Journey Through Realms: Fulfilling Last Wishes - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: The Naive Saintess of the Demonic Sect

“I didn’t sleep for long, did I? But why does it feel like I slept for ages?” An Ran muttered to herself as she woke up.

The bright sunlight streaming through the windows puzzled her—she remembered falling asleep when it was already daytime.

Despite her confusion, she felt refreshed, as though the exhaustion from several days of traveling had vanished. Perhaps the deep sleep had been especially rejuvenating, even if it hadn’t lasted long—or so she thought.

Stretching lazily, An Ran decided to get up and find Shen Mie. She had promised to visit Mu Xiaodong with him and didn’t want to keep him waiting. However, as she got dressed, she noticed something peculiar: her clothes were different from what she remembered wearing.

How strange… I don’t remember changing into these, she thought, shaking her head in confusion as she headed out. Following the directions in her memory, she slowly made her way to Shen Mie’s study.

“Uncle Shen, are you there? It’s me, An Ran. I’m here to visit Uncle Mu with you,” she called out, knocking on the door. She didn’t want to intrude in case Shen Mie was busy.

“Ran Ran, you’re awake! Old Mu, come here quickly!” Shen Mie’s excited voice came from within.

Moments later, Shen Mie opened the door, his face lighting up with relief at the sight of An Ran. He called out to Mu Xiaodong, who soon appeared, equally thrilled.

“Finally awake? That’s wonderful! Let me check your pulse to make sure everything’s fine,” Mu Xiaodong said, pulling An Ran into the study.

An Ran, though confused by their reactions, let Mu Xiaodong examine her.

Why are they acting like this? I only slept for a while, she thought. But as Mu Xiaodong took her pulse, the truth unfolded.

An Ran had been asleep for three days. After she returned and went to rest, Shen Mie grew concerned when she didn’t show up that afternoon as planned. He sent someone to check on her, only to discover that she had developed a high fever and was drenched in sweat. Alarmed, Shen Mie immediately called for Mu Xiaodong.

Mu diagnosed her condition as a result of physical exhaustion, emotional strain, and a prolonged lack of proper rest. Her body, finally in a safe environment, had relaxed, allowing latent issues to surface.

The fever had lasted an entire day before the medicine took effect. Even after the fever broke, An Ran remained unconscious, unresponsive to every method Mu tried—acupuncture, stimulants, tonics—nothing worked. Mu had feared the worst, considering the possibility that she might never wake up. Their relief was palpable now that she was up and moving.

I see… So that’s why I feel so refreshed now. I must have been unconscious for three days, An Ran thought, the pieces clicking into place. But her mind quickly shifted to Shen Yu, who must have been waiting at the mountain base all this time.

“Uncle Shen, it’s been three days already. Haven’t you cooled off yet? Please let Brother Shen Yu come home. He’s still recovering from severe poisoning,” An Ran said, tugging on Shen Mie’s arm and pleading sweetly.

“Let him come back? If he hadn’t taken you out, you wouldn’t have fallen so ill! It’s his fault for not taking better care of you. If he couldn’t handle it, he shouldn’t have brought you along. Poisoned or not, he’s still alive, isn’t he? Let him stew a bit—it’ll teach him a lesson,” Shen Mie said angrily.

“Old Shen, calm down. Don’t raise your voice at Ran Ran, she’s just recovered. You’ll scare her,” Mu Xiaodong interjected, scolding Shen Mie gently. He didn’t care much about Shen Yu’s predicament but was deeply protective of An Ran, whom he had nurtured back to health.

“You’re right. My bad, Ran Ran. Don’t be scared. You must be hungry after sleeping so long. Let’s eat first—forget about anyone unimportant for now,” Shen Mie said, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head as he tried to steer the conversation elsewhere.

“I won’t eat unless I can eat with Brother Shen Yu!” An Ran declared, though her growling stomach quickly betrayed her resolve. Embarrassed, she modified her stance. “Fine! I’ll go down the mountain to eat with Brother Shen Yu instead!”

“Ran Ran, you’ve just recovered. You can’t overexert yourself,” Shen Mie said, trying to dissuade her. “I’ve prepared all your favorite dishes. Are you sure you won’t stay to enjoy them?”

“But what about the blood I gave Brother Shen Yu? He’s probably run out by now. If he doesn’t get more, the poison might come back, and all our efforts would be wasted!” An Ran retorted, revealing the secret she had been keeping.

“You gave him your blood? Why?” Mu Xiaodong asked, astonished. He stared at her in disbelief, trying to understand why she would go to such lengths for Shen Yu.

An Ran hesitated but stood her ground, determined to defend her actions.

