"Feng'Er, take this Ultimate Dragon Card. Just treat the money inside as spending money."

In the sacred grounds of the Kunlun Sect, a portly old man with the look of a die-hard miser handed a black card to Ye Feng.

"My boy, this Dragon King ring is for you. With this ring, you can command all the forces of the underworld. If some fool is blind enough to provoke you, just use this ring to call for backup."

A sallow-faced, burly man with a thick beard, his eyes flashing with a sharp light as they opened and closed, arrogantly slapped down a ring.

"Take this Celestial Master Token. If anyone dares to show off their paltry mystic arts in front of you, just smack them dead with it!"

A man wrapped in a Daoist robe, exuding a cold and sinister aura, stepped out from the group and held up a Token.

"Xiaofeng, this is a compendium of martial arts. You must train diligently. Remember, things others give you will eventually run out. The only thing that truly matters is the strength of your own fists!"

A towering man, well over two meters tall and dressed in training clothes, with a vicious scar on his face, took out a thread-bound ancient book.

"Your medical skills are now comparable to the nation's greatest healers, but you must always review *A General Treatise on the World's Medical Arts*. Never let your medical practice slide!"

An old man who smelled of medicinal herbs, with the bearing of a wise sage, earnestly advised him.

"Xiaofeng, take this Hundred Flowers Order. Most of the top beauties in those high-end clubs come from our Hundred Flowers Valley. If you want to relax, just go find them. When they see the Hundred Flowers Order, no matter how high-priced they are, they'll have to be completely obedient to you!

Let me tell you, don't work yourself so hard. For small matters, find your five senior sisters. For big matters, find us old-timers. Don't worry, the sky won't fall!"

An ageless, seductive woman who exuded endless charm with every glance, draped an arm over Ye Feng's shoulder, her voice tantalizing enough to make one's bones go soft.

"I also arranged five marriage contracts for you. Now that you're going down the mountain, you need to fulfill them one by one. Let me tell you, there are great benefits in it for you.

Also, if you take a fancy to any other nice girls down there, just tell your master. I'll go to their families and propose on your behalf!

Even if she's the daughter of the Jade Emperor himself, I'll snatch her for you!"

The burly, bearded man flushed and shot the seductive woman a glare. "Lao Liu, how can a hot-blooded man be distracted by women..."

The seductive woman put her hands on her hips and shot back, "Distracted by women? Don't tell me you want Xiaofeng to end up like you lot—a bachelor for life?"

...

Watching his masters' heartwarming bickering, Ye Feng felt a warmth spread through his chest.

Ten years ago, on the night of the Dragon Boat Festival, his parents had mysteriously vanished. He himself was being hunted down when his masters intervened, saving him and bringing him to the Kunlun Sect.

Over the past decade, they had taught him everything they knew without reservation and had cared for him meticulously.

In Ye Feng's eyes, these people were his real parents. He desperately wanted to stay on the mountain and take care of them, but alas, he had important business to attend to.

Just then, the seductive woman looked at Ye Feng and added another reminder. "Ah, Xiaofeng, on this trip down the mountain, you will surely go looking for your parents. I have a clue for you.

Each of your five fiancées has a Jade Pendant. Once you fulfill the marriage contract, you can get it.

Gather all five Jade Pendants, and you will naturally learn of your parents' whereabouts!"

Ye Feng agreed. After packing his things, he gave his six masters a deep bow, thanking them for their years of guidance, then turned and left.

The Daoist-robed elder watched Ye Feng's departing figure and spoke in a grave voice, "Xiaofeng's journey will inevitably cross the lines of certain people. I just hope he doesn't cause too much of a stir."

The other four spoke with domineering confidence. "Every cause has its effect. No matter how big a stir he causes, those people will have brought it upon themselves."

The seductive woman pouted. "With us backing him, so what if Xiaofeng tears the heavens down?"

...

「One day later.」

「Jiangcheng.」

Following the address he was given, Ye Feng arrived at a villa district.

Xiao Yufei, the subject of his first marriage contract, lived here.

Looking at the luxurious villa before him, Ye Feng murmured, "So she's from a wealthy family."

Just as Ye Feng was about to ring the doorbell, the roar of an engine sounded from behind. He turned to see a Maserati Quattroporte speeding toward him before screeching to a halt.

Ye Feng glanced at the car. It was, at most, five centimeters away from him. If it had moved forward just a tiny bit more, he and the car would have become intimately acquainted.

Just then, the car door opened, and a woman stepped out.

The woman had jet-black hair and delicate features. She wore a custom-tailored suit that perfectly outlined her exquisite figure.

In terms of both figure and looks, she was an absolute stunner who could easily score a ninety-nine out of a hundred.

Seeing Ye Feng sizing her up, the beauty frowned and asked coldly, "Who are you? What are you doing lurking around here?"

Ye Feng looked up at the beautiful woman and chuckled.

"Nice driving skills, beautiful."

The woman's pretty face instantly turned cold. Having navigated the cutthroat world of business, she had seen plenty of scumbags like him. How could she not understand the lewd undertone of his words?

Seeing that Ye Feng was just another piece of trash, the disdain in the woman's eyes deepened. "What exactly are you here for? Are you deaf?"

"You're Xiao Yufei?" Ye Feng asked calmly, unperturbed.

His master had given him a photo with the marriage contract, so Ye Feng recognized her at a glance.

It was just that in person, she was even more radiant and captivating than in the photo.

Ye Feng praised her inwardly. 'My Sixth Master really has good taste!'

"And you are?" Xiao Yufei asked, looking at Ye Feng with confusion.

"My name is Ye Feng. Two years ago, my master arranged a marriage between us. Here, this is the contract." Ye Feng spoke politely, pulling a marriage contract from his backpack and offering it to Xiao Yufei.

Xiao Yufei took the contract, glanced at it out of the corner of her eye, and sneered, tossing it back at Ye Feng. "You and I are not from the same world. You're not worthy of fulfilling this marriage contract with me."

Ye Feng's brow furrowed. 'This woman seems to look down on me!'

A trace of displeasure appeared on Ye Feng's face as he looked at Xiao Yufei. "I have no problem with voiding the marriage contract, but you have to return the Jade Pendant my master left here."

'Her standards are sky-high, and her temper stinks. I can't be bothered to deal with her.' Ye Feng decided to just get the Jade Pendant and leave.

"The Jade Pendant?" Xiao Yufei frowned. "My grandfather has it. Come inside. I'll give it to you after I've taken care of my business."

Xiao Yufei used a remote to open the villa's main gate, then got back in her car and drove inside.

After parking the car, Xiao Yufei hurried to open the passenger-side door. A moment later, a white-haired old man carrying a medicine box got out and entered the main hall with her.

Ye Feng followed them inside, strolling casually with his hands behind his back.

As soon as he entered the hall, he heard a woman's shriek from the east wing. "Oh no, the master has fainted again!"

