In dical terms, this was akin to an operation. It was often considered taboo, and Anji could relate to that opinion a little. When her shifu inserted her energy threads into Anji as a spiritual probe to assess the seal her father placed inside, Anji had no other thoughts except complete faith. She failed to consider the thoughts and feelings of her teacher.
Now, on the other end of the treatnt, Anji faltered. One wrong move and Wei Zhen’s cultivation life was over. Like her, the porter remained oblivious to the risks involved, only grateful for a glimr of hope. However, now that Anji was more educated, the expectations only placed a huge responsibility on her shoulders.
"What are you thinking so seriously about?" Bai Dajin asked, feeling nervousness from the child still sitting on his shoulders. They were heading back down the river to the town because Anji had enough hauls from the gold panning operation. She wanted to look at the dicinal herbs she gathered, but more importantly, there was a patient to treat.
Originally, Bai Dajin’s hair was wavy and ssy after he ca out of the river. However, he had combed it back with his fingers, so they looked neat. Yet now, one could only describe it as similar to a bird’s nest after Anji constantly fiddled with the greying streaks. It was not a very flattering look, and Anji apologetically tried to soothe the wild-looking lion mane’s hair while still sitting on the man’s shoulders. Eventually, she started braiding them when the strands would not stay in place. Without a hair tie, this would only last for a while.
"Is it really okay for to be doing this type of treatnt?" she asked quietly so that Wei Zhen, who was in the lead, would not overhear them. I’m not as skilful as my shifu."
If they were talking about cultivation level, Anji would most certainly be the least qualified among them. However, she was also soone with a unique ability. On top of that, she was both a dical and spell apprentice from the best masters in those fields. Her combined knowledge would give her the right to attempt such a treatnt. Not to ntion, she wasn’t doing this alone. Gu Ying and Bai Dajin might not be dically trained. However, they could help to contain a qi deviation frenzy and subdue Wei Zhen forcefully if ever required, not that Anji had to know.
"Everyone starts sowhere," he grunted when Anji tugged at another loose strand of hair. "Even tiger cubs are weak when they first hunt. It takes them experience to beco an indomitable hunter."
There was logic in Bai Dajin’s words. However, it did not diminish the anxiety in Anji’s heart. Many things could go wrong, but she had only one chance. It wasn’t the sa as training on wooden dummies. Moreover, none of her teachers was present to supervise her.
Was this what it felt like to beco independent?
Sensing how uneasy Anji was, Bai Dajin sighed through his nose. This is why overly smart children were troubleso.
"If it’s too much for you to handle, you can always decline treatnt. It’s not your job to save everyone just because you can. No matter what you do, there will always be people in this world who will criticise your decisions. What’s more important is to know you will not regret the decision you chose to make."
Not regretting a decision... Anji thought about it throughout their journey back to the Golden Halo Hotel. Would she regret not helping soone she could? Or would she regret helping them even if it failed?
Thinking along this line, her answer beca obvious. Even when Doctor He was shunned by the world and left to die, the doctor still held his pride and would have chosen to operate on a dying patient all over again. Similarly, her shifu sacrificed most of her cultivation progress to save Anji. There was no need for such a powerful sage who was one step to ascending to help a girl marked by death from birth. Yet, her benevolent shifu did so without hesitation.
When both her teachers were such altruistic people, Anji did not want to beco soone who would betray her beliefs in bettering this world. She had to continue passing on their kindness to others as their only successor.
After arriving at the Golden Halo Hotel, Wei Zhen helped to carry the foraged items to Anji’s room. The girl was finally let down on her feet.
"Have you decided?" he asked her.
Without a shadow of doubt in her eyes, Anji nodded clearly. Eager to start imdiately, Anji asked if Wei Zhen had other plans in the afternoon. However, Bai Dajin forbade her from doing it in this room.
"It’s not appropriate to do treatnt here," he glared at Wei Zhen for a while. "Do it in my room. But first, everyone takes a shower."
Looking at the muddy footprints on the floor, Anji finally understood why Bai Dajin wanted the treatnt done in his room instead. Wei Zhen was a man, and staying in the room with a woman and two children was inappropriate. Even if Anji was a doctor, so etiquette had to be followed.
An hour later, Anji and Gu Ying knocked on Bai Dajin’s room door. Wei Zhen had been dragged to the White Tiger Sect Leader’s room and forced to shower. He was the muddiest of them all.
"You’re here," Bai Dajin opened the door. "He’s already showered and eaten sothing. How long do you think the treatnt would take?"
Anji entered with Gu Ying in tow. If the situation was not as complex, Anji could imdiately sever the connection. However, the entire process could take half a day if there were complications.
"Siphon seals are usually straightforward. Even beginners can use them. The logic behind them is also not difficult. However, if the seal had been modified, I cannot completely erase it. Depending on the proficiency of the original spell caster, they might even be alerted that soone else tampered with their seal. If they planted a trigger to explode upon alternation or foreign energy, Wei Zhen’s life could be in danger. I will not know how the modified seal was designed until after deactivating it."
Hearing the risks involved, Wei Zhen’s expression turned grave. Anji thought he would back out of such a risky treatnt. However, the man only spat out his next words with venom in his tone.
"Those despicable demonic cultivators! It’s fine if they did it to . How could they think of doing this to children?!"
For a mont, Anji thought only Wei Zhen was emotional. However, when the spiritual energy in Bai Dajin started fluctuating wildly, she realised they were keeping a bigger secret from her.
"What children?" she asked cautiously. "There are more victims?"
Seeing Bai Dajin’s glare behind Anji, Wei Zhen took a hint and wisely shook his head, unwilling to speak more.
Looking back and forth at all the adults in the room, Anji noticed everyone had stone faces. Their silence only confird Anji’s worst fears. Wei Zhen was not the only victim of this war that her father was leading against evil. Innocent civilians were involved, and the truth was that the Rainbow Alliance wasn’t enough to protect everyone.
Feeling numb inside, Anji stared at Wei Zhen. For a mont, the young girl felt powerless and helpless. If not even the adults could handle this, what could a child like her possibly do?
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