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Ouyang Jingyuan had been ill for several months, his spirit lackluster, and his complexion excessively pale with a morbid loathing.

Previously, a maid had said that there were rumors Ouyang Jingyuan might never awake from his coma, but now seeing him after Shen Chuwei’s treatment, besides being somewhat unhealthy, the rest seemed fine.

Shen Chuwei looked at Ouyang Jingyuan in surprise and pointed at Xiao Jinyan, asking, "Do you know him?"

Ouyang Jingyuan stared at Lin Xian for a long time. He resembled Xiao Jinyan from his youth, especially those daunting phoenix eyes, strikingly similar.

"He bears a strong resemblance to Xiao Jinyan. It’s also possible that I’m mistaken. How could he be here?"

Shen Chuwei didn’t share this view. She let go of the wheelchair’s armrest, moved to Ouyang Jingyuan’s side, and curiously asked, "Do you truly know Xiao Jinyan?"

Ouyang Jingyuan held a faint smile on his lips, "Met him several years ago, so I was surprised to see someone who looks a lot like Xiao Jinyan."

Shen Chuwei pressed on, "Where did you meet him?"

"Nanzhao Country," Ouyang Jingyuan said, looking at Shen Chuwei for a long while, unable to help but start looking forward, "What about you? Do you know Xiao Jinyan?"

Lin Xian watched the two speaking privately as if no one else were present. His face darkened and his voice chilled slightly, "What are you talking about?"

Just as Shen Chuwei was about to reply, she heard Xiao Jinyan’s cold, deep voice and subconsciously turned to look at him, noticing his complexion was somewhat unsightly.

"Just chatting."

Lin Xian said coldly, "Is there something that I shouldn’t hear?"

Shen Chuwei explained, "Of course not, just talking idly."

Ouyang Jingyuan glanced at the man who bore a stark resemblance to Xiao Jinyan and asked Shen Chuwei, "Is he the friend you mentioned who was injured in the chest?"

Shen Chuwei nodded, "Yes, the wound on his chest hasn’t healed for over a month now, so please see if he has been cursed."

Ouyang Jingyuan looked at the man strongly resembling Xiao Jinyan, and his gaze fell upon his chest – the wound beneath the clothes was not visible.

"Let me have a look."

"Okay," Shen Chuwei moved behind the wheelchair and pushed it to the bedside. She knew Jinyan; even if a man were to see him disrobe, it would have to be with his consent.

"I’m going to undress you now."

Lin Xian watched the two before him. He wasn’t one to make a fuss; Shen Chuwei had persuaded Ouyang Jingyuan to help dispel the curse. Now that he was here, he couldn’t be squeamish.

"I can do it myself."

Jinyan’s willingness to cooperate naturally pleased Shen Chuwei.

"Alright."

Lin Xian’s hands moved to his sides, and in front of the other two, he untied the belt of his clothing revealing his chest.

"I’ll help you." Shen Chuwei stepped forward to help him unravel the bandages, layer by layer, until the wound over his heart was revealed. Despite the use of the finest medicines, after all this time, the wound remained unhealed.

At the chest, there was a blood hole, still bleeding with a bright red, shocking hue.

The wound was dangerously close to the heart; if the wound were to grow larger and fail to heal, it could lead to infection. Even if Hua Tuo were alive, he could not save a heart that had been infected.

That was precisely why Shen Chuwei had been worrying and sought Ouyang Jingyuan’s help.

Upon seeing the wound, Ouyang Jingyuan frowned. It didn’t look like an injury caused by a sharp weapon, "Indeed, he has been cursed."

Shen Chuwei asked anxiously, "Can the curse be lifted now?"

Ouyang Jingyuan lifted his head to look at Shen Chuwei, noting her unhidden concern, he nodded, "Yes, it will need some time."

Shen Chuwei responded, "That’s alright, I can wait, as long as the curse can be lifted."

Ouyang Jingyuan surely wouldn’t disappoint Shen Chuwei with her eagerness.

"Alright, I’ll lift the curse now."

Lin Xian was not familiar with curses nor aware that Ouyang Jingyuan was a Poisonous Insect Master, but from his tone, it seemed he was an expert in this area.

If the chest wound could be healed, there would be no need to endure the bone-gnawing pain every day.

Shen Chuwei also didn’t understand the process of lifting curses, only silently observing Ouyang Jingyuan’s every move, smooth like flowing water, aware that dispelling curses was a bothersome task.

It was only now that she learned that the blood needed for the curse-lifting ritual was the blood of the Poisonous Insect Master. That’s why a master was required to lift the curse; it was said to hold a deterring power.

The curse-lifting took an hour, and Shen Chuwei saw Ouyang Jingyuan place a bamboo tube on Xiao Jinyan’s chest. She didn’t know what was used, but she saw insect-like creatures, as small as black sesame seeds, crawling out from the flesh, slowly moving into the bamboo tube.

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