Seeing Qin Ya nod, Huaa Que said coldly, "So what if you know? Get lost."
Qin Ya frowned. 'This guy has such a fiery temper. So what if you're an Extraordinary Martial Artist? Back in the day, I had countless followers just like you. And you dare act so arrogant in front of me? It really sucks being this weak.'
He couldn't help but lament his own weakness. Qin Ya said impassively, "You can kick me out now, but you'll be throwing away the chance to save that young lady."
Huaa Que paused, his expression shifting. Over the years, he had traveled with Leng Ningshuang across most of the Azure Sky Realm, visiting various Alchemists and Divine Doctors, but the conclusion was always the same: they were powerless, and he should seek help elsewhere.
To be honest, he had begun to despair. The Profound Yin Bloodline was an ancient lineage with very few mentions in historical records. The last known appearance was ten thousand years ago with the super-expert Gu Hanyan, but how her bloodline was awakened remained a mystery.
'I don't believe this boy can cure her,' he thought. Still, he clung to a faint glimmer of hope and asked, "Kid, this is the Profound Yin Extinct Vein. You say you can cure it? What proof do you have?"
"First, tell me, how many of these cold tides has she experienced?" Qin Ya asked.
The so-called "cold tide" here was not a natural phenomenon. It was a harmful side effect that occurred before the Profound Yin Bloodline awakened, where the bloodline would condense into frost and frigid energy would surge like a tide.
The possessor of a Profound Yin Bloodline experiences multiple cold tides before it awakens. Without proper guidance, they will inevitably fail to survive.
"This is the seventh time." Huaa Que was suspicious. 'This kid even knows about the cold tides.'
"And every time a cold tide occurred, did you just suppress the cold energy?" Qin Ya asked, his gaze sharp as he stared at Huaa Que.
"Yes," Huaa Que said.
Hearing this, Qin Ya sneered. "Old man, and you call yourself an Alchemist? You don't even understand that it's better to guide than to block. If anything happens to that young lady, you will be the one most to blame."
Huaa Que flew into a rage. "Bullshit, kid! If I didn't suppress the immense power of the cold tide's eruption, how could Shuang'er's body possibly withstand it?"
"That's because you're incompetent," Qin Ya scoffed coldly.
"You..." Huaa Que trembled with rage. 'When have I ever been humiliated like this to my face, let alone by a mere Child?'
After his anger, Huaa Que slumped in defeat. He said dejectedly, "You're right, you're right. I am incompetent. I've failed Shuang'er's parents."
"As long as you know." Qin Ya pursed his lips, showing no trace of sympathy.
At that moment, a cry of alarm came from the Medicine Shop's back courtyard. Xiaohai ran out in a panic. "Master Huaa, the young miss, she... she..."
Upon hearing this, Huaa Que couldn't be bothered with self-pity. Before Xiaohai could finish, he charged directly into the back courtyard. Meanwhile, Qin Ya darted forward in a single bound, ignoring Xiaohai's attempts to stop him, and rushed in as well.
Upon entering the back courtyard, Qin Ya saw a room from which white, cold air was billowing. Even the door panels were coated in a layer of Frost. He pursed his lips. 'I don't even need to look to know the girl and Huaa Que are in there.'
Circulating his True Essence to resist the cold with all his might, Qin Ya stepped into the room. He saw Huaa Que with his hands pressed against the young lady's back, continuously pouring his own True Essence into her, attempting once again to suppress the astonishingly cold energy.
Seeing this, Qin Ya gave a heartless smile. "Old man, weren't you asking for proof? I can give you your proof now. The cold tides are erupting one after another. It looks like this poor girl is about to die."
Huaa Que pulled back his hands. By now, his hair and eyebrows were covered in a layer of Frost. He spoke, utterly crestfallen, "How is this possible? I had clearly suppressed the cold energy. Why is it erupting again so soon?"
"It's happening precisely because you've suppressed it too many times," Qin Ya said coolly. "The cold tides need to be guided, but you've been using your formidable True Essence to forcefully repress them. That might have worked the first few times, but as time went on, the cold energy built up, growing stronger and more concentrated. At this rate, forget about awakening her Profound Yin Bloodline—you'll get her killed sooner or later. Just like what's happening today."
"Then what do I do? How can I save her?" Huaa Que was in a panic now. He latched onto his last shred of hope, turning to Qin Ya for help—the very same boy he had just considered arrogant and ignorant.
"Go prepare Fire Cloud Fruit, Celestial Flame Grass, a Nine Elements Stone..." Qin Ya glanced at the young lady on the bed and rattled off a long list of medicinal ingredients.
"Alright..." Huaa Que agreed and hurried off to prepare them.
After Huaa Que left, Qin Ya gazed at the young lady and sighed. 'I never thought I'd see someone with the same bloodline as you, even after ten thousand years. Hanyan... would you call this fate?'
In his past life, Qin Ya had a close friend named Gu Hanyan who also possessed the Profound Yin Bloodline. The method for guiding the cold energy was something he and Hanyan had figured out together.
Now, ten thousand years had passed. His old friends had either perished completely or had broken through the limits of Martial Arts and left this world. Everything had changed.
Soon, Huaa Que returned with all the medicinal ingredients. Qin Ya had him place the ingredients in a bathtub and heat it with True Essence. Then, Qin Ya said, "Take off all her clothes and put her in the tub. Remember, don't use your True Essence to suppress the cold energy anymore."
After saying this, Qin Ya tactfully left the room. Seeing this, a flicker of admiration flashed in Huaa Que's eyes. 'He's actually an honorable gentleman.'
A while later, Qin Ya re-entered the room. The young lady was now soaking in the bathtub, her snow-white hair draped over her shoulders.
Although the young lady was still unconscious and unaware of her situation, a lovely blush still graced her cheeks, making her look incredibly captivating. Anyone with a weaker will who saw this sight would certainly have their blood pumping.
Even Qin Ya felt his composure waver for a moment. He quickly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze was perfectly clear.
Huaa Que, watching from the side, thought to himself, 'What incredible willpower.'
"What's next?" Huaa Que asked.
"I will teach you a mantra. Follow it and use your True Essence to guide the cold energy out of her body. But don't guide out too much at once. Start with about a tenth of it," Qin Ya said slowly, then shot a sideways glance at Huaa Que. "Thanks to *someone's* reckless actions, the cold energy in her body has reached a critical point. Guiding out even a tenth at once is already pushing the limit."
Huaa Que's old face flushed red. He then asked worriedly, "A tenth? Can Shuang'er's body handle that? Is this method of guiding the cold energy even going to work?"
"Hmph. Then why do you think I had you prepare this medicinal bath?"
Qin Ya snorted coldly. For a Pill Venerable, having his medical abilities doubted was a grave insult. If it weren't for the fact that this young lady, like Hanyan, possessed the Profound Yin Bloodline and thus shared a fateful connection with him, he would have stormed out long ago.
He imparted the mantra to Huaa Que. It was called Qi Transformation, and it could be used to guide most of the unusual energies between heaven and earth. It was perfectly suited for guiding the cold energy produced by the Profound Yin Bloodline.
After hearing it, Huaa Que gave Qin Ya a deep look. 'Such a profound mantra is truly rare.' But he didn't press for details.
He immediately began to guide the cold energy in the young lady's body according to the method Qin Ya had taught him. Instantly, a layer of Frost formed over the medicinal liquid in the bathtub...
Time slowly passed. An hour later, the young lady slowly opened her eyes.
"Ah...!"
A shriek cut through the silent night sky!