Xiao Yufei's face paled. She looked at the old man and cried out anxiously, "Divine Doctor Cao, please hurry and treat my grandfather!"

The old man nodded and followed Xiao Yufei into the east wing.

On the bed lay an old man, his face pale, gasping for breath as he clutched his chest in agony.

It was Xiao Yufei's grandfather, Xiao Wenyuan.

Xiao Yufei looked at the old doctor and quickly explained Xiao Wenyuan's condition. "My grandfather has heart disease and has already had two stents inserted. The doctors say his condition is too poor to allow for a third one. Our only hope now is Traditional Chinese Medicine. Divine Doctor Cao, I'm counting on you!"

The old man was Cao Bin, owner of the Sage Apothecary Hall and a renowned Divine Doctor in Southern Province.

Cao Bin walked over to Xiao Wenyuan's bedside, observed him for a moment, and then spoke with complete confidence, "It's just another attack of coronary heart disease. I'll perform acupuncture with my heart-strengthening technique and then prescribe some medicine to manage it. His symptoms are sure to ease!"

Xiao Yufei's eyes lit up. She exclaimed excitedly, "You truly live up to your reputation as the most famous Divine Doctor in Southern Province! Your skills are incredible! Please, Divine Doctor Cao, if you can cure my grandfather, the Xiao family will reward you handsomely."

Cao Bin took a set of silver needles from his medicine box and was about to begin the treatment when Ye Feng, who had sauntered over to the doorway, spoke calmly.

"The patient doesn't have coronary heart disease; it's a myocardial infarction. If you use that heart-strengthening technique, not only will it fail to cure him, it will worsen his condition and could even kill him outright."

'The old man still has the Jade Pendant. If he dies, I'll have no way of getting it.' That was the only reason he had spoken up.

Xiao Yufei turned to glare at Ye Feng, her face turning icy. "Ye Feng, who gave you the right to meddle here? Get out."

"Wait!" Cao Bin stopped Xiao Yufei, then glared at Ye Feng and said coldly, "I, Cao Bin, have been practicing medicine for many years, and this is the first time anyone has ever questioned me so directly to my face. You've crossed a line!

Today, I'm going to let you watch with your own two eyes how I cure this patient. The moment he recovers is the moment you will apologize to me!"

With that, Cao Bin ignored Ye Feng completely, took out a silver needle, and inserted it into several of Xiao Wenyuan's major acupoints.

...

In less than two minutes, Xiao Wenyuan slowly came to, his breathing growing steady.

Cao Bin turned his head to look at Ye Feng, who was standing by the door. "The patient's condition has improved," he said coldly. "Now, apologize to me!"

Ye Feng ignored him completely, holding up five fingers and folding them down one by one. "Five, four..."

Cao Bin glared at Ye Feng and snorted. "Still trying to act profound? Apologize immediately."

"Three, two, one!" Ye Feng finished his countdown.

"I told you to apologize!" Cao Bin roared, but before he could finish, a piercing scream came from Xiao Wenyuan on the hospital bed.

Cao Bin whipped around, and his pupils instantly constricted.

He saw with perfect clarity that Xiao Wenyuan's face had turned a purplish-blue. Drenched in sweat, he was clawing at his chest as if trying to rip his heart out, his features twisted in agony.

Seeing Xiao Wenyuan's agonized state, Xiao Yufei cried out anxiously, "Divine Doctor Cao, what's going on?"

Cao Bin's face went white. His voice trembled as he cried, "It's a heart attack! The patient is having a heart attack!"

Xiao Yufei froze. She never imagined Ye Feng's prediction would actually come true.

She quickly snapped out of it and cried urgently to Cao Bin, "Divine Doctor Cao, please, hurry and treat my grandfather!"

Cao Bin scrambled to treat Xiao Wenyuan, but after trying for some time, the old man still wouldn't wake up.

Cao Bin's face drained of color. 'If Xiao Wenyuan dies because of my mistake, the Xiao family will never let me go,' he thought. 'My lifelong reputation will be ruined.'

Just as he was at a complete loss, he suddenly remembered Ye Feng. He quickly turned to him and asked respectfully, "Dare I ask, Little Divine Doctor, do you have a solution?"

'He diagnosed the patient's condition in a single glance and even predicted the exact time of the attack after my own treatment,' he thought. 'This young man is anything but ordinary. Perhaps he really can save me!'

Ye Feng looked at Cao Bin and said calmly, "Let me borrow your silver needles."

Cao Bin immediately handed the silver needles to Ye Feng.

Ye Feng moved to Xiao Wenyuan's side. With a flash, a silver needle in his right hand pierced Xiao Wenyuan's Suliao and Zhongchong acupoints. Then, he used a needle in his left hand to pierce the Neiguan point on the old man's left wrist, lifting, thrusting, and twirling it to apply strong stimulation.

...

"The Heart-Saving Divine Needle! It's actually the Heart-Saving Divine Needle technique!" Cao Bin, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but exclaim in shock.

This technique had a miraculous effect on patients with heart attacks, but it was notoriously difficult to learn. Even he had never managed to master it. To see Ye Feng execute it with such proficiency today was enough to convince him that the young man's medical skills were far superior to his own.

Xiao Yufei, standing nearby, glanced over at Xiao Wenyuan. The next thing she knew, her jaw had dropped open, and she couldn't seem to close it.

She could clearly see that the unconscious Xiao Wenyuan was slowly waking up, and the color was returning to his face.

"Grandpa, you're awake! You scared me to death!" Xiao Yufei rushed to the bedside, grabbing the old man's hand and crying out excitedly, tears already streaming down her face.

When Xiao Yufei was a child, her parents were often away on business, so she had been raised by Xiao Wenyuan. They shared the closest bond. Over the past while, as his condition worsened, she had been worried to death. How could she not be overwhelmed with emotion now that he was finally getting better?

Xiao Yufei wiped the corners of her eyes and turned to Cao Bin. "Divine Doctor Cao," she said quickly, "what's the next step in his treatment?"

Cao Bin shook his head bitterly. "With the Little Divine Doctor present, what right do I have to offer my skills?"

With that, he turned, gave Ye Feng a deep bow, and said gratefully, "If Divine Doctor Ye had not acted today, my lifelong reputation would have been destroyed. You saved me. I am eternally grateful."

He then pulled out a business card and pressed it into Ye Feng's hand. "If you ever need anything from me in the future, just say the word. I'd go through hell and high water for you, without hesitation!

Furthermore, seeing your skills has made me realize just how shallow my own are. From this day forward, in my heart, you, sir, are my master, Cao Bin's master.

I will take my leave now. We shall speak again another day."

Cao Bin bowed deeply once more, then turned and left.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wenyuan, lying in bed, had pieced together what happened. Realizing that Ye Feng was the one who had saved his life, he struggled to sit up and looked at him gratefully.

"Ah, Little Divine Doctor, thank you for saving my life. What reward would you like? Name it. As long as I, Xiao Wenyuan, can provide it, I will not refuse."

