Su Rui helped her up. "The great battle is imminent. Your father will likely have to head to the front lines."

"Ruoyi understands!" the little girl nodded obediently.

Standing to the side, Ye Eagle finally allowed a long-absent smile to curl his lips.

As long as his daughter could live well, nothing else mattered.

"I entrust Ruoyi to you, sir. This humble general will take his leave first!" He saluted with clasped fists, his tone sincere.

"General Ye, as you wish." Su Rui inclined his head in response.

After Ye Eagle departed, Sikong Qianluo immediately sidled up to Ye Ruoyi, looking her up and down.

The two locked eyes—one curious, the other wary.

"Finally, someone younger than me," Sikong Qianluo thought to herself with delight.

"This older sister doesn't look very clever," Ye Ruoyi mused inwardly.

"Since Qianluo likes this child, let her sleep with you tonight," Su Rui, noticing this, suggested with a smile.

"Huh? Oh... Okay, I'll listen to Teacher!" Sikong Qianluo was first surprised, then happily agreed.

After she led Ye Ruoyi away, the others gradually dispersed.

Only Mu Liangyue and Li Hanyi had flushed cheeks, as if recalling the scene of sharing a bed in Sword Heart Tomb.

Yin Luoxia, however, lingered, standing silently to the side without leaving.

Su Rui sighed softly and lowered his head to examine the rewards obtained this time.

The Awakening Spirit Pill was obtained from a sign-in. Its main effects were enhancing talent and repairing Meridians.

To him, it wasn't a rare treasure, but for Ye Ruoyi, it was just right.

What truly caught his attention was the returned 18th-grade Creation Pill.

Its origin was unclear, but its efficacy was astonishing—even someone born with a crippled body could, upon consuming it, transform into a cultivation Genius. It could truly be called Heaven-Defying fate alteration.

The term "Creation" was derived precisely from this.

And the 18th grade was no ordinary level.

It could not only elevate Aptitude but also cause Comprehension Ability and Heart-Nature to leap accordingly.

Most crucially, pills of this grade were among the few that were actually suitable for him to consume.

This was a pleasant surprise.

Setting aside his thoughts, Su Rui lifted his gaze to the three women before him.

They were looking at each other, none speaking, the atmospheresubtle.

"Tonight, I'll stay by myself," he suddenly said.

The three were simultaneously taken aback. Blushes appeared on their faces as they hastily rose and left.

But after taking a few steps, Li Hanyi suddenly realized—something was off!

If it were just her and Mu Liangyue staying, that would be one thing, but why was Yin Luoxia lingering and unwilling to leave?

Her gaze shifted, landing on the figure ahead.

As if sensing something, Yin Luoxia abruptly quickened her pace. With a few light leaps, she reached the tent, lifted the flap, and entered—her movements crisp and decisive.

Li Hanyi stood rooted to the spot, utterly confused.

She turned to look at Mu Liangyue beside her.

Mu Liangyue's expression was calm, pretending not to understand.

In truth, she had already calculated her next move for how to "backstab."

Though she and Li Hanyi had an understanding, when it came to the crucial moment, it was still a bit embarrassing.