freenovelworld Chapter 174 Discovering Something Strange
Chapter 174 Discovering Something Strange
Upon hearing Jiang Jingzhi and Mu Zhusheng's answers, the King of Thailand pondered to himself that the many renowned doctors from the Imperial Hospital and the so-called miracle doctors who had come from all over the country had no clue about the Demon King's illness. How much ability could these two fox clan doctors possibly have? They were just trying their luck, so it wouldn't hurt to let them try. He figured they probably wouldn't find anything.
Thinking this, the King of Thailand nodded slightly, his voice still cold, but with a hint of unyielding authority: "In that case, do your best to heal him. If you can cure the Demon King, you will be richly rewarded; if you cannot, hmph, you should know the consequences."
Jiang Jingzhi and Mu Zhusheng quickly responded, "Yes, we will do our best." Although their voices were steady, their hearts were as taut as a string, and they dared not relax in the slightest.
The two walked steadily forward to the Demon King's bedside. Jiang Jingzhi took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He slowly stretched out his hand and gathered his spiritual power in his palm. The spiritual power disguised as that of a fox clan physician flickered slightly at his fingertips.
He cautiously probed his spiritual power into the demon king's body, like a traveler groping forward in the dark, each step filled with caution.
As the spiritual energy penetrated deeper, Jiang Jingzhi's brows gradually furrowed. He felt that the life force within the Demon King's body was like a stream about to dry up, constantly disappearing. The Demon King's internal organs, like rotten wood eroded by wind and rain, were slowly withering away, and life force was hard to find.
What shocked him even more was that the Demon King's demon core was greedily absorbing the Demon King's own demonic power, like an insatiable glutton. This bizarre situation was far beyond Jiang Jingzhi's expectations. He had never seen such a strange symptom before, and he suspected that someone had tampered with the Demon King's demon core.
Jiang Jingzhi's heart was in turmoil, but his years of experience allowed him to remain calm on the surface, not daring to show the slightest abnormality.
He slowly withdrew his hand, turned around respectfully to face the King of Thailand and Huo Li, and bowed slightly, saying, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, I am unable to discern the exact illness afflicting His Majesty the Demon King. I wonder if any of the physicians have discovered anything unusual? I hope you can inform us so that we can better diagnose the condition." His voice was steady, trying his best to conceal his surprise and unease.
Upon hearing this, the King of Thailand's eyes flashed with displeasure, and he snorted coldly, "The previous doctors were all clueless. If they could find the problem, would we need you?" The King's tone was full of sarcasm and suspicion. In his view, Jiang Jingzhi's words were nothing more than an excuse for his incompetence.
Huo Li frowned slightly, his gaze falling on Jiang Jingzhi, trying to glean some clues from his expression.
He began, “The chief physician of the Imperial Medical Academy said that Father’s illness is extremely rare. His life force is slowly slipping away, but the source cannot be found. He has never seen anything like it before. They have tried various treatments, but none of them have worked.” Huo Li’s voice was low and heavy, with a hint of worry for his father’s condition.
Jiang Jingzhi nodded slightly, but his mind was racing. He understood that there must be a huge secret hidden behind this illness, and this secret might be inextricably linked to the truth about the destruction of the barrier that he and Mu Zhusheng were pursuing.
He turned to look at Mu Zhusheng, and their eyes met. They both saw determination and resolve in each other's eyes.
Mu Zhusheng stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Highness, Your Majesty, although I am skilled in alchemy and medicine making, I also have some knowledge of disease diagnosis. May I take a look at the prescriptions written by the physicians before? Perhaps I can find some clues from them." Mu Zhusheng's tone was sincere, and his eyes revealed confidence.
The King hesitated for a moment, but finally waved to his attendant to fetch the prescription. The attendant left in a hurry and returned shortly with a stack of prescriptions.
Mu Zhusheng took the prescription and studied it carefully, scrutinizing every word and every ingredient. Jiang Jingzhi stood to the side, his gaze occasionally falling on the prescription as he analyzed it with Mu Zhusheng.
The palace was silent except for the rustling of papers turning. The King and Huo Li watched them quietly, their eyes filled with both expectation and doubt.
The atmosphere in the entire palace grew increasingly heavy, as if an invisible net was enveloping everyone.
Jiang Jingzhi and Mu Zhusheng knew that they were standing at a critical juncture, and every judgment and decision could affect the Demon King's condition, or even the fate of the entire demon race.
And they must find a glimmer of hope to unravel the mystery amidst this complex situation.
