Jue Mingzi, having seen the truth, stood utterly stunned where he was, while beside him everyone else’s attention remained fixed on the physician’s hands.

The physician’s hands were as elegant as a musician’s, gently tracing every scar on Baili Xiaosheng’s face, examining her carefully.

Only this examination took far longer than an ordinary physician’s would.

The room fell silent. Xiong Xiaobao stared unblinkingly at Baili Xiaosheng, but after so long a stretch, he couldn’t help but glance back at Jue Mingzi.

He’d seen his father secretly hand the letter to Jue Mingzi!

Turning back, he was startled to see Jue Mingzi’s face looking as though he’d suffered some great shock. Xiong Xiaobao’s heart skipped, and it took a moment for him to compose himself.

He hesitated, his gaze darting back and forth between Baili Xiaosheng and Jue Mingzi. Finally, unable to hold back any longer, he silently turned to go.

But just as he was about to move, a large hand landed on his shoulder. Xiong Xiaobao looked up to find his mother’s eyes even more anxious than his own!

Xiong Xiaobao showed her deep sympathy, then pointed toward Jue Mingzi, meaning, “I’ll go take a look first and tell you afterward, all right?”

Ziqing understood, nodding at once, and glanced instinctively at Jun Beiyue—she truly could not understand how he could remain so composed at a time like this!

That secret was the very thing they had dreamed of night and day, searched for years for, nearly given their lives to obtain!

At this moment, Jun Beiyue’s expression remained utterly blank, calmly watching the physician examine Baili Xiaosheng.

The moment Ziqing let go of his shoulder, Xiong Xiaobao slipped quietly out of the crowd and made his way over to Jue Mingzi.

It had to be said, Jue Mingzi had seen a great deal in his time, weathered no small amount of storms, yet at this moment he was truly dazed, his mind a total blank, his whole body rigid.

Could it be that the secret was something entirely beyond his expectations?

Carrying his own questions, along with his mother’s unease, Xiong Xiaobao gently tugged at Jue Mingzi’s sleeve. “Grandfather… Grandfather, let me see.”

Jue Mingzi finally came back to himself, wiping his face roughly a few times to clear his head.

He looked over at Ziqing again, his bloodshot eyes filled with a complicated tangle of emotions—seeing this only left the already anxious Ziqing feeling even less certain of anything!

What on earth had happened?

If there weren’t so many people present—the Prince of Nanzhao, the Jiao Clan Chief, the physician—she would have already rushed over and snatched it away!

As it was, all she could do was wait for Xiong Xiaobao to look and then come tell her.

The mix of emotions in this moment—tension, worry, unease, and yet also joy and anticipation—all tangled together, truly unbearable!

“Grandfather!” Xiong Xiaobao truly wanted to just grab it!

Jue Mingzi finally came to his senses and hurriedly shoved the letter into Xiong Xiaobao’s hands. Xiong Xiaobao, burning with impatience, very nearly dropped it in his haste!

He tore it open eagerly, only to find that—far from feeling better—the moment he looked, he too froze on the spot!

After a good long while, he finally lifted his head to look at Ziqing, his young face wearing an expression that could only be described as wanting to cry but unable to.

What on earth was going on!

Ziqing was truly ready to explode, and was just about to walk over when, right beside her, the Jiao Clan Chief spoke up softly. “Princess Yao, no need to worry. The diagnostic methods of the physicians at the Jade Water Nectar Heavenly Lake differ from those of ordinary doctors, so it naturally takes a bit longer.”

At this, Jun Beiyue turned to look at her, a meaningful glance passing between them.

Clearly, Ziqing’s unease and restlessness had been noticed by everyone around them, only they had entirely misread the reason.

“Mm,” Ziqing responded flatly, forced to rein in her thoughts.

“Princess Yao, no need to rush, no need to rush,” the Prince of Nanzhao added with a smile.

Sweeping her gaze over the old man and the child standing there in a daze, Ziqing felt she could die of frustration—how could she not be anxious?

