Jun Jiuqi suddenly clutched her chest and coughed repeatedly, a flash of cleverness like a little fox crossing her lowered eyes.
Hearing this, Jun Qingfeng immediately grew anxious. "What's wrong? Where does it hurt? Let Daddy look..."
"The Third Young Miss's condition is likely an internal injury and cannot be delayed any further."
Xu Hai immediately chimed in from the side. Seeing this, Jun Qingfeng did not hesitate at all and nodded repeatedly. "Let's leave quickly!"
Jun Ting let out a cold snort at the sight, but said nothing more.
Soon, the group returned to Ancient Pine Hall.
The physician had been waiting for a long time. Jun Qingfeng carried Jiujiu and Chiyun into a room in the detached courtyard, where the physician personally examined them. After a moment, the physician said, "Both little masters have suffered not-inconsequential internal injuries and must recuperate properly. I will go write the prescription right away..."
"Is it serious? Will there be any sequelae?" Jun Qingfeng asked with concern.
The physician replied, "Not for now, but they will need proper care during the recovery period. After all, the Third Young Miss and the Fourth Young Master are still young, and their bodies are not yet fully developed."
"Alright, I understand. Thank you, physician."
Jun Qingfeng expressed his gratitude, and the physician then went to write the prescription.
Before long, the physician had someone brew the medicine and bring it in. Jun Jiuqi glanced at the pitch-black medicinal soup emitting a strong, bitter scent, and with just a sniff, she could probably tell what herbs had been added to it.
Actually, her injuries were not severe, but in order to deal with the people outside, she had intentionally altered her pulse. Otherwise, her good grandfather would not be so easy to handle.
"Good Jiujiu, drink your medicine quickly."
Jun Qingfeng personally fed her the medicine.
Jun Jiuqi took it. "Daddy, I'll do it myself."
With that, she resolutely drank down that bowl of medicine in one gulp.
"Daddy, I'm finished drinking."
"Such a good girl."
Jun Qingfeng stroked Jun Jiuqi's head with a complicated expression.
Jiujiu had always been sensible enough to tug at one's heartstrings, and usually didn't need anyone to coax her into drinking medicine. In truth, he actually wished Jiujiu could act like an ordinary child and throw a little spoiled temper with him.
As for Chiyun next to him, smelling that bitterly terrible medicinal scent, his face crumpled into a bitter melon. He made all sorts of excuses and didn't want to drink it. Jun Qingfeng coaxed him for a long time until, finally, Jun Jiuqi gave him a light rap on the head and forced it down his throat while pinching his nose.
"Jiujiu, you're not gentle with me at all! I'm a wounded patient, you know!"
Chiyun whimpered coquettishly, but Jun Jiuqi ignored him.
This fellow was simply faking it; don't think she didn't know.
At that moment, outside.
"What did you say? Really?"
After hearing Xu Hai's report—especially upon learning of the two children's strength—Jun Ting was extremely surprised.
Xu Hai recounted everything in meticulous detail, telling it all just as it happened, particularly regarding the talent and abilities Jun Jiuqi and Chiyun displayed when fighting the Fourth Elder.
At that moment, a servant came to report that Jun Qingya had arrived.
Having learned about the Enforcement Hall incident and the two children blocking the entrance, Jun Qingya had come specifically to visit Jun Jiuqi and Chiyun, and to apologize to his third younger brother.
***
Chapter 33: Apologizing for a Crime
"This matter is my fault. I was entertaining guests in the banquet hall earlier and didn't receive the news in time. By the time I heard the people below mention it, Father had already stepped forward and handled everything..."
Jun Qingya explained hypocritically.
Only, everyone knew these were just polite diplomatic words. As the head of the Jun Family, how could Jun Qingya possibly fail to receive the news the very first time?
If he really were that oblivious, he wouldn't need to hold the position of family head anymore.
"Third Brother, please forgive me. Tomorrow, I'll have those two little bastards come over in person to apologize to you!"
Jun Qingfeng didn't give Jun Qingya a shred of a pleasant expression at all. "No need, Eldest Brother. If they truly feel sorry, they can stay away from my daughter and son from now on; otherwise, I'll beat them every single time I see them."
Today, he had actually exercised restraint and refrained from breaking those two little bastards' dog legs!
Bullying his daughter once or twice—did they take him for dead?
