Chapter 82 - The Force of History

With little choice, Ao Wen could only bow her head in acceptance. "City Lord, if a cause can be determined, I will advise Lady Wan," she said with a slight bow in the direction of the concubine. "If I can devise a method of treatment, I'll provide it at once. If the treatment is beyond my abilities, I will provide what information I can to help your beloved find her way forward." Ao Wen was many things but she knew she wasn't a Medical Saintess. Alchemy Novices were qualified to treat almost any mortal affliction, as well as assist in the afflictions and cultivations of many cultivators beneath the fourth stage but there were limits. Only third-stage Independent Alchemists and above were capable of concocting pills or spirit medicines that could treat higher-stage cultivators. Even if Wan Yue was a low-level cultivator, that didn't mean that her affliction wouldn't require treatment with pills or spirit medicines, only that such afflictions were more rare. She could only promise to do her best. 

"If Alchemy Novice Ao says she will do what she can then I will welcome her treatment," Wan Yue said, speaking in dulcet tones that easily drew attention to her graceful figure. "I will keep the details of treatment as confidential as Alchemy Novice Ao asks, but at a minimum, I must explain to my husband City Lord that he may provide the justice you seek. Is that acceptable?"

"Of course," Ao Wen said with a faint smile. "It's already late at night. City Lord, if it's acceptable, I'd like to diagnose Lady Wan tonight and provide treatment tomorrow. If needed, I can draw up a prescription of supplies and implements that will be used in the treatment and ask that they be prepared for tomorrow," she added. She'd gathered the silver needles that allowed her to manipulate another person's energy within their body but she still lacked many of an alchemist's most essential tools. She didn't even have a cauldron of her own!

"That's acceptable," the City Lord said with a sharp nod. "Zhang Bai, please escort Alchemy Novice Mao to a suitable place to be held until tomorrow. Madame Ye, Understudy Feng, I invite both of you to stay the night as guests of my City Lord Manor with Alchemy Novice Ao as well once she finishes her diagnosis."

"City Lord," Ye Kexin said with a slight bow. "I appreciate your hospitality but my daughter and I should be at my husband's side tonight," glancing briefly at Feng Xi she continued, "I'll stay home tomorrow as well, but my daughter will return in the morning if that's acceptable."

"Of course," the City Lord said in a gentler tone than he'd used before. "I'll have a carriage prepared to take you home. I'm afraid the lightning will begin soon so you should hurry. Please, if he's alert enough to receive my good wishes, tell your husband that I hope to see him making a full recovery soon. Alchemy Novice Ao," he continued, turning to Ao Wen. "I leave my beloved in your care."

Following the departure of Ye Kexin and Feng Xi, with Zhang Bai dragging Mao Ailum off to be detained and the City Lord himself withdrawing, Ao Wen followed Wan Yue to a private room to conduct her examination. "Lady Wan," Ao Wen said once they had the room to themselves. "Before I begin any physical examination, could you explain your cultivation and the problems you've encountered?"

"Of course," the young concubine said with a hint of pride in her voice. "I cultivate the Lesser Force of History. It's the beginning volume of a larger cultivation method that draws on the power of a scholar's intellect to replicate the abilities of powerful historical figures. After I awakened, I was able to use this method to assume the sword fighting abilities of powerful warriors or some of the artistic abilities of famous poets, though truthfully I've mostly focused on using it to gain martial power," she explained. "History is full of brave warriors empowered by righteous cause and much of the lives of such heroes can be found in historical records. The more I understand about a historical figure, the more I'll be able to draw on their power."

"Interesting," Ao Wen said sounding impressed and she truly was impressed. She'd met plenty of scholars in the Sacred Flame Celestial Temple but most of them had been from the dominant Alchemy and Formation halls. The less common scholarly paths didn't see nearly as much interest from disciples of the sect but she'd heard that if a thing could be studied and understood, a scholar could cultivate great power from it as long as they had an appropriate method. It sounded like Lady Wan had a truly exceptional method. "Can you show me how it works and when you have problems?"

"I can. Truthfully, even incantations that worked for me shortly after I awakened are struggling to function now. I don't feel like my cultivation has regressed, more like my energy goes awry at the final moment," she said, moving to stand in the center of the room before she began to recite.

"Peerless warrior Guan Yu, scion of unrivaled might and courage! With sweeping blade Dragon Talon, no army could stand before your indomitable charge. For the sake of beloved Ju Yin's safety, one hundred soldiers fell beneath your ruthless onslaught! Their blood nourished Dragon Talon's thirsty steel that faithful day in ancient times now past," Wan Yue intoned steadily, each passage bringing an increasing aura of martial majesty to her slender figure. It was as though she were wrapping a phantom of legendary Guan Yu's armor around herself, a shadow of a massive polearm appearing beside her as she continued to chant. 

"By right of scrolls recording deeds of heroes long buried and gone, by loyal histories enshrining your storied valor, this student of forgotten epics now calls your name! Answer my call with your magnificent prowess so enemies cowering nearby may learn that any who threaten a woman under your aegis face a fate of certain slaughter!" As her voice built to a powerful and compelling cry, the phantom figure of a great warrior solidified around her before shattering into motes of light and fading energy, leaving behind a strong masculine presence as though the mighty warrior himself had just left the room. None of that power, however, lingered on Wan Yue's seductive frame. Rather, her body nearly repelled the energy as though she had tried to pour oil into water. The two simply didn't mix. 

"Hmm," Ao Wen said, standing to examine Wan Yue and take her pulse. "This worked for you when you had just awakened but it hasn't worked for you in some time you said?"

"Yes," the concubine replied, shaking her head in disappointment. "Guan Yu, Qin Shi Huang, Han Xin, it doesn't matter how much more I study any of them, whether it's a legendary archer or general, even the famed poet Du Fu seems repelled by me. The first few years after I awakened, I could keep pace with any newly awakened Brawler, even out fight many of them with superior skill. While I wouldn't call the calligraphy I produced masterpieces, I could summon the talents of an artist to produce works I'd never have been capable of on my own. Fifteen years ago, things started to become difficult. I could still manage but it was significantly harder. From ten years ago however, I can't make any progress at all. It's almost as though history has decided to forget me," she said, heartbroken and afraid that the passion that had fueled much of her life now appeared to have rejected her.