Meanwhile, on a certain rooftop, a certain old man's head was dangling side to side, back and forth. It lulled too much to back and then, down he went, noisily rolling down the roof and falling down into the ground with a loud thud!

The two guards standing at the entrance both froze and stared at the area the sound came from. The ground was clearly empty and well strange things have been happening here since that Monk arrived.

"Y-you know... I... I really think this place is curs-"

"Shhh! Some things shouldn't be said out loud..." The Second guard advised in a whisper.

"S-so you know it too?" The first guard whispered, he then glanced at the building to ensure no one was coming and scooted closer,?"I wasn't going to say anything, but last night, when I was doing my rounds, I could swear I heard snoring coming from the roof! I thought it was just because I was tired but... others have been experiencing odd things too. I'm telling you, things have been really strange since that Monk got here. I think he may have put a curse o-"

"I told you to stop. mentioning it. You'll bring the curse up- What are you doing?!" The second guard exclaimed as he dodged the fist flying towards his face.

"I don't -?I swear I didn't do it! I th - I just told you I didn't do it!" The first guard indignantly said as he ducked to dodge the fist now gunning for his own face.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to - Stop messing around!"

"I swear I'm not doing anything! - Hey, be reasonable. Stop!"

"You stop!"

The two very confused guards continued their sparring - more like a dance session, where they were throwing and dodging punches and kicks across the front garden of the Empress dowager's palace.

"Who's a curse again? I'll show you a curse you little brats hehehe~" Doctor Lou said, squinting at the guards. He was still sitting in the same "empty" spot he landed. He was holding up his fists in front of his face with his two index fingers pointing at the two guards directing their "play" combat.

"What do you two think you're doing?!" Eunuch Li's voice suddenly came from the building and Doctor Lou immediately stopped and turned his head to see Eunuch Li standing at the side of the building.

"Tch...no fun person." Doctor Lou mumbled, folding his arms as he glared at the approaching Eunuch Li.?The two guards who were now released from his manipulation fell to the ground, breathless and gaping at each other in confusion, then they quickly scrambled to their feet just as Eunuch Li stopped before them with a frown, "What is the meaning of this nonsense? Don't you know where this is?!" Eunuch Li scolded, he had just been making his way out after checking on the Empress dowager only to be met with the scene of the guards play-fighting in the front garden.

"It wasn't us, it w-" The first guard stopped when his partner gave him a hard elbow jab in the ribs. The second guard quickly cupped his hands and bowed, "We apologize, we got carried away, it won't happen again."?There was no way they could tell Eunuch Li that the Empress dowager's palace seemed cursed, he would think they were insulting the Empress dowager and if that were the case, they would die.

"Got carried away? Where do you think this is to be carried away? Even if there are no external threats so deep within the palace, you must still remain vigilant. If anything were to happen to -" He paused and let out a breath and then dismissively said, "Go report to Commander An for your punishment and have replacements sent over... Now." Eunuch Li added when the guards seemed to be hesitating.

The guards quickly bowed and ran off to do as they were bid. Eunuch Li sighed and began walking towards the doors, he would stand guard until the new guards showed up. But then his leg suddenly tripped on something and he almost fell over but managed to catch himself with a hop jump movement which had Doctor Lou snickering as he withdrew his out-stretched leg.

Eunuch Li frowned and immediately turned around to see what he had tripped on but he found only air and flat ground. He blinked in confusion and then frowned at the ground, then he cleared his throat and surreptitiously glanced about to confirm that no one saw and then brushed his clothes and turned and resumed walking.

{...I must be pushing myself too hard recently... Need to rest more..}

Doctor Lou chuckled and then sauntered after Eunuch Li. Guard duty was very boring work and being the very understanding person that he was, he had been entertaining the guards with little things here and there to make their day. Of course, nothing quite like he did tonight with those guards but they had insulted his person so he had to teach them a lesson.

Not to mention, since he had been so rudely awakened, his mood was not the best at that time - that roof was really not conducive for sleeping at all. So he needed more uplifting than usual for his mood. But then Eunuch Li had come to ruin the fun and sent away his comrades. Therefore, it was only natural that Eunuch Li should substitute.

Doctor Lou jumped ahead on the path again, squinting at Eunuch Li as he raised his robes to stretch out his leg again, but then he suddenly froze and looked up to the sky with a confused frown. In the next moment, the troublesome invisible Lou disappeared and an oblivious Eunuch Li continued on his path unhindered, spared from the impending face plant.

***

"What do you think you're doing?!" Doctor Lou's voice reverberated in the room before his person appeared.

