Volume 3, Chapter 161 – A Performance

A crowd gathered in the small plaza across from Five Immortals House.

Lu Zhuxin sat in the top-floor private room of Five Immortals House, with a perfect view of the small plaza below.

With her Eighth Realm cultivation supporting her, even from over a hundred meters away, Lu Zhuxin could see the plaza clearly. The people gathered around one small shelter.

Besides numerous patients who had arrived early to wait, there were also many onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse of Fairy Xiyan’s graceful bearing.

It must be said that the small shelter in the plaza was built with exceptional skill. Beyond its basic sun-shading function, it was designed so that everyone in the plaza could see what was happening inside.

This way, it could ensure that most people in the plaza would be able to witness Fairy Xiyan’s elegant demeanor while treating patients.

“According to the plot’s progression, Chi Xiyan and Song Shixuan aren’t supposed to meet yet.”

“Moreover, Song Shixuan’s severe injuries won’t heal that quickly.”

“Right now, Song Shixuan is either hiding in the Nanhe Song Clan or receiving treatment at Lingxiao Sword Sect.”

“Either way, Song Shixuan won’t be able to meet Chi Xiyan anytime soon.”

“If I want to find a way to approach Chi Xiyan, I must do so before she meets Song Shixuan.”

According to the original plot, after Song Shixuan met Chi Xiyan, he would fall for her at first sight.

With the backing of forces behind both sides.

Song Shixuan would make a show of himself in public, using his identity as Lingxiao Sword Sect’s Young Sect Master to punish several of Chi Xiyan’s suitors.

After that, Song Shixuan and Chi Xiyan’s relationship would advance by leaps and bounds.

If it really reached that point, trying to make a move on Chi Xiyan would become troublesome.

Therefore, pursuing Chi Xiyan during this period when the Heaven-Mandated Male Lead was severely injured and unable to interfere was Lu Zhuxin’s best choice.

“Huang Huying.” Lu Zhuxin raised her hand and pointed toward the plaza across the way. “Do you know what’s happening over there?”

Huang Huying walked to Lu Zhuxin’s side. He looked in the direction Lu Zhuxin pointed.

“That’s where the Chi family’s eldest young lady holds her daily charitable clinic.” Huang Huying said, “Speaking of this Chi family eldest young lady, she’s the daughter most doted upon by Chi family head Chi Jingwen. In the path of alchemy, she possesses exceptional talent…”

This wasn’t what Lu Zhuxin wanted to hear. She interrupted Huang Huying’s words.

“Does this Chi family eldest young lady hold her charitable clinic there every day?”

Huang Huying paused. He realized that the Fox Monarch before him seemed very interested in that Chi family eldest young lady.

“Yes, every month she sets aside three days to hold charitable clinics on the streets.”

“That plaza was specially built by the Chi family specifically for her.”

Huang Huying looked at Lu Zhuxin, his face showing confusion. “Your Majesty, is there a problem with that Chi family eldest young lady?”

Lu Zhuxin propped her elbow on the windowsill, her entire body leaning lazily to the side.

Hearing Huang Huying’s question, she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “Huang Huying, how long have you been presiding over Golden Bell Commerce Association and Five Immortals House in human territory?”

Huang Huying didn’t understand. He suddenly felt anxious and raised his hand to wipe the sweat emerging from his forehead.

In human territory, he was the president of Golden Bell Commerce Association and also the master of Five Immortals House. Most of the time, it was only others who tried to curry favor with him.

But now, he felt terrible pressure from this silver-haired young woman before him.

Her words were clearly so soft and gentle, warm as cotton.

Yet when they reached Huang Huying’s ears, they brought him tremendous pressure.

Anxiety filled Huang Huying’s heart as he began pondering the meaning in the Fox Monarch’s words.

Was it because Your Majesty was dissatisfied with his performance, with his previous answers?

Thinking of this, Huang Huying answered carefully.

“Y-Your Majesty… this humble fox, since receiving Golden Bell Commerce Association and Five Immortals House from my father’s hands, five hundred years have already passed.”

Lu Zhuxin’s tone remained emotionless. “Speaking of which, the fox clan’s business in the human realm was all built from nothing by your father, ultimately managed to its current scale.”

Reaԁ оո КαtReαⅾіոɡCafе

“This is all your father’s achievement.”

Huang Huying felt his forehead begin sweating again. “Your Majesty is correct.”

