Jiang Mian focused on what she was doing and lost track of time. After feeding all the congee in the bowl, she was covered in a thin layer of sweat.
Just as she was about to wipe the sweat with her sleeve, a handkerchief was timely handed to her, along with Mo Zhizhang's gentle voice, "Look at you. You've been so busy that you're all sweaty. Quickly wipe it off."
Jiang Mian had no idea when Mo Zhizhang had come over. She took the handkerchief and wiped the sweat off her forehead.
Mo Zhizhang asked, "There should be nothing else to do next. Shouldn't you go back and have a good rest?"
Jiang Mian paused for a moment and said somewhat shyly, "I still need to knead his limbs to keep his qi and blood flowing smoothly. Otherwise, if he lies still for a long time, the muscles in his limbs will atrophy, and they'll become useless over time."
Mo Zhizhang said with a faint smile, "Little sister has really thought this through. How about leaving the task of kneading big brother's limbs to me from now on? I'm a man, so I have more strength than you. This way, you won't have to use more strength to knead him after feeding him. You can relax a bit."
How could Xiao Jingcheng not understand his intention? He just didn't want Jiang Mian to touch his body and prevent further contact between them!
However, after some thought, Xiao Jingcheng didn't cause any more trouble to stop it. Jiang Mian had already done so much for him. He wasn't an ungrateful person, and he didn't want to make her too tired.
He just hoped that Mo Zhizhang wouldn't play any tricks and secretly do something to his body while Jiang Mian was away.
Jiang Mian thought for a while and then nodded, "In that case, I'll leave the task of kneading big brother to second brother."
Although she agreed to Mo Zhizhang, Jiang Mian didn't leave in a hurry. First, she demonstrated how to do it for Mo Zhizhang, then she gave up her position to him and instructed him on how much strength to use and how to knead.
After confirming that he had learned it all and the strength was just right, and Xiao Jingcheng didn't show any discomfort, she felt relieved.
"I'll go back and rest first," Jiang Mian said. "Second brother, you should also go to bed early. We still have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow."
"Da Huang, let's go," Jiang Mian called to the yellow dog squatting at the end of the bed. She picked up the food box and walked out.
Xiao Jingcheng controlled the yellow dog's body to jump off the bed and followed her small steps out of the door.
After watching her leave, the smile on Mo Zhizhang's face disappeared without a trace in an instant.
Looking down at Xiao Jingcheng lying quietly on the sickbed, with a rosy complexion, looking as if he was asleep, he paused for a moment before continuing to knead.
"Brother Gou Dan, you owe me this. Remember to pay me back someday."
Back in the room, Jiang Mian took off her outer robe. When she lay down on the bed, drowsiness also came over her.
Yawning, she felt a furry body arching into her arms. Jiang Mian instinctively hugged it tightly and stroked the yellow dog's head with her palm.
"Da Huang, I'm going to sleep. Be a good boy and don't wake me up. We still have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow."
The yellow dog just stuck out its tongue and licked her palm. Then, it heard her breathing become steady, and she had fallen into a deep sleep.
Xiao Jingcheng leaned in her arms. After confirming that her breathing had become completely calm and regular, he knew that she was fast asleep.
Carefully struggling out of her arms, he controlled the yellow dog's body to jump off the bed. He used his paws to pry open the door crack and then slipped out.
The villagers in Jiaowei Village were all fast asleep, so it was extremely quiet.
He walked through most of the village and came to the house where Taoist Yuan Zheng was staying.
Different from others, the light was on in Taoist Yuan Zheng's room, and the door was ajar. Obviously, he had anticipated that Xiao Jingcheng would come, so he had deliberately not turned off the light or locked the door.
Xiao Jingcheng slipped in without hesitation. Taoist Yuan Zheng, who should have been asleep, was sitting by the bed at this moment, munching on peanuts leisurely.
Seeing the yellow dog, he grinned and said, "Hey, I knew you'd come to find me."
Xiao Jingcheng leaped onto the bed and stared at Taoist Yuan Zheng haughtily.
"What brings Your Highness here at this time?" Taoist Yuan Zheng asked with a smile.
Xiao Jingcheng let out a growling threat from his throat.
Wasn't he supposed to be able to predict everything?
Didn't this stinky Taoist know why he had come to find him?
Taoist Yuan Zheng was indeed doing it on purpose. The opportunity was too rare. Every time he saw the yellow dog, he couldn't help but tease it.
"Cough cough cough." Clearing his throat, Taoist Yuan Zheng pretended to calculate with his fingers. "Okay, okay, let me calculate."
His fingers moved quickly as he calculated, and Taoist Yuan Zheng mumbled something.
"Your Highness must be asking me when you can return to your own body and when you can wake up?"
Xiao Jingcheng responded with a sound.
Today, he could clearly see Mo Zhizhang's concern for Jiang Mian and his deliberate approach. Now that his soul was attached to the yellow dog, he couldn't stop it every time. Moreover, if he did too much, it would arouse Mo Zhizhang's suspicion, which would be even more unfavorable to him.
Anyway, he didn't want others to know that his soul was attached to the yellow dog.
Taoist Yuan Zheng frowned slightly and let out a sigh.
"The secret technique used by my senior brother has indeed had an impact on Your Highness. If Your Highness wants to return to your body, you need to be nourished by the purple qi and the qi of the dragon vein. Both of these things are indispensable."
Xiao Jingcheng naturally knew this. This was also the purpose of their risky journey back to the capital.
But with the current situation, they had to take a detour. They didn't know how long it would take to reach the capital. Did he really have to lie in bed all the way and be a useless person, unable to do anything?!
As if guessing what he was thinking, Taoist Yuan Zheng said, "However, there is another way."
Xiao Jingcheng's eyes lit up. He stepped forward and pawed at Taoist Yuan Zheng with his paw, barking softly.
What was the way? Hurry up and say it!
Taoist Yuan Zheng said, "Doctor Jiang's essence and blood can nourish Your Highness's soul. If Your Highness can drink Doctor Jiang's blood once every seven days, even without returning to the capital, Your Highness can return to your body as soon as possible."
Xiao Jingcheng instinctively frowned.
Drink Jiang Mian's blood once every seven days?
This meant that Jiang Mian would have to cut open a wound and let out some blood for him every seven days...
No, absolutely not. How could he bear to hurt her to save himself!
Da Huang was also shouting anxiously in his heart: [Don't hurt mother. Mother will be in pain.]
Seeing the yellow dog shaking its head seriously, Taoist Yuan Zheng showed a bit more smile on his face. "Then, there's only one last way left."
"Since leaving Qianren Mountain and parting ways with the villagers in Dongli Town, Your Highness has actually gained a lot more purple qi. Presumably, this purple qi comes from the faith and support of the villagers in Dongli Town."
Xiao Jingcheng was stunned for a moment, quite surprised in his heart.
From the villagers in Dongli Town?
Taoist Yuan Zheng explained, "Your Highness saved so many villagers in Dongli Town. Everyone respects Your Highness very much. I once saw some villagers engrave Your Highness's name on stones, wooden plaques, or tree stumps. They would bow and pray for Your Highness's blessing no matter what they did."