A Remarkable Woman

"A healer?" Yuwen Lie glanced at Yang Fan, frowning slightly. He turned to his younger daughter, saying, "Yue'er, where did you find this person? It seems he's not a guest or advisor in the palace."

In both tone and expression, Yuwen Lie made no effort to hide his disdain for Yang Fan. Nor did he feel the need to mask it. A young apothecary like this, with unremarkable cultivation, could hardly inspire confidence. In the eyes of the world, only elderly physicians—those well into their eighties, if not older—were deemed truly skilled in the healing arts. A man like Yang Fan, barely in his twenties, would be no more than an apprentice at best.

"Father… Apothecary Yang's medical skills are truly remarkable—far superior to any of the physicians in the palace. You must let him try," the young princess tearfully pleaded.

Their voices weren't quiet, and the group of royal physicians waiting outside could hear everything clearly.

What?

This young man is supposed to be better than us?

Led by He Yaoshi, several of the palace's physicians looked displeased, stepping forward to inspect the situation.

"Humph, this apothecary is younger than my disciple's disciple back in the secular world. I'd like to see where his so-called superiority lies…" He Yaoshi sneered, approaching the screen, while the other alchemists—cultivators at the Qi Refining stage—echoed his derision.

"Yue'er, stop your nonsense!" Yuwen Lie's voice filled with restrained fury, a forceful presence suddenly emanating from him. "This concerns your sister Xiner's life and death. How could you bring a stranger of unknown origin into the palace to treat her?"

The young princess, terrified, bit her lip and looked apologetically at Yang Fan. Though her father doted on his children, when enraged, none dared cross him.

"Indeed, Princess," He Yaoshi said, his face kindly but with a touch of schadenfreude in his eyes as he cast a dismissive glance at Yang Fan. "You are still young. The world is full of frauds who pretend to be gods and deceive people with tricks. Be careful not to be fooled by outsiders."

Yang Fan simply smiled, undisturbed by the mockery. "Heh, whether I treat or not is up to you. But let me be clear: there is only one chance."

Yuwen Lie was momentarily stunned, feeling the subtle but unmistakable pride emanating from Yang Fan. Perhaps this young apothecary did possess some genuine ability. And suddenly, a twinge of regret rose in his heart. Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he couldn't afford to miss it—not when his daughter's life was at stake.

"Fine!" After a brief pause, Yuwen Lie made his decision. "Since you are so confident, I'll give you a chance. But if anything goes wrong, I will personally end your life and wipe out your entire clan!"

As the final words "wipe out your clan" left Yuwen Lie's lips, Yang Fan felt an overwhelming killing intent directed at him.

"Apothecary Yang, my father is giving you a chance. Please, go in and examine my sister," the young princess said, her tears turning into a hopeful smile.

Yang Fan, however, let out a cold laugh and shook his head. "I refuse to treat under such threats. Find someone else."

With that, he turned and made to leave, his robe swishing in the air.

"Apothecary Yang!" the princess gasped, shocked.

"Brother Yang, you can't do this!" Cheng Yunfei, watching from the sidelines, grew increasingly anxious.

"Humph, just a young upstart, where does he get such airs?" He Yaoshi and the other physicians sneered, their ridicule unending.

"Stop right there!" Yuwen Lie roared, his fury surging. In an instant, a tidal wave of oppressive energy bore down on Yang Fan.

Yang Fan felt a tremendous pressure and a faint sense of danger, his body halting momentarily. The Yuwen Lie standing before him was a man who had once slain a Spirit Condensation-stage demonic cultivator, and his reputation was indeed well-earned.

"Prince, do you not realize that when a healer treats a patient, the power of life and death is also in the healer's hands?" Yang Fan said, his tone calm, unaffected.

Yuwen Lie was momentarily at a loss for words.

Yang Fan continued walking towards the exit, his departure seeming inevitable. Yuwen Lie, watching his retreating figure, hesitated. The young man had easily withstood his immense pressure without flinching—clearly, this was no ordinary Qi Refining apothecary. At that moment, Yang Fan reminded him of the elusive Eastern Apothecary.

"Apothecary… wait."

Just then, a soft, gentle voice, weak but determined, drifted through the air like morning mist.

"There is only one chance," Yang Fan said coldly, without turning around.

