Chapter 163 It's Better to Get Hurt
Zhou Shang was at a loss. He really didn't know where his apprentice had learned to dig up his dark history like this.
Moreover, this brat was cunning.
He actually searched the school forum and the internal forum of the Xinhuo Bureau—places where he couldn't hide it!
If this were somewhere else on the internet, these comments and posts might have disappeared by the time he became the War Emperor.
But in these two places? His dark history remained intact.
Zhou Shang smacked Jiang Tian on the back in frustration. "You little brat! Why are you searching for this for no reason?"
Jiang Tian shrugged. "Just verifying. What if the teacher was lying to me?"
Zhou Shang was fuming, but he couldn't bring himself to hit or scold his disciple. Instead, he ruffled Jiang Tian's hair in frustration, messing it up.
Jiang Tian found the teacher's impotent rage amusing. Just then, the sound of medical equipment beeping filled the room.
The noise caught Jiang Tian's attention.
Zhou Shang, standing beside him, turned to the bed with a smile.
On the ice crystal bed, Mulan, who had been in deep sleep, slowly opened her eyes.
Seeing her awaken, Zhou Shang stepped forward, his face full of warmth. "Lan'er, you're awake."
Mulan, now fully conscious, looked at Zhou Shang with gentle eyes and smiled. "That was a good sleep… let me see…"
Her gaze shifted to Jiang Tian.
With a warm smile, she said, "You must be A Shang's last disciple. Every time I wake up, I hear him talking about you."
"This is our first meeting, and I don't have much to give you…"
She reached for the necklace around her neck, took it off, and handed it to Jiang Tian. "Child, take this."
A gift from an elder should not be refused.
Since this was his first time meeting his master's wife, Jiang Tian naturally couldn't decline the gift.
Zhou Shang, standing nearby, twitched his brows when he saw his wife taking off the necklace.
This necklace was far more precious than the death-substitute bracelet he had given as a gift. It was something left behind by his father-in-law.
"This is the Bingxin Necklace," Zhou Shang explained. "It helps calm the mind and enhances concentration, which greatly benefits cultivation."
"It can double your cultivation speed and improve comprehension. It's an extremely rare treasure."
"Though my cultivation is too high for it to make a difference anymore, it still has its uses."
"There are alien races that rely on illusions to disrupt the mind. This can protect you from being affected."
Hearing this, Jiang Tian was shocked. This thing was too valuable.
If what the teacher said was true, then this necklace wasn't just precious—it also held deep sentimental value.
"Master's wife, this is…" Jiang Tian hesitated, wanting to return it.
But Mulan waved her hand gently, looking at him with kind eyes. "In my current condition, I don't have much time left. There's no point in keeping it."
"Although A Shang didn't elaborate, I can tell from his expression that he cherishes you greatly."
"Our children and grandchildren have already sacrificed themselves. Something like this should go to someone who needs it."
Mulan's voice was calm, but Zhou Shang suddenly grabbed her hand tightly. "Don't say such things."
"Don't lie to yourself, A Shang," Mulan sighed. "Each time I wake up, the intervals grow longer, and the time I stay awake gets shorter."
"No, Jiang Tian has special talents—maybe he can cure your poison." Zhou Shang looked desperately at his disciple.
Jiang Tian saw the pleading in his teacher's eyes.
For a man like Zhou Shang to show such emotion meant that his wife was everything to him.
"A Shang, that's impossible," Mulan said softly, shaking her head.
Zhou Shang insisted, "Lan'er, just try."
"Master's wife, let me give it a shot," Jiang Tian added. "What if it works?"
Mulan chuckled, nodding gently. "Alright, child, you can try."
"But be careful not to hurt yourself."
Jiang Tian nodded, stepping closer. He gently held Mulan's wrist, allowing his blood energy to surge and turn into flames, channeling it into her body.
Mulan, once a powerful War Emperor, could still withstand Jiang Tian's flames despite her weakened state.
However, as she felt the intensity of his blood flames, her eyes flickered with surprise.
Jiang Tian was only at the first level of awakening, yet the intensity of his flames was comparable to that of a second-level expert.
An ordinary being at level two wouldn't survive direct contact with these flames.
Only exceptionally talented beings from other races might endure them.
But Jiang Tian wasn't attacking—he was trying to heal her.
"No wonder A Shang values this child so much," Mulan thought, astonished.
The blood flames burned around her, while Zhou Shang watched anxiously.
As time passed, disappointment clouded Zhou Shang's face.
There was no effect. The flame-like patterns on Mulan's wrist and neck remained unchanged.
"Alright, child, that's enough," Mulan said gently, patting Jiang Tian's hand and shaking her head.
Jiang Tian stopped and turned to look at Zhou Shang, whose eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
"You're already so old, why are you crying? The child is watching," Mulan teased, her eyes full of affection as she wiped the corner of his eyes.
Zhou Shang didn't respond—he only held her hand tighter.
"This day was always coming," Mulan said softly. "I'm still luckier than most. At least I have you by my side in my final days."
Zhou Shang's voice was hoarse. "If you hadn't saved me back then… if I had been the one injured instead…"
"It wouldn't change anything," Mulan interrupted.
She smiled, placing a hand on his cheek. "You are still the best in my heart."
Zhou Shang took a deep breath, gripping her hand tightly, unable to find the right words.
Just then, an intoxicating aroma filled the air.
Zhou Shang turned his head and saw that Jiang Tian had pulled out a steaming bowl of braised pig's trotters.
"Teacher, Master's wife's injury is a fire-based poison, correct?" Jiang Tian asked.
Zhou Shang nodded. "Yes. She was ambushed by the Red Realm King, and her body still carries fire poison."
"Master's wife, please try this dish." Jiang Tian's hands burned with flames, keeping the pig's trotters warm. "The best-case scenario is that your condition worsens after eating it."
"What nonsense is that?" Zhou Shang smacked Jiang Tian's head, annoyed. "You're finally letting your master's wife eat something delicious, and you're also—"
Zhou Shang froze mid-sentence. His hand trembled slightly as realization struck.
"Could it be… could it really…"
Jiang Tian nodded. "Exactly what you're thinking, Teacher. Whether it works or not, we'll know after Master's wife eats this pig's trotter."