Ye Feng replied nonchalantly, "I'm not lacking for rewards. The only reason I saved you was to get my Jade Pendant back."

"Jade Pendant?" Xiao Wenyuan asked, looking at Ye Feng in confusion.

Standing to the side, Xiao Yufei curled her lip and said, "He claims that two years ago, his master and you arranged a marriage for us, with a Jade Pendant as proof. He's here today to fulfill that marriage contract..."

The moment the words left Xiao Yufei's mouth, Xiao Wenyuan began to shout excitedly.

"So it's you! For the past two years, I've been waiting for what feels like an eternity, hoping you'd come to fulfill the marriage contract. You're finally here! This is wonderful! Truly wonderful!"

He then looked at Xiao Yufei and got straight to the point. "Granddaughter, call your parents right now and have them come back to make arrangements. You two will be in the bridal chamber tonight!"

Xiao Yufei staggered, nearly falling to the floor. 'How did we jump straight to the bridal chamber?!' she thought.

She looked at Xiao Wenyuan and cried out, mortified and angry, "Grandpa, what are you talking about?!

I'm the CEO of a company, and he's some country bumpkin fresh from the mountains. We're not from the same world! How could I possibly fulfill a marriage contract with him? Give him the Jade Pendant back and make him leave!"

"You... are you trying to anger me to death?" Xiao Wenyuan glared at Xiao Yufei and roared. The next second, his expression changed. He clutched his chest, and his head lolled back as he passed out again.

"Grandpa, wake up! Please don't scare me!" Xiao Yufei shrieked, shaking Xiao Wenyuan, but he didn't respond.

Xiao Yufei whipped her head around to face Ye Feng and cried desperately, "Quick, do something! Save my grandfather!"

Ye Feng walked over to Xiao Wenyuan, swiftly inserted several silver needles into his vital acupoints, and began to twirl them. In just a few minutes, Xiao Wenyuan slowly regained consciousness once more.

Ye Feng took a slice of ginseng from his pocket and placed it under Xiao Wenyuan's tongue. In less than ten minutes, Xiao Wenyuan's color had improved considerably.

Xiao Yufei looked at Ye Feng and asked helplessly, "Why does it keep happening like this? How long will your treatment take to cure my grandfather's illness?"

Ye Feng looked at Xiao Wenyuan. "The old gentleman has been ill for a long time, and the damage to his body is severe... Hmm, give me a month. In one month, I can have him back to his old self."

Hearing this, Xiao Wenyuan burst into laughter. "Perfect! You can live with Yufei for this month, and a month from now, Yufei should be pregnant with my great-grandchild! HAHA..."

Xiao Yufei felt like she was going to lose her mind.

She wanted nothing more than to kick Ye Feng to the ends of the earth, but she didn't dare. She was terrified of giving Xiao Wenyuan another heart attack.

More importantly, her grandfather's recovery still depended on him.

'This guy is like a porcupine,' she thought. 'You can't touch him without getting pricked!'

Just as she was feeling utterly tormented, a middle-aged couple strode quickly into the room.

...

The middle-aged man wore a suit and had an imposing air.

This was Xiao Gang, Xiao Yufei's father and the chairman of Qingya Cosmetics.

The middle-aged woman looked remarkably similar to Xiao Yufei. A chiffon dress accentuated her perfect figure, and she looked so young she could pass for a friendly neighbor in her late twenties.

The woman wore a naturally gentle smile that made anyone who saw her feel an immediate sense of warmth.

This was Xiao Yufei's mother, Lan Yazhi.

Xiao Gang hurried to the bedside. Seeing that Xiao Wenyuan's complexion was good, he heaved a long sigh of relief and said,

"Dad, Yufei said your condition was critical. But looking at you now, I'd say you look even better than before."

Xiao Wenyuan pointed to Ye Feng beside him and said with a wide grin, "It's all thanks to my granddaughter's husband and his superb medical skills!"

Xiao Gang froze on the spot. 'What the hell? Where did this "granddaughter's husband" suddenly pop out from?'

'How come I didn't know about this?'

At that moment, Xiao Wenyuan looked at the dumbfounded Xiao Gang and said urgently, "Xiao Gang, you two are back just in time. Start the preparations right now. I want Yufei and Ye Feng to consummate their marriage tonight."

Xiao Gang staggered, nearly falling to the floor. 'Consummate the marriage? Just like that?'

He turned to look at Xiao Yufei, his expression one of utter exasperation.

Xiao Yufei was furious. She explained what had happened, then looked at Xiao Gang and exclaimed in frustration, "Dad, look at Grandpa!"

Xiao Gang glanced at Ye Feng, a flash of contempt in his eyes that he quickly concealed. He looked at Xiao Yufei and said calmly,

"Yufei, I understand the situation. I'll handle it."

He then turned to Xiao Wenyuan with a smile and said, "Dad, Yufei is stubborn. She can't accept Ye Feng's incompetence. If you force her, you'll just upset her terribly, and you'd feel bad about that, wouldn't you?"

Xiao Wenyuan stiffened his neck and retorted, "The disciple of that immortal master? How could he possibly be incompetent?"

Xiao Qiang quickly chimed in, "Exactly! That's what I was thinking, too. So let's give Ye Feng a chance to prove himself!

Our Qingya Cosmetics is facing a crisis, right? If Ye Feng can use his own abilities to get Qingya Cosmetics through this difficult time and back on track, then we'll acknowledge him. That way, Yufei can accept marrying him, and we can all accept it. What do you think?"

Xiao Wenyuan's eyes darted back and forth for a moment. Then, he chuckled and said, "I have absolute confidence in Ye Feng. Fine, I agree."

Hearing this, Xiao Yufei, who was standing nearby, frowned. She wanted nothing to do with this country bumpkin and was about to refuse.

But before she could speak, Xiao Gang pulled her outside and whispered in her ear, "Yufei, how could this country bumpkin possibly be worthy of you? I'm only agreeing to this bet as a stalling tactic.

He has no connections and no resources. How could he possibly get Qingya Cosmetics back on track? When he fails, we can just tell him to get lost.

In the meantime, we can have him cure your grandfather's illness as quickly as possible. Isn't this a plan to kill two birds with one stone?"

Xiao Yufei's eyes lit up, and she nodded emphatically. "Okay, I agree."

Lan Yazhi, who was nearby, overheard Xiao Gang and said with a frown,

"Xiao Gang, the man saved Father's life and is going to continue treating him. Isn't it wrong for you to scheme against him like this?"

Xiao Gang said coldly, "Once he cures Dad's illness, I have a hundred ways to thank him. But if he thinks I'll marry my daughter to him, he's not worthy."

Lan Yazhi sighed and said no more.

They spoke in low voices, but they had underestimated Ye Feng's hearing. He heard every single word of their conversation clearly.

The corners of Ye Feng's mouth curled up slightly. 'Scheme against me?'

