In Jiang Che's imagination, he had expected the soup to taste strange—but to his surprise, it wasn't bad at all. Relieved, he continued drinking.
While it wasn't particularly delicious, it was perfectly acceptable. Jiang Che wasn't picky and quickly finished the bowl.
After all, he had roamed the martial world for years, traveling across both the south and the north. He had endured countless hardships, including meals far worse than this.
"Heehee…"
Seeing that Jiang Che had finished the hangover soup, Sikong Qianluo's creamy-white face lit up with a bright smile.
"Oh, right, Brother Jiang," she began, "Father asked me to take you to check on Sister Ruoyi. Let's head over now!"
Without hesitation, Jiang Che followed Sikong Qianluo out of the courtyard, making their way to Ye Ruoyi's residence.
…
Several years ago, Ye Ruoyi had been sent to Snow Moon City by her father, Ye Xiaoying. She had been living there ever since to recuperate.
Due to a congenital heart defect, Ye Ruoyi's health was fragile. She rarely went outdoors and spent most of her time resting indoors.
When she was born, many believed she wouldn't live past the age of three. However, Ye Xiaoying refused to accept that fate. He searched far and wide, consulting renowned physicians and seeking out rare treatments.
Thanks to spiritual medicines and rare medicinal treasures, Ye Ruoyi managed to grow up safely. But her health remained precarious. In recent years, she had begun to suffer from frequent chest pains. Even walking a few steps would leave her short of breath.
As the Grand General of Beili, Ye Xiaoying was often occupied with military affairs and had little time to personally care for his daughter. So, he entrusted her to his close friend, Sikong Changfeng.
Now in her fourth year at Snow Moon City, Ye Ruoyi had grown close to Sikong Qianluo, who visited her often whenever she had free time.
…
Following Sikong Qianluo, Jiang Che soon arrived at Ye Ruoyi's courtyard.
By the time they arrived, everyone was already present: Bai Li Dongjun, Sikong Changfeng, Li Hanyi, and Yin Luoxia—the core figures of Snow Moon City had all gathered.
In addition to them, a young girl in a yellow dress sat quietly in the pavilion.
She appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, and her beauty was ethereal. Her skin was as smooth as porcelain, her eyes clear and bright—but her complexion was pale, lacking any trace of healthy color. A subtle melancholy lingered in her brows.
She was the very image of a delicate beauty—someone who evoked both sympathy and admiration.
"Brother Jiang, you're finally here! Please, take a look at Ruoyi and see if there's a way to help her," Sikong Changfeng urged, his voice tinged with hope as Jiang Che entered.
"Miss Ye, pardon me."
Jiang Che gently placed his hand on Ye Ruoyi's slender wrist to check her pulse.
Everyone around them fell silent. No one dared disturb him as he began his diagnosis.
Ye Ruoyi, meanwhile, gazed at the young man before her with quiet curiosity.
Yesterday, she had overheard the servants of the City Lord's Mansion discussing the arrival of a new City Lord.
Rumors spoke of a powerful and youthful figure, someone they were calling the White-Robed Sword Immortal.
Sikong Changfeng had even hosted a grand banquet in his honor the previous night—an event that had made quite the stir.
Though Ye Ruoyi had heard that the new City Lord was young, she hadn't expected him to be this young.
Looking no older than seventeen or eighteen, Jiang Che appeared to be around her own age. He was just a youth, a boy on the verge of manhood.
It was difficult to imagine how someone so young had already defeated the three City Lords of Snow Moon City.
Even Bai Li Dongjun—a martial artist nearly in the Heavenly Realm—had been bested by him.
Earlier, Sikong Changfeng had mentioned that a miraculous doctor had been found who might cure her congenital heart condition.
She hadn't imagined that the so-called miracle doctor was none other than the newly appointed Fourth City Lord.
Though Ye Ruoyi lacked martial skill, she had been taught by Qi Tianchen of the Beili Astronomical Observatory and was far from naïve.
During her time in TianqiCity, she had witnessed PrinceXiaoChuhe rise to the Grandmaster realm at the age of seventeen, earning the title of Beili's greatest prodigy.
Ye Ruoyi had always believed that Xiao Chuhe was unmatched among the youth of Beili.
But after meeting Jiang Che today, she realized she had been wrong.
While Xiao Chuhe's talent was extraordinary, it still fell short of Jiang Che's.
To reach the ninth level of the Grandmaster realm at just eighteen years old—it was something she had never even heard of.
She doubted there were many geniuses like him in all of Beili… perhaps not even across the entire Jiuzhou Continent.
And beyond his strength…
He was strikingly handsome.
As the daughter of Ye Xiaoying, Ye Ruoyi had encountered many outstanding young men—royal princes, elite disciples of prestigious sects—yet none of them compared.
Even without considering cultivation, Jiang Che's looks alone were in a league of their own.
At this moment, his expression was focused and calm as he diagnosed her condition—and it was this serious look that truly made Ye Ruoyi's heart skip a beat.
As she watched him, a faint blush appeared on her pale cheeks—barely noticeable, but undeniably there.