Chapter118

He tightened his grip slightly on the ointment. His sharp senses and vision allowed him to clearly see the soft, fair, delicate body in front of him even in this dim setting.

Uno was half-kneeling by the bed, his posture a little stiff. After receiving Elara's command, he uncharacteristically did not move right away. It wasn't until Elara called out again in confusion that Uno lowered his gaze, his voice even rougher than before.

"Yes... Your Highness..."

…

Early the next morning, Elara woke up feeling completely refreshed. The night before, she had Uno use his inner energy to help rub the ointment Oswyn gave her onto her sore body.

Her thighs no longer hurt, her calves weren't numb, her waist wasn't sore, and even the inner sides of her thighs, which had become swollen from friction, had completely recovered overnight. Her skin tone had also mostly returned to normal.

The ointment was so effective it was nearly equal to the best healing cream she'd used in her past life.

No wonder he was the young master of the Divine Doctor Valley. The medicine he used was truly top-grade.

Of course, while Elara didn't really care much about the boundaries between men and women, in her past life as the heir to the Elara Clan, she had only planned to marry a man for the sake of continuing the family line.

But just because she didn't care about propriety didn't mean she was unaware of it. So last night, when Uno was applying the ointment, Elara didn't let him touch the inner part of her thighs.

After he finished massaging the rest of her body, she applied the medicine there herself.

Now, feeling her body fully recharged, Elara was in a great mood. She even praised Oswyn in her heart and didn't plan to dwell on his strange tone from the day before.

Although Oswyn was a man, he acted like he was constantly in a sour mood, but his medical skills were beyond question.

With Oswyn's ointment and Uno's inner energy massage, the following two days of horseback travel were much more comfortable for Elara.

During the day, she still leaned against Uno as he carried her while riding. At night, she received a "full-body spa" before bed. After Uno massaged her with the medicine, Elara drifted off to sleep feeling completely relaxed.

It was incredibly satisfying.

After nearly three days of riding like this, by the evening of the third day, the gate of Divine Doctor Valley finally appeared before them.

For the past few days, Oswyn had stayed cold and distant with her. But now, seeing the familiar gate of the valley, even he couldn't hold back. He rode to the front of the group and stopped next to Elara and Uno. His elegant eyes sparkled as he gazed at the endless green mountains ahead.

"Divine Doctor Valley is inside this mountain. After riding half a mile more, we'll enter the protective five-element formation. At that point, just follow me. Don't touch anything randomly or wander off. If anything or anyone gets lost in there, it'll be hard to get them back."

With that, Oswyn nudged his horse forward to lead the group.

The mountain where Divine Doctor Valley was hidden was tall and majestic, with winding paths leading in.

Everyone followed Oswyn, turning this way and that for a long while. The path really seemed to be under the effect of some formation, as if it was shielded by mystical forces.

After navigating the route that couldn't be mistaken, the scene ahead suddenly changed. The thick, endless forest disappeared, replaced by a picturesque haven with paths, stone pavilions, wildflowers, and white cranes fluttering around waterfalls.

Elara sat in front of Uno on the horse, raising an eyebrow as she looked at the tall gates that had suddenly appeared.

At the center of the gate hung a plaque with three elegant characters: Divine Doctor Valley.

The area under the gate was quiet with no one in sight, but it seemed there was no need for guards.

When Oswyn saw the gate, his face relaxed in comfort, showing no signs of worry or doubt.

The gate doors were already open. Everyone followed Oswyn through and started climbing the stone steps.

As the sun neared the horizon, they finally saw a second grand and ancient gate after a long climb. It also had the same three characters written on it: Divine Doctor Valley.

This time, the gate wasn't empty. Two young apprentices in uniform were standing and sitting on either side of the entrance. One was watching the gate, the other picking herbs.

Hearing the sound of footsteps on the stone steps, they looked up. When they saw Oswyn leading the group, their faces lit up with surprise and joy. They immediately dropped the herbs and ran over.

"Young Master! You're back!"

"Did your training end? We're so glad you've finally returned!"

It was clear the two apprentices admired and missed Oswyn very much. They rushed to his horse, one ready to lead the reins, the other helping him dismount. They didn't even have time to ask about the unfamiliar people following behind.