'Heh, you're overthinking things. But this Lan Yazhi, she seems like a good person.'

Just then, Xiao Yufei came back in, looked at Ye Feng, and said, "Ye Feng, I agree to my dad's proposal. As long as you can do it, I'll agree to marry you."

Ye Feng's eyes narrowed. He spoke calmly, "There's no need for all this trouble. Just give me back the Jade Pendant. I can prescribe some medicine for the old master to stabilize his condition, and then I'll leave."

Hearing this, Xiao Wenyuan grew anxious. "Ye Feng! Your master said that I could only give you the Jade Pendant after you married my granddaughter! I can't break my promise!"

Dark lines formed on Ye Feng's forehead. 'Master even predicted this?!'

'Master,' he thought, 'you're ruthless.'

Xiao Gang, standing beside them, said with a smile, "Come on, Ye Feng, just agree. As long as you fulfill the terms of the bet, I guarantee I'll give you the Jade Pendant."

Hearing this, Ye Feng readily agreed. As long as he could get the Jade Pendant, he would do whatever it took.

He looked at Xiao Yufei and said, "Alright then, let's go check out the company. The sooner I can fulfill the bet, the better."

The sooner he fulfilled the bet, the sooner he could get the Jade Pendant and leave.

Xiao Yufei shot Ye Feng a disdainful look and muttered, "No matter how soon you try, you don't stand a chance."

With that, she turned and walked out.

Ye Feng smiled calmly, put his hands in his pockets, and followed her out.

Lan Yazhi, however, looked at Ye Feng and called out with a smile, "Ye Feng, come back early tonight! Auntie will make you some noodles to welcome you!"

Ye Feng smiled and nodded, then followed Xiao Yufei to the Maserati Quattroporte. He pulled open the car door, about to get in.

Xiao Yufei stopped him with a look of disgust and said bluntly, "The company's biggest problem right now is a cash flow shortage. The reason is that several clients have failed to pay for their goods for a long time.

The one that owes the most is Baihui Cosmetics. I'll give you their file. Go and collect this debt."

After speaking, she tossed a file folder to Ye Feng and pointed to a small electric scooter nearby. "It's not that far. You can ride that. The air is fresh, and it's convenient."

Then she got in her car and drove straight off.

As the car left the residential complex, the corners of Xiao Yufei's mouth curled up in a sneer. 'Once you get a taste of how harsh the real world is, you'll realize your own incompetence. You'll see that you're not worthy of me at all. Then, you'll quit on your own without me having to say a word!'

With that, she stomped on the gas and sped away, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake.

Ye Feng took the documents from the file, glanced at them, then got on the little electric scooter. He rode unhurriedly to Baihui Cosmetics, asked an employee for directions, and went straight up to the second floor. Arriving at the manager's office, he knocked and then pushed the door open.

The room was thick with smoke. Four people were playing mahjong. At the head of the table, a bald man had his arm around a scantily clad woman, groping her as he casually discarded a Two-Dot tile. "Chow."

The woman next to him draped herself over the bald man and giggled, "Oh, you're so naughty, Big Brother!"

The others all roared with laughter.

The men were shirtless, revealing various tattoos. One look and you could tell they were trouble.

Ye Feng instantly understood Xiao Yufei's purpose in sending him to collect the debt. 'She wants to use these guys to teach me a lesson!'

'Heh, she's overthinking things.'

He waved a hand to clear the smoke and looked at the four people. "Which one of you is Liu San?"

...

A man with his back to the door turned and glared at Ye Feng. "You think you can just throw Master San's name around? Are you looking to die?"

The man had a scar on his face that ran from the corner of his eye to his mouth. It looked like a crimson centipede clinging to his skin, adding to his menacing air.

The bald man waved a hand dismissively. He looked at Ye Feng and asked coolly, "You were looking for me? What is it?"

Ye Feng placed a piece of paper in front of the bald man and tapped it. "I'm Ye Feng. You owe Qingya Cosmetics five million. It's time to pay. This is the itemized bill. Have a look. If there are no issues, hand over the money."

The moment Ye Feng finished speaking, the men erupted in laughter, looking at him as if he were a clown.

After a long moment, Liu San finally stifled his laughter. "Didn't Xiao Yufei tell you who I am? Didn't she tell you what happens to people who come here trying to collect debts?"

Ye Feng replied calmly, "I don't need to know any of that. I just know that when you owe a debt, you pay it. That's just how it works."

Liu San looked at Ye Feng and asked mockingly, "And what if I don't?"

Ye Feng shook his head. "No, you'll pay. Because no one dares to owe me money."

"HA HA..." The words were barely out of Ye Feng's mouth before the four men were doubling over with laughter.

Liu San suppressed a laugh and looked at the man with the scar. "Scarface, this punk doesn't know the rules. Teach him how to act."

Scarface nodded, stood up, and gave Ye Feng a sinister smile. "Same old rule. Anyone from Qingya Cosmetics has to leave an arm behind. You're no exception."

With that, he snatched a wide-bladed cleaver from a nearby table, swung it high, and brought it chopping down toward Ye Feng's left arm.

The cleaver tore through the air with ferocious speed. In the blink of an eye, it was just a foot from Ye Feng's shoulder, yet Ye Feng remained completely still, as if he'd been scared stiff.

Liu San sneered. "Heh, with skills like that, he thought he could collect a debt? Fucker must have been kicked in the head by a donkey!"

But the words had barely left his mouth when Ye Feng's left hand shot up. His index and middle fingers parted, clamping down on the sharp edge of the blade. No matter how hard Scarface strained, the cleaver refused to move another millimeter.

Liu San and his men's pupils contracted violently.

The cleaver weighed a good twenty pounds, and with Scarface swinging it with all his might, the force behind it was over a thousand pounds. Yet Ye Feng had stopped it with just two fingers. 'How much strength does that take?'

Scarface knew he'd met his match. His expression changed as he let go of the cleaver to retreat, but Ye Feng's right hand shot out like lightning. He grabbed Scarface by the neck, hoisted him high, and violently slammed him down onto the mahjong table.

A loud CRACK was followed by a blood-curdling scream.

Liu San and his men watched in horror as Scarface's head was smashed open. Blood sprayed everywhere in a gruesome spectacle.

Ye Feng flicked his hand, tossing Scarface's body to the floor. He dusted off his hands and looked at Liu San. "Like I said, no one dares to owe me money."

Liu San flew into a rage. "You bastard! You dare cause trouble on my turf?! You're looking for a death wish."

He looked at the other two tattooed men and roared, "Go! Get him!"

The two men roared in reply, grabbing cleavers and charging at Ye Feng.

But before they could even reach him, Ye Feng grabbed an arm from each man and slammed them together. Their heads collided with a sickening thud. The two men cried out, their eyes rolled back in their heads, and they collapsed, unconscious.

