Chapter 57: Rebirth Through Purification

Shen Chutang was completely open with him, almost showing off as she took out a small white porcelain bottle. “Inside this is the Marrow Cleansing Pill. After Xiaobai has finished the medicinal baths for two days, we’ll bring it to him.”

Lu Beiqin’s eyes were fixed on the little bottle. “You…”

For the first time, Lu Beiqin found himself at a loss for words.

Shen Chutang went on, “But as the name suggests, the Marrow Cleansing Pill is a process of peeling away the skin, stripping the bones, replacing all the blood, and reshaping the tendons and skeleton. The pain is no less than being sliced to death. Xiaobai will have to endure it all for it to truly end.”

Lu Beiqin nodded gravely. “Thank you.”

After Lu Yuebai had soaked in the medicinal bath for two days, Lu Beiqin took Shen Chutang to where they were staying.

Old Master Lu, wanting to keep the matter secret, had chosen a quiet little house in the suburbs. It was also to safeguard Lu Beiqin’s identity, and he had taken every precaution—even dismissing the servants.

When Shen Chutang followed Lu Beiqin to the suburbs and saw the small villa, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “I didn’t expect Grandpa to be living here. It looks quite nice.”

Lu Beiqin replied casually, “Our family was once quite illustrious in the capital.”

Now, of course, they were even more so, but to Shen Chutang, his words held another meaning: once glorious, now fallen.

No wonder she had always sensed a certain noble pride and defiant spirit in Lu Beiqin—nothing like the usual shrewdness of a taxi driver.

She patted Lu Beiqin’s shoulder in a gesture of understanding.

They entered the house. Old Master Lu, Lu Yuebai, and Uncle Zhang were all present.

Upon hearing news of the Marrow Cleansing Pill, Old Master Lu was so delighted he couldn’t sleep all night, though there was still a shadow of worry.

“Tangtang, is this Marrow Cleansing Pill really so effective?” he asked.

Shen Chutang nodded. “Yes. But the most crucial part depends on Lu Yuebai himself.”

Lu Yuebai nodded, a faint smile on his lips. “Don’t worry. I can handle it.”

He had already heard about this from Lu Beiqin. No matter how agonizing, it was better than the living death he endured now.

Since being poisoned at seventeen, his body had grown weaker by the day. He could only sit in his wheelchair, watching people his age jog past outside, a longing rising unbidden in his heart.

Over the years, Lu Beiqin had run himself ragged for his sake, but every effort had ended in disappointment.

Night after night, Lu Yuebai was tormented by pain so severe he couldn’t sleep, relying on painkillers just to get by, forced to watch his body deteriorate with nothing he could do.

He’d thought he wouldn’t last much longer, but now that the Marrow Cleansing Pill had appeared, he would try anything.

He wanted to be whole again!

Seeing his resolve, Shen Chutang said, “Then let’s begin.”

She poured medicinal wine into the bathtub, and Lu Beiqin helped Lu Yuebai into it.

Shen Chutang took out the porcelain bottle and tipped out the pill. “Once you swallow this, it’s up to you.”

Lu Yuebai accepted the pill solemnly. “Alright.”

To avoid a repeat of what happened with her martial aunt, Shen Chutang decided to stay and help Lu Yuebai through this dangerous ordeal.

Naturally, Lu Beiqin insisted on staying as well.

Ten minutes after taking the medicine, a searing pain struck Lu Yuebai, draining all color from his face. He gripped the edge of the tub with all his might, veins bulging on his forearms.

The effects of the medicine had begun.

Old Master Lu couldn’t bear to watch and was led away by Uncle Zhang to rest.

But “rest” was only in name—his heart was still anxious. “Old Zhang, do you think Xiaobai… he’s suffering so much.”

Uncle Zhang, too, was uncertain about Shen Chutang, but recalling how she had boldly married Lu Beiqin right outside the Civil Affairs Bureau, and had even cured the second young lady of the Shi family, he figured she must be someone extraordinary.

“Don’t worry, sir. Young Master will be fine.”

...

Five hours passed. Lu Yuebai’s face was slick with cold sweat, his whole body looking as if he’d just been dragged from water.

But no one could help him.

Lu Beiqin watched, his brows drawn tight. “Xiaobai…”

Lu Yuebai managed a weak reply. “Brother, I’m fine.”

The next moment, the pain forced Lu Yuebai into unconsciousness.

“Xiaobai!”

Shen Chutang offered comfort. “Don’t worry. Letting him sleep is for the best.”

“How long will this last?” Lu Beiqin asked.

Shen Chutang shook her head. “It’s hard to say. Everyone’s constitution is different. But when the water in the tub turns pitch black, the marrow cleansing will be complete.”

It was already late. Lu Beiqin said, “You should rest. I’ll keep watch.”

But Shen Chutang knew how much Lu Yuebai meant to Lu Beiqin. She shook her head. “If anything happens during the process, it’s best that I’m here.”

She had a point, so the two of them stayed up all night, keeping vigil over Lu Yuebai.

All night, the young man woke from agony only to faint from pain again. As dawn broke, he vomited mouthfuls of blackened blood, his face contorted with suffering. “Brother… I—I don’t think I can make it, ah!”