Si Miaoxue has regained her powers.

Lin Miao was nearly exhausted, but at least the biggest worry in his heart was relieved. For now, there was no need to worry about her safety, but Liansuo still had to stay there.

If Yue Shisan showed up, they could join forces to fend him off.

According to Si Miaoxue, although Yue Shisan is stronger than her, he isn’t overwhelmingly so. Last time, he succeeded because he launched a surprise attack.

Now that she’s prepared, she won’t be easily taken advantage of again.

...

"The recovery is good, but you must continue with the medication; his body is too weak and needs to be strengthened," Lin Miao instructed after re-examining the little boy with the "blood ailment."

"Thank you, Mr. Lin."

"You’re welcome. As physicians, nothing brings us more joy than seeing patients regain their health under our treatment." Lin Miao prescribed another set of medicines, "The drugs in this prescription are indeed expensive, but you can’t skimp on them. A child’s health is priceless."

"We understand." The couple, full of gratitude, left with their child. If they had sought treatment at other medical centers, the consultation fee alone for this prescription would have been unbearable for their family.

As it is now, the consultation is affordable, allowing them to save money to buy medicine for their son, preventing the risk of early death.

"This is just a simple case of eczema, nothing serious. Just apply some ready-made medication, and it’ll be fine."

"Mr. Lin, can you prescribe something for me to take just in case?"

"You have no illness, why take medicine? It’s a waste of silver!"

For those without actual illnesses, he wouldn’t prescribe medicine, especially for self-limiting diseases. Taking medicine in such cases is a waste of money, especially for the poor.

If there are good ready-made medicines available, Lin Miao would directly prescribe those instead. It’s more convenient for both him and the patients.

...

"This is a case of habitual dislocation, which is quite rare. Brother, what do you do for a living?" A patient with a dislocated arm arrived, and as soon as Lin Miao touched it, he noticed something was off. The guy’s joints were too loose. Being this young, he shouldn’t have osteoporosis or similar diseases.

It might be a problem of habitual dislocation.

"Mr. Lin, whenever I work and exert force, this arm gives out; I don’t know what’s wrong."

"Does this area usually hurt?" Lin Miao pointed to the dislocated shoulder joint and asked.

"Sometimes it hurts a lot, and I can’t lift my arm."

"Have you been injured before?"

"How did you know? When I was around ten, I was playing on the roof, slipped, and fell, injuring this arm. It hurt for several months." The patient explained.

"Didn’t you see a physician?"

"I did, the physician said it was no big deal, just a dislocation to be set and then rest at home."

Lin Miao sighed; habitual dislocation can be caused by congenital or traumatic factors. This patient was likely due to an injury.

"Let me feel it again." Lin Miao decided to examine the patient once more, since orthopedics was not his specialty; he mainly had theoretical knowledge without much practical experience.

Lin Miao asked the patient to lie down, then carefully palpated inch by inch around the dislocated shoulder, even using a bit of internal energy to probe the bones.

Eventually, he did find an unusual spot.

He wasn’t sure if this was the root cause of the patient’s habitual dislocation, but sometimes even a minor discrepancy could lead to unstable joint articulation, causing numerous problems.

"Does it hurt more on cloudy and rainy days, to the point where you can’t lift your arm?" Lin Miao asked again.

"Yes."

"I know the cause, but I might need to open up your arm to check the specific condition inside to be sure." Lin Miao said, "For now, I can only prescribe some medicine for you, keep the shoulder warm, and do daily hot compresses, lasting just one incense stick’s time."

"Open up my arm?"

"I mean make an incision here to see the actual condition of the joint. If we proceed with it, you’ll need at least three to six months to recover." Lin Miao explained.

The patient thought for a moment, his expression darkening. He didn’t have the time, as his whole family depended on him for support.

"Junior Brother, does his shoulder really need surgery?"

"I suspect that when he fell off the beam as a child, besides dislocating his shoulder, he might have fractured the joint contact area. Keeping his arm immobile afterwards led to the fracture not healing properly, resulting in the loose joint articulation. This condition can’t improve on its own; surgery is the only solution." Lin Miao explained.

"Can you do it?"

"It depends on what we find inside. I can’t guarantee success." Lin Miao said; after all, some surgeries couldn’t be performed without the right tools.

"How is Miaoxue? I want to visit her." Sun Youwei suddenly requested.

"Not now, she is still in recovery. Give it a few days; I’ll take you to see her." Lin Miao refused and explained.

If Yue Mei’Er noticed anything, all their efforts would be wasted.

"Oh." Sun Youwei pouted a little. She knew Lin Miao had secretly met Si Miaoxue last night and wanted to go as well.

But it wasn’t appropriate for her to tag along when they were meeting privately.

"Don’t be unhappy. Tomorrow, Furong Garden opens. We’ll all go to support Liuli." Lin Miao said with a cheerful smile.

"You’re not seeing patients tomorrow?"

"I’ll be taking half a day off. It’s not urgent. I’ll put up a notice."

"Alright."

...

Huaye Tower, backyard loft.

Si Miaoxue deliberately added an archway and beaded curtain in front of the couch in the living room to separate herself from the people she was meeting with, obviously not wanting anyone to see her current state.

