The great ship was about to leave the shore. The formation beneath its hull had already begun to operate, and the clear force of water could be felt supporting the vessel.
Inside the topmost cabin, Wu Wang leaned against the desk, his eyes filled with thought. He had remained motionless for quite some time.
Although that old fortune-teller had not followed him directly, there was an eighty to ninety percent chance that he had been targeted.
Would a proper diviner really block someone's path and directly tell them they had a bloody calamity ahead?
Wu Wang had deliberately offered those silks and coins as a test. The other party's first reaction had not been to protect the money, but to hold the Jade Coins and instinctively try to keep talking to him...
Could someone who did not value wealth deep in their bones be a professional swindler roaming the martial world?
It was just... deeply unprofessional.
Though fortune and disaster have yet to reveal themselves, I cannot drag Suqing down with me.
Taking a soft breath, Wu Wang had already made his decision.
—He would have True Man Zuo Dong take Lin Suqing ahead first, while he hid in the sea and waited for the ships behind them. He would conceal himself and sneak into the Human Domain.
He had been careless. He had not slipped away in advance.
He truly had not expected the force behind Brother Ji to be able to directly trace his southward route and find him here.
A coincidence?
Though that possibility could not be ruled out, Wu Wang could not place his hopes on the word "possibly."
What if that fortune-teller suddenly appeared outside his door and asked with a cheerful smile, "Want a trial, little friend? The kind where you have a ninety-nine percent chance of dying."
He would be put in an incredibly passive position!
Knock, knock, knock...
The sound of a walking stick striking the ship's planks suddenly came from outside the door.
In fact, that was the only sound left in Wu Wang's ears. Sea and sky were utterly still, while the clamor throughout the great ship vanished without a trace.
At some unknown moment, the cabin door before Wu Wang had opened, though he had no idea who had opened it...
A figure drifted silently past Wu Wang's door.
It was an old man.
His gray-white hair hung loosely over his shoulders. A straw rain cape draped over his back, and he leaned on a long staff. At first glance, his aged face seemed rather ordinary, yet it was impossible to retain the slightest impression of it. One would forget it the moment one looked away.
Just as the old man was about to drift past the cabin door, he turned and glanced at Wu Wang.
Wu Wang's heart tightened. If not for his strong self-control, he would have nearly flung out dozens of Crystal Balls and unfurled his Star Wings to flee.
Just as the old man's figure passed beyond the doorframe...
"Could this young friend be Xiong Ba, young master of the Bear Hug Tribe?"
A gentle call suddenly came from behind him.
Wu Wang's entire body stiffened, goosebumps covering his arms. Turning his head slightly, he saw that the barefoot old man who had just drifted past outside was now sitting strangely beside the table by the window, seemingly smiling.
And Wu Wang still could not remember what the man looked like. He could only sense that the other party was smiling kindly.
Stay calm. Do not panic.
Wu Wang immediately made a decision. He put on a dumbstruck expression, raised a hand to gesture at the figure that had just passed outside, then looked toward the figure seated by the window. His mouth had gone slightly dry.
"Oh, ho ho."
The straw-caped old man stroked his beard and chuckled. He rested his wooden staff against the table and said slowly:
"I am old now, and sometimes I simply cannot help appearing and disappearing like a ghost.
Come, come, young friend. Come sit. Do not be so restrained, and do not be afraid. I have come this time because of your strange ailment."
Wu Wang pondered for a moment before asking, "May I ask who you are, Senior...?"
"You may regard me as an ordinary physician."
The barefoot elder in the straw cape gazed at Wu Wang, both hands resting on his knees, his sitting posture rather carefree.
He explained, "Previously, one of my disciples went to the Northern Wilds to gather herbs. By chance, he encountered the Clan Leader of the Bear Hug Tribe, who invited him to treat young friend's strange ailment.
"Some unpleasantness seems to have occurred afterward, but that is not particularly important.
"After my disciple left the Northern Wilds, he was deeply troubled, nearly falling into madness.
"He had practiced medicine for over three thousand six hundred years, saved countless lives, and treated more patients than could be counted. Yet he could not find the root of young friend's strange ailment at all. He suffered greatly in his heart and, some time ago, could not help seeking me out at my secluded residence.
