Chapter Two: I Can Cure Your Illness

Xia Ye is a transmigrator.

He has been in the world of *The Outcast* for twenty-three years.

Before the age of eighteen, he was a young Daoist of the Danding Sect at Mount Sanqing in Jiangxi. Since childhood, he had studied the arts of internal alchemy and elixir preparation, cultivating both inner nature and physical life to achieve a state of holistic harmony.

After turning eighteen, he bid farewell to his master and returned to the secular world. He began to wander, traveling across famous mountains and great rivers, witnessing the complexities of the mortal world, and visiting various sects. Only a year ago did he end his travels and settle in Hangzhou.

The reason he did not remain on Mount Sanqing was simple: Xia Ye felt he had already exhausted the techniques and methods of the Danding Sect. Having taken what he needed, he saw no reason to waste further time.

In truth, even the mentor who raised him was unaware that Xia Ye had awakened a congenital ability in childhood called "Insight." It allowed him to perceive the essence of all things through minute details and, more importantly, to extract and store the "elements" within them.

To Xia Ye, whether it was a cultivation technique, a supernatural art, the life-force of Qi, or even a blade of grass, they were all merely basic "elements of heaven and earth," forming different appearances through varied arrangements.

From the moment he awakened this ability, his life had a clear goal: he wanted to penetrate the mysteries of everything in the universe and arrange a path to longevity—or even a path that could reach the heavens.

This was the purpose of his travels. He wanted to observe the world in its entirety, collect sufficient "materials," and then refine them into an elixir using the methods of the Danding Sect, ultimately merging his own body with the myriad paths of the universe.

Now that he had returned from his travels, enriched by his experiences and fully prepared, he knew he had to be cautious with his first attempt at a miraculous elixir. He needed to proceed gradually, which led to the idea of "finding someone to test the medicine."

Thus, in a secluded corner of Hangzhou, Xia Ye opened a clinic catering specifically to superhumans. He started with basic "healing salves"—the safest and most foolproof of his concoctions—and began to experiment little by little.

Due to the miraculous efficacy of his pills, his reputation spread quickly.

Today, a year later, the Chinese superhuman community knows that there is a miracle doctor in Hangzhou. No matter how severe the injury—even if a person is standing at the gates of the underworld—he can bring them back to life, earning the admiration of all factions.

With his preliminary trials a success, it was time to initiate the next phase of his plan.

This time, Xia Ye intended to refine a true "supernatural elixir"—one that could transform a person, reshape their very being, and perhaps even allow them to transcend the mortal realm and achieve divinity.

To succeed, he needed a suitable test subject. This person had to possess exceptional talent and physical constitution, and ideally, be someone who could be put to use and follow his instructions. A candidate naturally surfaced in his mind.

...

"Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Xia Ye. Like you, I am a superhuman. I studied under the Danding Sect of Mount Sanqing, and I currently run a clinic here in Hangzhou. You could say I am a physician."

Once Xiao Zizai regained his composure, Xia Ye invited him into his home and began his explanation.

"You have likely realized by now that I came here specifically for you. I have long heard of your past with Master Jie Kong, including the affliction of your 'red eyes.'"

"..."

"What do you want?"

To be honest, Xiao Zizai was still somewhat dazed. He had expected to go on a killing spree, yet he never imagined this person in front of him could halt his murderous intent with a single finger.

"What I want is simple: you are sick, and I can cure your illness!" Xia Ye squinted his eyes, speaking bluntly with a smile on his face.

"You can cure my illness?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zizai’s gaze sharpened. He grew suspicious, eyeing Xia Ye and trying to discern his true motives.

"I know you find it hard to believe me right now. That is fine. You can listen to what I have to say about your condition before you decide."

Xia Ye, clearly having anticipated this, continued on his own:

"Xiao Zizai, male, thirty-four years old, no criminal record, always law-abiding. These are the basic facts I have gathered."

"I also know that you have been exceptionally quiet since childhood. It is not that you are unsociable, but that you dislike idle chatter. You are extremely restrained in everything you do, and you possess a certain degree of perfectionism."

"As for your 'red eye' affliction, it is not acquired, but innate. I have just observed your state; in that condition, your overall capabilities are vastly enhanced. This proves it is not a 'disease,' but your 'congenital ability'!"

"As everyone knows, congenital abilities are born from a person’s 'essence.' Therefore, what you believe to be a 'disease' has never been one. The 'murderous intent' you have been suppressing has always come from your true heart. Whether you admit it or not, you are a born killer!"

"You mean to say I am not sick?"

Hearing this, Xiao Zizai frowned, about to voice his dissent, only to see Xia Ye shake his head.

"No, you are sick!"

"Your sickness is not the 'red eyes,' but the constant contradiction within your heart. You clearly enjoy killing, yet you try your hardest to suppress it because you are afraid!"

Xia Ye leaned forward, narrowing his eyes as he stared into Xiao Zizai’s.

"You are afraid that you will destroy everything you currently have. You are afraid of shattering the perfection you have built, afraid that your life will descend into chaos, and afraid that after one moment of indulgence... the future will be nothing but memories!"

"!!!"

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Zizai’s body jolted, and his face showed shock. He could not understand why this stranger, whom he had never met before, knew him so well!

"When treating a patient, understanding the cause is fundamental; there is no need to be surprised." Xia Ye smiled slightly, as if reading his thoughts. "What I am about to say next is the point: I have a way to cure your true 'illness'!"

"Speak!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Xiao Zizai urged him on. Even he did not notice that his eyes were flashing with a crimson hue, accompanied by... a sense of excitement!

"My method for treating you is simple. I can help you remove all restrictions. I can grant you the ability to indulge in killing, and after the killing is done, you will never feel any contradiction. I can allow you to be truly honest with your own heart!"

"I believe Master Jie Kong must have told you that the most important thing for a practitioner is 'sincerity.' Only with a sincere heart can one progress; otherwise, one will forever be trapped in a bottleneck. And to carry out a killing, what one needs most is strength. Standing still will only make you prey."

"Of course, I can guarantee that throughout this entire treatment, there will not be a single moment where your wishes are violated. Everything you fear will not come to pass. What you will ultimately receive..."

"Will be nothing but a 'complete recovery'!"

Having said this, Xia Ye stopped. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two small medicine bottles.

"This is the 'Forget-Me-Not' pill, which can make a person forget three hours of memory, and this is a healing salve. Feed them to your girlfriend, and she will recover as if nothing happened, forgetting the unpleasant memories of tonight."

He then produced a business card.

"This is my card. It has the address of my clinic. I will not force you. Come find me once you have made up your mind. To be honest, my coming here is merely out of a physician's benevolence. Whether or not you accept the treatment is entirely up to you."

He then stood up slowly, walked to Xiao Zizai’s side, and leaned over to pat him on the shoulder.

"Remember what I said: I can cure your 'illness'!"

With that, he showed him out. Xia Ye picked up his black umbrella from beside the door, stepped outside, waved his hand over his shoulder, and walked away.