"Yes, it's just that the herbs required are somewhat troublesome," Chen Fei said, furrowing his brows.

"What? Daoist Chen, you can really cure my illness?" Elder Dong was instantly ecstatic. "Don't worry about the herbs. My son and youngest daughter should both be able to help."

"That's right, Doctor Chen! My husband is Chen Yaoyang from Hong Kong," Dong Shuxian added urgently. "As long as the herbs are available on the market, whether it's the black or white market, he should be able to get them for us."

The name Chen Yaoyang might not be well-known domestically, but in Hong Kong, it was thunderous. He was the eldest son of the prestigious Chen Family and the family's current helmsman. As the wife of such an important figure, she naturally had the confidence to make this claim.

"Doctor Chen, I also have some friends in the medicinal herb business," Secretary Dong said confidently. "Just tell us what you need to treat my father, and we will find it for you as soon as possible."

After all, he was the Party Secretary for a provincial capital city—the top official. Countless influential figures from both politics and business wanted to curry favor with him, so the power he wielded was obviously far greater than his sister's.

"Doctor Chen, I might be able to help with the herbs as well," Elder Du chimed in. He was more concerned about what kind of herbs could possibly cure his friend's current injury.

While he had been massaging Elder Dong just moments before, he had come to fully understand how severe the injuries were. Even he felt helpless, with absolutely no idea what to do.

"The herbs I need are quite unusual," Chen Fei said, still frowning. He knew they all possessed considerable power. If it were just ordinary precious herbs, there would be no need to worry, but what he needed now was far from ordinary. "Elder Du, Elder Dong, have you ever heard of the Midnight Black Lotus?"

"The Midnight Black Lotus?" Elder Dong looked confused, but Elder Du was startled. "Could it be the legendary lotus that grows only in dark, deep valleys and blooms for just a quarter of an hour every ten years?"

"Yes, that's the one." Chen Fei gave Elder Du a surprised look, not expecting him to know about it. "The Midnight Black Lotus only grows in deep valleys more than three thousand meters below ground and must never be exposed to sunlight. These are the only conditions under which it can grow. Moreover, the flower is extremely special, with a maturation period of only a quarter of an hour, making it very difficult to obtain."

"This... does it have to be that plant?" Elder Dong asked, his face etched with disappointment. Just from the description, he knew how difficult it would be to find the Midnight Black Lotus. Even with the considerable influence of his eldest son and youngest daughter, the hope seemed far too slim.

"It's not an absolute must, but... without the Midnight Lotus as a medicinal primer, the pressure on me would be immense. I'd only have a fifty percent chance of saving you," Chen Fei hesitated for a moment before continuing sincerely. "However, if we have the Midnight Black Lotus as a primer, not only can I cure you, Elder Dong, but I'm confident I can help you break through your shackles and reach the level of a First-Class Master."

"What? Not only can you cure me, but you can also help me reach the level of a First-Class Master?" Hearing this, Elder Dong was delirious with joy, barely able to contain his excitement.

He had been stuck at the peak of a Second Rate Expert for over twenty years, a fact that had long since become his Heart Demon. Otherwise, he wouldn't have tried to force a breakthrough before, only to fail and be left with a body full of hidden ailments.

But now, Chen Fei was telling him that there was a way to cure him and even help him reach the level of a First-Class Master—a lifelong dream. How could he not be thrilled?

"Rest assured, Doctor Chen, I will find that Midnight Black Lotus, I swear it," Elder Dong declared firmly.

"It would be best if you could find it. But Elder Dong, in your current condition, you can only hold on for another month at most," Chen Fei said after some thought. "Let's do this: I'll leave the prescription with you. If you gather all the ingredients, give me a call, and I'll come straight to Tongzhou City to treat you. If you can't find them, I'll come back in a month anyway, and we can figure something out then."

"Good, good, good! Let's do that," Elder Dong, still caught up in his excitement, nodded vigorously.

"Doctor Chen, I'm entrusting my father's illness to you," Secretary Dong said, bowing deeply to Chen Fei.

