Unrivaled Medicine God, page 9
The instant Ye Yuan brought up his father, Tang Yu's eyes lit up immediately. If Ye Hang would really take action personally, then his father's injuries would definitely be under control.
"Is this true?"
"Of course, it's true. If you don't believe me, we can write a contract."
Tang Yu felt that it was not very nice to be this untrusting of others, but with his father's life at stake, he honestly could not care that much any longer. Furthermore, with Ye Yuan's distinguished reputation, he really did not dare take the risk. If his father could be saved, then he would apologize to Young Master Ye then.
Having made his decision, Tang Yu cupped his hands and said, "Then I will have to trouble Young Master Ye."
Waving his hands, Ye Yuan said lightly, "You're welcome. Shopkeeper, help me draft a contract."
The shopkeeper naturally did not dare to delay; he quickly took a brush and a paper to draft out the contract. Only when Ye Yuan signed his name on it did Tang Yu finally relaxed.
Looking at the back view of the two who were already far away, the shopkeeper felt what happened was somewhat unreal. He knew better than anyone that in the past, Ye Yuan would definitely not be this easy to talk to; unless he really did mature after surviving a calamity.
. . . . . .
Every inch of land in the capital was like an inch of gold. Even though demonic beast hunters generally had much higher income than the average person, Tang Zonghuai still could not afford an excessively large house; let alone supporting his son to practice martial arts.
This was a very ordinary house for commoners which looked gloomy inside. The moment Ye Yuan stepped inside the house, a wave of medicinal smell wafted out.
"Tranquil Heart Lotus, Red Pine Nuts, Golden Flower Fruit . . . All of these medicinal herbs are meant for entry-level medicinal pills. It looks like Brother Tang is still practicing refining Tier 1 pills. It's just that this Great Returning Pill is a high-grade Tier 1. With Brother Tang's current standards, I'm afraid even if you used all three stalks of Six Leaf Grass, you wouldn't be able to refine it, right?" Ye Yuan was not the slightest bit courteous with his words; drawing blood with a single prick, he exposed Tang Yu's standards.
Tang Yu could not even imagine how great Ye Yuan's skill was. Relying on his nose and sniffing just once, Ye Yuan managed to completely determine Tang Yu's ability. Although they were around the same age, in front of Ye Yuan, Tang Yu felt as if he was just like a child stumbling while learning how to walk.
Ye Yuan also intentionally revealed some abilities so that Tang Yu would not look down on him. He did not have any choice since his predecessor was such a piece of work. He had no alternative but to show off a little.
Being talked to in such a way by Ye Yuan did not anger Tang Yu, but instead, it startled him. They just stepped into the entrance, but the medicinal herbs were placed deep within the house. Ye Yuan could not possibly see them, yet he could rely purely on his nose to discern the medicinal herbs without missing a single one. What kind of comprehension in Alchemy Dao was needed to do that? Most likely even the instructors in the academy did not have such abilities . . .
Chapter 16. Provoking with Words |
"To think Brother Ye is so well-read, to have such a level of attainment towards the alchemy path. Tang Yu carelessly believed the rumors and as a result, affronted Brother Ye. I am ashamed." With just Ye Yuan's words, Tang Yu realized this person definitely had an undeserved reputation, and he quickly apologized.
Ye Yuan silently praised him. This Tang Yu came from a poor background, yet he was frank and forthright; a friend worth making.
On the way here, Tang Yu recounted about his household. Only then did Ye Yuan know this Tang Yu was actually a student from the Dan Wu Academy. No wonder Tang Yu knew he was at the last place in the ranking.
With a smile, Ye Yuan said, "No need for that, Brother Tang. My previous reputation was indeed horrendous, so Brother Tang can't be blamed. As for my attainments in the Alchemy Path, it isn't really that high. It's just that when I was young, my father forced me to learn some of these medicinal herbs, so I ended up recognizing a few of them."
At this point, Tang Yu no longer dared to underestimate Ye Yuan. He quickly said, "Brother Ye is too humble. Please, come in."
As Tang Yu led Ye Yuan into the house, a series of faint and weak coughing sound came from someone lying on a bed. Needless to say, the person was Tang Yu's father, Tang Zonghuai.
"Yu-er . . . cough . . . Are you . . . cough . . . back?" Tang Zonghuai's condition did not seem to be very optimistic; coughing so severely just by saying something, and even struggling just to sit up straight.
