174: Invitation from Ghost Doctor Hall

For the next half day, Luoxia Town was in an uproar.

The news that General Long Teng, Li Ju, had been saved by a young woman using acupuncture spread through the town as if it had grown wings. The front of Hundred Herbs Hall was crowded with people wanting to see the excitement; some even wanted to pay a high price for Xiao Chun to treat them, but Qin Feng politely declined.

By evening, after taking a Spirit-Nurturing Pill and resting for several hours, Xiao Chun finally recovered some of her energy. The four of them sat in the inn room around a table of simple food.

"Brother Qin Feng," Xiao Chun said, taking small sips of porridge, her eyes still weary but filled with excitement, "I did it! I really did it!"

"You did very well," Qin Feng said, looking at her seriously. "Not only did you save him, but you also controlled it perfectly. I saw that although the town mayor was surprised, he didn't suspect the Myriad Medicine Body."

Ji Ruxue gave a rare word of praise: "The disguise was very natural. The trembling of the needle's tail and the flow of True Qi all looked like someone who had just started learning the ancient methods and hadn't mastered them yet."

Xia Ya even gave a direct thumbs-up: "Xiao Chun, you're amazing! The way those generals knelt down made my blood boil!"

Xiao Chun was a bit embarrassed by the praise, her cheeks flushing slightly: "Actually... I was also very nervous, fearing I'd be seen through..."

"The problem now is," Qin Feng put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "the reaction of Medicine King Valley. Since the town mayor reported it personally, there will surely be a response from the valley. I expect we'll have news by tonight at the latest."

Just as he finished speaking, steady footsteps came from outside the door.

"Is Young Master Qin there? This old man is Chen Song."

It was the town mayor's voice.

Qin Feng opened the door to see the town mayor standing outside with a complex expression—surprise, curiosity, and a hint of irrepressible excitement.

"Please come in, Mayor."

The town mayor entered the room, his gaze sweeping over the four faces before landing on Qin Feng: "There has been a reply from the valley, and... it's much faster and more significant than I expected."

He took a letter sealed with green wax from his sleeve. Three ancient characters were written on the envelope—"Ghost Doctor Hall".

"Ghost Doctor Hall?" Qin Feng took the letter.

"It's the hall within Medicine King Valley that specializes in difficult and complicated diseases, ancient secret techniques, and..." The town mayor paused, "and all kinds of 'unconventional' treatment methods. The Hall Master, Elder Duanmu Feng, is the person with the strangest temper and the most obsession with ancient medical arts in the valley."

Qin Feng opened the letter; there were only two short lines of text inside:

"Lingshu Life-Extension, rare needle techniques. Tomorrow at the chen hour, at the Welcoming Pavilion three miles west of Luoxia Town, this old man will personally welcome you."

No pleasantries, no small talk, just straight to the point.

Looking at Qin Feng's expression, the town mayor smiled bitterly: "Elder Duanmu has that kind of temper. Since he said he would 'personally welcome' you, it means he's truly interested in your needle techniques. Moreover..." He lowered his voice, "In recent years, you are the first group that Elder Duanmu has personally left the valley to welcome."

Qin Feng understood and tucked the letter away. "Thank you for the introduction, Mayor. We will definitely be there on time tomorrow at the chen hour."

The town mayor nodded, gave a few more instructions about what to watch out for tomorrow, and then left.

After the town mayor left, Qin Feng placed the soaring dragon token on the table. The dark gold token shimmered in the candlelight, the flying dragon looking as if it might burst out of the token at any moment.

"Free passage through the Northern Border..." Xia Ya picked up the token and weighed it. "This is a real piece of military merit. General Li's gift is not light."

Ji Ruxue said calmly, "A life-saving favor deserves such a reward. Moreover, the general can see that you are not Mortals."

Xiao Chun was a bit worried: "Brother Qin Feng, entering the valley tomorrow... do we really have to give Master's name? What if..."

"It's not what if, it's a must," Qin Feng's gaze was firm. "Master is trapped in the valley, and our primary goal on this trip is to save him. Since we've already caught the attention of the Medicine King Valley's higher-ups, this is the best opportunity."

He looked out the window. The lights of Luoxia Town were lighting up one by one in the night, while the distant mountains were only hazy silhouettes in the dusk.

Medicine King Valley.

Tomorrow, everything will be revealed.

Qin Feng sat alone by the window, the candlelight flickering in the night breeze, casting his pensive profile onto the wall. The zi hour had arrived, and the System information refreshed as scheduled.

[Ding! The zi hour has arrived! The daily intelligence has been refreshed!]

[Today's Intelligence:]

1. [White Intelligence]: When Chu Tianhe was in Medicine King Valley, he served as the manager of Luoxia Town. Eighteen years ago, to save a woman suffering from a strange poison, he privately broke into the Forbidden Ground behind Medicine King Valley, "Thousand Miasma Valley," and risked his life to pluck a "Nine Yin Resurrection Grass." After the incident, he did not return to the valley for punishment but fled directly with the woman and the herb.

2. [White Intelligence]: The identity of the rescued woman is mysterious. After living in seclusion with Chu Tianhe outside the valley for a year, she gave birth to a daughter named Su Yuchun (Xiao Chun). However, this woman left without saying goodbye after Xiao Chun's full moon, leaving only a letter stating that she was a direct member of a certain Martial Emperor Family and had to leave to avoid the Family's investigation affecting her husband and daughter. Chu Tianhe then took the infant Xiao Chun far away, eventually hiding his identity in Star South City and opening Huichun Hall.

3. [White Intelligence]: Within Medicine King Valley, the "Conservative Faction" led by the Law Enforcement Elder has always believed that Chu Tianhe's unauthorized entry into the Forbidden Ground, theft of Spirit Medicine, and desertion from the valley severely violated the valley rules. Capturing him this time is mainly for punishment and to make an example of him, not to take his life. Currently, Chu Tianhe's cultivation has not been abolished, and he is temporarily imprisoned in the "Cold Spring Cave" on "Self-Reflection Cliff."

Three pieces of intelligence, like three keys, unlocked many doubts in Qin Feng's heart.

So that's how it was... Master didn't break the valley rules out of greed for treasure, but to save someone. That rescued woman was actually Xiao Chun's mother, and she came from a certain Martial Emperor Family? There's probably an even deeper secret behind this.

What relieved Qin Feng the most was the third piece—Master is safe for now. The Conservative Faction wants "punishment" and "prestige," not to kill. This undoubtedly gave them room to maneuver.

"Martial Emperor Family... mother..." Qin Feng looked toward the next room; Xiao Chun should have fallen asleep. This simple girl probably never imagined her background was so complex.

He gently rubbed the soaring dragon token in his arms and felt the spirit whiskers of the Mountain Spirit Gray Shadow he kept close to him. Entering the valley tomorrow, these might all become bargaining chips.