Oswyn calmly got off the horse. Now that he was back in Divine Doctor Valley, he looked much more relaxed. Even the gloom he'd been carrying for the past few days had faded.

"Yes, I'm back. But my training isn't finished. I just happened to pass by and wanted to check on my sect. Are Master and the senior disciples inside?"

"Yes, they're here!"

"Master and both Head Disciples are here. They'll be so happy to know you're back. I'll go tell them right now!"

The young medicine boy on the left ran excitedly into the door. Oswyn told the one on the right about Elara and the others, and the medicine boy quickly helped settle their horses and led the soldiers to a proper place to set up camp.

General Qi left ten of his personal guards and walked with Elara, Oswyn, and the others toward the valley. Inside the valley, there weren't many buildings. Most of the houses were simple bamboo huts, giving a quiet and elegant feeling.

Around the bamboo houses were large fields of medicinal herbs. Many medicine boys carried baskets and worked busily. From afar, the view looked like a peaceful countryside.

"It really is a calm and pleasant place away from the world." Hearing Elara's quiet praise, Oswyn lifted his chin proudly and replied happily, "Of course it is!"

Elara looked back at him and thought if he had a tail, it would definitely be wagging right now. She found it funny. After returning to the valley, her mood really improved, and her period didn't come either.

They all walked up the stone steps in the middle of the medicine fields. When they arrived at the biggest house in the valley, a young man with snow-white hair and a calm presence was already standing in front of the door with a smile.

Although his hair was strikingly white, his face was youthful and handsome, looking around twenty-one or twenty-two. Behind him stood seven or eight respectful medicine boys holding baskets, one of whom had just run to deliver the message.

Oswyn led the group and was the first to see the white-haired man. His usual stern face immediately changed into one of respect and admiration.

He stepped forward and bowed properly. "Master." The white-haired man, who looked only slightly older than Oswyn, nodded and gently helped him up. Once Oswyn stood, he smiled and looked warmly at Elara and the others, lifting his pale hands from beneath his wide sleeves and making several slow hand signs.

Behind them, more than just Elara was shocked by Oswyn calling this man "Master." Such a young man was Oswyn's teacher? The rumored master of the valley?

What shocked Elara even more was that the sign language he used was exactly like the universal deaf sign language from 21st-century Earth.

"Is this really the famous master of the valley? He's too young... He looks like he just turned thirty. How could he already be the master?"

"Yes... and it looks like he can't speak? He's using sign language?" Those who came up the mountain with them were just as surprised.

But soon, quiet whispers spread. Someone replied with doubt, "Don't you know? This has been widely known in the martial world. The valley master is one of only three land immortals blessed by the Divine Pulse, besides the Celosia State's Grand Priest and Freesia State's temple master."

"Land immortals serve the master of the Divine Pulse, and immortals live forever. Of course he looks young."

"Compared to the other two who have lived over a thousand years, our valley immortal received the blessing more recently. But it's still been over three hundred years since the last master died."

"This means our valley's immortal has lived for more than three hundred years. He's truly an immortal, so don't offend him just because he looks different."

"His throat was ruined because he tested too many poisons before becoming an immortal. Some say he almost died from it, but the Divine Pulse showed mercy and saved him, turning him into the third land immortal. Now, there are even rumors that his flesh can cure all poisons and even make people live longer."

That kind of talk made him sound like a second version of the monk Tang Seng. Hearing such ridiculous but fitting stories for this world, Elara's first reaction was disbelief. She pulled out System 92.

System 92 answered quickly. [Master, yes, this world truly has no fantasy powers. Its rules don't allow any mystical force to exist, so there's no such thing as gods, demons, or immortality. As for these people's stories, let me take a look... hmm... huh?]

System 92's voice suddenly stopped. Then it spoke again, sounding hesitant and puzzled. "This white-haired man is indeed a bit different from usual... He really has lived for nearly three hundred years, but it's not because of any magical power.

It's because... his body seems to have been purified?"

System 92 hesitated for a moment, as if searching for the right word. "Even now, the vitality in his cells remains incredibly strong. This condition is indeed strange.

However, since he's been able to live this long without any issues, it means his physical state matches the rules of this world.

There's no mysterious energy involved. Instead, he achieved immortality using another unusual but logical method that fits within this world's system."