This mess didn’t need much explanation from the little physician.
Chu Xingchen could also see it—the blood energy quickly latched onto the little physician’s spiritual energy and began to entangle and attack her through it.
This energy might not have been much for Chu Xingchen, but for a Qi Refining stage little physician, it was quite troublesome.
At this moment, her expression was grave, and the small hand she had lightly placed on the acupuncture points was trembling slightly.
Seeing that the little physician was struggling, Chu Xingchen reached out and took hold of her arm, carefully controlling his spiritual energy output.
He tried his best to conceal his true cultivation level, adjusting his spiritual energy output to around the early Foundation Establishment stage.
Lowering one’s cultivation level could often save a lot of trouble.
With Chu Xingchen’s help, the blood energy was eventually dealt with by the little physician.
The little physician was now sweating, her expression one of relief as she looked gratefully at Chu Xingchen:
“Thank you. Without you, I’d have been in big trouble.”
“No need for thanks. It’s just that the silver needles might not be so easy to remove now,” Chu Xingchen said with a hint of guilt. “My cultivation isn’t strong enough, so I’m afraid I can’t remove all the needles.”
The little physician gave Chu Xingchen another glance. She had initially thought he was just good-looking, but it turned out his cultivation was also quite impressive, at least at the Foundation Establishment stage.
In Yuzhou City, Foundation Establishment cultivators were already considered pillars of strength. Even the squad leader of the Demon Capture Bureau was only at this level.
But the little physician didn’t dwell on it too much. After all, this man had genuinely saved someone and lent a hand at a critical moment.
As for how to solve the case or what exactly had happened, that wasn’t something for a little physician like her to worry about.
Once the child was healed and woke up, everything would become clear.
“Forget it,” the little physician shook her head. “Even if you could do it, I can’t. It’s too much effort. I’ll take him back and treat him slowly. Thank you again. If you have time later, go to the Demon Suppression Bureau to claim your reward. Just mention my name—I’m Ah Nian.”
After giving her instructions, Ah Nian gave Chu Xingchen a friendly smile.
“Alright, Miss Ah Nian,” Chu Xingchen slightly cupped his hands in acknowledgment.
Hearing Chu Xingchen call her “Miss,” Ah Nian’s smile widened. Most people who met her for the first time tended to treat her like a child, at best calling her “little sister.”
“You’re quite something too. You’ve got a bright future ahead of you. Thanks again for your help.”
“No need for thanks. Since there’s nothing else to do here, I’ll take my leave now. Miss Ah Nian, take care.”
“Alright, you go ahead.”
After receiving her approval, Chu Xingchen cupped his hands again and left without hesitation.
The chair wasn’t worth much, so he left it for the Demon Suppression Bureau. As for the fishing rod, Chu Xingchen didn’t bother carrying it around—he usually hid it at his fishing spot.
This time, things had gone relatively smoothly, without too much trouble.
He had managed to earn some goodwill with the Demon Suppression Bureau, which might come in handy if they ever caused trouble for him in the future.
Not a bad deal overall.
“What are you two waiting for? For this kid to die? Hurry up and help take him to the Demon Suppression Bureau!”
Behind him, Ah Nian’s voice could be heard directing the two guards.
Say what you will, but Miss Ah Nian certainly had a personality of her own.
However, Chu Xingchen didn’t want to get involved any further.
It was just that this kid had been caught by him while fishing… what a strange twist of fate.
After turning a few corners, Chu Xingchen arrived at the house he was renting.
Pushing open the gate, he saw Li Yingling in the courtyard, casually swinging a small wooden sword, as if practicing sword techniques.
Chu Xingchen was already familiar with Li Yingling’s abilities, so after a quick glance, he realized she was secretly pondering the concept of sword intent.
This was quite rare. Usually, at this time, Li Yingling would stroll along the river by the entrance and then go to the market to buy some strange little trinkets.
“Master, you’re back?” Li Yingling glanced over and saw her master returning. She put away the small wooden sword and looked him over, noticing that he didn’t have any fish with him.
