Don't Blame Me

Inside the Apothecary Ward, Grand Herbalist Wang Si looked extremely troubled when Elder Xia appeared a few steps away from him.

"Tears without stopping until death... it's too cruel," Wang Si whispered while scanning a manual. Beside him were stacks of books about the various rare illness that he had inspected.

Elder Xia bent his body and reached for one book. He just flipped a few of the pages before he returned them to the pile.

"Have you applied the Teal and Turquoise Dew, Grand Herbalist Wang Si?"

Wang Si carefully put down his book, and his shoulder slumped in frustration. "Venerable Elder Xia, this formation is something that we may not be able to solve. I have used the Teal and Turquoise Dew. But, the boatman's physique... Ahhh... take a look," Wang Si walked towards the bed where the boatman was sleeping and moved the thin sheets that covered his body.

In the bed, there were traces of blood on the side of the boatman's face and pillow. He was paler than snow, and his entire burly physique had badly shrunk. He was a breathing skeleton covered with pale skin!

"This kind of suffering... Venerable Elder Xia, I have never imagined that it exists!" Wang Si muttered before he moved the thin sheets back to cover the boatman's body.

"Lady Xue told me something about a Taoist collecting souls to revive the Empress of the Open Sea. Hmmm... This boatman is not in misery. He is just crying because of the formation. He can't control his tear but there is no pain in it. If he will feel pain, his soul will be affected."

Wang Si felt extremely confused. "Venerable Elder Xia, please help me understand. What exactly is happening? What collecting souls or reviving?"

"What I mean to say is that this formation is all over the entire Heng Continent. All regions might have been infected by the illness now. The only way to solve this problem is to fight against the formation master who set the Hex Mille of Tears," Elder Xia took a deep breath and closed his eyes. For a while, they just let the silence flow inside the ward.

"I want to ask something not related to this illness, Grand Physician. It's about the inner core integrated with harmful energy."

"What is it? Is there something that you are not actually adept at in terms of cultivation, Venerable Elder Xia?" A small smile appeared on Wang Si's face, feeling slightly ridiculous. In terms of comprehending the inner core, Elder Xia should be more knowledgeable than him.

However, as he observed the elder's expression, his smile also faded. "Something happened to Master Huan Xue? I've never seen you look so tense. Is there an accident in his closed-door training?"

"Ahhh... N-Not Huan Xue. Uhm... Grand Physician, do you have knowledge of healing an inner core that is invaded with miasma?"

Blag!

Wang Si accidentally bumped the pile of books on the side while he almost lost his footing. His expression turned aghast. "M-Miasma?!"

"I know it's terrifying. I had the same reaction when I determined its yellowish aura. Lady Xue is currently resisting the miasma in her inner core. I don't know if she can refine it successfully. But, maybe, you have a way to help her?" Elder Xia held his shoulder and helped him stood straight.

"In my entire life of dealing with illness, diseases, and abnormalities in the medical field, I have never felt this useless! AH!!! Venerable Elder Xia, I---"

Wang Si was too mortified to admit that he had no idea. From the cure of the Hex Mile of Tears to the miasma in Qiaolian's inner core. He had never encountered such a condition in his practice!

Seeing the down casted look of Wang Si, Elder Xia could only shake his head. "Don't blame yourself. Our real enemy this time possessed a golden elixir field. If this man wants to sacrifice the entire Heng continent for the sake of his goal, it would be difficult to stop him. Somehow, I understand him. He wants to interrupt the awakening of the Lord of the Open Sea by using the Revival Through Soul."

"Hah! Is it the sea monster's breeding phase? It's too early for the Relinquished Cycle to happen. W-Why is it too early? Venerable Elder Xia, are you sure about this?"

Elder Xia's expression somehow turned solemn. "I really don't care about what happened to the Empire of the Open Sea. I could use my power to live in a different place. But, with Huan Xue's character, I don't think he won't come with me. He is just too entangled with the common people in this region."

"Y-You!!! You are actually thinking of such a selfish idea! How could you leave the people in the Heng continent? I never thought you could be that inconsiderate!" Wang Si expressed full anger in his tone. His once gentle eyes coldly glared at Elder Xia.

"Hmm... My responsibility is only Huan Xue. That is not selfish. In every battle, we must understand our enemy's ability. I just know that fighting against a cultivator with a golden elixir field is fruitless. They are extremely strong, powerful, and unpredictable. Escaping out of this continent is the best solution. However, I have also understood Huan Xue's personality. He would not abandon this continent even if I demand it to him."

"To think that Master Huan Xue has a shameless mentor like you... He even called you master!" Wang Si whispered and released a deep sigh. "No wonder, you have never made a move. You could have used your power to combat this Hex Mile of Tears formation. But, you only observe on the sideline. It's because you never put this place in your heart! You should be ashamed! Those people looked up at you and respected you!"

"I'm sorry if I am not as sentimental as you, Grand Physician Wang Si. It's just that Huan Xue had to accomplish his responsibilities as the successor of the Huan Territories. His uncle only brought him here to prepare him for his obligations. This continent is not his dwelling place," said Elder Xia with a calm tone. He slightly glanced in the bed before he looked away. "Don't blame me."