Chapter 35

Little Fang An seems so happy. His skinny body has some meat now. His cheek is packed with baby fat. The happiness in his eyes cannot be hidden.

Li Zian squeeze Little Fang An's cheek, "I heard you want to participate in the test?"

"Yes! Bo, Chao, Da, Yun, and Yu will take the test. I also train with them."

"Little Fang An, you are only seven. They are a few years older than you."

"But...but, Da is only three years older than me and I am eight this year." Little Fang An stand tiptoe to show that he is a taller and bigger boy now.

Li Zian caressed his hair," Da has great physical strength and even if he did not pass the test, he will be groomed to pass the next test. Wait until you are ten years old before thinking to take the exam."

Fang An nodded and Li Zian send him to his room. Li Zian knows that Fang An did not understand the slave concept. As a slave, they need to prove their usefulness. She will force those slaves to work for her but she will not mistreat them. Little Fang An is not a slave and she hopes that Little Fang An will leave the valley once he is older. She did not want to tie Little Fang An into this valley.

"Your fate and his already linked." Zhong appears beside Li Zian.

"He can still choose." Li Zian said casually.

"How is the soul assistant preparation?" Li Zian walks with Zhong towards the bridge.

"Everything has been prepared. No need to worry." Inward Zhong smirk, 'Let see if there any slave that manages to pass the test.'

Li Zian shakes her head, 'Zhong...Zhong, did you think I did not know?' Li Zian talks a bit with Zhong before going home.

Li Zian arrives in her room. Seeing her nieces, Yue Diu, and her second sister sleeping peacefully, Li Zian feels content in her heart. She has a nice family and everyone loves each other.

-----

"Uweek!" Hong Lian just vomits her dinner. She weakly lay on the bed. Her mother has been helping her to massage her head. Her head is hurting and her throat is burning. She took a sip of water but feel nauseous when the water enters her stomach, "Uweek!" the water is being vomited out. Her mother gently pats her back.

Father Hong quickly to the main hall, "Father! I have investigated. No disease has been spreading in the village everyone is healthy."

"Grandpa, I have already invited all the doctors in this city. All of them said there is nothing wrong with sister." Hong said weakly. He is so tired of searching for doctors with the servants.

Grandpa Hong also feels tired after a long day, "All of you go get some rest, tomorrow I will go to invite Alchemist Ning. He might notice something that the doctors can't."

Early in the morning, Grandpa Hong goes to Alchemist Ning's residence. Alchemist Ning is a travelling alchemist that decided to reside in this city to learn and collect various herbs. Alchemist Ning's servant tells Grandpa Hong that Alchemist Ning is in the middle of concocting a pill so he cannot see him.

Grandpa Hong did not give up, he goes to find another alchemist at the Alchemist Guild but he knows that the other alchemist is not knowledgeable as Alchemist Ning. Yesterday, it is doctors that come in and out of Hong's residence, now it is the alchemist. Just like the doctors, the result is the same. They did not manage to find any abnormalities on why Hong Lian cannot eat and drink.

Hong Lian sits on her bed. Trying to eat some porridge. After a few mouthfuls, she feels nauseous and vomits the porridge. She wants to drink some water but the same thing happens. She feels miserable. She is so hungry and thirsty but she can only smell them. Her hope was crushed when each doctor and alchemist that come said there is nothing wrong with her.

"Gruhh!" The thunder can be heard and a few minutes later it is raining heavily. Hong Lian asked her maid to help her to sit near the window. The sound of thunder is similar to the sound from her stomach. Hong Lian silently cries. She did not have the energy to throw tantrum.

Hong Lian's palm is outside the window. The cold rain increases her thirst. She wants to drink and on impulse, Hong Lian gathers some rainwater on her palm and drinks the water.

"Young Miss! Do not drink the rain!" The servant girl quickly pours a cup of water for Hong Lian.

To her surprise, there are no nauseous feelings that come after drinking the rainwater. Hong Lian stretches out her hands to collect the rainwater before drinking it. The relief of drinking water makes Hong Lian sigh with satisfaction. Seeing that Hong Lian was able to drink the rainwater, the servant quickly reports it to Grandpa Hong.