She had to admit, compared to Jun Beiyue, she truly could not hold her composure at all.

After a while longer, the physician finally finished his examination and asked with some suspicion, “Prince Yao, could this child’s injury have been caused by the force of water?”

At this, Ziqing’s attention finally snapped fully back—she hadn’t expected the physicians here to have such capability!

“Yes,” Jun Beiyue said with a nod.

“Seawater, perhaps?” the physician asked again.

“That’s right. She was practicing martial arts by the sea and accidentally injured herself,” Jun Beiyue said flatly, offering a convenient excuse.

“I see!” the physician said with feeling. “This injury may not be curable. I’ll need to consult with several of my fellow disciples before I can give Prince Yao a proper answer.”

The Jade Water Nectar Heavenly Lake belonged jointly to the Medicine Clan and the Beast Clan—so those who guarded the lake included beasts belonging to the Beast Clan beneath the water, and physicians of the Medicine Clan along its shores!

These physicians formed their own faction, and held no small amount of influence within the Medicine Clan.

“In that case, it will have to wait until after the gathering,” the Prince of Nanzhao said quickly.

The physician said nothing further—such matters would need to be discussed between the Prince of Nanzhao and the Medicine Clan Chief.

“No matter. The gathering is the priority,” Jun Beiyue said with a smile, showing no sign of concern.

Beside him, Ziqing felt that this was truly the first time in her life she had been so unable to keep her composure. Watching them exchange pleasantries, she wished she could interrupt with a single word and send everyone on their way.

But she knew—in a setting like this, especially in Nanzhao, she could not do that!

After the round of pleasantries finally ended, they were at last able to leave.

Jun Beiyue personally fitted the mask back onto Baili Xiaosheng’s face, then scooped her up off the bed. Being just a child, Baili Xiaosheng’s mind was entirely occupied with her own face, leaving no room to think of anything else.

Such a skilled physician, and even he’d said it might not be curable—did she still have any hope for her face?

“Prince Yao, this way please.”

The Jiao Clan Chief personally escorted them to the guest palace, Jun Beiyue leading Baili Xiaosheng ahead by the hand. Ziqing let out a breath of relief, scooped up Xiong Xiaobao, and was about to follow when she noticed Jue Mingzi still standing there in a daze—so she stomped hard on his foot!

Whatever secret this old man and this child had seen, was it really enough to leave them stunned like this?

The letter was still clutched in Xiong Xiaobao’s hand, nearly crumpled into a ball.

Ziqing could finally get her hands on the letter, but the moment her fingers touched it, for some inexplicable reason, a wave of indescribable fear suddenly welled up in her heart.

Was she nervous?

She didn’t even know. Just moments ago she’d been burning with impatience, yet now, with the secret right there in her hand, she found she couldn’t move.

Fourteen coded characters—just those fourteen limited characters. What could a single sentence possibly say?

And what connection did it have to the completed score of the Lishang?

Was this secret good news, or bad?

Ziqing, who had originally been so restless, now found herself, without warning, calming down. She walked the whole way, eyes fixed on the letter in her hand, never once opening it.

Not until they reached the guest palace and the Jiao Clan Chief took his leave.

Jue Mingzi and Xiong Xiaobao were still dazed, while Ziqing had already sat down, placing the letter on the low table, her gaze never leaving it, her expression a tangle of complicated feelings.

Jun Beiyue sat down as well, and seeing everyone’s expressions, one after another, a helpless smile tugged at his lips. “Xiaosheng, hand me that letter.”

Having put her mask back on, Baili Xiaosheng had calmed down considerably as well, now aware of just how serious the matter before them was.

She swallowed hard and carefully handed the letter over.

Jun Beiyue truly could remain unmoved even if the heavens themselves were collapsing before him. He opened the letter and looked at it silently for a moment, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes, before suddenly exclaiming, “How could this be!”

At these words, Ziqing was the first to leap up from her seat, nearly in tears. “What is it, tell me what’s happened!”