Granny Ye Ci sat down in the chair, then slowly turned her head to look at the anxious Ning Fengzhi, and asked with a hoarse voice:
"So it is Sect Master Ning. I wonder what brings Sect Master Ning to visit in the middle of the night, seeking an old woman like me who has one foot in the grave?"
Seeing Granny Ye Ci, Ning Fengzhi looked as if he had seen a lifeline; he suddenly stood up and said with a sorrowful tone:
"Senior Ye, this Junior disturbs you late at night because someone extremely important in our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has suffered a severe and fatal injury, with their heart meridians completely shattered, and is on the verge of death!"
"In the present world, only Senior's Nine Heart Begonia can save his life."
"I earnestly beg Senior to show mercy and come out of seclusion to save him!"
"As long as Senior is willing to make a move, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to pay any price!"
Having heard Ning Fengzhi's plea, Granny Ye Ci did not immediately express her stance.
She narrowed her eyes slightly and remained silent for a long time.
After quite a while, Granny Ye Ci let out a long sigh, and a look of utter helplessness and bitterness appeared on her wrinkled face.
"Sect Master Ning, I can understand your feelings. But... you overestimate me too much."
Granny Ye Ci shook her head, her voice becoming increasingly weak and hoarse:
"I am not young anymore; when I was young, I saved many people, which took a massive toll. I am already a candle in the wind, and my Qi and blood have decayed to the extreme."
"Since the important figure you mentioned is beyond the help of even the healing Spirit Masters of your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it must be a fatal injury that harmed their foundation."
Speaking to this point, Granny Ye Ci suddenly began to cough violently.
"Cough, cough, cough... Cough, cough..."
She coughed heart-rendingly, as if she wanted to cough her lungs out. Ye Lingling hurriedly patted her back gently from the side, her face full of worry.
"Senior, are you alright?" Ning Fengzhi tightened inwardly and asked hurriedly.
Granny Ye Ci waved her hand, pulled out a pristine white handkerchief from her sleeve, covered her mouth, and coughed heavily twice more.
When she removed the handkerchief, on that pure white silk, there was shockingly an extra pool of startling, bright red blood!
Seeing this scene, the expressions of Ning Fengzhi and Prince Xue Xing changed simultaneously.
"Sect Master Ning, you have seen it."
Granny Ye Ci gripped the blood-stained handkerchief in her hand, panting heavily, and said weakly:
"In my current physical condition, I am simply unable to endure another high-intensity output of Soul Power."
"If I forcibly make a move to save that person whose heart meridians are completely shattered, not only might that person not be saved, but this remaining life of mine will probably be laid to rest right there on the spot."
"Although I am not afraid of death, Ye Lingling is still young, and I still want to accompany her for a few more years."
"Therefore... Sect Master Ning, I truly am sorry."
"You had better seek another method. This half-dead old woman of mine will not go making a fool of herself and delay you from saving people."
Granny Ye Ci's words were reasonable and full of emotion, coupled with that extremely realistic mouthful of fresh blood.
It vividly portrayed the image of an aged person whose lamp had run dry and who was powerless despite having the will.
Ning Fengzhi stood frozen in place, looking at Granny Ye Ci's extremely frail appearance, and his originally overflowing hope instantly turned into icy despair.
He wanted to strive a bit more, even thinking of offering top-grade Heaven And Earth Treasures from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to prolong Granny Ye Ci's life.
However, the words reached his lips, but he could no longer manage to speak them out.
Granny Ye Ci was already coughing blood, and her Spirit Origin was exhausted; this was a natural law that no Heaven And Earth Treasure could reverse.
If he were to forcefully compel Granny Ye Ci to make a move, that would be forcing Granny Ye Ci to die.
Leaving aside whether Luo Nan and Moon Pavilion would agree, even if Granny Ye Ci truly risked her old life to save him,
how much guarantee could there be for the healing effect of someone on the verge of death?
"Could it be... that Uncle Bone is truly fated to die here?"
Ning Fengzhi's face was ashen, his body swayed slightly, and he seemed to age ten years in an instant.
Seeing this, Prince Xue Xing on the side knew that today's matter was completely hopeless.
"Sigh..."
Prince Xue Xing sighed, stood up, cupped his hands toward Luo Nan and Granny Ye Ci, and smoothed things over:
"Since Senior Ye Ci is indisposed, we indeed should not force the difficult."
"Your Excellency Luo Nan, Pavilion Master Tang, I am truly sorry for disturbing you tonight."
"Sect Master Ning was also anxious to save someone, and I hope the two of you will be magnanimous."
Luo Nan smiled slightly:
"Your Highness the Prince is too polite. Birth, old age, sickness, and death are matters of human nature."
"We naturally understand Sect Master Ning's feelings. It is just a pity that Moon Pavilion is truly powerless."
"Since that is the case, we shall take our leave first. Senior Ye Ci, please rest well."
Prince Xue Xing pulled Ning Fengzhi, who was still in a daze, and led the group from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to leave the reception room with heavy steps.
As the footsteps of Ning Fengzhi, Prince Xue Xing, and the others completely disappeared at the end of the corridor, the luxurious Heaven-grade reception room on the top floor of Moon Pavilion regained a pin-drop silence.
Luo Nan sat upright in the main seat, the courtesy and coldness on his face gradually dissipating.
He turned his head, and his gaze landed on Granny Ye Ci, who was wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief.
At this moment, Granny Ye Ci seemed to have shed all disguise and defense.
Her whole person appeared even more hunchbacked and exhausted, and a deep twilight aura pervaded her turbid old eyes.
"Senior Ye,"
Luo Nan personally lifted the purple clay teapot, poured a cup of warm ginseng tea for Granny Ye Ci, passed it over, and asked with a concerned tone:
"Just now in front of Ning Fengzhi, there were some things that were inconvenient for me to ask."
"But now that there are no outsiders, can you tell me what is truly going on with your body?"
Luo Nan's brow furrowed slightly, and he continued:
"As far as I know, the Nine Heart Begonia, as the number one healing Spirit of the world, grants its possessor a vitality far exceeding Spirit Masters of the same rank."
"Counting it up, your age is barely early sixties, even a few years younger than that Old Poison Dugu Bo."
"Yet your current state is like an old person in their seventies or eighties, tottering on the brink of death."
"This is definitely not as simple as purely overdrawing your vitality. Did something major happen to your Spirit Origin?"
Hearing Luo Nan's piercing inquiry, the hand with which Granny Ye Ci held the teacup trembled slightly.
She raised her head, looked at Luo Nan, and finally let out a long sigh.
"Kid Luo Nan, your insight is indeed sharp; nothing can be hidden from you."
Granny Ye Ci gave a bitter smile, put down the teacup, and seemed to fall into extremely painful memories:
"You guessed correctly; my Spirit Origin has indeed suffered an irreversible and severe injury."
"But these are all old ailments, and it is also something I brought upon myself back then."
"Back in those years, when I was young and vigorous, relying on the Heaven-Defying healing ability of the Nine Heart Begonia, I always thought I could save the world and deliver all living beings."
"Whenever I encountered someone heavily injured and on the verge of death, regardless of whether they were righteous or evil, I would step in to save them."
"However, when you play the good person too much, what you get in return is not necessarily a good reward."
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