Li Xia's self-detonation bought the team leader some time, and the Zombie King was dealt with. The remaining zombies were not a threat.
The apocalypse was about to end. Smiles appeared on people's faces. Although the self-detonation was painful, it was all worth it. With the burden in her heart lifted, Li Xia's special ability smoothly reached Level 5, which was a major milestone, as Level 5 meant she had become a true expert.
With a casual thought, a leaf on a nearby shelf flew towards Li Xia, and on the leaf was a carving of a lotus flower. The wind then rose and completely erased the leaf.
Looking at her hands, Li Xia was quite satisfied with the upgraded special ability. However, why did she have a few needle marks on her hands, and why did her face feel a bit swollen?
"Qiu Shui," Li Xia called.
Qiu Shui entered the room. "Miss, what's wrong?"
"What's going on with my hands and face?" Li Xia extended her hand, revealing the clear needle marks on her flawless, jade-like fingers. Her fair right cheek was also slightly swollen.
Qiu Shui lowered her head and softly said, "I don't know what happened."
"Qiu Shui, look me in the eye and tell me who did this." Li Xia had only taken a nap, yet her fingers were punctured with needles and her face was swollen.
Qiu Shui remained silent. Li Xia called out to Qiu Chan passing by, "Qiu Chan, tell me, who punctured the needles on my hands? And what caused my face to swell up?"
Seeing Qiu Shui gesturing to her, Qiu Chan stammered, "Uh, well, uh..."
"Qiu Chan, you're the most honest in the Lan House, and I trust you the most not to lie to me." Li Xia walked past Qiu Shui towards Qiu Chan.
Unable to withstand Li Xia's gaze, Qiu Chan closed her eyes and blurted out, "It was Auntie Mei who did it, Auntie Mei hit you." Qiu Chan then quickly ran away.
Seeing that Qiu Chan had revealed the truth, Qiu Shui could no longer hide it. "Miss, you were in a deep slumber. Auntie Mei was worried, so she used needles and her hands to try to wake you up."
"If she was worried about me, she had to use needles to prick me and forcefully pinch me. This is truly my own mother," Li Xia sighed as she looked at her fingers.
Qiu Shui couldn't help but smile, quickly lowering her head to hide it. She knew this matter shouldn't have been said.
After a while, Qiu Shui suppressed her laughter. "Miss, Auntie Mei was really worried about you. You were unconscious for two days, and Auntie Mei hardly slept, staying by your side the entire time."
Thinking about how Auntie Mei had received extra silver for Li Xia's unconsciousness, with extra meals and snacks being provided, Li Xia felt that the few needle pricks were worth it.
Late at night, Li Xia went to Zhou Heng's pharmacy. Zhou Heng didn't say a word, but simply reached out and felt Li Xia's pulse.
"I just took a nap," Li Xia felt she was in good health.
"Your nap was a bit too long," Zhou Heng retracted his hand and handed Li Xia a bottle of medicine.
Li Xia uncorked the bottle and was hit by a pungent smell. "What medicine is this?"
"A tonic."
Hearing this, Li Xia put the bottle down, not wanting to take it. She was in excellent physical condition and didn't want to take any tonics. "I'm in good health, I don't need to take this."
"You should be able to feel that as your abilities grow, your body can't fully support the increase," Zhou Heng's words made Li Xia look at him.
Apart from Monk Hui Zhen, Zhou Heng was the second one to realize this. The Buddhist prayer beads given by Monk Hui Zhen, in addition to taking her to her past life, also had a power that fused with the damage to her body from this upgrade.
"So this tonic can treat it?" Li Xia examined the medicine in her hand.
"It can help alleviate it," Zhou Heng's words made Li Xia pour one pill into her mouth. "It's quite pungent, you should add some honey."
"Next time, add more honey." Zhou Heng, having long been in contact with poisons, had impaired senses of taste and smell. These pills tasted the same to him.
Zhou Heng stood up and handed Li Xia a few sheets of paper. Based on the markers Li Xia had previously provided, he had found one of the hideouts of the black-clad men, which was a branch of the Shadowless Pavilion. Their target was not those weapons, but the Heaven Punishment.
"The Shadowless Pavilion has already withdrawn from Liuzhou." The death of the Heaven Punishment had scared the Shadowless Pavilion, and now they no longer dared to send people to kill Zhou Heng. Li Xia nodded, as long as it wasn't Prince Yongkang.
"You need to control the growth of your abilities. If it's too fast, your body won't be able to support it," Zhou Heng reminded as Li Xia was about to leave.
"I cherish my life very much." She still had many delicious foods to eat and many places she wanted to go. She couldn't let herself die early.
Li Xia was dozing off in the recliner, basking in the sun, when she heard heavy footsteps approaching. Opening her eyes, she saw Auntie Mei walking towards her, her expression alternating between anger and fear.
Li Xia stood up and helped Auntie Mei sit down. "Auntie, what's wrong? Who has offended you?"
"There's not a single good man," Auntie Mei suddenly said, surprising Li Xia. Qiu Shui brought a cup of water and handed it to Auntie Mei. "Drink some water to calm down."
Auntie Mei took the cup and drank the water, then began to explain the situation.
It was about Li Xin's marriage issue. Li Xin had reached the age for matchmaking, and the Lu family had been trying to find a match for her since last year, but they hadn't found anyone satisfactory yet.
That was when Zhang Zhongyuan, the former Minister of Works, returned to his hometown of Liuzhou to retire. Zhang Zhongyuan's wife, Old Madam Zhang, was a close friend of Madam Lu, Li Xin's mother. Madam Lu took Li Xin to pay their respects to Old Madam Zhang, and they met Zhang Qiming, who had accompanied his grandparents back to their hometown.
Zhang Qiming, the second son of Vice Minister of Revenue Zhang Zhengjie, had already earned the title of scholar. Madam Lu was quite impressed by Zhang Qiming's refined manners and bearing of a distinguished family. Old Madam Zhang was also quite satisfied with the accompanying Li Xin, finding her appearance and temperament suitable to be the mistress of the household.
Seeing the advantages of marrying into the Zhang family, Old Madam Zhang had an intermediary convey her intention to Madam Lu to propose Li Xin as Zhang Qiming's wife. Madam Lu was also satisfied with Zhang Qiming, and Li Ming approved of the Zhang family as well.
At the last celebratory banquet, the two families had arranged for Zhang Qiming and Li Xin to meet. Li Xin was quite impressed by the cultured and polite young master Zhang Qiming, and they were both quite satisfied with each other.
With both parties interested, Old Madam Zhang immediately untied her own jade bracelet and gave it to Li Xin as a betrothal token.
Li family was waiting for the Zhang family to send a matchmaker to formally propose. But instead of coming to Li family, the intermediary went directly to the He family to propose marriage. The He family, being the Prefectural Judge's family, was overjoyed to be able to marry into the Zhang family.
Zhang Qiming had taken a liking to the beautiful and gentle Miss Sun Yiliu, the elder daughter of Prefectural Judge He, and was adamant about not marrying Li Xin. Old Madam Zhang, being a doting grandmother, sided with her grandson.
In the subtle influence of the He family, in less than a day, this news had spread throughout Liuzhou. Everyone knew that the Zhang family had turned down the eager Li Xin in favor of the He family's eldest daughter.
