Jun Moxie was truly struck dumb. While he had tried his best to imagine the situation as dire as possible before arriving, he never expected it to be this catastrophic!

This symptom was precisely what his mother, Dongfang Wenxin, had suffered from back then!

In essence, it boiled down to one thing: a heart that had died!

It was a unique affliction that only manifested when one had loved with every fiber of their being, only to have that beloved suddenly taken away! Such a condition was rare, perhaps occurring in fewer than one in billions. This was because those afflicted were invariably women of extraordinary feeling, whose bond with their beloved was so profound that the death of one rendered life unbearable for the other!

Jun Moxie could never have imagined that despite his brief encounters with Miao Xiaomiao, this pure-hearted, exceptional woman's devotion to him had already reached such an extreme!

In that instant, Jun Moxie’s mind wavered with an inexplicable disturbance. Should he truly betray the deep affection of such a woman? But...

"Huh, what 'huh'!? You still have the mood for that now!"

Miao Jingyun roared, grinding his teeth together. "Mo Junye! If you can't wake my granddaughter up today, the flesh on your body will be the main course at my birthday feast tomorrow!"

With that, without waiting for Jun Moxie's reply, he angrily waved his hand. "Take him in! If he can't cure her, just flay him alive and make spoons out of his skin!"

To utter such words demonstrated the sheer frenzy of the Phantom Manor's supreme leader!

Yet, this also underscored how highly Miao Jingyun valued Miao Xiaomiao...

By the nature of Young Master Jun, hearing Miao Jingyun spout such nonsense would normally provoke a fierce refusal; he would certainly settle the score with the old man before taking any further action! What right did this fellow have to shout at him like that? He, Jun Moxie, was ultimately the great benefactor of the entire Miao family! Asking him to save someone and acting so high-and-mighty? His willingness to act was a favor; his refusal would be his due! Who did this old man think he was?

However, the current situation was truly critical. Miao Xiaomiao appeared to be on the brink of death, and Jun Moxie genuinely lacked the mood, the energy, and most crucially, the time to haggle with Miao Jingyun. Without another word, he followed Madam Miao inside.

Madam Miao led Jun Moxie, with Miao Huanyu trailing behind. The three entered the elegant little tower together.

Below, Miao Dao questioned doubtfully, "Manor Lord, why did you not press the issue of the marriage today? Why not seize this momentum and lock the boy down in one go? Wouldn't that solve everything permanently?"

Although these two brothers were a generation senior to Miao Jingyun in the family lineage, they dared not be careless with their address, nor display the slightest arrogance. This was the source of the Phantom Manor Lord's authority!

"Nonsense about momentum!"

Miao Jingyun grumbled angrily. "Whether Xiao Miao wakes up or not is still uncertain. If we hastily set an engagement now... wouldn't that be premature? Besides... does our Miao family beg people to marry our daughters? If he wants to marry Xiao Miao, shouldn't he undergo some trials to prove the preciousness of our Miao family's daughters? Otherwise, wouldn't we be giving him too easy a time?"

"But... Manor Lord, judging by the young lady's demeanor, today's events clearly stemmed from this boy... refusing Xiaomiao... which caused Xiaomiao to be like this..."

Speaking of Miao Xiaomiao, even Miao Jian's stern face softened with pity. But the unspoken implication was: he rejected her, so why would he suddenly beg to marry her?

"Today's refusal does not mean he will refuse tomorrow," Miao Jingyun chuckled, cunningly shrewd. "Didn't you see how utterly frantic the boy looked when I described Xiao Miao's condition? If he truly didn't care, I wouldn't believe it even if a ghost told me. I even suspect this boy might just be inflating his own worth..."

Saying this, he seemed to realize his words lacked the composure befitting the Master of the Misty Phantom Manor, so he coughed twice. "Never mind... if Xiao Miao truly cannot wake up, then... this matter is dropped forever! Moreover, this old man will absolutely make this boy pay the price! Even if he possesses the Ethereal Physique, so what?"

He glared, radiating imposing authority, and heavily emphasized, "He'll pay a hefty price!"

A silence fell over the crowd. They all craned their necks, looking towards the silent, ornate tower, hoping for good news to emerge soon. Every heart felt heavy...

For this calamity to strike just before the Manor Lord's grand birthday was truly vexing, like having a bucket of ice water suddenly dumped on joyous celebration. If Miao Xiaomiao truly didn't wake up, how could tomorrow's birthday banquet proceed? Everyone was utterly uncertain...

What came into view was a secluded young maiden's chamber. The room was exceptionally clean, sheer white gauze curtains hung at the window, and on a bed that could only be described as delicate and petite, a pure, unopened lily stood tall at the bedside...

