Chapter 59

(59) The Demon's Physician

As the twilight glow dyed the western mountains red, an unexpected burst of encouragement erupted in the usually peaceful Demon's Valley.

"That's it. Now your posture is quite good."

Dan Yaksun, who was learning the Golden Thread Technique, smiled brightly at Chao Yeliang's praise.

At that moment, a messenger pigeon flew into the Demon's Valley.

"A letter has arrived from the Jincheng Clan."

Chao Yeliang, upon receiving the letter, let out a low hum.

It seemed that rumors were circulating in the martial world about the appearance of Sheng Shuxin's son.

"Has the news of treating the daughter of the Wulin Alliance leader spread?"

"It seems so."

Chao Yeliang gathered Dan Yaksun and the others to inform them of the contents of the letter sent by Feng Zhencheng.

"I had somewhat anticipated this when we went to the Wulin Alliance."

Dan Yaksun's attitude was unexpectedly calm.

"For the time being, we should avoid going down to the village. Our location hasn't been discovered yet, after all."

However, now that his existence was known, it was only a matter of time before people started searching for him.

The fact that Chao Yeliang and Fan Jiwei were staying here would naturally become known as well.

Fan Jiwei asked with a puzzled look.

"Are you worried that patients might flood in because of the rumors?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"Because I know what they are looking for."

Dan Yaksun smiled bitterly.

"That's why Father felt disillusioned with the world and went into seclusion here."

Leng Suomi, who had been thinking about something, suddenly exclaimed.

"Oh! Could it be?"

"Why, do you know something?"

In response to Fan Jiwei's question, Leng Suomi immediately answered.

"Didn't it cause a stir a while back? After all, it was because of this that Sheng Shuxin's reputation soared."

"So what is it?"

Leng Suomi looked troubled as Dan Yaksun spoke.

"It's because of the Sheng Shuxin Pill."

"……!"

Chao Yeliang, Fan Jiwei, and even Han Xuehua were unable to hide their surprise.

It was a famous story, one that almost no one in the martial world could be unaware of.

Most of the renowned sects possessed the secret recipes for their own supreme elixirs. The Great Revitalizing Pill of Shaolin, the Zisu Pill of Huashan, and the Taiqing Pill of Wudang were prime examples.

A supreme elixir that could heal internal injuries and significantly enhance one's internal energy.

Its value was sky-high due to the rarity and difficulty of its production.

Leng Suomi cautiously offered his opinion.

"Even the Great Revitalizing Pill of Shaolin is said to be inferior to the Sheng Shuxin Pill."

While rumors in the martial world often became exaggerated as they spread, the stories about the Sheng Shuxin Pill were the opposite.

Those who had experienced it firsthand openly claimed that the rumors were too modest.

At the center of these stories was Hong Dutang, the leader of the Beggar Sect.

Despite his close ties with the Nine Great Sects, his fair and upright character prevented him from distorting the truth.

Dan Yaksun nodded, recalling the past.

"That's why many people came looking for Father."

"There must have been more than just polite requests, right?"

Chao Yeliang's words were met with nods from the others.

How could it be otherwise?

The martial world was a place where a single elixir, secret manual, or even a lesser treasure could cause a bloodbath.

People wouldn't dare to breach the walls of Shaolin, Huashan, or Wudang, so the attitude of those who came to the relatively easier target of the righteous man couldn't have been polite.

"Yes, I've heard all sorts of people came. There were countless threats, and even attempts to kidnap him."

"Fortunately, it seems he managed to handle them well."

Dan Yaksun shook her head at Chao Yeliang's words.

"No, the kidnapping was successful."

"……!"

Everyone in the room looked at Dan Yaksun in shock at her unexpected answer.

"Among those who sought the Sheng Shuxin Pill was Mother."

Dan Yaksun continued with a smile.

"Mother said she tried to seduce him, but Father insisted he was kidnapped."

The group burst into laughter, momentarily stunned.

Given the Life and Death Demon's reputation for eccentric behavior, it seemed entirely plausible.

However, the mood turned serious again with Chao Yeliang's next words.

"Now that the existence of Doctor Dan is known, those seeking the Sheng Shuxin Pill might start causing trouble again."

Fan Jiwei, who had been listening silently, pointed towards the entrance of the Demon's Valley.

"Shouldn't we activate that formation in advance?"

Dan Yaksun hesitated, pondering for a moment.

Meanwhile, Leng Suomi cautiously offered his suggestion.

"Why not just tell them that the Sheng Shuxin Pill is lost and the recipe is unknown? After all, with the righteous man gone, it's impossible to produce the pill anymore."

Fan Jiwei snorted.

"Do you really think so? How many people will believe that, given the greed of martial artists obsessed with elixirs? We can spread the rumor."

"Spreading a rumor is what I do best."

Chao Yeliang nodded.

"Not a bad idea. Rumors based on facts spread the fastest."

