Desolate Devouring Art

The Emperor’s breaths were becoming increasingly irregular as half the time estimated by the imperial physician had elapsed. Another physician, bristling with hostility, warned Liu Wuxie, “This is the royal palace, boy. A single misstep in your words could cost you your life!”

An elderly man, frail and thin but with a piercing gaze, scoffed at Liu Wuxie’s presence. This man, Guo Buqiu, was a renowned physician who had served two generations of emperors in the Great Yan Dynasty. “Ridiculous! Who allowed him in? Out with him! We, seasoned physicians, are unable to cure the Emperor, and this youngster dares to claim he can? Preposterous!”

Chen Yusheng, however, defended Liu Wuxie. “Physician Guo, please, let’s remain calm. I have faith in his medical abilities. Just because we can’t treat the Emperor doesn’t mean he can’t.”

Despite Chen Yusheng’s plea, more physicians joined in, denying Liu Wuxie the opportunity to treat the Emperor. “How can we allow just anyone to examine the Emperor? Remove him from the palace at once!” they demanded.

The physicians’ obstruction was only worsening the Emperor’s condition by delaying treatment. Although there was no precedent for an outsider treating the Emperor, exceptions could be made in dire circumstances.

“Young man, can you treat the emperor?” An old man in his fifties came over to Liu Wuxie with a hint of sorrow in his eyes. His attitude towards Liu Wuxie differed from that of other physicians, and the sorrow came from the bottom of his heart, which wasn’t an act.

“I can,” Liu Wuxie responded, meeting the old man’s gaze with unwavering determination. “I can wake the Emperor in fifteen minutes, have him walking in two hours, and fully restore his health in three days.” His declaration was met with stunned silence, the gathered physicians staring at him as if he were a creature from another world.

Fan Zhen wanted to stop Liu Wuxie multiple times, but it was already too late because Liu Wuxie had given his word. Had the Emperor’s condition not been so dire, his audacious claim would likely have been met with laughter and dismissive calls of madness.

The Emperor’s health had been deteriorating for years, each day worse than the last. Yet here was Liu Wuxie, promising a full recovery in a mere three days. The claim was so extraordinary that even Chen Ruoyan found it hard to believe.

“Are you serious?” The old man asked, grabbing Liu Wuxie’s hands eagerly.

“Senior Yan, don’t be swayed by his absurd claims. He’s a madman! He should be immediately incarcerated!” Guo Buqiu, wary of the old man who had spoken, was known as the best physician in the Great Yan Dynasty. However, it was common knowledge that the old man, who had dedicated his life to medicine without seeking fame or fortune, was the true master of medical skills.

“The Emperor’s condition is critical. Why not give him a chance? Even if there’s a slim chance of success, it’s a glimmer of hope we can’t afford to dismiss. Don’t you all agree?” The old man turned to Guo Buqiu, his gaze questioning. Was Guo Buqiu afraid that the Emperor might recover?

The old man didn’t make himself clear, but his intentions were clear. The Emperor was in a critical condition, so why not let Liu Wuxie try it? Why was everyone trying to stop Liu Wuxie? Only one explanation made sense: these people didn’t want the Emperor to wake up and even hoped for the Emperor’s death.

“If he fails, it would be tantamount to deceiving the monarch, a crime punishable by death. I hope he considers his actions carefully,” Guo Buqiu retorted, his expression growing colder. If Liu Wuxie failed to cure the Emperor, it would be seen as deceiving the monarch, and no one could save him then.

The old man turned to look at Liu Wuxie because he didn’t dare to decide for Liu Wuxie since it involved the latter’s life.

“I will take my own life if the Emperor can’t regain his consciousness in fifteen minutes!” Liu Wuxie said in a firm tone. He looked at Guo Buqiu and asked, “If I managed to treat him, what would Physician Guo do then?”

Guo Buqiu had been trying to interfere with him, and his intentions were obvious.

“If the Emperor can regain consciousness in fifteen minutes, I will give myself ten slaps!” Guo Buqiu’s gaze was terrifyingly grim with murderous intent when he looked at Liu Wuxie.

“I trust you will honor your words!” Liu Wuxie declared, striding towards the bed.

Prince Yongxian’s eyes flashed with a murderous intent, an invisible force materializing into a giant palm aimed at Liu Wuxie. He couldn’t afford any interference with his plans for the Great Yan Dynasty, especially now when it was within his grasp. If the Emperor were to regain consciousness, all his efforts would be in vain.

“Prince Yongxian, please restrain yourself!” Fan Zhen waved his hand, and another invisible hand blocked Prince Yongxian. The invisible shockwave shattered all the veils in the bedroom, reducing them into ashes.

A powerful force surged behind Liu Wuxie, causing him to sway slightly. He had sensed Prince Yongxian’s move but chose not to react, confident that Fan Zhen would intervene. Approaching the bed, he activated his Ghost Eye technique, allowing him to see through the Emperor’s body and receive feedback.

Everyone held their breaths. Some were nervous, and some sneered because the Emperor looked like he would take his last breath at any moment. They were confident that not even an immortal could save him.

Liu Wuxie took out ten silver needles and laid them before him. When his hand touched the needles, they buzzed. His hands were swift as he inserted the first needle into the Emperor’s philtrum above the lips before anyone could react.