Liu San stared at Ye Feng, his pupils shrinking. He couldn't believe this guy's skills were so terrifyingly good.

But he quickly recovered, staring at Ye Feng with a cold smirk. "Kid, you've definitely got some skills. But you shouldn't have provoked me, because I work for Cui Biao—Master Cui. Do you have any idea who Master Cui is?"

Ye Feng just shook his head and replied calmly, "I don't care who you work for. All I know is that debts must be paid."

Liu San stared at Ye Feng, gritting his teeth. "Fine. I'll call Master Cui right now. I'll have *him* come pay you."

With that, he picked up his phone and made a call. When it connected, Liu San spoke respectfully, "Master Cui, my men have been beaten..."

He had barely spoken when a roar erupted from the other end of the line. "Someone dared to touch my fucking men? Tell him to stay right where he is."

After that, there was a loud noise from the phone, and then the line went dead.

Liu San looked at Ye Feng and sneered, "Kid, Master Cui is on his way."

Ye Feng walked over to a window and opened it to air out the smoke. Then he sat down at the table and said coolly, "Go ahead and tell Cui the Louse he'd better bring enough money."

Liu San's face turned pale with rage. He snarled through gritted teeth, "Kid, fine. Let's see if you live long enough to take that money."

With that, he picked up his phone and called Xiao Yufei. When she answered, he said in a cold voice, "Xiao Yufei, so you sent someone to beat up my men. Great. Now you've dragged Master Cui into this. You can get ready to collect his corpse."

Xiao Yufei's panicked voice immediately came through the phone. "Manager Liu, he's new, he doesn't know any better! He must have offended you, please don't take it personally."

Liu San sneered. "No use telling me. You can tell that to Master Cui."

"No, Manager Liu, please don't hurt him! I'll call Master Cui right now..." Xiao Yufei cried out, but Liu San hung up before she could finish her sentence.

On the other end of the line, Xiao Yufei was frantic. Her plan was just for Ye Feng to try collecting the debt, get shut down, and come back with his tail between his legs. That's all she wanted. Who would have thought this mountain leopard would actually take it seriously, get violent with Liu San, and even get Cui Biao involved? 'Isn't he just asking to die?'

'He might be annoying, but he doesn't deserve to die. If he dies because of me, I'll regret it for the rest of my life.'

So she quickly called Cui Biao. When the call connected, she put on her most pleasant voice. "Master Cui, Ye Feng is one of my employees. He's new and didn't know any better when he hit your men. I'm calling to apologize on his behalf. Could you do me a favor and let him go this once...?"

Before she could finish, Cui Biao brutally cut her off. "He dared to hit my men? Who the hell does he think he is?! Xiao Yufei, let me tell you something—I don't need you telling me how to do my job, so shut your damn mouth. This is one favor you don't have the pull to ask for."

With that, he slammed the phone down.

Xiao Yufei's face went white. If Cui Biao really did kill Ye Feng, Xiao Wenyuan would have her head.

'This has gotten way out of hand!'

With no other choice, she called Xiao Gang. "Dad, something terrible has happened."

Then, she quickly explained the situation.

"That useless piece of trash! He really knows how to cause trouble," Xiao Gang roared in anger.

"Dad, that's not helping! If something happens to Ye Feng, Grandpa will have my hide! Besides, we're still counting on him to treat Grandpa's illness. We have to figure out a way to get him out of there."

But Xiao Gang's next words made Xiao Yufei's eyes widen in disbelief.

Chapter 5: The Dragon King's Thumb Ring

Xiao Gang said with a bitter smile, "With my standing, I don't have enough pull to save Ye Feng from Cui Biao.

But I have an idea. Call Lin Yunlong and have him intervene. The Lin family is a top-tier family in Jiangcheng, powerful and influential. Cui Biao will definitely give him face."

"Me? Call Lin Yunlong? To save *Ye Feng*?" Xiao Yufei's beautiful eyes went wide.

Xiao Gang said quickly, "I know you don't like him, but we need him right now, don't we?

Yufei, don't think about it too much. Just have Lin Yunlong step in and get Ye Feng out of there first. We'll figure out the rest later."

Xiao Yufei sighed in resignation. "Fine."

Xiao Gang hung up, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. 'Yufei, I've wanted you and Lin Yunlong to get together for so long. Then our Xiao family could stand on the shoulders of giants.

But you were disobedient and kept rejecting Lin Yunlong. This time, though, that bastard Ye Feng has given Lin Yunlong an opportunity to make you owe him a favor. You'll have to repay him eventually, won't you? And as you two go back and forth repaying favors, wouldn't that be the start of something? Ha ha!'

...

On the other end of the line, Xiao Yufei bit her lip, picked up her phone, and dialed. The call connected almost instantly. An excited voice answered, "Hey, Yufei! I can't believe you're calling me first, I'm so happy! Does this mean you've changed your mind and decided to accept me?"

Xiao Yufei quickly cut in, "Lin Yunlong, I'm calling because I need you to do me a favor..."

Then she explained the situation.

The moment she finished speaking, a confident, almost arrogant voice replied, "Oh, is that all? That's a simple fix. It's just a matter of me making a call.

Don't worry, you can count on me. Oh, by the way, I'd like to visit your grandfather tomorrow. Would that be okay?"

Xiao Yufei knew he was pressing his advantage, but in order to save Ye Feng, she had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

...

In a room in the Lin family's villa, a young man put down his phone and burst out laughing. 'Xiao Yufei, you finally had to beg me for help! This is my chance! Ha ha ha...'

He then picked up the phone and made another call. Once it connected, he spoke with an air of command. "Master Cui, this is Lin Yunlong of the Lin family. I'm calling to ask you to spare a man for me. His name is Ye Feng. Do me a favor and let him go..."

Given the Lin family's status and reputation in Jiangcheng, Lin Yunlong was quite confident his request would be granted.

But he had underestimated Cui Biao's fury. Before he had even finished speaking, Cui Biao brutally cut him off. "Fuck off! Get as far the hell away from me as you can."

"Wait, no, I'm Lin Yunlong of the Lin family..." Lin Yunlong was stunned and tried to explain, but Cui Biao hung up before he could finish.

Lin Yunlong froze, completely dumbfounded.

...

Just then,

A Rolls-Royce Phantom drove up to the entrance of Baihui Cosmetics and came to a smooth stop.

The driver quickly got out, ran to the back, opened the door, and shielded the top of the doorframe with his hand.

The next moment, a middle-aged man ducked and stepped out of the car.

The man had a thick, short neck and a crew cut. A cigar was clamped in his mouth, and a heavy gold chain hung around his neck. Dressed in a Tang suit, he exuded an untamed, ferocious aura.

Two steel balls constantly collided in his hand, letting out a sharp CLANG CLANG CLANG!

The sound was enough to make one's heart pound with fear and their hair stand on end.

Instantly, an icy chill filled the air.

This was the top dog of Jiangcheng's underworld, the so-called underground emperor—Cui Biao, Master Cui.

