Diagnosis and Treatment

"Tomorrow, I have some important matters to attend to outside. I may not return until evening." Yu Xiaogang tried to make his tone sound casual.

"You two should stay in the courtyard and do not go out carelessly. Heaven Dou City is not like Notting City; its forces are intricately tangled. Focus on cultivating and wait for my return."

He paused, then added, "If anyone comes to visit, say the master is not home. There is no need to entertain them."

"Yes, Teacher." Cinderella nodded in agreement.

Tang San merely gave a faint "Mm" in response.

Seeing that both had agreed, Yu Xiaogang felt somewhat relieved. His mind was now filled with tomorrow's meeting with his father and the pill that might change his life. He had no heart to give further instructions, so he turned and returned to the study. He needed to conserve his energy for tomorrow.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, before dawn had fully broken, Yu Xiaogang was already awake.

He sat in his room, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the tabletop as he waited.

When a steady knock sounded outside the courtyard gate, Yu Xiaogang practically sprang from his chair at once. He hurried to the gate, took a deep breath, and pulled back the bolt.

An elderly man stood outside.

The old man was not particularly burly, merely of ordinary build. He wore a simple gray cloth robe, yet as he stood there, he seemed to blend into his surroundings, carrying the steady presence of a mountain.

His face still bore faint traces of the handsomeness of his youth, though it was now marked by time. His temples had gone gray, but whenever his eyes opened and closed, a sharp gleam lay concealed within them. He possessed an imposing authority even