"Oh, in that case, be careful. If you encounter an opponent stronger than you, don't force yourself too much! Also, take this wound medicine for protection. Take however much you need based on injuries—as long as you don't die, I have ways to save you!" Xiaoyao said while handing Nangong Suxin a porcelain bottle.
"You bastard, don't you have anything good to say? Bringing bad luck so early in the morning! If something happens to me, you'll have to take full responsibility!" Nangong Suxin took the porcelain bottle while scolding irritably. At this moment, she didn't look at what wound medicine was actually in the bottle—she felt it wasn't necessary since nothing would happen to her anyway.
"I'll be responsible for healing you," Xiaoyao replied casually, then once again went about his daily routine of reading books at Hanlin Academy.
During this period, Xiaoyao had become a regular at Hanlin Academy and a well-known figure.
Now everyone at Hanlin Academy knew there was someone dressed as a poor scholar who was sweeping through the book collection, reading everything without missing even the most obscure books. His reading speed was extraordinarily fast, even faster than normal people flipping through pages.
If no one had tested it, they would never believe such reading could retain anything, but the results showed that all these books had been memorized by this poor scholar.
This was truly remarkable. This poor scholar had made the phrase "taking in ten lines at a glance" seem not exaggerated at all—in fact, it seemed rather plain. At such speed while still achieving photographic memory—this was what was truly terrifying.
However, being just a scholar, even so, it didn't attract too much attention, because what use was reading so much when you were still a poor scholar? Come back when you've achieved something.
Talent in this area wouldn't make people feel it needed attention, since it wasn't martial dao-related. A scholar having this ability just meant being a walking library—what else could it do?
To get official position, you'd first need to pass imperial examinations, achieve success in the exams, then receive imperial appointment, and so on. Achieve these things first.
After the initial excitement, gradually people here began to pay less attention to Xiaoyao. Of course, this didn't hinder Xiaoyao's current fame here, though after he left, he would likely be quickly forgotten.
This day, Xiaoyao had begun reading books in a row of rooms inside. These were basically premium books, relatively rare on the continent—exactly what Xiaoyao liked. If not for this, he might have accompanied Nangong Suxin.
Between books and Nangong Suxin, Xiaoyao straightforwardly chose books.
Even after unexpected events occurred later, he didn't regret this choice, because he felt that even if given another chance, he would still make the same choice. What was there to regret?
Since things had happened, they should be resolved rather than thinking about "what if" regarding the past.
On the other side, what should have been a normal sparring match underwent an unexpected change—a change so fast no one could react.
"Heavenly Demon Transformation!"
"Nangong Suxin, be careful!"
"Bang!"
"Pff..."
Confusion!
Exclamation!
Loud crash!
Under everyone's gaze, Nangong Suxin was sent flying, spitting blood, heavily falling below the arena platform, motionless—no one knew if she was alive or dead.
No one could have predicted this situation beforehand, not even her opponent could have imagined he would do such a thing.
Nangong Suxin's opponent was a member of a great family from the Great Tang Empire, a refined gentleman. But unexpectedly, when being defeated by Nangong Suxin, this gentleman suddenly went berserk, using a legendary demonic technique that instantly boosted his power several levels, then sneak-attacked Nangong Suxin.
Perhaps because this young master couldn't accept defeat, or perhaps simply because he didn't want to lose to a woman, he used this demonic technique called Heavenly Demon Transformation. While sending Nangong Suxin flying, he also collapsed from exhaustion and had to face the side effects of Heavenly Demon Transformation.
This Heavenly Demon Transformation, once used, would quickly exhaust those with poor cultivation. Afterward came power regression—inability to gather qi for a short time, essentially becoming an ordinary person during this period.
At the same time, there was another side effect: meridian damage. Even if one could cultivate internal energy later, there would be certain limitations. Therefore, such demonic techniques wouldn't be used except in desperate situations. In such occasions, it was completely meaningless.
Doing this was purely harming others without benefiting oneself.
Having such demonic techniques wasn't unusual—some people knew a bit about preventing accidents, using them for mutual destruction with enemies. But using it here would invite condemnation from the entire Great Tang Empire, even the entire continent.
Especially from the Great Tang Empire's Nangong clan. Nangong Suxin's identity was no simple matter. Even as a branch family member, with current achievements, she was worthy of the Great Tang Empire Nangong clan's attention.