Three days since Hong Lian's sudden sickness appear. Alchemist Ning gets out of the alchemy room. He smiles happily while holding a jade bottle. It seems that his pill concoction is successful. Due to happiness, Alchemist Ning decided to help Grandpa Hong when his servant tell him that Grandpa Hong comes a few times to ask for help.

Alchemist Ning arrives at Hong Lian's room. Seeing her pale and weak countenance, Alchemist Ning frown. Before coming here, he already asked the others about Hong Lian's sickness. No poison or disease can be inferred from their diagnosis.

Alchemist Ning checks Hong Lian's pulse and he frowns once again. He can detect something familiar. Something that makes him interested in residing in this small city.

"Did you go to the forest in these few days?"

Hong Lian shakes her head weakly, her servant helped her to answer, "Senior, our Young Miss never set her foot in the forest."

"I can detect energy that is similar from the plants in the forest. That is why I am asking. In these few days, I am searching for a way to get rid of this energy but was unsuccessful. Luckily, that it can stay in harmony with the spiritual power and can increase one health. This energy should not harm you."

"Do what you can Alchemist Ning. Get rid of the energy." Grandpa Hong is glad Alchemist Ning able to detect the problem.

Alchemist Ning slowly pours his spiritual energy into Hong Lian's body and the energy is neutralized. It has calmed down and when Hong Lian drinks a porridge, she did not throw up like before. Alchemist Ning excuse himself and Grandpa Hong is really grateful to Alchemist Ning.

-----

Li Zian is chatting with his first brother.

"Li Zian whatever happens never gives your first sister-in-law any chicken."

Li Zian rolled her eyes, "You think I want to give to her? It is first sister-in-law that persistent."

"Just give any excuse. Your first sister-in-law did not have any shred of talent in rearing animals. First brother whisper at Li Zian, "The chickens you gave before all had died. Only two little chicks survive. That is because my son took care of the little chicks."

"Hahahahaha!" Li Zian laughs hearing it. Yes! First sister-in-law has a major flaw. She is not talented in rearing animals or planting crops. All died if they are be handled by her. That is why Li Zian is quite reluctant to give the chickens to her first sister-in-law.

"Laugh...laugh. Remember to refuse, okay." The first brother sees his wife is coming, he quickly runs towards the third brother and his father.

Then, first sister-in-law comes to ask for chickens but Li Zian refuses and this makes the first sister-in-law walk away sulkily.

Li Zian shakes her head. Li Zian turns her head towards the city and flicks her finger.

-----

Hong Lian's happiness is short-lived. At night, she starts vomiting her food once again. Father Hong quickly goes to invite Alchemist Ning once again. Alchemist Ning is shocked to hear that Hong Lian is sick once again. He hurriedly follows Father Hong.

Hong Lian is crying in her mother's bosom. Her mother slowly caresses her hair. Alchemist Ning check her pulses again and notice that the energy is flowing rampantly and attack his spiritual energy. "Bam!" Alchemist Ning is pushed and cough out some blood. He gets a vision of a group of people is pushing him with anger.

Alchemist Ning unconsciously reveals his cultivation and a spiritual shield appears in front of him. The other around Hong Lian did not get pushed like Alchemist Ning. Alchemist Ning and his servant did not stay and directly fly out towards his residence. The others are not able to stop him. At this time, they know Hong Lian's sickness is not easy to solve.

Alchemist Ning is injured and the energy is flowing rampantly in his body. Alchemist Ning sits in a lotus position and quickly regulates his spiritual energy. After three hours, he manages to calm the energy.

"Someone!"

"Yes, Master."

"Investigate everything about Hong Lian. What did she do before she gets this weird energy?"

"Understand, Master."

Alchemist Ning's servant is very efficient, in two hours all information about Hong Lian is delivered to Alchemist Ning.

"Before she is sick, she has a confrontation with the people in the Xiao Village. That village is one of the villages near the forest.

"Old Hu is from Xiao Village, he must know something. Go to Xiao Village and bring Old Hu here!"

"Alright, Master." The servant just wants to retreat when Alchemist Ning suddenly changes his mind.

"Wait! Go to find Old Hu tomorrow." Alchemist Ning shivers when he remembers his vision.