Li Yunhao exchanged a glance with Zhao Leng, feeling the weight of the tension around them. He was about to respond when Zhao Leng, with surprising calm, stepped forward.
"Respected sir, allow me to explain," Zhao Leng said, slightly bowing his head. "My name is Zhao Leng, and I am a traveling doctor from a distant region. I have been lost in the forest for months while on a journey to help those in need. This is Li Yunhao, my assistant. We have survived with great difficulty, only using what we could find in nature."
"Well done, Zhao Leng!" Li Yunhao praised him internally and quickly joined the act, adding a tone of exhaustion to his voice: "With all due respect, sir, your village seems to be the first sign of safety we've seen in a long time. We mean no harm. We just need shelter for a few days."
The villagers exchanged glances. While some still seemed suspicious, others showed signs of relief and even curiosity.
The village leader furrowed his brow, carefully scrutinizing the two young men. "If what you say is true, this is a blessing for us. But many have tried to deceive villages like ours. Why haven't we heard of you before? Doctors are not common, and even in isolated regions, their stories spread."
Zhao Leng sighed, feigning fatigue and sadness in his expression. "The world is vast, sir. Often, the greatest struggles leave little room for our deeds to be known. If you prefer, I can prove my words right now. Is there anyone in need? Sick or injured? I would be grateful for the opportunity to help and show that our intentions are genuine."
The murmurs among the villagers increased. Finally, an elderly woman, leaning on a staff, hesitantly stepped forward.
"My granddaughter... She has been bedridden for weeks with a fever. No herb or medicine we know has helped," the old woman said, her voice trembling.
The village leader looked at the two young men once more. "Very well. We will believe you, distinguished guests," he then bowed his head. "Please, if your words are true, cure her."
Zhao Leng curved his lips into a smile and respectfully bowed. "Please, take us to her."
The crowd parted, giving space for the old woman to lead them to a simple house made of wood, with a thatched roof. Inside, the environment was modest but welcoming, except for the bed where a young girl lay, sweating and pale.
Zhao Leng approached carefully, his expression taking on a professional air. He touched the young girl's forehead and briefly scanned the surroundings. Li Yunhao remained by his side, observing everything with interest.
"The Pest Emperor's legacy seems more useful than I thought." Thinking this, Li Yunhao inwardly regretted not choosing the Pest Emperor, assuming that whoever inherited it would have a legion of rats and pests following them. It had been a prejudice on his part. Nevertheless, he didn't feel too envious, as he had received some extremely powerful techniques from Yu Hu Tao. For instance, the Immortal Lotus, which, based on the scene Yu Hu Tao had implanted in his mind, likely provided some form of rebirth to the user. It was practically another life in case of death. Although the book about this technique remained sealed in his mind, he would only be able to visualize it once he began his cultivation.
"Prolonged fever," Zhao Leng announced after a moment of silence. "Probably caused by the water she has been drinking."
The village leader frowned. "How do you know this?"
"Her condition, combined with the smell of the water in that jar, is a clear sign," Zhao Leng replied, pointing to the container. He looked at the old woman and asked, "Do you have herbs like chrysanthemum or willow bark? Something that can be used for infusions?"
The old woman nodded. "Yes, we have some stored."
"Great. I'll also need clean water. Can you boil it while I prepare the herbs?"
The villagers began to move, bringing everything Zhao Leng requested. He quickly mixed the ingredients, preparing a simple infusion. After some time, he offered the drink to the young girl, who swallowed the liquid with difficulty but without resistance.
"Let her rest," Zhao Leng said, turning to the village leader. "The fever should begin to subside in a few hours. But it will be important to ensure she drinks boiled water from now on."
The villagers fell silent for a moment, clearly impressed.
"You really know what you're doing," the leader said, finally relaxing. He looked at the two young men with a more friendly expression. "Perhaps your words are true. You are welcome to stay for now. We have an empty house you can use. It belonged to a family that... was taken by the beasts of the forest a few months ago. It's humble, but it will serve as shelter."
"We are deeply grateful," Zhao Leng replied, bowing again.
As the villagers dispersed, Li Yunhao and Zhao Leng were led by the village chief, Li Mu, to the small house, a modest but functional structure. Once they were alone, Li Yunhao looked at Zhao Leng with a mix of surprise and admiration.
"You're very good at improvising," Li Yunhao said.
Zhao Leng gave a wry smile. "If there's one thing I learned on Earth, it's that you should never waste an opportunity to turn the situation to your advantage. Besides, improvising is better than trying to fight a suspicious crowd."
Li Yunhao shook his head, still impressed. "Well, your improvisation got us a roof. That's more than I expected."
"Now we just need to keep up the charade and plan our next steps," Zhao Leng replied, watching the village through the window. "But remember, the more convincing the lie, the closer it must be to the truth."
---
"Father, do you think they are really trustworthy?" asked Li Yuqing, the youngest of the hunters in the village and the oldest of Li Mu's three sons. Dressed in simple leather clothes and with a worn sword at his waist, he maintained a vigilant posture while watching the house where the strangers had been settled.
Li Mu sighed, crossing his arms as he stared at the same point. "Trustworthy?" He repeated, thoughtfully. "We can't say for sure. However, it's clear that, for now, they don't seem to pose a direct threat to us."
"Then do you believe their story?" Li Yuqing pressed, not hiding his distrust.
Li Mu shook his head slowly, furrowing his brow. "Not necessarily. There are things that don't add up. I couldn't sense any cultivation fluctuations in them, which makes me think they might really be mortals. But the floral scent emanating from that one called Li Yunhao... it's too refined. It reminds me of the perfumes sold in big cities. If they've been wandering the forest as long as they claim, there shouldn't be any trace of something like that."
Moreover, even he, as a humble village chief, had embarked on the cultivation path and had already surpassed the first obstruction of the Realm of Unblocking—could Zhao Leng and his assistant, respected doctors, just be mortals who hadn't started cultivation? The chances were too slim to even consider. Li Mu suspected they were likely cultivators in the Refining Realm or even higher.
Li Yuqing frowned, understanding his father's point. "Then why let them stay?"
Li Mu looked at his son, pondering his words. He was an experienced man, with decades of leadership that had taught him that hasty conclusions often led to unnecessary tragedies. "Because we need to assess the situation better before making any drastic decisions. Think, Yuqing: what would two well-dressed, seemingly educated young people be doing in a forgotten village like ours? They're not here for us. If they're fleeing from someone or searching for something nearby, it's likely they have no interest in involving us directly."
Li Mu continued, his voice lower now, as if speaking to himself. "Having a 'doctor' among us for a few days could also be useful. Li An's granddaughter is just the most visible of our concerns. There are other sick people, and our healers can barely handle the pests and diseases that come from the hostile environment around us."
Li Yuqing remained silent but nodded in understanding.
Li Mu took a deep breath, his mind swirling with thoughts. He weighed the risks and benefits. If they were indeed mortals, they might just be young people from larger cities, forced to leave their homes for reasons beyond their control. If they were cultivators... well, he could only hope their goals would take them away from the village before any complications arose.
"For now, let's keep observing," he said finally, with a determined tone. "But don't treat them harshly. And Yuqing, warn the other hunters and villagers not to be alone with them, especially in the remote areas of the forest. If anything seems wrong, I want to know before it's too late."
The young hunter reluctantly nodded and moved off to carry out the orders, leaving Li Mu alone with his thoughts.
He looked again at the house where the strangers were staying and felt a tightness in his chest. He knew that the world outside his small village was vast and cruel, filled with forces that could crush ordinary lives like his with a single movement.
"I can only hope nothing serious happens."