At that moment, Dan Yaksun made a surprising statement.

"But the Sheng Shuxin Pill isn't lost, is it?"

"……?"

Dan Yaksun spoke casually, meeting the puzzled gazes of the others.

"I can make it. I've made it many times already."

"Really? Then why didn't we know?"

Fan Jiwei, who had been about to ask, was taken aback by Dan Yaksun's next words.

"You might not have known because I didn't tell you. But you've already taken it."

"Surely not……."

Chao Yeliang, who had been hesitant, nodded.

Fan Jiwei, on the other hand, nodded with a sigh.

"No wonder. The effects were too good……."

Han Xuehua was also taken aback.

Each time she took it, she had felt the effects were extraordinary, but it wasn't just a feeling.

Leng Suomi was speechless.

"Why are you using such a precious elixir so casually?"

"Because it was necessary for the three of you. It's not something that can be cured with simple acupuncture."

Dan Yaksun answered matter-of-factly.

The three were speechless, feeling both amazed and overwhelmed.

They had been enjoying an unimaginable luxury without even knowing it, taking a pill that was known to surpass the Great Revitalizing Pill.

"Was our condition so serious that it couldn't be treated without the Sheng Shuxin Pill?"

Chao Yeliang and Han Xuehua sighed, realizing the sacrifices Dan Yaksun had made to treat them.

Fan Jiwei, regretful, smacked his lips.

"Still, you should have told us. We could have absorbed the medicinal energy through cultivation."

Dan Yaksun smiled and replied.

"The remaining medicinal energy is naturally absorbed into your internal energy without any special process. There are no side effects, so I didn't mention it."

At this point, Han Xuehua recalled something.

"Didn't you use quite a few of these pills already?"

Fan Jiwei also asked, startled.

"Have we eaten them all?"

"I still have five left. If I have the ingredients, I can make more."

Leng Suomi laughed to himself.

He hadn't even considered how expensive the ingredients were.

Shamuxin had led a caravan into the desolate desert to trade with the Pasa Kingdom to cover the cost of these ingredients.

However, he wasn't so naive as to openly reveal this fact.

Dan Yaksun spoke again.

"But it will be difficult to make as many as before."

"Why?"

Chao Yeliang was confused.

The ingredients were more abundant now than when he first came to the Demon's Valley.

"The most important ingredient is hard to obtain."

"……?"

"The most important ingredient is the egg of a Thousand-Year Fire Carp."

Dan Yaksun turned and pointed to the pond connected to the waterfall.

"As long as the remaining fish are healthy, I can make a few more."

"You mean the carp in that pond?"

Dan Yaksun nodded.

Chao Yeliang and Fan Jiwei exchanged glances.

They remembered the fish that had died when they had cleaned the pond.

"……"

The two remained silent, finally understanding why Dan Yaksun had been so distressed at the time.

At that moment, Fan Jiwei muttered to himself.

"I guess I should stop peeing there."

"……!"

Everyone's gaze turned to Fan Jiwei.

"Y-You……!"

Han Xuehua, who had jumped up, began to emit a terrifying cold aura.

Chao Yeliang hurriedly restrained her.

"Control yourself! Sister Han!"

By then, Fan Jiwei had already fled far away.

Han Xuehua, shaking off Chao Yeliang, raised her hand and pointed at a spot in the air.

Swoosh.

The air instantly froze.

A transparent ice spear gradually took shape and shot towards Fan Jiwei like a bolt of light.

Bang!

A deafening explosion echoed, followed by a stream of curses from the distance.

"That was really dangerous just now!"

"Dangerous? Hmph! I'll show you what real danger is."

As Han Xuehua darted after Fan Jiwei, the two vanished from sight in an instant.

Leng Suomi, who had been standing there in a daze, finally came to his senses after a while.

"We need to prepare, don't we?"

Leng Suomi looked at Dan Yaksun.

"Once our whereabouts are known, people might start looking for us."

However, Leng Suomi secretly wondered what could happen with Chao Yeliang, Fan Jiwei, and Han Xuehua staying in the Demon's Valley. It would likely take half the Wulin Alliance's forces to deal with them.

Meanwhile, Dan Yaksun felt conflicted.

Her parents had lived here in seclusion, avoiding people.

'Must I spend my entire life locked away here too?'

She knew better than anyone how isolating and exhausting a life cut off from the outside world could be.

* * *

At the Guan Zhi Miao near Wuwei.

A middle-aged man in black martial robes, with a bamboo hat pulled low over his face, was waiting for someone.

Leaning against the wall with a sword cradled in his arms, he straightened up as a shadow approached from the distance.

An old man with bright red eyes and flowing white hair and beard, his sharp gaze and hooked nose, and a stubborn mouth, stood out even from a distance.

As they drew closer, the man in the bamboo hat bowed respectfully.

"Welcome, Elder."

The old man received the