The air was thick with the scent of medicinal herbs as Xuan Zhi stepped into the courtyard of Xie Manor. The morning sun barely peeked over the horizon, but he had no time to waste. Today, he would complete the first round of treatment for the remaining members of the Xie family.

  Xuan Zhi made his way to Xie Ning’s chambers first. The dimly lit room carried the faint fragrance of dried flowers, yet it could not mask the underlying scent of sickness. Xie Ning y on her bed, her half-burned face exposed to the flickering candlelight. Even in unconsciousness, her expression was one of quiet suffering.

  Xuan Zhi took her pulse, his brows furrowing deeper with each passing second. “Thirty treatments should be enough,” he muttered under his breath. He prepared the herbal medicines, heating them carefully before administering the first dose. Once she had swallowed the bitter concoction, he proceeded with acupuncture, inserting the fine silver needles into her meridians with precise, practiced ease. Moxibustion followed, the gentle warmth coaxing her body to accept the treatment.

  By the time he finished, sweat trickled down his temples. But there was no time to rest. He moved swiftly to Xie Zhao’s room.

  Unlike his sister, Xie Zhao’s room was neat and orderly, everything in perfect alignment. Xuan Zhi took one look at the unconscious man and sighed. Even in his weakened state, Xie Zhao possessed a striking appearance, his features sharp and chiseled like a fine painting. However, his frailty was evident—the poison had sapped much of his vitality.

  The treatment process was painstaking. Xie Zhao required careful handling, as his body was too weak to withstand intense therapy. Xuan Zhi had to slow his acupuncture pace, prolonging the session by an hour. By the time he finished, exhaustion cwed at him, but he had no choice but to push forward.

  Next was Xie Lixue, the 20-year-old younger brother of Xie Liyun.

  Xuan Zhi entered his chambers to find the young man sprawled on the bed, his breathing uneven. Unlike the others, Xie Lixue’s condition was worsening rapidly—the poison had already begun affecting his organs. His pulse was weak, erratic.

  Xuan Zhi wasted no time, immediately preparing the necessary herbal soup and beginning the acupuncture. The silver needles glowed under the soft light, each insertion carefully positioned to stimute his internal energy flow.

  “This poison…” Xuan Zhi murmured. “It’s embedded itself deeper into his system. He will need at least thirty-five treatments to purge it completely.”

  Yan Rui, who stood nearby, swallowed hard. “Will he… survive?”

  “If I hadn’t started treating him now, he would have been in danger within months,” Xuan Zhi admitted, his voice grave. “But with consistent treatment, he’ll live.”

  Yan Rui exhaled in relief, and Xuan Zhi continued his work, forcing himself to stay focused despite his mounting exhaustion.

  Finally, as the sun dipped past noon, Xuan Zhi arrived at the twins’ rooms.

  He started with Xie Xiaoran. The resembnce between him and Xie Liyun was uncanny, though Xiaoran’s features were softer, more youthful. Despite his handsome face, his body was in a pitiful state. The poison had slowly drained his strength, making his limbs thin and weak.

  “Only thirty treatments for him,” Xuan Zhi murmured, repeating the process once again.

  Then, at st, he reached Xie Xiaoyue’s chambers.

  Unlike her brother, Xie Xiaoyue’s condition was far more severe. Her breathing was shallow, her complexion frighteningly pale.

  Xuan Zhi pced his fingers on her wrist and instantly felt the imbance in her energy. His frown deepened.

  Without hesitation, he began the first treatment. The acupuncture took longer than anticipated, and the moxibustion had to be applied with extra care. He worked tirelessly, forcing his aching hands to remain steady.

  By the time he was done, his entire body was trembling from exhaustion.

  As Xuan Zhi stepped out of Xie Xiaoyue’s room, the world spun before his eyes. His limbs felt like lead, and his vision blurred. His fingers fumbled with his robes, unable to maintain his bance.

  Just as he was about to colpse, strong arms caught him with ease.

  Xuan Zhi found himself staring up into Xie Liyun’s deep, piercing eyes. The warmth of the general’s grip contrasted with the cold sweat on his own skin. For a moment, neither spoke. Time seemed to stretch, their breaths mingling in the silence. Xuan Zhi could feel the strength in Xie Liyun’s hands, the steady rise and fall of his chest.