“So you can understand after all.” Lu Zhuxin chuckled softly. “By rights, having spent five hundred years in human territory, you should be an old fox well-versed in human nature. Do you know why, since you took over this business, its progress has been far inferior to your father’s?”

Huang Huying rolled up his sleeve to wipe the fine sweat from his forehead. “Please enlighten me, Your Majesty!”

“Take that Chi family eldest young lady, for example. You think that Chi family eldest young lady has extraordinary medical skills and is beautiful with a kind heart, don’t you?” Lu Zhuxin’s gaze returned to the plaza.

At this moment, the crowd gathered in the plaza had doubled from before.

Huang Huying instinctively wanted to nod, but suddenly had a realization and understood Lu Zhuxin’s meaning.

“Your Majesty means that Chi family eldest young lady has a problem?”

There’s a problem, a big problem!

Although Chi Xiyan was known as exceptional in both alchemy and sword, a sage healer of the apricot grove, she had never been a kind-hearted person.

The Chi family was a merchant household. Having grown up surrounded by such influence, Chi family eldest young lady was naturally also a merchant at her core.

Lu Zhuxin said, “If your father were here, he wouldn’t ask such a question.”

Huang Huying immediately covered his mouth.

“Watch carefully. Only when you understand should you answer my question.”

Lu Zhuxin’s gaze remained fixed on the plaza across the way.

As more and more people gathered in the plaza, she knew the protagonist was about to make her entrance.

“It’s Fairy Xiyan! Fairy Xiyan is here!”

Someone exclaimed first, drawing everyone’s attention.

Everyone looked toward the sound and could see a young woman wearing a plain long dress, slowly approaching surrounded by numerous servants.

The young woman wore a light veil over her face. Her jet-black hair was simply bound with only a plain white ribbon, and she wore only a simple, unadorned white dress.

Yet this simple, plain outfit carried an inexplicable air of distinction when worn on her.

Even through the veil, one could see how devastatingly beautiful the face whose outline was faintly visible truly was.

She was worthy of being a daughter of Beihe Commandery’s wealthiest family.

She was also worthy of being a Heaven-Mandated Female Lead who could become one of the male lead’s power-ups.

Lu Zhuxin sighed.

Not a single Heaven-Mandated Female Lead lacked in beauty.

The treatment enjoyed by harem novel male leads was truly enviable.

Lu Zhuxin felt the Pure Yang marking on her neck transmit another wave of coolness.

Wait, she clearly wasn’t thinking about anything. Why did even this trigger forced calming?!

Surrounded by everyone, the veiled young woman in plain clothes slowly walked into the shelter in the small plaza.

She nodded to the middle-aged woman beside her. “Nanny Qin, we can begin now.”

Lu Zhuxin roughly guessed who that middle-aged woman was.

That was Chi Xiyan’s assistant nurse, Qin Qingfen.

Under Qin Qingfen’s arrangement, the patients waiting for Chi Xiyan’s charitable treatment quickly formed a long line.

“Fairy Xiyan! Fairy Xiyan! Please help me look. This is a chronic ailment of mine. I’ve seen many physicians and alchemists, but none could cure it.”

Chi Xiyan’s voice was gentle yet maintained a cool detachment. “Please sit, elder. I’ll take your pulse.”

Chi Xiyan gently rolled up her sleeve and placed her slender white fingers on the old man’s wrist.

Reаⅾ οո КаtRеadіոɡСαfe

After a moment, Chi Xiyan spoke.

“Elder, this chronic ailment of yours doesn’t seem like an ordinary illness.”

“Starting ten years ago, have you had difficulty sleeping every night? Every night, your abdomen burns with unbearable pain, and your elbows and below your knees are also often accompanied by pain.”

“Even, whenever the moon is bright, your private area also feels abnormally swollen.”

The old man’s face filled with amazement. “Incredible! Fairy Xiyan, how did you see this?”

“There’s a murky spiritual energy hidden in your body. This spiritual energy has entrenched itself in your dantian and internal organs. If I hadn’t used a secret method to detect it, it might have been difficult to discern.”

“Elder, you must have been attacked by a demon in your early years, yes?”

The old man’s face filled with excitement. “I was once attacked by a yellow weasel spirit… Since then, I’ve suffered from this ailment.”

“I’ve sought medical treatment for over ten years, but never saw improvement.”

