C18 Sister!

"Imperial Physician, how is my brother? Why does he breathe easily yet remains unconscious?"

"We must find a solution!"

"Zhi Xia, summon the manager of Fortune House to see me!"

...

Chu Hen felt a sudden weightlessness, and his heart skipped a beat. He could hear a woman's commanding voice near his ear. Was it her?

"Her voice is cool, her actions decisive. Am I about to experience my sister's concern?" Chu Hen tensed involuntarily, keeping his eyes shut, reluctant to awaken.

"Miss, your brother's pulse shows occasional fluctuations, but overall, it's stable. There are no irregularities, and he has only minor skin injuries, nothing affecting the muscles or bones. It seems he's merely fainted from shock. I'll compose a prescription..."

"Xiyun, bring the ink and paper!" came a crisp, authoritative female voice.

Chu Hen's heart raced. Medicine always carries risks, and he wasn't even ill. If he were, he could seek healing at the King of the Gods Hall. After a moment's contemplation, he slowly opened his lifeless eyes.

The familiar carvings on the eaves, the lingering jade, the rich fragrance—all were as they had been before.

Covered by a red silk quilt, smooth and soft to the touch, he was indeed in the same room he had occupied upon his time travel.

"Water..." he murmured faintly, sticking to the script.

"Miss, the Young Master..." The maid at the foot of the bed began, but before she could finish, a graceful figure swiftly approached the bedside.

"Brother, are you awake?" The voice was filled with surprised tenderness, careful not to be too loud for the one resting.

The woman before him was clad in white, with a feathered shawl over her shoulders and a pale pink skirt underneath. Her waist was slender, her figure delicate. Her large, lustrous eyes shone like obsidian, her lips like cherries, and her hair was elegantly arranged. She was the epitome of grace, almost ethereal, and bore a striking resemblance to Chu Hen.

Regrettably, her demeanor was aloof, her expression authoritative. Were it not for the warmth and affection in her gaze, Chu Hen might have been overwhelmed by the goddess's commanding presence.

In the next instant, her gaze, soft as water, met Chu Hen's, transforming into a flicker of compassion.

"Oh... hu..." Chu Hen weakly lifted his hand, his throat moving ever so slightly. In that moment, a thousand words were less meaningful than a simple, gentle gesture; everything was understood without speaking.

"Little brother, stay still!"

Chu Jing chided, taking the cup from the maid's hand and setting it on the bedside table. She then extended her delicate fingers to gently guide Chu Hen's hand back under the quilt. With a tender touch, she adjusted the quilt snugly around him before she allowed herself to relax.

"How could you be so careless? You nearly gave me a heart attack! If I hadn't arrived just in time..." Upon seeing her brother awaken, Chu Jing's stern expression softened, and a hint of warmth crept over her usually icy features.

"Brother, you were too negligent! You let that thief take advantage..." Chu Hen, in a panic, tried to move but was met with aches all over his body. Recalling the scuffle with Chen Sheng, he silently realized, "So the King of the Gods Hall truly involves spiritual transference!"

Upon further introspection, he couldn't help but smile wryly. His own cultivation level was still at the fourth tier of the mortal realm. Thankfully, he had mastered the key to the fifth level's enlightenment, and breaking through was now entirely within his control.

"Hmph! That thief, I've already dealt with him for you..." Glancing at the physician, she quickly shifted her words, "Xiyun, go to the accounting office and withdraw a hundred taels of silver for Doctor Wang's travel expenses. And while you're at it, fill this prescription."

The physician, having served in the court of the previous dynasty, was no stranger to such formalities and understood this as a polite dismissal. He expressed his gratitude and departed with the maid.

Once they were alone, Chu Jing's brow furrowed slightly, and her expression grew cold. She swiftly pulled a yellow paper talisman from her sleeve, traced it through the air, and with a "puff," a small pale yellow flame ignited at the base of the paper. The flame quickly traveled up, engulfing the talisman in fire.

"Quickly!"

Chu Jing chanted under her breath, tracing a spell with her hand. With a "snap," the flame went out, leaving a trail of blue smoke that dissipated into the air, leaving no trace of anything amiss as she slowly withdrew her arm.

"Hmm..." Chu Jing nodded, her eyes shimmering like tranquil autumn waters.

"Exorcism?" Chu Hen inwardly gasped. It appeared that his sister had more up her sleeve than he realized.

The Central Plains were teeming with cultivators. Those who absorbed the essence of the sun and the moon could transform into demons. Once they attached themselves to a mortal, possession ensued. The sect's cultivation techniques contained powerful divine abilities to exorcise these malevolent spirits.

Had it not been for the days he'd spent acclimating to the profligate body and the purifying "Baptism of Holy Light" at the King of the Gods, his spirit and body would have already merged, and he would have been exposed under this technique.

