Chapter 393: Chapter 393: Testing the Waters

As Xia Wanqing soared away, he let out a bitter smile. He felt there was something off with Jin’er just now.

He knew his daughter well. On the mountain, she was spoiled and capricious, mischievous and fond of pranks. There were few in the village she hadn’t played tricks on.

Such a lively and playful girl, compared to this desolate-looking Jin’er with eyes that seemed to see through worldly affairs, appeared to be entirely different people.

Moreover, when he descended from the mountain and tracked her here, he heard that a plague had erupted in Wangshan Town on the other side of the mountain. A Jianghu doctor named Xia Wenjin, a young girl, played a significant role in controlling it and even donated several thousand taels of silver. Now, many villagers in Wangshan Town have enshrined longevity tablets in her honor, praying to the Bodhisattva for her long life and prosperity.

He didn’t believe that person could be his Jin’er.

As for staying to help and donating silver, he didn’t doubt it. Although Jin’er was mischievous and loved to play tricks, she grew up in Haotian Village, where the brothers upheld loyalty above all. Surrounded by such influence, Jin’er had a kind heart and was capable of such acts.

As for several thousand taels of silver, although a large sum, Jin’er was smart enough to earn it.

The only doubt was that his Jin’er didn’t know any medical skills!

Therefore, even though he was genuinely worried about his daughter just now, he was also testing and observing.

Jin’er was still his Jin’er, just as if she had grown up overnight.

She had some doubts around her, but for a young lady spoiled by everyone in the village to grow among the scheming Jianghu, isn’t growing up quite normal?

Also, she apprenticed under the Undying Poison Doctor. With such a renowned master, her starting point was naturally higher than others. Wouldn’t knowing medical skills also be normal?

With the doubts resolved, only concern remained.

Since Jin’er was so determined not to marry Huangfu Yuxuan and since her deadly tribulation at sixteen was relieved by the high monk at Bodhi Temple, how could he force Jin’er to marry someone she didn’t want to?

Young Master Yu was excellent, and he highly valued him, but now that Jin’er strongly opposed, perhaps it was better to leave it for later!

Soon after Xia Wanqing left, Huangfu Jingchen returned. In fact, he hadn’t gone far earlier. He was worried Xia Wanqing might harm Xia Wenjin, so he stood at a distance, watching. If Xia Wanqing were to act against Wenjin, he’d be able to rescue her in time.

As for why Xia Wenjin suddenly had white frost all over her, with the Ice Snow poison acting up, he didn’t see. First, it was because he was far away, and second, when Xia Wenjin curled herself into a ball, Xia Wanqing was still a few steps away from her.

At this moment, he rushed over and said, “Wenjin, are you alright?”

With a radiant smile, Xia Wenjin replied, “What could possibly happen to me?”

Seeing that Xia Wanqing indeed left, Huangfu Jingchen refrained from asking further. After all, this was Xia Wenjin’s private matter, and as long as Xia Wanqing left, he wouldn’t force Xia Wenjin to return to Haotian Village.

Although both of them had the surname Xia, Huangfu Jingchen did not associate them with a father-daughter relationship. After all, Xia Wenjin referred to Xia Wanqing by name, and he thought no one would address their father that way.

He asked with concern, “Having taken the Ice and Snow Pill, do you really intend to go to the Glazed Pavilion for the antidote?”

Xia Wenjin blinked and giggled, “Of course not!” She had contracted the plague in Wangshan Town, and her body hadn’t fully recovered. According to the “Myriad Poison Manual,” there’s a method of cleansing the residual toxins from the plague by poisoning skills, specifically by taking the Ice and Snow Pill.

Where could Wangshan Town find the Ice Moon Poison Lotus? Even if it were in the mountain, she didn’t have the time to search for it. The Ice Moon Poison Lotus was given by the Undying Poison Doctor, including the advice on using poison skills as a method.

The Undying Poison Doctor said that to cleanse the residual plague toxins from her body, she must endure the Ice and Snow Pill’s effects seven times. Once a day, with the duration increasing each time.

When it acts up, it’s like undergoing purgatory. The whole body is covered in frost, and the blood seems frozen, the cold seeping into the bones. Yet, peculiarly, one remains conscious, feeling the icy chill travel through every meridian and blood vessel as if being scraped by knives layer upon layer.

If one couldn’t bear this suffering, then it’s best not to use this method. With gradual adjustments, one could recover in seven to eight years.

Having been through death once, Xia Wenjin wasn’t afraid of this pain.

If she could heal in one go, why endure seven to eight years of slow recovery?

She had prepared the Ice and Snow Pill two days prior. Initially, she planned to take it quietly after retrieving the Jade Pendant and parting ways with Huangfu Jingchen, thereby cleansing her body of the residual toxins completely.

But today, her father personally came looking for her, so she half-earnestly took it.

For a healthy person, taking the Ice and Snow Pill was tantamount to suicide. No wonder Xia Wanqing’s face turned pale with worry.

She wasn’t playing mind games with her father, but with her father still valuing Huangfu Yuxuan as much as he did in her past life, thinking of him as the most perfect son-in-law, she couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t be swayed by Huangfu Yuxuan’s so-called sincerity again despite his hesitation earlier.

The matter of her rebirth was her secret, something no one would believe if told, and it wouldn’t change anything.

First, she had to placate her father and send him away.

She had no intention of hiding the detoxification from Huangfu Jingchen, as he genuinely cared for her. However, she didn’t mention the need to endure the frost scraping pain seven times.

Understanding the cause, Huangfu Jingchen looked at her with even more tenderness. Wenjin contracted the plague and injured her body for the sake of Wangshan Town’s citizens. Luckily, there was the Undying Poison Doctor.

When the Undying Poison Doctor arrived at Wangshan Town, he truly left everything else behind and only treated Xia Wenjin. At that time, seeing Wenjin emaciated, he pleaded with the Undying Poison Doctor to help manage her health, only to be rebuked.

Thinking back, the Poison Doctor was kind-hearted beneath his cold exterior. By treating Xia Wenjin, he perfected the detoxification method for her; while he didn’t provide health management prescriptions, it was because other prescriptions were useless, and only this method could remove the hidden dangers.

Feeling the tenderness in his gaze, along with deep feelings, Xia Wenjin avoided his eyes and said nonchalantly, “Get some rest while you can. We’ll hit the road at dawn and get to the Glazed Pavilion quickly!”

“You’re… in such a hurry?” Are you so eager to part ways with me?

Stirring the extinguished firewood and rekindling it, Xia Wenjin said, “Of course, the Jade Pendant is so important to you. I also worry about it being lost. The sooner we retrieve it, the sooner we can be at ease!”

Along the way, traveling day and night without delay, Huangfu Jingchen was unaware that each night, Xia Wenjin endured the bone-chilling pain of the Ice and Snow Pill on her own in the inn bed.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep