Familiar Plot

"Physician Gu, you're being too formal."

"Compared to the debt I owe you for saving my life, this is nothing."

"Come, come, let's eat and talk."

Faced with Xue Hong's enthusiasm, Gu Ye felt helpless. He glanced at Kadan, the beautiful mature woman with whom he had been involved, and in the end, he could only sit down to eat and chat.

"I heard that Physician Gu has recently been treating the people of Suotuo City free of charge?" Xue Hong asked while drinking.

"I'm merely doing what little I can. Besides, as a physician, treating illnesses and saving lives is my duty. Just as with the City Lord before—when I saw you gravely injured and at death's door, how could I possibly refuse to save you?" Gu Ye said modestly.

"Indeed, there are not many physicians as helpful as Physician Gu these days."

"Come, Physician Gu. I offer you a toast in thanks for saving my life two months ago."

Xue Hong raised his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

"You're too courteous, City Lord. Saving you was only right," Gu Ye said pointedly, then drained his own cup as well.

Yet in the brief moment as he drank, Gu Ye glanced at Kadan.

Because at that moment, taking advantage of Xue Hong's inattention, Kadan made a gesture at Gu Ye—a gesture he was extremely familiar with.

It was as though she were sending him a message: tonight, the little grove—don't miss it.

Gu Ye looked away from the beautiful mature woman and drank properly, pretending to be serious.

After several rounds of toasting, the wine had gone through three rounds and the dishes through five flavors. Throughout the entire meal, Gu Ye kept a straight face as he drank, exchanged flirtatious glances with Kadan while refusing her invitation to the little grove, and humored the City Lord Xue Hong's various conversations.

To be honest, if Kadan, this beautiful mature woman, had not shared an intimate relationship with him, he would not even have come today.

Moreover, Gu Ye had saved City Lord Xue Hong two months ago. He had not sought him out before, yet had chosen this particular time to do so. There had to be something behind it.

Sure enough, Xue Hong, his face carrying an eight-part drunkenness, set down his wine cup and looked at Gu Ye.

"Physician Gu, I have something to say. I wonder whether I should say it or not?"

"Please speak, City Lord."

"It's like this. There is something I would like to ask Physician Gu to help me with."

"Physician Gu, you should know that Suotuo City is under my jurisdiction. There is one place closely tied to Suotuo City, and that is the Suotuo City Great Spirit Arena."

"Spirit Masters fight there every day. While the profits are considerable, a great many Spirit Masters are injured each day. Although Healing Soul Masters help them recover, they still can't keep up."

"That was when I thought of you, Physician Gu."

"Your medical skills are so exceptional, Physician Gu. Would you have time to visit the Suotuo City Great Spirit Arena and lend me a hand?"

Clearly, this was the main reason City Lord Xue Hong had invited Gu Ye here today.

As soon as Xue Hong finished speaking, Kadan, seated beside him, began making eyes at Gu Ye as though urging him to agree quickly.

Naturally, Kadan wanted Gu Ye to agree so that she could meet with her lover.

Her marriage to Xue Hong had been a family arrangement, and she held no feelings for him.

Moreover, City Lord Xue Hong spent his days indulging in pleasure outside and paid her no attention either.

Otherwise, she would not have sought out Gu Ye, done certain indescribable things with him, and arranged to meet him in secret. Her heart had long since become attached to Gu Ye.

Of course, those were the romantic debts of Gu Ye's predecessor and had nothing to do with Gu Ye himself.

Honestly, Kadan was exceptionally beautiful, mature and alluring, exactly Gu Ye's type. He also liked beautiful mature women like Kadan.

Two months ago, he had even had several deeply intimate encounters with her.

But now, Gu Ye sized up Xue Hong, who was already eight parts drunk. Then he thought of his system's mission to collect Spirit Masters' Martial Soul Blood. Finally, he looked at the beautiful mature woman Kadan and made a decision.

"City Lord, I agree to help the injured Spirit Masters at the Suotuo City Great Spirit Arena, but—"

Seeing Gu Ye agree, Xue Hong was delighted and hurriedly asked, "But what?"