"As a healer… would you really leave someone to die without even consulting the patient?" the woman's voice asked, though still feeble, there was a trace of challenge.

"What you say is reasonable. However, when someone threatens my life in exchange for treating theirs, I choose not to heal," Yang Fan replied, though deep down, his interest in this second princess was growing.

"My father is merely concerned for my safety," the voice continued after a moment's silence. "You can treat me without fear. Regardless of life or death, I guarantee you'll come to no harm."

"Father, please promise him," the second princess addressed Yuwen Lie directly.

"Xiner, you…" Yuwen Lie's voice trembled slightly.

After a brief discussion, Yuwen Lie sighed deeply. "Apothecary Yang, come in. I will honor my daughter's promise. Whatever the outcome, you have my word—I will not harm you."

For Yuwen Lie, one of the most powerful men in the kingdom, making such a concession was nothing short of extraordinary.

The physicians outside the screen were stunned. They could hardly believe that the Yuwen Lie they knew—cold, ruthless, and proud—would ever agree to such terms.

"Very well," Yang Fan nodded, making his way towards the princess's inner chamber. "If I weren't intrigued by the Second Princess, I wouldn't be breaking my rule this time."

Yuwen Lie's face darkened slightly at the remark. "Does this brat have designs on my daughter?"

"Hmph, he's clearly up to no good," the other physicians muttered, discontent evident as they glared at Yang Fan.

Yang Fan stepped into the room, taking in its simple yet elegant décor. Besides a dressing table, there was a refined desk and a bookshelf filled with hundreds of ancient tomes, each one an extraordinary volume. A delicate canopy bed, draped with sheer purple curtains, partially obscured the silhouette of a slender figure.

Yuwen Lie and his younger daughter stood near the bed, along with two graceful maidservants. All eyes were fixed on Yang Fan.

Yang Fan remained unbothered by the attention, casually approaching the bed and preparing to pull back the curtain.

"Aren't you going to take her pulse with a silk thread?" Yuwen Lie frowned, clearly still on guard.

Yang Fan chuckled. "I'm making an exception because I'm interested in the Second Princess. As for taking the pulse with a thread—that's a trivial trick of secular doctors. It's fine for common ailments, but for an unusual illness like this, it's a joke."

"Very well, proceed," Yuwen Lie responded tersely.

Without further ceremony, Yang Fan lifted the sheer curtain and calmly sat down beside the bed.

"This boy has no respect!" The physicians watching from outside fumed, grinding their teeth in frustration.

As the curtain was drawn back, a delicate fragrance wafted through the air, captivating Yang Fan's senses. Before him lay a sickly but stunning young woman, around seventeen or eighteen years old. Her beauty was exquisite, as flawless as the most perfect porcelain. Her alabaster skin gleamed, smooth as silk, her nose dainty and elegant, her eyes like autumn waters, deep with wisdom and insight. Her body, though frail, exuded a faint and unusual orchid-like scent, natural and subtle, not the result of perfumes. Though her slender form was hidden beneath luxurious blankets, the gentle rise and fall of her breath hinted at a perfect, graceful figure beneath.

As Yang Fan studied her, the Second Princess met his gaze, sensing his undisguised admiration.

"I am Yuwen Xin. May I ask for your esteemed name?" The Second Princess's pale face briefly flushed, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Esteemed name? You call me esteemed?" Yang Fan raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Yes. I've had a sense of your presence from the moment you arrived. And when you were about to leave, that sense grew tenfold," Yuwen Xin whispered, a hint of joy appearing in her eyes.

"In that case, you must have the wrong person. We've never met before. How could you know I can cure your illness?" Yang Fan asked, probing.

Deep down, he suspected that this woman might possess some kind of special ability. He was suddenly reminded of his sister, Yang Huixin, who also had an unusual gift—she could sense his emotions, no matter how deeply he concealed them.

"I am certain you can," Yuwen Xin replied, her voice soft but firm, meeting his gaze with a quiet confidence.

Their eyes locked, and Yang Fan found himself more curious than ever. Unlike other women, Yuwen Xin didn

't seem fazed by his rude behavior or the dire situation she was in. Instead, she had placed her trust in him despite having never met before. There was something mysterious about her, something hidden beneath the surface that piqued his interest.

"Very well, let's get started."