Chapter 26: What Happened to the Little Medicine Fairy (New Book Seeking Support)

Six o’clock in the afternoon.

Battle Through the Heavens was launched right on time, and the readers who had been waiting eagerly began paying to read. They had waited for this moment for ages, because launch meant a surge of new chapters.

Though the celebrated author updated daily with twice the volume of most writers—sometimes even three or four times that of veteran authors—it was never enough to satisfy these ravenous wolves. The readers were famished, and their hunger showed.

Zeng Ying, now a devoted reader, had wrapped up her work early just to read the latest chapters as soon as they became available. She was simply too excited.

“I wonder how far the relationship between Little Doctor Fairy and Xiao Yan has progressed. I really want to see them together,” she mused, her twinkling, almond-shaped eyes brimming with anticipation, her round face glowing as if dusted with sugar.

Though most comments claimed Xiao Yan’s official partner was Xun’er, Zeng Ying preferred Little Doctor Fairy. Xun’er’s love was childhood sweethearts, whereas Little Doctor Fairy’s affection was forged through hardship and companionship. Besides, Little Doctor Fairy’s popularity was soaring, almost surpassing Xun’er.

Zeng Ying greatly admired the author; each female character was distinct and vivid, brought fully to life. In her own novels, she always featured multiple female leads, but often struggled with homogenized personalities—a constant frustration. She had once written for the female-focused genre, and found female characters easier to handle than males, yet still could not avoid the issue of similar personalities.

It was a testament to the author’s mastery over their characters.

With great expectation, Zeng Ying opened the latest chapter. She’d already topped up her Hundred Read Coins, so she subscribed without a second thought—money wasn’t an issue. One should never be stingy with their favorite author.

Lying on her sofa, legs bare and kicking, she read with relish.

After just two chapters, she noticed how quickly the other readers devoured them. The coveted first comment was already gone—she hadn't even had a chance.

As the plot advanced, joy deepened on Zeng Ying’s face, her brows arching with delight.

“Xiao Yan and Little Doctor Fairy have lived together in that valley for so long; surely the rice is cooked by now—are they finally getting together?” She couldn’t wait and clicked onto the next chapter.

As she had expected, after spending time together, their feelings escalated rapidly, but neither dared to break the final barrier. Zeng Ying was nearly frantic with impatience, wishing she could push the two forward herself. Why were they so hesitant?

“Xiao Yan, honestly—a grown man, acting all shy, and he’s supposed to be the protagonist?” Zeng Ying couldn’t help but complain, her anxiety mounting.

Fortunately, the author delivered a feast—twenty chapters on the first day of launch. With other authors, even five chapters would have been considered generous. If only there had been five, Zeng Ying would have cursed, for the plot she anticipated hadn’t appeared in the first five new chapters.

The later chapters, though, began to lose her interest; all about Xiao Yan’s cultivation and refining the Purple Flame—how dull.

“This author really knows how to pad content,” Zeng Ying muttered, curling her lips. She thought cultivation chapters were filler; how much sweeter it would be to focus on Xiao Yan and Little Doctor Fairy’s romance!

Still, she didn’t skip ahead. The author was her idol, and reading chapter by chapter was her way of showing respect.

Though she yearned for more of Xiao Yan and Little Doctor Fairy, she forced herself to endure.

Finally, in chapter fifteen, Xiao Yan’s cultivation ended.

“At last—here comes the sweet plot!” Zeng Ying eagerly swiped to the next chapter.

But when she saw the chapter title, she froze.

“Parting? What does that mean?”

She felt a pang of fear; was it going to be like with Xun’er, where just as sparks began to fly, separation followed? Though she knew it was necessary for the plot, Zeng Ying hated to see Little Doctor Fairy and Xiao Yan part ways. How wonderful it would be if they could just stay together in that valley, living carefree lives.

Her fingers danced across the phone screen, and soon she finished chapter sixteen.

This chapter thrilled Zeng Ying; she immediately sent a silver reward.

Hundred Read Literature’s reward system had five tiers: Black Iron at ten Summer Coins, Bronze at one hundred, Silver at one thousand, Gold at ten thousand, and Platinum at a hundred thousand—the highest.

She tipped a thousand Summer Coins—quite generous, earning her a place on the fan ranking.

Xiao Yan and Little Doctor Fairy’s intimate interaction left Zeng Ying utterly satisfied; she thought the next chapter would surely feature heartfelt confessions and a promise to meet again.

After tipping silver, she quickly moved to the next chapter, unwilling to waste even a second.

But as she read, something felt off. The plot wasn’t following expectations.

Where were the confessions? The kisses and embraces? How did they part so abruptly, and now it seemed uncertain if they’d ever meet again.

The author’s style was indeed unique—so different from others. What else could Zeng Ying say? She could only hope the two would reunite soon.

Feeling rather downcast, she kept reading, but after a few lines, her hand stopped mid-scroll, her eyes widening.

“They just separated, and now the Calamity Poison Body erupts?” Zeng Ying was stunned. There had been no hint at all.

“Xiao Yan will surely notice—they just parted, and aren’t far apart.”

With this thought, Zeng Ying’s heart eased and she even felt secretly delighted.

Xiao Yan would return to rescue Little Doctor Fairy, and they could resume their sweet storyline. This time, surely, they would end up together.

Zeng Ying continued reading.

Xiao Yan went to Black Flame City.

Xiao Yan visited the Alchemist Guild.

Xiao Yan passed the second-tier alchemist exam.

Xiao Yan became the youngest second-tier alchemist.

Then, the twenty chapters were done.

Zeng Ying was left questioning her very existence.

That was... it.

Where was Little Doctor Fairy? What happened to her? The Calamity Poison Body had erupted—could it be suppressed? Would anyone rescue her? Had she made it to Chu Yun Empire?

Damn!

This was infuriating.

Zeng Ying was going mad.

Though some authors pause the plot at a crucial moment to interject other storylines, none had ever skipped the aftermath of Little Doctor Fairy’s Calamity Poison Body eruption, letting Xiao Yan’s timeline progress by days without writing a single follow-up.

This was pure torture for readers’ nerves.

Zeng Ying was beside herself with frustration.

“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have tipped—this is too cruel!” She was on the verge of collapse.

In the earlier chapters, she hadn’t noticed this writing style. She’d always enjoyed the story, which was why she sent a silver reward at launch.

But now, she regretted it.

Her hand had been too quick—why hadn’t she waited until she’d finished reading? Zeng Ying was left with tears she couldn’t shed, helpless and resigned.

She wished she could lock the author in a little dark room and force them to update the plot faster.

Surely, the next chapter would finally cover the aftermath of Little Doctor Fairy’s Calamity Poison Body eruption.

Still fuming, Zeng Ying opened the review section, then paused.

“How did so many reviews suddenly appear?” she wondered.

At noon, there were just over two thousand comments; now, they’d jumped to over three thousand, almost reaching four thousand.

What was going on?

No matter how popular the book, it shouldn’t gain over a thousand reviews in one afternoon.

This was excessive.

Zeng Ying opened the review section and quickly scanned the hottest comments.

Then—

She instantly understood.

She understood why there were suddenly over a thousand new reviews.

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