The Guest Apothecary
"What do you mean by that?"
Prince Yan's eyes glimmered with curiosity, mirroring the intrigue in Yu Wenxin's bright gaze as she sat quietly beside him.
"This could be considered a secret of the cultivation world…"
Yang Fan hesitated, uncertain if he should share his thoughts, especially since his own suspicions remained unconfirmed.
Prince Yan smiled lightly. "The Yu Wen family is one of the four great cultivation families in the capital. As for the cultivation world, I have long been acquainted with it."
"Could it be that Wushuang is also a cultivator?"
Yang Fan questioned.
"I cannot be sure whether he is a cultivator or not, but I am certain that he is not comparable to an ordinary martial artist. I have a theory…" Yang Fan paused, a strange light flickering in his eyes. "In the scriptures of the cultivation world, there is a concept known as 'Reincarnation.'"
"Reincarnation?!" Both Prince Yan and Yu Wenxin gasped in surprise.
While the concept of reincarnation also existed in the mundane world, those with a modicum of reason understood it to be nonsense.
"Indeed, the notion of 'Reincarnation' exists in the cultivation world, though it remains merely a legend; no one has been able to definitively prove it. According to this belief, when a living being dies and transitions to the next life, all memories are lost," Yang Fan elaborated, grappling with numerous questions and enigmas in his mind.
Previously, he had questioned Wushuang, confirming that the boy was not a case of body snatching or rebirth. Body snatching was a significant taboo in the cultivation world—when a soul escapes after death, it could annihilate another's consciousness and seize their physical form to achieve "rebirth" or "retraining." Of course, body snatching only occurred under dire circumstances and had a very low probability of success: if the target was too weak to bear the soul, it would be unable to survive; if the target was too powerful, the original soul would consume the intruder's spirit. Furthermore, the more times one attempted body snatching, the lower the chance of success. Generally, after the first success, the original soul would lose certain essences, making future attempts exceedingly difficult.
"Do you have any insights into Wushuang's identity, Prince Yan?"
Noticing Prince Yan deep in thought, Yang Fan couldn't help but inquire.
"Actually, Wushuang was recommended to the capital by someone… that individual holds a significant position in Yuyang Kingdom, and even the high-ranking figures of the cultivation world regard him with great caution," Prince Yan stated, his tone measured.
"Who is that person?"
Yang Fan's curiosity peaked; a mere mortal could instill fear in the upper echelons of the cultivation world, suggesting immense power. Those upper echelons were surely cultivators of at least the Golden Core stage.
"He is my revered mentor," Prince Yan looked up to the sky, and when he spoke of his "mentor," his eyes revealed an overwhelming respect and admiration.
Prince Yan's mentor? Who could it be?
Yang Fan recalled Prince Yan's extraordinary martial skills, and a fleeting thought crossed his mind, though it slipped away before he could grasp it.
Prince Yan took a deep breath and spoke in an unusual tone:
"My master is the greatest martial artist in Yuyang Kingdom, the Martial Saint."
Martial Saint!
Upon hearing those two words, Yang Fan felt a profound weight to their significance.
"Could Wushuang be your junior brother?" Yang Fan probed tentatively.
"Not at all," Prince Yan replied with conviction. "My master has already confirmed this."
Yang Fan nodded, reflecting on Wushuang's formidable demeanor; such a person would likely never submit to anyone.
A silence enveloped the study as Yang Fan devoted himself to healing Yu Wenlie, his cultivation rapidly advancing, almost as quickly as when Wushuang treated him, though just a fraction slower.
This outcome surprised Yang Fan slightly. Logically, Prince Yan's profound skill and greater physical strength should yield better results than Wushuang's treatment, given that their injuries were comparable.
For a moment, Yang Fan fell into deep contemplation.
Perhaps an individual's strength was not solely defined by their deep cultivation or physical prowess; it should encompass a person's essence, spirit, and will.
In terms of mental fortitude, Wushuang surpassed Prince Yan by a considerable margin; he possessed an indomitable will and relentless drive, with boundless potential—this was also a facet of strength. In contrast, Prince Yan, Yu Wenlie, had seemingly lost that fearless tenacity, rendering him inferior on the mental plane.
Time gradually passed, and nearly half an hour later...
"Your Highness, your injuries have healed,"
Yang Fan withdrew his hand, exhaling gently.
"Your speed in healing is astonishing…"
Yu Wenlie marveled, incredulous. "Such injuries, in the past, would have taken at least a month to heal, yet you have restored me in merely half an hour—something even the three great divine doctors of the capital could not achieve."
"Many have said the same," Yang Fan smiled lightly, not one to feign modesty.
Having devoted some time to the healing arts and treated many cultivators, their collective feedback was that his healing speed was exceptional.
Yu Wenlie fell into a long silence, sighing softly.
"I wonder how long Apothecary Yang plans to stay in the estate? If I am not mistaken, Wushuang's next target will be you, Apothecary."
Upon hearing this, Yu Wenxin's expression changed, and she asked with palpable tension, "Wushuang intends to challenge you, Apothecary?"
"Me?" Yang Fan narrowed his eyes slightly. "How does Your Highness know this? What business does someone of my humble station as an apothecary have to warrant a challenge from someone of his caliber?"
