As the heirs of those Daoist Medical Families all departed, the waterside pavilion regained its tranquility and serenity.
Ling Feng did not immediately administer acupuncture to Yue Zhonglian, as he still had some questions that needed clarification.
Yue Zhonglian lay flat on the bed, his countenance now as emaciated as his body, bearing a ghastly pallor that hinted at a profound state of unhealthiness.
Though only in his forties or fifties, he appeared like a withered and aged elder.
"Sect Leader, may I ask a few questions?"
"Feel free to speak."
Yue Zhonglian turned his head towards Ling Feng. Despite his extreme weakness, every word he spoke carried a demeanor of calm authority that commanded respect.
Perhaps, this was the dominant aura that could only be cultivated by long-standing authority.
"Sect Leader, from when did the accelerated aging process suddenly begin?"
"It has been three years."
"Sect Leader, can you recall if you visited any specific location or experienced any unusual events three years ago?"
Yue Zhonglian lay on the bed, pondering for a moment before slowly saying, "Nanjiang[1], the Shiwan Mountain[2]."
Ling Feng took a deep breath.
That place marked the border of the Dongling Region. The regions to the south all belonged to the territories of the demon race.
"Three years ago, our sect led the divine guards to suppress a rebellion at the border. We accidentally entered a perilous area. Although we managed to escape, a few months later, our sect fell victim to this strange aging affliction. Despite consuming large quantities of rare natural resources, it only provided a temporary extension of life."
"Yes, Sect Leader, the source of the peculiar ailment afflicting you is likely that perilous area you inadvertently entered."
Ling Feng slowly said, "Based on my diagnosis, there is a parasite within Sect Leader's body. This parasite is consuming your vitality. The day it breaks free from within you may very well be the Sect Leader's final day."
"Parasite..." Yue Zhonglian sighed lightly. "What kind of parasite could lurk within my body, remaining undetected even by numerous Daoist physicians?"
"Perhaps it is my own lack of knowledge and experience. I have never encountered such a parasite before."
Ling Feng shook his head, understanding that there were things one knew and things one did not.
"Alright, young friend, go ahead and administer the acupuncture without hesitation. Regardless of the outcome, I will not let anyone trouble you," Yue Zhonglian said calmly.
Ling Feng took a deep breath, swiftly retrieved a golden needle, and calmly said, "Sect Leader, my apologies!"
The first step was to seal the soul of the sect leader within his physical body.
This step was not difficult for Ling Feng.
Ling Feng's fingers moved like a swift wind, sealing all of Yue Zhonglian's eight extraordinary meridians. The final needle was deeply embedded into the Baihui acupoint on the top of Yue Zhonglian's head.
"Divine Meridian Sealing Array, completed!"
Fifteen minutes later, Ling Feng slowly exhaled a sigh of relief. Yue Zhonglian had already closed his eyes and fallen into a deep sleep.
At this moment, he was already a living corpse.
On the second day of Ling Feng's arrival at the Cangqiong Sect, the young lady of the sect, Yue Yunlan, returned to the sect.
Accompanying her were two middle-aged men, their shoulders adorned with the medal of physician, carrying medicine boxes on their backs. Alongside them was the sweet and adorable maid Qiao Qiao.
These two individuals were the renowned physicians she had sought from various places, specifically brought back to treat her father's illness.
The news of the strange illness afflicting the leader of the Cangqiong Sect was known only to a few high-ranking members, even within the sect itself.
More than half a year ago, Yue Zhonglian had already delegated the sect's affairs to a few trusted elders, while declaring to the public that he was in seclusion for cultivation.
Although there were rumors and speculations circulating outside, they were just mere conjectures.
After all, every physician who came to secretly diagnose the leader of the Cangqiong Sect had to swear a blood oath, vowing not to disclose the sect leader's condition. Any violation of this oath would result in divine punishment and annihilation.
Upon returning to the sect, Yue Yunlan hurriedly led the two physicians straight to the waterside pavilion where Yue Zhonglian was recuperating.
