As soon as they left the hut, Yuan Huixiang resumed her previous attitude towards Wu Yangfeng, ignoring him completely. “Miss Yuan! Miss Yuan!” Wu Yangfeng called out to her. Yuan Huixiang continued to pick her herbs without even lifting her head. Seeing she still ignored him, Wu Yangfeng stopped calling and casually sat down on a stone bench. After a moment of silence, Yuan Huixiang suddenly spoke, “I heard you want to know the ingredients of the Nine Revolutions Resurrection Pill?” “How did you know?” Wu Yangfeng looked at her in surprise. “You don’t need to know how I know. I think you should realize that my previous condition was just for show.” “Really?” Wu Yangfeng said happily. “Huh? Why are you so happy? Shouldn’t you be a bit disappointed?” Yuan Huixiang teased. “You…” Wu Yangfeng glared at her angrily. “Isn’t it?” Wu Yangfeng turned away, ignoring Yuan Huixiang’s cold remarks. “Although that condition was just for show, what I’m about to say now is real.” Wu Yangfeng looked at her suspiciously, wondering what shocking statement she would make next. “Don’t look at me like that, what I’m about to propose is beneficial to you without any harm.” Yuan Huixiang approached him. “What do you mean?” Wu Yangfeng looked at her cautiously. “I want you to stay here with me for three years.”
Yuan Moyao lowered her head and softly stated her conditions, “This way, you can not only know the formula for the Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Pill, but also discuss medical techniques with me. More importantly, you won’t have to face that loving couple, which would leave you with regrets. Think about it!” Yuan Moyao stood up, picked up the medicine basket by her feet, and walked towards the pharmacy. Wu Yangfeng squinted at her receding figure, pondering over her conditions.
“Yangfeng, are you sure you want to stay here?” Shang Bieye asked Wu Yangfeng, who was standing in front of him.
“Yes!” Wu Yangfeng cheerfully laughed, “Staying here is great! With the fragrance of flowers and birds singing, and a beauty to keep me company, what’s not to like?”
Hearing Wu Yangfeng’s words, Yuan Moyao gave him a look that was more scornful than amused. “Brother Wu, I’m sorry for making you stay here for three years because of me,” Yan Xinmeng said guiltily, although she had agreed to help Yuan Moyao, she hadn’t anticipated such a condition.
“Don’t say that, Xinmeng. Being able to exchange medical knowledge with the renowned Medicine King is an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime, which Brother Wu would eagerly seize, so don’t think too much about it,” Wu Yangfeng comforted her. Hearing this, Yan Xinmeng felt much relieved. She approached Yuan Moyao, taking her hand, “Miss Yuan, thank you for saving me. I’ll leave Brother Wu in your care for these three years.”
“Miss Yan, you’re too kind, I should be the one thanking you,” Yuan Moyao replied with a meaningful tone. Yan Xinmeng and Yuan Moyao exchanged knowing smiles.
“Yangfeng, we’ll be leaving then. We’ll come back to see you in a year,” Shang Bieye patted Wu Yangfeng’s shoulder and then approached Yuan Moyao, “Miss Yuan, thank you for your help this time. I’m entrusting Yangfeng to you.”
“No need for thanks, Young Master Shang,” Yuan Moyao smiled sweetly, “I will take good care of Dr. Wu.”
After reluctantly bidding farewell to Wu Yangfeng, Shang Bieye and Yan Xinmeng slowly walked out of the Medicine King’s residence. Wu Yangfeng watched their retreating figures with reluctance, only to hear Yuan Moyao’s cold voice next to him, “Stop looking, they’re already far away! Besides, she’s someone else’s wife; she’ll never be yours.”
“How have I offended you, that you can’t speak to me properly and always have to beat around the bush?” Wu Yangfeng said displeased.
“I’m happy, I like it, I love it!” Yuan Moyao retorted arrogantly.
“You…” Wu Yangfeng’s eyes blazed with anger as he glared at Yuan Moyao, who glared back just as fiercely.
