As the medicinal properties in the water were continuously absorbed, Shen Liuxing felt his meridians growing increasingly resilient.
That trace of spiritual energy rapidly expanded, coursing wildly through his meridians.
Body Tempering First Level!
Body Tempering Second Level!
Body Tempering Third Level!
...
Body Tempering Ninth Level!
When Shen Liuxing's cultivation reached Body Tempering Ninth Level, it stagnated.
How could this be?
He was already recovering, so why couldn't he return to his peak state?
A ferocious glint appeared in Shen Liuxing's eyes.
Unwilling to accept this, he continued to push against the barrier of the Qi Condensation realm. However, due to excessive force, he injured his heart meridian again.
"Ah..."
A pained groan echoed through Meteor Courtyard, startling Zi Linling, who had just finished washing up.
Seeing the blood on Shen Liuxing's lips, Shen Wenqing flew into a rage and cursed, "You brat, do you want to die!"
But scolding aside, he still tenderly pulled Shen Liuxing out of the water and carefully channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into him to suppress the unruly spiritual energy coursing through his meridians.
Once the chaotic spiritual energy calmed down, Shen Liuxing vomited another mouthful of blood.
Shen Wenqing said with concern, "Your meridians have only just been repaired and reshaped. How can they withstand such violent impacts from you?"
"Father! I'm stuck at Body Tempering Ninth Level. If I can't return to my former peak, I'm still a good-for-nothing!"
"Liuxing, you..."
"You truly are a good-for-nothing, not worth my painstaking effort to save you!"
Shen Wenqing was about to comfort Shen Liuxing, telling him that everything takes time, that he shouldn't be impatient, and that haste makes waste. But Zi Linling interrupted him.
Zi Linling looked at Shen Liuxing with utter disdain and continued, "If you can't even withstand this little setback, what else are you if not a good-for-nothing?"
"It's precisely because you're a good-for-nothing that you've not only burdened your father for so many years, but also made me waste over ten hours on you, and worse, caused me to tarnish the reputation of the Ghost Hand Poison Doctor!"
"Shen Liuxing, I originally thought you were just a child lacking principles and decisiveness. I never imagined you were so self-centered and an unadulterated scoundrel. I, Zi Linling, was blind to have misjudged you!"
With that, Zi Linling turned to leave.
Her anger surged within her, and she wished she could strangle this scoundrel.
Damn it!
She had worked herself to death saving this scoundrel, neglecting her own important matters.
And what about this scoundrel?
He didn't cherish her efforts at all. He hadn't even used the Marrow Cleansing Pill and Body Tempering Pill she had given him, yet he foolishly tried to recover to his peak. For this, he even injured himself, shattering his newly repaired meridians.
It was already a mercy that Zi Linling hadn't kicked him to death. As for healing him again, she hadn't even considered it.
The hysterical Shen Liuxing stood stunned by the bedside, having been berated.
Just as Zi Linling was about to step across the threshold, Shen Wenqing blocked her path, pleading, "Patriarch Zi, please, take a look at Liuxing. His meridians have split again!"
Zi Linling sneered, "He deserves it! My Ghost Hand Poison Doctor never saves those who self-harm!"
"Patriarch Zi, Liuxing is still young and foolish. Please save him one more time!"
A tear of old age rolled down Shen Wenqing's cheek.
A man sheds tears only when his heart is truly broken.
Shen Wenqing had poured immeasurable fatherly love into Shen Liuxing, a love ingrained deep within his bones, stemming from pure instinct.
Shen Liuxing's heart ached.
He looked at Shen Wenqing, his eyes stinging at the sight of his few white hairs.
Recalling how Shen Wenqing had endured all objections over the years to preserve his position as the young master of the Shen family, allowing him, a good-for-nothing, to enjoy the family's abundant resources, his eyes gradually misted over.
Zi Linling glared fiercely at Shen Liuxing, then sighed, "Family Head Shen, although my Ghost Hand Poison Doctor is said to be able to snatch lives from Yama, I cannot heal someone who has given up on life and is self-abusive!"
As she spoke, she prepared to leave again.
"Plop!"
Shen Wenqing knelt before her. "Patriarch Zi, I beg you, save Liuxing!"
He made to kowtow.
Zi Linling, with a helpless expression, used a surge of spiritual energy to prop up his body, sidestepping his kowtow. "Family Head Shen, why put yourself through this? Why make things difficult for me, for yourself, and for him?"
"Patriarch Zi, Liuxing is my son. In the past, there was no hope, and I lived in constant fear, afraid that one day I would have no face to see his mother, and after a hundred years, no face to see our ancestors."
"Fortunately, you saved Liuxing, healed him, and gave him a chance to cultivate again. This brought me immense joy and comfort, and I am filled with gratitude towards you."
"Patriarch Zi, to be frank, I intend to form an alliance with you in the name of the Shen family. From now on, we will advance and retreat together, as one. Of course, I am merely expressing my true thoughts and not seeking any benefits."
"However, Liuxing has been protected too well by me, and has not experienced any great storms. Therefore, when his hopes were dashed, he caused the fruits of your day's labor to go to waste."
"It is a father's fault if he does not teach his son. If Liuxing is ignorant, then let me, his father, apologize to you in his stead! I only ask that you overlook his shortcomings due to your magnanimity and save him once more. As repayment, the entire Shen family will follow your lead, never betraying you!"
Shen Wenqing finished speaking, his aged eyes streaming with tears.
He wanted to kowtow in apology, but Zi Linling held him up, preventing him from doing so.
Zi Linling closed her eyes in resignation. When she opened them again, the anger in her eyes had subsided.
Shen Wenqing's genuine display of emotion brought back the image of Zi Wenchang's blood-soaked form to her mind.
She could not bring herself to refuse the heartfelt plea of an old father for his beloved son.
Fine, she would save him again. It could also be considered repayment for the room he provided earlier.
However, while she could save him, she would not allow her hard work to be wasted again for nothing.
She looked at Shen Liuxing, her face stern. "What do you say?"
Shen Liuxing was filled with remorse, his eyes blurred by tears.
If his meridians were not injured and he could not move, he would have crawled to Shen Wenqing and helped him up.
"Father! I'm sorry, it is Liuxing's filial failure! I have failed your expectations!"
Then he looked at Zi Linling, his voice choked with sobs. "Sister Zi, it was Liuxing's willfulness that caused you to toil in vain! Liuxing should not ask you to save him again, but Liuxing has already caused Father to toil his entire life, and he cannot fail to repay Father's nurturing kindness."
"Therefore, Liuxing will be shameless one more time and ask Sister to help me again, so that I can properly serve Father, and also so that I can properly repay your repeated life-saving grace."
"Sister Zi! Please! *Pfft*!"
As he spoke, he coughed up another mouthful of blood. This time, it was not self-inflicted but caused by extreme emotional agitation!