A Fragile Balance

The large amount of steam from the bath was lessening, swirling in faint wisps around the room. Li Qingyue was panting, her hands gripping the edges of the bath tightly, her knuckles white from the strain. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead, mingling with the murky, medicinal water that clung to her skin. Her body felt like it was on fire, every nerve alight with a searing pain that refused to subside. Yet, despite the agony, she could feel it—the subtle shift in her meridians, the faint easing of the pressure that had been building inside her for months.

Her eyes, heavy with exhaustion, flickered toward Zhuan Ming. He stood a few paces away, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. His gaze was fixed on her, not with concern, but with a calculating intensity, as if he were measuring her every reaction, every twitch of pain, every labored breath. It was unnerving, the way he watched her—like she was an experiment rather than a person.

"How… much longer?" she managed to ask between ragged breaths, her voice hoarse.

"Until I say so," Zhuan Ming replied, his tone indifferent. "The pain means it's working."

Li Qingyue's jaw tightened, and she glared at him, though the effect was somewhat diminished by her trembling lips and the tears she was desperately trying to hold back. But she didn't argue. She couldn't. Every ounce of her energy was focused on enduring the pain.

Zhuan Ming stepped closer, his shadow falling over her as he reached into the bath, his fingers brushing against the surface of the water. The liquid hissed and bubbled where his hand touched, and Li Qingyue flinched as a fresh wave of heat surged through her.

"Relax," he said, though his tone was anything but soothing. "The next part will be worse."

Her eyes widened, but before she could protest, he placed a hand on her shoulder, his spiritual energy flooding into her once more. This time, it wasn't gentle. It was sharp and invasive, like a blade cutting through her insides. She gasped, her back arching as the pain intensified, her vision blurring at the edges.

"Focus," Zhuan Ming commanded, his voice cutting through the haze of agony. "Guide the energy. Don't let it control you."

Li Qingyue clenched her teeth, her nails digging into the sides of the bath as she fought to obey. She could feel the energy surging through her, wild and untamed, but she forced herself to concentrate, to channel it through her meridians as he had instructed. It was like trying to tame a storm, but slowly, painfully, she began to regain control.

Zhuan Ming watched her closely, his expression unreadable. With her meridians now widened, he began to channel pure spiritual energy from the spirit spring, using its cleansing properties to wash away the corrosion that had taken root in her body. The process was slow and meticulous, requiring precision and focus. Li Qingyue gritted her teeth, enduring the sharp, burning sensation as the corruption was purged from her system.

"Not bad," he said, withdrawing his hand. "But you're not done yet. Tomorrow, we'll push further."

Li Qingyue slumped against the side of the bath, her body trembling with exhaustion. She wanted to argue, to tell him she couldn't possibly endure more, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she nodded weakly, her eyes closing as she tried to steady her breathing.

Zhuan Ming turned away, already moving to prepare for the next phase of her treatment. But as he took a step, a sharp pain shot through his head. He clutched his temple, his vision swimming for a moment. I guess I overworked myself, he thought, his jaw tightening. The strain of channeling such a high intensity of spiritual energy had taken its toll.

"Get some rest," he said to Li Qingyue, his voice quieter now, lacking its usual edge. "You'll need it."

She didn't respond, already half-asleep in the bath, her body too exhausted to move. Zhuan Ming left the room, his steps slower than usual, the weight of fatigue pressing down on him. He made his way to his small, cluttered bedroom, barely bothering to remove his outer robe before collapsing onto the bed.

As he lay there, the events of the day replayed in his mind. Li Qingyue's progress was promising, but there was still much to be done. The corrosion was deep, and her body was fragile. Pushing her too hard could backfire, but moving too slowly would risk her losing control entirely. It was a delicate balance, one that required his full attention.

But for now, he needed rest. His head throbbed, a reminder of the limits of his own body. He closed his eyes, letting the darkness claim him.