Little Red watched with wide eyes as Wang Tianci put the pill into Ming Zhitian's mouth. The pill dissolved instantly.
Ming Zhitian couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa, what is this?"
Wang Tianci replied, "This is the Ancestral Returning Pill from my Wang family of physicians. It can summon the soul, mend bones, and bring the dead back to life."
---
A month later...
Ming Zhitian could jump and run, but unfortunately, all his cultivation was gone. However, he was not disheartened; he could slowly cultivate it back.
As Wang Tianci had said, his body was weakening day by day. Now confined to his bed, he could only move for a few hours before becoming too tired to continue and returning to rest.
Wang Tianci wanted to drink, so Ming Zhitian, along with Little Red, went down the mountain to buy some in town.
Upon their return, by instinct, Ming Zhitian sensed someone in the house. He pressed himself against the wall and peeked inside.
He saw two martial arts eunuchs in court attire holding Wang Tianci captive. One was punching and kicking him, while the other gripped him by the neck.
One eunuch questioned, "Speak, one last chance. Where did that girl go?"
Wang Tianci shook his head, "I don't know."
The other eunuch shook his head helplessly, "Imperial Physician Wang, you refuse the wine offered and prefer the punishment? You know the Empress Dowager's methods. She must cut the grass by the roots to prevent future trouble. We are merely following orders. Since that's the case, keeping you is useless."
"Crack!"
Wang Tianci's neck snapped. Ming Zhitian dared not make a sound. Just then, Little Red peeked out and her eyes widened!
As she was about to scream, Ming Zhitian quickly covered her mouth and shook his head.
Little Red couldn't make a sound. Tears welled up in her red eyes. The only person she had left was dying before her, yet she couldn't intervene.
The pain was unbearable. Little Red bit down on Ming Zhitian's palm. Ming Zhitian gritted his teeth, not blaming Little Red at all.
Because he understood that nothing could compare to the heart-wrenching pain of losing a loved one right before your eyes, the helplessness, the despair, the hatred...
After the two eunuchs left, Little Red broke free from Ming Zhitian's hands and, in a panic, rushed forward, kneeling beside Wang Tianci.
She shook him violently, "Grandpa! Grandpa! Wake up, don't leave Little Red... Woo woo woo..."
After crying for a while, Ming Zhitian, fearing she would cry herself to death, quickly went to comfort her.
At that moment, Wang Tianci still had a breath left. He spoke faintly, "T-take... care... of... Little... Red... uh."
"Grandpa!!!"
Wang Tianci finally passed away. Ming Zhitian gently stroked Little Red's back while holding the hand of his savior, Wang Tianci, and vowed, "I will. Don't worry, I will avenge you."
The two eunuchs suddenly returned. Ming Zhitian collected his thoughts and immediately hid with Little Red.
He concealed his presence and covered Little Red's mouth, waiting silently.
Soon, the two eunuchs floated in noiselessly from the main door, one on each side.
They moved like Black and White Impermanence, displaying superior lightness skills.
One eunuch surveyed the surroundings, "Strange, I distinctly heard a little girl crying."
The other eunuch retorted, "Old ghost, are you hallucinating?"
The old ghost's anger flared, "To hell with your hallucination. Whether it's true or not, we'll find out with a test."
Saying this, the old ghost and Zhong Chang Ping closed their eyes, then channeled their internal energy, and simultaneously swept their sleeves!
An invisible wave of inner energy spread outwards from the center!
"Bang bang bang! Rumble! ... Crackling ice!"
Everything in their path shattered! Even the city walls were rent with deep fissures!