Jing Tian: Hsue-Jian and I will lure away the three-headed hound. Kui, you seize the chance to sneak into underworld and find the Runestone.
Red Long Kui: Just leave that to me. Brother, be careful.
To return home, the individuals from Ancient China had to find a powerful Runestone to open the passageway of time and space. Their search brought Jing Tian’s group to underworld, where the Runestone they needed was located.
However, only souls of the deceased could enter underworld, and the three-headed hound, Cerberus, was guarding its gate. Therefore, no matter how worried Jing Tian was, he could only let Long Kui enter alone, while Hsue-Jian and he himself stayed to handle the hound.
【Before Battles】
Jing Tian: Hope Kui will return safely.
Tang Hsue-Jian: Idiot, I don’t have the time to take care of you. Focus on the fight and be careful!
【Enemy Dialog】
Jing Tian: Hsue-Jian, watch out!
【After Battles】
Tang Hsue-Jian: Jing Tian! Are you okay?
【End】
Tang Hsue-Jian dragged the injured Jing Tian to the side of the road, and examined his condition. Just then, Long Kui returned from underworld with a Runestone in her hand.
Blue Long Kui: Brother! What happened to him?
Tang Hsue-Jian: What took you so long? We’ve been waiting for you!
Red Long Kui: Hey, what’s with the yelling? You think Runestones like this just lie around waiting for people to pick up?!
Red Long Kui: I was asking you, why has my brother received such serious injuries!
Tang Hsue-Jian: If only the Almighty Devil is here...he can cure Jing Tian in no time.
Tang Hsue-Jian: Darn! Why did he go so quickly?! He could have stayed and offer us his help...
Red Long Kui: Whining isn’t going to help.
Red Long Kui: Let me take you to the Heavenly Kingdom with the Skyblade Flying Technique. Maybe the Xian will be able to help.
Long Kui, with her two companions, flew to the Heavenly Kingdom. Upon landing, Tang Hsue-Jian hurriedly rushed up the mountain.
【Before Battles】
Tang Hsue-Jian: Excuse me? Anybody?
【Enemy Dialog】
Wen Zhong the Sagacious Welkinite: Who dare intrude into my study?
【After Battles】
Wen Zhong the Sagacious Welkinite: Not bad, lady...
Tang Hsue-Jian: Venerable Xian, my friend here is grievously wounded. Would you please help him?
【End】
After listening to Tang Hsue-Jian’s description and examining Jing Tian himself, Wen Zhong determined that Cerberus’ fire elemental power had invaded his body; it interfered with the circulation of his pneuma and hence, rendered him unconscious. After drawing out the remaining fire elements from Jing Tian’s body, Wen Zhong told them that Jing Tian still needed a medicinal diet to fully recover.
Wen Zhong the Sagacious Welkinite: I will look after Jing Tian. Please find these herbs, cook them in water, and pour it down his mouth.
Tang Hsue-Jian: Pour...?
Wen Zhong the Sagacious Welkinite: The medicine will be slightly bitter. You have to pour it down. Only then would he not spit it out.
Tang Hsue-Jian: If he dares spit out the medicine, I’ll personally beat him until every bit of the medicine is taken, including the bowl.
Blue Long Kui: So, Hsue-Jian, do you know what these medicines are?
Tang Hsue-Jian: I’m from the prestigious Tang School, famous for utilizing poisons after all. Dealing with mere herbs would not be a problem.
Reading off the prescription from Wen Zhong, the two searched across the mountain for the necessary herbs. However, there were myriad different herbs and some were even poisonous; Tang Hsue-Jian must concentrate wholeheartedly simply to distinguish the required herbs from others.
【Before Battles】
Tang Hsue-Jian: Hm...No. It should be this one. But it grows with that poisonous herb; you might easily mix them up.
【Enemy Dialog】
Blue Long Kui: Is...is this also medicine material?
Tang Hsue-Jian: It is. Worm bodies are frequently used to create drugs, but most of the products are poisonous. Is this prescription really gonna work?
【End】
Because the prescription included poisonous materials, Tang Hsue-Jian carefully adjusted the portion of ingredients; she also stayed by the stove, ready to alternate between low and high heat at the right times. However, she still failed twice in a row, forcing her to head out again and replace the herbs.^ Eventually, Tang Hsue-Jian managed to brew one dose of medicine under Wen Zhong’s instruction.
Jing Tian: Barf...It’s bitter...
Tang Hsue-Jian: Don’t you dare spit it! Now gulp it down or else!
Blue Long Kui: Brother, are you feeling better?
Jing Tian: You know what they say? The bitterest medicine is the best medicine.
Jing Tian: If I can swallow the entire bowl of medicine here, I’m quite sure I’m going to get better...
Blue Long Kui: Brother, are you sure you have completely recovered?
The combination of bitter medicine and Wen Zhong’s care fully restored Jing Tian’s health.
Jing Tian: I’m really fine now. You don’t need to worry.
Tang Hsue-Jian: Hmph. If it wasn’t me, and my cooking of the medicine, you wouldn’ t have recovered so soon!
Red Long Kui: Wasn’t it also YOU who led to those injuries in the first place?
【Before Battles】
Tang Hsue-Jian: What do you mean?!
【Enemy Dialog】
Red Long Kui: A woman like you doesn’t deserve to be with my brother!
【After Battles】
Jing Tian: Hsue-Jian, Kui! Stop!
【End】
Tang Hsue-Jian: Jing Tian, you dare order me around?!
Jing Tian: Of course not. It’s just this place is Brother Wen’s home after all. We’d better not fight here.
Realizing that Jing Tian’s lifesaver was watching from beside them, even Tang Hsue-Jian was too abashed to continue the fight. Red Long Kui also stepped back from Tang Hsue-Jian, while Blue Long Kui and Jing Tian hastily apologized to Wen Zhong.^ The three left Wen Zhong’s house, but Jing Tian’s expression did not relax. Tang Hsue-Jian thought that he still had not gotten over her for his injuries, so she began stuttering an apology —
Tang Hsue-Jian: Jing Tian...I...
Jing Tian: Sigh! There’s hundreds of valuable antiques in Brother Wen’s house; it’ s a pity that I can’t take a piece or two with me!
Tang Hsue-Jian: ...You idiot! Go bury yourself in those freaking antiques!