Chapter 24: No Peace of Mind
Contrary to what Anji expected, she overheated before reaching forty breaths. After thirty breaths, Anji felt extremely dizzy and had to call for Lizi to assist her out of the tub. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was dehydrated, much to Lizi’s panic. Anji couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration and disappointment in herself, her body’s limitations becoming more apparent.
After helping Anji to change and giving her a cold wipe down, Lizi carefully tucked Anji into bed and urgently summoned the family physician to attend to the young princess, who had once again caused a stir with her health.
"It’s not serious," the family physician gave Anji a knowing look after taking her pulse. "She must have stayed too long in the tub. From now on, the young mistress is only allowed to soak for up to twenty minutes in the tub, no longer than that. Although hot water helps to relieve the muscle ache, overdoing it ends up creating other problems."
Doctor He Qiu might not be a cultivator, but he knew a stubborn patient when he saw one. In name, he was the family physician working in the Celestial Dragon Sect. In reality, his only patient was Zhao Anji. After Zhao Mingfeng, Anji’s father, pestered him endlessly, He Qiu finally decided to give humanity a second chance and ended up working for the sect. Nobody better understood Anji’s personality and condition than him, having been with her since birth.
"It was good that you called for Lizi before you fainted in the tub. Drowning in the tub is not uncommon. No doctors can revive a dead person," the doctor admonished. His thin moustache twitched with agitation as he lectured.
There were not many scary people in the Celestial Dragon Sect that Anji feared. Even Bai Dajin wasn’t as terrifying as Doctor He Qiu when angry. Anji had been on the receiving end of many seemingly merciful punishments when she failed to heed his advice. The family pharmacist and medicine shed was one place not even her parents had any say in. According to Lizi, Doctor He Qiu used to be very famous among non-cultivators. People sought him from distant lands for treatment. However, an unfortunate incident ruined him forever, and if not for her father begging Doctor He to come with him to the sect, He Qiu would have led the life of a beggar until he eventually starved to death.
With his strict and unbending personality, Anji thought Doctor He would offend many people regardless of their background. It was one of the reasons why she found him scary. Another reason was how his slanted and sharp eyes would stare straight into her soul as if telling her he knew exactly what mischief she was up to. Even if she did not spill the beans, he could tell what she had done with a quick pulse reading.
Behind the doctor, Zhao Mingfeng sighed. Of his four children, Yihao was the one who usually caused him a headache. Mingshen and Ruiting would occasionally cause problems, but those issues were usually quickly resolved. The powerful Celestial Dragon Sect could compensate for their heirs’ mistakes without much difficulty. However, when an heir unintendingly self-harms, no amount of power, knowledge, connections or wealth can solve the problem.
"Anji, my daughter..." Zhao Mingfeng sat beside his dizzy daughter’s bed after Doctor He took his leave. What will I do with you? Just yesterday, your teacher gave me a new lesson plan to conduct with you. You’d only stopped physical training today, and already, you’ve collapsed. How can I send you to the Mystical Qilin Sect with peace of mind?"
There was nothing Anji could say to refute or defend herself. After all, it was her fault that she ended up almost fainting. The look of worry hurt more than disappointment. The one feeling Anji hated more in this world than sadness was helplessness.