  Then—

  “Young Master Xuan is too weak and falls easily,” Yan Rui’s voice shattered the moment.

  Xuan Zhi gritted his teeth, yanking himself upright. He shot Yan Rui a gre, his exhaustion temporarily repced with irritation. “Shut up.”

  Xie Liyun, on the other hand, remained quiet. He merely looked at his hands, as if contempting something, before shaking his head.

  As Xuan Zhi bid his farewells and left, Xie Liyun turned and entered the twins’ room. He gazed at their sleeping forms, his face unreadable. Seeing them lying peacefully, their pained expressions finally eased, he let out a slow breath.

  “They will survive,” he murmured, conviction settling in his heart.

  -

  The night was silent, save for the occasional rustling of the trees in the cold breeze. The Xing Manor, usually shrouded in a peaceful stillness, found itself disturbed by a sudden knock at its heavy wooden doors.

  Fan Yi, alert as ever, swiftly moved to answer. The moment he pulled open the door, his eyes widened in recognition. Before him stood two bloodied figures, their bodies barely holding themselves up as exhaustion and pain threatened to overtake them.

  Without a word, he stepped aside and led them in, keeping his face impassive.

  Within minutes, Xuan Zhi, Xuan Yan, and Xuan Mei gathered in the hall, their eyes locking onto the two injured men standing weakly in the dim candlelight. Xuan Heng, the 5th prince, carried deep wounds along his arms and legs, while Xuan Qing, the 6th prince, had his eyes wrapped in white cloth, his body exuding a frail yet almost ethereal presence. His long bck hair cascaded over his shoulders, contrasting sharply against his pale, almost ghostly complexion.

  Xuan Zhi’s frown deepened as he stepped closer, his sharp gaze resting on the white cloth covering Xuan Qing’s eyes. “Your eyes…” he murmured.

  Xuan Heng, despite his exhaustion, managed to stretch a hand towards Xuan Mei and ruffled her hair. “Little sister, you’ve grown thinner.” His voice was hoarse, but it still carried the warmth of an older brother.

  At those words, Xuan Mei, the youngest of them all, trembled. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at her brothers, their injuries, their tired figures, their desperate situation. She clenched her fists before finally breaking down. “Big brothers… you’re alive…”

  Xuan Zhi did not waste time. He immediately retrieved his medical herbs, his hands moving swiftly as he prepared to tend to their wounds. He first worked on Xuan Heng, carefully bandaging his deep gashes, his fingers moving with practiced ease despite the exhaustion in his own body.

  Meanwhile, Xuan Yan sat rigidly, her fingers gripping the armrest of the chair as her red eyes burned with anger. “Those bastards… they’re still our brothers! How could they do this?” she spat out bitterly.

  Xuan Qing, ever calm, chuckled faintly despite the pain he was in. His voice was soft, but it carried an underlying sharpness. “In the royal family, blood retions are the most meaningless thing. If you hold onto them, you’ll only be dragged into the abyss.”

  Xuan Zhi sighed, wrapping a final bandage around Xuan Heng’s arm before moving to Xuan Qing. He removed the cloth covering his eyes with delicate fingers, his breath hitching as he examined the damage. “Your corneas… are injured. But the wounds are still fresh. There’s a chance you may recover some of your sight.”

  Xuan Heng gently stroked Xuan Mei’s back, trying to calm her sobs. He lifted his head and looked at Xuan Zhi with a faint smile. “Second brother… We thought you were dead. It’s a relief that you’re here.”

  Xuan Zhi blinked at the unexpected sentiment. For a moment, he simply stared at his younger brother before finally letting out a small chuckle. “I’m gd you’re alive too, 5th brother. And you as well, 6th brother.”

  The tension in the air lightened, if only by a fraction.

  Then, with his usual directness, Xuan Zhi stated, “From now on, you will live here with us. There’s no safer pce for you.”

  Xuan Heng’s lips curled into a wry smile. “It seems our fates are bound together once again.” His red eyes glowed softly in the candlelight, the faintest trace of warmth hidden beneath them.

  As the night grew darker, the five siblings sat together, aware that their survival depended on each other more than ever before.