Chapter 196: The Internal Death Qi is Activated

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: The Internal Death Qi is Activated

After a stormy night, the morning sun shone through the latticed window, casting its rays into the room.

For some reason, Wen Ang and Cailing didn’t come by early in the morning as they had the day before.

And it was a good thing they didn’t.

Chu Fan woke up earlier than Yun Xi. Perhaps the night had been too exhausting for her. When it came to stamina, Yun Xi was ultimately no match for Chu Fan; after all, he was two full Great Realms above her.

Chu Fan got out of bed and got dressed.

What surprised him, however, was that despite all his movement, Yun Xi didn’t stir at all.

But he didn’t dwell on it. ’Maybe this is just how it is for a woman after her first time,’ he thought.

After washing up, he started to leave. He reached the door but then turned back. Walking to the bedside, he gently kissed Yun Xi on the forehead.

Suddenly, he saw faint wisps of black energy coiled around Yun Xi.

The black energy was very faint. If his Spiritual Power hadn’t already reached Level 30, he might not have noticed it at all.

’This... this black energy is Death Qi?’

No one was more familiar with Death Qi than him. After all, the Juntian Mirror World was filled with an endless supply of it.

’But why would Yun Xi have Death Qi?’

"Yun Xi! Yun Xi!"

Chu Fan hurriedly tried to wake Yun Xi.

He called her name, and Yun Xi did wake. But the moment she opened her eyes, her face turned deathly pale.

The Death Qi had already begun to devour her life force.

At that moment, Yun Xi looked incredibly frail, as if she had been stricken by a severe illness.

Instantly, Chu Fan’s heart sank as if it had plunged into an abyss.

’What’s happening?’

’Why is this happening?’

’Could it be because of last night?’

’But how could this be possible?’

’They had only done what a married couple does. How could she have Death Qi?’

"Yun Xi, are you alright?"

"Chu... Chu Fan... I... what’s... what’s happening to me?" Yun Xi’s voice was faint, punctuated by fits of coughing.

"It’s nothing. You probably just caught a chill. I’ll go get a physician. Yes, I’ll get a physician," Chu Fan stammered, his words a jumble.

’Caught a chill?’

Yun Xi was a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator. What kind of chill could possibly affect her?

He scrambled out of the room and bellowed to the sky, "Jing’an, get here now!"

Jing’an was already run off his feet, but when he heard Chu Fan’s call, he knew something serious must have happened and rushed into the courtyard at once.

"Quick! Bring me every doctor and physician in Shuoyue City!"

"My lord, what has happened?"

"Stop asking questions and do as I say! Now!" Chu Fan roared.

Seeing the state he was in, Jing’an departed in a flurry.

Ever since he’d known Chu Fan, Jing’an had never seen him lose his composure. Chu Fan was the type to remain unfazed even if a mountain were collapsing on him. This was the first time Jing’an had ever seen him so frantic.

How could Jing’an possibly dare to delay?

Chu Fan went back into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. He stroked Yun Xi’s forehead and asked tenderly, "How are you feeling?"

"Just... just... I feel... I feel weak... all over... Chu Fan... you... you don’t need... to worry... I just... I just... caught a... a chill... that’s all."

Chu Fan knew, of course, that this wasn’t just a chill. But he had never studied medicine. He knew the Death Qi was devouring her life force, but he was utterly powerless to stop it.

He didn’t even know where the Death Qi had come from or why it had appeared in Yun Xi.

’As for poison, that’s completely impossible.’

Yun Xi had been by his side constantly. No one could have possibly poisoned her under the watch of his Spiritual Power.

’Can the physicians of Shuoyue City really save Yun Xi?’

Before long, Jing’an and Ni Wanping came flying into the courtyard, carrying the physicians.

That’s right—the doctors had been flown in.

The four physicians were all well along in years, and two of them were even clad in the official robes of the Great Xia Kingdom.

