In the room, Yan Yan paced anxiously. She had intended to go to the Roland Mountains to find Xiao Man, but had been knocked out and brought back by Fan Ting. Now, her father had confined her to the courtyard, preventing her from leaving. Yet, her grandfather's condition was worsening, and he seemed close to his end!
"What should I do? What can I possibly do?"
"Oh, beauty, what troubles you so?" Xiao Man opened the window, leaped inside, and saw Yan Yan's anxious face. She couldn't help but tease her.
Yan Yan looked up and saw Xiao Man. She felt as if she had seen a savior. She rushed forward and threw her arms around Xiao Man's neck, "Xiao Qin, it's so good you finally came to find me!"
Ze Fang watched Yan Yan, who was sobbing with joy as she rushed into Xiao Man's arms, confirming his suspicion. These two were indeed planning to elope!
"Have you hugged enough?" Ze Fang urged, "Before anyone notices, why aren't you packing your bags?"
"Pack our bags?" The two exchanged glances and looked at Ze Fang in unison. "Pack our bags for what? And who are you?"
"I am Xiao Qin's brother!" Ze Fang puffed out his chest. "Aren't you two eloping? Don't you pack for an elopement? Or have you already packed?"
"Eloping?" Xiao Man gritted her teeth and asked, "When did I ever say I was eloping?"
"Yes, why would I elope with Xiao Qin?"
Ze Fang was bewildered by their reactions. "Didn't you agree to elope? That's why Xiao Qin climbed over the wall to find you."
Yan Yan let out a chuckle, pointed to her head, and said, "Xiao Qin, is your little brother perhaps not all there?"
Xiao Man glanced at Ze Fang and saw his confused expression. She explained, "My apologies, I didn't make myself clear. I came to the City Lord's mansion to rescue someone."
The old man before them was emaciated, with white hair and unfocused, cloudy eyes. He was clearly at the end of his rope.
"Grandfather."
The old City Lord heard the voice and with great effort, opened his drooping eyelids. "It's Yan'er."
Yan Yan stepped forward and knelt beside the old man. "Grandfather, Xiao Qin is back. She's returned to find me."
Upon hearing the name Xiao Qin, a terrifying light flashed in the old City Lord's eyes, and his aura pressed down on them. "Are you the brat who swindled my granddaughter's Foundation Establishment Pill?"
Xiao Man rubbed her nose. Had she swindled Yan Yan's Foundation Establishment Pill? It seemed she hadn't; Yan Yan had given it to her herself, right?
"Grandfather, I told you, I gave it to her willingly!"
The old City Lord affectionately stroked his granddaughter's head. "My child, you haven't even married yet, and your heart is already leaning outwards. I don't know if I'll be able to see you get married and have children."
"Grandfather, you will see. Xiao Qin is very capable." Yan Yan looked expectantly at Xiao Man. "Xiao Qin, you said that once you completed Foundation Establishment, you could heal my grandfather's injuries."
"I also said I only had a fifty percent chance."
"A fifty percent chance?" The old City Lord finally looked directly at Xiao Man. When he learned that Xiao Man had come from the Land of No Return, even after she obtained the Dragon Spirit Bamboo, his trust in Xiao Man vanished the moment he heard she had swindled his granddaughter's Foundation Establishment Pill. He even felt like he could eat Xiao Man whole. "Kid, are you a pharmacist?"
"I am just a doctor," Xiao Man replied frankly. "I can treat some difficult illnesses, but I have never treated a cultivator before."
The old City Lord's expression shifted dramatically. He had never treated a cultivator, yet he dared to boast of a fifty percent chance. "Kid, do you know the consequences of deceiving me?"
"You are dying anyway, why not take a gamble? If I succeed, you get to live. If I fail, you'll just die a few days earlier. For you, there's no loss."
The old City Lord felt Xiao Man's words were logical, yet something felt off. Upon careful consideration, there was nothing wrong. Trusting her could be considered a way out.
"Xiao Qin, fifty percent chance, you treat him!"
"How dare you!" The City Lord rushed over upon hearing the news, only to hear his daughter say that even with a fifty percent chance, she would treat him. If anything went wrong, Wuji City would face disaster!
"Father, you're here..." Yan Yan lacked confidence. If her father knew Xiao Man only had a fifty percent chance, he would definitely not allow her to treat him, which was why she had secretly brought Xiao Man here, but he had still arrived.
The City Lord pointed at his daughter and finally said fiercely, "I'll deal with you later!"
"Father, the recruitment day for the Seven Great Sects is approaching. The immortal masters from the Hundred Medicine Hall will come to Wuji City then. Just hold on a little longer, and you'll be saved once the immortal masters from the Hundred Medicine Hall arrive."
The old City Lord sighed. His son always played it safe, not as bold as his granddaughter. If the Hundred Medicine Hall truly had a cure, why hadn't they offered one by now? Moreover, his physical condition was already dire; whether he could hold on until then was a question.
"Let her try," the old City Lord said slowly. "I have lived for so many years; even if I die, I have no regrets."
"Father, don't talk nonsense. You will be fine," the City Lord said repeatedly. "Your son has already sent a plea for help to the Hundred Medicine Hall. They should respond soon."
Xiao Man shrugged. "Miss Yan, as you can see, it's not that I won't treat him, but that the City Lord won't allow it. Since it's not needed, I shall take my leave."
"Stop," the City Lord reprimanded. "Return my daughter's Foundation Establishment Pill."
"Father!" Yan Yan immediately stepped in front of Xiao Man. "The Foundation Establishment Pill was given to Xiao Qin willingly by your daughter, and didn't you previously agree to let Xiao Qin treat Grandfather?"
"That was before I knew she only had a fifty percent chance."
"A fifty percent chance is already quite high." The old City Lord coughed, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The blood was dark, indicating severe poisoning.
"Father, how are you?" The City Lord was flustered. Seeing his father cough blood, and knowing there was only a fifty percent chance, he still didn't want to take the risk, even though he knew this was their best option.
"Treat or not treat?" Xiao Man inquired. "Please discuss and then give me your reply."
Ze Fang had been observing the old City Lord's condition since he entered the room. Seeing the disagreement between Yan Yan and her father, he couldn't help but frown. Inwardly, he didn't want Xiao Man to get involved in this thorny issue.
"Xiao Qin, this isn't an illness, it's an injury. It can't be treated," Ze Fang said in a low voice. "He's not just poisoned; I suspect his Golden Core is shattered. He won't live for more than seven days."
Xiao Man looked at Ze Fang with admiration. "Ze Fang, your eyes are truly sharp. You actually saw that his Golden Core is shattered. Could it be that you are also a pharmacist?"
Ze Fang shook his head and denied it. "If I were a pharmacist, how would I not know that Qiyun grass is edible?"
Xiao Man nodded in agreement. Indeed, if Ze Fang were a pharmacist, it wouldn't make sense for him not to recognize poisonous substances. But then, how had he seen that the old City Lord's Golden Core was shattered?