Chapter 135: Rising Fame
The betrayal of Yuan Shahu caused nearly all brothers of the Yun Family Army to lose their lives, a matter that, even after so many years, Yun Canglang has never forgiven himself for.
Had he not trusted her too much, such a tragic outcome would not have ensued.
Thus, over the years, Yun Canglang has lived in self-reproach and has been in great pain.
He detests that Yuan Shahu, yet he cannot forget the bond they once shared in those years past.
Because of this, even years after returning to Yujing, Yun Canglang has always been unwilling to discuss marriage matters.
These matters, Yun Canglang has never spoken of before outsiders, not even to Zhan Li, who only vaguely knew that he had a lover in Border City; as for her being from Emperor Hong City, both Zhan Li and Yun Bahe had an inkling.
Under the influence of the Emperor's Song, Yun Canglang, leading only a thousand of the Yun Family Army, fought to the very last moment without any stored grain in the city.
Yet when Yun Bahe was about to reach them with his troops, a legion of Demon Beasts no less than Sixth Rank appeared outside Southern Border City.
Yun Canglang was severely wounded by a Ninth-level Demon Beast.
"The person who injured me back then was the eldest son of the City Lord of Emperor Hong City, Xuan Wuji. I didn't expect that he would turn out to be a Summoner."
As a hidden city, Emperor Hong City's existence on the continent dates even further back than the Five Great Countries, and it has always been brimming with talent.
The City Lord's eldest son, barely in his twenties, used his powerful Summoned Beasts to kill hundreds of Yun Family soldiers in one fell swoop.
In a fit of rage, Yun Canglang entered the Beast Blood Frenzy state, but despite that, he still got his one hand slashed and the other crippled under the onslaught of Emperor Hong City's masters.
For some reason, however, the City Lord's eldest son always hesitated to deliver the killing blow to Yun Canglang.
Just as the Yun Family Army suffered great casualties and Yun Canglang was on the brink of death, Great Zhou Martial Saint Yun Bahe arrived.
The awe-inspiring might of the Martial Saint shook the heavens and earth. Seeing his second son, Yun Canglang, in such a state, Yun Bahe flew into a towering rage.
With his sole power, he slaughtered three hundred experts of Emperor Hong City, and even the eldest son of Emperor Hong City Lord ended up severely injured. His Demon Beast was torn in half by Yun Bahe.
Had the Post Qin Martial Saint Tian Quezi not appeared in time to save Xuan Wuji, the City Lord's eldest son probably would have already perished at the hands of Yun Bahe.
Only then did Yun Sheng learn that his grandfather, Yun Bahe, was such a formidable man.
With Tian Quezi intervening, a cease-fire agreement was finally signed with Great Zhou, and he also assured that Emperor Hong City would no longer attempt to harm Yun Canglang.
"What a Emperor Hong City, to implicate so many commoners and innocent soldiers just for their own selfish desires. What rubbish hidden city," Yun Sheng said indignantly after learning of this.
Matters of men and women should be consensual. The son of the City Lord of Emperor Hong City acted so unreasonably he nearly sent his uncle to his death.
"But Uncle, I always feel that there's more to the story. Haven't you tried to find her?" Listening to Yun Canglang's story, Yun Sheng also believed that Yuan Shahu must have been a passionate person.
Otherwise, why would she have played the lute outside the city for three days and nights?
"All this no longer matters. The Yun Canglang who adored her is now dead," what Yun Canglang could not let go was that when Tian Quezi took the injured heir of Emperor Hong City away, Yuan Shahu arrived gracefully. She merely ordered people to place the City Lord's son on the carriage, without ever glancing at herself once from start to finish.
After that, Yun Canglang became despondent, withdrawing into the General Mansion. Eight years swiftly passed, and had it not been for Yun Sheng's arrival and the healing of Yun Canglang's hand, this old incident would have forever been buried deep in Yun Canglang's heart.
The uncle and nephew were just talking.
"Second Brother, Second Brother," Zhan Li had already been waiting outside the Medicine Hall for a while, and he couldn't help feeling excited upon hearing Yun Canglang's laughter.
The moment he entered the Medicine Hall, he saw Yun Canglang.
Zhan Li stepped forward, focusing on Yun Canglang's hand.
The right hand... The hand that his younger brother Yun Ba had lost for many years was now truly, unmistakably before him.
