"Hahaha, what a flattering brat!" Divine Doctor Sha’s laughter remained sharp as a knife, causing the surrounding trees to rustle.
"Divine Doctor Sha, this world is vast. Some people spew nonsense, others maliciously slander. Some can decapitate generals with mere words. Yet, in this world, only flattery is not considered foul. What is the reason for this?"
As Ren Yuanhao spoke, he laughed heartily, his voice echoing through the forest, startling the birds into flight.
The man lying on the operating table inside the thatched hut—no, apologies, it couldn't be called an operating table. It was more like a butcher's block magnified tenfold. He had heard the man standing outside was the very brat who had ruined his good deed not long ago. His heart lurched. He intended to sit up and seize the opportunity to escape, but unfortunately, the poppy-laced medicine administered by Divine Doctor Sha had such a strong paralyzing effect. He couldn't help but feel his liver and gall were about to burst.
At this moment, Divine Doctor Sha suddenly thrust his knife into the man's waist, as if casually setting the knife down. A mist of blood splattered, immediately eliciting cries and wails of pain from the man. But Divine Doctor Sha acted as if oblivious, clapping his hands, pushing open the old door with a creak, and swaggering out. Da Feng Novel Network.
"Hey, kid, stop playing coy with me. I know flattery is a two-way street; one’s willing to give, the other’s willing to receive. Otherwise, why the saying 'birds of a feather flock together'? Your flattery smells good because I like the scent!"
—Holy crap? That's some god-like logic!
Liu Yu, as if witnessing two monsters in deep conversation, was momentarily stunned into place.
"Hahaha, I didn't expect Divine Doctor Sha to be so humorous. You're completely different from what those outsiders say."
Since forcing his way would likely yield no results, Ren Yuanhao decided to see his flattery offensive through.
"Oh? Those common folk outside can't fathom my thoughts, so they naturally attach words like 'cold,' 'eccentric,' or 'scheming' to me. I'm happy to be left in peace. Wonderful, wonderful!"
Using the light from his phone and the faint blue glow emanating from the hut, Ren Yuanhao finally got a full view of Divine Doctor Sha.
His physique was nothing like what he had imagined. He wasn't short like the old wizards of medieval times who dwelled in swamps and deep forests, nor did he wear necklaces of beast fangs or strange totems. His clothes weren't the crumpled, greasy patched ones he expected. Instead, he had a tall and slender build, wearing a luxurious purple trench coat. His long, slender hands didn't appear dry as his voice suggested; they were smooth and plump, resembling the skin of a maiden.
However, the only thing that gave him a somewhat eerie feeling was the mask he wore on his head.
The mask's material felt incredibly close-fitting, so smooth it was as if a facial mask had been applied. The mask bore a single, totem-like spiral pattern, resembling ripples on the water.
—Damn, why do I feel a sense of Uchiha Obito deja vu!
Ren Yuanhao, momentarily lost in thought, was about to speak when he suddenly heard rustling from the decaying leaves. Half a viper, specifically a *Protobothrops mucronatus*, slithered up Divine Doctor Sha's ankle, slowly dragging its body upwards. Upon reaching his shoulder, its flattened triangular head actively rubbed against Divine Doctor Sha’s face, appearing exceedingly affectionate!
"Little one, who harmed you so terribly?"
At these words, Liu Yu and Ren Yuanhao froze instantly, cold sweat breaking out on their backs.
The snake, with only half its body remaining but not yet dead, naturally opened its eerie, emerald eyes, staring intently at the two men. As its tongue flickered, it resembled a resentful woman capable of seeing through them completely.
"It was them? I understand."
As Divine Doctor Sha spoke, the man inside the thatched hut weakly cried out, "Divine Doctor Sha, save me!" Divine Doctor Sha merely patted the snake's head and then said in a dry, hoarse voice, "Keep shouting, and I won't mind turning you into a mute and then tossing you into these coffins to steep in wine."
—Holy crap? These coffins are filled with wine? And the ingredients for steeping wine are no ordinary things!
Ren Yuanhao's face turned somewhat pale. His mind had already conjured an image of something like "various human organs or animal reproductive parts mixed together in transparent glass bottles, with silent droplets emitting a faint yellowish glow the moment sunlight pierced them. Lifting the lid would be enough to intoxicate all heroes under heaven."
After this stern reprimand, the man's cries of agony ceased.
"Speak, you two scoundrels who injured my precious darling. Are you planning to compensate with flesh, or with your lives?" Divine Doctor Sha suddenly produced a bone-slicing knife, seemingly coated with poison, in his hand. His entire demeanor instantly turned chillingly sinister.
"Apologies, we are here to request a favor. We didn't know this snake was your darling. If we had known, we wouldn't have dared, even if you lent us a hundred leopards' courage."
Ren Yuanhao had already heard the crisp sound of Liu Yu's blade scraping against its scabbard. He immediately clasped the other man's hand, signaling him not to act impulsively, while maintaining a faint smile on his face.
"The injury has already occurred. Any further explanations are just empty words!"
As soon as Divine Doctor Sha finished speaking, he moved like a wisp of purple mist, instantly arriving before them. The emerald bone-slicing knife, like a venomous snake emanating a chilling aura from within the mist, lunged directly at Ren Yuanhao's face. Liu Yu's hand had already moved to draw his sword, but Ren Yuanhao forcefully pushed it back down.
Ren Yuanhao, completely ignoring the chilling blade, stood as firm as a pine tree!
Divine Doctor Sha's knife eventually stopped precisely at his nose.
"Kid, do you know the venom on this knife of mine is enough to kill ten elephants?"
"But in your heart, you constantly remind yourself that you are a doctor who saves lives," Ren Yuanhao said, appearing as steady as an old dog, but internally, he was terrified. He thought to himself, if I had known the venom on your knife could kill ten elephants, I would have dodged it without hesitation!
"Good, very good. It’s been a long time since I've encountered such an interesting troublemaker. Speak, while I'm in a good mood, state your business clearly." Divine Doctor Sha retracted his blade with lightning speed and stepped back a few paces, appearing to stand with considerable effort. He directly sat on one of the horizontally placed coffins, watching Ren Yuanhao coldly.
"My friend is poisoned by the Love Flower. We need to ask you for 'Qian Xue Rong Hua Cao.'" Ren Yuanhao actually had no confidence, his heart hanging in his throat, fearing Divine Doctor Sha might utter the word 'no.'
Divine Doctor Sha gave a sinister smile. "How are you so certain I have this rare herb?"
Ren Yuanhao's heart skipped a beat, as if a tightly strung wire had suddenly snapped.
"Don't be anxious. Your luck is good, kid. I do have that thing, but how many pounds of flesh are you prepared to offer in exchange?"