Tang Yu looked at this scene and quickly went up to support Tang Zonghuai. "Father, I already told you not to move about."
"Hahaha . . . cough . . . This time around . . . cough . . . Father probably isn't going to make it. In the . . . In the future, you have to . . . cough . . . take good care of yourself." Clearly, Tang Zonghuai already harbored the intention to die.
Tang Yu's tears immediately spilled out, and he said with a choking voice, "Father, don't speak anymore. I . . . I will definitely cure you! I already brought back the Six Leaf Grass. I will go and refine the Great Returning Pill right away."
Tang Yu was about to get up when he was grabbed by Tang Zonghuai. "No . . . No need . . . cough . . . It is useless."
It was not that the Great Returning Pill was actually useless, but rather, Tang Zonghuai knew that it was not possible for his son to refine the Great Returning Pill. Instead of wasting the medicinal herbs, he might as well leave it for his son.
"Cough cough . . . Yu-er, to . . . cough . . . to think there's a guest. Why . . . Why didn't you invite him in to have a seat?" Only now did Tang Zonghuai notice someone else was standing at the entrance of the room.
Upon mentioning Ye Yuan, Tang Yu immediately perked up and turned to Ye Yuan. "Brother Ye, I beg of you. Please save my father! As long as you can cure him, I would be willing to slog like a horse for you throughout my lifetime."
Even though Tang Yu's background was not that good, it was clear that he was a person with an air of pride. To be able to say such words showed how deep the relationship between the father and son pair was.
Judging others by oneself, even the most delicate string lying within the deepest parts of Ye Yuan's heart was strummed.
"You and I can be considered to have hit it off as brothers. Why did you have to say something like toiling for me akin to a horse? Quickly, let Uncle lie down, I will do a diagnosis." Tang Yu made space for Ye Yuan who did not bother with courteousness and sat directly on the bed.
Right when Ye Yuan was about to grab Tang Zonghuai's wrists, who knew the latter would pull away. "No need for it . . . This Little Brother . . . Thank you."
"Father!" Seeing his father like this immediately made Tang Yu anxious.
Ye Yuan knew that Tang Zonghuai wanted to avoid causing trouble for his son. Hence, he was bent on dying. Of course, a part of the reason was that Ye Yuan was too young; he did not believe Ye Yuan can do anything.
Ye Yuan did not get angry. Signaling with his hands to stop Tang Yu, he asked, "Uncle, if I didn't guess it wrong, you were injured by a Giant Wind Rhinoceros right?
Hearing that, Tang Yu instantly became agitated. "What a great judgment, Brother Ye, to have guessed it at a glance."
Tang Zonghuai remained unmoved. Coughing several times, he said disjointedly, "It's . . . Yu-er who . . . told you right? Don't . . . bother."
"Father, I really did not tell Brother Ye. He figured it out on his own." Looking at how his father was bent on dying, Tang Yu's heart was torn with anxiety.
Looking at this situation, Ye Yuan started frowning. To treat a person, firstly, he had to address the patient's heart. Tang Zonghuai himself did not want to live anymore. Even if he let Tang Zonghuai ate a miraculous panacea, it might not be able to save him.
With Ye Yuan's eyesight, he could indeed see that Tang Zonghuai was heavily injured, and most likely he would not outlive the night to see the next day. If things continued delaying like this, then even if he became an Alchemy Emperor once more, he would not be able to save Tang Zonghuai. Even his current condition was not something that a Great Returning Pill could treat.
Ye Yuan decided to give a dose of fierce medicine. "Forget it, Brother Tang. What's the point of saving such a heartless person? Since he wants to die, then let him die."
Tang Yu could not catch on of Ye Yuan's real intention. But seeing Ye Yuan demeaned his father like that, he suddenly was in a rage. "Ye Yuan, what are you saying? My father got injured all because for my sake. How can you called him a heartless person?"
"Cough . . . Such an immature . . . goading technique . . . is useless." Tang Yu might not be able to realize it, but how could an experienced old man like Tang Zonghuai not tell.
Ye Yuan naturally did not think that it would succeed so easily. With a cold smile, he then said, "Is that so? Then just treat it as a goading technique. In the future when Brother Tang dies on the streets and goes to the Underworld to blame you, let's see how you respond then."