“Fairy Xiyan, you’re the first person to see that I was attacked by a demon. Is there a way to completely cure this condition?”

Chi Xiyan hesitated for a moment, then said, “Elder, this murky energy in your body has been entrenched for a long time, penetrating deep into your marrow. Ordinary medicines simply cannot cure it…”

“Ah?! Then what can be done?” the old man said urgently.

This ailment had troubled him for over ten years. Now that he finally saw a glimmer of hope, he didn’t want to feel the same despair as before so quickly.

“Elder, don’t worry.” Chi Xiyan said, “Although medicines cannot treat it, Xiyan happens to know a secret acupuncture method that can expel the murky energy from your body.”

“Please remove your outer garment, elder.”

Hearing this, the old man quickly removed his outer garment, revealing his thin, bony upper body.

Chi Xiyan across from him showed no awkwardness. She stood up and took out a set of silver needles from the medicine box held by the servant beside her.

The old man saw the set of silver needles and said, “Fairy Xiyan, do I need to find somewhere to lie down?”

“No need, elder. Just remain seated.”

As Chi Xiyan spoke, her slender fingers lightly flicked across the silver needles.

With a ding, a silver gleam entered the old man’s upper body.

The old man was slightly stunned. He hadn’t yet realized what happened, only feeling a coolness on his body and warmth in his belly.

Chi Xiyan’s movements didn’t pause. Her hands moved rhythmically across the silver needles, and gleams of silver light were flicked into the old man’s body one after another, like ice flowers blooming across the old man’s body.

From other observers’ perspectives, this visual effect became even more pronounced.

At Chi Xiyan’s fingertips, it was as if ice flowers were dancing.

What was clearly just a physician administering acupuncture became, in Chi Xiyan’s hands, like a cool fairy painting with ice flowers, extraordinarily magnificent.

At this moment, someone in the crowd exclaimed in amazement again.

“This… could this be Medical Immortal Valley’s secret acupuncture method, Snow Crimson Ice Blossom?!”

“It’s actually Medical Immortal Valley’s Snow Crimson Ice Blossom! At such a young age, Fairy Xiyan has already mastered such a profound secret acupuncture method. Truly amazing!”

“Asking as someone ignorant, what exactly is Snow Crimson Ice Blossom? Isn’t it just flicking ice flowers with fingernails?!”

As soon as these words came out, they immediately drew angry glares from surrounding people.

“If you don’t understand, shut up. Medical Immortal Valley’s secret transmission, how can ignorant fools like you casually comment?”

The young man who had asked couldn’t help but retreat awkwardly.

Chi Xiyan in the shelter wasn’t affected by this commotion.

After a series of operations at her fingertips, numerous exquisite ice flowers suddenly bloomed across the old man’s body.

The old man exclaimed, his face showing an extremely comfortable expression.

Shortly after, the silver needles on the old man’s body were withdrawn one by one under Chi Xiyan’s spiritual power.

“I’m healed! I’m healed! My body doesn’t hurt anymore!”

Reαԁ οո КatRеαԁіngСafе

The old man stood up from his chair, his face full of delight.

He faced Chi Xiyan, tears of gratitude streaming down.

“Fairy Xiyan, thank you so much!”

Chi Xiyan remained neither servile nor overbearing. She simply helped the old man up gently.

“Elder, there’s no need for this.”

“I merely did what a physician should do.”

People below immediately let out a cheer. “Fairy Xiyan is truly too modest!”

“Because of your charitable clinic, we common folk who normally wouldn’t dare see a physician can receive treatment.”

“Thank you, Fairy Xiyan.”

The corners of Chi Xiyan’s eyes carried only a faint smile. She wore her veil and waved to the people below.

Nurse Qin Qingfen beside her said, “Next.”

Just as the next patient prepared to step forward, suddenly a commotion came from within the crowd.

“Sister Xiyan! Please, I beg you to save my mother! I don’t know what happened, but she suddenly fainted!”

Chi Xiyan heard the little girl’s call. She said to Qin Qingfen, “Bring her up.”

Soon, a woman with a bluish-purple complexion was carried up by a group of maidservants and laid flat on Chi Xiyan’s table.

Everyone craned their necks curiously to look.

“This woman seems to have stopped breathing. She probably can’t be saved, right?”

“Definitely can’t be saved… After my cat ate rat poison, it looked just like this. Definitely won’t survive.”

