7 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

Web Novel: Summer Solstice Chapter 7 Tao Zhi knew that Yan Zhu Guang was not a simple person, so from the start, she regarded her as a formidable opponent. She devised various strategies to get close to her until she found an opportunity to strike cautiously. She had even prepared for failure, setting up a scapegoat for herself. Unexpectedly, Yan Zhu Guang was so capable that she didn't even need to use the backup plan; she managed to get Tao Zhi ousted. This time, Tao Zhi was even more cautious. She understood that if it were just a common trap, Yan Zhu Guang might still find a way to clear her name. Therefore, Tao Zhi needed to come up with a plan that would ensure Yan Zhu Guang could never recover. With her stunning appearance, Yan Zhu Guang easily gave off the impression that she was someone restless and not to be trusted at first glance. Tao Zhi understood this well, so she changed her strategy. From the beginning, she planted a seed in the mind of the head of the Yi Miao Sect. After hearing from her that Yan Zhu Guang was someone who enticed managers and marginalized her peers, regardless of whether these people believed her, a shadow was left in their minds — the shadow of a troublesome, beautiful woman. After seeing Yan Zhu Guang's face, they would project this shadow onto her and become fully convinced of what Tao Zhi had previously insinuated. After all, with a face like Yan Zhu Guang's, who could blame them for assuming she was misleading? Once they were convinced, no matter how Yan Zhu Guang tried to explain herself, they wouldn't believe her. Even producing evidence of her innocence would be futile. These lofty cultivators couldn't possibly admit their mistake; how could they acknowledge they had misjudged someone? Hence, Yan Zhu Guang must be guilty and have no chance of recovering her reputation. Tao Zhi thought she had it all figured out. If it were any ordinary young girl, she might indeed fall into her trap. Unfortunately for her, her opponent was Yan Zhu Guang. Yan Zhu Guang's face indeed put her in a disadvantageous position, but she was not someone who couldn't adapt. If her face worked against her, she simply downplayed its existence. Yan Zhu Guang seized the opportunity to manage the spiritual fields, using the chance to legitimately cover her face and body in mud, masking her overly striking features. Now, she merely looked like a plain and shabby little girl. Barely twelve or thirteen, her body had yet to develop, showing no signs of the seductive allure attributed to her. How could she possibly have the influence to charm anyone? The glamorous image of a woman enticing managers was shattered by the sight of a scrawny, grubby little mud monkey, and all previous imaginings crumbled. Though Tao Zhi's manipulations easily left an impression in others' minds, once reality destroyed that tendency, it was just as easy for their thoughts to waver. A little girl like this couldn't possibly seduce a manager, meaning the previous storyteller must have been lying. Oblivious, Yan Zhu Guang nonchalantly exposed Tao Zhi's true self. Compared to someone diligently tending fields, ignoring her appearance and getting all dirty, versus someone uninterested and expelled from the sect, whose side would people take? Once Yan Zhu Guang had spoken, numerous scrutinizing gazes turned toward Tao Zhi. She loathed Yan Zhu Guang but couldn't let it show. Mismanaging her facial expressions, her features twisted inadvertently. Yun Mi Xue hadn't fully trusted Tao Zhi's one-sided story at first, and now, seeing her this way, her impression of her improved. A diligent and earnest girl like this naturally won Yun Mi Xue's favor. She spoke to Yan Zhu Guang with more kindness: "Are you taking care of the fields for Miss Tao? Why? What about your own fields?" Yan Zhu Guang turned her gaze from Tao Zhi and respectfully replied, "I am experimenting with methods to improve spiritual grain quality for the manager. He intends to document it using a memory stone for future reference." "Who would have thought that merely stepping away for a moment," she sneaked a glance at Yun Mi Xue, believing she hadn't noticed, then lowered her head before continuing, "upon returning, the entire spiritual field had collapsed." Yun Mi Xue found her behavior amusing, likely guessing her little absence was to secretly listen to her teachings. "The manager reviewed the memory stone and decided to let me retest with Tao Zhi's field and subsequently expelled her from the sect." Yan Zhu Guang didn't specify why Tao Zhi was expelled, but those present, possessing intellect and judgment, naturally deduced that it must have been due to her sabotaging the spiritual field. Earlier, Tao Zhi had repeatedly accused Yan Zhu Guang of idling, leading to subpar spiritual grain quality, and suggested she destroyed the spiritual rice in collusion with the manager to frame Tao Zhi, not only expelling her but also taking over the carefully