Jun Qingfeng spoke with absolute mercilessness, not sparing an ounce of face. Jun Qingya's lips stiffened, but he did not flare up.
He brought up wanting to go see Jun Jiuqi and Chiyun, but Jun Qingfeng directly rejected him.
"I still need to go watch over Jiujiu and Yun'er, so I won't stay any longer. Eldest Brother, please make yourself at home."
Jun Qingfeng had no desire to keep acting here with Jun Qingya. With that said, he turned and strode away.
"It seems Third Brother is blaming me after all. Father, I brought some medicinal herbs along. I was also genuinely trying to make amends to Third Brother, but I didn't expect..."
Jun Qingya looked toward his father with a sorrowful expression.
Jun Ting leisurely took a sip of tea. "He just has that foul temper. Don't mind him."
Jun Qingya paused, then gave a light chuckle. "Indeed. Father understands Third Brother best. On the contrary, my care for Third Brother is clearly not enough."
"He is merely an idle person, while you are the head of the Jun Family with myriad duties; how could you possibly have the energy to look after every single detail? Besides, he is the third, and you are the eldest. Even if care is to be shown, it should be him coming to check on you." In the old man's eyes was the wisdom that saw through everything. "However, speaking of which... Zelin and Zechuan are also growing up. You should take time to discipline them properly; nowadays, they are becoming increasingly unpresentable."
The fist beneath Jun Qingya's sleeve tightened slightly. Outwardly, he appeared respectful. "Understood! I will keep Father's teachings in mind!"
***
"Clatter!"
Returning to the head's courtyard, Jun Qingya smashed a teacup in a fit of rage, flying into a fury.
"Master, are we just going to let this go?"
"What else can we do? The old man has already issued a warning; this matter can only end here!"
Jun Qingya's face was ashen. Steward Lin at his side clutched his injured face and said with dissatisfaction, "The Old Master is far too partial! Not only did he not hesitate to mobilize the Blood Shadow Guards for the sake of the Third Branch, but he even stepped in and meddled in the Enforcement Hall's affairs. The two young masters got hurt, yet he didn't even ask a single question—he only has the Third Branch in his eyes..."
With a "crash," Jun Qingya smashed another cup.
"Doesn't this fall on you people for being utterly useless? Since you chose to make a move, you should have struck with a single, decisive blow! You couldn't even handle two children—what use do I have for the likes of you?!"
The more Jun Qingya thought about it, the angrier he became. Steward Lin didn't even dare to draw a full breath.
Once Jun Qingya had finished venting his fury, he finally inquired about the condition of Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan.
Steward Lin reported, "The physician has seen to them. The eldest young master's injuries are rather severe, with two fractures in his arm; I'm afraid he won't be able to move freely within a month. The second young master has a broken rib, and I fear he won't be able to gather spiritual energy in the short term either..."
"Scoundrels!"
Jun Qingya was burning with rage.
Head Steward Lin continued to fan the flames. "The Old Master's intent today, telling the little masters to recuperate properly, does that mean he has already decided on the candidates for the competition? Could it be that he intends to let the Third Young Miss and the Fourth Young Master participate?"
"Father indeed has this intention."
"Master, what is to be done now?"
Thinking of his father's warning look back inside Ancient Pine Hall, Jun Qingya felt a ball of stifled fury swell in his chest.
Did his father value his Third Brother to such a degree?
Even though his Third Brother rebelled everywhere and had been away from home for fifteen years, Father still cared for him at every turn, and even extended that love to his children out of affection for him...
Clearly both sides were at fault, and those two little bastards had even injured Zelin and Zechuan, yet not only did Father refuse to even look at them, he actually brought those two little bastards to Ancient Pine Hall to recuperate.
He himself had lowered his status and gone to apologize in person, only for Third Brother to speak insolently, yet Father hadn't shown the slightest sign of blame!
As for those two arrogant little bastards, Father actually had it in mind to let them represent the Jun Family in the Martial Arts Tournament!
Injustice swelled in Jun Qingya's heart, the anger pressing upon his chest growing fiercer and fiercer!
From childhood to adulthood, no matter what he did, Father always looked down upon him. Third Brother caused trouble everywhere and acted with supreme arrogance, yet Father favored him time and time again!
Jun Qingya did not understand why this was!
