"We could seek out the Heavenly Doctor. They are the only one who might have the knowledge and skill to reverse this condition more swiftly."
A heavy silence fell over the room as the full weight of the physician’s suggestion settled in. Aunt Li Mei stood with clenched fists, her face flushed with anger, though it seemed she was barely holding it in. Aunt Qin let out a soft, heartbreaking sob, her slender shoulders trembling as the glimmer of hope she had been clinging to began to fade. Uncle Mingfei, who had not spoken a word since Edina entered, remained still and silent, his expression unreadable, though the sag of his shoulders betrayed the deep grief that gnawed at him. Even Grandfather Liang Feng, a man known for his composed and calculating nature, seemed troubled by the physician’s words. His brows furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line as he weighed the grim reality before them.
The tension was thick, almost suffocating, until it was suddenly broken by a bitter voice from the entrance of the room. "Yeah, sure, let’s go seek out the legendary figure who only cures the people he feels like," came the sharp remark. All eyes turned to see Wei standing at the door, his face twisted with anger, his tone drenched in sarcasm. Lin, his younger sister, was at his side, helping him stay upright as he leaned heavily on her for support.
Wei’s frustration was palpable, and understandably so. Lu Shun had been his idol for as long as anyone could remember, the older cousin he admired and aspired to be like. And now, seeing him lying motionless on the bed, reduced to such a fragile state, stirred a deep rage within him. The idea of relying on the reclusive Heavenly Doctor, the elusive healer of the Verdant Valley Sect, was as frustrating as it was futile. Known for treating only a select few each year based on his whims, the Heavenly Doctor was as much a myth as a man. His reputation for being unpredictable made the suggestion feel more like a gamble than a solution, and Wei’s bitterness reflected that.
The room fell quiet again after Wei's outburst, the somber atmosphere deepening. The weight of uncertainty loomed over everyone present. After a few moments of tense silence, Aunt Li Mei broke the calm, her voice steely with determination. "Alright then," she said, her words cutting through the quiet like a blade. Everyone turned to look at her, eyes wide in surprise.
"I’ll send a letter to the Verdant Valley Sect," Aunt Li Mei continued, her voice unwavering. "That bastard owes me at least this much."
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Her statement left the room stunned. Even Grandfather Liang Feng, who had seen and heard more in his lifetime than most, looked taken aback by her words. Aunt Qin, barely able to contain her gratitude, grasped Aunt Li Mei’s hand tightly, tears streaming down her face as she thanked her repeatedly. Aunt Li Mei, however, waved off the thanks with a casual flick of her hand, as though arranging an audience with one of the most powerful and reclusive figures in the cultivation world was no more than an errand.
"Don’t thank me yet," Aunt Li Mei said, her tone serious but with a hint of her usual sharpness. "There’s no guarantee he’ll even bother to respond."
As the tension in the room began to ease, Aunt Li Mei’s eyes settled on her son, Wei. Her expression hardened slightly, and she addressed him with a firm voice. "Wei, come to my office. We need to discuss your behavior in front of the guests."
Wei, still seething with frustration, nodded obediently, the fire in his eyes dimming slightly. "Yes, Mother," he muttered, his earlier defiance dissolving in the face of his mother’s commanding presence.
With a brisk nod, Aunt Li Mei turned and swept out of the room, her departure leaving an air of astonishment and newfound respect in her wake. Everyone who had witnessed the scene stood silent, processing what they had just seen. Aunt Li Mei had always been known for her sharp tongue and unyielding demeanor, but the lengths she was willing to go for her family were perhaps underestimated by many. She had just revealed a hidden depth of care for Lu Shun that was unexpected, even for those who knew her best.
Junior Edina, who had been quietly observing from the corner, was left in a state of shock. She had always viewed Aunt Li Mei's relationship with Lu Shun and Lu Lan as an act, a show of familial duty rather than genuine affection. It was easier to believe that Aunt Li Mei’s seemingly cold attitude was her true nature, and any care she showed for her nephew was part of a facade. After all, Aunt Li Mei had always been harsh with Edina, often tormenting her with sharp words and harsher punishments. Yet, Lu Shun had always been different—he had sided with Edina, protected her from Aunt Li Mei’s sharp tongue and iron will. Despite that, it was clear now that Lu Shun had been Aunt Li Mei’s favorite all along.
She now had to admit that Aunt Li Mei’s concern for Lu Shun was genuine, perhaps even deeper than she had imagined. This realization unsettled her. Aunt Li Mei wasn't the villain Edina had painted her to be. In fact, she seemed to care for all her nieces and nephews as though they were her own children except for her, a fact Edina had never fully grasped why until now.
What troubled Junior Edina more was the revelation that Aunt Li Mei appeared to have some form of connection with the Verdant Valley Sect, one of the nine great sects which didn’t seem like Senior Edina knew. As Junior Edina sat there, her mind began to churn. If Aunt Li Mei had the support of both a great sect and a prince's faction, then when Grandfather Liang Feng officially announced his retirement in four days she realized that her position might not be as strong as she had believed.
The quiet, somber room around her felt like a backdrop to the larger battle that was about to unfold. Everyone’s attention was still focused on Lu Shun, but Junior Edina’s thoughts were already racing ahead, toward the future, and the imminent fight for control of the Blazing Dawn Sect.