Chapter 11: The Gift of the Marrow-Refining Pill

The arrival of the police and ambulance drew the attention of two other neighbors. Seeing the unconscious Wu Sumei being carried out by medical staff, they silently cheered.

"I always said that little Su's mother did too many wicked things; karma was bound to catch up with her sooner or later."

"Serves her right. I hope she never wakes up."

"The most pitiful one is Xixi. If her grandmother is gone too, what will she do?"

At that moment, Ying Shu walked out carrying Qin Wanxi.

Seeing the little girl, who had once been plump and rosy, now reduced to skin and bones, and having changed from a cheerful child to one who trembled at the sight of others, everyone felt their hearts break.

"Why is Xixi so thin? Is she sick?"

"Need you ask? That old wretch must have mistreated her."

"How could poor Xixi end up with such a grandmother?"

They stepped forward, wanting to offer comfort, but Qin Wanxi was terrified and hid in Ying Shu's arms, refusing to face anyone.

"How could that god-forsaken old hag do this to Xixi?"

The elderly gentleman from Room 502 was furious, and the others voiced their indignation on Xixi's behalf.

Ever since Wu Sumei had taken custody of Qin Wanxi, she had never sent the child to kindergarten. In all this time, they had only seen Xixi once. Back then, the girl had been listless, as if suffering from a severe illness; she wouldn't greet anyone or speak, just kept her head down as Wu Sumei dragged her along.

They had wanted to show concern, but Wu Sumei was a fierce and unreasonable woman who never gave them a chance to get close. Moreover, she would cause trouble whenever she was in a bad mood, making everyone avoid her. Although they had suspected abuse, they lacked evidence and never heard the child crying, so the matter had simply been left unresolved.

Ying Shu told the concerned neighbors, "Xixi is not in a good state right now and needs further examination at the hospital."

The elderly gentleman from Room 502 said, "If there is anything we can do to help, just let us know."

The other neighbors told the police, "Officer, Xixi is the orphan of a martyr. You must thoroughly investigate the abuse; she cannot be left in her grandmother's care again."

The police nodded and, after calming everyone down, took Ying Shu and Qin Wanxi to the hospital for examinations.

After a series of check-ups, it was found that Xixi suffered from severe psychological trauma, malnutrition, and shocking external injuries. Fortunately, her internal organs were unharmed, but she still required hospitalization for observation.

Now, Xixi trusted Ying Shu above all others; even when sleeping, she insisted on being held to drift off. Once Xixi was fast asleep, Ying Shu would quietly place her on the bed and hurry home to look after her three other patients. After they were settled, she would rush back to the hospital with porridge she had cooked.

Before she even reached the ward, she heard Xixi crying and calling out for her.

Ying Shu ran into the room, "Xixi, I’m back."

Xixi’s eyes were red from crying as she rushed over and clung tightly to Ying Shu’s waist. "Angel sister, please don't leave me."

Ying Shu paused. "Angel sister?"

The nurse sighed in relief, "If you hadn't come back, her mental state would have deteriorated even further."

Ying Shu looked apologetic as she held Xixi and fed her a bowl of rice porridge. Once the child fell asleep again, she messaged Su Xining to explain everything that had happened.

After hearing the account, Su Xining was filled with anger, sorrow, and heartache. She first asked about Xixi’s condition, then cursed Wu Sumei roundly, and only after calming down did she ask about her mother’s situation.

"Why did she scream and fall to the ground?"

Ying Shu replied that she did not know.

Su Xining thought for a moment and asked, "Did you awaken a mental-type superpower?"

Wu Sumei's reaction looked exactly like someone who had suffered a severe blow from a mental-type esper.

Ying Shu honestly admitted, "Yes."

"She must have suffered unbearable pain from a mental attack you unintentionally released, causing her to faint and hit her head hard. Even if she doesn't die, she will likely become a vegetable. Perhaps it is for the best; Xixi will no longer have to suffer under her."

Su Xining had suffered plenty of beatings and verbal abuse from Wu Sumei as a child, eventually rebelling and leaving with her father, so she had little affection for her mother.

Ying Shu reminded her, "If your mother doesn't wake up, and your father is unwilling to raise Xixi, she will have to be sent to an orphanage."

Su Xining did not reply, presumably trying to figure out who would take care of Xixi in the future.

The next day, the police sought out Ying Shu again to ask how she knew about the abuse.

Ying Shu gave them the reason she had prepared: "My family runs a funeral business. I met Sister Su when she was buying items to pay respects to her husband, and that’s how we got to know each other. Because we hit it off, I often heard her talk about her family. Later, when I learned about her accident and that custody of her daughter had fallen to her mother, I worried for the child and chose to call the police. In my heart, I would rather face legal responsibility than let any child abuser get away with it."

Her story was flawless. Since she had saved the child, paid for the medical expenses, and the child was particularly attached to her, they had no reason to be suspicious.

"The grandmother's surgery was successful, but she might not wake up for a long time, if ever. The child needs someone to look after her temporarily; do you have any objections?"

"None at all."

The police wanted to talk to the child, but seeing how terrified she was, they decided to let it be.

After they left, Ying Shu’s phone chimed with a delivery notification.

[Ding, you have a new delivery order. Please check it.]

Ying Shu opened the courier platform to see an image of two pills pop up, with the note: "Cheng Shan requests that you deliver these pills to his wife and son within 24 hours. Do you accept?"

Ying Shu was surprised; she could receive pills without even going to the cultivation world?

She sent a message to ask Cheng Shan.

Cheng Shan replied, "Usually, asking for your help requires deducting one point of spiritual energy or one superior spiritual stone. If I mail items directly for you to hand over to my family, the cost is ten times higher. The more valuable the item, the higher the consumption. If it weren't for the fact that you were already on other tasks and I was anxious for Jiang Yu to get better, I would never have done this."

Ying Shu was curious, "What if a traveler has no spiritual energy or stones? What happens then?"

"They would likely have to forfeit something else."

Ying Shu: "..."

Since Xixi was inseparable from her, Ying Shu waited until the child finished her daily treatment and received the doctor's approval before taking her to the Cheng residence to deliver the pills to Jiang Yu and her son.

The pill given to Jiang Yu was a Restoration Pill, meant to heal her long-atrophied muscles and other ailments. The other pill was a Marrow-Cleansing Pill for Cheng Jia.

Ying Shu waited until they had taken the pills and the effects began to show, then took a video before leaving. Jiang Yu had much to say, but since Xixi was wary of strangers, they simply exchanged contact information to talk later.

After leaving the Cheng residence, her phone rang again.

[Ding—]

[Congratulations on completing the mission. You have received 200 points and 200 merit points. Would the employee like to draw a prize?]

[Ding—]

[Congratulations on receiving a five-star rating. You have been awarded 500 points and 500 merit points. You have also received two Marrow-Cleansing Pills gifted by Cheng Shan. Would the employee like to accept the pills now?]