C12 The Second Creation!

Wang Feng and Wang Mingzhu stepped out of the Vault of Wonders, ready to return to the Wang family estate.

Wang Feng pulled a gold card from his belt and a hefty sack of gold coins from his pocket, offering them to Wang Mingzhu. "Mingzhu, here's your gold card, and the coins you spent," he said.

"Why so formal, Wang Feng?" Wang Mingzhu chided. "Have you forgotten our childhood days, playing together in the Imperator's mansion? We were the only ones. I can't accept these coins." With her delicate hands, she pushed the bag of coins back toward Wang Feng.

Wang Feng scratched the back of his head, his gaze fixed on Wang Mingzhu's face.

"What are you staring at, dummy?" she teased.

"Nothing at all," Wang Feng chuckled, caught in his staring by Wang Mingzhu.

Wang Mingzhu smirked and said, "Yeah, right. I don't buy it!" She twirled in her skirt before Wang Feng and dashed off toward the mansion. Wang Feng hastened to catch up.

"Hey! Little Nine, slow down!" Wang Feng called out joyfully, feeling as if he had recaptured the spirit of his younger self.

Wang Mingzhu, seeing Wang Feng's joyful approach, mused to herself, "You've finally called me by that name again. Remember the ten-year-old Wang Feng, who was invincible like a war god? That Wang Feng, forever in my memory, is here today, in this moment. He's come back to life in my memories."

"Not a chance! You'll have to catch me!" Wang Mingzhu taunted, sprinting ahead.

Suddenly, their path was blocked by a crowd.

"Oh, my daughter! How harsh is your fate!" wailed a voice up ahead, growing louder. It was the raspy, weathered cry of an elder.

"What's happening up there?" Wang Mingzhu inquired, concerned.

Wang Feng, wiping his brow, replied, "Looks like there's quite a gathering."

Wang Mingzhu peered curiously.

Wang Feng responded in a hushed tone, "Mm."

A crowd had gathered around a small stall on East Deld, forming a barrier that obscured the scene within.

Ding! The Creation System alerted, "A Chosen of Fate, Deng Jiu, is within ten feet of you. Please observe carefully!"

"What? Another Chosen of Fate?"

"Yes, host. Deng Jiu, the foremost Azure Dragon Star on Destiny's Roll!"

Wang Feng and Wang Mingzhu pushed their way through the crowd and saw an elderly man in simple clothing, clutching his daughter and weeping on the ground. Onlookers were buzzing with speculation, casting glances at the pair.

The girl in the old man's embrace was clad in red with a phoenix hairpin adorning her hair. She had an elegant demeanor and delicate hands, yet her face was deathly pale, devoid of any color, as if afflicted by some mysterious illness.

In front of them lay a wooden sign with a message: the family fortune had been depleted on the daughter's medical expenses, and they were desperately seeking help for her condition. They were willing to serve as slaves or laborers in exchange for saving the daughter's life.

Wang Mingzhu asked with concern, "Old man, what has befallen you? What sickness does your daughter have?"

"I'm at a loss myself," the old man lamented. "I've exhausted our savings and sought out renowned physicians far and wide, but to no avail. We've come to the Imperial Capital as a last resort, hoping for a miracle."

Wang Feng inquired, "Elder, may I know your names?"

Deng Jiu replied calmly, "I am Deng Jiu, and my daughter is Deng Chanyu."

"Listen, Elder, do you have a place to stay? If not, you're welcome to come with me. Regarding your daughter's illness, I have a friend who might be able to help," Wang Feng offered.

Deng Jiu's eyes widened as he scrutinized Wang Feng, as if trying to discern his true intentions. Wang Feng stepped closer and reached out his hand, intending to help the father and daughter to their feet.

Deng Jiu grasped Wang Feng's hand and rose to his feet.

"Deng Jiu: Can you truly heal her?"

Wang Feng paused before replying, "One must always attempt. Only through trying can we determine if something is possible. How would you know if you can heal her without trying?"

"Wang Mingzhu: How certain are you?"

Wang Feng held up three fingers and waggled them before Mingzhu: "Thirty-five percent."

Deng Jiu, eyeing Wang Feng with astonishment, remarked, "I've sought out all the renowned healers across the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, yet they all said it was hopeless, not even a sliver of a chance. But here you are, claiming a thirty percent chance!"

"Wang Feng, remember what you said: if your daughter is indeed healed by me, will the inscription on your wooden board still be honored?"

Deng Jiu gave Wang Feng a deep bow, saying, "If Young Master Wang truly cures my little girl, I, Deng Jiu, am ready to brave any danger for Young Master Wang!"

"Very well, Deng Jiu, for your words alone, come with me."

"Let's go! Back to the Wang family."

Wang Mingzhu had never seen Wang Feng act with such decisiveness since she had met Hu Feng. She couldn't help but wonder if he had taken a liking to the old man's daughter and intended to claim her for himself. But that couldn't be right; he wasn't that type of person.

Upon their arrival at the Wang family, the four made their way to Wang Feng's courtyard. Although it wasn't Wang Mingzhu's first visit, she noticed that Wang Feng's courtyard seemed transformed.

Indeed, it had changed. The once neglected courtyard, barely tended by a few servants, was now spotless. The entire space was as immaculate as polished white jade, without a trace of dirt.

Wang Feng was equally baffled. What was happening? Was this still his courtyard? It seemed like someone else's!

"Where's Lee?" Wang Feng called out in the courtyard. "Lee, Lee! Come out here!"

The response came from the alchemy chamber, where Lee had converted the kitchen due to lack of space.

"Young Master, what's the matter? What's happened?" Lee hurried to Wang Feng's side.

Wang Feng gestured to Lee in his usual manner, "Lee, can you quickly diagnose what's wrong with this girl?"

Lee took the girl from Wang Feng's arms to check her pulse, his brow furrowing deeper as he contemplated. After a long moment, he spoke, "Alright, Young Master, lay her down on the bed. I recall seeing this young lady's symptoms in a medical book. Please give me a moment to locate it." With that, Lee turned and began to search through the medical books on his shelf.

Wang Feng and Deng Jiu carefully placed Deng Chanyu on the wooden bed in Lee's quarters. Lee, now standing before them, exuded the serene composure of a Taoist sage, impervious to praise or scorn, a stark contrast to his unassuming appearance.

Wang Mingzhu, who had previously visited Wang Feng without noticing Lee, was now struck by his presence, sensing the harmony with the Way of Heaven about him. Martial artists would naturally feel this way upon meeting him, while ordinary folk might mistake him for a celestial being.

Deng Jiu had been doubtful of Wang Feng's words during their journey, but upon meeting Lee, he became mostly convinced. Despite this newfound belief, his worries persisted.

Inside Lee's room, Deng Jiu paced restlessly, unable to pause for even a second. Roughly an hour had passed since Lee had begun his search, and the lack of news made Deng Jiu as jittery as an ant on a hot pan, his nervous movements distracting Wang Feng.

"Wang Feng said, "Old Deng, would you mind not pacing? You're making my head spin. Just take a seat, will you? Your fretting won't help."

At Wang Feng's urging, Deng Jiu finally came to a halt and settled into a chair.

As everyone anxiously awaited Lee's discovery, their eyes glued to him, they noticed that Lee, who had been fervently flipping through the medical books, had abruptly stopped. Indeed, he had found it.

Lee, his voice slightly hoarse as if he hadn't spoken in ages, announced, "I've found it."

Wang Feng quickly offered a teacup to Lee, gesturing for him to take a sip and soothe his parched throat.

Lee took a sip of tea, and his voice steadied before he began to speak slowly. "Cases like this young lady's are exceedingly rare, surfacing perhaps only once in centuries. I've scoured many of the medical tomes in circulation across the continent without much luck. However, there are a few notes on her condition in a book I recall from memory."

To fully cure the girl's illness, deeply rooted in her marrow, it would take at least a month, followed by a period of careful recuperation.

"I'm confident in our success, but we'll need eight primary medicinal herbs and numerous secondary ones. I'll have to visit several pharmacies to acquire them. I hope you, Young Master, can help gather them quickly so I can begin her treatment. We must avoid any hasty oversights."

"Wang Feng, alright. Write up a list of what's needed, and I'll fetch it immediately!"

Suddenly, a thunderous knocking echoed from Wang Feng's courtyard, so forceful it seemed the house might collapse. The room trembled with each blow.

Wang Mingzhu demanded, "Who dares to create such commotion at the Imperator's residence?"

"Wang Cheng, haha, Wang Feng, come out and face your doom!"

Recognizing the voice outside as Wang Cheng's, Wang Feng exchanged a knowing glance with Wang Mingzhu, each understanding the other's intent.

"Lee, stay here and focus on the prescription. I'll handle those fools outside. Wait here; I'll be right back after I retrieve what we need."

Lee bent over the prescription, burdened by the sheer number of medicinal herbs required for the girl's treatment—nearly a hundred, with many bearing obscure names.

Meanwhile, Deng Jiu tended to Deng Chanyu, who lay with her eyes shut, beads of cold sweat dotting her forehead, all the while anxious about Wang Feng's predicament.

Boom! Boom! The once vibrant door of Wang Feng's courtyard crashed to the ground, revealing Wang Cheng and the other Wang family disciples.

Wang Feng, looking at Wang Cheng and his companions at the doorway, smiled. "It seems it's time for a new door!"

Wang Cheng mimicked Wang Feng's tone, saying, "Indeed! It's time for a change. Your entire courtyard ought to be torn down, too."

"But what's this about you bringing Mingzhu along? Allow me to ask, albeit timidly, are you scared?"