Chapter 184 - Mental Illness

Lu Mingshu was aware that humans could have many sides, but the Xie Lianzhen in Wei Chunqiu’s eyes was totally unexpected for her.

When she first met Wei Chunqiu in the alley, his attitude toward Xie Lianzhen made her think that they weren’t on good terms.

“But…” something suddenly crossed her mind. “even if that’s case, he should still try to heal his legs!”

“No need to try. There’s no way.”

No way? It may be impossible for the doctors in this world, but that doesn't mean that it’s impossible for doctors in other worlds! I even asked Brother Six and he said that the more powerful doctors could even grow limbs back!

“How do you know if I haven’t tried? I-”

Wei Chunqiu sighed and cut her off. “His legs are absolutely fine.”

Lu Mingshu stared blankly at him. Fine? Then why…?

“Back then, Master Granduncle Yan brought back a medicine, and it successfully allowed Junior Brother Xie to walk. However, Master Granduncle Yan was seriously injured and died soon after. After that, Junior Brother Xie couldn’t walk, and he even came down with a bad illness. Senior Uncle Zhang said that, if his mentality doesn't change, he’ll never be able to walk.”

Wei Chunqiu then looked at her. “Now you know. Master Granduncle Yan’s death caused him to be in great pain.”

“No wonder….” He said that he hoped nobody would have to sacrifice themselves for him. Was he thinking of Master Granduncle Yan?

“To be honest, when Master Granduncle Yan was still around, Junior Brother Xie was an optimistic and cheerful child. Even though he was a bit different and was taunted a lot, he would laugh it off. He practiced martial arts just as hard as us, and he never gave up on himself. Many would say that he was only able to reach his current realm due to the pills that the queen gave him, but in reality, he was able to catch up with us his on his own. Despite his legs slowing his cultivation down, he put in hard work that nobody else saw.”

“Then why is he now…” Why has he become who he is now?

“Everything changed after Master Granduncle Yan’s death. Back then, he was young and paralyzed, so it was hard to say if he could ever break through to the Spirit Realm in the future. The Clan Master and Elders all opposed him taking over the position of Alioth Star Lord. However, the queen insisted. Despite the superior ability of all his senior brothers and sisters… after Junior Brother Xie recovered, he knew that he was just a fake lord.”

Is that what he meant by “not forcing me to do what I dislike?”

“His legs used to be the problem, but now, it’s his mentality. The smile on his face gets faker, and he tends to isolate himself. Nobody knows what he’s thinking, and now, it’s as if nothing in this world, not even himself, is valuable anymore.” Wei Chunqiu then sneered at himself. “I tried to talk him through it, but that didn’t go well. You never know how bad his comments can be until you hear them. I never want to quarrel with him ever again in my life.”

That’s why it was so tense when they first met that day in the alley.

“You still care for him, don’t you?”

Wei Chunqiu sighed. “Maybe it’s just because I’m too disappointed in myself. Watching a junior brother who's just like my own brother falling and not being able to do anything when he’s at his toughest time, and now he has become this different person.”

Lu Mingshu opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn’t find the suitable words to express her feelings.

After a while, she started, “Even if it’s not a physical problem, there’s still ways to solve it, right?”

“That’s what we thought too,” Wei Chunqiu muttered. “But twelve years have passed, and it’s only gotten worse. I’m afraid that he might do something silly. If Senior Uncle Xie was still here…”

“Senior Uncle Xie? You mean…?”

“His father.” Wei Chunqiu nodded. “Master Granduncle Yan’s disciple, who was supposed to take over the position of Alioth Star Lord originally.”

“…” Lu Mingshu looked up. “Can I ask a question?”

“Go ahead.” Wei Chunqiu nodded.

“How did his father die? Between Senior Uncle Xie and the queen… the reason why Xie Lianzhen is who he is now may not be solely because of Master Granduncle’s death.”

“I am not exactly sure what happened. All I know is that he died in the Yin Mountains.”

“Yin Mountains?” Lu Mingshu gasped. Isn’t that where the barbarians lived? Perhaps his death was related to the barbarians? The queen specifically invited the barbarians here….

More and more confusing.

“I’m telling you everything.” Wei Chunqiu shook his head and sighed. He paused for a while before continuing. “Junior Brother Xie isn’t evil. I hope Miss Lu will… not harm him.”

Lu Mingshu gave a stiff smile in response. Not harm him? I’m the one that should be pleading for Xie Lianzhen to let me off!

“Miss Lu, is it too difficult for you?” Wei Chunqiu saw her expression and asked.

Lu Mingshu sighed and pull out the Mystic Dewdrops from her mustard seed pouch and waved them in front of him

Wei Chunqiu understood.

Wei Chunqiu wasn’t like the others, believing that Lu Mingshu thought she was too good for Xie Lianzhen or something. After the group fight, he knew what she was thinking; Lu Mingshu was just unwilling to become someone’s puppet.

“This is hard,” he said. “The queen would do anything for him. As long as Junior Brother Xie wants it, it would be hard to help you. “

This angered Lu Mingshu. “Aren’t they afraid that I’ll be vengeful and do something to him?”

Wei Chunqiu laughed. “What can you do? Kill him? You can’t even defeat me.”

Lu Mingshu didn’t understand.

“You won’t be able to defeat him if you can’t even defeat me. He can’t walk, but he’s way more than the trash that others see him as.”

Lu Mingshu had never seen Xie Lianzhen as trash. That day when they met at the alley, she saw how Xie Lianzhen could break the shadowy fist even when Yu Kuang couldn’t, and then Wei Chunqiu had to step in. This showed that he was at least better than Yu Kuang, but not as good as Wei Chunqiu.

“Besides, the queen wouldn’t give you the chance anyone. You still have people at Nine Jade Palace that you miss, right?”

Lu Mingshu turned pale.

Slowly, her breathing turned back to normal. She then whispered to him, “Is there really no other way?”

“There is one.”

Lu Mingshu looked up and stared at him.

“Find an Assimilation Realm elder who is willing to risk angering the king of Zhongzhou for you.”

“…” Lu Mingshu sighed.

Assimilation Realm? Where am I supposed to find one of those? Zhuo Jiangui might help her in some matters for the sake of Lu Mingshu’s master, but this concerned the king of Zhongzhou, and the whole Line of Willow Woods would be dragged down with her. Would he risk that?

“Good luck.” Chunqiu patted her and went off, shaking his head.

Lu Mingshu stood rooted to the ground for a moment before making her way back to her room.

She didn’t get to sleep for the whole night. She lay on her bed with her eyes wide open.