Chapter 4106 — Could He Be a Swindler?

"What? Him?" Wei Zhao was taken aback for a moment, recalling that back in the mortal realm, the Southern Heaven Libation had once mentioned this very man.

"So it seems you have heard of him too, young friend. Lord Tian and our master were close as brothers. Ever since then he has stayed at the Elixir Hall to recuperate, but alas, nothing has ever worked. The reason our master has been so elusive these years is partly that he has been seeking a way to heal him—and whenever the master is away, we senior and junior disciples take turns looking after him," Hou Guanqi explained.

Cai Zhongxuan picked up the thread. "So this time, having you meet Tianchan, young hero Lin, is really just using Lord Tian as a pretext. We have brought in outside physicians before to consult on his case, so no one will grow suspicious."

"I see. My thanks to you both for going to such trouble on my account. When shall we go?" Wei Zhao asked.

Hou Guanqi smiled. "Since you are so eager, young friend, we can go right now. I have already arranged men in advance; word will reach Tianchan's ears soon enough, and I trust she will not sit by and do nothing."

Having settled on the plan, the three set out at once for the private sanatorium prepared for Di Xingdao. Wei Zhao found it rather odd that Tianchan should be the one caring for Lord Tian, but then reflected that it was likely a task assigned by the Elixir Hall.

Entering the room, they were greeted by an old man of somewhat imposing stature, in good spirits, with a faint trace of his former heroic bearing still discernible—save that between his brows lingered a helplessness and dejection he could not shake off.

This was the first time Wei Zhao had laid eyes on Di Xingdao, once a legendary figure of Cloud-Tier Island. He was a ruined man now, his strength such that he might not even match an ordinary person—yet a legend is a legend. However far he had fallen, he would never truly sink into mediocrity, still less into banality.

Seeing the three enter, Di Xingdao did not fly into the harsh temper he had shown Tianchan before. Instead, his expression was calm as he smiled and said, "Ah, little Hou and little Cai. Have you brought me some marvelous elixir again, or thought of some other treatment?"

Over the years, not only Zhang Lifeng but also these nominal disciples such as Hou Guanqi had never given up, constantly seeking a cure for Di Xingdao and often bringing back rare medicinal ingredients—though each time to no avail.

"No, actually, this time the two of us have brought an apothecary to examine you, Lord Tian. This is the young friend Wei Zhao beside us," Hou Guanqi explained, steeling himself.

Once one's cultivation reaches a certain level, one's appearance and bearing cease to age barring some great calamity; yet to the experienced eye, a person's true age can be judged from bearing alone. As a former legend, Di Xingdao was hardly lacking in such discernment.

Still, though he could see that Wei Zhao was young, Di Xingdao showed not the slightest contempt. After all, age and strength did not necessarily go hand in hand. Some people, young as they were, were heaven-sent prodigies whose few short years of achievement others might spend hundreds or thousands of years failing to match—he himself and Zhang Lifeng were living proof.

Moreover, apart from his identity as the Elixir God, Zhang Lifeng was also known as the Medical Sage, and his nominal disciples were all physicians of uncommon skill—Cai Zhongxuan, for one, was a healer of sterling reputation throughout the Middle Island. If this young apothecary before them had won their approval, he was surely no ordinary man.

This Wei Zhao, it seemed, was a man of considerable ability!

"Then I shall trouble you, Apothecary Lin. Please." Di Xingdao at once courteously invited Wei Zhao to take a seat.

Watching the eager anticipation on Di Xingdao's face, Hou Guanqi and Cai Zhongxuan could not help exchanging glances, both with helplessness in their eyes. True, they were doing Wei Zhao a favor this time, but in effect they were deceiving the man by exploiting Di Xingdao—Wei Zhao was no apothecary at all, merely borrowing the identity so that he might meet Tianchan.

"Lord Tian, the truth is, we..." Hou Guanqi was about to confess everything to Di Xingdao when footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

Moments later, Tianchan appeared in the doorway, her face full of concern—and behind her, shadowing her like a haunting spirit, came one Zheng Tianshuo.

Everyone was taken aback. That Tianchan should be drawn here was only to be expected, but what was this Zheng Tianshuo about? Why had he come along as well?

At long last Wei Zhao had his wish and saw Tianchan, and his heart leaped with joy—yet at the same time he wondered who this creature trailing behind her might be. With those lewd, shifty eyes, the fellow was plainly no good.

On the other side, the instant Tianchan caught sight of Wei Zhao, her whole body gave a start and her heart surged with wild elation. She barely managed to keep her face from betraying anything—after all, Zheng Tianshuo was right behind her, and if he learned of the matter between her and Wei Zhao, there would be no end of trouble.

"What are you doing here?" Before anyone else could speak, Di Xingdao had already barked at Tianchan. "I have told you time and again—there is no need to come see me, and you are not welcome here!"

In the past, Tianchan might have withdrawn at such a rebuff, but now, having suddenly caught sight of Wei Zhao, she understood at once that he must have seized this pretext to come see her, and she was all the less inclined to leave at such a moment.

"Senior, Chan'er only wished to look in on you and show a junior's regard." Tianchan then turned to Zheng Tianshuo and said coolly, "Thank you for escorting me, Young Master Chu. I am going in to see Lord Tian now. You may go back."

Zheng Tianshuo grew anxious at once. "Now don't be like that. There are so many people here, and a stranger I have never laid eyes on before—what if he is that... that flower-plucking thief I told you about before?"

Pausing, Zheng Tianshuo turned a vicious glare on Wei Zhao and demanded, "Just who are you, anyway? You are no Elixir Hall disciple, are you? How did you sneak in here? Out with the truth this instant, before this young master!"

Before Wei Zhao could open his mouth, Hou Guanqi at his side had already knitted his brows and answered coldly on his behalf, "This is the apothecary we brought in to diagnose Lord Tian. Zheng Tianshuo, this concerns whether Lord Tian can recover—can you bear the consequences of insulting an apothecary?"

"Apothecary? An apothecary this young? Impossible! Could he be a swindler preying on the gullible? You had best not let yourselves be fooled by some charlatan!" Zheng Tianshuo still showed no intention of leaving. Backed by Zheng Dongjue, that great patron of his, he now walked the Elixir Hall as though it were his own domain, beholden to no one. R1152