Naturally, his sister must have had an alternative explanation.

As expected, once Chu Jing withdrew her spell, the frosty expression on her face thawed into a warm, charming smile, and the room instantly brightened as if touched by spring.

"Little brother, don't be frightened! The thief earlier was possessed by an evil spirit, whose essence blood carried an unusual scent that could captivate one's soul. I feared the spirit hadn't been vanquished and was lurking here, so I prepared this technique to discern and banish the ghost," she explained.

Chu Hen, hearing this, broke out in a cold sweat.

Unable to sleep, he knew that unusual occurrences often hinted at supernatural interference. Surely his sister, a wise cultivator and seeker of immortality, would be aware of this.

Had he not offered his essence blood at the King of the Gods, he might now be mistaken for another Chen Sheng, a fate that would have surely scattered his soul to the winds.

But with Chu Jing's personal intervention and accurate assessment, all his worries evaporated. Even if Chu Hen's personality had undergone a drastic change, it would now be seen as a prodigal son's redemptive transformation.

"What's troubling you, little brother?" Chu Jing, clearly pleased with her findings, turned her attention to Chu Hen, who was sweating profusely. She transformed into the epitome of a caring sister, delicately wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.

"I'm... just... a bit warm," Chu Hen stammered, attempting to deflect. He then extended his right hand with a sigh, "I'm not as skilled as you think. Without this bracelet's aid, I doubt I could have held on until you arrived."

"Hehe, you little rascal, decided to buckle down at last?"

As she gently tapped Chu Hen's head with her delicate hand, Chu Jing's face bloomed with a teasing smile that words could hardly capture, her charm overflowing in her expression.

Chu Hen had encountered many beauties, but never one whose demeanor shifted so starkly between warmth and chill. He couldn't help but sigh; if not for her formidable manner in managing both the Chu household and his welfare, she would undoubtedly be the quintessential heartbreaker.

"A Red Jade Bracelet is nothing. Once you're better, I'll pass on to you an even more formidable talisman. Then, should you face a formidable foe again, you'll have a means to save your life..."

Having become a flirtatious woman, Chu Jing was full of things to say. Meanwhile, Chu Hen's mind raced with thoughts. The sect's magic was truly miraculous. If he could master it as well, he could leverage its strengths and catch opponents off guard in a fight.

"...I've heard about the diarrhea incident. The manager of the Hongyun Tower truly deserves the worst..." Chu Hen was jolted back to reality by the sudden chill in Chu Jing's tone. She had meticulously uncovered the person responsible for his ailment. Her no-nonsense approach to family management was evident, and now he was witnessing it firsthand.

"Let it go, a stern warning should suffice!" Chu Hen wasn't so ruthless as to demand a life for a mere upset stomach, especially when the true cause of the diarrhea was unclear. It could very well have been the meddling of that gluttonous butler.

"Huh? Brother, have you learned to balance grace with severity? Well, that's good to hear!" Chu Jing gave Chu Hen a surprised glance, her brows furrowing as a deadly seriousness emanated from her. "As for Chen Sheng's family, I've already eradicated them for you, and that includes Liu Yu'er's execution."

"No, stop!" Chu Hen interjected quickly.

Liu Yu'er had been brought back by her former fiancé before Chu Hen's transmigration. She bore no ill will towards him, having no past grievances or recent quarrels. She had been betrothed to Chen Sheng, and with his family gone, there was no need to involve her. She was, after all, the most innocent party in this affair.

Moreover, I had already laid hands on her, which was awkward enough without knowing how to properly settle the matter. And now, my sister was actually...

Observing his sister's icy demeanor, Chu Hen mused, "She truly is domineering and formidable. Moments ago, she was tender towards me, but now she's as dismissive as a brisk autumn breeze to others. It's quite chilling."

"It's understandable, though. The Chu family's enterprise is vast, and her predecessor was nothing short of a scoundrel. Without someone strong to guard it, the Chu family's foundation could crumble at any moment."

Having realized this, Chu Hen couldn't help but puzzle over how to prevent such an outcome.

"Am I supposed to take responsibility for her? Absurd! Absurd!" He thought for a moment before lifting his head and murmuring, "She still has her father at home. Perhaps sending her back would be best. Her father would surely be indebted to the Chu family. In return, he would undoubtedly serve my estate with unwavering loyalty until his dying breath."

"Well, well, well! Little fellow, have you developed a fondness for that young lady?" Chu Jing's face brightened from stormy to sunny in an instant.

"So you even know how to win hearts. Fine, we'll do it your way," Chu Jing said, her smile blooming like a flower, though a flicker of jealousy betrayed her true feelings.

Embarrassment, confusion!

Suddenly, Chu Hen was beset by a whirlwind of uncertainties. Had he changed too quickly, sparking suspicion once again?