My Five Bigshot Seniors: I am The Most Coddled Junior!

Gu Qingqing and the others went through a lot of effort to obtain the blood from Zhu Qi, and immediately rushed back to the Lingxi Sacred Land to hand the Dragon Blood to Wen Guiyun.

"Very good, now that the main herbs — Dragon Blood, Mermaid Tears, and Ten Thousand Year Snow Lotus — are gathered, I’ve prepared the rest of the herbs myself. I will now start the alchemy with Mu Chen," Wen Guiyun checked the Dragon Blood and carefully put it away, then said to Gu Qingqing and the others.

"Master, how long will you need to complete the alchemy?" Gu Qingqing asked with concern.

"At least three or four days, at most a dozen. I can’t say for sure, as the elixir we’re forging has never appeared in the Sub-immortal Realm before," Wen Guiyun pondered for a moment and said.

What he didn’t mention was that he wasn’t sure if he could succeed in crafting it. Based on the elixir’s level, a successful elixir should already belong to the category of Immortal-grade, and throughout the history of the Sub-immortal Realm, no one has ever crafted an Immortal-grade elixir!

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingqing and the others were somewhat worried about Yue Zhao’s condition. Yue Zhao’s poison has been suppressed lately entirely thanks to Wen Guiyun, but as Wen Guiyun and Mu Chen will need a long time for the alchemy, if the poison in Yue Zhao’s body worsens, they won’t know what to do.

"Don’t worry, I’ll prepare the elixir to suppress the poison in Yue Zhao’s body. You only need to administer it to Yue Zhao on time," Wen Guiyun handed a Jade Bottle to Si Lin, advising him.

Si Lin received the Jade Bottle solemnly and carefully put it away, "Master, rest assured, I’ll keep the elixir safe and will administer it to Yue Zhao on time."

Feeling confident in Si Lin, Wen Guiyun completed the instructions, and he and Mu Chen took all the herbs into Wen Guiyun’s Alchemy Room, and after they entered, the room’s barrier was also activated.

The Alchemy Room was, besides the study, the most important place in Wen Guiyun’s mansion. Its barrier, even if attacked by Wen Guiyun himself, could hold for three days; to enter, those inside must open it themselves.

Gu Qingqing and others left the Alchemy Room before the barrier activated, standing outside with worry and hope on their faces.

Worried that Mu Chen and Wen Guiyun may not successfully craft the elixir, yet hopeful they will, as it would mean Yue Zhao could be saved.

Afterward, Si Lin and the others took turns staying at Yue Zhao’s courtyard to keep him company. Each morning, Si Lin would come to check Yue Zhao’s condition and administer the poison-suppressing elixir.

Since the poisoning, Yue Zhao had only briefly regained consciousness when Wen Guiyun used the Golden Needle to force out the poison; otherwise, he remained in a state of unconsciousness, unaware of external circumstances.

Previously, Gu Qingqing had focused on finding the herbs needed for the antidote, not knowing much about Yue Zhao’s poisoning. Now having time, she consulted Si Lin and others to understand Yue Zhao’s poisoning cause, as they’d mentioned he harbored another type of poison, which she’d never heard about before.

"This matter had been Yue Zhao’s private affair and shouldn’t be disclosed by me, but since you wish to know, no harm in telling you," Si Lin looked at Gu Qingqing and contemplated before saying, "You should also know about Yue Zhao’s family background. He’s from the musician noble family, the Yue Family, blessed with a prestigious lineage many would envy, but we, his fellow apprentices, only pity him."

"Is there something wrong with Second Senior Brother’s background?" Gu Qingqing was quite surprised, having never heard anything amiss about Yue Zhao’s family background.

"Although from the musician noble family, quite talented, in his childhood the Yue Family treated him poorly, much like your Fifth Senior Brother," Si Lin paused to organize his words, then continued, "Before he turned seven, his mother was alive, and as the only son of the Yue Family Master, he held an esteemed position. But when he was seven, his mother became pregnant again, appearing fine until childbirth complications arose, ultimately claiming both his mother’s life and his unborn sister’s."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingqing frowned, her eyes reflecting a hint of pity.

