Chapter 52: Treating Illness

Chen Siling’s eyes lit up, and she quickly signaled Jiang Fan, urging him to accept.

Jiang Fan, of course, understood her subtle intentions. She wanted him to help her refuse the marriage arrangement. Seeing her pleading expression, Jiang Fan sighed helplessly and said, "Alright, I'll bring Youran to the ceremony when the time comes. However, I will judge fairly. If the man is indeed suitable, Miss Chen, you should marry him."

Chen Siling gave him a resentful look, staring intently. Jiang Fan felt uncomfortable under her gaze and, daring not to linger, clasped his hands in farewell.

Upon returning to the Xu residence, he heard laughter and merriment even before entering the main gate, realizing a night banquet was underway. Jiang Fan stepped in, surprised, as Xu Youran smilingly came forward to greet him. "Xiao Fan, where have you been? What took you so long to return? Quick, raise a toast to Yining and congratulate her."

Congratulate? Jiang Fan pondered for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "Has she broken through to Foundation Establishment?" Just yesterday, she had borrowed money from him to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill. Now, the Xu family was holding an unprecedented night banquet, likely to celebrate Xu Yining's breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Reaching the Foundation Establishment stage meant becoming an independent martial artist, considered a significant figure in Lone Boat City. Xu Zhengyan, a middle-aged man, was only at Foundation Establishment First Layer. For Xu Yining to break through at such a young age was indeed a joyous and momentous event in the Xu family's history.

"I should be toasting you instead," Xu Yining said, seeing Jiang Fan return. She approached with two cups of wine and handed him one. "Without your money, I wouldn't have been able to buy the Foundation Establishment Pill. Thank you."

Having broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, Xu Yining appeared more poised and confident than before, her eyes gleaming with self-assurance. Her view on their relationship also seemed to have shifted with her improved cultivation. This time, she didn't avoid the topic, holding her wine glass as she said, "My refusal of the engagement back then was an act of willfulness. But I don't regret it."

A vision of Shadow Guard Number One's figure appeared in her mind, and she spoke with admiration, "You and I are ultimately not on the same level, making it difficult for us to share common pursuits. I hope you can let go of your lingering feelings soon and focus on martial arts, striving to become even more exceptional."

Jiang Fan was speechless. Who had lingering feelings? He was eager to marry Xu Youran. Shaking his head, he offered no further explanation, simply taking a small sip of wine in response.

Ye Qingxue, who had been invited to celebrate, couldn't help but feel indignant for Jiang Fan, softly chiding, "Yining, why would you say such things? There are so many people here; at least save him some face."

Xu Yining calmly replied, "I just hope he can become better. If he were even half as capable as Shadow Guard Number One, I would have accepted the engagement back then."

Ye Qingxue's face registered shock. Jiang Fan was more than just half of Shadow Guard Number One; he *was* Shadow Guard Number One! She opened her mouth to speak but, bound by her promise to keep Jiang Fan's identity a secret, ultimately held her tongue. She merely probed, "Yining, I actually think Jiang Fan has a lot of potential. Before he and your sister officially marry, how about I try to set you two up?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yining looked at her with an expression of bewilderment, "Qingxue, have you taken the wrong medicine? I finally escaped from misery, and you want me to fall back into it?"

Ye Qingxue stammered for a long time, finally sighing helplessly, "Oh! Just make sure you don't regret it someday!"

Xu Yining wore a puzzled expression. "I'll regret it? For Jiang Fan?" She concluded that her good friend must be drunk.

After three rounds of drinks, Jiang Fan excused himself, preparing to return for cultivation. Having exchanged blows with the branch master today, he deeply understood the gap between them and knew he had to quickly advance his cultivation to another level. Only then would he have a chance of victory.

"Jiang Fan, wait!" Not long after he left, Ye Qingxue suddenly caught up to him and whispered, "Can I ask you to save someone?"

Jiang Fan looked around to ensure no one was nearby and asked, "Who?"

"Zhu Jianshen," Ye Qingxue replied. "Zhu Jianshen was afflicted by a yin poison while on a mission for the Azure Cloud Sect and returned this time for healing. However, his condition is very complex, and renowned doctors from various regions have been helpless. His mother has entrusted our City Lord's Mansion to find a more formidable miracle doctor, which is why I thought of you."