The agreement he had reached with Wushuang was private, hidden from prying eyes.
"Intuition," Yu Wenlie replied, his gaze piercing as he focused on Yang Fan. "During the gathering at the Heroes' Hall, he exhibited this inclination. As for the Apothecary's strength…"
Yang Fan shrugged and smiled amiably, "I am merely an apothecary, devoted to healing and saving lives."
Yu Wenlie regarded him with a complex expression.
"The Apothecary is being humble; although I cannot discern your exact level of power, my martial intuition tells me you possess formidable strength… Moreover, when has Wushuang ever challenged opponents of significantly lesser ability?"
"This is an agreement between him and me, the specifics of which I cannot divulge,"
Yang Fan pondered aloud.
Hearing Yang Fan's confirmation, Prince Yan let out a long sigh. "A golden dragon is not merely a creature of the pond."
"I wonder what your intentions are, Apothecary—do you plan to heal my daughter's ailment and then depart the estate, or do you harbor other motives?"
Prince Yan asked candidly.
"Whether I stay or leave depends on you, Your Highness…"
Yang Fan replied with a faint smile.
"What do you mean by that?" Prince Yan's eyes lit up; he had initially thought that a person of Yang Fan's caliber would not easily join the Yan estate, yet his words now hinted at a possibility.
"If the Apothecary has any requests, do share,"
Yu Wenxin added, her expression brimming with anticipation.
Yang Fan paused to collect his thoughts before slowly speaking,
"Ever since I shifted my focus to the healing arts, receiving guidance from esteemed individuals, I have devoted myself to the noble cause of healing—seeking to save lives and offer compassion to the world. Ultimately, my purpose in coming to the estate is to… establish a medical clinic."
Establish a medical clinic!
Prince Yan, who had been sipping tea, nearly choked at those words.
He had presumed that a healer of Yang Fan's extraordinary skill would possess some ulterior motive, yet the simplicity and purity of his goal took him by surprise.
To open a medical clinic, seeking charitable funding—such a straightforward aspiration was hard for him to accept!
Prince Yan's disbelief was palpable.
"I never expected the Apothecary to be so benevolent, bearing a heart full of compassion for the suffering of the world,"
Yu Wenxin said, her face reflecting admiration as she regarded Yang Fan.
Seeing that someone finally believed in his intentions, Yang Fan nodded, feeling a sense of relief.
His purpose in coming to the Yan estate was indeed as simple as that—just to establish a medical clinic. Nothing more, nothing less.
"May I ask if the 'Yan Estate' could assist me in fulfilling this wish?"
Yang Fan looked at Yu Wenlie with a teasing smile, awaiting his response.
"Well…" Yu Wenlie hesitated, feeling a touch of disbelief towards Yang Fan's seemingly straightforward intentions.
"Your Highness, do consider that with just a single thought from you, I could open a vast clinic, thus alleviating the suffering of countless beings… This is truly a deed of great merit,"
Yang Fan urged, gently encouraging him.
"Merit of great deed? Ha! Apothecary, are you a cultivator? Do you truly believe in such things?"
Prince Yan chuckled, temporarily dismissing his earlier concerns, and instead, posed a question with a smile.
"If the estate invests considerable resources to help you realize this endeavor, would you accept the position of guest apothecary?"
"Guest Apothecary?"
Yang Fan replied without hesitation. "That would be agreeable; however, I would require a
high degree of freedom, unbound by the estate's commands, allowing me to make my own choices. Naturally, I will adhere to common decency and respect basic interpersonal relations."
"Agreed! It's settled, then. I shall grant you the supreme token of the estate! With this token, you will be treated as if you were meeting me directly, facilitating your affairs,"
Prince Yan declared with a hearty smile, retrieving a golden dragon-emblazoned token, roughly the size of a human palm.
Yang Fan graciously accepted the token and tucked it away.
"Let us postpone discussions about the medical clinic for now. Before that, I wish to ask the Apothecary one or two questions regarding my daughter,"
Prince Yan said solemnly, his gaze fixed intently on the enigmatic figure before him.
"Please, go ahead," Yang Fan sensed a shift in the atmosphere.
Yu Wenxin also adjusted her posture, attentively listening.
"The first question pertains to Xin'er's unique constitution, specifically the 'Nine Residences Profound Pulse' that you mentioned. From birth, Xin'er has been different from other children; she possesses wisdom beyond her years and is remarkably perceptive. Most intriguingly, she also exhibits astonishing predictive abilities…"
Prince Yan paused momentarily before continuing.
"You previously indicated an interest in Xin'er, which prompted you to intervene and heal her. I feel uneasy and must candidly request you to clarify the reasons behind this."
"What do you mean by that?"
Yang Fan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Prince Yan gazed deeply at Yang Fan and remarked,
"If you have intentions towards Xin'er, I could grant my consent to betroth her to you as a gesture of gratitude for saving her life; conversely, if you are merely intrigued by her unique constitution and her potential, I can arrange for her to cultivate under your guidance."
At these words, Yang Fan's brows shot up, and he fixed a cold stare on Prince Yan.