Cui Biao looked up at the office building and remarked with a sigh, "How many years has it been? How many years since someone dared to cause trouble on my turf?"

With that, he strode toward the office building.

A gang of his men, carrying machetes, followed closely behind.

...

On the second floor, in the manager's office,

When Liu San heard footsteps in the hallway, his eyes lit up. He quickly got up and went to the door, just in time to see Cui Biao striding over.

As if seeing his savior, he rushed to greet him, crying and sniveling, "Master San, our brothers... we were beaten badly! You have to get revenge for us!"

Cui Biao stopped and glanced at Liu San. "Getting beaten on your own turf. Isn't that embarrassing?"

Liu San hung his head in shame, not daring to speak.

Just then, Scarface and two others crawled over. They staggered into the hallway, looked at Cui Biao, and cried out, "Master San, that kid came here looking for trouble! We just tried to stop him, and he attacked us viciously! He beat us to a pulp! This isn't just disrespecting us, it's disrespecting you, Master San!"

Seeing the three of them covered in blood, a truly gruesome sight, Cui Biao's eyes narrowed. "On my territory... to beat my men like this... he's not giving me any face at all. He's trying to grind my face into the dirt!"

After speaking, Cui Biao violently threw his cigar to the ground, crushed it under his foot, and strode into the office.

Inside the room, Ye Feng was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed. His right index finger was tapping on the table—TAP, TAP, TAP. A ring carved with a dragon's head on his knuckle reflected a dazzling light.

The moment he saw that ring, the menacing Cui Biao shuddered violently. Then, like a defeated rooster, he lowered his head and shuffled step by step toward Ye Feng. He bowed deeply. "Sir!"

"Mm," Ye Feng hummed, setting down his teacup with his left hand. He then leaned over and patted Cui Biao's fat face, speaking calmly.

"Jumping in to fight for your men without knowing right from wrong... is this how you lead your brothers?"

"I was wrong," Cui Biao cried out, his voice trembling.

Ye Feng patted Cui Biao's chubby face again. "They owe a debt, openly refuse to pay it, and even threaten to break the man's arm. Is this how you manage your subordinates?"

"I was wrong." Cui Biao's body began to shake violently.

Ye Feng patted Cui Biao's fat face a third time. "So I disrespected you. So I ground your face into the dirt. What are you going to do about it? You want to have a go at me?"

"I wouldn't dare! It would scare me to death to even think of it!" Cui Biao shrieked. He couldn't take it anymore. His legs gave out, and with a THUMP, he collapsed to his knees in front of Ye Feng.

Behind them, Liu San and the others stared, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

'Getting slapped in the face, forced to meekly apologize, and even made to kneel and beg for mercy... Is this still our boss? Is this still the underground emperor Cui Biao, the man whose stomp could make all of Jiangcheng tremble?'

'This was the man who would, at most, give a slight nod when meeting the mayor of Jiangcheng. And now he was kneeling and kowtowing to this young man? Is he drunk? Or did he completely lose his mind?'

Liu San couldn't hold back any longer. He went up to Cui Biao and said cautiously, "Master San, did you mistake him for someone else? He's just some poor schmuck collecting a debt for the Xiao family. You don't have to act like this toward him..."

The words had barely left Liu San's mouth when Cui Biao leaped up, grabbed him by the hair, and began smashing his head against a nearby table, roaring furiously as he did so.

"You're saying I got the wrong person? Are you saying I'm blind?! Are you fucking cursing me out?!"

"The Young Pavilion Master of the Dragon King Pavilion! Such an incredible figure! Even my boss's boss's boss would have to bow and scrape and walk with his tail between his legs in front of him! And you dared to provoke his might? You're not just looking for death, you're trying to drag me down into the fire pit with you!"

Hearing Cui Biao's words, Liu San felt like his scalp was about to explode.

He had actually provoked the Young Pavilion Master of the Dragon King Pavilion? He must have a death wish!

But looking at Ye Feng, he really couldn't see anything remarkable about him. Besides, how could such a terrifyingly important person come to a small place like this?

So he looked at Cui Biao and quickly shouted, "Master San, he's the Young Pavilion Master of the Dragon King Pavilion? I just don't think he looks the part. If we've got the wrong person, we'll be in big trouble..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Cui Biao unleashed a series of hard slaps across his face, roaring furiously as he hit him.

"It's not me who's blind, it's you! Didn't the Young Pavilion Master's Dragon King Thumb Ring shatter your eyeballs?! You can't fucking see that? What's the point of even having eyes? Why don't I just gouge them out and step on them for fun...!"

Upon hearing this, Liu San quickly turned his head and looked at Ye Feng's hand. The next moment, his blood ran cold.

The Dragon King Thumb Ring. It really was the Dragon King Thumb Ring, the symbol of the Dragon King Pavilion's supreme authority.

...

The Elder Pavilion Master founded the Dragon King Pavilion. In less than a decade, he built it into the foremost faction in all of Xia Country. Every underground power in the nation answered his call. His authority was absolute, his reputation legendary, and he became a figure of universal reverence.

The Elder Pavilion Master later vanished from public view, but he left behind a decree: the Young Pavilion Master would one day take his place and assume control of the Dragon King Pavilion. The token of authority was the Dragon King's thumb ring. To see the ring was to see the Elder Pavilion Master himself. Any who dared to be disrespectful were to be killed.

A member of the Dragon King Pavilion could forget his own wife's name, but he could never forget this—not unless he had a death wish.

So when Liu San saw the ring, his gallbladder nearly burst from terror. He staggered over to Ye Feng, dropped to his knees with a THUD, and began kowtowing like a chicken pecking at grain, crying out in a shrill voice,

"It is I, your worthless servant, who was blind and failed to recognize your greatness! I have offended you, Young Pavilion Master! I deserve to die ten thousand deaths! I deserve to die ten thousand deaths..."

With that, he slammed his head on the floor. THUD! THUD! THUD! His forehead split open and blood streamed down his face, but he seemed to feel nothing, continuing to kowtow again and again.

The thugs behind him, terrified, scrambled to their knees behind Liu San and began kowtowing frantically.

Just then, Cui Biao approached, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at Ye Feng. "Young Pavilion Master, these blind fools have offended you. Should I have them dismembered, or should I just sink them in the river? Just say the word."

Upon hearing this, Liu San and his men let out a pitiful whimper and collapsed to the floor in a heap. They had wet themselves, and the pungent stench of urine filled the air.

Ye Feng stood up with a look of disgust, turning to walk toward the door. "I'm here to collect a debt, not to kill anyone. Just have them pay what they owe me."

Hearing this, Liu San and his men felt as if they'd received a presidential pardon. They scrambled to their feet, kowtowing repeatedly to Ye Feng and shouting with emotional gratitude, "Thank you for sparing our lives, Young Pavilion Master! From now on, our lives are yours!"