Just as Jiang Jingzhi and Mu Zhusheng were engrossed in studying the prescription, there was a gentle knock on the door of the palace. Immediately afterwards, a guard's voice came: "Reporting to Your Highness, Prince Tai and Your Highness the Crown Prince, Consort Li has come to visit His Majesty."
The King of Thailand and Huo Li exchanged a glance, and the King nodded slightly, saying, "Let her in."
In the King's view, the Demon King is currently seriously ill and depressed. As the Demon King's most beloved concubine, Consort Li might be able to improve his mood and perhaps even help with his illness.
A moment later, the palace door slowly opened, and a graceful woman walked in with light, delicate steps. She was Consort Li, the holy maiden of the Bashe tribe.
She wore a long, crimson dress, the hem of which swayed gently with her steps like flowing flames. The dress was embroidered with delicate patterns that shimmered with tiny sparkles in the light.
Her face was beautiful and charming, her eyes were like pools of autumn water, and she exuded charm with every glance. Her long, black, and shiny hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, with a few strands playfully falling beside her fair cheeks, adding to her allure.
As soon as Consort Li entered the palace, she saw the Demon King lying on the bed, looking haggard and exhausted. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes. She quickly walked to the Demon King's side, gently took his thin, bony hand, and said in a sobbing voice, "Your Majesty, how did you become so ill? It breaks my heart to see you like this." Her voice was soft and melodious, like a nightingale singing in a valley, and every word seemed to be filled with endless affection.
As she spoke, Consort Li gently stroked the Demon King's forehead with her other hand, her movements tender and careful, as if afraid of hurting him.
"Your Majesty, you must get well soon. The entire demon race is counting on you. I pray for you every day, hoping for your speedy recovery." Her words were full of concern and worry, which moved everyone who heard them.
Huo Li looked at Consort Li, sighed slightly, and said, "Consort Li, we are all trying to find a way to cure Father's illness. These two are physicians from the fox clan. Perhaps they can find a way to cure Father."
Consort Li then noticed Jiang Jingzhi and Mu Zhusheng standing to the side. She nodded slightly as a greeting, but when she lowered her head, a ruthless glint flashed in her eyes, as if she were wondering whether these two physicians could really cure the Demon King's illness.
The moment Consort Li entered, Jiang Jingzhi sensed an unusual aura. This aura was different from that of ordinary demons, carrying a slightly unsettling feeling.
He subconsciously frowned, becoming secretly vigilant. He silently observed Consort Li's every move, trying to find the source of this strange aura from her behavior.
Mu Zhusheng also noticed Jiang Jingzhi's unusual behavior. He glanced at Jiang Jingzhi and asked him with his eyes. Jiang Jingzhi shook his head slightly, indicating that he should not make a fuss for the time being. The two continued to pretend to be carefully examining the prescription, but part of their attention was on Consort Li.
Consort Li continued to speak softly beside the Demon King, her voice like a warm current flowing through the somewhat oppressive palace.
"Your Majesty, do you still remember the day we went to the sea of flowers together? You were so full of vigor then. I still long to go see that sea of flowers with you again." Her words were full of memories of the beautiful past.
Jiang Jingzhi listened carefully to Consort Li's words. At the same time, he secretly circulated his spiritual power, trying to perceive more details of the strange aura on Consort Li's body.
He discovered that this aura seemed to conceal a dark power. Although it was weak, it could not be ignored. He couldn't help but feel uneasy. Could this power be related to the Demon King's illness?
The King of Thailand looked at Consort Li and the Demon King, feeling somewhat emotional. He said, "Consort Li, don't be too sad. These two physicians are trying to find a way, and perhaps His Majesty will recover soon."
Consort Li nodded slightly and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I only hope that Your Majesty can recover soon. The demon race cannot be without Your Majesty." A firm look appeared in her eyes, as if at this moment, she had also shouldered the hopes of the demon race.
Jiang Jingzhi and Mu Zhusheng exchanged a glance. They both understood that behind this seemingly simple visit might lie a deeper secret. They had to be even more careful and cautious, searching for a clue to unravel the mystery amidst this complex situation.
The unusual aura emanating from Consort Li undoubtedly became a key breakthrough for them to unravel the mystery.
Before they knew it, dusk was falling, and the night, like a huge black silk ribbon, quietly enveloped the entire palace. The candlelight in the bedroom flickered, illuminating the slightly tired faces of everyone.
