“Wei Shizi, just bear with it for a bit, don’t be afraid, it’s alright.” Xiao Cao turned her head and comforted him.

Wei Tingyu was extremely anxious, yet his wife was treating him as if he were a stranger, trying to console him!

Wei Jincheng hadn’t completely lost his head to fury yet. Seeing that this beggar girl remained calm and unflustered, and coupled with the fact that the attendants behind him were lying unconscious on the ground like dead pigs, a sense of caution rose in his heart. No matter how fierce a woman might be, it was impossible for her to take down several grown men in such a short amount of time without them even putting up a fight. Moreover, there were no unusual signs left on the ground.

There was only one possibility left. “She might have drugs on her. Cover your noses and mouths!” Wei Jincheng said as he slowed his pace, falling behind the three attendants.

The men, who had initially rushed in with urgency, now began to slow down. From three different directions, they blocked Xiao Cao’s escape route. Now that they were prepared, it wouldn’t be easy for her to drug them. However, Xiao Cao’s gaze remained fixed on Wei Jincheng. She knew she couldn’t win in a head-on confrontation, so the only option left was to outsmart him.

Being stared at by her gave Wei Jincheng an inexplicable sense of dread, and his temper flared up once again.

“Seize her!”

The three attendants closed in menacingly, pouncing on her with malicious intent.

At that moment, Xiao Cao suddenly moved. She rushed towards the attendant closest to Wei Jincheng with surprising agility, grabbing his hand and giving it a quick, skillful twist. The man let out a painful scream. Xiao Cao immediately let go and stepped aside, grabbing his other hand. Another agonized scream followed.

The swift and unexpected attack momentarily stunned the others. However, Xiao Cao remained fully focused and unwavering. She charged directly toward Wei Jincheng, who was only three steps behind the fallen attendant. When Wei Jincheng instinctively raised his hand to block her, Xiao Cao effortlessly grabbed it and used the same technique to twist it out of joint. But this time, she didn’t let go. Accompanied by Wei Jincheng’s shrieks of pain, she stepped behind him and twisted his arm behind his back, immobilizing him.

At the same time, she promptly jabbed a silver needle into his body without any hesitation. Wei Jincheng convulsed in agony, his entire body going limp as his resistance drained away.

While Xiao Cao could argue she was merely defending herself, as a healer, it was expected that she would stop once her opponent no longer posed a threat. Nonetheless, Xiao Cao didn’t hesitate in the slightest. Moreover, she felt no regret after striking. It was as if, even if this person were to die, it would simply be his own fault.

Xiao Cao didn’t question this feeling; instead, she followed her instincts and jabbed him with two more needles.

Despite Wei Jincheng’s anguished howls, her eyes remained as calm and cold as still water, with not a ripple of emotion. This had the remaining men terrified, their scalps tingling, and their bodies stiffening. They felt a cold chill creep up their spines, spreading from the bottoms of their feet to the tops of their heads, making every joint in their arms ache as though they, too, had been wrenched out of place.

Jin Wenjie had been ready to intervene from the moment he saw Wei Jincheng return. But seeing Xiao Cao’s unnerving calmness and apparent confidence, he had held back, curious about what she would do next. After witnessing everything just now, however, he regretted his decision. That seemingly ordinary girl, whose hands appeared to lack any particular strength, had so effortlessly dislocated a person’s arm. With just a gentle twist, she had misaligned every joint from the shoulder down to the fingertips.

A young lady, yet so ruthless!

To be fair, Jin Wenjie could dislocate someone’s arm with ease as well, but even then, he would have to make contact and apply some force, and typically, he’d only manage to pop a shoulder out of place.

No wonder when something happens, she dares to face it single-handedly as a young woman. She is calm enough, skilled at seizing opportunities, and with her methods, it’s usually not her who ends up suffering a loss.

Jin Wenjie seriously suspected that Wei Tingyu didn’t dare to confess to his wife because he was worried she might tear him apart out of anger.

At this moment, Wei Tingyu had just barely managed to stop coughing. Although he couldn’t see Xiao Cao, based on the sounds, he could roughly tell that his little Xuan’er hadn’t suffered any losses. Half of the worry that had been hanging over his heart was eased, and he collapsed softly onto the ground.

Xiao Cao had Wei Jincheng as a hostage in her hands. Even though she didn’t possess any lethal weapon that could directly threaten his life, just the sight of her having him in her grasp meant no one dared to act rashly. Wei Jincheng’s men didn’t move an inch, especially the servant who had both of his arms hanging limp and powerless. His body was trembling in pain, and his eyes were filled with fear.

Xiao Cao grabbed Wei Jincheng and said, “Move, get inside.” Although she didn’t know who Wei Jincheng was, the fact that he dared to lay a hand on the heir of the Marquis of Pingyang’s household meant his identity was far from simple. She had no intention of getting involved in this mess, and she certainly couldn’t let this person recognize her. Thus, she deliberately altered her voice to keep her identity hidden.