At the entrance of the Medicine King Valley, Little Potato was pacing back and forth, anxiously peering into the valley. Upon seeing Shang Bieye and Yan Xinmeng, he shouted with joy, “Master! Mistress!”
“Little Potato!” Yan Xinmeng also ran over with joy. Seeing her, Little Potato burst into tears, “Mistress, I’m so glad you’re safe, I was so worried!”
“It’s all right now, I’m fine,” Yan Xinmeng said, her eyes also filling with tears.
Bu Yuchen, seeing Shang Bieye, hugged him tightly and then looked around, “Where’s Yangfeng?”
“He’s staying at the Medicine King’s residence.”
“Why would he stay there?” Bu Yuchen was puzzled. Shang Bieye then explained what had happened over the past few days after they entered the Medicine King’s residence.
“Yangfeng agreed to this?” Bu Yuchen looked at him incredulously.
“Yes,” Shang Bieye didn’t understand why Bu Yuchen was looking at him like that, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Bu Yuchen shook his head with a smile, “Let’s go back!”
“Yes! Let’s go home!” Yan Xinmeng said happily.
“Right! Home!” Little Potato echoed Yan Xinmeng’s sentiment.
Before leaving, everyone looked back at the Medicine King Valley, each with their own thoughts. Shang Bieye and Yan Xinmeng hoped that when they returned, they would hear good news about Yuan Moyao. Bu Yuchen felt many emotions, knowing why Wu Yangfeng made this choice, and seeing the loving couple, he knew Wu Yangfeng’s decision was right. Little Potato, on the other hand, resolved to become a capable man to protect the one he loved. As for the two inside the Medicine King’s residence, that was another story…
Epilogue
In the Underworld, in the Judge’s Pavilion, a scholar in green and a man with a bull’s head were playing chess.
“Judge, you really used me this time,” Niu Qi moved his horse a step.
“Did I?” the Judge said indifferently.
“Didn’t I? Yuan Moyao told me everything!” Niu Qi pouted.
“Oh, and what of it?” He said nonchalantly.
Seeing his shameless expression, Niu Qi indeed had no retort, only touching his nose and continuing the game, but then he remembered something else. “Judge, when we went to fetch Wu Gong’s soul, how come I didn’t know you were making a bet with Yuan Moyao?”
The Judge gave him a cold look, “Why ask so many questions? Don’t forget, you dropped the Soul Forgetting Cake into the pond.”
At this, Niu Qi gave a dry laugh. “Hehe! Judge, I still need your help with this.”
“Help? Weren’t you just saying I used you?” he teased.
“No, no! How could the Judge use me? Of course, you’re helping me!” Niu Qi said with a fawning smile.
“Since that’s the case, I can help you, but you must let me take five stones in the next game.”
“Judge!” How could that be? Losing one game meant an extra day of overtime, which was exhausting. Niu Qi frowned at the Judge.
“It’s up to you.” Niu Qi reluctantly nodded. Who made him so careless as to drop the Time Mirror and the Soul Forgetting Cake? The Time Mirror was already retrieved, but the Soul Forgetting Cake was still missing. He thought it might have been eaten by fish, but upon checking, it hadn’t been.
“Here!” The Judge pulled a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Niu Qi. Seeing the words on the paper, Niu Qi’s face changed drastically, “Judge, did King Yama give this to you for me?”
“Yes!” He leisurely observed him.
“And you still say you’re helping me? King Yama has already gathered everyone; he’s just waiting for me to find them myself. You’re using me again!” Niu Qi said with a mournful face.
“I don’t care about that, you agreed to it yourself,” the Judge made another move, “Checkmate!”
“Judge!” Niu Qi exclaimed.
“Hahaha—” The Judge just kept laughing. Niu Qi could only obediently sign his name on the overtime sheet, which now had three hundred and sixty-five lines.
“Alas! Now I can’t rest!” Niu Qi said dejectedly.
