OFTLHFRO C99

Chapter 99 Winter’s Snow

After the others had left, Luo Mingchen led Huo Xinyue over to the boys.

“Yuanjing, will you let me take a look at your hand?”

Whether it would work or not, he would only know after trying.

Although Ming Yuanjing was puzzled, he still agreed. “Alright.”

Since he couldn’t move his right hand, when Luo Mingchen heard his consent, he sat down at the bedside and gently placed his hand on Yuanjing’s exposed fingers.

After a while, Ming Yuanjing felt a warm current flow in through his fingertips, spreading throughout his arm, so comfortable it made him want to sleep.

Chen Yunhao asked nervously, “Uncle Luo, how is it?”

But Luo Mingchen was focused entirely on the treatment and did not answer.

His energy could be absorbed by Ming Yuanjing, but only very slowly.

The reason wood- and light-type abilities were better for healing was probably because those types were more easily absorbed by the human body.

Still, slow absorption was better than none at all—he could just spend more time on it.

But treating this way demanded far more of Luo Mingchen’s energy and required his concentration to remain razor-sharp, to ensure the energy didn’t rupture the fragile meridians.

The others held their breath and waited. After some time, Luo Mingchen, drenched in sweat, withdrew his hand and asked Ming Yuanjing, “How does it feel?”

Ming Yuanjing blinked and said, “Very comfortable.”

Luo Mingchen paused. “It doesn’t hurt anymore, does it?”

Ming Yuanjing answered truthfully, “It doesn’t.”

It really didn’t hurt anymore—though it itched a little, and felt pleasantly tingly and warm, far more effective than medicine.

Huo Xiang quickly asked, “Can you move your hand now?”

Ming Yuanjing tried moving his right hand; his fingers twitched slightly.

Seeing there was some response, Luo Mingchen was relieved. “As long as there’s reaction, that’s good. With steady treatment, it will recover.”

Gao Jiabao reassured, “Yuanjing, Uncle Luo is amazing. Don’t worry, we’re all here for you.”

Though Ming Yuanjing also wished his right hand would recover, he feared they’d pin too much hope on it and be crushed by disappointment. He laughed lightly, “Even if my hand doesn’t get better, it’s fine. I’ve never been good at studying—failed the tongsheng exam seven times already. Did you know? This morning I could eat with my left hand. Doesn’t matter if I have a right hand or not.”

Huo Yuhui lowered his head, guilt tightening his grip on Yuanjing’s hand. “I’m sorry… it should’ve been my hand that was broken…”

Hearing this, Ming Yuanjing tightened his grip in return. “Xiao Hui, your handwriting is beautiful, your drawings as well, and you excel at your studies. Even Master says your future is limitless. I, on the other hand, am useless wood—exchanging my hand for yours is worth it.”

At that, Gao Jiabao slapped himself hard. “It’s all my fault for boasting to Liu Jinbao that Xiao Hui passed the exam…”

Liu Shangyu choked out, “It was my fault for suggesting we go to the theatre.”

Luo Mingchen glanced at them. “All of you bear some blame. Reflection is necessary. You knew they had more people and yet you refused to back down, even provoked them—that was stupid. Fairness only exists when strength is equal, do you understand?”

The boys listened meekly to the scolding.

“Right now I can still help treat Yuanjing. But if next time you get beaten to death, what then—do you want me to storm into the underworld and drag you back from the King of Hell?”

The boys: “……”

Luo Mingchen knew that instead of comfort, a good tongue-lashing would make them feel better inside.

Old Master Ming, who had been called aside by Huo Yan, stopped at the doorway when he overheard Luo Mingchen’s words, momentarily stunned.

Huo Yan explained calmly, “Mingchen’s inner force is unique—he can slowly heal Young Master Ming.”

At that, Old Master Ming nodded.

He had seen unusual talents before. Luo Mingchen’s mysterious origins made it believable that his inner strength would be unusual.

And “slowly heal” wasn’t all that slow either—five days later, Yuanjing was fully recovered.

The couple treated him once in the morning and once in the afternoon. To lift his spirits, Luo Mingchen also brought braised pig trotters, fish balls, spicy dried meat…

Though the doctor advised a bland diet, Luo Mingchen ignored it.

And since Yuanjing had no ill effects, after five days his right hand was completely restored, even leaving the doctor astonished.

To be honest, Luo Mingchen thought that was rather slow.

After all, he was a sixth-level ability user.

If a fourth-level wood-type had done it, Yuanjing would have been fully healed in a quarter of an hour.

So when others looked at him in shock, Luo Mingchen’s heart remained utterly unmoved.

The first snow of winter fell, and the academy went on winter break.

Wen Liuyun had to prepare for the provincial exam in March. Since hardly anyone came to buy milk tea, Luo Mingchen closed the shop, only taking prepared tofu to the restaurant each morning.

Yet with the cold, even the restaurant’s business slowed, and tofu orders dwindled.

Some loyal customers, finding the tofu shop closed, came knocking at their home.

Back then, when they bought the shop, they had forgotten students would go on break.

But thinking it over, this wasn’t so bad. In the bitter cold, they didn’t lack money—why freeze in the shop?

Now there was time to teach Huo Xinyue reading and writing.

Schools did admit girls, but only boys could sit for exams.

And girls had to be between seven and fifteen.

There were even special women teachers for them.

Huo Xinyue, who would only turn three on the eighth day of the twelfth month, couldn’t yet attend school. She had to be taught at home.

Beyond that, Luo Mingchen and Huo Yan harvested crops in the space.

He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but the planting area seemed… larger.

Luo Mingchen asked Huo Yan, “Doesn’t this look bigger to you?”

Was it because his ability had leveled up?

But what did water abilities have to do with this suddenly appearing space?

Huo Yan gazed into the distance, pointing. “Over there is bigger—about two extra fen of land.”

Luo Mingchen walked over and saw it was true.

He didn’t really understand why it had expanded—previous ability upgrades had caused no change here.

But brooding on it was useless. Since the change was good, he let it be. Planting fields was planting fields. He still needed to prepare seeds for the magistrate, sell to other villages come spring—there was plenty to do.

Once the timing was right, they came out of the space to prepare lunch.

Luo Mingchen went to check on Huo Yuhui, but neither brother was around, and Huo Xinyue too was missing. Using his perception, he discovered they were in the main hall, where several guests had arrived—one of them was Lin Tianlei.

The couple immediately hurried over.

Seeing them, the three children breathed in relief.

Huo Xiang beamed. “Daddy, Little Daddy!”

The two went to their children, reassured to see they were unharmed.

Upon seeing them, Lin Tianlei snorted, “What? You’re not hiding anymore?”

Before Luo Mingchen could respond, the gentle-faced woman beside Lin Tianlei spoke: “Husband, didn’t the children say they had things to attend to?”

At that, Lin Tianlei glanced at her and held his tongue.

Hearing the woman address him as “husband,” Luo Mingchen looked at Huo Yan—so, this was someone they hadn’t met last time?

Huo Yan asked, “What business brings you here?”

The woman smiled. “We’ve come to deliver wedding sweets. I just married into the family not long ago. Hearing that my two cousins lived here in Taohua Town, I brought our children to pay a visit.”

Luo Mingchen glanced at the brother and sister slouched impatiently in their chairs—their age suggested they were Yang Cuifen’s children.