Arc 3 – Chapter 166, Vicious Princess Wants to Reverse Fate (60)

"How are you feeling?" Zhou Min asked, looking up at Shangguan Qi standing before her. His body was drenched, revealing his lean physique but without any sense of awkwardness. Instead, he exuded an enigmatic charm.

Gently, Shangguan Qi stroked Zhou Min's cheek, tucking her wind-blown hair behind her ear. It was his first time doing so, and he was a bit clumsy, but his joy was evident.

"While practising my inner strength in the moonlit river, I felt a warm and gentle energy penetrating my body from countless pores. The energy quietly flowed within me, giving me a sense of vitality wherever it went. I even felt a slight fluctuation in my previously depleted inner strength!"

Shangguan Qi watched Zhou Min tenderly as if imprinting every detail of this woman, who had devotedly done everything for him, into his heart and mind.

"And now? How do you feel?" Zhou Min asked, surprised by Shangguan Qi's revelation. The fact that his training could stimulate his sealed original power was unexpected.

Shangguan Qi sighed, "During my training, I could feel a power gathering within me. But as soon as I stopped, it disappeared again."

"That's okay. It's just the first day, right? It will get better. By the way, did your shoulder wound get wet?" Zhou Min stood up, intending to check his shoulder. As expected, it was wet. Zhou Min frowned, worried.

"Yes, it got wet. Wounds can get infected if they're wet. What should we do?" Zhou Min's voice had a hint of panic. Their current situation did not allow for any more complications.

"It's not that serious. Don't forget, I'm a divine physician!" Shangguan Qi didn't like the sorrowful expression on Zhou Min's face. It made him feel uneasy. He pulled her into his arms.

"But we don't have any medicinal herbs, and you don't have your silver needle. What can we do?" Zhou Min fretted. Even a divine physician couldn't do much without the necessary tools.

"Let's find some herbs now, and I'll teach you how to use them."

"But aren't the medical techniques of the Valley of Divine Physicians forbidden to be taught outside?" Zhou Min was puzzled. The medical arts of the Valley of Divine Physicians had a strange rule. Each master could only have one disciple, and the medical arts were only passed on to this disciple, who would become the next master of the Valley of Divine Physicians.

Instead of answering her question, Shangguan Qi continued to play with the strands of hair on Zhou Min's chest, "Shall we go find the herbs now? It'll be dawn soon."

"Let's go now!" After resting and regaining inner strength, Zhou Min held Shangguan Qi and leapt back into the jungle.

Due to the darkness of the night and the possible danger lurking in the jungle, Zhou Min did not dare to light a fire. She held Shangguan Qi's hand, moving cautiously under the cold moonlight, occasionally glancing back at him.

Shangguan Qi looked at the small hand holding his, his heart softening. His gaze on the petite figure in front of him grew even more tender.

Upon reaching a tree, Shangguan Qi abruptly stopped Zhou Min, who was about to proceed further. He pointed to a short-stemmed plant under the tree, "This is 'Dipi Xiao', also known as 'Dipi Gum', 'Knife-Edge Medicine', or 'Maggot Medicine'. It may look ordinary, but it's a great remedy for detoxification, blood stasis, and swelling. It's useful for inflammation, scrofula, pus-filled wounds, fractures, and infections. It's a must-have for people in our field."

"Is it really that powerful?!" Zhou Min was surprised, looking at the unassuming plant on the ground.

Seeing Zhou Min's astonished expression, Shangguan Qi chuckled and pinched her small nose, "Are you doubting my professionalism?"

"Of course not!" Zhou Min touched her pinched nose, slightly uncomfortable. It wasn't because it hurt – Shangguan Qi hadn't used much force – but his patronising gesture was unfamiliar, making her uneasy.

After gathering the herbs, Zhou Min noticed that Shangguan Qi suddenly tensed up. Following his gaze, she saw a pair of greedy, cruel, green eyes in the deep, dark forest, sending chills down her spine.

Instinctively, Shangguan Qi pulled Zhou Min behind him, slowly retreating step by step. His entire body was on high alert, ready to spring into action. Even his breath slowed down.

In the quiet night, only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves and Zhou Min's heartbeat echoed in the forest. Zhou Min didn't need to guess to know it was a wolf.

Soon, the wolf stepped into the moonlight, its grey-white fur standing on end. It bared its sharp teeth and extended its blood-red tongue, staring at them predatorily.

The wolf was as long as a grown man. It crouched, ready to pounce, its eyes glowing ominously.

Before Zhou Min could react, a wolf howl echoed through the forest, startling all the animals and alerting the assassins hunting them.