Healing Sickness

"Hey... Black Eagle, you must know I'm here to save you. Regardless of what happened before, let's call it even this time..."

Even though he knew the Black Eagle couldn't understand human speech, Fang Yuan felt relatively reassured with the Flower Fox Ferret translating.

He said a few words to the Black Eagle, then immediately returned to the Secluded Valley and brought back a large pile of bottles and jars.

"Chirp..."

As Fang Yuan got closer, the Black Eagle seemed a bit nervous, but the Flower Fox Ferret beside it calmed it down.

This eagle and ferret seem to have hit it off immediately...

Seeing this, Fang Yuan was speechless. He walked forward again and began to carefully examine the Black Eagle's injuries.

"Hiss..."

As he looked, his eyes flashed with surprise: "As expected of a Spiritual Beast, its self-healing ability is incredibly strong. It's already stopped bleeding and is starting to heal..."

This was great news. At least he wouldn't have to give up too much of his precious healing ointment.

"Hoo!"

Fang Yuan held the gauze and ointment, trying his best to make his expression appear harmless as he slowly approached. However, his mind was more focused and alert than ever. His Iron Cloth Shirt's Qi energy protected his vital points, and he didn't dare relax for a moment.

Even with the Flower Fox Ferret's guarantee, this Black Eagle was wild and untamed. It might suddenly bite him, and that would be too unfair.

"Chirp chirp!"

Fortunately, although the Black Eagle looked very tense, it endured it and didn't make a move.

"These injuries..."

Fang Yuan moved closer and saw that although the Black Eagle's wounds had stopped bleeding, there were still fragments of bone and feathers, as well as wood chips and branches, mixed inside. If it healed like this, it would likely become a deformed eagle and wouldn't even be able to fly.

"The key is to remove the foreign objects and set the bone. This is extremely difficult for an eagle, but for me..."

Fang Yuan stepped forward and placed his palm on the Black Eagle's wing.

The black feathers felt smooth with a hint of metallic texture, giving off a very strange sensation.

"I'm going to start now, bear with it!"

Fang Yuan braced himself, grabbed a tree branch, and pulled hard.

Whoosh!

A spurt of blood flew out. The Black Eagle twitched all over and instinctively tried to turn its head to peck at him.

"Giggle!"

At this moment, the Flower Fox Ferret quickly pounced and chirped repeatedly to soothe it, finally calming the Black Eagle down.

"Really... not appreciating kindness!"

Fang Yuan let out a breath and extended two fingers. He had practiced the Eagle Claw technique, and his power flowed into his fingers, making them as precise as tweezers. He immediately pinched out a piece of broken bone and tossed it aside.

Feeling the Black Eagle's body, which was as tough as steel and iron, and looking at its horrific wound, his eyes gleamed. He gained a deeper understanding of the combat power of the enraged Red-eyed White Bird King.

It seems... defeating that Bird King won't be an easy task.

Thinking to himself, Fang Yuan's movements were swift as the wind. In an instant, he finished cleaning the wound and applied the medicine.

"Next, setting the bone..."

Fang Yuan shook his head: "Even though you have extraordinary talent and your injuries heal extremely quickly, your wings and feathers need to grow. You won't be able to fly for a while..."

In reality, this was the Black Eagle's true critical problem.

Even though it was an unusual Spiritual Beast, it couldn't go without food and water for long, especially when it needed a lot of energy to promote healing and feather growth.

"Don't worry, since I saved you, I'll see it through to the end!"

Fang Yuan comforted it, his hands finding the bone. With a sudden pinch and alignment, he applied immense force!

Crack!

A sharp, grating sound echoed.

The Black Eagle let out a pained cry, threw off the Flower Fox Ferret, and lunged to peck at Fang Yuan.

"I knew it!"

Fang Yuan laughed heartily. He had anticipated the Black Eagle's reaction during the bone setting. He retreated like lightning, then lunged forward again and punched out.

Bang!

With a dull thud, his fist landed heavily on the Black Eagle's head. The eagle's eyes rolled back, and it could no longer stay conscious, falling into a faint.

"There... that's better!"

Fang Yuan clapped his hands: "I should have just knocked you out from the start!"

"Giggle..."

The Flower Fox Ferret flinched at the side, looking at the Black Eagle's small face with sympathy.

"Alright!"

After dealing with the Black Eagle, Fang Yuan said to the Flower Fox Ferret: "Next, build a simple shelter here and bring some meat every few days. That should solve most of the problems..."

However, just then, his expression changed.

Within the attribute panel, visible only to him, an item under specialties had indeed changed.

The "Level 2" next to Medical Skill flickered indistinctly, then leaped, becoming "Level 3"!

Level 3 Medical Skill? It finally broke through!

Fang Yuan rejoiced inwardly: Treating that Spiritual Beast this time was truly an unintentional act...

He looked at the description for Level 3 Medical Skill:

"Medical Skill [Level 3] -- You are a master among physicians, a divine doctor in the eyes of mortals. You will gain significant bonus effects when treating any difficult and complicated diseases! (This effect is not limited to humans)"

"Not limited to humans..."

Fang Yuan glanced at the Black Eagle with a complex expression: "Could it be that I've learned veterinary medicine without a teacher?"