"He said that your strange ailment was extremely bizarre. It was not an ailment of the heart, not an ailment of the body, nor was there anything wrong with your divine soul. He simply could not determine the cause."
Wu Wang blinked, and bubbles seemed to rise behind his head, each containing a black-and-white fragment from some memory.
That had been when he was eleven, on a sunny afternoon.
His father had descended from the sky riding a flying bear, bringing with him an old Daoist with the bearing of an immortal. The man wore a long robe of blue silk, his expression brimming with confidence, while the surrounding clansmen looked at him with great respect.
Not long after, several burly men carried the old Daoist out of the Royal Court and gently tossed him onto the grass.
The old Daoist lay there with empty eyes, showing no reaction even when his medicine chest smashed down onto him...
After a while, the old Daoist suddenly burst into tears. He rose and stared at the heavens, leaving behind a cry of anguish before riding away on a cloud beneath the astonished gazes of the clansmen.
Wu Wang still remembered that cry to this day. It had been so unwilling, so agonized, and it had left him with the tiniest trace of guilt.
"No—this illness is too difficult!"
Later, his father, Xiong Han, had spent several years repeating one particular complaint:
"Eating grass can cure illnesses? It can even restore vitality? Ridiculous!"
Whenever Wu Wang thought of this, he could only shake his head inwardly, lamenting that his old father had no idea what he had missed.
"Senior, you!"
Wu Wang's voice trembled, two flames igniting in his eyes as he asked quietly, "Could you be Divine Physician Yuan's master?"
"That is correct." The elder narrowed his eyes and chuckled, stroking his beard as he murmured, "I had intended to seek you out in the Northern Wilds, yet I did not expect to encounter you here by chance. Has your strange ailment been cured? May I examine you?"
Wu Wang asked with concern, "Is Divine Physician Yuan well?"
"He is fine. He was simply too confident before. How could there be a divine physician in this world capable of curing every ailment?"
The elder said warmly, "Little Yuan merely excels at treating men's hidden ailments. In theory, that should have suited your strange ailment perfectly. Failing to discover its root dealt him quite a blow.
"Fortunately, he has recovered by now and continues to travel between heaven and earth, practicing medicine among immortals and mortals alike.
"What is it? Could it be that young friend does not trust my medical skill?"
Wu Wang rolled up his sleeve and hurried over, repeatedly saying, "I must trouble you, Senior. I must trouble you."
The elder nodded as he stroked his beard. Only after Wu Wang sat down beside him did he extend an arm and press two fingers against Wu Wang's pulse, smiling as he said:
"Young friend trusts me so easily?"
Here it comes, here it comes. As expected, this is a probing test with the nature of an examination.
Wu Wang smiled without withdrawing his arm, answering solemnly:
"First, if Senior intended to harm me, one finger would be enough to destroy my divine soul.
"Before an expert such as Senior, no matter how many twists and turns I have in my heart, it would be better to preserve a little more sincerity.
"Second, few know of my strange ailment, and even fewer know my identity here.
"Besides being Divine Physician Yuan's master, Senior must have learned information about me through other channels as well. For example, Brother Ji, Fairy Ling, or the True Immortal Realm teacher beside them.
"Third, the conditions Senior has mentioned are difficult for me to refuse.
"This strange ailment has tormented me for nearly ten years. At every moment, it strikes at my confidence as a man.
"If there is hope of curing it, then even if I must take some risks, I accept them!
"Senior, please!"
"Hahaha, as expected of the young master of a great Northern Wilds clan. To possess such insight and courage at eighteen—excellent."
The elder chuckled several times as he stroked his beard, two fingers resting against Wu Wang's wrist.
At that instant, Wu Wang suddenly saw the old man's face clearly, and the elder's appearance and manner entered his memory.
The elder must have been handsome and spirited in his youth. Now, he could only be described as kind-eyed and benevolent-faced.
Though his thin face looked aged, it bore few wrinkles. His cheeks had a warm flush of health, yet somehow also gave off the feeling of fading vitality.
