TRWSB – Chapter 111 Treating An Illness

Yi Fan approached Qi Shaorong and handed over a thick stack of documents. “I spent a significant amount to bribe the local Hundred Intelligences Hall and obtained this information. There are over twenty renowned doctors attending Feng Yuan’s consultation, and their details are all here.”

Qi Shaorong glanced at the hefty pile and thought to himself, Yi Fan really did his homework this time.

Yi Fan paused and continued, “Feng Yuan’s condition seems to be worsening. The business alliance has made a public pledge: anyone who can cure Feng Yuan will have a wish fulfilled by the alliance to the best of their abilities.”

“That’s quite a weighty promise,” Qi Shaorong remarked.

Yi Fan nodded. “Indeed. I also discovered something else.”

“What is it?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“The Tianhu Mu family’s business is indeed in trouble. They’ve pinned their hopes on curing Feng Yuan. If their physician succeeds, with the support of the business alliance, the Mu family’s crisis can be resolved,” Yi Fan explained.

Qi Shaorong asked, “What has the Mu family prepared?”

“They’re cultivating a spiritual herb called the Nine-Leaf Life Restoration Grass, which is rumored to bring the dead back to life,” Yi Fan replied.

Qi Shaorong shook his head. “It won’t work.”

Yi Fan looked puzzled. “Master, you seem very certain. Do you know what’s wrong with Feng Yuan?”

Qi Shaorong replied calmly, “If my guess is correct, Feng Yuan’s condition is similar to Zhuang Renquan’s case back in the day.”

In this world, doctors specialized in enhancing vitality, which was effective for severe injuries. However, when it came to tumors, this approach was counterproductive. Stimulating the patient’s vitality also accelerated tumor growth, often hastening death instead of providing relief. Considering Feng Yuan’s high status, any effective common treatment would have been tried already. The business alliance wouldn’t have resorted to such drastic measures otherwise.

Yi Fan frowned in confusion. “But they’re not the same, right? Zhuang Renquan complained of headaches, while I heard Feng Yuan has a neck tumor, difficulty breathing, and trouble eating.”

Qi Shaorong chuckled. Zhuang Renquan had suffered from rectal cancer, and if his diagnosis was correct, Feng Yuan likely had thyroid cancer.

Qi Shaorong smiled. “They’re the same.”

“If you say so, Master, then it must be true. When will you go treat Feng Yuan?” Yi Fan asked.

Qi Shaorong shook his head. “No rush. Let him try the other methods first. My approach has its risks.”

His methods were groundbreaking in this world—essentially surgical removal of the affected area. Unless the situation was critical, the patient might not be willing to take the chance. Even if they were, there was a risk that Qi Shaorong would be suspected of ulterior motives. He needed to let them exhaust all other options first.

“Since you’ve investigated the Mu family, I assume you’ve looked into Mu Xingzhi too. What did you find?” Qi Shaorong asked with a sly smile.

Yi Fan furrowed his brow. “Mu Xingzhi’s personality changed drastically after returning to the Mu family. He joined the Wood Spirit Sect, and although rumors suggest he’s thriving there, my findings indicate otherwise.”

“How so?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“Despite being taken in by the Wood Spirit Sect, they’ve always been wary of him because of his Mu family origins. Over the years, though he opposes the Mu family, he’s never dealt them a fatal blow,” Yi Fan explained.

Qi Shaorong sneered. “An indecisive fool. It seems Mu Tingxuan shouldn’t rely on his father to stand up for him.”

Yi Fan nodded. “Indeed. Speaking of which, the Wood Spirit Sect is also sending someone to treat Feng Yuan.”

Qi Shaorong rested his chin on his hand, intrigued. “What’s their approach?”

“Summoning a deity,” Yi Fan said. “They’re preparing a ritual to temporarily invite the God of Life to descend. If successful, the deity’s Life Tree might be able to heal Feng Yuan.”

Qi Shaorong raised an eyebrow. “Summoning a god? Interesting. Do gods really exist in this world?”

Yi Fan shook his head. “I’m not sure.”

“When are the Mu family and Wood Spirit Sect scheduled to treat Feng Yuan?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“Today,” Yi Fan replied.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “In that case, I’ll go take a look tomorrow.”

“Understood,” Yi Fan said.

“By the way, you’ve done thorough research on the Mu family. Have you figured out who’s been ambushing us along the way?” Qi Shaorong asked, lounging lazily in a chair.

Yi Fan looked embarrassed.

Qi Shaorong sighed. “…Of course not. Yi Fan, you’re only good at focusing on Mu Tingxuan’s matters. How did I end up with such a love-struck subordinate?”

“I know the answer!” Shen Yuan suddenly barged in.

“What do you know?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“I contacted my family, and the Shen family identified three groups behind the ambushes,” Shen Yuan explained. “Most are from Jing Nation. Jing Nation opposes our Yuan Nation and likely fears we’ll gain the business alliance’s support and encroach on their territory. Another group consists of traitors within the Yi and Qi families, worried about your rising influence. The final group is composed of rivals competing to treat Feng Yuan. They fear you’ll succeed and overshadow them.”

