Xiao Yanxi was startled. "If Mu Zhaozhao really has a way to cure you, why hasn't she used it?"

Ning Chen gave a slight shake of his head. "It's only a guess. I haven't worked out the details myself... You told me everything that's happened, in detail, and I can't shake the feeling something's off about the old clan head.

At first she said flat out that there were only two ways to cure me.

But once Old Feng threatened her, she said she'd go back and talk it over with the clan elders. That means there's another way to get the yang gu out of me."

Xiao Yanxi nodded. "Now that you put it that way, the Elder's story doesn't hold together. Something really is off.

But maybe she was just afraid General Feng really would wipe out the Yuliu clan, and saying she'd talk it over with the elders was a way of buying time."

Ning Chen's mouth tugged sideways. "Doesn't matter! When we see the elders in a little while, maybe we'll find the answers we want.

Come on, let's go back and wait!"

The two of them went back to the building.

About an hour later, the old clan head arrived with Mu Zhaozhao and several of the Yuliu clan's elders.

They'd been about to sit down, but Ning Chen was watching them through narrowed eyes, and a chill went through them.

When Ning Chen was awake, and above all when he was serious, he had a presence that bore down on everyone in the room.

"Greetings, my lord prince!"

The old clan head led them in the bow.

Ning Chen might be the Prince Who Holds the Realm of the Great Xuan, but he was also the man of the Wu Kingdom's woman emperor.

He lifted a hand. "Get up, all of you."

"Thank you, my lord prince!"

They rose and took their seats.

The old clan head asked, "My lord prince has summoned us so late. Is something the matter?"

Ning Chen smiled faintly. "You all know this prince's condition, I'm sure. The memory…