As an outsider to the patient's emotional turmoil, he saw things more clearly than his father. It was obvious Chen Fei thought they wouldn't be able to gather the ingredients; otherwise, there would have been no need to add that last part.

"We do our best and leave the rest to fate," Chen Fei replied with a simple nod.

Elder Dong's condition was much more serious than he had initially thought. Perhaps due to his advanced age, his body's functions had degenerated significantly, making the injury incredibly difficult to handle. He currently had only two options. The first was to use the Midnight Black Lotus as a medicinal primer. The second was to use his own Spiritual Energy and True Yuan, treating Elder Dong at a great personal cost. This would cause him considerable harm, which was why he hesitated. After all, this was a man he had only met twice. Although he had a good impression of him, he hadn't yet reached a level of moral enlightenment where he would readily harm himself to save another. He wavered, undecided.

...

After Chen Fei's unsettling remarks, the Dong Family naturally had no interest in continuing the birthday feast. It was concluded hastily, and Chen Fei himself only stayed a short while longer before leaving. As for Elder Du, he chose to remain at the Dong Family's home to look after his old friend, so he and Chen Fei parted ways.

Green Land Estate was built along the river. It was a lavish villa complex that boasted fresh air and a beautiful river view.

It was a summer evening, not yet eight-thirty, so many people were out for a walk. Seeing this, Chen Fei was inspired to take a stroll by himself along the nearby riverbank.

Despite it being evening, the summer air was still warm, with a gentle, stiflingly humid breeze. However, the riverbank was lined with lush trees, and the cool wind coming off the water offered a pleasant and refreshing respite.

As he was walking alone, he suddenly received a call from Gao Zhinan.

"Doctor Chen, I'm so sorry. There's a problem at the company, and I'm afraid I have to rush back immediately," Gao Zhinan said anxiously.

"A problem at the company? Was it Xiao Qianrang?" Chen Fei asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

"No, it's that bastard Wang Yuan," Gao Zhinan said angrily.

"Wang Yuan? From Celestial Phenomena Group?" Chen Fei's expression relaxed a little. He nodded and said, "Alright, in that case, Director Gao, you should hurry back. Don't worry about me."

"Doctor Chen, I'm truly sorry," Gao Zhinan said, finally breathing a sigh of relief. He hastily hung up the phone.

After Gao Zhinan hung up, Chen Fei shook his head in annoyance. With him gone, Chen Fei would have to go back all alone. The thought made him feel oddly pitiful.

"Hey, Da Fei, is that really you? What brings you to Tongzhou City?" a voice suddenly called out from behind him.

"Huh?" Chen Fei said, surprised. He turned to find Hua Zhinan, dressed in a black suit, and Xiaao Ming, whom he had met once before with Huang Feng. Each man had a beautiful woman on his arm, and they all looked quite surprised to see him.

"Slickhead, what a coincidence running into you guys here," Chen Fei said cheerfully, not expecting this at all. "And this gentleman, if I remember correctly, your surname is Xiaao... Young Master Xiaao, right?" To run into his good buddy, Slickhead, here in Tongzhou City, so far from Northern Mountain, was a genuine surprise.

"No, no, please, Young Master Chen, just call me by my name!" Xiaao Ming said humbly. "I wouldn't dare be called 'Young Master' in front of you. If Young Master Huang found out, he'd surely beat me to death."

His response surprised the two women standing beside him and Slickhead. Others might not know, but they were well aware that Xiaao Ming was the sole heir of the Xiaao Family, a powerhouse in Jiangnan Province. Although the Xiaao Family was a far cry from the truly top-tier families and corporate conglomerates, they were still far beyond the reach of ordinary people—a family one could only look up to.

Yet here he was, acting so deferentially to a young man who looked ordinary and was dressed quite plainly. How could they not be astonished?

Could he be from the direct lineage of some major family or corporate group? But even so, would it warrant this much humility? Young Master Xiaao is still a famous and respected figure in Jiangnan Province... even if he can't compare to those truly top-tier young masters, he shouldn't be this subservient, right? It's unbelievable. The woman beside Xiaao Ming and the one beside Slickhead were both completely stunned.

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