Nangong clan members were present, and their expressions immediately changed. Several people had rushed over, but even earlier than them was Guxing. However, when Guxing arrived, a Nangong clan member was already beside Nangong Suxin.
Although Guxing was nearly invincible in her age group, compared to predecessors, she could only be considered a junior, including in strength.
That person checked Nangong Suxin's condition, then immediately transferred true qi to her, because Nangong Suxin's situation was very, very bad—only one breath left, and she might lose even her last breath at any moment.
After receiving this true qi, Nangong Suxin's body gained some sensation. She tried hard to do something.
"Don't move. Your heart meridian is severed. Keep that one breath now—I'll find a way to save you!"
"Medicine..." Nangong Suxin continued making a motion, struggling to utter one word from her mouth. Speaking this word at this moment made her feel extremely, extremely strenuous.
"I have a pill here!" The person frowned, seeming to make a decision, because the pill on him was for his own emergencies—very precious. Moreover, he felt that with Nangong Suxin's severe injuries, there was little hope. This medicine could at most maintain her condition.
"No need! She has her own medicine!" Guxing said calmly, reaching into Nangong Suxin's bosom to search. She had seen Nangong Suxin keep the medicine close to her body this morning.
"What medicine? No matter what medicine this is, eat mine first!" The person's words clearly indicated he felt his medicine was much better than whatever Nangong Suxin had.
"Nine Revolution Great Recovery Pill—Nangong Lie, you really are willing to part with it. However, saving lives is urgent now!" At this moment, several other people had rushed over. Seeing the medicine in the previous person's hand, they were all quite shocked.
"Suxin, what's wrong with you? Why won't you take it?"
That precious Nine Revolution Great Recovery Pill, that life-saving medicine—Nangong Suxin actually kept her mouth closed and wouldn't take it. At this moment, why wouldn't she take it?
At this time, no one could understand why she would refuse to save her own life. Why was this?
Soon, when Guxing found that bottle of wound medicine, poured it out, and put it in Nangong Suxin's mouth, they finally understood she wanted to take this medicine. But what medicine was this?
Could it be that she knew she had good medicine and therefore wouldn't take the Nine Revolution Great Recovery Pill? But what medicine could be better than this Nine Revolution Great Recovery Pill?
"What medicine is this?"
"Don't know!" Guxing replied.
"What?! Don't know? You dare give it to her without knowing?" Almost everyone was startled—this was too reckless!
"This was given to my sister by Xiaoyao. There shouldn't be any problem!" At this time, the Young Miss had rushed over with Third Miss. Third Miss now seemed very calm, not getting excited over Nangong Suxin's condition.
However, this was just on the surface. She could still control her excitement, but inwardly she was very nervous, though she knew she needed to stay calm.
"Who is Xiaoyao?" The Nangong clan members were somewhat confused.
"Cough cough..." After taking several pills, Nangong Suxin's complexion improved considerably. She coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, which remained on her body—no one bothered with the blood at this moment.
"Nangong Suxin, you're not dead after all! Xiaoyao really predicted it—you had a blood disaster today! But why didn't you take the Nine Revolution Great Recovery Pill? Why did you take Xiaoyao's medicine when you didn't even ask what it was? Weren't you afraid of dying?" The Young Miss said heartlessly at this moment, completely disregarding Nangong Suxin's serious condition.
"What?! Even Suxin doesn't know what's inside?" The Nangong clan members were even more surprised, especially Nangong Lie, who had watched Nangong Suxin refuse his Nine Revolution Great Recovery Pill and only take medicine from her bosom that even she didn't know about.
Whether this medicine was effective, or even whether it was for treating injuries—no one knew. Wasn't this gambling with her own life?
Was this still the Nangong Suxin he knew? Hadn't she always been very calm? At this moment, she made such an irrational choice.
Irrational—indeed very irrational. Nangong Suxin also felt she had been very irrational at that moment, but she understood that only at life-and-death moments could one understand certain things.
She wasn't being irrational, but had a kind of trust in Xiaoyao—a trust that could transcend her own rationality. She would rather not take the Nine Revolution Great Recovery Pill and instead take the medicine Xiaoyao gave her. Although she still didn't know what this medicine was, she could be certain her trust was correct.
Xiaoyao's medicine had already taken effect. Just now she couldn't speak at all, but now she could at least talk. What she most wanted to say now was three words—
"Mind your own business..."
(End of Chapter)