Chen Yusheng’s fists clenched tightly, cold sweat trickling down his forehead. The fate of countless lives was in Liu Wuxie’s hands. If the Emperor were to die, the Great Yan Dynasty would plunge into chaos, and countless families would be torn apart.

More needles found their way into the Emperor’s temples, forehead, and solar plexus. Each of these acupoints was lethal, and even the slightest error could result in the Emperor’s immediate death.

Senior Yan maintained his position on the other side of the bed, the only one brave enough to watch Liu Wuxie’s mystical performance up close. Even after ten needles had been inserted, the Emperor showed no signs of response.

Liu Wuxie, his face growing pale, stepped back from the bed, patting his hands together.

It has been long since I last used the Heaven-Defying Ten Needles, and I’m getting rusty. But it shouldn’t be an issue to treat the Emperor. Liu Wuxie thought to himself.

“Is it over?” Guo Buqiu approached, skepticism etched on his face. He had only seen Liu Wuxie insert a few needles and found it laughable to think that such a simple act could cure the Emperor.

“What do you think?” Liu Wuxie’s lips curled into a cold smile. The Heaven-Defying Ten Needles was an unrivaled technique in the Celestial Realm.

“Someone, light the incense!” Prince Yongxian ordered as the old eunuch took out an incense and lit it.

Time quietly passed, and everyone’s faces began to change aside from Liu Wuxie. Fan Zhen showed a hint of worry on his face. He wanted to speak several times, but he ultimately restrained himself.

“Brat, let me see how long you can keep up with your act! The incense is almost burnt out, and there’s still no sign of the Emperor waking up.” Guo Buqiu sneered because only one-third incense was left, and it would soon burn out.

Liu Wuxie raised his head with a sharp gaze piercing into Guo Buqiu’s eyes.

The terrifying gaze from Liu Wuxie forced Guo Buqiu to take several steps back, shocking everyone else.

After all, Guo Buqiu had mocked him repeatedly and even tried to kill him. It was evident that Guo Buqiu had long become Prince Yongxian’s man.

“You’re a crook yourself, and what qualifications do you have to doubt others?” Liu Wuxie said, and his words made Guo Buqiu furious.

After all, Guo Buqiu was the best physician in the Great Yan Dynasty. Being called a crook was no different from slapping his face.

Guo Buqiu seethed with anger, itching to confront Liu Wuxie right then and there.

“Outraged, are you?” Liu Wuxie retorted, unfazed by Guo Buqiu’s fury. “You can’t even cure a minor ailment, yet you dare to deny being a fraud?” He didn’t bother to mince words with Guo Buqiu, especially when his life was already under threat.

Several imperial physicians rallied around Guo Buqiu, echoing his sentiments. “Physician Guo, don’t stoop to his level. There are only thirty breaths left. Let’s see how he justifies himself when the Emperor doesn’t wake up.”

Guo Buqiu regained his composure, dismissing Liu Wuxie as a lost cause. “Indeed, there’s no need for me to stoop to his level. We’ll see how he explains himself later!”

Chen Yusheng wanted to interject several times, but Liu Wuxie’s stern gaze silenced him. This wasn’t the time for discussion. If Liu Wuxie had the audacity to make such a claim, he must have had the confidence to back it up.

“There are only ten breaths left!” The youngest imperial physician counted the time, but the Emperor still showed no signs of waking up. This made Chen Yusheng nervous, not knowing whether to sit or stand.

As the last five breaths approached, a cold smirk spread across Prince Yongxian’s face. “Guards!” Guo Buqiu summoned two palace guards. “Take him to the prison and await his sentence!”

With only two breaths left, the incense was on the verge of burning out. As the last wisp of smoke faded, Chen Yusheng let out a sigh. Perhaps he had placed too much hope in Liu Wuxie, especially when even Senior Yan couldn’t treat the Emperor’s condition.

“Brat, what do you have to say for yourself? The incense has already burned out!” Guo Buqiu said with an eerie expression.

Just as Guo Buqiu was about to order Liu Wuxie’s arrest, a commanding voice echoed from the bed, “Who gave you the audacity to order an arrest in my presence?” The Emperor had awakened when the incense was halfway burnt, but he had chosen to remain silent, listening to the unfolding drama.

Hearing the Emperor’s voice, all the imperial physicians fell to their knees, trembling in fear. Only Liu Wuxie, Fan Zhen, Chen Yusheng, and Prince Yongxian remained standing.

“Assist me,” the Emperor commanded. Chen Ruoyan rushed to help her father sit up, placing a cushion behind him for support. Despite his pallor, the Emperor’s gaze was sharp as it swept over everyone present. When his eyes met Prince Yongxian’s, they held each other’s gaze for three breaths.

“Are you all surprised that I woke up?” The Emperor’s gaze fell onto the twelve imperial physicians this time, and none dared to breathe loudly under his gaze. As the emperor was accustomed to his position, he had an air of superiority around him.

“God bless the Great Yan Dynasty! It’s the dynasty’s fortune that the Emperor has awakened!” Guo Buqiu exclaimed.

Ignoring Guo Buqiu, the Emperor turned to Prince Yongxian. “My dear brother, are you disappointed by my recovery?”

“I’m naturally overjoyed that my royal brother has recovered. Why would I be disappointed?” Prince Yongxian quickly masked his emotions, showing no signs of resentment.

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