Heh! Jiang Fan didn't even think twice. "Me, save him? You don't know the grudge I have with this person, do you?" He then recounted the full extent of their grievances. Learning about the 'wife-stealing' feud, Ye Qingxue was utterly astonished.

After a brief thought, she turned to him and said, "I still recommend you go. The Zhu family has a Millennium Fire Well that produces a few Fire Spirit Pearls every ten years. These are incredibly beneficial for cultivators at Qi Condensation Ninth Layer. If your aptitude is strong, three pearls could allow you to reach Qi Condensation Ninth Layer Completion."

"You could demand that the Zhu family provide them as a condition for you to treat Zhu Jianshen once."

The Zhu family had such a valuable item? Jiang Fan's heart stirred. Although he was reluctant to save Zhu Jianshen, the rarity of the Fire Spirit Pearls was too tempting. "What are his symptoms?"

Ye Qingxue then detailed everything she knew. After listening, Jiang Fan couldn't help but chuckle. "What yin poison? This is a corpse poison contracted from contact with the bodies of some women who practice deviant cultivation! This poison, when extracted, is quite 'refreshing'."

"Alright, I agree." Ye Qingxue's face lit up with joy. "I'll accompany you tomorrow."

After a night of cultivation, Jiang Fan consumed several bottles of top-grade Qi Condensation liquid, yet his cultivation showed no discernible increase. "The higher you go, the more difficult it becomes." Watching the sun outside the window, Jiang Fan rose to his feet. The remnants of the Blood Bat Palace could reappear at any moment, so he had to quickly improve his cultivation. The Zhu family's Fire Spirit Pearls must be acquired.

Before leaving, he took the Lightning-patterned Spirit Wood Sword from where it hung above his bed and fastened it to his waist. Against a strong opponent like the branch master, ordinary divine weapons were useless because their powerful spiritual energy prevented common blades from getting close. Only by catching them off guard and activating the wooden sword's electric shock effect would he have a glimmer of hope for victory!

Leaving the Xu residence, he put on his Shadow Guard Number One mask in a small alley. Soon after, he met up with Ye Qingxue.

"Aren't we going to the Zhu family?" Ye Qingxue asked, looking at the opposite direction. Jiang Fan replied, "Extracting the corpse poison requires a special material."

He arrived at Lone Boat City's largest material shop. After some searching, he found a bronze-colored, spiky thorny vine. "Thankfully, they have it here," Jiang Fan said.

Ye Qingxue looked at it with curiosity and reached out a finger to touch it. "Don't touch it!" Jiang Fan stopped her in time. "This is Iron-Blood Thorns; you cannot touch it directly with your hand, or your flesh will feel as if it's being cut."

Ye Qingxue quickly retracted her hand. "That's amazing! What's the golden one next to it?" She pointed to a similar-looking but entirely golden thorny vine nearby.

"That's the even more potent Soul-Snatching Thorns. Just a touch will cause excruciating pain that originates from the soul, making life unbearable. It's only used for patients with particularly complex and intractable illnesses." This patient, clearly, referred to Zhu Jianshen. Jiang Fan put on gloves and picked up the bronze-colored Iron-Blood Thorns. "This kind is sufficient; the Soul-Snatching Thorns might just kill Zhu Jianshen."

Just then, Zhu Jianshen entered with his attendants, calling out from afar, "Shopkeeper, another piece of pain-relieving antelope horn!" Suddenly, he spotted Jiang Fan and immediately showed a hint of mockery. "What, Shadow Guard Number One also comes to buy materials? Who are you trying to bring back from the dead this time?"

He glanced at the Iron-Blood Thorns in Jiang Fan's hand, then waved his arm and said, "Shopkeeper, I'll take everything in his hand." The shopkeeper's eyes lit up. "Excellent, excellent! I'll wrap it up for Young Master Zhu."

He wanted to snatch this too? Jiang Fan picked up the Soul-Snatching Thorns, and Zhu Jianshen again waved his hand, "I'll take this too! I'm a major client here; all materials have priority purchasing rights." The shopkeeper immediately complied, taking the Soul-Snatching Thorns as well.

Jiang Fan's expression grew peculiar. The patient was paying for his own medicinal materials. Was there such a good deal? He said meaningfully, "As long as Young Master Zhu likes it."

With that, he and Ye Qingxue headed to the Zhu family ahead of Zhu Jianshen.