Wei Jincheng didn’t dare to disobey, for he was afraid of being stabbed again. It felt like just a thin needle, but it felt like his bones were about to break. The pain of having his arm removed was negligible compared to that. Therefore, his body reacted instinctively to Xiao Cao’s words.

Xiao Cao naturally gave no chance for the attendants to come near, guiding Wei Jincheng along the wall before retreating inside the room. Xiao Cao glanced to the side at the sight of the unconscious Wei Shizi lying on the ground, and for some inexplicable reason, her heart gave a small, involuntary tug.

Without a word, Xiao Cao kicked both of Wei Jincheng’s knees. Wei Jincheng felt his joints dislocate again, and he fell straight to the ground, the pain from the dislocation and the impact of hitting the floor causing him to collapse and howl in agony.

Jin Wenjie, who couldn’t wait any longer, quickly walked in. Seeing Xiao Cao committing a crime again, he felt like his eyes were going to go blind. Every time she appeared, the timing seemed to be off. If this happened two more times, he was afraid he would develop a serious psychological trauma towards this girl.

Xiao Cao became alert due to his sudden appearance.

Wei Jinchen’s servant also followed his gaze, his body tense and full of caution, clearly indicating that he recognized the other person.

Jin Wenjie hastily spoke up, “Don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous, I’m not with them, I was originally with Wei Shizi.” As for how things ended up like this, he couldn’t explain.

Xiao Cao couldn’t possibly trust him easily.

Dealing with people who were too trusting could be frustrating, but dealing with those who were overly cautious was also a headache.

Wei Tingyu coughed and tried to sit up.

Xiao Cao didn’t care about anything else and immediately went to help him.
Wei Tingyu subconsciously pushed Xiao Cao away, and then his body stiffened. He hastily explained in a hoarse and weak voice, “I’m dirty, Miss… please keep a distance, don’t let me dirty you.”

Xiao Cao looked down at her current state and had reason to suspect that actually, it was Wei Shizi who was repulsed by her.

This time, Jin Wenjie moved quickly. Before Xiao Cao could react, he had already reached Wei Tingyu’s side. He ignored Wei Jinchen’s servant and instead, initially recoiled when approaching Wei Tingyu, saying, “My Shizi, what’s that smell on you? It’s terrible.”

Alright, Xiao Cao now believed Wei Shizi’s words. However, as a doctor, Jin Wenjie must have encountered many unpleasant and disgusting situations, and Xiao Cao had already learned to face them calmly.

Jin Wenjie supported Wei Tingyu, leaning against his back, preparing to carry him away. “Thank you very much for your help, miss. If you ever need anything, you can go directly to the Marquis of Pingyang’s residence. I must take this gentleman back to find a royal physician as soon as possible; if we delay any longer, I fear his life may be in danger.”

“Wait a moment, Wei Shizi’s condition does indeed look very severe; I understa—”

“Ahem!” Jin Wenjie interrupted Xiao Cao with a heavy cough, subtly nodding toward Wei Jincheng. He was hinting that saying more would only give Wei Jincheng the chance to grab something to use against her later, possibly causing trouble by following the clues back to her.

—Does this person know who I am? Xiao Cao’s heart was filled with doubt, but this was not the time to investigate. It was more important to deal with the immediate problem first. Her steady gaze fell on Wei Jincheng.

Wei Jinchen groaned in pain, meeting Xiao Cao’s gaze, and involuntarily shuddered, like a duck with its neck pinched, swallowing back any sound he was about to make. In this short time, he had already developed a conditioned reflex of fear towards Xiao Cao.

After realizing how cowardly he was being, Wei Jinchen tried to sound threatening, “You, what do you want to do? Do you know who I am? If you dare touch me again, I guarantee you’ll regret it.” Then, he tried to bribe her, “My aunt is the Empress’s sister, the Noble Consort Shu, and my cousin is the Prince Dun. As long as you…”

Xiao Cao didn’t have time to listen to his nonsense, crouching down to grab the back of his neck, “Do you know how many bones a person has from head to toe? Two hundred and six. Do you believe I can break them one by one?”

Although Xiao Cao was just pinching the back of his neck, Wei Jinchen felt like his lifeblood was being squeezed out. The hand on his neck felt like the most terrifying sharp blade in the world, and although it was just normal body temperature, it sent shivers down his spine, more chilling than the most poisonous snake crawling on his body. Wei Jinchen wished he could faint, but his body’s pain wouldn’t let him. Instead… he lost control of his bladder!
Xiao Cao gave him a quick spray, helping him out, saving him from both pain and shame.

After knocking Wei Jincheng unconscious, Xiao Cao turned to his attendants, who took a step back in unison, their faces pale with fear. They stared at Xiao Cao as if they were looking at the most terrifying demon in the world.

—What kind of person knows how many bones are in the human body? Only someone who has taken them apart one by one to count them! That technique of dislocating bones was so smooth, it’s likely they’ve practiced on thousands of people! Even a killer wouldn’t go to such extremes, and someone with a twisted hobby wouldn’t be able to take it this far. How could such a terrifying person exist in this world?!