The bones, sinews, and even the fighting spirit within him had all been restored to their original state.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Yun Canglang moved forward and gave Zhan Li a bear hug, "Brother Zhan, my hand is back."
This was the most sincere greeting between the two brothers after many years.
Zhan Li couldn't help but have moist eyes; this soldier had been waiting for this moment for a full eight years.
"Let's not talk about that for now, what's going on outside?" As soon as Yun Canglang's fighting spirit had recovered, his cultivation had reached that of a Marquis from years past, and he had long noticed the crowd outside.
"It's the folks from Medicine Emperor Pavilion. The Purple Pill Light caused by Divine Doctor Yun concocting a Holy-grade Elixir attracted them. Hmph, that bunch of doctors, when they couldn't heal your hand, claimed no one under heaven could, which is really laughable," Zhan Li, reassured by Yun Canglang's recovery, was in high spirits, brushing off the buzzing doctors outside the martial arts hall as insignificant as flies.
He looked again at Yun Canglang who, after taking the Purple Ginseng Golden Pill, had not only regenerated his severed arm but seemed to have also shed ten years of age, appearing now as a young man in his early twenties.
This made Zhan Li green with envy, and without any regard for his status as the Vice Hall Director, he cheekily enquired with a drooling smile, "Divine Doctor Yun, ah, the effects of that Purple Ginseng are really remarkable. Do you have any spares? Could you also give me one?"
"I'm sorry, Vice Hall Director, I only obtained six Purple Ginseng Golden Pills in total, and I have to save them for life-saving purposes in the future. If there's a chance later, I will certainly gift you one," Yun Sheng chuckled, realizing that not just women, but also men are greatly interested in maintaining their youthfulness.
Unfortunately, her supply of Six-leaf Purple Ginseng was limited, and she had used all the Nine-leaf Purple Ginseng for regenerating Yun Canglang's severed arm.
"Vice Hall Director, the people from Medicine Emperor Pavilion are making a fuss outside; they're adamant about meeting Divine Doctor Yun," Ye Beiming entered, and upon seeing Yun Sheng, he narrowed his fox-like eyes, giving her a look that was both teasing and mocking.
"Let me handle this," Yun Canglang glanced at his niece, seeing her pallid face, he knew that Yun Sheng had overexerted herself and needed to rest and recuperate.
"That'd be much appreciated, Uncle," Yun Sheng was indeed quite tired.
She needed to meditate for a while to assimilate the medicinal power of the Ten Thousand Gold Pill within her body.
This treatment had been immensely beneficial for her as well.
The trio stepped out of the Wuxuan Wuji Hall, and the crowd was astir upon seeing Yun Canglang, especially his right arm.
Especially those from the Medicine Emperor Pavilion were utterly dumbfounded.
Even a blind man could see that Yun Canglang's hand had indeed been healed.
"Imperial Doctor, the two Si Mings," after Yun Canglang had recovered from his injury, the imposing aura of his military years was clear for all to see.
"General Yun, your hand?" No one was more incredulous than Yao Rong.
It wasn't just Yun Canglang's hand; his overall condition seemed to have greatly improved as well.
Yao Rong, as a beloved disciple of the Great National Doctor and knowing the private friendship between his master and Yun Bahe, had tried to treat Yun Canglang several times after his disability. However, only the heart can treat the heart's ailments. In his earlier years, due to Yun Canglang's negative attitude, his condition never really improved.
But the currently spirited appearance of Yun Canglang, what was that all about?
"My hand is healed, thank you, Imperial Doctor, for your concern," Yun Canglang was very respectful to the Great National Doctor.
"It really has healed, your hand, was it... healed by a doctor from the martial arts hall?" Yao Rong couldn't wait to meet this doctor with such superb medical skills.
"Sheng'er has been up all day and night for my hand; if the Imperial Doctor and Great National Doctor truly wish to see her, please come again another day," Yun Canglang held great affection for his niece.
For the sake of his hand, Yun Sheng not only took risks alone but also expended a lot of energy, making him feel extremely guilty as her uncle.
As they spoke, the sound of iron hooves rumbled. The Wuxuan Wuji Hall was approached by a squadron of the Great Zhou Imperial Guard, causing Ye Beiming's fox-like eyes to narrow slightly.
**Thank you Zhen Zhenqieqie, Bad Squirrel, One-eyed Owl, Yu, Fei Fan for the rewards, I have come back to life, thank you, everyone**