The rain had washed the air clean, leaving the valley smelling of wet earth and fresh leaves. Liam Ardent pushed open the wooden door of his hut, letting the cool morning light spill over him. Far to the east, the sun was rising over the mountains, and for a moment, the valley seemed like a place untouched by strife.
"Liam, you're up early," Isla Drake's soft voice drifted from behind him. She stretched with a yawn, her expression still carrying a trace of sleepy innocence. "I slept so well last night… I didn't even hear the thunder."
Liam chuckled lightly. "You were probably just… too tired from yesterday." His tone carried that teasing lilt she had grown used to.
From inside the larger hut, Lady Moira Drake called, "Breakfast is ready, come in!"
When Liam glanced inside, he saw Moira setting bowls on the table. The gentle domestic scene was interrupted by the sound of coughing — a deep, persistent kind, laced with strain.
The door of another hut creaked open. Out stepped Lady Isolde Serpentis, leaning on her cane, with Lilith Stormbane by her side. Even in her aged guise, the presence she carried seemed to bend the air around her.
"Lady Moira has prepared some rice," Liam said in an even tone. "Why not join us?"
Isolde gave a single, imperious nod and stepped inside without ceremony. Lilith followed, and they took their seats. Isla, however, shrank closer to her mother and Liam, glancing at Isolde as if the older woman's gaze might turn her to stone.
They ate in near silence, the only sounds being the clink of bowls and the occasional cough. Finally, Lilith spoke. "Liam… the rain last night was heavy. Did you rest well?"
Her question made Moira and Isla exchange a fleeting look — one that they quickly turned away from. Liam, unfazed, smiled faintly. "I managed to stay dry enough."
Lilith's eyes softened slightly. "Good. Because after breakfast, you should keep your promise. My mistress's ailment has waited long enough."
"I will," Liam replied without hesitation. His voice was steady, his smile brimming with confidence. He knew his medical skill now surpassed Edric Thornwell's — both in the ways of healing and in the poisons few dared to master. Treating Isolde's condition would be no great challenge.
Once the bowls were emptied, Liam followed Isolde into the inner room of her hut. Lilith remained outside, posting herself at the doorway to keep Moira and Isla from approaching.
Inside, the air was dim and smelled faintly of herbal smoke. Isolde's voice, still tinged with that cold dignity, broke the quiet. "Show me what you can do, boy. But do not think of playing tricks." Her words were followed by a round of coughing that seemed to rake her chest.
System Update
[Lady Isolde Serpentis – Favorability: 30 (Esteem)]
Liam stood before her, hands clasped behind his back. "If I'm to treat you, you'll need to remove your mask. With it on, I can't properly locate every meridian. One misplaced needle could… well, mar that beautiful face of yours."
Her eyes flashed with sudden sharpness, and for a heartbeat the room seemed to grow colder. "You presume much. Do you think I fear for my appearance at my age?"
"You were once the most feared and admired woman in the Ming Cult," Liam said lightly. "You may have left, but the name of the Dragon King still holds weight. And a woman of such standing? I doubt you'd accept scars, no matter your years."
For the first time, surprise flickered in her eyes. She tilted her head, studying him more closely. "So you've guessed who I am from scraps of detail? Impressive."
Her cane tapped against the floor as she let out a thin chuckle. "Yes… I am the one you suspect. But tell me, what does my mask have to do with harmonizing my five viscera?"
"Everything," Liam replied. "Your cold injury has seeped into your lungs, damaging your organs and disrupting the flow of qi through your meridians. My treatment will require precise stimulation across your entire body, in harmony with the circulation of your qi and blood. If you want this done correctly, Lady Isolde, the mask must come off."
Isolde's gaze darkened for a moment, though there was a glimmer of something else beneath it — perhaps curiosity. "You sound very certain, Liam Ardent. But tell me… once I remove it, will you start treating me as you do young Isla?"
The insinuation hit him like a thrown dagger. Clearly, the storm had not masked her sharp hearing the previous night. She had overheard far more than he'd thought possible.
System Update
[Lady Isolde Serpentis – Favorability: 0 (Indifferent)]
"You misunderstand," Liam said quickly, raising his hands. "I'm here to heal, nothing more."
A faint smirk curved her lips, though it was cold. "Good. Because if you dared to think otherwise, you would not live to regret it."
Her fingers rose to the edge of her hood. With a smooth motion, she pulled it back, revealing long, midnight-black hair cascading down her back. Then, with a sharp tug, she peeled away the human-skin mask that had hidden her features.
The air seemed to hold still.
The woman before him was no crone. Her skin was pale and flawless, like snow untouched by sunlight. Almond-shaped eyes framed by long lashes held a gleam both fierce and alluring. Her lips curved with natural grace, and her beauty was so striking it seemed to draw the color from the rest of the world.
Liam's breath caught for a heartbeat. He had heard whispers that the Dragon King of the Ming Cult was unmatched in beauty, a rare blend of Han and Persian blood — but reality far outstripped the rumors. Time had barely touched her; she looked no older than twenty.
She set the mask aside, her expression returning to that same cool detachment. "Well? Are you here to gawk, or to begin?"
Liam forced himself to refocus. "Let's begin."
Glossary Update – Chapter 16
Lady Isolde Serpentis – Also known as the Purple Dragon King of the Ming Cult. A legendary beauty of mixed Han and Persian heritage, famed for her martial prowess and high rank within the cult. Despite her title, "Dragon King" is a position of authority, not a gendered designation. Suffering from a deep-seated cold injury to her lungs, she has hidden her true face for years behind a mask.
This story is inspired from various Wuxia novels ,so if you find any similarities please dont mind . and if you think this is boring wait till the Dual cultivation starts ,Thank you .
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T/N :
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