Chapter 4109 — Lord Tian's Wrath

"Lord Tian, you are too kind. This is simply a physician's duty," Wei Zhao said with a faint smile. In truth, if he had truly gone all out, he could have healed the man completely; as it was, he had only made a modest demonstration, restoring a portion of the meridians, so as not to appear too shockingly extraordinary.

Even so, Wei Zhao's image in everyone's eyes had abruptly taken on a profound and unfathomable quality. Di Xingdao was overcome with gratitude, while Hou Guanqi and Cai Zhongxuan no longer dared to regard Wei Zhao as an ordinary junior.

Watching this scene, Tianchan was sincerely happy for both Wei Zhao and Di Xingdao—one the man to whom she had entrusted her whole life, the other an elder bound to her by blood. If anyone was more thrilled at this moment than Di Xingdao, it was her, though for the time being she dared not show it too plainly.

"Young friend Wei Zhao, how... how on earth did you do that?" Hou Guanqi and Cai Zhongxuan, unable to contain their impatience, could not help asking out of sheer curiosity.

Both were masters of the medical art, and as for a technique that could heal shattered meridians—a feat bordering on defying heaven—it was simply impossible that their hearts did not itch with longing.

"There is no need for curiosity, seniors. The only reason I am able to do this is that the mental cultivation method I practice is rather unusual," Wei Zhao said with a smile, then straightened his expression and said, "However, I must ask you all to keep this method of treatment confidential. If word goes out, simply say that acupuncture combined with elixirs was used."

"Rest assured, young friend Wei Zhao. Where Lord Tian is concerned, this is among the highest secrets of our Elixir Hall. Even if you said nothing, we would be careful about such matters—and in any case, it will never be spread abroad, nor would anyone dare come asking us about it," Hou Guanqi and the other pledged.

"Good." Wei Zhao nodded. Where Di Xingdao, once the vice-island master of Middle Island, was concerned, even the slightest whisper leaking out would inevitably draw the attention of many great figures of Middle Island. If even one of them harbored ill intentions toward him, it would be an enormous trouble.

As they were speaking, Zheng Tianshuo outside the door could finally contain himself no longer and pushed the door open—only to witness the sight of heaven-and-earth spiritual energy gathering over Di Xingdao's right arm, which left him stunned and gaping.

Cai Zhongxuan quietly withdrew the barrier and said to Zheng Tianshuo with a cold laugh, "Well? Lord Tian has now recovered one arm. Is the physician we brought in still a charlatan and a swindler?"

"Uh..." Zheng Tianshuo was choked speechless for quite a while. Even if his medical skill fell short of those present, he had grown up in the Elixir Hall since childhood, and under such constant exposure his discernment still far surpassed that of ordinary people.

To be able to heal Di Xingdao—even if only one arm—was absolutely no small matter. If, even so, one insisted on calling the man a charlatan, then not only he himself but likely even his grandfather Zheng Dongjue, vice-hall master of the Elixir Hall, would not amount to the barest scrap of a charlatan—and from then on might as well go begging in the streets.

With the hard, irrefutable facts laid before him, Zheng Tianshuo, however arrogant, did not dare utter another foul word at this moment. He could only force himself to ignore everyone and, stiff-necked, said to Tianchan, "Sister-in-law, you have seen Lord Tian now. Hurry and come with me."

Tianchan shook her head decisively. "No. Lord Tian has only just recovered a little. I am staying to look after him."

"You..." Zheng Tianshuo still wanted to reach out and drag Tianchan away by force, but under the fixed stares of Hou Guanqi and Cai Zhongxuan—and especially now that even Di Xingdao's gaze toward him was turning unfriendly—he did not dare. This was a legendary figure who could be mentioned in the same breath as the Elixir God Zhang Lifeng; in his prime, he had been a mighty existence even his grandfather Zheng Dongjue could only look up to.

Circumstances were stronger than men. Zheng Tianshuo instantly dared not act up again, and could only give a resentful snort before slinking off alone.

With that tiresome plaster finally scraped off, Hou Guanqi turned to Wei Zhao and smiled. "The nuisance is gone. Young friend Wei Zhao, if you have anything to say, you may speak freely now."

Wei Zhao nodded and at once stepped forward, reaching out to take Tianchan's hand.

Yet before he could speak, Di Xingdao, seeing this, was startled, and his expression changed at once. Observing that Hou Guanqi and Cai Zhongxuan showed no surprise, he could not help but be taken aback.

"Pharmacist Lin, do not think that just because you have healed me, you may now behave like that wretch Zheng Tianshuo and take liberties with the women of my Tian family!" Di Xingdao flared in fury. Though he had only just recovered one right arm, he could already command a portion of the surrounding heaven-and-earth spiritual energy, and at once bore down on Wei Zhao with a tremendous, overwhelming force.

"Huh?" Wei Zhao was struck dumb at the words. Enduring the man's oppressive aura, he shifted his gaze back and forth between Di Xingdao and Tianchan, and asked in astonished disbelief, "Little Chan, this Lord Tian is... your kin?"

But Tianchan did not explain at once. Instead, she looked at Di Xingdao in startled joy and said happily, "Lord Tian, you are finally willing to acknowledge me?"

Di Xingdao sighed, and his gaze toward Tianchan softened, growing warm and kindly. "I am not made of stone. All this time you have cared for me and looked after me—how could I not see it? Besides, my ancestral line did indeed migrate from the Xuandan Sect of the mortal realm; I simply never spoke of it to anyone. The reason I would not acknowledge you before was only that I am a crippled man—there was no need to claim kinship with you, a useless invalid who would only invite disgust. What was there to acknowledge? But now that I have hope of recovery, of course I can acknowledge you."

"That is wonderful. Chan'er was so afraid you would never be willing to acknowledge me. These are the words I have dreamed of hearing, and now at last my wish has come true." Tears of grievance and joy alike streamed down Tianchan's face.

"You foolish child..." Di Xingdao was deeply moved as well. True affection shows in adversity; when he was at his lowest and most despairing, Tianchan's care had been like charcoal sent in the snow—that, and only that, was the bond of blood that no blade could ever sever.

The two had finally acknowledged each other, yet Hou Guanqi and the others nearby were left utterly bewildered. Wei Zhao, however, had gathered something of the truth from Di Xingdao's words, and asked, "Little Chan, could it be that Lord Tian and your Tian family of the mortal realm share the same lineage?"

"That is right." Tianchan nodded happily. "Our Tian family has two branches—one in the mortal realm, one on Cloud-Tier Island. Lord Tian must be an elder of the Cloud-Tier Island branch."