"My lord, the physicians are here."

"Get in here!"

After Chu Fan draped some clothes on Yun Xi, he shouted to those outside.

Jing’an led them into the bedroom.

Anyone with a bit of life experience could tell from the scent in the bedroom what had transpired the previous night, but no one gave it a second thought.

"Quick, examine Yun Xi! Find out what’s wrong with her," Chu Fan said urgently.

The four physicians approached the bed. Some checked her pulse while others examined her complexion.

In the end, all four shook their heads.

One of the older men in official robes spoke: "This humble servant has practiced medicine for decades, yet I have never in my life encountered a condition like the lady’s. There is clearly an affliction, yet I cannot locate its source. Her organs all appear to be in perfect health. Her pulse is weak, yet it shows no clear signs of any specific malady. Please forgive my incompetence."

Hearing this, Chu Fan’s heart sank once more.

However, he didn’t make things difficult for them. Instead, he had Jing’an give them a purse of silver and send them on their way.

In truth, he had suspected from the start that these worldly physicians would likely be of no help.

He could see that it was the Death Qi, but he himself was powerless to do anything about it.

"Jing’an, have Ji Bufan find out who the most skilled physician in the entire Eastern Domain is. Have him bring that person here as quickly as possible. To anyone who can cure Yun Xi, I, Chu Fan, will perform the rites of a disciple and present them with a generous gift," Chu Fan said.

"Chu... Chu Fan, no... you mustn’t... I’m... I’m fine." Hearing Chu Fan’s words, Yun Xi was moved, but at the same time, she didn’t want him to do that.

’The generous reward wasn’t important, but for Chu Fan to humble himself as someone’s disciple? How could she allow that?’

’A man’s pride is precious. He should only kneel to heaven and earth, his parents, and his masters. Not even the Great Xia Monarch was worthy of Chu Fan’s bow.’

But in Chu Fan’s heart, Yun Xi was more important than his own life. As long as someone could cure her, what was humbling himself as a disciple in comparison?

Jing’an accepted the order and left.

Ni Wanping tried to console him from the side. "Lord Chu, the heavens protect the virtuous. Yun Xi will be fine. You mustn’t worry so much."

Chu Fan understood the meaning in Ni Wanping’s gaze and gave her a slight nod.

Then he sat on the edge of the bed, reached out and grabbed Yun Xi’s hand, comforting her, "It’s okay. As long as we can cure your illness, nothing else matters. Have you forgotten? Once things in the Great Xia Kingdom stabilize, we’re still going to live in Peach Blossom Valley on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain!"

"Mhm, you... don’t be too... too worried. I... I’ll be fine." Yun Xi forced a smile.

But her smile only made Chu Fan’s heart clench in agony.

He was completely helpless. The Death Qi was constantly devouring her life force, and he had no idea how much longer she could last.

"Chu Fan... don’t... don’t neglect... the two... the two little ones’... Cultivation... Ling’Er... Ling’Er’s talent... for the Sword Dao... is in no way... inferior... to yours."

"Don’t worry. They’re my disciples, of course I’ll look after them. How about I help you sit up? Try circulating your Cultivation Technique and see if it helps."

As Chu Fan spoke, he helped Yun Xi sit up, placing her hands on her knees.

Yun Xi obediently began to circulate her Cultivation Technique.

But the next moment, she coughed up a mouthful of crimson blood.

"I..."

At this moment, Chu Fan wanted to slap himself.

"Are... are you okay?" Chu Fan asked, his voice cracking with fear.

Yun Xi tried to shake her head, but though she put all her effort into it, the gesture was barely perceptible.

Chu Fan gently laid her back down on the bed.

He was filled with immense self-recrimination. ’If we hadn’t... done what we did last night, would she be okay?’

’Why didn’t I ever study medicine?’

’If I had, Yun Xi wouldn’t be suffering like this.’

’I’m just not powerful enough!’