Even after fifteen years, the moment Third Brother returned, he could still become the focal point of everyone's attention in the Jun Family!
He could even make Father go so far as to mobilize the Blood Shadow Guards and personally visit the Enforcement Hall to back him up!
The fists Jun Qingya clenched were so tight he almost dug his nails deep enough to draw blood, a brewing storm raging within his eyes.
***
Jun Jiuqi and Chiyun began recuperating from their injuries in Ancient Pine Hall.
Originally, Jun Qingfeng wanted to have the two children return to Carefree Pavilion to recuperate, but Steward Xu rejected the idea on the grounds that their injuries meant they should avoid being moved or jostled about.
It was clearly just a matter of moving to the courtyard next door. Jun Qingfeng felt helpless in his heart, but since he couldn't win against Steward Xu, he had no choice but to let the two children stay behind in Ancient Pine Hall.
To this end, Jun Ting had a small courtyard cleared out exclusively for Jun Jiuqi and Chiyun, which also made it convenient for Lv Xiuer to come look after them.
The pair's injuries healed at a rapid pace.
In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.
At the time of the incident, Jun Qingshan had not been at home; upon returning and learning of the matter, he had rushed over at the very first opportunity.
During this period, he didn't forget to ruthlessly curse out the First Branch and that crowd of people from the Enforcement Hall's Fourth Elder.
"Anyone with eyes can see they were working hand in glove!" Jun Qingshan's excitement was clearly far greater than his agitation. "Still, Jiujiu, little Yunyun, you guys are simply too formidable! Even the Fourth Elder wasn't your match?"
Upon hearing this, Jun Qingfeng's brows furrowed slightly. "Who told you that?"
"It's already spreading all over outside!" Jun Qingshan asked in puzzlement. "The day Jiujiu and Chiyun caused a great storm in the Enforcement Hall, the news spread rapidly through the Jun Family. Third Brother, you didn't know?"
Jun Qingfeng's face darkened slightly, his eyes revealing worry.
Standing out so prominently was not a good thing. Jiujiu and Yun'er were still young, and he did not want the two children to become targets of public criticism.
Jun Jiuqi understood her father's worry. She didn't believe that the Enforcement Hall incident could have spread through the Jun Family so quickly without someone fanning the flames. After all, the Fourth Elder had suffered a massive loss that day, along with Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan of the First Branch.
As for who was fanning the flames, Jun Jiuqi already had a faint guess in her heart.
"To be honest, though, Zelin and Zechuan are becoming increasingly unpresentable—actually laying heavy hands on you guys... Jiujiu, Yun'er, stay far away from them in the future."
Jun Jiuqi obediently nodded. If they didn't take the initiative to provoke her, she wouldn't have the time to bother with them either.
Jun Jiuqi had plenty of things to keep her busy.
After sitting for a little less than an hour, Jun Qingshan left.
Just as Jun Ting arrived, Jun Qingfeng wore a cold face, instructed Jun Jiuqi and Chiyun to rest well, and also stood up and left.
***
Chapter 34: Talking Nonsense
Looking at her father's departing back, Jun Jiuqi was speechless.
These past few days, because they were staying in Ancient Pine Hall, running into her grandfather was inevitable.
The father and son occasionally bumped into each other. At first, they could manage to stay in silence for a short while, but every time it would end unhappily.
Because after exchanging only a few sentences, the two would start arguing. Xu Hai would try to mediate a few times from the side or hope to help them improve their relationship, but to no avail.
In the end, he could only give up.
Jun Ting and Jun Qingfeng were truly father and son; their personalities were simply identical, especially that stubborn, mule-like temper.
Jun Ting couldn't stand Jun Qingfeng, and Jun Qingfeng couldn't be bothered to exchange idle chatter with Jun Ting.
Therefore, whenever Jun Ting came over after that, Jun Qingfeng would choose to avoid him.
Jun Ting came over, as usual, to ask the physician about Jun Jiuqi and Chiyun's injuries. Only after confirming they had already recovered by seventy to eighty percent did he dismiss the physician.
Jun Ting asked the two about some trivial matters of daily life.
Suddenly, the tone of his conversation shifted.
"Jiujiu, originally I wanted you to carefully consider the Three-Family Martial Arts Tournament. It's just that Zelin and Zechuan have already lost their qualifications to participate, so among the younger generation of the Jun Family, only you and Chiyun are fit to be put forward now."
