Hua Ling turned to He Shi and said, ‘Don’t worry, now that we know the cause of the illness, your husband’s illness can be cured. After we’re done here, I’ll remove the plague from your husband’s body. As long as he is transferred to a sunny, quiet place that is suitable for living, away from the monsters, his illness should be cured.’
Tears began to well up in He’s eyes: ‘Fine, I believe you. As long as he is safe and sound, I will do whatever you ask.’
Hua Ling sighed: ‘If only you had known better. You should go back first. This place is cold and dark, with evil spirits gathering, and it is inevitable that it will attract some strange creatures from the mountains and fields. It is always better to have you protecting him.’
After hearing this, He even bowed to Hua Ling: ‘Doctor Hua has repaid evil with good, and He will always remember it.’
Hua Ling tried to help her up, but she grabbed his wrist instead. ‘Doctor Hua, there is one thing I have not yet confessed. I previously placed the Heart-Eating Worm on you for fear of sudden changes. I’ll help you… Huh?’
Hua Ling withdrew his hand. ‘Before, I relied on the demonic energy on it to guide me. Now that I’ve found it, there’s no need to keep it.’
He was stunned, as if he had not yet come back to his senses. No one else may know the power of the Heart-Eating Worm, but she knew it all too well. She had fed it on blood her entire life, and there had only been one in her clan for centuries. Once it had been implanted in a host, even if she wanted to retrieve it, she would suffer a severe backlash and be tortured night after night by the pain in her wrists. And if the host tried to forcibly remove it, unless they had the protection of a fairy’s refined magical power, they would lose all five senses within three days, their organs would rot, and they would eventually turn into a pool of blood.
He Shi came back to her senses and looked at Hua Ling, hesitatingly saying, ‘You…’ He Shi surmised in secret whether it was because of the sword spirit beside her or…
Hua Ling gave a smile and said, ‘What’s wrong?’
He Shi realised that she had a yin and cold constitution and had never been afraid of the cold, but she had shuddered at the moment she and Hua Ling had locked eyes. She immediately lowered her head, not daring to think any more.