"Though the Yue Family Master was fond of Yue Zhao’s mother, he wasn’t one for lasting emotions, and a year after her passing, he remarried a new wife — the current Lady of the Yue Family — a formidable woman despite not hailing from a prominent family, whom Yue Zhao’s father favored and controversially stood against others to wed, risking friction with Yue Zhao’s maternal family," Si Lin’s face, usually emotionless, displayed a slight sneer when mentioning the current Lady of the Family.

"Is this lady treating Second Senior Brother poorly?" Gu Qingqing inquired upon seeing Si Lin’s expression.

"Outwardly, she’s kind to Yue Zhao; at that time, the Yue Family Master adored her, but Yue Zhao surpassed her favor, until she had her child; life grew hard for Yue Zhao, and during that time, he was already poisoned," Si Lin said plainly, unabashedly expressing his disdain for the Lady.

"Did she poison Second Senior Brother?" Gu Qingqing frowned, eyes flashing cold. "Doesn’t the Yue Family Master care?"

"At that time, Yue Zhao wasn’t as composed as now, projecting an apparent gentleness that belied his prickly demeanor, having just lost his mother. Unable to comprehend the subtleties, that lady feigned generosity publicly while privately breeding rumors and misunderstandings, souring Yue Zhao’s relations with his father and waning the Yue Family Master’s adoration for Yue Zhao, thus neglecting his situation," Si Lin explained, face exhibiting the same disdain when mentioning the Yue Family Master.

Gu Qingqing’s impression of the Yue Family Master wasn’t favorable, either. "So, life wasn’t good for Second Senior Brother during that time. How did he meet Master and become his disciple?"

"Master is never idle, as you’ve noticed. He enjoys wandering, and stumbled upon the Yue Family back then; already the Saint Master, intrigued by the family’s musical prowess, he visited, accidentally hearing Yue Zhao play, striking a fancy, he took Yue Zhao under his wing, and per Yue Zhao’s wish, advocated for his removal from the Yue Family," Si Lin’s expression softened at this, his lips curling slightly.

"Master is always so carefree. Though perceived as capricious by others, he’s the best master in the world!" Speaking of Wen Guiyun filled Gu Qingqing with pride, she considered being accepted by Wen Guiyun as her greatest fortune, else she wouldn’t be who she is today!

"Indeed, Master is the best," Si Lin agreed, nodding. "After Master took Yue Zhao back, he severed ties with the Yue Family, unknown outside this circle, likewise Master’s discovery of his poisoning. Master tried initially to detoxify him, but all efforts were futile, just suppressed due to his cultivation’s growth, until now it’s compounded with another poison."

"Very well, once Master crafts the antidote, it can eliminate both poisons from Second Senior Brother’s body," speaking of Wen Guiyun’s alchemy, Gu Qingqing’s tone relaxed.

"Exactly," Si Lin nodded in agreement.

Learning about Yue Zhao’s past for the first time, Gu Qingqing felt deeply for him; watching the frail-looking Yue Zhao lying on the bed, she privately resolved to treat him better.

...

Since being poisoned, Yue Zhao hadn’t experienced consciousness, sinking in the dark believing he was facing death, troubled by unfulfilled regrets.

He hadn’t seen Gu Qingqing wed and bear children, fulfilled filial duties for Wen Guiyun, ascended to the Immortal Realm to witness its grandeur, retaliated against the Yue Family, prompting his blindly entrenched father to realize his choice of venomous woman...

After an indeterminate time, awareness crept back to him, realizing he stood in a place both familiar and unfamiliar.

Familiar because it was where he grew up, unfamiliar because since becoming Wen Guiyun’s disciple, he hadn’t returned for many years!

No mistake, he’d returned to his childhood courtyard in the Yue Family.

He couldn’t fathom why he appeared here when remembering being poisoned; essentially, Si Lin and they would surely take him to the Lingxi Sacred Land seeking Master’s help, not here!

As he stood perplexed and bewildered, a familiar figure suddenly surfaced before him, arresting his impassive demeanor into shock as he stared at the person.

The belonging silhouette, its memory faded over time, he had thought obliterated yet without a doubt recognized the profile, his composure slipping!

He saw his mother, long deceased!

His mother who passed laboring with his sister in childbirth!

She appeared young, stunningly beautiful, exuding gentleness unlike his feigned demeanor, genuinely gentle!

Born to a family deeply rooted despite insignificance in renown, adored as the youngest daughter, she claimed such love softly, not grandiously, embodying elegance unmatched, a perfect noblewoman seen only through years of recall!