Chapter 140: Big Losses

It was no wonder Zhang Xuan was displeased. He knew that the talk of "precious medicinal materials" was just an excuse; with his pure true qi to clear the meridians, no medicine was actually needed.

But if the other party went to buy the materials themselves, how would he profit?

Just as he was contemplating how to explain things to get the other party to hand over the money without further fuss, Ling Tianyu slapped his forehead and said with a smile, "Master Yang, you see, I don't know much about medicine. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to purchase them on my behalf!"

With that, he took out a stack of gold notes and handed them over.

It wasn't that he had understood Zhang Xuan's true intention. Rather, in his view, all cultivators had their secrets. This renowned master, who could cure his wife—a task even Master Yu couldn't accomplish—must have used an exclusive secret formula.

If he were to actually go and purchase the medicinal ingredients, wouldn't that be tantamount to exposing the master's secret formula?

It would be strange if anyone were pleased by such a situation!

So he immediately changed his words.

"Hmm!" After a brief thought, Zhang Xuan understood the situation. Without explaining, he gestured for Sun Qiang to take the gold notes.

How could a dignified master personally accept money? Wouldn't that lower his prestige?

"Alright, I'll treat her now!"

Having successfully received the gold notes, Zhang Xuan wasted no time. He returned to Yu Rou's side, took out his silver needles once more, and pierced several congested points in her meridians.

At the same moment, true qi flowed into her body.

A surge of energy!

As the pure true qi swept through, the previous blockages immediately vanished.

Yu Rou, who had been unconscious, let out a soft groan and slowly opened her eyes.

"This..."

Ling Tianyu and everyone else in the room were startled.

Didn't you say the treatment would be difficult... requiring eight or nine days and costing an immense amount?

Yet in just a few breaths, she's awake, and it seems he only inserted a few needles...

"I miscalculated..."

Clearly not expecting her to wake up so quickly, Zhang Xuan nearly spat blood.

If she woke up instantly, how could he make money gradually over time?

The Library of Heaven's Path only revealed the flaws, not the effects of rectifying them. He didn't know which specific points, once unblocked, would lead to awakening. He had originally planned to resolve a few points each day, completing the treatment over nine days. This would have extended the process and allowed him to earn more. He never dreamed she would wake up after just a few insertions.

*Cough, cough.*

She woke up too quickly... it made it seem like there was no difficulty at all. How was he supposed to con money now?

Zhang Xuan felt a wave of frustration.

"Master Yang is incredible!"

After the initial shock, Ling Tianyu was utterly convinced.

Although it appeared to be a few simple needles, it actually contained profound secrets, giving it an inscrutable depth. Otherwise, why couldn't Master Yu accomplish it? And yet, Master Yang solved it in an instant?

Clearly, this was true skill!

"Huh?"

Expecting the other party to feel that he had wasted his money, Zhang Xuan was relieved to see him appear even more reverent. With a wave of his hand, he calmly said, "Today's initial treatment could only awaken her. I will prepare some exclusive medicinal ingredients to help her restore her vitality. Once they are ready, I will send someone to deliver them."

"Yes, Master!"

Ling Tianyu nodded quickly.

"Good." Zhang Xuan said nothing further.

"Then we won't disturb Master Yang any longer..."

With that, he gestured to his subordinates to lift his wife again, intending to leave.

"Tianyu..."

Before his two subordinates could even reach the stretcher, the woman on it spoke up. Her body swayed, and she slowly stood up.

"Your body is still weak, lie back down quickly..."

Seeing her rise, Ling Tianyu hurried over.

"There's no need. After lying down for half a year, my body feels stiff. I want to get up and walk around..."

Supported by Ling Tianyu, Yu Rou, though still a bit weak, could now walk without difficulty.

"It was Master Yang here who saved you."

Ling Tianyu quickly introduced him.

"Master Yang? A renowned master?"

Yu Rou's pupils contracted, and she quickly prostrated herself. "Yu Rou thanks Master Yang for saving my life..."

"It was merely a small effort."

Zhang Xuan secretly felt a pang of regret, though his face remained unconcerned.

Seeing his demeanor, Ling Tianyu and the others were even more impressed.

*This* was a true master!

He had resolved such a significant problem yet didn't boast of his achievements; truly admirable.

It was laughable how they had just misunderstood him; it truly was a case of small-mindedness judging a noble heart.

Soon, Ling Tianyu, having had his problem resolved, left the courtyard with his wife. Sun Qiang, understanding the situation, quickly handed over the gold notes he was holding.

Zhang Xuan glanced at them casually, secretly amazed.

Ten notes, each valued at 100,000, amounted to a grand total of one million.

Yang Mo had no idea how long it took him to swindle that much money, yet a renowned master could earn so much from treating just one illness... it was truly astounding to think about.

However... after the initial shock, Zhang Xuan still had a headache.

One million might seem like a lot, but for his current situation... it was still merely a drop in the ocean.

He had originally wanted to prolong the treatment for a few more days to get more money, but now... not only was the patient awake, but she had also stood up and walked out. Trying to drag it out further wouldn't look good.

"Forget it, I'll just take what I can get!"

Since he couldn't prolong it, he decided to cure her quickly. Zhang Xuan handed Sun Qiang a gold note and a list, telling him to buy some medicinal herbs.

Although he was a formal alchemist, having earned the title through a pill-debate and not actual pill-refining, preparing some fundamental invigorating medicinal powders was still quite simple for him.

These powders would serve as his high-priced "precious medicinal materials"!

After all, the other party was so afraid of displeasing him that they wouldn't bother having anyone inspect them.

***

"Bartender, a pot of tea!"

Du Yuan stood before a tea stall, found a table to sit at, and casually tossed a gold coin onto it.

"Coming right up!"

The proprietor, an elder in his fifties, smilingly brought a pot of tea and placed it before him.

"Boss, I want to ask you something..."

Seeing that his stall was directly across from the mansion, Du Yuan couldn't help but ask.

"Please, customer, ask whatever you wish..."

Upon seeing the gold coin, the boss's eyes immediately lit up.

"I wanted to ask about the residence across the street..."

Du Yuan pointed towards the courtyard across the street, just about to continue speaking, when he suddenly saw the gates of that very courtyard slowly open again.

"What? Is Sun Qiang coming out again?"

He initially thought it was Sun Qiang on an errand, but then he saw Ling Tianyu, who had entered earlier, slowly emerge, supporting a figure.

"Is that... Ling Tianyu's wife?"

Du Yuan's entire body trembled; he nearly died of shock.

He had seen Ling Tianyu's wife twice before. Just a short while ago, she had been carried in on a stretcher, critically ill. How much time had passed since then?

And now she's walking out?

Is this an exaggeration?

I must be seeing things...

If he hadn't known beforehand that Ling Tianyu's wife was gravely ill, he would have thought they were putting on a show...

Good heavens, this was an ailment that even Master Yu couldn't resolve! She went in lying down, and less than ten minutes later... she's walking out...

Du Yuan wondered if his eyes had gone blind.