Helping Out, Who Dares Compete With Ninth Royal Uncle

It was clearly the Valley Master himself who wanted to know how Serena could use blood to check for poisoning, but he insisted on making it sound so dignified... honestly...

Serena chuckled, just about to refuse, when Dorian Owen came over to stir things up again, looking pitiful as a puppy and gazing at her with pleading eyes.

"Serena, I want to help too. Let me do my part for everyone." How could he miss out on something this fun?

"Ahem, that's not necessary. I'm enough here." The Master of Mystic Healer Valley refused decisively, squeezing Dorian right out the door before he could say another word.

"Serena, don't worry, I'll take care of these troublemakers for you." He even shot Dorian a fierce glare, warning him not to make a mess of things.

What a perfect opportunity—if Dorian ruined it, he'd cry his eyes out.

Dorian was so frustrated. Just as he was racking his brain for an excuse to stay, Serena turned to the Valley Master with polite gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Valley Master, I appreciate your kindness. But Ninth Royal Uncle already said he would help, and I've agreed."

Serena looked troubled, glancing at Ninth Royal Uncle, then at the Valley Master. Her meaning was clear: if you want to help, go talk to Ninth Royal Uncle—she couldn't make the call herself.

How could she do this?

The Valley Master was left feeling deeply aggrieved.

Ninth Royal Uncle doesn't know medicine—so what's he doing here, anyway?

But of course, he wouldn't dare say that. Who would have the guts to compete with Ninth Royal Uncle?

The Valley Master shot Serena a look full of accusation, hoping she'd speak up for him. Serena calmly turned away, making it clear she wouldn't get involved, which left the Valley Master fuming.

"Hmph, I don't even care about helping, anyway." With no one asking him to stay, the Valley Master got all haughty, stormed out, and immediately regretted it the moment he stepped outside.

Ahhh... If only he'd begged a little more. Now that he's missed his chance, who knows when the next opportunity will come?

The Valley Master considered going back, but when he turned around, he saw the shadow guards posted at the door, looking every bit like a 'military restricted zone—no trespassing.'

Are they guarding against me?

The Master of Mystic Healer Valley's anger, which had just cooled, flared right back up, and he stomped off in a huff.

Fine, don't want my help? Whatever, you think I'm just sitting around with nothing to do? I've got to go mix up an antidote for that floral scent, anyway.

Hmph, hmph, hmph... The Valley Master stomped off, glancing back every few steps as he returned to his stone hut, grinding his teeth while working on the antidote for the floral poison and plotting how to vent his frustration.

He wouldn't dare mess with Ninth Royal Uncle, but he had no problem making trouble for the Demon Sect.

Demon Sect, just you wait. If I don't poison this so-called Holy Land until nothing will grow, I'm not worthy of being the Master of Mystic Healer Valley!

With the Valley Master defeated, Dorian Owen didn't dare provoke the tiger either, so he reluctantly left as well.

In a row of stone huts, only the one shared by Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena was brightly lit. After everyone else left, the two of them sat inside in silence.

The lighting was so good that Ninth Royal Uncle could even see the fine down on Serena's face, but he still couldn't tell what she was thinking.

They sat for a long while. Just when Ninth Royal Uncle thought Serena would keep silent, she finally spoke.

"Anyway, you already know all my secrets. Now you can witness it for yourself. I just hope that no matter what you see, you won't ask me why—because I don't know, either."

To keep Ninth Royal Uncle from turning into a walking 'Why Machine,' Serena cut him off right from the start.

Serena knew that Ninth Royal Uncle was aware of a lot—he and William Wang Jinling both even knew she wasn't the original Serena. They just never said it out loud.

Because, to them, the person they knew was this Serena. No matter how many secrets she had, she never used them to hurt anyone.

"I'm not Dorian," he said. He wasn't nearly that curious—and besides...

Ninth Royal Uncle glanced disdainfully at Serena's wrist.

The secret Serena thought she'd hidden so well—he'd known about it all along. If he'd really been curious, he wouldn't have waited until now.

"So you really do know everything." Serena didn't bother hiding anymore. She boldly rolled up her sleeve, and seeing Nolan's serious face, she actually relaxed. She gave him a playful smile: "Don't blink! The next second, you're about to witness a miracle."

As she spoke, Serena pressed lightly on her Smart Med-Pack. The red mark suddenly lit up, like a mirror embedded in her skin.

Ninth Royal Uncle's eyes flickered, but when Serena looked up at him, his expression was perfectly calm.

Serena saw how unruffled he was and relaxed even more, smiling as she explained, "This is my portable med-pack—it can hold a lot of things inside."

With that, she held her hand out to Ninth Royal Uncle.

Watching openly was nothing like sneaking a glance. Ninth Royal Uncle had no idea how to describe what he was feeling right now.

Serena's arm had become a screen, full of options. She deliberately slowed down, pressing each one for him to see.

Ninth Royal Uncle could only see the screen flashing, but with her brainwaves linked to the Smart Med-Pack, Serena could see a series of storage rooms and rows of equipment.

"These words up here are for making selections. Just a light tap, and whatever I need appears." Serena tapped into one of the storage rooms.

In front of Serena, rows of medicines appeared—she just had to reach out and take them. But to Ninth Royal Uncle, it looked like she was pulling things out of thin air.

Ninth Royal Uncle's pupils contracted slightly. Serena was busy taking things out and didn't notice, explaining as she worked: "It's basically a storage space. No one but me can see it or access it."

Ninth Royal Uncle gently rubbed his fingers, musing, "A mustard seed containing Mount Sumeru—a whole mountain inside a tiny seed. Your med-pack is perfectly reasonable."

Ninth Royal Uncle had found the perfect explanation for Serena's Smart Med-Pack. She paused, then smiled. "You're right, it's a lot like that mustard seed—both are used for storing things."

The 'mustard seed and Sumeru' is a Buddhist concept: a vast Mount Sumeru fitting inside a tiny seed, symbolizing the subtlety and omnipresence of Buddhist teaching.

Now, Ninth Royal Uncle used it to describe the Smart Med-Pack, and it fit perfectly. Both were for holding things, both defied common sense—and that was just fine.

As Serena took out equipment and supplies from the Smart Med-Pack, she watched Ninth Royal Uncle's expression. Seeing how calm and unshaken he was, she finally let go of all her worries.

It felt so good to have no more secrets.

Serena felt a weight lift off her shoulders, her eyes bright with relief. Ninth Royal Uncle, on the other hand, was struggling. She thought he looked as calm and steady as ever—but inside?

Inside, his mind was a stormy sea. As Serena pulled out more and more equipment, he was at a loss for words.

Wasn't this absolutely mind-blowing?

Before, watching Serena pull things out of thin air from another room had seemed magical enough. But now, right in front of him, with just a couple of taps, she conjured up a whole pile of things he'd never even seen before. He couldn't possibly stay calm.

It was just incredible.

Apart from the Buddhist mustard seed and Mount Sumeru, Ninth Royal Uncle had no idea how to explain what he was witnessing.