Chapter 25: Playing at Ghosts and Gods? Out of the Way—Let Me In!

Wu Shanggui, lying in bed, kept his eyes fixed on Yun Qing’s face, hoping to discern some familiar trace. The room was deathly quiet at this moment. Everyone’s gaze was locked upon Yun Qing.

Suddenly, a thought crossed Yun Qing’s mind. The First Prince had only ordered him to resolve Wu Shanggui’s paralysis; he merely needed to follow those instructions and restore Wu Shanggui’s ability to use his limbs like a normal person. As for anything else, he couldn't be bothered. He held nothing but contempt for a treacherous, spineless wretch like Wu Shanggui.

Maintaining a calm composure, Yun Qing nodded slightly toward Wu Wei. "Your foster father’s condition is not beyond saving."

Wu Wei stepped forward, looking at Yun Qing with excitement. "Master Yun Qing, are your words true?"

Yun Qing gave a faint, detached hum in response. "The bones and tendons in your foster father’s shoulders and thighs are shattered. By the standards of human medicine, even if a divine healer were here, they could not cure his paralysis. However, I can restore his bones and tendons so he can walk like a normal person. But, let it be clear: practicing martial arts will no longer be possible."

This was perhaps the most Yun Qing had spoken in a long time.

Upon hearing that he would no longer be paralyzed, Wu Shanggui nearly bolted upright in bed with excitement. But when he heard he could never practice martial arts again, his spirits plummeted to the depths of despair.

Noticing the shift in his foster father’s mood, Wu Wei pressed Yun Qing further. "Is it truly impossible for him to practice martial arts again? Could you, Master, please think of another way? My foster father spent his entire life on the battlefield; his military achievements are the foundation of everything he has today. To never practice martial arts again would be too cruel for him."

Facing Wu Wei’s plea, Yun Qing remained entirely indifferent. His expression darkened, and he stared at Wu Wei emotionlessly. "Healing your foster father’s paralysis is akin to using spiritual energy to regenerate shattered bones. Even ordinary spiritual healers could not possibly achieve this. Does the Young Master mean to question my medical expertise? If that is the case, then this illness shall remain untreated. Find whomever you wish to treat him. Even if the First Prince blames me, I, Yun Qing, have no fear."

This was the first time Wu Wei had seen Yun Qing display anger since they met. Realizing he had spoken out of turn, Wu Wei immediately apologized sincerely, terrified that Yun Qing might simply walk away.

"Master Yun Qing, I spoke wrongly. I was just too anxious; the thought of my foster father never practicing martial arts again pained me. Please, I beg you, do not be angry."

Wu Wei finished speaking and knelt directly before Yun Qing. "Master Yun Qing, you must save my foster father."

Yun Qing raised an eyebrow in surprise. He had not expected Wu Wei to humble himself so completely for the sake of his foster father, casting aside all dignity. If Wu Wei were not the adopted son of someone like Wu Shanggui, he might actually be worth befriending. How could such a loyal son have been raised by a treacherous villain like Wu Shanggui? *Heh—how ridiculous.*

Wu Wei’s apologetic attitude softened Yun Qing’s expression. "Fine. Seeing your sincere apology, I will forgive you."

"Thank you, Master Yun Qing. If you can heal my foster father, I, Wu Wei, will never forget your great kindness for the rest of my life." With that, Wu Wei kowtowed three times.

Yun Qing gave a cold snort and looked toward Wu Shanggui on the bed. "If you truly trust me, I will treat you. But I state this in advance: I can only restore you to the point where you can walk, run, and jump like a normal person. As for martial arts and internal energy, that is impossible."

Wu Shanggui’s lips trembled as he gritted his teeth and asked, "Then, after recovery, can I start learning martial arts from scratch?"

Yun Qing’s eyes flickered, and he sneered, "As for that... it depends on your luck." *Though, I could also ensure you have no luck at all.* He kept this final thought to himself.

"Foster father, healing the paralysis is the most important thing right now," Wu Wei said, wary that his father’s words might offend Yun Qing again. "As for martial arts and internal energy, we can discuss that later."

Wu Shanggui understood his foster son’s implication. He had no other choice but to accept Yun Qing’s treatment. The imperial physicians of the Great Zhao Kingdom could only slightly dull his pain; they could never hope to cure his paralysis or regenerate his shattered bones. Suddenly, another thought struck him. He looked up at Yun Qing instantly. "What about my lower parts? Can they be regenerated?"

Asking this, Wu Shanggui felt utterly humiliated. As a grand general, he had never suffered such indignity. *It is all Li Muchen’s fault—that damned deposed emperor!* Once he was healed, he would surely take revenge on the deposed emperor. He would make Li Muchen pay three times over for the humiliation he had endured.

Wu Shanggui’s eyes were bloodshot, and he longed to flay Li Muchen alive. However, a single sentence from Yun Qing sent him spiraling back into despair.

"Impossible. The flesh is gone. Unless a deity were here, no one can save you."

Yun Qing was not lying. Given the cultivation levels of the spiritual healers among the cultivators, even the most powerful could not achieve such a thing.

Wu Shanggui visibly withered. Wu Wei rushed forward to support his foster father as he slumped back onto the bed, comforting him, "Foster father, regenerating your bones is what matters most. Do you truly wish to remain paralyzed in bed for the rest of your life?"

Wu Wei’s words finally brought a trace of color back to Wu Shanggui’s face. "Very well... proceed with the treatment," Wu Shanggui replied, his voice weak and listless.

Since the treatment was to begin, Yun Qing began to clear the room. The techniques of the spiritual healing lineage were never to be passed on to outsiders, even if these mortals could not comprehend them. The sect’s rules were absolute.

Everyone in the room, including Wu Wei, was ushered out. Now, only Yun Qing and Wu Shanggui remained. Just as Wu Shanggui was about to see how Yun Qing intended to regenerate his bones, Yun Qing flicked his hand through the air, and Wu Shanggui fell into an unconscious sleep.

Only when Wu Shanggui was completely unresponsive did Yun Qing formally begin to channel his spiritual energy. A faint green light emerged from his palms, enveloping Wu Shanggui’s entire body. The green light grew, gradually forming a large circle around him. Under the influence of this light, the shattered bones within Wu Shanggui’s body began to miraculously knit back together.

Had Wu Wei seen this scene, he surely would have been astonished.

Yun Qing maintained this posture of channeling spiritual energy for six full hours. Wu Wei and the rest of the Wu family waited outside the main room from dawn until dusk. Madame Wu, convinced that Yun Qing was a charlatan, insisted on barging into the room, only to be forcefully restrained by Wu Wei.

"Foster mother—you must not!"

"Master Yun Qing ordered that the spell must not be interrupted, or all previous efforts will be in vain."

Madame Wu did not believe a word of it; she only thought Yun Qing was a fraud playing tricks to harm her husband.

"Get out of my way! Let me in!"

Madame Wu shoved Wu Wei aside, her hands reaching out to push open the door...