Qi Shaorong rolled his eyes and said, “Since when has my reputation gotten this bad?” It seemed like everyone wanted to cause trouble.

Shen Yuan looked at Qi Shaorong and said, “With great power comes great responsibility. The bigger the tree, the more wind it catches!”

The next day.

As Qi Shaorong expected, the people sent by Tianhu Mu Family and the Wood Spirit Sect to treat Feng Yuan all returned in failure.

“Young Master, when are you planning to visit Feng Yuan?” Yi Fan asked eagerly.

Qi Shaorong glanced at Yi Fan and said, “Relax. Patience is a virtue. I’ll head over after I finish my meal. A full stomach is essential for work.”

“I’ll go with you—”

Qi Shaorong waved his hand dismissively. “No need for you to come.”

He turned to Mu Tingxuan and said, “Tingxuan, you come with me.”

Mu Tingxuan nodded calmly and replied, “Alright.”

Qi Shaorong glanced at Mu Tingxuan again. He didn’t even raise an eyebrow.

Yi Fan frowned and said, “Young Master, let me accompany you instead.”

Qi Shaorong shot him a look and said irritably, “What? Are you worried I’ll mess up and Tingxuan will get implicated?”

Yi Fan quickly shook his head. “Young Master, I didn’t mean that!”

Qi Shaorong replied, “Tingxuan is a wood-type mage, adept at nurturing vitality. He might be of some help. As for you, a dual-element water and fire mage, you’d just be in the way.”

Mu Tingxuan glanced at Yi Fan and said calmly, “I’ll go. The Young Master is reliable.”

After finishing his meal, Mu Tingxuan followed Qi Shaorong out.

When they arrived at the gates of Feng Mansion, Qi Shaorong handed over a card.

“Tingxuan, this estate is massive, isn’t it?” Qi Shaorong remarked.

Mu Tingxuan nodded and said, “Indeed.”

“When I make enough money, I’ll get myself an estate this big,” Qi Shaorong said enviously.

Mu Tingxuan replied flatly, “Even if you have a thousand mansions, you can only live in one. The rest would be a waste.”

Qi Shaorong: “…” Could this guy have a little ambition? Even if you can’t live in them, they’re nice to look at!

“Ah, so it’s the infamous Evil Healer recommended by the Yuan Kingdom’s ruler! Please, come in,” the guard at the gate said respectfully.

Qi Shaorong followed the guard into the house. Feng Yuan lay in a rocking chair while several cultivators busied themselves examining him, their faces full of worry.

Feng Yuan looked frail and emaciated, with a sense of death looming over him. However, Qi Shaorong could also feel the powerful spiritual energy coursing through his body.

Not far away, Mu Yueshan, who had provided the “Nine-Leaf Rebirth Herb,” was bustling around. Qi Shaorong raised an eyebrow, a cold sneer flashing in his heart.

According to what Qi Shaorong had learned, not only did Mu Yueshan’s herb fail to help Feng Yuan, but it also worsened his already deteriorating condition. Qi Shaorong thought Mu Yueshan would have left in disgrace, but he was still clinging to the Feng Mansion. Even his son, Mu Mian, was staying here.

Seeing Qi Shaorong enter, Mu Yueshan frowned and asked, “And you are?”

“Qi Shaorong,” he replied indifferently.

Feng Yuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and said, “So the Evil Healer has arrived!”

Qi Shaorong nodded toward Feng Yuan. “Shaorong greets Senior Feng Yuan.”

Feng Yuan smiled and said, “No need for formalities, Qi Shao. You’re younger than I imagined. Seeing you reminds me of my own age.”

Qi Shaorong replied, “Senior Feng, you’re still in your prime. How could you consider yourself old?”

“So, you’re the Evil Healer? I heard you specialize in cosmetic surgeries, slicing people’s faces. Feng Yuan isn’t one of your regular clients—this is a matter of life and death. Don’t you dare mess around!” Mu Yueshan said coldly, his tone dripping with disdain.

Qi Shaorong looked at Mu Yueshan and asked, “And you are? Are you part of the Feng family?”

Mu Yueshan froze for a moment, his expression turning sour. Qi Shaorong clearly knew who he was but was deliberately pointing out that he was meddling where he didn’t belong.

“You… Qi Shaorong, how many years have you studied medicine? And you dare come here? Young and inexperienced—”

Feng Yuan interrupted him. “Mu Yueshan, you’ve done enough. Take a rest now.”

“Senior Feng, this young man is too inexperienced to handle such an important task—”

“One’s capability isn’t determined by age. You’ve crossed the line, Mu Yueshan,” Feng Yuan said coldly.

Mu Yueshan frowned, his face a mixture of embarrassment and anger, but he couldn’t argue further.

Mu Tingxuan lowered his head, hiding the storm brewing in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Mu Mian watched Mu Tingxuan, a peculiar feeling flickering across his face.