Based on the examination results, Kanzaki reached a preliminary conclusion.
The reason Jingliu could not absorb the medicinal power was essentially the same as exceeding the proper age limit for treatment. Yet she was clearly not yet eighteen years old.
The Tomomu family's historical records on body tempering had never documented such a case. In fact, Jingliu had spent even less time undergoing the medicinal bath tempering than expected.
This was where the anomaly lay.
With no other leads, Kanzaki could only attribute the cause to his disciple beginning the process too late.
He made a shallow cut on Jingliu's arm. The thin line of blood healed completely in less than seven seconds, leaving no trace behind.
"Such formidable regenerative power!" Surprise flashed across Hanya's face.
Due to natural physical differences, an ordinary Xianzhou native would need about half a minute to heal a similar wound. Even veteran Cloud Knights or those with exceptionally strong physiques would take at least ten seconds or more.
As for a recovery speed as fast as Jingliu's, Hanya had only ever seen one person achieve it.
That person was Kanzaki himself, standing right before her.
No, Kanzaki was even stronger.
"It seems there is no issue with her body." Kanzaki breathed a sigh of relief.
Roughly seven seconds matched the average recovery time for Tomomu family descendants who had completed their full tempering and undergone the same test.
Although he did not understand why Jingliu could meet the standard despite receiving insufficient medicinal baths, the results suggested there was no need to investigate further.
Kanzaki even entertained a fleeting thought. Could beginning the tempering later actually allow for better absorption of the medicinal power?
It was a shame he could not verify this at present.
It was not that he was unwilling to share the method. The herbs required for tempering were extremely expensive, and several rare ingredients had extremely low yields, making widespread use simply impossible.
Training Jingliu alone was already pushing the limits.
Since the medicinal baths were no longer effective, Kanzaki swiftly withdrew the needles and turned to Hanya.
"I'll wait for you outside."
"Understood."
Not long after, Hanya emerged from Jingliu's room.
Seeing Kanzaki disinfecting the silver needles, she naturally began removing her clothing.
Her figure, with its distinct curves, was revealed before him.
After several months of treatment, Hanya had grown accustomed to these sessions. She closed her eyes and sat quietly.
Lord Kanzaki's needlework was extremely precise. He never touched her body directly throughout the entire process.
Rather than feeling any pointless shyness about her body being seen, she was far more grateful to Lord Kanzaki for giving her the chance to return to the battlefield and fight once more.
Silver needles were inserted one by one, starting from the soles of her feet and moving upward into the acupoints along her calves and thighs, then gently twisted.
Next came the points on her internal organs, chest, shoulders, and finally her back.
The foreign, impure Power of Abundance that did not belong to her could not be expelled outright. It could only be engulfed and sealed first, then gradually refined for her own use.
At this stage, each treatment was actively helping her refine this external power.
Sensing the activity within her body, Hanya focused her mind and spirit, skillfully beginning today's fusion process.
At this rate, in less than two and a half years she would completely transform the power left by Rahu.
As the process advanced, she could clearly feel her body's regenerative ability growing stronger in an extremely sensitive way... through the Power of Abundance.
Currently, only she and Lord Kanzaki knew about this. The Ten Lords Commission must never find out.
Although Lord Kanzaki had said it did not technically violate the Ten Lords Commission's regulations, the idea of growing stronger through the Power of Abundance... Hanya dared not think too deeply about it.
She herself did not mind, but if the truth were ever exposed it would inevitably implicate Lord Kanzaki.
He was treading a dangerous path solely to help her.
This debt of gratitude could not be betrayed.
After more than twenty minutes, Kanzaki removed the final silver needle.
"Lord Kanzaki, the position of Cloud Knight Sword Master in the Xianzhou is currently vacant. Are you interested in competing for it?"
Kanzaki's movements paused for a brief moment. "I am not," he replied calmly.
Hanya could not help but be taken aback and instinctively pressed further.
"Why not?"
Although the overall strength of the Xianzhou Cloud Knight Vanguard surpassed that of other Xianzhou ships, those stronger than Kanzaki could probably be counted on one hand.
As for someone who could control a thousand flying swords as naturally as their own limbs to slay enemies... at least within the Xianzhou, she had never heard of any Vanguard capable of such a feat.
"Due to some personal reasons that are inconvenient to explain."
Hearing the evasion in his tone, Hanya understood it would be impolite to inquire any further. Suppressing her confusion, she reached for her clothing.
Unexpectedly, Kanzaki suddenly swayed and fell toward her.
Hanya was caught off guard. Only after he had knocked her to the ground did she regain her senses.
A strangely familiar, eerie aura silently spread through the air, causing her body to stiffen instinctively.
But the aura appeared and vanished just as quickly. Before she could examine it closely, it dissipated without a trace, as if it had been nothing more than an illusion.
"Lord Kanzaki, what happened?!"
Forgetting their current awkward position, Hanya braced his shoulders, only to meet a pair of eyes where the crimson hue was gradually fading.
Why does that look a bit like... the Mara-Struck?
No, it couldn't be... Hanya froze, blinking hard. When she looked again, that trace of crimson had completely vanished.
"It's nothing. Just an old ailment flaring up."
Kanzaki's voice remained steady, showing no fluctuation.
"An old ailment?"
"A lingering condition from the battle at Yueque years ago. It causes periodic mental unrest and an uncontrollable urge for destruction."
"I see."
Hearing this, Hanya felt somewhat relieved.
By now both she and her sister knew of Kanzaki's origins. He was the renowned descendant of the Tomomu Family from Cangcheng.
During the second Abundance Plague War that erupted at Yueque, the entire Tomomu Family had gone to provide support and join the battle.
The family head of that generation and the eldest daughter had died heroic deaths, leaving only Kanzaki and his mother.
After the war ended, both of them chose to retire from military service. The reason was likely related to the old ailment Lord Kanzaki had mentioned.
"Even your medical skills cannot cure it completely?"
"Mm. It can only be suppressed once every ten years using an extreme method."
Kanzaki sighed, stood up without glancing aside, picked up the clothing from the ground, and handed it to Hanya.
She took it and dressed, then heard his request.
"After the calamity in Cangcheng, I was unable to attend to this matter for some time. In the past, my mother performed the acupuncture for me. But now..."
"Can this subordinate be of assistance?"
"Yes. It is not overly complicated. You simply need to insert the silver needles into the specific acupoints as I instruct."
Kanzaki removed his upper garment and sat cross-legged on the spot.
"I'll be in your care."
"You honor me too much, my lord. Assisting you and resolving your troubles is precisely the duty of a personal guard."
Knowledge of human acupoints was basic training every Cloud Knight needed to master. Following instructions to insert needles was not particularly difficult.
"Neiguan, Guanyuan, Qihai. In that order, with depths of 0.4 cun, 0.6 cun, and 0.7 cun respectively."
"Understood."
Hanya focused intently, carefully inserting the needles as instructed while precisely controlling the depth.
"Twist the needle at Qihai counterclockwise. Stop when I say stop."
"Stop. Next is Guanyuan..."
When Xueyi returned, this was the scene she witnessed.
She waited quietly for the treatment to conclude. After learning the reason, she silently noted the matter in her heart.
The two sisters did not think too deeply about it.
They were even less aware that, in the dead of night, Kanzaki sat alone in the laboratory and once again opened an ancient medical tome.
The next day, everything appeared to have returned to normal.