Very soon, the elder furrowed his brow slightly and fell into deep thought.
Wu Wang's heart rose into his throat as well. He watched this great expert, his thoughts tangled—he was curious about the elder's identity, yet also wanted to know whether his strange ailment could truly be cured.
After roughly the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the elder uttered two words:
"Strange."
Wu Wang sighed inwardly, immediately roused his spirits, and smiled. "I have troubled Senior. This strange ailment of mine probably is not truly an illness."
"Young friend," the elder said seriously, "can you tell me when you first fell ill?"
"When I was seven or eight." Wu Wang thought for a moment but did not directly mention the dream. "This strange ailment came upon me suddenly, but I have no memory of how it began."
The elder nodded slowly. He first lowered his head in thought for a while, then could not help rising to his feet and pacing back and forth through the cabin barefoot.
Wu Wang sat quietly to the side, his heart also bobbing up and down like seven buckets drawing water. He had not felt such anxiety in many years.
The great ship swayed slightly as it sped across the sea at full speed.
"Young Master? Do you have a guest?"
Lin Suqing's voice came from outside. The old auntie poked her head in to look around the room, only for Wu Wang to stop her with a silencing gesture.
Lin Suqing stared at the elder for a few moments, questions rising one after another in her heart. Before she could say anything, Daoist Zuo Dong's whisk swept over and dragged her away.
In the cabin next door, Daoist Zuo Dong hurriedly activated the Soundproof Array and glared at Lin Suqing.
"Reckless! What were you looking at over there?"
"Master, there is a guest over there. I was going to pour tea... But why can't your disciple remember what that senior looks like?"
"That is Hongchen Wai, also known as Venerable Wuxiang! Is the appearance of such a mighty expert something you can casually behold?"
Daoist Zuo Dong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and scolded:
"Stay here obediently. Do not cause trouble no matter what!"
At the same time, Wu Wang came to a realization and felt a little regret that the old auntie had missed such an opportunity.
The cabin was silent. The elder actually paced for a full half hour before finally turning to Wu Wang, a faint gleam in his eyes.
"Would young friend accompany me somewhere? Let us first see exactly how this strange ailment of yours manifests."
Wu Wang considered it briefly, then nodded solemnly. In front of the elder, he packed up his Storage Treasure before going to the neighboring cabin and saying slowly:
"Suqing, I will leave with this Senior for a while. Senior has come to help treat my illness.
"If I cannot return for some time, then follow Senior Zuo Dong back to the sect. Once I have the chance, I will come find you."
After a pause, Wu Wang smiled again.
"If Senior gives me any benefits, I will leave a share for you as well."
"Young people should not be too sly. What benefits could an old man like me possibly give you?"
The barefoot elder chuckled. A precious pill flew from his sleeve, becoming a streak of light that slipped through the crack in the door and window before directly entering Lin Suqing's mouth.
Lin Suqing, who had been about to rush out, swayed on her feet and fell backward, immediately sinking into sleep.
Wu Wang turned to look at the elder, who smiled. "A pill that improves her affinity with the Great Dao. Let us go. First, we will head ashore and find several more women to try."
"Thank you, Senior."
Wu Wang sensed Lin Suqing's condition and relaxed slightly. Through the wooden plank, he cupped his hands in salute and said, "Senior Zuo Dong, take great care."
Beside him, the straw-caped elder placed his right hand on Wu Wang's shoulder.
Before Wu Wang could make any response, the world spun before his eyes. The surrounding light and shadows stretched infinitely, then rapidly contracted.
In almost the blink of an eye, he had left that great ship and appeared in a mountain valley.
Before him lay a riverbed paved with pebbles. High, sheer valley walls rose on both sides, while several thatched cottages stood in the distance, smoke curling from their chimneys.
This was...
Teleportation? Spatial transference? Or an illusion?
Wu Wang felt the gentle breeze and listened to the beast roars and birdsong drifting from the distant forest, unable to come back to himself for a moment.
He knew this great expert's strength was unfathomable, but he had not expected him to be... comparable to his own mother.
Moreover, his mother needed to borrow the divine power of the Star God to complete long-distance teleportation. Yet this old senior had brought him here without leaving a trace, and Wu Wang could only sense the faintest fluctuation of Spiritual Energy.