"Shhhh... You'll break my concentration." Xiao Ying calmly responded, unfazed, without even turning her head to acknowledge the intruder.

Doctor Lou's face twitched, "I thought you already gave up on this.." He paused and waved his hands trying to think of an appropriate term, "...this childish infant -"

"I did give up. You said that we should always uphold their promises - when we can. I made a promise here, so I'm working on it." Xiao Ying said, her eyebrows knitting with irritation. It was already hard enough to concentrate on what she was doing, the last thing she needed was someone scolding her.

They were currently in Tung Mei's bedroom, Tung Mei was naturally still unconscious and the maid and the Imperial doctor who were waiting on her were passed out in a corner, out of the way. Doctor Lou was standing in the middle of the room while Xiao Ying, who currently knelt in front of Tung Mei's bed with her hands hovering above Tung Mei's abdomen.

Tung Mei's body was currently bathed in a pink effervescent light which she seemed to be radiating off of Xiao Ying as well. And it was only after Doctor Lou came closer that he noticed that Tung Mei's abdomen was glowing blue where Xiao Ying's hands were, "You - You! You actually gave her my vitality pill?!" He exclaimed as his eyes went wide and his mouth hung open in disbelief.

"Shhh! This is hard work you know!" Xiao Ying shouted back, briefly turning to glare at him before refocusing her attention back on Tung Mei, "If you're not going to help me, go away."

Doctor Lou opened and closed his mouth a few times, before holding the back of his head and squatting with a groan as he lamented, "My - My precious -"

"Are you crying?" Xiao Ying asked glancing at him with a raised eyebrow.Find authorized novels in , faster updates, better experience, Please click <a href="/book/circ.u.mventing-fate_13455346806916405/stubborn-waylays_50876732315597881">/book/circ.u.mventing-fate_13455346806916405/stubborn-waylays_50876732315597881</a> for visiting.

Doctor Lou raised his head and glared at her and she quickly looked away. She was not bothered with his lament, he would get over it... eventually.

"Do you know how long it takes me to make one vitality pill?! Doctor Lou continued to scold, "Even if the Emperor - no, scratch that, even if my own sister begged me for it -... I'd have to consider it." Doctor Lou said that last bit quietly, pulling at his long beard with a pout. Despite how he behaves, if his sister was actually dying, he would give it to her without a thought... but it did depend on the situation though.

"Tch, stingy old man." Xiao Ying mumbled.

"You -! You -!" Doctor Lou jumped to his feet at a loss for words, he looked around the room, looking for something to scold her with. He had clearly pampered her too much.

"Father, calm down, angry doesn't suit you~" Xiao Ying said, finally turning to him and flashing a smile, "Don't worry, I'll help you make another one later~ I'll even add in another two jars of wine to our arrangement. Just let this one go~"

Doctor Lou squinted at her and then said, "Five."

"Three."

"Five."

"Three!"

"Do you know how lo -!"

"Five, fine, five." Xiao Ying said with exasperation, rolling her eyes.

Doctor Lou smiled and then crouched down next to her again, "Ying Ying, you know if this were anyone else, I would have crushed them... Stealing from me is a very very bad thing that cannot become a habit. Moreover, you could have just asked me -"

"Would you have agreed?" Xiao Ying grumbled, irritated. Clearly, he did not plan to leave... or help.

Doctor Lou stroked his long beard and sighed, "Xiao Ying... This might seem like a great idea but it is not. My vitality pill is not for mortals -"

"I know -"

"You know?" Doctor Lou asked, blinking at her in surprise.

"I do pay attention to your lessons too you know..." Xiao Ying said with an indignant expression, "I'm not that much of a bad student..." She mumbled in addition.

Doctor Lou frowned and then hit her head, Xiao Ying's hands instantly flew to her head, "Ow!" The blue light instantly began to spread through Tung Mei's body and Xiao Ying promptly remembered herself and put her hands back over Tung Mei's abdomen and drew the blue light in, "Stop distracting me!"

"And you stop playing with someone's life! If you truly paid attention then you should know that something like this will not only kill a mortal but could destroy their soul. Now, move over so I can fix this and you go home." Doctor Lou sternly said, reaching towards Tung Mei's body.

"No!" Xiao Ying barked as she used her body to knock Doctor Lou to the ground, glaring at him. Her eyes had now changed color from their light brown to different colored eyes - one blue and one yellow.

"I know what I'm doing! I have a theory! I can save her so just leave us alone!" She barked and then turned her attention back to Tung Mei as beads of sweat ran down her face.

{...I can save you...You will be alright...}