Tie Ruyang had consulted numerous doctors, some even possessing considerable skill in ancient martial arts, but none, except for Yang Feilong, could, with mere contact, identify his ailment and prescribe a cure. This fact alone was unprecedented.
Moreover, Yang Feilong's confident tone suggested his condition was treatable, filling Tie Ruyang with both shock and hope. His chest pain, while sometimes bearable, could severely impair his combat effectiveness if it struck during a fight.
"Is this medicine for the symptom or the root cause?" Tie Ruyang inquired, concerned that a symptomatic treatment would lead to recurrence, while a cure seemed almost unrealistic.
"It cannot completely cure the root cause, naturally," Yang Feilong replied with a shrug. "Unless you abandon your cultivation!"
"Abandoning it is impossible. But treating the symptoms is still quite good!" Tie Ruyang exclaimed. After a pause, he asked, "How long will this treatment last?"
"Your constitution is fire-attributed, and you've cultivated fire-elemental techniques for decades, which is why so much fire poison has accumulated. It would likely take another eight to ten years for such a concentration of fire poison to build up again. Furthermore, if your cultivation breaks through to the Earthly Martial realm, this fire poison will cease to have any significant effect on you," Yang Feilong explained with a smile.
"That's almost as good as a cure!" Tie Ruyang was overjoyed upon hearing this.
"Indeed!" Yang Feilong nodded, though he didn't declare it a cure as it wasn't a complete eradication.
"You've treated my illness and given me a pill. Tell me, how much do I owe you?" Tie Ruyang asked with a smile.
"Wouldn't you like to test its efficacy first?" Yang Feilong countered with a grin.
"I trust you!" Tie Ruyang chuckled.
"This pill is on the house. Yunxi is my friend; just ensure she undertakes fewer dangerous tasks in the future!" Yang Feilong stated earnestly, shaking his head.
Hearing Yang Feilong's words, Lin Yunxi bit her lip and looked at him. "We're just friends. What do you mean by saying that?"
"I'm afraid you'll overestimate yourself one day and end up dead!" Yang Feilong retorted, looking at Lin Yunxi with a hint of exasperation.
"Hmph, if I die serving the people, I'll do so willingly," Lin Yunxi declared proudly.
Yang Feilong was speechless.
Observing their playful bickering, Tie Ruyang couldn't help but smile. The two seemed like a bickering couple. He understood that Yang Feilong cared for Lin Yunxi, and Lin Yunxi clearly had feelings for Yang Feilong but seemed inexplicably angry with him. Moments later, he realized why – the woman in the villa, perhaps even two of them, might be Yang Feilong's women. Alas, Lin Yunxi was exceptional, but Yang Feilong was no less so, perhaps even better. He quietly shook his head, deciding not to interfere in matters of the heart, for which he had neither the right nor the standing.
"It's only right to compensate you, but Yunxi has been too reckless lately. Sometimes, your current strength is still insufficient for the tasks you undertake," Tie Ruyang said with a smile. He had wanted to mention Lin Yunxi's insufficient strength before. While she had achieved many merits, many of them relied on Yang Feilong, something he now understood clearly. Of course, Lin Yunxi was commendable, but her rapid advancement in rank meant her strength, though reaching the Profound Martial realm, wasn't yet formidable enough. Many missions were perilous for her, yet she showed no fear. This was both good and bad. Good because she was brave, bad because a single misstep could lead to her demise. He certainly didn't want such a diligent, capable, and talented subordinate to perish.
"Officer Tie! You mustn't listen to Yang Feilong's nonsense," Lin Yunxi pleaded, anxiously glaring at Yang Feilong.
"Feilong is looking out for you!" Tie Ruyang chuckled.
"I don't need it," Lin Yunxi huffed.
Yang Feilong was again left speechless. He realized he shouldn't have brought this up in front of Lin Yunxi, knowing she would object.
"Alright, let's drop this topic," Tie Ruyang said, concerned the two might continue their argument. He opened a drawer and took out a box. "Feilong, this is for you. Consider it my consultation fee."
"What's inside?" Yang Feilong asked, looking at the box Tie Ruyang handed him.
"A piece of wood," Tie Ruyang replied with a smile. "I obtained it by chance!"
"Wood?" Yang Feilong took the box and opened it. He was initially curious, knowing Tie Ruyang wouldn't gift him ordinary wood. However, upon seeing the piece of wood, he couldn't help but gasp. "It's Qingyun wood!"
"Qingyun wood? What is that?" Lin Yunxi inquired, also curious. The wood was greenish with some white patches, resembling clouds.
"Yes, it's Qingyun wood," Tie Ruyang confirmed with a smile. "Several people wanted it, but I didn't give it to them!"
"The value of Qingyun wood is far greater than the pill I gave you!" Yang Feilong stated, looking at Tie Ruyang with a complex expression.
"As I said before, whoever could cure my illness would receive this Qingyun wood. Sadly, no one could. Now that you have succeeded, it belongs to you!" Tie Ruyang explained warmly.
"Aren't you afraid the pill won't work for you?" Yang Feilong asked helplessly.
"Oh, you're right!" Tie Ruyang slapped his forehead. "Perhaps I should take it back and give you this fee after I've confirmed its effectiveness?"
This remark made both Yang Feilong and Lin Yunxi burst into laughter.
"Haha, just kidding. I have great faith in you. You've slain demonic wolves, apprehended flower thieves, and you're a professor at the Medical School of Lan Hai University! Coupled with Lin Yunxi's praise, I'm quite confident in your medical skills. After all, you diagnosed my condition upon our first meeting and prepared the medicine!" Tie Ruyang laughed heartily. It was precisely because of his trust in Yang Feilong that he was willing to offer such a valuable consultation fee upfront.
To be precise, Yang Feilong believed the hundred low-grade spirit stones he might receive from this trip were far less valuable than this piece of Qingyun wood. His master and he had been searching for Qingyun wood for a long time. His incomplete Yin-Yang physique's eighth and ninth tribulations were unpredictable, but with Qingyun wood, he could at least easily overcome the eighth tribulation, not to mention the ninth. Such was the miraculous nature of Qingyun wood. While other rare heavenly materials were also needed and relatively easier to find, Qingyun wood was exceedingly scarce.
"Uncle Tie, no need for further words. Consider it a favor owed," Yang Feilong said seriously.
"En?" Tie Ruyang was quite surprised. A favor from an ordinary person might not mean much, but a favor from Yang Feilong was incredibly significant. Was this piece of Qingyun wood truly so important to him?