“It’s because Brother Shen Yu was poisoned. We went to Yongcheng and found someone named Gu Lao. He told me that the only way to save Shen Yu was for us to exchange blood. He explained my background and mentioned that my blood could neutralize any poison. While preparing for the procedure, he prescribed medication to suppress the poison and suggested that adding my blood to it might enhance its effectiveness. So, I started adding my blood to the medicine. Before we parted, Brother Shen Yu said he felt much better,” An Ran explained to Mu Xiaodong, recounting the events in detail.

“You’re saying you’ve given Shen Yu your blood multiple times, and yet his poison isn’t cured? Gu Lao is still insisting on a full blood exchange?”

Mu Xiaodong’s expression darkened as he processed her words.

“Yes, that’s right. Gu Lao even traveled here with us, but he kept to himself most of the time, staying in his carriage. He only came out occasionally to check on us,” An Ran added after carefully recalling the details.

“Interesting… What kind of poison could be so stubborn that even your blood can’t cure it outright? I’d like to see this for myself,” Mu Xiaodong said with a tone of curiosity and skepticism. Turning to Shen Mie, he instructed, “Send someone to bring your son up here. But only him—the others can wait at the base.”

“Understood, I’ll arrange it immediately,” Shen Mie said, now realizing there might be more to this situation than he initially thought.

“Also, bring Shen Yi. He’s likely noticed something as well,” An Ran suggested.

She had suspected Gu Lao’s intentions when Shen Yu claimed his condition had improved significantly, yet Gu Lao never mentioned this during his checkups. Instead, Gu Lao continued to emphasize the necessity of a blood exchange.

Before entering the Demonic Sect, An Ran had secretly instructed Shen Yi to keep an eye on Gu Lao, ensuring he didn’t tamper with Shen Yu’s medication. Though she had hoped to resolve things quickly, three days had passed, and she wasn’t sure what Shen Yi had discovered.

“Understood. I’ll make the arrangements,” Shen Mie said, his expression growing more serious as he left to carry out the tasks.

Once Shen Mie had left, Mu Xiaodong turned to An Ran and asked, “Do you realize just how powerful your blood is?”

“I have some idea, but I don’t know the extent,” An Ran admitted.

She had noticed her body’s uniqueness—how easily she mastered inner energy, how quickly her injuries healed without leaving scars, even when the wounds were deep.

“It’s not just your constitution that’s unique. Your blood is extraordinary. Not only can it neutralize all poisons, but it’s also the key ingredient in a formula for immortality,” Mu Xiaodong said gravely.

“Immortality? But Gu Lao told me I was just a medicine boy. That kind of secret wouldn’t be entrusted to a mere apprentice, right?” An Ran said, stunned by the revelation.

“You’re not a mere apprentice. You’re the daughter of the Valley Master of Yaowang Valley (Medicine King Valley). Your blood is the culmination of generations of research. The fall of Yaowang Valley happened because the secret of your blood leaked, leading to its destruction,” Mu Xiaodong explained, delivering yet another shocking revelation.

“I thought the Demonic Sect destroyed Yaowang Valley. Are you saying Gu Lao lied about everything?” An Ran asked, struggling to piece together the truth.

“Yes, the Demonic Sect was responsible for the destruction, but by then, Yaowang Valley was no longer what it once was. A group of hypocrites had infiltrated the valley, taking advantage of the Valley Master’s kindness. Once they learned its secrets, they orchestrated an attack, forcing their way in. They began torturing the valley’s residents to extract the secrets of immortality and how to cultivate the special blood.

“Most of the valley’s people refused to talk and were killed. A few cowardly individuals revealed what they knew to save themselves. The Valley Master and his wife realized the gravity of the situation and sacrificed themselves to smuggle you out. They entrusted me with your safety and instructed me to bring you to Shen Mie,” Mu Xiaodong said, his tone heavy with sorrow.

An Ran was taken aback. While some of Gu Lao’s claims had been truthful, his intentions were far from pure.

“So, I’m in grave danger, aren’t I? Gu Lao even asked for more of my blood,” An Ran said, growing increasingly uneasy.

“Don’t worry. Unless he knows how to use it, your blood will only serve as an antidote,” Mu Xiaodong assured her. He regretted not telling An Ran the full truth earlier—it might have prevented this situation.

“For now, let’s focus on getting you some food. We can discuss the rest when Shen Mie returns,” Mu Xiaodong said, realizing she hadn’t eaten yet.

“Alright, Uncle Mu. I’m starving. Let’s go eat,” An Ran said, her mind still reeling from the flood of revelations but grateful for the chance to refuel.