Princess Meifan’s Treatment

The royal capital, Luogan, was a larger city than I had expected. It was surrounded by a defensive wall about four meters high, making it the kind of city known as a fortress city.

There were gates on each of the four sides of the royal capital, and we entered through the west gate. When we went in, Elder Mon showed the imperial command tally she had received from the king’s messenger, and we were let in easily. Then an official who seemed to have been waiting guided us to the palace. It seemed that orders had been given to guide Elder Mon to the palace immediately once she arrived.

On the north side of the city stood a large mountain called Mount Hutai, and the palace had been built at its foot. Once inside the palace, Elder Mon went to see the princess who had been afflicted by poison, while we guards were made to wait in another room.

Elder Mon was being led by a lady-in-waiting to Princess Meifan’s room. A large number of guards were stationed in front of the princess’s room. King Huchong was there.

“Your Majesty, I have brought Elder Mon.”

“Enter.”

When Elder Mon entered the room, the king, his face full of worry, was peering into his daughter’s face.

“It has been a long time.”

“Ah, Elder Mon. Has it been thirty years? You have not changed at all.”

Because Elder Mon was in the Spirit Formation Stage, her lifespan had been extended to around three hundred years. Moreover, because she aged slowly, it made sense that the king thought she had not changed.

“How is Princess Meifan’s condition?”

King Huchong’s expression darkened.

“With Chief Medical Officer Jin’s medicine, we have somehow managed to keep her alive.”

Elder Mon heard the princess’s symptoms from Chief Medical Officer Jin, who was standing beside the king. Then she examined Princess Meifan’s condition with her own eyes.

“The princess has been afflicted by Yinming Poison.”

“Is there an antidote?”

King Huchong asked with a desperate expression.

“To detoxify her, we need a Purified Clarity Pill and a Qi Prosperity Pill. But the Qi Prosperity Pill… Ah, please tell my inner disciple Kou that if he has a Qi Prosperity Pill, he should bring it here.”

The king ordered the lady-in-waiting who had guided Elder Mon to bring me. The lady-in-waiting hurried out of the room.

Without understanding what was going on, I was led to Princess Meifan’s room. I bowed my head toward the man who seemed to be the king. When I tried to greet him, the king stopped me.

“There is no need for greetings. Listen to what Elder Mon has to say.”

“Understood.”

I turned my eyes to Elder Mon.

“Kou, did you bring the Qi Prosperity Pill?”

“Yes, I brought it. Is it needed to treat the princess?”

“That’s right.”

From the pouch hanging at my waist, I took out the Qi Prosperity Pill and handed it to Elder Mon. Elder Mon gave Princess Meifan the Qi Prosperity Pill together with the Purified Clarity Pill.

Princess Meifan seemed to be conscious, but she looked to be in great pain. After drinking the two immortal medicines, the princess’s breathing calmed a little. The effects were probably beginning to appear. Elder Mon checked the effects by taking the princess’s pulse and doing other examinations.

Princess Meifan was probably around ten years old. She was a cute princess, and I felt that she looked a little like Prince Lianghong, whom I had met before.

“Elder Mon, how is she?”

Asked by King Huchong, Elder Mon knit her brows.

“It seems the Qi Prosperity Pill’s effect is weak. …Kou, why do you think that is?”

The question suddenly came to me.

“…The Qi Prosperity Pill produces its maximum effect when one begins circulating qi after taking it. I think that is the reason.”

Elder Mon nodded.

“That is a problem. Telling Princess Meifan to circulate qi would be impossible.”

“What about having someone else pour qi into her?”

“Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”

“I think it would be fine if it is weak qi. Haoxuen once poured weak qi into me, and it only felt a little ticklish.”

Elder Mon tilted her head.

“Why did you try such a thing?”

“We were testing whether it was possible to teach the pathways of the yin meridians and yang meridians by actually pouring qi into someone.”

“Did it work?”

“Yes. I was able to teach it properly.”

“In that case, pour qi into Princess Meifan’s body.”

“How strong should the qi be?”

“Let’s see. About the Second Tier should do.”

After getting the king’s permission, I held Princess Meifan’s hand. Then I poured the qi I had refined into Princess Meifan. It was weak qi, but when I made it flow throughout her whole body, the Qi Prosperity Pill began to display its intended effect.

After continuing for about five minutes, Princess Meifan’s complexion improved.

“Let’s stop here for today.”

At Elder Mon’s words, I stopped pouring qi into Princess Meifan.

King Huchong, who had been watching over the treatment, confirmed it with Elder Mon.

“How long will it take for my daughter to recover?”

“If we continue this treatment, I believe she will recover in five days at the earliest, and in about eight days at the latest.”

“Thank you. You are benefactors of the royal family.”

The king thanked us profusely. We ended up staying in fine rooms in the palace and continuing Princess Meifan’s treatment.

“Elder Mon. Princess Meifan was not the only one attacked by the yōma, was she? What will happen to the others?”

“They likely cannot be saved.”

I thought about the meaning of Elder Mon’s words. To save them, a Qi Prosperity Pill and a Purified Clarity Pill would be necessary, but both were precious immortal medicines. It was not as though I had a large supply of Qi Prosperity Pills myself.

“Isn’t there any way to cure them with medicines that are available in greater quantities?”

“Yinming Poison is a special poison. The ways to treat it are limited as well. To bring this tragedy to an end, the only choice is to slay the yōma as quickly as possible.”