“Didn’t catch anything today, Master?”
Chu Xingchen sighed. “I didn’t catch any fish today, but I did catch a person.”
“A person?” Li Yingling looked puzzled.
What did it mean to catch a person?
Chu Xingchen briefly explained what had happened that day—how he had fished a person out of the lake.
“As expected of Master. Even your fishing is extraordinary.”
After hearing the story, Li Yingling couldn’t help but laugh uncontrollably.
Hearing her teasing, Chu Xingchen remained calm.
“Your master thinks it must have been that wooden fish that brought me bad luck. Quickly, take it out and burn it to soothe my anger.”
“Master, didn’t you say something like… fishermen can catch everything except fish? So catching a person isn’t too far-fetched, right? What does it have to do with the wooden fish?” Li Yingling said with a smile.
Chu Xingchen sighed. “Why is it that you only remember the funny things I say, and not the important ones?”
“Because the funny things you say are always the most interesting.”
Li Yingling chuckled, then cleared her throat and blinked her eyes playfully.
“By the way, Master, are you free tomorrow?”
“What’s up? The Lantern Festival is still a few days away, isn’t it? Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten.”
“No, it’s not that.” Li Yingling grabbed her master’s hand. “There’s a small temple fair before the Lantern Festival. I heard it’s really lively, and it starts tomorrow evening. Will you come with me?”
“If you don’t go, I’ll be all alone. Surely you wouldn’t want that, would you, Master?”
Chu Xingchen’s expression didn’t change. “To be honest, I think I could bear it.”
“Master~” Li Yingling stretched out her tone and said coquettishly, “You’re the best master in the world.”
After spending so much time with Chu Xingchen and getting to know him better, Li Yingling had come to understand her master.
When it came to his disciples, whether it was her or Li Xingtian, Chu Xingchen always cared deeply.
Especially when it came to requests that weren’t too unreasonable, he usually didn’t have much resistance.
Moreover, her master never put on airs, which made him all the more endearing.
For Li Yingling, her master’s favor was definitely her top priority right now.
Chu Xingchen shook off Li Yingling’s hand in mock annoyance and sighed.
“Alright, alright… Sooner or later, this sect will be yours to run.”
Seeing that her request had been granted, Li Yingling couldn’t hide her smile and quickly pledged her loyalty.
“Yingling will always stand by Master’s side! Master’s word is law!”
Chu Xingchen, however, remained unimpressed. Their sect only had three members, including him as the sect leader. If she didn’t stand by his side, she’d probably side with Li Xingtian.
But Li Xingtian was a truly obedient disciple, always causing no trouble, so he’d naturally side with Chu Xingchen.
So, even if Li Yingling didn’t stand by Chu Xingchen’s side, by the rules of substitution, she’d still end up on his side.
Therefore, Li Yingling’s words were completely meaningless.
At the Demon Suppression Bureau.
Ah Nian looked gravely at the young man Chu Xingchen had fished out of the lake.
This was trouble. Real trouble.
The trouble wasn’t the young man lying unconscious on the bed.
Although his injuries hadn’t improved, as long as he was alive and in the Demon Suppression Bureau, Ah Nian was confident she could save him.
In fact, in Ah Nian’s eyes, the young man’s injuries weren’t the real problem—they just required some effort to treat.
The real trouble was the Demon Suppression Bureau squad leader standing beside the young man.
Oh dear!
How could this young man be the younger brother of that female demon?!
“Are you saying he might end up with all his meridians destroyed, becoming a cripple?!”
Ah Nian looked at the woman in the black Demon Suppression Bureau squad leader uniform. She was tall, with a short sword at her waist. Ah Nian stood behind her, only able to see her back and her long, silky black hair, which gave off the same icy aura as the female demon herself.
Just her back alone exuded an intense pressure.
“Cough…” Ah Nian struggled to find the right words. “Well… not exactly a cripple… just… just…”