Jun Ting let out a sigh.
"I have already had Zhuang Sheng submit your names. For this Three-Family Martial Arts Tournament, the two of you should go broaden your horizons. Remember, compete well and do not squander this opportunity, understand?"
Because of the trouble caused by Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan, the martial arts tournament that Jun Ting had previously said he would let them consider was now directly signed them up for.
Jun Jiuqi didn't think much of it; she had intended to participate in this competition anyway, she just hadn't gotten around to telling Jun Ting yet.
As for this competition now becoming something the Jun Family forced them to participate in...
Jun Jiuqi's eyeballs rolled around merrily.
Since they were representing the Jun Family, shouldn't they be given some benefits as well?
"Grandfather, since this is a three-family competition, does that mean the participants are the outstanding talents of their respective families?"
Jun Ting glanced at her and said, "Naturally."
"Since they are outstanding talents, they must surely be highly valued by their respective families. I heard Fourth Uncle say that the Tang Family and the Ji Family provide their participants with all sorts of miraculous elixirs to temper their physiques, going all out to prepare for this competition!"
Jun Jiuqi blinked her large, clear black-and-white eyes. As she spoke, her little face looked well-behaved and deadpan; this adorable and naive appearance made it impossible to connect her with the person who had wreaked havoc in the Enforcement Hall that day.
"What you say is not wrong."
Meeting Jun Jiuqi's expectant, wide eyes as if he hadn't caught the subtext behind her words, Jun Ting nodded.
"If the participating disciples achieve a ranking in the competition, it will directly determine the standings of the three families and also affect the subsequent division of territories. Therefore, every family exerts every ounce of strength, providing the best possible resources to the participating disciples in the hope that they can carry off the highest honors in the competition."
"Right!" Jun Jiuqi's eyes lit up, shining brilliantly like little stars. "So, Grandfather, shouldn't you also show some sincerity?"
Jun Ting looked at the little girl before him, who practically had the words "give me some benefits" written across her face.
He was caught between laughter and tears. What a crafty and eccentric little girl; she knew quite a bit and even knew how to ask him for benefits without showing the slightest fear of his stern face. She was certainly much stronger than those boys who were terrified out of their wits the moment they saw him and couldn't squeeze out a single fart for the longest time.
"What do you want? Let's hear it."
Jun Ting's expression remained unchanged.
Seeing this, Jun Jiuqi immediately sensed there was hope!
"I want to go inside the Herb Pavilion to take a look! Uncle Hai said there are many precious medicinal herbs inside, as well as numerous medical texts!"
"You're interested in medical arts?"
Jun Jiuqi nodded. "I studied with an old grandfather in the village for a period of time, so I recognize some medicinal herbs."
She reeled off the excuse she had prepared long ago.
The reason Jun Jiuqi had come to Ancient Pine Hall was precisely to enter the Jun Family's Herb Pavilion. She had heard that the medicinal herbs in the Herb Pavilion were the most comprehensive and of the widest variety in the entire Jun Family. Using the herbs inside the Herb Pavilion would be the most convenient and swift method to purge the poison from Jun Qingfeng's body.
Furthermore, she also needed to concoct some body-tempering potions to strengthen her physique.
Not only for herself and Chiyun, but her father and mother could take them too.
Her current true grade was only initial Rank Two, and she wanted to charge toward the intermediate or high stage before the competition. Should she encounter any uncontrollable situations at that time, she would still be able to handle them.
Moreover, the Jun Family was not as peaceful as it appeared on the surface, being fraught with danger. If a few more Rank Five warriors were to show up like that day, dealing with them would become difficult.
Jun Jiuqi always planned for a rainy day. Besides, she still wanted to set off as soon as possible to make a trip to the ice fields outside the Falling Star Forest to retrieve her lost golden body remains.
However, to go to the ice fields, one had to cross the Falling Star Forest, which was extremely dangerous. Without absolute certainty, she wouldn't dare to act rashly.
"You want to go to the Herb Pavilion? Very well. However, you must tell the old man, who on earth taught you all those martial arts of yours?"
Jun Ting remained calm, carrying a hint of step-by-step guidance.
An old fox—so he was waiting for her here.