“Sigh, what a pity. Her daughter is so young.”

Everyone lamented, lamenting that a poor little girl was about to lose her mother.

But Chi Xiyan didn’t think so. She gently pressed her fingers to the side of the woman’s neck.

After sensing with held breath for a while, she suddenly extended her hand, channeling spiritual power to her fingertips, and tapped several points on the woman’s body in succession.

Ice blossoms bloomed, silver light flashed.

It was Medical Immortal Valley’s secret method again. Everyone exclaimed once more.

After a moment, the woman with the bluish-purple complexion suddenly opened her eyes.

“Ah? Where am I?”

“Mother! Mother, you’re alive!” The little girl beside rushed over to embrace the woman, crying tears of joy. “Sister Xiyan saved you!”

Chi Xiyan said, “You were born with a congenital ailment, which is why you suddenly stopped breathing. Fortunately, treatment came in time, so you could be successfully revived.”

“If it had been any later, even I would have been powerless.”

“However, I’ve now used Medical Immortal Valley’s secret method to completely clear the congenital blockages in your body. You don’t need to worry about experiencing what just happened again.”

The woman embraced her daughter and thanked Chi Xiyan repeatedly. “Thank you! Fairy Xiyan! Thank you so much!”

The observing crowd below also cheered continuously.

“Fairy Xiyan, peerless and unmatched!”

“Sage healer of the apricot grove, saving the world with your medicine!”

Cheers spread far and wide.

Even Lu Zhuxin, hundreds of meters away in Five Immortals House, found it somewhat noisy.

Huang Huying beside her watched this scene, his eyes showing some amazement.

Rеαd оn КatReaԁіոɡСαfe

Though he had long known that this Chi family eldest young lady enjoyed high prestige among the common people, he hadn’t expected these people could be fanatical to such a degree.

Lu Zhuxin watched the lively, harmonious scene before her, a light smile on her lips. She asked Huang Huying.

“Little Huang, now can you tell me what you just saw?”

Huang Huying fell silent for a while. He knew this was the Fox Monarch testing him.

If his answer couldn’t satisfy the Fox Monarch, perhaps he wouldn’t need to continue as master of Five Immortals House and president of Golden Bell Commerce Association.

Of course, Old Huang hadn’t spent five hundred years in the human realm for nothing.

After a pause, he gave his answer.

“What I just saw was a performance, a carefully orchestrated performance.”

Whether the stage, timing, location… or the audience, all were carefully selected.

“Yes, a performance, an extremely ostentatious show.” Lu Zhuxin still smiled lightly. “Huang Huying, you’re not stupid.”

“It’s not that you can’t see through that Chi family eldest young lady’s little tricks.”

“It’s just that you usually only listen to your subordinates’ reports. You neither would nor have had the opportunity to personally observe her.”

Huang Huying lowered his head in silence.

Lu Zhuxin said, “Do you know where you fall short of your father?”

Hearing this, Huang Huying nodded heavily.

Then he said, “But I don’t understand why that Chi family eldest young lady would do this.”

Lu Zhuxin curled her lips in a light smile. “It’s very simple.”

“Because that Chi family eldest young lady has never been any kind of sage healer of the apricot grove saving the world with medicine.”

“She has been, from beginning to end, a merchant full of calculations and the stench of copper.”

Huang Huying was somewhat stunned.

He didn’t quite understand. If she was a merchant, merchants prioritize profit. Why would that Chi eldest young lady do such troublesome things with no substantial benefits?

Lu Zhuxin didn’t continue explaining. Her gaze returned to Chi Xiyan.

Others might not know the reason she did this, but Lu Zhuxin understood all too well.

She needed popular support.

Using popular support to maintain her position.

Only this way could she possess the greatest value within the Chi family. To preserve her identity as the Chi family’s eldest young lady.

“Heh heh… The Chi family’s young lady,”

Lu Zhuxin let out a soft laugh.

“This identity is very important to you, isn’t it.”

At some point, a hairpin had appeared in her hand.

A beautiful yet ancient white jade hairpin, round and crystalline.

That hairpin was delicately grasped in Lu Zhuxin’s hand.

Her gaze moved from Chi Xiyan to Qin Qingfen, then from Qin Qingfen back to Chi Xiyan.

“But that makes sense.”

“After all, your name shouldn’t be Chi Xiyan.”

“It should be.”

“Qin Xiyan.”