Silence returned to visit the Wang Pai Medicine Shop once more, but this time, it was a silence thick with astonishment and unanswered questions.
Liu Yuexin stared at "Uncle Wang" as if seeing him for the first time. The image of the kind-hearted old man she had known just hours ago had completely vanished, replaced by a mysterious expert who could subdue a giant thug with a single fingertip.
Wang Cheng turned back to her, the warm, benevolent smile returning to his face as if the event just moments ago was merely an illusion. "That gave me quite a fright, little girl... Young people these days are so aggressive."
His nonchalant words only confused her further. "U-Uncle... just now... you..."
"Oh... that?" He chuckled softly, waving his hand dismissively. "It is merely an ancient medical technique called the 'Acupoint Sealing Art.' I simply poked the exact spot that controls his tendons. It caused temporary weakness, nothing serious."
He had boldly explained away the deadly "Death Point Finger" as a basic medical trick without batting an eye!
Although Liu Yuexin was half-believing and half-doubting, when she thought of the massive surge of Qi within her own body, she began to sway... Perhaps this uncle's medical skills were truly far too profound for ordinary people to comprehend.
Thinking of the kindness he showed in saving her life, granting her new power, and protecting her from those thugs, she felt she owed him a debt so vast she didn't know how she could ever repay it.
"Uncle..." she said softly, lowering her head until her chin almost touched her chest. "I... I have nothing to repay you with. Neither for the treatment... nor for what happened just now..."
Wang Cheng looked at the guilt-ridden girl before him with gentle eyes, but in his mind, he was rapidly calculating his next move. He needed her... not just for "Dual Cultivation," but as a "key" to open the door to the world of cultivators—a world he was still unfamiliar with.
"Oh, little girl, why overthink it?" He walked over and patted her shoulder lightly. "I told you, I am a doctor. Helping patients is my duty... But if you truly feel uneasy about it..."
He feigned deep thought. "Actually... there is a favor I would like to ask of you."
"What is it, sir?! You only need to speak the word. Even if I have to brave water and tread through fire, Yuexin will not refuse!" She looked up and answered firmly, her eyes filled with determination.
Wang Cheng smiled with satisfaction. "Very good... You know that I am in debt to the Chamber of Commerce, correct?"
She nodded.
"To find fifty gold taels in a week by selling ordinary medicine is impossible," he continued. "I need to brew a certain 'Special Pill.' However... its main ingredient is a rare herb called 'Silver Moon Grass,' which grows only on steep cliffs that receive full moonlight... For an old man like me, climbing such a place is beyond my ability."
He stared deep into her eyes. "But for a cultivator like you... it should be possible, right?"
Liu Yuexin's eyes widened. She understood his meaning immediately! "You want me to gather herbs for you, Uncle?"
"Correct," he nodded. "I want you to be my 'assistant.' Help me find rare herbs that ordinary people cannot access... And in exchange..."
He leaned in closer, whispering softly.
"...I will continue to perform 'Profound Treatments' on you regularly. This is to ensure that the root of the Cold Yin Poison in your body is completely eradicated, and your cultivation will advance even further... What do you think of this agreement?"
This offer was... simply too magnificent!
For Liu Yuexin, this wasn't just repaying a debt; it was a fortuitous opportunity granted by the heavens! She would get to train under the guidance of this mysterious expert and receive pills and those incredibly effective "treatments" to aid her!
She immediately knelt on one knee. "Uncle! Yuexin is more than willing! From now on, I will be your assistant. If you have any orders, I will follow them to the best of my ability!"
Wang Cheng quickly helped her up, his face still adorned with that kind smile.
"Good, good. No need for such ceremony... Alright, it is very late. Hurry back to your sect. Come see me again tomorrow morning, and we will plan where to find the Silver Moon Grass."
"Yes, Uncle!" She accepted the order energetically. She bowed to him humbly once more before walking away. Though her body was still weary, her steps were firm and filled with a hope she had never felt before.
Wang Cheng stood watching her back until she disappeared from sight. The kind smile on his face slowly morphed into a cunning smirk.
He summoned the system window. The 50 Skill Points he had just earned were still glowing.
'Alright... The debt, the herbs, and the Dual Cultivation... all handled in one go,' he smiled with satisfaction.
'Next... it is time to use these skill points to upgrade my medical skills to the next level... just in case another interesting 'patient' walks in.'
That night... the Wang Pai Medicine Shop, which used to be lonely and quiet, now had its lights burning bright until nearly dawn. The sound of an old man's low chuckle echoed occasionally amidst the fragrance of medicine—a scent that was about to change the destiny of the Martial World forever.