In fact, Jun Jiuqi had long known that Jun Ting would ask this question.
After all, she and Chiyun were merely two children from the countryside. To be able to display heaven-defying abilities that surpassed common sense at this age would make anyone who saw it harbor doubts.
"Don't tell the old man that it was taught to you by that unfilial son. I am crystal clear on how much capability he has."
Jun Ting simply didn't believe it. The little girl before his eyes was extremely eccentric; these past few days he had constantly been looking for an opportunity to ask, but every time he had been evaded by Jun Jiuqi.
"Grandfather is really silly. Didn't I just say so a moment ago? I learned it from a grandfather in the village!"
"Didn't you say you studied herb identification with him? When did you learn cultivation techniques along with it?"
"We learned them together, of course!"
Jun Jiuqi played dumb. Anyway, she was a child; even if she played dumb and acted foolish, no one could say anything.
"Was he a villager of Sijia Village?"
"No, I previously learned it from a master in Ah Ye's village."
"Who is Ah Ye?"
Jun Ting quickly reacted. The "Ah Ye" in the little girl's mouth should be his daughter-in-law's father, which meant the unfilial son's father-in-law.
That being said, she learned it from someone in the daughter-in-law's maiden village?
Yet for some reason, Jun Ting always felt the little girl wasn't telling the truth.
"Then what is the other person's name?"
"This... I didn't ask. Everyone just calls him White-Bearded Grandpa."
Jun Ting, "......"
Why did he feel this little girl was just talking nonsense?
Jun Jiuqi wasn't spouting nonsense off the top of her head. She had once inadvertently heard Lv Xiuer mention that there was an elderly man living alone in the village who had come from another place to escape hardship. There was once when Lv Xiuer was accidentally bitten by a poisonous snake, and it was that solitary old resident who showed up and saved her.
Lv Xiuer had only mentioned it in passing, but Jun Jiuqi had kept it in mind, and now it just happened to come in handy.
Anyway, truth was mixed with falsehood; even if Jun Ting sent people to investigate, they wouldn't find out anything for a while.
***
Chapter 35: The Herb Pavilion
Jun Ting ultimately returned empty-handed, but he did agree to let Jun Jiuqi go to the Herb Pavilion.
He also had the physician take good care of Jun Jiuqi and Chiyun's health, using the finest potions and elixirs.
Thus, in less than two days, the "injuries" on Jun Jiuqi and Chiyun were practically all healed.
***
The next day.
Jun Jiuqi went eagerly to the Herb Pavilion.
The Jun Family's Herb Pavilion was actually a planted medicinal garden, spanning over a dozen mu, all cultivated with various kinds of medicinal herbs.
Right at the very back of the medicinal garden stood a five-story pavilion.
With green tiles and dark bricks, it possessed quite an antique charm.
Upon entering the Herb Pavilion, Jun Jiuqi discovered that all around her were racks over ten meters high. Every rack held different medicinal herbs, all of which had been meticulously dissected and processed, with the names of the herbs pasted on the outside of each grid.
Inside the pavilion, a dozen apothecary apprentices were busy at work.
Seeing Jun Jiuqi enter, the apprentices stepped forward to bow.
As it turned out, Uncle Hai had already given special instructions that she would be coming.
Jun Jiuqi requested the inventory of medicinal herbs in this Herb Pavilion and went to sit at a table off to the side.
As she flipped through the herbal records, she discovered that the variety of medicinal herbs here far exceeded her imagination; most of the herbs she needed to concoct the body-tempering potions were right here.
She was only missing two or three flavors.
Jun Jiuqi inquired the apprentice, who looked somewhat lost upon hearing this.
"This servant has never heard of the ones the Third Young Miss requires. Why doesn't the Young Miss go ask the medical officers in the pavilion?"
They were merely apprentices, and the variety of medicinal herbs they knew was limited.
Jun Jiuqi had no choice but to summon a medical officer to ask.
"Those few flavors probably only exist in the Old Master's private treasury. If the Third Young Miss needs them, she can go ask the Old Master."
This medical officer happened to be the physician who had treated them over the past two days; his medical skills were the best in the entire Jun Family, and Jun Ting's health was mostly looked after by him.
"What kind of potion is the Third Young Miss planning to concoct? This old fellow might just have it here."
"I'm just playing around with random things."