Liu San hastily added, "We'll transfer the money to Qingya Cosmetics's account right away! Please don't worry, Young Pavilion Master!"

Ye Feng glanced at them, frowning. "And stop pissing your pants over every little thing. It's embarrassing."

The men all shouted in unison, "Yes, yes! We won't pee anymore! We won't!"

Ye Feng tossed the ledger to Cui Biao. "There are a few more in here who owe my wife money. Go collect it for me. I don't have time for this nonsense."

Cui Biao snatched it up and declared excitedly, "Don't you worry, Young Pavilion Master! If anyone dares to be a single penny short, I'll beat the shit out of them!"

Ye Feng waved his hand dismissively. "From now on, just call me by my name. Stop with the 'Young Pavilion Master' this and 'Young Pavilion Master' that. I'm not used to it."

'I just need to fulfill the terms of the bet, get the Jade Pendant, and leave,' he thought. 'There's no need to expose my true strength. The last thing I need is for that greedy Xiao Gang to get any funny ideas and make it hard for me to leave.'

Cui Biao paused for a second, then nodded eagerly. He broke into a sly grin. "I get it, Young Pavilion Master! Big shots always love to hide their identities while they chase after girls. Don't worry, I won't blow your cover. From now on, I'll just call you 'Sir'!"

Ye Feng's face darkened. 'What in the world is this guy talking about?'

Ye Feng turned and left, with Cui Biao and his men bowing deeply as he went.

But when Cui Biao saw Ye Feng wheeling out a small electric scooter, he nearly fell over in shock.

'If the higher-ups in the Dragon King Pavilion find out I was driving a luxury car while the Young Pavilion Master was stuck with an electric scooter,' he thought, 'they'd have my head for sure.'

He scrambled a few steps to catch up to Ye Feng, pressing the keys to his Rolls-Royce Phantom into Ye Feng's hand. He said with a sycophantic smile,

"Sir, how can you ride an electric scooter? You're making me look bad! Please, just make do with this car for now. If there's another car you'd prefer, just say the word, and I'll buy it for you!"

"I actually really like riding my scooter," Ye Feng said earnestly.

But before he could finish, Cui Biao snatched the scooter away, saying with a perfectly straight face, "Sir, I've been trying to lose some weight lately. Let me be the one to ride the scooter!"

He thought for a moment, then pulled out another set of keys, stuffed them into Ye Feng's pocket, and said with another obsequious smile, "These are the keys to the Celestial Villa in the Riverside Villa District. Take them. Go there to relax whenever you have a free moment."

Without waiting for a reply, he hopped on the electric scooter, gunned the throttle, and zipped away, disappearing in a flash.

He was willing to pay any price to get on the Young Pavilion Master's good side. A car and a house were nothing. If Ye Feng had a thing for his mother, he'd go dig her out of her grave for him.

Watching Cui Biao's hasty retreat, Ye Feng couldn't help but chuckle. 'This guy,' he thought, 'he's pretty sharp.'

Just then, his phone began to buzz incessantly.

Ye Feng picked up his phone. Messages were flooding in.

Third Senior Sister, Chen Yun'Er: Xiaofeng, I heard you left the mountain! Come find your Third Senior Sister! I'm fair-skinned, gorgeous, and have legs for days.

Fourth Senior Sister, Feng Qingwu: Xiaofeng, don't listen to your Third Senior Sister brag. Come to me instead. You know I've always had a better foundation than her, even as kids. Plus, I've been practicing yoga these past few years, so my body is better than ever—a perfect golden ratio. And my other skills have improved, too. Just how good are they? Heh heh, you'll have to come and find out.

Second Senior Sister, Mu Qingyun: What are you two doing? Xiaofeng is a grown man now, can't you stop teasing him? Xiaofeng, why don't you come to your Second Senior Sister? I'll give you the Cyan Cloud Group.

Third Senior Sister, Chen Yun'Er: Pfft. Second Sister, you just want to get Xiaofeng all to yourself. You act all high and mighty, but deep down, you're more shameless than any of us!

First Senior Sister, Meng Jiaxin: You're all adults now. Have you no shame, talking like that?

Xiaofeng, ignore them. A real man should join the military, earn merits, and build a legacy. Get ready. In a few days, I'll come get you and bring you to the Eastern Domain.

Third Senior Sister, Chen Yun'Er: Hehe, she sounds so noble, but she's just like Second Sister—another one who wants him all to herself.

...

Ye Feng felt his face darken again. He quickly replied, "Sisters, I'm in the middle of something important..."

He briefly explained that he was following his master's orders to fulfill a marriage contract with Xiao Yufei so he could obtain the Jade Pendant and search for clues about his parents.

That's when all hell broke loose.

Third Senior Sister, Chen Yun'Er: They dare look down on my little brother? Do they think my position as leader of the Dragon Group is just for show? Just you wait. I'm taking my team to Jiangcheng to have a word with Yuan Long about how he runs this city.

Fourth Senior Sister, Feng Qingwu: So they're completely disregarding me, the president of the Chinese Medicine Association? Fine. I'm immediately issuing a notice to all practitioners of Chinese medicine: anyone who dares to treat a single member of the Xiao family will see what happens.

Second Senior Sister, Mu Qingyun: The Xiao family of Jiangcheng, is it? Heh. They get a little bit of money and suddenly they don't know their own place. Alright, then. Let's see how many waves of attacks from my Cyan Cloud Financial Group they can handle.

First Senior Sister, Meng Jiaxin: Why are you all wasting your breath? I'll mobilize a million of my elite troops right now and march on Jiangcheng. I will have the Xiao family razed to the ground within a day.

...

Ye Feng stared at the messages, stumbling back a few steps, nearly falling to the ground. 'They're... they're each more ruthless than the last,' he thought. 'Are they planning to completely annihilate the Xiao family?'

Ye Feng coughed violently and quickly sent another message: "My dear sisters, I can handle this. When it comes to matters of the heart, it has to be mutual. If she's not willing, you can't force it, right?

"Just give me two days. In two days, I'll turn Qingya Cosmetics around and win the bet. Then I can get the Jade Pendant and get out of here."

Second Senior Sister: The wedding is in two days, then? Alright. We'll be sure to come with extravagant gifts to congratulate you. Even if it's just for show, we can't lose face, can we?

Third Senior Sister: I'm out, gotta go! Time for yoga. Xiaofeng won't like it if I get any love handles!

Fourth Senior Sister: I'm out too. Time for a spa day.

...

Ye Feng sent a message, exasperated. "Senior Sisters, this wedding is just a formality. There's no need to make such a big scene, and you really don't have to come all this way."

But one by one, their profile pictures went dark, and the messages stopped.

Ye Feng sighed in resignation. 'They still spoil me just like they used to, but I'm a grown man now!'

But for now, it was time to handle some important business!

Ye Feng drove to the eastern suburbs, parked his car, and took a crudely made, well-worn sachet from his pocket. He gazed at it affectionately, his thoughts immediately flashing back ten years.

