All the residents in Longjing Palace were on tenterhooks. The maids and servants tiptoed around while doing their work, afraid of disturbing their masters and mistress.
Inside Zhang Fengxi’s bed chamber, the atmosphere was full of tension. Zhang Zhiyuan and Lady Song sat on their seats like bamboo dolls, their backs straight and their expressions tense.
"Medic, how is my son?" Zhang Zhiyuan asked as soon as the palace physician released Zhang Fengxi’s wrist.
The elder man sighed. It was the kind of sigh that made people’s hearts drop to the ground, an ominous one.
"To my understanding, Prince Zhang Fengxi just came back from the Demonic Realm," the palace physician began.
"Yes, that is correct," Zhang Zhiyuan hurriedly replied.
Technically, they all did. The entire elite force of the Heavenly Realm literally rained down on the Demonic Realm to save their kidnapped Crown Prince.
"By chance, did Prince Zhang Fengxi have an especially difficult encounter with a strong opponent?" the physician asked.
"Yes, he did. He and Crown Prince Xie Jianyu fought against the First Demon King and won."
Zhang Zhiyuan did not know why he had to mention that his son won. Probably out of pride.
Technically, it was not a victory because the duo did not defeat the First Demon King. The wretched demon escaped the battleground and left the smoldering hellfire behind.
"It seems that Prince Zhang Fengxi went over his spiritual limit during the fight. Not only are his Twelve Principal Meridians in total havoc, but there are also several undissolved knots in his body.
These knots block the flow of spiritual power from his golden core. If the prince had forced himself to use a skill just now, all the pent-up spiritual power might just backfire and break his core."
Lady Song gasped audibly. She stared at the palace physician full of fright.
"T-then... my Fengxi... is my son alright?"
Lady Song did not cultivate, so she was not familiar with the cultivation terms. Zhang Zhiyuan patted her arm fondly and told her, "Dear, you are pale. Why don’t you get Chengsu to brew you a cup of calming tea? I will continue talking to the Medic."
Lady Song nodded nervously. Her legs shook visibly when she left the room.
"Medic, what can we do?" Zhang Zhiyuan asked.
"When this kind of thing occurs, this subject usually prescribes some medication to re-align the patient’s meridians. Prince Zhang Fengxi must meditate diligently for a few hours in the morning to dissolve the knots in his meridians."
"How long will it take for him to heal?"
The competition over the Dragon Throne was, after all, supposed to start in three months! Zhang Fengxi did not have time to slack off if he wanted to win.
The palace physician only had one answer for Zhang Zhiyuan’s question, "Palace Master, recovery in this circumstance fully depends on Prince Fengxi’s physical condition and heaven’s blessings. Man shall not force what Heaven dictates."
"I see, alright then," Zhang Zhiyuan answered helplessly. Just in case, maybe he should find another person to replace Zhang Fengxi in the competition.
While Zhang Zhiyuan worried about his palace’s claim on the Dragon Throne, Zhang Fengxi’s mind was occupied by something else.
"Father, I need to go to Fuxi Palace," he announced after the palace physician took his leave.
Zhang Zhiyuan stared at his son as if the latter had completely lost his mind.
"Fengxi, are you insane? Did you not hear what the medic said? You are only allowed to meditate, that’s all!"
"... Father, I am not an invalid. I am not allowed to train, but I am still allowed to move around."
Zhang Zhiyuan groaned.
"What are you going to Fuxi Palace for? The Crown Prince is busy. He doesn’t have time to entertain you."
"I am not looking for entertainment. Father, if I am in this condition, then Xie Jianyu might be as well. He extinguished my Hellfire Hurricane with his Azure Dragon’s Annihilation. He had forced himself over his limit, too."
"Oh."
Zhang Fengxi thus left Longjing Palace and headed to Fuxi Palace. He originally only wanted to bring a copy of the prescription with him, but Lady Song shoved a few other things into his qiankun bag.
"We have yet to properly thank the Crown Prince," she said with a stern voice. "Fengxi, whatever the result of the competition is, we shall all pay our respect to the Crown Prince when the time is convenient."
"Alright, Mother."
Since Caihong had been squealing around because it missed Xie Jianyu terribly, Zhang Fengxi brought the little bird with him to Fuxi Palace.
Over at Fuxi Palace, he was led to the guest waiting room to wait for Xie Jianyu’s arrival.
"Where is your master?" Zhang Fengxi asked Mingyu, who came to pour him some tea and bring him some snacks.
"Master is cultivating," the maid replied off-handedly.
Zhang Fengxi turned pale. This Xie Jianyu, could it be that he did not realize that he had some problems with his body? Could it be that he stubbornly pushed forward until his meridians burst open?
The alpha shot to his feet and grabbed Mingyu by her shoulders.
"Bring me to your master, NOW!"
Mingyu’s mouth dropped open in astonishment.
"But Prince Fengxi, the thing is... Master asked us not to interrupt... Prince Fengxi!"
Zhang Fengxi chose to not waste any more time with Mingyu. Xie Jianyu’s life might be in danger at this very moment!
"Caihong, find me Xie Jianyu!" he ordered the little bird that was happily pecking at the persimmon cake on the table.
"Squeeee!!!"
The bird shot out of the room and headed directly to the small pavilion below the bell tower.
Xie Jianyu was not alone. He was accompanied by Jiang Muchen. They were sitting in lotus position, facing each other while putting their palms together to dual-cultivate.
Zhang Fengxi could hear blood rushing to his head. He was about to punch the daylight out of Jiang Muchen. Before that, he was going to give Xie Jianyu a piece of his mind.
"Xie Jianyu!!!"
Xie Jianyu’s eyes flew open in surprise. And then, his body shook and he spat out a mouthful of blood.