Seeing that Jiang Jingzhi and Mu Zhusheng were also unable to reach a conclusion, the King of Thailand said, "It is getting late today, so the two physicians should go and rest. We will continue to study His Majesty's condition tomorrow." After saying this, he instructed his attendants to take them to the guest rooms in the palace to rest.
Jiang Jingzhi and Mu Zhusheng, accompanied by their attendants, traversed the winding corridors. Along the way, they noticed that demon soldiers guarded every corner and every fork in the road.
Those wary eyes made them even more cautious. When they arrived at the courtyard where the guest rooms were located, they saw high walls all around. At the only entrance, two demon soldiers stood guard with their postures straight. Their eyes swept over Jiang Jingzhi and Mu Zhusheng, revealing scrutiny and vigilance.
Upon entering the room, Jiang Jingzhi remained vigilant, knowing that the palace was full of hidden dangers and that a moment's carelessness could expose him.
He quickly channeled his spiritual energy, quietly setting up an isolation array around the room. With rapid hand movements, his spiritual energy, like invisible threads, intertwined and coiled in the air, gradually forming a semi-transparent barrier that enveloped the entire room. This isolation array not only blocked sound but also prevented external spiritual energy from probing, ensuring that their conversation was not overheard.
Mu Zhusheng stood aside, watching the doorway warily. Only after Jiang Jingzhi finished making the arrangements did he breathe a sigh of relief and say, "Senior brother, the situation in this palace is more complicated than we imagined."
Jiang Jingzhi nodded slightly and said solemnly, "That's right. The anomaly found in the Demon King's body today, as well as the strange aura on Consort Li, are no coincidence."
He walked to the window, gently lifted a corner of the curtain, looked at the guards outside, and then said, "I'm sure the Demon King's illness is related to the secret behind this, and it might even be related to the destruction of the barrier."
Mu Zhusheng paced back and forth in the room, pondering, and said, "That Consort Li, on the surface, seems to be deeply affectionate, but I always feel that there is something wrong with her eyes, especially when she looks at us, that fleeting glance makes people feel cold."
Jiang Jingzhi recalled the scene from earlier that day, his brows furrowing: "Although the dark power on her was weak, it was very well hidden. I tried to sense it with my spiritual power, but it was as if I had hit an invisible wall and could not explore it further."
The two fell into a brief silence, each pondering the connections between these clues. After a long while, Mu Zhusheng suddenly stopped and said, "Senior brother, do you think someone might have deliberately tampered with the Demon King's demon core, and Consort Li is the key figure? As the Holy Maiden of the Bashe Clan, she might have the support of the entire Bashe Clan behind her."
Jiang Jingzhi pondered for a moment and slowly said, "It's very possible. The Bashe Clan is quite powerful among the demons. If they really get involved, then things will be even more complicated. But for now, these are just our guesses, and we need more evidence."
They continued to discuss the details of the day, not letting go of any possible clue. Every deduction and analysis made them feel more and more that they were deeply involved in a huge conspiracy.
They must find the truth amidst this thick fog, save the Demon King, and uncover the secret behind the destruction of the barrier.
After a long while, Mu Zhusheng sat listlessly on the edge of the bed. "Senior brother, what do you think junior sister is doing now? Will she encounter any danger in this unfamiliar demon realm...?"
Jiang Jingzhi felt a pang of emptiness at the thought of not having found Xu Xiaoxiao yet, but a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes as he looked at the moonlight outside the window. "Don't worry, Junior Brother," he said, "I cast a divination for Junior Sister, and she's safe now. I believe we'll be able to meet again soon."
"I'm relieved that my junior sister is alright, so I'm going to sleep now." Mu Zhusheng knew her senior brother's abilities, so she relaxed and felt sleepy.
Jiang Jingzhi couldn't sleep, so he took out the amulet that Xu Xiaoxiao had given him when they first met. The little girl from back then had grown into a young woman, and he never imagined that he would like someone one day. Looking at the amulet, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.
Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji also found an inn in the capital city. The two girls slept in the same room, and neither of them felt sleepy as they looked at the moonlight outside the window.
Seeing Xu Xiaoxiao tossing and turning, Lan Ji said, "Xu Xiaoxiao, can't you sleep? Is something on your mind? You can tell me."
Seeing that she had disturbed Lan Ji, who was sleeping next door, Xu Xiaoxiao lay down apologetically. "Lan Ji, I'm sorry for waking you up. I don't know why, but I really miss my senior brother tonight. I wonder how they are doing."
Lan Ji laughed heartily, "So, Xu Xiaoxiao, you're in love? Do you like your senior brother?"