tended field. However, now, none of the pieces seemed to fit. They might not understand tending spiritual fields, but seeing Yan Zhu Guang's skilled actions, it was clear she didn't match the idle person Tao Zhi described. Realizing they'd trusted too much and been manipulated as pawns, their gazes toward Tao Zhi turned menacing. She had made them look foolish before Lin Ji Immortal; it was unforgivable. Tao Zhi shivered all over, spine chilling. She had underestimated Yan Zhu Guang, and if she succeeded in recovering again, her life could be in danger! Opening her mouth to explain, she was interrupted by Yun Mi Xue. Yun Mi Xue did not intend to cut her off; she simply hadn't finished asking Yan Zhu Guang: "You have a way to enhance the quality of spiritual grain? How do you do it?" Only by confirming that Yan Zhu Guang could indeed enhance the spiritual grain quality could she thoroughly clear herself of the slander of "seducing the manager." Yun Mi Xue sensed a peculiar energy within this young girl, leading her to trust her immensely. Yan Zhu Guang cautiously glanced at Yun Mi Xue and the glamorous cultivators behind her: "Indeed, I have a method. If the Immortal would be gracious enough, may I invite you to the spiritual fields?" The Yi Miao Sect members wanted to scold her for daring to suggest having the immaculate Lin Ji Immortal tread such a muddy place, showing great audacity. Surprisingly, Yun Mi Xue agreed before they could rebuke, not minding Yan Zhu Guang's dirty state, even gently taking her muddy hand: "Then please, lead the way, Zhu Guang." Yun Mi Xue's hand was cool, much cooler than Yan Zhu Guang's, who had been soaked in the spiritual fields. Rumored to possess a rare mutated ice spirit root, Yun Mi Xue practiced icy methods, evidently true, as even a bit of released aura made her so cold. Yan Zhu Guang felt the small hand tremble slightly, seemingly withdrawing shyly and carefully, prompting Yun Mi Xue to grip it firmer, retracting her aura and casting a spell to warm her hand. With Yun Mi Xue's hand warm, Yan Zhu Guang's hand was enveloped in cozy warmth. She gazed at Yun Mi Xue's elegant, jade-like fingers in awe. That intense gaze reminded Yun Mi Xue of her earlier lecture at the Dao Enlightenment Platform. That gaze, making her unable to ignore the hidden person, forcing her to shift her attention there, realizing she'd been discovered. If she had known it was such a young girl, perhaps she wouldn't have acted as she did, even scaring the girl away. Yan Zhu Guang led Yun Mi Xue toward the spiritual fields, while the Yi Miao Sect members hesitantly followed, unable to stay behind. With no choice, Tao Zhi trailed at the rear. The sect members intended to use spells to keep mud off, but seeing Yun Mi Xue unfazed by the dirt, letting mud stain her white clothes like ink on canvas, they too held back, accepting their unlucky fate. Unlike those wishing to please Yun Mi Xue, Zhu Ning Yan used lightening magic to avoid stepping in mud, surrounding herself with spiritual energy to prevent splatters. Though silent, she had her thoughts. Recognizing Yan Zhu Guang, she naturally recognized the messy girl from earlier who had been eavesdropping on the lesson. Not fond of deception, Zhu Ning Yan disliked how Yan Zhu Guang had eavesdropped. If she wanted to listen, she should have done so openly, not in such a stealthy manner. Afraid of repercussions from them? If she feared punishment, then she shouldn’t have listened secretly. Regardless, Zhu Ning Yan didn't like Yan Zhu Guang, even knowing she was wronged by Tao Zhi. To her, they were both equally bad. Had her senior not been set on clearing her name, Zhu Ning Yan would've avoided being bothered to follow. Unconcerned with others' thoughts, whether from avoidance or indifference, Yan Zhu Guang pursued her task till reaching the spiritual field first. Letting go of Yun Mi Xue's hand, she flicked it lightly, dismissing both residual warmth and lingering sentiments. "My method requires application as the spiritual grain matures. Allow me to hasten the maturity of these grains for demonstration," Yan Zhu Guang announced, prepared to show her skills. The quality of spiritual grain would significantly decrease if it were prematurely matured, but in order to quickly demonstrate her method, there was no other choice. Upon receiving approval, Yan Zhu Guang carefully grasped a stalk of spiritual rice. As a cultivator with five elemental roots, her wood element was the most prominent, making it easier for her to perform wood-based spells. She infused the stalk with wood-element spiritual energy, causing it to gradually mature at an accelerated rate. The top grains slowly turned a golden hue. As the grain matured, she withdrew her hand and started casting spells on the rice stalk. With a serious expression, the young girl focused intently, using her muddy hands to form a series of hand signs, so concentrated she seemed to be glowing with determination. Yun Mi Xue watched, momentarily entranced.