Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 397 - 348: Stay a Moment

CREAK.

Li Ang pushed open the bookcase, stepped out of the secret chamber, and entered the study.

The study was silent and deserted, with a notepad held down by an inkstone on the desk.

Without looking, Li Ang knew the contents of the note. He released his Telekinesis, dragging a heavy box from the corner of the study that was stacked with Mind Needles, Mind Threads, Triangular Spears, talisman plates, and other weapons.

Under the influence of Telekinesis, all the weapons flew up and attached themselves to Li Ang’s body.

BANG!

He kicked open the door and dashed out of the Golden City Mansion. Simultaneously, a massive amount of Ink Silk extended from his body and burrowed into the ground.

"EH?"

The neighbor, who was about to go out shopping with his family, recognized Li Ang. Seeing him fully armed, he asked in astonishment, "Mr. Li?!"

Li Ang had no time to stop and chat. From his wrist, his talisman plate ejected a Clear Wind Talisman, generating a strong wind that propelled him into the air.

SWOOSH!

In mid-air, he threw out a Mind Thread that firmly hooked onto the eaves of the tavern at the street corner, allowing him to swing swiftly over the bustling street below.

"Mr. Li, please wait!"

Two soldiers from the garrison, who were eating noodles at a street stall, almost choked. They hurriedly stood up and shouted.

Chang’an City had numerous prohibition arrays. Cultivators making a spectacle of themselves using special techniques not only disturbed the peace but also risked triggering these prohibitions, leading to severe consequences.

Thus, whether they were illustrious officials or high-level cultivators, they usually traveled by carriage.

To use a Flying Sword, one had to go beyond the city gates.

"Mr. Li, please wait!"

The garrison soldiers watched Li Ang’s retreating figure, so anxious that they broke out in a sweat.

They had cuffs and crossbows for arresting suspects, but what was Li Ang’s status? Are we even qualified to capture him?

They could only follow behind, shouting loudly, hesitant to raise their crossbows.

Li Ang, disregarding everything, sped towards Furong Garden. Meanwhile, an Ink Silk Clone headed towards Jing’an Square, reaching the dense forest behind a deserted mansion.

Nie Yuhuan and the Huai Spirit were already waiting there. Before they could speak, the Ink Silk Clone asked directly, "Is there a way to deal with, or seal, the Dark Filth Worm?"

"?"

The Huai Spirit, who was about to relay information about the turmoil in Chang’an to the Ink Silk Clone, paused. His usually calm eyes studied the clone intently before he said calmly, "The Dark Filth Worm originates from Ju Ling, an island in the Endless Sea.

"Though called a worm, it is not merely an insect. It exists in a state between non-living and living. It’s impervious to chopping, hacking, burning, or drowning, and cultivator spells are also ineffective against it. Only one thing attracts it—intense sunlight and the Haotian Divine Light."

Sunlight, Haotian Divine Light...

The Ink Silk Clone narrowed its eyes and quickly asked, "What about the Chaotic Wind? Is there a way to seal it?"

"The Chaotic Wind originates from the heavens and earth, similar to the Gang Wind," the Huai Spirit replied. "The Gang Wind is endless, regenerating as it is destroyed. The Chaotic Wind is the same—uncontrollable and unconstrained. When the disaster weakens to a certain extent, it will depart on its own."

The Huai Spirit continued calmly, "You only had one wish, and now it’s completely used up. I was originally planning to inform you of the impending unrest in Chang’an, but it seems you have already learned about it through other channels. Given the circumstances, I wish you good luck."

After speaking, the branches of the tree where the Huai Spirit was located shook, and the vegetation at its roots grew wildly, obscuring Nie Yuhuan before she could say anything.

A moment later, the grass settled, and both the Huai Spirit and Nie Yuhuan had vanished.

The Ink Silk Clone looked at the silent, dense forest, then burrowed into the ground, racing towards Banzheng Square.

「In Furong Garden」

The female official, along with sisters and friends from the Yan Family, brought out portable screens and round fans. Shielding Yan Xuan, they escorted her out of the green hut, guiding her as she stepped on the felt mats towards Purple Cloud Pavilion.

Li Leqing stood to the side, watching Yan Xuan walk across the felt mats in her luxurious attire, and sighed lightly with a touch of envy.

TAP TAP TAP.

The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. Li Leqing caught a glimpse of Chai Chai sprinting from a distance. She quickly walked over and asked in a hushed tone, "Cui Qiao, did you come alone? Where’s Risheng?"

"The city traffic is jammed," Chai Chai said, steeling herself. "He encountered a patient with a foot injury on the road and is giving emergency treatment. He should be able to make it..."

Before she could finish, Yan Xuan suddenly faltered and pitched forward.

"Be careful!"

Everyone present was startled. Li Hui, standing at the entrance of Purple Cloud Pavilion, his expression changing drastically, hurried over to support Yan Xuan and prevent her from falling.

"What’s wrong?" Li Leqing rushed forward to ask.

"I..." Lying in Li Hui’s arms, Yan Xuan’s face turned pale. She pressed her hand to her abdomen and gritted her teeth. "It hurts here."

"Hurts?!"

Everyone exchanged panicked glances.

The wedding is already underway; why would sudden pain occur now? Could it be an illness?

"Sister Yan, lie down first," Li Leqing said. Having spent a lot of time with Li Ang, she knew some first-aid precautions. She immediately had Li Hui keep Yan Xuan still, cautioning against moving her unnecessarily, and instructed a nearby female official, "Quick, go to the tent over there and get an Imperial Physician."

Normally, an ordinary Imperial Physician would not be qualified to stay in a tent so close to Purple Cloud Pavilion. However, since Qiu Feng was a friend of Li Leqing and Yan Xuan, her family was also in a nearby tent.

Soon, Dr. Qiu Quan and physicians from his family arrived to make an emergency diagnosis.

Purple Cloud Pavilion had also been notified. While delaying the wedding ceremony, they sent someone down to inquire about Yan Xuan’s condition.

"Dr. Qiu, how is Sister Yan?"

All eyes were on Qiu Quan. He had a troubled expression and hesitated as he withdrew his hand. "Impairment of bodily fluids causing internal dryness, with impure Qi unable to descend. It looks somewhat like enteritis. Has she eaten anything unusual recently?"

Enteritis, a disorder of intestinal function, includes symptoms like dry mouth, abdominal pain, and sweating.

"How could this happen? She was fine before..." Yan Xuan’s sisters fretted, pouring out details of her recent diet like spilling beans from a bamboo tube. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"..."

Qiu Feng, who had been standing by silently listening, suddenly spoke up, "Father, how about I try the Mind Threads inspection method?"

Qiu Quan furrowed his brows.

The Mind Threads inspection involved inserting Mind Threads into the patient’s body and using Telekinesis to perceive their internal condition. Although this method was a stark departure from traditional diagnostic techniques like observation, inquiry, and pulse-taking—which ordinary physicians couldn’t perform—it was remarkably convenient, swift, and provided direct, vivid insights.

"Alright." Qiu Quan stepped aside, allowing Qiu Feng to approach Yan Xuan.

Qiu Feng took out Mind Threads from her medical bag and gently pierced Yan Xuan’s skin.