That year, on the night of the Dragon Boat Festival—a time for family reunions—the Ye family was framed. Of its more than forty members, some were killed, and others fled for their lives. His own parents also vanished in the midst of the tragedy.

Hunted by killers, Ye Feng fled like a terrified stray, completely disoriented, and finally stumbled into a young girl's room.

The girl had wrapped him in her blankets, holding him tightly to hide him from his pursuers.

The girl had also given him this sachet, saying sweetly, "I sewed this myself. Take it. It will watch over you and keep you safe."

Ye Feng could never forget that beautiful girl—her jade-like skin, her pure eyes, and her deep, innate kindness.

With the girl's help, Ye Feng narrowly escaped. He then met his master and was taken to the Kunlun Sect to begin his training.

Ye Feng was exceptionally gifted. By fifteen, he had mastered medicine. By eighteen, he achieved mastery in the martial arts. By twenty, he understood the mysteries of Yin and Yang and the Eight Trigrams, and was proficient in zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting. Determining life and death with a single touch of the pulse or discerning a person's fortune by observing their aura was child's play for him!

Now that he had mastered his skills, Ye Feng came down from the mountain with two goals: to avenge the destruction of the Ye family, and more importantly, to repay the kind girl who had saved his life. He would willingly spend the rest of his life watching over her.

Following his memory, Ye Feng found the house where the girl used to live, only to be left completely dumbstruck.

The area had been demolished and redeveloped long ago. It was completely unrecognizable, and there was no telling where the girl and her family had gone!

Ye Feng looked at the sachet in his hand and murmured, "Don't worry. Even if I have to wait until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble, even if I have to search to the ends of the earth, I will find you. I will."

After speaking, Ye Feng carefully put the sachet away, got back in his car, and called Cui Biao. He asked him to look into the records of the former residents of that area, then drove to the Riverside Villa District.

The Xiao family didn't want him around, and he couldn't be bothered to deal with their sullen faces anyway. It was better to rest here, where he could enjoy some peace and quiet.

The Riverside Villa District was the most luxurious residential area in Jiangcheng, and the "Sky" Villa was the pinnacle of them all.

This villa was originally a gift Cui Biao had prepared for his mistress. The interior was exquisitely decorated and fully furnished with everything one could need. But before his mistress could move in, he gave it directly to Ye Feng!

Ye Feng had just entered the grand hall when a call came from an unknown number.

Ye Feng answered his phone, and Cao Bin's respectful voice came from the other end. "Master, where are you? I'd like to see you, if it's convenient."

Twenty minutes later, Cao Bin arrived. He presented a box to Ye Feng with an obsequious smile and said, "Master, this is a small greeting gift. I hope you'll accept it!"

Ye Feng opened the box, revealing a ginseng root. The root was fully formed, with appendages that looked like arms and legs, making it resemble a small infant. A rich, potent aroma of ginseng wafted out.

A quick estimate placed the ginseng's age at well over a hundred years! A root like this was a divine medicine capable of extending life, its value easily exceeding ten million.

Ye Feng closed the box and handed it back to Cao Bin, saying calmly, "This is too valuable. I'm afraid I can't accept it."

Seeing this, Cao Bin quickly pushed the box back towards him and said urgently, "Master, please take it! I have a favor to ask of you."

"I was treating a patient, but something went wrong. Now the patient is terminally ill, and their family has threatened to have me thrown in prison. Not only will my lifelong reputation be ruined, but I'll lose my freedom as well! I can't let it end like this! Master, I'm begging you to help me!"

He finished speaking and began to rub his eyes.

"Alright, that's enough. Look at you, so pathetic," Ye Feng said, glaring at Cao Bin. "Since you've called me Master, I'll help you out this one time."

With that, he turned and got into the car.

Cao Bin's eyes instantly lit up. He quickly placed the ginseng box in Ye Feng's car, got into the back seat, and gave him the directions.

As Ye Feng drove, Cao Bin rambled on from the back seat. "Master, the patient has liver cancer. I learned a formula for treating cancer and even successfully cured a few patients with it. So I confidently guaranteed the family that I could cure the patient, but in the end, I failed! Look, this is the formula."

As he spoke, Cao Bin placed a written prescription in front of Ye Feng.

Ye Feng glanced at it for a second before looking away. He already knew why Cao Bin's treatment had failed.

About ten minutes later, the car arrived at the Municipal Government Compound. After Cao Bin signed in, he and Ye Feng entered and walked up to a quaint, traditional-style building. They went inside and headed for a room in the eastern wing.

Just as they reached the door, they heard an old man sigh. "It's hopeless. Not even the gods can save him now. The critical window was missed. If I had treated him earlier, the patient could have absolutely held on for another year or so!"

A young man in casual clothes standing nearby had his face turn ashen at these words.

Hearing footsteps at the door, he spun around and saw Cao Bin standing in the doorway.

He charged over, grabbed Cao Bin by the collar, and roared, his eyes bloodshot, "Did you hear that? Divine Doctor Wang said it was you who delayed my grandfather's treatment! You, this quack! I swear I'll have you thrown in prison today! I swear I'll see your family destroyed!"

Cao Bin's face went pale with fright. He quickly shouted, "Young Master Yuan, calm down! I've brought my master! If he steps in, he can definitely cure the old gentleman's illness..."

The young man's eyes immediately lit up.

To be fair, Cao Bin's medical skills weren't poor—otherwise, he wouldn't be known as the Divine Doctor of Jiangcheng. His master, then, must be a true expert. Perhaps he really could pull the old gentleman back from the brink!

He looked at Cao Bin and demanded hastily, "Your master? Where is he?"

Cao Bin pointed to Ye Feng beside him and said earnestly, "There. This is my master, Ye Feng."

The young man glanced at Ye Feng, and his face immediately contorted with rage.

He glared at Cao Bin and ground out through his teeth, "You old bastard, are you messing with me? Your fucking master is even younger than you?"

At that moment, the old man in the back, suppressing a laugh, looked at Cao Bin and said, "Divine Doctor Cao, Chinese medicine values the accumulation of experience over time. He's so young—how good could his medical skills possibly be?

"Besides, even if he has some skill, you know the old gentleman's condition. It's late-stage liver cancer. Do you really think he has what it takes to cure it?"

Hearing the old man's words, Cao Bin's confidence wavered. 'He's right. Late-stage liver cancer is nearly impossible to cure, even with the current state of medical science.'

He instantly regretted his decision. 'What was I thinking, believing Ye Feng could actually cure the old gentleman's illness?'

Just then, the old man twisted the knife, adding, "And another thing, Dr. Cao. You're considered somewhat capable yourself, yet here you are, taking a young kid as your master. What are you learning from him? How to drive? HAHA..."

Cao Bin was so humiliated he wished the ground would open up and swallow him.

But just then, Ye Feng, who had been standing by silently, finally spoke.