A ripple finally appeared in Tang Zonghuai's placid emotions. Turning around, he said, "What do you mean by that?"
"Didn't you said it's a goading technique? Why bother asking so much then? I was taking into account of Brother Tang's filial piety, that's why I agreed to save you. But to think that his filial piety wasn't appreciated at all. It's fine to not save you then. Farewell." After saying this, Ye Yuan then just turned around and walked away.
"Hold on!" Tang Zonghuai and Tang Yu called out in unison.
"Is there anything else, Uncle?" Ye Yuan ignored Tang Yu and asked Tang Zonghuai coldly.
"I would like to know . . . what did Little Brother . . . meant by . . . what you said just now." Saying how Tang Yu would die on the streets really triggered him.
"You are just someone who's about to die, what's the point of knowing so much? To not even care about your own son's life and death, only caring about your own death; if you aren't heartless, then what are you?" Ye Yuan smiled coldly.
"As . . . As long as . . . this Little Brother clarifies things . . . I . . . I'm willing to be treated." Seemingly speaking too much, Tang Zonghuai's coughing became even more intense.
Yet Ye Yuan maintained that look of disdain. Smiling coldly, he said, "Do you think that after Tang Yu enters the Dan Wu Academy, his future would be boundless?"
"Isn't . . . isn't that the case?" Tang Zonghuai asked doubtfully.
"Of course not! The Dan Wu Academy is not the holy land you imagined; on the contrary, it's an abnormally cruel place. Of course, I believe Brother Tang has never mentioned this to you before, am I right?" Ye Yuan questioned him while looking towards Tang Yu.
Tang Yu revealed an embarrassed expression, yet he still nodded his head, which was considered tacitly agreeing. Tang Zonghuai was quite familiar with his own son, so he naturally knew that he was not lying; his heart could not help but tighten.
Ye Yuan continued saying, "The Dan Wu Academy is indeed a place where geniuses congregate, but it's also where the competition is the most intense; possibly it is even crueler than the outside world! The birth of a genius often requires stepping on the bones of other geniuses. Although Brother Tang's talent isn't bad, it isn't exceedingly good. Furthermore, he is just a commoner. Without the support of massive resources, he is destined to be the stepping stone for other people. In the future when he's eliminated, even if he survived, he can at most make a living by becoming a demonic beast hunter. There are no small numbers of people like that within the Dan Wu Academy. How many demonic beast hunters do you think could possibly lead a safe and secure life?"
As a demonic beast hunter himself, Tang Zonghuai naturally understood the circumstances of demonic beast hunters. Thinking of how his own son would possibly follow in his footsteps, Tang Zonghuai felt like even if he died, he would not have died peacefully.
"Li-Little Brother, just now . . . cough . . . was my fault. Can I trouble . . . you to treat my injuries? I . . . I'm willing to . . . pay any price." Initially, Tang Zonghuai was not willing to cause any trouble for his son. However, after discovering that his son might get into even more trouble after he passed away, this meant that no matter what, he cannot die.
Chapter 17. Trust and Choice |
"Brother Ye, how are my father's injuries?" Tang Yu asked uneasily.
Tang Yu was an amateur who did not have much confidence in his diagnosis. Now that Ye Yuan displayed a standard in the alchemy path that was way above his, he naturally entrusted all of his hopes on Ye Yuan.
Ye Yuan furrowed his brows, making Tang Yu's heart sink fiercely at once.
"A Giant Wind Rhinoceros is abnormally strong and extremely fast. Uncle is already considered lucky to have escaped alive from it. His injuries are severe. A lobe of his lung is already in tatters, and his heart is also leaning towards failure; his life is in danger at any moment." Ye Yuan's expression was somber.
Tang Yu's heart gradually hit rock bottom along with Ye Yuan's words. Instead, it was Tang Zonghuai whose face had the serenity of someone who saw past life and death. He was obviously aware of how severe his injuries were, which was why he was so decisive just now. Hearing Ye Yuan's diagnosis only confirmed his speculations.
"Brother Ye, don't tell me . . ." Tang Yu did not dare to complete his sentence. Ye Yuan could feel the despair in his heart just from these few words.
However, Ye Yuan did not answer Tang Yu's question. Instead, he locked his brows together, as if he was pondering on a problem.