He was absolutely a top expert of the Human Domain.
"I heard Little Yuan say that your strange ailment causes you to faint whenever you come into contact with women?" the elder asked warmly.
Wu Wang hurriedly replied, "More precisely, whenever I experience tactile contact with a woman, I faint."
"Stay here and do not move. I will invite several women over from there."
The elder spoke softly, then added, "For now, dismiss this layer of ice crystals covering your body."
Wu Wang nodded obediently.
Very soon, the elder returned from the distant thatched cottages with several people, smiling cheerfully. There was a young girl with the delicate grace of the mountains, a middle-aged woman, an old woman, and a burly man.
An experimental control group?
The corner of Wu Wang's mouth twitched slightly. He both admired the old senior's rigor and felt like a frog waiting to be dissected in an experimental class from his previous life.
What followed was another ordeal for Wu Wang.
At first, Wu Wang sat cross-legged on the ground and raised his hand to touch each of the four in turn. Every time, he immediately fainted.
By the end, the elder had even sat behind Wu Wang and supported him personally, his eyes full of emotion...
The final time, when Wu Wang touched the burly man, there was not the slightest reaction.
The burly man's face reddened as he stared intensely at Wu Wang. Wu Wang forced out an ugly fake smile.
"Brother, let go of my hand."
The burly man came back to his senses and hastily withdrew his rough hand. He gave Wu Wang a simple-minded grin, then blinked softly at him.
Wu Wang shuddered all over, nearly unable to stop himself from hitting the man.
"Thank you all. Thank you all."
The straw-caped elder offered his thanks. The others hurriedly said there was no need, examining Wu Wang as they returned to the thatched cottages.
The young girl asked quietly, "Big Brother cannot touch women?"
Wu Wang smiled weakly and said, "Perhaps I am waiting for a woman who can touch me."
Two little stars immediately appeared in the young girl's eyes, while the burly man... blinked at Wu Wang again...
Wu Wang: ...
Once they had left, Wu Wang sat upright again after the dizziness faded.
The barefoot elder sat cross-legged before Wu Wang, laying the wooden staff flat across his body. His expression was somewhat solemn.
"Senior, are you helpless as well?"
"No, I have a method to help you," the elder said slowly. "I have roughly figured out where your ailment originates. It is not an issue with your divine soul, nor an illness of body or mind. In all the Great Wilderness, you should be the only one with such a condition.
Xiao Yuan, your tears had not been shed in vain."
Wu Wang froze, then suddenly shot to his feet, staring wide-eyed. "You just said there was a way to help me?"
"That's right. I have a way to help you."
Wu Wang asked in a trembling voice, "Truly?"
"What, you don't trust me?"
The barefoot old man snorted, rummaged through his sleeve, and soon pulled out a cloth like one from a fortune-telling stall. He gave it a shake, revealing four large characters—
Women's ailments, no worries!
Wu Wang could not help tilting his head. The old man looked down, calmly snatched the cloth back, and switched it for another:
Men's ailments, master healer!
The old man smiled. "Reproduction is a race's foremost concern. There are no fewer than eight hundred, if not a thousand, men who have regained their confidence through my hands. It can be said that in all this world, only I can cure your condition."
"May I ask who you are, Senior?"
"You may call me Old Man Lianshan."
"Whew..."
Wu Wang let out a breath and said with a smile, "I nearly thought you were Senior Shennong, the current Human Emperor said to have tasted every herb and pioneered the path of medicine. Good thing you aren't. How could the Human Emperor be so casual as to appear before a junior like me?"
The old man's mouth twitched slightly. He said calmly, "Ah, I am also called Shennong. In the Human Domain, aside from treating people, I have indeed been working part-time as the Human Emperor for seven or eight thousand years."
Wu Wang's neck stiffened, his expression turning somewhat rigid.
"Sit down, no need to be so restrained," the old man said with a smile. "I am a physician, and you are one seeking treatment. Let me consider whether I should help you.
After all, this old man is not just any casual senior."
(Zhang Fei version) Please vote.
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