She told others that she had a rash on her face and did not want to be seen or infect anyone else.

Of course, in Mrs. Qiao’s eyes, this was an attempt to cover up the truth.

Short of breath, irregular breathing, and coughing now and then, these were clearly signs of severe injuries not yet healed...

As she was leaving, Chun’Er, holding a basket, hurried past her and was stopped. Inside the basket, on a white embroidered handkerchief, were dark purple blood clots.

Mrs. Qiao confidently concluded that Si Miaoxue’s time was running out.

So, she quietly followed Chun’Er to the kitchen and watched as Chun’Er threw the bloodstained handkerchief into the furnace, burning it thoroughly.

"Chun’Er?"

"Mrs. Qiao..." Chun’Er was so startled that she almost pricked her finger on a wooden splinter. Having never done such a thing before, her nervousness and panic were genuine.

"How is the Tower Master doing?"

"The Tower Master is fine..." Chun’Er replied evasively.

"You’re lying. I saw it myself; you were burning the Tower Master’s bloodstained handkerchief, weren’t you?" Mrs. Qiao, as if transformed, sternly and fiercely questioned Chun’Er, staring at her intensely.

"Mrs. Qiao, I didn’t..." Chun’Er lowered her head, her voice weak in defense.

"Given the Tower Master’s current condition, she probably can’t handle her affairs. Tomorrow evening, Mr. Pei, the second son of the Pei estate, is coming to our Huaye Tower. If the Tower Master does not come forward to host him, he might be displeased. What do you think should be done?" Mrs. Qiao’s eyes shifted as she came up with a suggestion.

Chun’Er remained silent.

"Chun’Er, I have a way to solve this issue, but it requires your cooperation. Are you willing?" Mrs. Qiao said to herself.

Chun’Er whispered, "Mrs. Qiao, wouldn’t it be better to suggest it directly to the Tower Master?"

"If I suggest it outright, would the Tower Master agree? She’s so strong-willed, she’d definitely force herself to manage. That’s why I didn’t mention it to her earlier, but you and I are both her close aides. Shouldn’t we do everything we can to help her through this moment?" Mrs. Qiao looked at Chun’Er, her words undeniable and forceful.

"Ho-How can I help..." Chun’Er stammered, her eyes filled with tension and fear.

"Go and sneak out the Tower Master’s mask. I will impersonate her to meet Mr. Pei, and we’ll muddle through this. Then you can return the mask, and no one will be the wiser. Even if the Tower Master finds out later, I alone will bear all the blame!" Mrs. Qiao said.

"I-I’m afraid..." Chun’Er was tremendously frightened, even though she had agreed to it, part of her performance and part genuine feeling.

"Chun’Er, how does the Tower Master usually treat you?"

"Well, very well..."

"Well, now is the time for you to repay the Tower Master. Are you unwilling to do such a small thing? I must have misjudged you!" Mrs. Qiao said harshly.

"I-I..."

"Chun’Er, the opportunity is right in front of you. Whether you do it is up to your conscience."

"Mrs. Qiao, please stop, I’ll do it, isn’t that enough?" Chun’Er said in a voice mixed with sobs.

...

"Indeed, she wants to get Qin Yanran’s ’Human Skin Mask’, wait for me to die, and then take over my Huaye Tower in disguise." Si Miaoxue chuckled coldly after hearing Chun’Er’s report.

"Should I inform the young master?" Liansuo appeared and asked.

With her cultivation restored, Si Miaoxue could naturally sense Liansuo easily, a little surprised that this girl named Liansuo was also at the Blood Fusion Realm.

The Snow Mountain Sect, as a top-tier sect, indeed had some depth.

"Yes, tell him. They should act tomorrow night." Si Miaoxue nodded. If it were just Yue Mei’Er alone, she could handle it, but if Yue Shisan joined, it might be a bit challenging when the fight broke out.

"Alright." Liansuo nodded.

"Chun’Er, this is the mask they want. Give it to them, you know what to say, don’t you?" Si Miaoxue took out a crystalline bottle and handed it to Chun’Er. Inside was a semi-transparent liquid soaking a mask.

"Chun’Er understands, just say it was stolen while you were healing." Chun’Er said.

"Yes, go ahead and give it to them tomorrow."

...

"Tomorrow night, alright, I know." Lin Miao nodded after hearing Liansuo’s report. Suddenly inspired, he took out the only telescope he had made and handed it to Liansuo, "This item can see people and things four or five miles away. Your task tomorrow is to observe Mrs. Qiao from a distance with it, when she might take the mask and go out. Don’t follow her, just observe her every move from afar..."

"Young master, how do I use this?"

"It’s simple. When you want to use it, open this cover, then pull, and aim it at your eyes..."

"Ah!" She suddenly saw her sister Lianxin swinging her legs and eating pastries in the courtyard. Startled, she almost dropped the telescope.

"Careful, this thing is one of a kind right now. The people and things you see are way far away." Lin Miao said, "This is on loan to you. Remember to return it when you’re done using it."

Liansuo blushed, picked up the telescope, and dashed away in a swoosh.

Such a hotheaded little girl, be careful you don’t end up too hasty to marry off someday!