For some time, the house was eerily silent. Tang Yu could not tolerate the torture anymore. Plucking up his courage, he asked Ye Yuan, "Brother Ye, I know it's a little presumptuous, but can you request . . . your father to take action?"
Lifting his head up to look at Tang Yu, Ye Yuan looked calm, but he remained silent.
Tang Yu felt a little self-conscious by Ye Yuan's stare and said awkwardly, "Sorry Brother Ye. It's not that I am looking down on you, but . . ."
"I know what you meant by that. Regardless whether you believe it or not, it's useless, even if my father came. Not only that, even if it's Wan Donghai or even Wu Daofeng who came, it wouldn't help," Ye Yuan said firmly.
Wu Daofeng whom Ye Yuan had named was the Chairman of the State of Qin's Alchemists Association. In the entire State of Qin, the one with the highest accomplishments in the Alchemy Dao was neither Wan Donghai nor Ye Hang, much less the Imperial Uncle from the Imperial Family; it was this Lord Chairman Wu Daofeng. Now that Ye Yuan said even he would not do, it was basically the same as sentencing Tang Zonghuai to death.
Except these words had a hint of quibble in Tang Yu's ears. If it were regarding other matters, he naturally would not argue about it. But right now, Ye Yuan was sentencing his father to death right in front of him. How could he not have doubts? Who was Ye Yuan anyway? Merely a silkpants.
"Brother Ye, you . . ."
"Yu-er, let Mister Ye . . . finish his words." Tang Zonghuai interrupted Tang Yu halfway.
Tang Yu was a little stunned. Ye Yuan nodded and said, "I just said that they won't do. But this doesn't mean that Uncle's situation is hopeless."
Tang Yu was elated after hearing this. Grabbing Ye Yuan, he said, "Does Brother Ye has a plan?"
"The plan actually lies with you, Brother Tang."
"Me?" Tang Yu was befuddled by Ye Yuan's words. In reality, Ye Yuan did not know how to initiate his request; which was why he took a very roundabout way.
Nodding his head, Ye Yuan said, "Brother Tang is also aware that my past reputation isn't that great. I wonder if Brother Tang can trust me."
At this moment, Tang Yu came to a realization. As a smart man, if he still could not understand Ye Yuan's intention hidden in his words, then he would be a fool.
"Does Brother Ye mean . . . the Six Leaf Grass?" Tang Yu asked hesitatingly.
"That's right." Ye Yuan did not deny it and directly acknowledged this.
In reality, there were differences in the way the Divine Realm and the Lower Realms ranked their medicines. Although a Tier 1 pill in the Divine Realm was also categorized into levels of high, middle, and low, the so-called high-level pills that the State Of Qin had to offer were merely low-level pills when placed in the Divine Realm. The variety and quality of the pill formulas in the Divine Realm were not something which a Lower Realm's mortal country could compare to.
Logically speaking, it was impossible for Ye Yuan to refine a high-level Tier 1 pill with his strength. His essence energy could not even support the refinement of a high-level Tier 1 pill. The only reason why he could refine it was that he used to be an Alchemy Emperor. He was only able to refine medicines that surpassed his strength with his pitiful amount of essence energy by meticulously controlling the distribution of essence energy to a terrifying degree.
Yet these so-called high-level Tier 1 Pills were merely some unwanted low-level pills in Ye Yuan's eyes.
However, high-level Tier 1 pills from the Lower Realms were no longer sufficient to treat Tang Zonghuai's injuries; middle-level Tier 1 pills from the Divine Realm were necessary. But Ye Yuan's current strength was way too low at the moment, making it impossible to refine pills of such a grade.
Hence, he was giving Tang Yu an option. If Tang Yu chose not to believe in him, then his fate with Tang Yu would end here; there would be nothing he could do for Tang Zonghuai's injuries.
"H-how can I do that? What if . . . What if . . ." Tang Yu became quite flustered.
Subconsciously, Tang Yu felt that Ye Yuan was trustworthy. However, when facing the grim reality, Tang Yu really did not know what he should do. His idea was that if Ye Yuan really could not save his father, then he had the Great Returning Pill as his last hope.
"Brother Ye, it's not that I don't believe you, it's just . . . just . . ." Tang Yu did not know how to word it.
"Yu-er, give it to him," at that moment, the silent Tang Zonghuai said with a weak voice.
