Rebirth of the Fallen Master

The First Strike

"Physician Zhong managed to examine you once before the Li Family forbade him from coming again," Bai Lian explained softly. "Because I was worried that none of the medicines I sent ever reached you, I asked for his advice."

She took out a small box containing a pill from the woven bamboo basket she was carrying.

"He said that the Three-Colored Dew Pill could save you. So I bought it and brought it here immediately."

Li Ye accepted the pill without saying a word.

He slowly rolled it between his fingers. Then he raised it to his nose and briefly inhaled its fragrance.

A moment later, his fingernail lightly scraped the surface of the pill, causing a small amount of powder to fall into his palm.

Bai Lian stared at him in astonishment. "What are you doing?"

Li Ye rubbed the powder between his fingertips before gently shaking his head. "Its purity is around thirty percent. It's indeed a good pill."

Bai Lian's eyes lit up with joy. "Then hurry and take it."

"But this pill can't heal me."

The smile on Bai Lian's face immediately disappeared.

"Why?"

"The Three-Colored Dew Pill is used to repair meridians." Li Ye placed the pill back into its box. "My problem lies with my dantian."

Bai Lian fell silent. She clenched her fists tightly, determination filling her eyes.

"Then I'll force Physician Zhong to come here."

"Don't do anything reckless again," Li Ye interrupted, worried that the girl would only end up causing more trouble.

"Then what am I supposed to do? I can't just sit here and do nothing." Bai Lian shook her head in disbelief.

"Besides, what is the Li Family even thinking, leaving you in this condition?" she said indignantly.

"Isn't it obvious? As long as the person they consider a disgrace dies slowly in bed, no one can blame the Li Family," Li Ye thought coldly.

He looked at the pill for a moment.

"If you really want to help me..."

"...exchange this pill for Fire Grape Flower, Ice Lotus Leaf, Sleeping Maiden Root, and Red Cloud Grass Stem."

Bai Lian's eyes widened slightly at his request.

"Exchange it? This pill is far more valuable."

"I know."

"Then why—"

"Because it won't do me any good."

Bai Lian tightened her grip on the pill box. She had bought it with every coin she had saved. Yet Li Ye was asking her to exchange it for several unprocessed medicinal herbs.

Seeing her hesitation, Li Ye spoke calmly. "Trust me. Those four ingredients are far more important than this pill."

Bai Lian looked into Li Ye's eyes for a long moment.

"How do you know?"

"If you want me to recover, just do as I say."

His answer left Bai Lian silent for a moment.

"Alright. I'll do it, but on one condition," she finally said.

Li Ye narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "A condition? What is it?"

Bai Lian smiled and took out a bowl of porridge from her woven bamboo basket. "Eat this, and I'll do what you asked."

She was about to feed him. Without realizing it, Li Ye caught Bai Lian's wrist midair. The image of Zi Quan poisoning him flashed through his mind once again.

"Why?" he asked quietly. "Is there something in this food?"

Bai Lian froze in confusion. "What do you mean? Of course you should eat it. Ginseng Terai Porridge is good for your recovery."

Li Ye stared at the porridge for a moment before slowly taking the bowl from her hands. A faint smile appeared beneath Bai Lian's veil.

"I asked you to do something. Why didn't you say anything?" Li Ye asked while eating.

"This is the first time you've ever asked me to do something," Bai Lian replied. "I was afraid that if I asked too many questions, you'd become quiet again like before."

Silence fell between them for a moment. Countless thoughts filled the young man's mind.

"Oh, I just remembered. A few days ago, I sent you several medicinal ingredients. One of them was a stalk of Red Cloud Grass," Bai Lian said, drawing Li Ye's attention.

"So the Li Family accepted them?"

Bai Lian nodded.

Li Ye swallowed his last spoonful and smiled coldly.

"Since I just woke up, those things should still be there, shouldn't they?" he murmured, seemingly to himself. He intended to reclaim what rightfully belonged to him.

Bai Lian nodded again, looking at him in confusion, unable to understand what he was thinking.

"Good. Then it's time to take everything back."

Just as Li Ye finished his meal—

Bang!

The door was shoved open.

"Oh? Well, look who we have here." Li Cu smiled mockingly. "What a perfect pair. The bastard and the ugly freak."

Standing at the doorway, Li Cu sneered at Li Ye and Bai Lian with utter contempt.

Startled, Bai Lian immediately stood up. "Li Cu," she muttered warily.

A young man about Li Ye's age stood there arrogantly, followed by several servants, including Aning, who wore a smug smile as though eagerly anticipating what was about to happen to Li Ye.

Li Cu glanced at the table before calmly picking up the box containing the pill.

"Good. A fine pill," he praised. Bai Lian immediately tried to snatch it back, but Li Cu easily avoided her.

"Give it back! That's for Li Ye!"

Li Cu burst into laughter. He turned toward Li Ye and grabbed him by the collar.

"A pill this valuable? For him?" he said in disbelief as he repeatedly patted Li Ye's cheek, deliberately humiliating him in front of Bai Lian.

Bai Lian's hands clenched tightly.

Smack!

She was startled. Just as she was about to stop Li Cu, Li Ye had already smashed the empty bowl beside him against Li Cu's head.

"Young Master!" Aning cried out in shock.

Several servants immediately rushed over to Li Cu, who staggered backward and collapsed onto the floor while clutching his bleeding temple.

"You dare hit me?!" Li Cu roared.

"That's repayment for instigating Gong Cu to attack me," Li Ye said coldly, causing Li Cu to stiffen.

"How could you be so vicious?" Bai Lian hissed in disbelief, glaring at Li Cu with disgust.

"Young Master, don't make baseless accusations in front of an outsider," Aning snapped, shooting Bai Lian an unfriendly glance as she defended Li Cu.

"Return everything Bai Lian gave me right now, or I'll make sure everyone learns what you've been doing behind the scenes to get rid of me," Li Ye threatened, completely ignoring Aning's words.

Li Cu sneered. "Li Ye, besides Bai Lian, who would believe someone like you? Threats like that are useless against me."

"Oh?" Li Ye scoffed calmly. "Do you really think I'd dare confront you without evidence? Do you take me for that much of a fool?"

Hearing that, Li Cu narrowed his eyes suspiciously. For the first time, he felt uneasy at Li Ye's calm and confident demeanor.

"Li Ye, you're insane! Do you want to disgrace the family?"

Li Ye smiled coldly. "The family?" he sneered.

"Do as I say, or you'll regret it. You know very well that the Patriarch values the Li Family's reputation above everything else," Li Ye threatened, causing Li Cu to grit his teeth.

"Still not moving? Bai Lian, let's go see the Patriarch."

Bai Lian immediately nodded.

Li Cu's face turned pale. "Wait!"

Li Ye stopped. The corners of his lips slowly curled upward. Sometimes, the right lie is more powerful than a thousand pieces of evidence.