However, before she could approach, she was intercepted by a maid. "Miss, the Sect Leader has ordered that no one is allowed to approach the Clearwater Pavilion these few days."
"What?" Yue Yunlan frowned, then asked, "Has something happened?"
"A young physician arrived a few days ago, claiming to have a method to treat the Sect Leader's strange illness. However, he insisted on not being disturbed for three days," the maid explained after some thought. "Today is already the second day."
"A young physician?" Yue Yunlan blinked. "Could it be Sun Siyi, the youngest Daoist physician in the empire from the Sun family?"
"No, it's not him. Mr Sun also visited, but he left quickly. Oh, I remember now; it was a young gentleman named Ling Feng. He's the one who claimed to have a method to treat the Sect Leader."
Yue Yunlan and Qiao Qiao exclaimed simultaneously. The mistress and servant exchanged a glance, both revealing a trace of disbelief in their eyes.
"Miss, could it be that Ling Feng?"
"I was about to ask you the same question!"
Yue Yunlan blinked her eyes. She hadn't even gone to meet him yet, and he took the initiative to come to them?
A middle-aged man walked out of the waterside pavilion. It was Wen Tingguang.
Wen Tingguang, hearing the commotion outside, was about to come and drive away the disturbance when he unexpectedly found that Young Lady Yue had returned!
"Isn't this Lan[3]?" Wen Tingguang saw Yue Yunlan with two doctors behind her and immediately understood her intention. From a distance, he said, "Lan, you can let the two doctors go back. There's already a young man above who is treating the Sect Master."
Yue Yunlan gracefully approached Wen Tingguang and coquettishly said, "Uncle Wen, can I really not go in?"
"Nobody can," Wen Tingguang said with a stern face, shaking his head, "Even Madam has returned to Shuyi Pavilion. My dear young lady, just be obedient and wait outside. Don't cause any trouble."
"Even my mother has left?"
"Yes!" With a nod, Wen Tingguang suddenly remembered something and smiled. "Lan, do you happen to know a lad named Ling Feng?"
"Mhmm, the last time I passed through the Xianzong Mountains, I met a disciple from the Wenxian Sect named Ling Feng." Yue Yunlan nodded. "I was planning to bring him back to help treat my father, but he mentioned having a prior arrangement with another senior. Could it be that you are that senior?"
"Hehe!" Wen Tingguang chuckled. "I was wondering how that kid claimed to be your friend."
"So, it was indeed him treating my father." a hint of joy flashed in Yue Yunlan's eyes. "No wonder he claimed to be the heir of the Medical Saint. Turns out it's true!"
"The heir of the Medical Saint?" Wen Tingguang raised an eyebrow. "Yunlan, who did you say he is? The heir of the Medical Saint?"
"Yes, the heir of the Medical Saint!" Qiao Qiao, who had been bouncing around behind them, walked over. "Elder Wen, you haven't grown so old that you can't hear clearly, have you?"
"Medical Saint... Medical Saint..." Wen Tingguang muttered for a moment, "Medical Saint Ling Hanyang... Ling Feng!"
"Ah! Why didn't I think of that earlier!"
After a while, Wen Tingguang slapped his forehead. "I knew that kid was extraordinary! So, he's the heir of the Medical Saint. Haha, compared to him, those young ones from so-called Daoist Medical Families are nothing. When it comes to medical skills, they are just fakes in comparison to the Medical Saint! Hahaha..."
Within the Tianbai Empire, there were over a hundred Divine Imperial Physicians, and scattered throughout the empire were also over a hundred Daoist Medical Families.
However, since Ling Hanyang disappeared without a trace, no one else had been able to bear the title of ‘Medical Saint’.
But after twenty years, the heir of the Medical Saint had finally appeared!
1. Nanjiang is the Southern Part of Xinjiang ☜
2. Shiwan Mountain is a mountain range located in Guangxi China. The name Shiwan can also be translated to a hundred thousand ☜
3. This is a nickname that Wen Tingguang has for Yue Yunlan ☜