On the white walls hung two pieces of calligraphy. One read: Heaven's Way may not preserve, but defying it earns a laugh. Who is like me, with sword pointing at the world's turbulent waves? ...The sun and moon enter my embrace; watch me lead the *******! A sharp sword unsheathed at will, asking who dares walk with me in the high clouds? A thousand years of heroic swordplay, amidst blood and storms, the man remains standing; a single sword to claim the Central Plains, standing tall, this life shall not bend! Who dances in the clouds above, making me gaze to the horizon, my heart in turmoil, snow and wind sweeping through; when the music ends and people scatter, a single sword wrathfully pierces the nine heavens. Ancient and modern share one laugh, heaven and earth are mine to roam freely, let later generations never compare themselves to my height. The inscription read: Composed by Mo Junye, copied by Xiaomiao.

The other piece read: The blossoms of the forest wither, fading in the spring crimson, too swiftly gone; alas, the morning's cold rain meets the evening's harsh wind; rouge tears, lingering to intoxicate, when will they return? Life's long regrets flow eastward like the river... The inscription was also: Composed by Mo Junye, copied by Xiaomiao...

Before the window stood a small, exquisite desk, upon which lay a seven-stringed Qin, silent and still. To one side was the musical score for the Lament for Buried Flowers...

Just seeing these things seemed to reveal the heart of the young lady, Lao Xiaomiao!

Because, apart from these, the maiden's chamber held absolutely no other decoration! As the only jewel of the Miao family in the Phantom Manor, the direct granddaughter of the Manor Lord, her chamber was arranged with such stark simplicity! This truly caught Jun Moxie somewhat by surprise. But recalling Miao Xiaomiao's gentle nature, he mused that this was, after all, in keeping with her character.

And the mistress of this room, Miao Xiaomiao, lay quietly on the bed, her face exceptionally pale, completely still. Even the rise and fall of her chest from breathing was almost imperceptible. Even in her unconscious state, those lovely eyebrows were sadly furrowed... A single, glistening tear seemed to cling to the corner of her eye... Jun Moxie's Dantian net stepped across the threshold and immediately saw Miao Xiaomiao's complexion, causing his heart to lurch again. This vibrant young woman, just moments ago, was speaking gently and softly to him, trying to use her boundless affection to melt the heavy ice and snow within his heart... Yet in this brief span, she had become this ghastly, listless state...

And all of this was because of him! Because she loved him too deeply!

Man is not grass or wood; how can he be without feeling!

Jun Moxie’s heart was filled with an indescribable sensation. Even with his usually steadfast composure, he couldn't help but feel somewhat stirred. In that instant, his heart was filled with a strange melancholy...

If time could flow backward, if he could do it all again, would he still say those words to her?... Jun Moxie gave a bitter smile, and for the first time, his gaze toward Miao Xiaomiao held a touch of tenderness and pity. He was, after all, not entirely heartless and unfeeling...

The moment he stepped inside, the little sprout attending the bedside noticed him, raising her tear-filled eyes and crying out angrily, "What is this scoundrel doing here? Haven't you tortured the Miss enough already?"

The little maid pouted, glaring with eyes that seemed ready to leap out and bite him.

"Little Sprout, be respectful!"

Madam Miao chastised in a low voice. "Young Master Mo has come to treat Xiaomiao's illness..."

Saying this, she couldn't help but think that Xiaomiao's 'illness' was entirely caused by the young man before her... and her voice trailed off...

"Hmph... If he weren't so heartless and unfeeling, how could the Miss fall victim to this strange illness..."

Little Sprout muttered grumbling to herself, reluctantly falling silent.

Jun Moxie ignored her, moving his steps lightly to the bedside, and extended his right hand, placing it upon Miao Xiaomiao's slender wrist...

Activating his spiritual energy to investigate, he instantly understood: this was the exact same ailment as his mother's years ago!

Back then, although his mother Dongfang Wenxin was heartbroken to the point of death and fell into a deep sleep, she still had three sons to worry about, so her heart meridian had not completely closed. Therefore, it didn't take much effort for Jun Moxie to awaken his mother in his capacity as her son...

But the current Miao Xiaomiao’s heart meridian was completely sealed! There wasn't the slightest gap!

The heart's gate was tightly shut; what was to be done?

Jun Moxie's brow furrowed tighter and tighter. If even he was powerless, perhaps no one else in the world could offer aid.

Seeing his expression suddenly turn grave, Madam Miao's heart clenched, and she asked with a trembling voice, "Mo... Young Master, what is Xiaomiao's condition... exactly?"

She knew well that this Mo Junye was not a physician, and this heart malady of Miao Xiaomiao’s was beyond the ability of even the most skilled imperial physician. But she still asked the question, her voice shaking as if she might burst into tears at any moment—a natural reaction for a mother...

"I require a quiet environment," Jun Moxie stated deeply. "It would be best if you all left first... Hmm, if Xiaomiao needs Little Sprout's help later, have her wait by the door."

"Good!"

Miao Huanyu made a decisive move, standing up, taking his wife's hand, and giving her a meaningful look. "Then... our daughter's illness... we must trouble Young Master Mo..."

This statement sounded strange. His daughter's illness was clearly caused by this young man; it was only natural for him to treat her. Furthermore, if he succeeded, he would gain a beautiful wife into the bargain. Yet, as her parents, they actually had to express their gratitude to him... (To be continued, for further developments, please support the author and genuine reading!)