"I'm usually rather busy, so I can't stay at the Suotuo City Great Spirit Arena and treat people all the time. I can only go when I have spare time."

"Ah, I thought it was something serious. As long as Physician Gu can go, there will be no problem. Besides, the Great Spirit Arena only begins in the evening. You can come then, Physician Gu. I'll have my wife take good care of you."

"Then it's settled." Gu Ye looked at Kadan and smiled faintly.

He had agreed to Xue Hong's invitation only to collect Spirit Masters' Martial Soul Blood, with no other intentions.

After all, Gu Ye was a proper man. He only liked helping others treat illnesses and, incidentally... researching the true meaning of life.

When Kadan saw that Gu Ye had agreed, she smiled happily. After all, she was the true owner of the Suotuo City Great Spirit Arena. She was usually there, and now that her lover Gu Ye had agreed to come to her place every evening to help, she would have opportunities to meet with him.

Meanwhile, Xue Hong was delighted that he had recruited Gu Ye, such a talented person, to help at his wife Kadan's Suotuo City Great Spirit Arena, and he happily drank several more cups in succession.

Already eight parts drunk, he drank quite a bit more, and the intoxication gradually went to his head.

"Physician Gu, come, let me toast you again. Thank you for saving my life." Overcome by drunkenness, Xue Hong stopped caring about anything and abruptly raised his cup, drinking with abandon.

As he drank, he suddenly collapsed with a thud, drunkenly slumping over the table.

Although Xue Hong was the City Lord and also a prince of the Balak Kingdom, his strength had not even reached Soul Grandmaster. He was a typical pleasure-seeking noble.

Eating, drinking, gambling, and pleasure—he had long been accustomed to it all.

Originally, there had only been Gu Ye, the beautiful mature woman Kadan, and Xue Hong in the room.

Xue Hong had now drunk himself unconscious.

Only Gu Ye and Kadan remained in the room.

One was a handsome man, the other a voluptuous married woman. More importantly, there was still that slight connection between them.

Now that Xue Hong was drunk, Kadan, who longed for her lover, instantly focused her gaze on Gu Ye. Her eyes brimmed with charm, stirring the soul.

Gu Ye looked at Xue Hong, passed out over the table, then at Kadan, who was staring intently at him.

Why did this scene, this setting, this plot feel so familiar? Gu Ye pondered for a moment. A certain host invited a man into his home. The host had a beautiful wife. The three drank and chatted together, but the host got drunk first, leaving behind the beautiful wife and handsome man. Then, the handsome man and the beautiful wife... Gu Ye seemed to know how the plot would unfold next.

He looked at Kadan, but her gaze had never left him.

Then they both looked at Xue Hong, who was drunk and sprawled across the table.

"Gu Ye!"

Kadan called out first.

Her voice was lovely—soft and melodious, with an enticing quality to it.

Such a voice could pierce straight into a person's heart, especially when Kadan called his name with such deep affection.

Yet Gu Ye still felt that something was strange.

There was no other reason; this scene and this plot were simply too familiar to him.

He took a look and confirmed that Xue Hong was truly drunk.

After all, as a physician with miraculous medical skills, he could tell at a glance whether someone was drunk.

Moreover, Gu Ye had already sensed that only he and Kadan remained in the room.

If he... Gu Ye seemed to think of something. He rose to his feet and walked toward Kadan.

When Kadan saw Gu Ye approaching, memories of their past secret trysts and tenderness filled her mind, and her heart began to race.

She rose impatiently.

Gu Ye came up behind Kadan, slowly leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "You're still as beautiful as ever, enough to make anyone's heart flutter."

Kadan smiled happily at his words. They sweetly touched her heart.

"But I have other matters to attend to now. When I have time, I'll come find you again so we can talk more deeply."

After saying that, Gu Ye prepared to take his leave, because he still wanted to cut off contact with Kadan, this beautiful married woman.

But Kadan grabbed Gu Ye's hand, tears glimmering in her eyes as she looked at him reproachfully. "Can you bear to watch my... body... and heart's illness grow worse day by day?"

As a physician, healing the sick and saving lives was Gu Ye's duty, but Kadan's illness was rather difficult to treat.

After all, becoming a cultivator was not so easy.