No longer daring to stay, they backed away step by step, then suddenly turned around and ran out in a frantic dash, scrambling to get away.

Xiao Cao’s face was expressionless, but she was puzzled in her heart: Was she really that scary?

She turned around, and Jin Wenjie stumbled backward, then forced a smile at Xiao Cao.

“I’ll go wash my hands. It looks like someone lives here, so see if you can find some clothes and get a clean set for Wei Shizi to change into.” Xiao Cao went out, fetched water, and moved quickly. Only after she was sure Wei Shizi had changed clothes did she hurry back in. “Help Wei Shizi sit up straight, and I’ll give him a couple of acupuncture needles to stabilize his condition. Then you can take him back to find an imperial physician.”

“Okay, okay, thank you.” Jin Wenjie hastily agreed, still feeling a sense of dread towards Xiao Cao. He couldn’t shake the image of her dissecting flesh and bones.

Wei Tingyu leaned against Jin Wenjie, his body alternating between hot and cold, and his vision kept blurring. He knew that this incident would worsen his physical condition, and he feared that his lifespan would be even shorter now.

Wei Tingyu struggled to stay conscious, afraid that if he passed out, he wouldn’t be able to respond in time if Xiao Cao noticed something was off.
Behind him, Xiao Cao pierced needles through his clothes for acupuncture. Her brows were tightly knitted. His spine was distinctly bony, every rib was visible, and although Wei Shizi still appeared passable on the surface, beneath the clothes, his body had wasted away into a terribly emaciated state.

Due to her concern over his health, Xiao Cao overlooked the faint sense of familiarity.

She held his wrist carefully, performing a detailed pulse diagnosis.
Over the past two to three years, despite Wei Tingyu’s frail health, he had unexpectedly grown taller. However, he had also become much thinner than before. His left arm was injured, with signs of slight deformation, though not immediately noticeable. He wasn’t too worried that Xiao Cao would recognize him, but there was always that slim possibility—something no one could guarantee. After all, it had been so long since he’d been this close to his Xiao Xuan’er. So many times in the quiet of the night, he had woken from dreams filled with her presence, only to feel an even deeper sense of loneliness afterward. Now, standing this close to her again, his heart was seized by both worry and excitement, beating abnormally fast under the weight of those emotions.

Even though he was in such a dire state, Wei Tingyu remained outwardly calm, so much so that Xiao Cao assumed it was his already weakened heart worsening under the strain.

Xiao Cao quickly administered a few more acupuncture needles before falling silent. To be honest, Wei Shizi’s condition was extremely poor. His internal organs were in complete disrepair, and it even seemed possible that his bones had started to grow brittle. There were additional complications that needed further confirmation, but all signs pointed to one stark reality—he didn’t have much time left to live.

Could Xiao Cao cure him? She had no certainty. If she could stay by his side, she might be able to first extend his life little by little. If he could hold on for a few more years, there could possibly be hope.

In the past, when treating patients, Xiao Cao would often give a few words of advice, but in this moment, she found it impossible to speak.

“Miss, can I take him away now? You should also head back soon. You’ve been out for quite a while, and your family has likely noticed your absence. They might already be frantically searching for you.”

He truly knew who she was.

Ultimately, it was Wei Shizi’s health that took priority. No matter what Xiao Cao wanted to ask, all her questions would have to be postponed once again. However, it probably wouldn’t be that difficult to meet with Wei Shizi in the future.

“Then hurry and take him back. Do not touch the needles in him; remove them after an hour. Make sure those taking care of him pay close attention.” Xiao Cao paused briefly, adding, “If needed, you can find me at the Wen family.”
Jin Wenjie readily agreed, but inwardly, he knew that Wei Tingyu, this guy, would absolutely refuse to go looking for her.

“I’ll take him now, and Miss, you’d best leave as soon as possible too. The attendants serving the second young master of the Wei family ran away. Once they recover from the shock, they’ll probably return with more people soon. If you get blocked, it will surely be quite troublesome.” Jin Wenjie glanced disdainfully at Wei Jincheng. His contempt was clear—wetting himself in fear would be something to mock for a lifetime. Considering Wei Jincheng’s pride, having such an embarrassing incident occur right under his enemy’s nose was likely to drive him mad.

“Wait,” Wei Tingyu called out to Jin Wenjie, stopping him with a weak voice. “Next time something like this happens, Miss, don’t get involved. Staying far away is the best strategy. Whether or not we’re strangers, even with those closest to you, you need to weigh it carefully. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, it would be like tearing the heart out of those who care about you.”

Though his voice was faint and hoarse, he made sure to enunciate clearly.
Xiao Cao couldn’t help but feel this Wei Shizi was a decent person.

Yet, when the time came for Wei Tingyu to eventually reveal his true identity, it would undoubtedly turn into a “bloody debt” that would be a painful reckoning.