At this moment, his attribute panel had indeed changed:

"Name: Fang Yuan

Essence: 3.5 Qi: 3.4 Spirit: 2.3 Age: 18 Cultivation: Martial Dao Sixth Stage

Skills: Black Sand Palm [Fifth Layer], Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt [Sixth Layer]

Specialties: Medical Skill [Level 3], Planting Skill [Level 3]"

"Very good. It seems specialties are indeed more difficult to break through than skills, and they also require specific conditions..."

Fang Yuan stroked his chin, lost in thought.

"Moreover, the higher the specialty's ability, the more terrifying the system's bonus becomes... It seems my reputation as a divine doctor might continue to flourish?"

After reaching Level 3 Medical Skill, the proficiency reset to zero, naturally requiring a lot of practice to improve.

Furthermore, to break through the bottleneck, he might truly need to cure some extremely troublesome and complicated illnesses. These would all require him to open his doors wide and heal people.

"It seems there's a certain possibility for this to work..."

Fang Yuan gazed in the direction of Qingye City, his eyes distant...

Time flew by, and over a month passed in the blink of an eye.

After the turmoil in the Guo Family, Qingye City, which had been in an uproar, gradually calmed down.

However, along with the calm, rumors spread about a young divine doctor residing in the deep mountains and secluded valleys. He was said to have a volatile temper and was not to be offended.

Even those who were curious were kept at bay by the Zhou Family outside, making the Secluded Valley even more mysterious.

Early morning.

Fang Yuan emerged from his simple dwelling. Farming, weeding, fertilizing... After a round of farm work, he entered his daily cultivation state.

"The proficiency for Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt has reached its peak again, about to break through!"

After a set of martial arts, Fang Yuan closed his eyes. His abdomen rumbled, and he exhaled a stream of hot white mist, which shot out like an arrow, traveling half a zhang.

"Hoo... The three internal stages: Injury, Shock, Death. I can already sense the Shock Gate. It indeed primarily tests Spirit Yuan..."

The improvement in Medical Skill also greatly aided his martial arts.

At least Fang Yuan knew that with his current Spirit Yuan accumulation, breaking through this seventh stage would be a sure success.

However, for other martial artists, any slight misstep could lead to madness or mental derangement, and it would be extremely difficult to save them.

"Giggle!"

A white blur flashed, and the Flower Fox Ferret appeared around Fang Yuan, gesturing animatedly.

"Something happened to that Black Eagle?"

Fang Yuan's eyes flickered: "Its injuries should have healed, and it flew away on its own, right?"

The Flower Fox Ferret's eyes widened, clearly guessing correctly.

It had every reason to be indignant. After all, the Black Eagle's wing had been severely injured, making it difficult to move, and most of the meat it needed had been hunted by the ferret.

Now that its injuries were healed, it left without a word. It was truly heartbreaking.

"Eagles are proud creatures. Since it allowed us to save it, it must remember us deeply and will surely repay us in the future..."

Fang Yuan stroked the Flower Fox Ferret's head: "You've come at the perfect time. Let's have some tea together!"

"Giggle!"

Upon hearing that there was Heart-Questioning Tea, the Flower Fox Ferret was overjoyed, forgetting all its troubles.

Living in seclusion in the mountains, sitting idly in his dwelling, savoring tea and discussing the Dao, and occasionally checking on the Spirit Seeds and spiritual items, Fang Yuan felt that during this time, his mind had gradually settled down, even his martial arts.

In technical terms, his foundation had been solidified, and any hidden dangers from his previous hasty advancements were gone.

With this gain, even if his stats hadn't increased much, it was entirely worth it.

After drinking tea, Fang Yuan left the Flower Fox Ferret to guard the house and, carrying a small medicine chest, gracefully walked out of the Secluded Valley.

On the flat ground some distance before the Secluded Valley, three small thatched huts had been erected at some point, and next to them stood a pavilion.

Several figures paced back and forth, yet they dared not step beyond a certain point.

The first among them, a plump steward, was the most anxious. Despite the cool weather, sweat continuously beaded on his forehead, like an ant on a hot pan.

"Heh heh... Steward Lin, you're acquainted with the Spirit Doctor of the Secluded Valley, why don't you just go in? I'm sure the Spirit Doctor wouldn't blame you..."

Several people sat in the pavilion. The one in front was Zhou Wenwu. He had been on good terms with the Lin family, but after the Song Zhong incident last time, their relationship had cooled, and his words carried a hint of sarcasm.

"Haha... How would I dare?"

Steward Lin chuckled, but inwardly he grumbled: 'This virtuous nephew Fang has ascended to the heavens. It's said his medical skill is divine, and his martial arts are unfathomable. He even killed Elder Song. What is my old face worth? If I truly displease him and he refuses to treat that person, I'll surely be punished. How can I be careless?'

"Physician Fang is here?"

As everyone craned their necks to look, Fang Yuan's figure finally appeared slowly, immediately eliciting a chorus of surprised and delighted voices.

"Mm, greetings, everyone. You all know my rules, right? Three people per day, and you must first pay a consultation fee that satisfies me... If you cannot meet this requirement, please feel free to leave..."

After speaking, he didn't pay attention to the others and walked into the thatched hut by himself.

Outside, these family heads and martial artists, despite their extraordinary means, dared not argue with the Spirit Doctor who could save their lives. They all lined up obediently like little rabbits, even the most restless Steward Lin.