Chapter 200 - 129: The Bai Family’s Defeat, the Braid Army Appears

Chapter 200: Chapter 129: The Bai Family’s Defeat, the Braid Army Appears

"Young Master, your meridians and internal organs are damaged, and your True Qi is severely overdrawn.

If we use a potent remedy to force a recovery, you might be able to move again in a short time.

But afterward, you’ll likely fall into a much longer period of weakness and could even suffer from lasting complications."

"It doesn’t matter."

Lu Jing’an’s tone was calm, yet left no room for doubt.

"After tonight, a longer period of weakness is acceptable. As for any complications... they can be dealt with slowly in the future.

Tonight, I can’t afford any mishaps."

Cui Jieyi looked at Lu Jing’an’s pale but resolute profile, knew she couldn’t persuade him, and sighed softly. "...I understand."

She said no more, turning to walk over to a table where medicinal ingredients had already been prepared.

The table was covered with a wide array of medicinal ingredients, many of which were precious items Lu Jing’an had procured at great expense as a precaution.

Cui Jieyi’s slender hands moved in a blur, slicing and grinding with movements that were swift and Precise.

More importantly, a faint, gentle green light flickered at her fingertips.

That was the unique healing Spiritual Power she possessed as a Medical Cultivator.

As she processed them, she infused strand after strand of it into the medicinal ingredients.

This maximized their potency and drew out their active ingredients.

It made them easier to absorb and allowed their medicinal effects to take hold with incredible speed.

The charcoal fire beneath the bathtub CRACKLED, making the room incredibly hot.

After only a few moments, fine beads of sweat appeared on Cui Jieyi’s smooth forehead and trickled down her cheeks.

The simple, elegant, modified qipao she wore was also soaked with sweat.

It clung to her body, outlining her graceful curves.

Her collar had come slightly undone from the sweltering heat and her constant leaning forward,

revealing a stretch of her delicate, snow-white neck and her exquisite collarbones.

Her skin glistened moistly under the light.

At this moment, she paid no mind to her composure, completely focused on the ingredients in her hands and the man in the tub.

Kneeling on the edge of the tub behind Lu Jing’an, Orchid was also drenched in sweat.

She was using a special technique she had learned from Cui Jieyi

to massage the acupressure points on Lu Jing’an’s head, neck, shoulders, and back.

Her pressure was perfect, and her fingertips felt gentle and warm,

helping Lu Jing’an relax his tense muscles and clear his slightly blocked meridians, coordinating with the Medicinal Power to accelerate his recovery.

Her clothes were also soaked through, the thin fabric clinging to her form.

But she was completely oblivious, her eyes fixed only on her young master’s exhausted expression.

Time trickled by amidst the billowing medicinal steam and silent, bustling activity.

About an hour later,

the dark brown medicinal bath, once as thick as a paste, had become completely clear.

Only a thin layer of medicinal dregs remained settled at the bottom.

All of its Essence had been voraciously absorbed by Lu Jing’an’s body, leaving nothing behind.

Lu Jing’an’s tightly shut eyes suddenly snapped open.

Though his eyes were still bloodshot and the fatigue had not fully disappeared,

his customary calm and sharpness had returned.

His True Qi had recovered by about thirty to forty percent. While far from his peak,

strength had finally returned to his limbs, dispelling the feeling of weakness that made him feel like he could fall apart at any moment.

"This will do."

Lu Jing’an spoke, his voice much clearer than before.

Lu Jing’an pressed his hands on the rim of the tub, pushed himself up, and rose with a SPLASH from the now-cool water.

"Young Master!"

Orchid quickly grabbed a large, soft towel that had been warmed by the fire.

She stepped forward to carefully wipe the water droplets from his body.

After drying his body, he changed into a set of brand-new, neatly pressed clothes that Orchid had prepared.

It wasn’t his Water Patrol Bureau uniform, nor was it a typical long gown and jacket.

Instead, it was a well-tailored, navy-blue suit with matching trousers,

paired with a crisp white shirt and a dark tie.

There was even a pair of leather shoes, polished to a brilliant shine.

Lu Jing’an extended his arms, allowing Orchid to fasten the gilded cufflinks on his shirt, and asked with a slightly surprised smile:

"What made you think to prepare this outfit for me?"

Orchid fastened the buttons with nimble fingers and replied with a small smile:

"It was Sister Jieyi’s idea.

She said that if you, Young Master, could walk back on your own,

it would mean the situation was settled and we had won.

And if we’ve won, you should dress with more Spirit and flair, for all to see."

Hearing this, Lu Jing’an looked over at Cui Jieyi, who was wiping the sweat from her own forehead and neck with a clean towel.

Her qipao collar was still slightly open, creating a stark contrast between her snow-white skin and the strands of her hair, which looked even darker now that they were damp with sweat.

Under the lights, she possessed a breathtaking allure.

Sensing Lu Jing’an’s gaze, she looked up at him.

Her eyes shimmered, and the corners of her lips curled into a lazy yet cunning smile.

"Doctor Cui, you certainly are thorough," Lu Jing’an said with a smile.

"After this battle, your monthly stipend is doubled."

Cui Jieyi’s eyes instantly curved into crescents, her voice soft and delicate now that she had caught her breath:

"Oh, my! Those are the sweetest words I’ve heard all night. Thank you, Young Master!"

Lu Jing’an then looked at Orchid, who was kneeling to adjust the cuffs of his trousers.

"The same goes for you. Your monthly stipend is doubled.

Also, spend some time with Housekeeper Zhang learning how to manage people and read the accounts.

Learn well, and you can become my personal attendant."

Orchid’s hands froze. She looked up, her eyes shining with a brilliant light.

The flush on her cheeks from the lingering heat made her look even more radiant:

"Thank you for this opportunity, Young Master! Orchid will be sure to study hard!"

Fully dressed, Lu Jing’an stood in the room, slightly adjusting his tie in a full-length mirror.

The man in the mirror was still a bit pale, but his suit was crisp and his posture was ramrod straight.

The grave aura between his brows, forged in blood and fire, made him look completely different from his usual self.

He had lost some of his scholarly air, replaced by the imposing might of one who is decisive in matters of life and death.

Lu Jing’an delayed no longer, turning and striding out of the small courtyard.

As soon as he reached the main gate of the Lu Mansion, he saw Zhao Laosuan still standing ramrod straight under the portico, like a javelin.

The rickshaw was parked quietly to the side.