Sun Yunnuan left the confinement cell and summoned a flying fish in her own courtyard. Just then, a steward walked over with a panicked expression, gritting his teeth. "Second Miss, the Eldest Miss she... the Eldest Miss she..."
"Speak quickly!"
Sun Yunnuan's heart felt as if it were being squeezed. "What happened to my sister?"
"The Eldest Miss... she just self-detonated her Golden Core and is already halfway to the gates of hell..."
"What?!"
Sun Yunnuan trembled all over. She never expected her sister to be so resolute, truly unwilling to marry and preferring death to marriage. For a moment, tears streamed down Sun Yunnuan's face, and she made a firm decision. She and her sister grew up together, relying on each other. If her sister was gone, what was the point of her living alone? Sun Tingxuan, that scumbag, would be after her next after he caused her sister's death.
"It's fine, you may go. I will go and see my sister shortly."
"Yes!"
After the steward left, Sun Yunnuan's expression was mournful. Her body swayed as she walked to the desk, spread out the marriage contract, and next to her sister Sun Xingchun's signature, she wrote "Sun Yunnuan." She and her sister were one, and if her sister was to marry Lin Baiyi, she would accompany her. However, she had no chance to serve him together with her sister in this life. Perhaps in the next life, fate would allow it.
She pursed her red lips, completing the contract with the parental mandate and the bride's signature, leaving only the groom's signature blank. She placed the marriage contract into the bubble spat out by the flying fish, and then released it. Immediately, the flying fish wagged its tail and disappeared into the heavens and earth in a flash of light, heading straight for the Snow Domain Celestial Pool.
"Second Miss."
Outside, the maid Xing'er looked at Sun Yunnuan's tragic state and said softly, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Sun Yunnuan said softly, "Xing'er, accompany me to see my sister one last time."
"Yes..."
The two walked all the way to the confinement cell. Outside the confinement cell, a crowd had gathered, including Sun Tingxuan and Su Zhe. Inside the cell, Sun Xingchun leaned against the wall, blood trickling from her seven orifices, with two physicians from the Valley of Medicine examining her.
"Yunnuan, you..."
Sun Tingxuan frowned, a hint of guilt stirring within him.
"Me?"
Sun Yunnuan smiled. "Second Uncle, forcing my sister to death was what you wanted, wasn't it?"
"I didn't! Yunnuan, don't slander me."
"Hmph..."
Sun Yunnuan stepped into the cell and walked to her sister's side, gently holding her sister's still warm palm. She could feel her sister's life force rapidly draining. For a moment, sorrow overwhelmed Sun Yunnuan, and she said softly, "Sister, we grew up together since we were little. How could Yunnuan let you embark on this journey alone?"
"Second Miss, you..."
Su Zhe's face turned ashen with shock.
As Sun Yunnuan turned, her brow began to crack, and within her spiritual sea, a Golden Core exploded with a thunderous roar. Her Great Dao was severed, and even her life force was rapidly draining. She spat out a mouthful of blood, her body losing all strength. She slumped down beside her sister, smiling softly, "Sister, wait for me... Yunnuan will accompany you..."
"Second Miss!!!"
Beside them, a female physician watched the tragedy unfold before her eyes, utterly powerless. Tears welled up in her eyes. She had watched the two sisters grow up, and now they were perishing before her eyes at such a tender age. Both of them were bent on death, not only self-detonating their Golden Cores but also blowing up their spiritual seas. Their life lines were all severed, and even the gods could not save them.
"..."
Sun Tingxuan watched everything before him, his forehead beaded with sweat. He had miscalculated and underestimated the unyielding spirit of the Sun Xingchun sisters, and the mettle of the direct lineage of Sun Baigui, the Medicine King of the Valley of Medicine.
"What should we do?" Sun Tingxuan was somewhat at a loss.
"Alas..."
Su Zhe sighed. "Let's first return them to their rooms. Judging by the rate at which their life forces are depleting, they will likely both perish within a few hours."
...
Snow Domain Celestial Pool, Mountain Peak Villa.
Qingqiu, dressed in a green gown, drifted down to the front of the Natural Dwelling, disregarding the rule of walking up the mountain. However, since Qingqiu herself was ignoring the rule, it must be a matter of great importance. Lin Zhao, who had been squatting in front of a gourd vine examining a small gourd, abruptly stood up and turned to face Qingqiu, frowning. "Did something happen?"
"Yes!"
Qingqiu frowned. "Lin Zhao, take a look at this. It's a flying fish message from the Valley of Medicine, sent to me to pass on to you."
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao took the item. It was a marriage contract. On the contract were the names Sun Xingchun and Sun Yunnuan. In the parents' position were the names Father Sun Baigui and Mother Lin Wanqiu. Only the groom's signature position was blank. Additionally, tucked inside was a note written by Sun Xingchun: Lin Zhao, we have no fate in this life, perhaps in the next.
In an instant, Lin Zhao understood many things. The couple Sun Baigui and Lin Wanqiu had come to the Snow Domain Celestial Pool to see him, likely tacitly acknowledging him as their son-in-law. There wasn't much they could do with their spiritual energy before their residual souls dissipated. They had established the Floating Life Wine Shop and spoken with him. Coupled with this marriage contract, it was likely the last thing they could do.
As for the intricate details and why he was recognized as their son-in-law, that remained unknown. However, Sun Xingchun had been groomed as the future head of the Valley of Medicine since childhood, and her actions should have been extremely prudent. Why would she suddenly send him a marriage contract via flying fish and utter the words "no fate in this life, perhaps in the next"? The only possible scenario was that something had happened to the Valley of Medicine. With both Sun Xingchun and Sun Yunnuan signing, both were in danger.
