Amidst the swirling white mist, he had a dream.
He dreamed of wading through a river teeming with flesh-eating fish. The river was wide and deep, the fish vicious and bloodthirsty. He could only inch toward the shore by shielding himself with a thick layer of Essence Power.
But perhaps his training wasn’t sufficient yet—his Essence Power drained too quickly. When the shore still seemed agonizingly far, the fish had already breached his shield, sinking their teeth into his arm.
Pain shot up his spine to his scalp. He flung the fish away desperately and mustered every ounce of Essence Power he had left.
It wasn’t enough. He wasn’t strong enough, which was why his shield was so fragile.
……
A powerful surge of black Essence Power took the form of a Mystic Dragon, roaring and circling the main courtyard, its murderous aura unrelenting. Maids and servants scattered in terror. Even Granny Xun and Buxiu were at a loss, urgently asking, “Where is Official Yan?!”
The servant sent to fetch him returned with a grim face. “I inquired—Official Yan is currently taking the Grand Minister’s pulse in the inner courtyard. He won’t return for another hour.”
What were they to do?
Granny Xun turned to Mingyi, only to find her not so much afraid as slightly frowning.
“Has your lord… been mistreated before?” she suddenly asked.
Both Granny Xun and Buxiu froze, then gave her a strange look. “Why would you ask that, Miss?”
Realizing she’d spoken out of turn, Mingyi lowered her gaze slightly. “When I practiced dance in the inner courtyard before, I too suffered mistreatment. So whenever I fell seriously ill, I’d feel deeply unsettled, flailing my arms even in my sleep.”
Hearing this, they seemed to find her reasoning plausible, their wariness turning somewhat awkward. “Miss has endured such hardships in the past.”
“Indeed. Coming from humble origins, such experiences are to be expected. But for someone of his status, why would he…?” She murmured, her face full of confusion.
Buxiu studied her for a moment and, sensing genuine concern for his lord, decided to tell her.
“Before participating in the last Six Cities Tournament, the lord lived in the Slave Arena. At ten, an overseer discovered his Essence Power and, to curry favor with the Grand Minister, forced him to train in advanced Combat Skills. Back then, the lord was young. Though talented, his body couldn’t endure it. His progress was slow, and failing to master the Combat Art Codex assigned by the overseer meant brutal beatings.”
Perhaps that was why, when unconscious, he instinctively unleashed so much Essence Power to protect himself.
Mingyi’s pupils trembled, her face paling.
She’d heard he grew up in the Slave Arena but assumed it was merely a life of hardship. Never had she imagined such inhuman treatment. What kind of logic was this? If they knew he had Essence Power talent, why not nurture it properly? Why abuse him?!
She bit her nail, pacing a couple of steps, her brows furrowed with an agitation she didn’t even notice. “What did you do when he was like this before?”
Granny Xun sighed, shaking her head. “The lord never let us see him in such a state. In the past, he’d recover somewhere unknown before returning. It’s only this time that Miss brought him back.”
Self-recovery? Mingyi frowned deeply. The process consumed a Fighter’s Essence Power excessively and could even damage their meridians in severe cases.
Ji Bozhai was truly ruthless even to himself.
After a moment’s thought, Mingyi said, “Bring me a basin of hot water. I’ll go in and check on him.”Granny Xun was startled and quickly tried to dissuade her, "Ming Guniang, don’t go. The lord is unconscious right now, and his Essence Power might accidentally harm you..."
"I’ll just stay out of the way," she waved her hand dismissively. "My life isn’t that precious right now, but the lord—he carries heavy responsibilities. How can he suddenly collapse like this? If others find out, it’ll only cause unnecessary panic."
Buxiu and Granny Xun exchanged glances, then looked at her again. Though Ming Guniang was usually a bit too fond of money and lacked proper decorum, in critical moments, she was willing to risk herself for the lord’s sake.
Among all the people who had come and gone by the lord’s side, she was the most sincere.
After a moment’s thought, Buxiu called for someone to bring hot water and handed it to her.
Mingyi took it and nearly dropped it with a yelp, "This basin is so heavy—was it forged from gold?"
She grumbled as she poured out some of the water, then lifted it again and strode without hesitation toward the courtyard where Essence Power surged violently.
The black Mystic Dragon sensed her approach and roared at her, baring its fangs as it loomed close, attempting to block her path.
Mingyi ignored it completely, walking while still puzzling over why the basin was so heavy.
The Mystic Dragon grew furious. With a long cry, it soared into the sky, circling several times before diving back down with thunderous force. The servants around them screamed and scattered in terror—even Granny Xun and Buxiu retreated. Puffed up with pride, the dragon charged menacingly toward Mingyi.
Mingyi didn’t flinch. Her Essence Power condensed into a pure white cat, which leaped onto the ground in front of her, lazily tucking its paws. As the Mystic Dragon swooped closer, the cat struck like lightning—smacking the dragon square on the snout with its paw.
The dragon froze momentarily, then snorted angrily at the cat, jaws widening as if to swallow it whole.
The white cat smacked it again.
The Mystic Dragon: "......"
Its massive body stiffened mid-air as it stared at the cat in disbelief. The cat returned its gaze indifferently. After a long standoff, the dragon reluctantly shifted its tail aside, clearing a path for Mingyi.
Still muttering about the basin’s weight, Mingyi stepped into the room where Ji Bozhai lay.
The white cat dissolved into mist behind her.
Left in awkward silence, the Mystic Dragon decided to pretend nothing had happened and resumed intimidating others elsewhere to salvage its dignity.
Once inside, Mingyi saw that Ji Bozhai, having overexerted his Essence Power, looked as though he had been drenched in blood. Fresh blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, yet his body remained rigid, the crimson Meridians on his wrists bulging unnaturally.
She approached, set the basin aside, wrung out a cloth, and calmly parted his robes to place the warm cloth over his heart.
The sudden warmth made Ji Bozhai’s body stiffen. Though he didn’t wake, the tension in his wrists eased slightly.
Mingyi waited beside him, replacing the cloth whenever it cooled, all the while chattering away: "You’re already incredible—no one in the six cities can surpass you in Combat Skills right now, so there’s no need to be so tense."
"The kitchen’s stewing goose meat—you can have some when you wake up."
"Essence Power isn’t easy to cultivate, my lord. Use it sparingly."
"Honestly, the bloodstains on your robes make the fabric look rather striking. Doubt you’d find anything like it in the markets."
She prattled on without end.
Ji Bozhai had been struggling through a nightmare, crossing a treacherous river teeming with Flesh-Eating Fish. Gradually, the fish vanished, then the river itself, until only a swarm of bees remained, buzzing incessantly around him.
Irritated, he finally opened his eyes.The Mystic Dragon seemed to sense something and immediately flicked its tail, flying back into his body. Mingyi was startled and jumped up exaggeratedly, exclaiming, "Whoa! Such intense Essence Power! You scared me to death!"
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