"Guards!"
Lin Zhao's voice was deep as he summoned them. "Huang Tingyu, Wu Zhi, Tang Guangjun, Chen Ben, Chu Yu, Mu Ci, ascend the mountain swiftly!"
Instantly, beams of light rose from various parts of the Snow Domain Celestial Pool and descended rapidly upon the Natural Dwelling. All six generals of the Upper Five Realms had arrived.
"My Lord!"
Wu Zhi said softly, "What is it?"
"The Valley of Medicine is in trouble."
Lin Zhao said sternly, "Wu Zhi, use your sword energy to lead everyone to the Valley of Medicine at the fastest speed!"
He then turned to look down the mountain. "Ling Yu, while we are away, you will be in charge of the Snow Domain Celestial Pool."
Immediately, a gentle voice floated in the wind. "Junior Uncle-Master, you may go with peace of mind. The Snow Domain Celestial Pool is under my protection."
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao nodded, cupped his fist at Qingqiu, and in the next moment, a wisp of Wu Zhi's sword light shot into the sky, enveloping the seven figures as they left the Snow Domain Celestial Pool, tracing a path through the air straight towards the Valley of Medicine.
"Oh dear..."
On the mountainside, Su Shanjun shielded his eyes and watched several figures in the Upper Five Realms in the air. He chuckled. "The Valley of Medicine is about to get lively."
"Indeed."
Old Sword Immortal Han said, "Su Shanjun, the wilderness behind your Shanjun Shrine is such a waste. Why not create a large lake? I'll divert water from Deer Lake, and then you can fish behind the Shanjun Shrine. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"Oh my!"
Su Shanjun slapped his thigh. "Old Sword Immortal Han speaks the truth. Shall we do it now?!"
"Let's!"
The two deities each mobilized their divine powers, and the wind and clouds surged.
...
Evening.
Valley of Medicine, the back mountain, where Medicine King Sun Qinghe was in seclusion.
In the mountain forest, a chilly wind was blowing. A small figure stumbled her way to the back mountain. Dressed in a maid's attire, it was Sun Yunnuan's personal maid, Xing'er. Her skirt was torn in several places by the thorns in the mountain, and there were even traces of blood. However, she did not stop. All she could think of was that both the Second Miss and the Eldest Miss had self-detonated their Golden Cores, and the only one who could save them in this world was the old master in seclusion in the back mountain.
She was determined to save the Second Miss, as the Second Miss had always been kind to her, treating her like a sister.
"Rustle..."
In the distance, a figure flitted past the treetops, dressed in a green robe. It was a subordinate of the Valley of Medicine, one of those guarding the back mountain. Of course, this was a trusted subordinate of Sun Tingxuan, whose task was to prevent anyone from entering the old master's place of seclusion. As long as the old master knew nothing, Sun Tingxuan could secure his position as the patriarch of the Valley of Medicine.
"Tch!"
A sleeve dart descended from the sky, piercing Xing'er's heart. She fell without a sound, and no more sounds were heard.
"Hmph..."
The subordinate sneered. Wasn't this her own doing? He couldn't be bothered to pay any more attention. He turned and drifted away, leaving the maid's corpse in the mountains to be devoured by jackals.
However, not long after the subordinate left, Xing'er spat out a mouthful of blood and crawled forward slowly. With great effort, she reached the edge of the seclusion barrier. About to die, she raised her hand and gently patted the barrier, saying, "Old Master... Old Master..."
...
"Hmm?"
In the valley, an old man in a deep red robe was meditating and comprehending the Great Dao. He was the Medicine King Sun Qinghe, an eleventh-realm old immortal skilled in alchemy and medicine. Unfortunately, despite years of seclusion, he had not been able to deduce a complete medicinal formula nor break through. His state of mind was always stuck at a bottleneck, preventing him from entering the twelfth realm, which was truly vexing.
Sun Qinghe frowned slightly. With a wave of his sleeve, vines imbued with medicinal properties rapidly grew, coiling the dying maid into the seclusion barrier. He furrowed his brow. The injuries were too severe, and she was beyond saving. He raised a finger and injected a spark of life force, saying, "Who are you, and what business do you have in the back mountain?"
"I am... I am Second Miss Sun Yunnuan's maid, Xing'er..."
"Ah?!"
The old master was taken aback. Sun Xingchun and Sun Yunnuan were both his darlings. He instantly became anxious.
"What happened?! Speak quickly!"
"A few days ago..."
Xing'er said intermittently, "Sun Tingxuan forced the Eldest Miss to marry. The Eldest Miss... the Eldest Miss refused, so she was... locked up. Today... the Eldest Miss self-detonated her Golden Core, to make a statement with her death... When the Second Miss heard the news, she also... self-detonated her Golden Core, intending to follow the Eldest Miss in death..."
"What?!"
The old master erupted in fury and stood up abruptly, his spiritual energy surging. At this very moment, the fiery-tempered Medicine King Sun Qinghe, in his rage, broke through his bottleneck, directly entering the Nascent Soul realm and becoming a true twelfth-realm old immortal.
"Old Master..."
Xing'er gasped for breath, tears flowing as she said, "You are the Second Miss's last... last relative. You must save her... you must save her..."
"Rest in peace."
The old master said softly, "I will seek justice for Xingchun and Yunnuan!"