Chapter 036: Turning the Tables Against the Elite

“Be quiet. Don’t alert the people in the inn; we don’t want any unexpected trouble,” Wan Gusheng snapped in a low voice, though he too had caught the delicious aroma in the air. As they crept from the rear courtyard all the way to Fang Xian’s quarters, the tantalizing scent lingered. Some among them couldn’t help but breathe in deeply, so alluring was the fragrance, almost intoxicating.

Once inside Fang Xian’s courtyard, the scent grew even stronger. Wan Gusheng saw that Fang Xian and his companions were calmly dining in the main hall, utterly ignoring their uninvited guests.

“Kill them!” Wan Gusheng bellowed, brandishing his blade and leading the charge toward the hall. The gray-clad gang members surged after him with murderous shouts.

“Kill!” There was no need for Fang Xian to give the order; Da Niu and the others rushed out to meet the attackers. Yang Huzi, who had just broken through to a top-tier master two days before, along with Feng Xia—now fully recovered—each intercepted one of the Gray-Clad Gang’s top fighters.

Just then, a volley of arrows whistled from one of the rooms, each arrow finding its mark. In an instant, a second-tier fighter and several third-rate thugs from the Gray-Clad Gang fell dead.

Fang Xian appeared on the rooftop, loosing arrow after arrow with unerring aim. The Gray-Clad Gang was forced to split some of their strongest fighters to assault the roof.

“Kill!” At that moment, another force emerged: Feng Ling, accompanied by Zhou Zhihua and the bandits of Flying Phoenix Ridge, burst onto the scene. She had been lurking nearby and, upon hearing the sounds of battle, rushed to join the fray, heading straight for Wan Gusheng, the enemy’s strongest.

The Green Cloud Stockade fighters wore green, the Flying Phoenix Ridge bandits wore blue, and the Gray-Clad Gang wore gray—making it easy to distinguish friend from foe. The battlefield quickly turned into a joint assault of Green Cloud Stockade and Flying Phoenix Ridge against the Gray-Clad Gang.

“Sister, when did you get here?” Feng Xia cried out in delight upon seeing Feng Ling.

“I’ve been here for days. You little rascal, you have so many friends with you, yet you still sent out an urgent distress signal and nearly gave me a heart attack,” Feng Ling scoffed as she pressed Wan Gusheng back with her attacks.

“So, you’re a disciple of Hundred Flowers Abyss? Was it your group that attacked our stronghold seven days ago?” Though Wan Gusheng was losing ground, he wasn’t anxious. He was a top-tier fighter, and while Feng Ling was even stronger, he knew he could escape if he wished.

“That’s right. The Gray-Clad Gang dares stir up trouble on the Wu Dynasty border and hunt down disciples of Hundred Flowers Abyss? You’re courting death,” Feng Ling replied coldly.

Upon confirming Feng Ling’s identity, Wan Gusheng shouted, “It’s hot, let’s pull out!” and tried to flee. But Fang Xian had anticipated his move—two arrows whistled past, cutting off his escape. Unable to dodge, Wan Gusheng was struck in the abdomen by Feng Ling’s spinning flower petal and took an arrow to the leg from Fang Xian, letting out a wretched scream.

“Don’t let any of them escape!” Fang Xian shouted, leaving Wan Gusheng, who was already gravely wounded, to his fate. He turned to cut off other Gray-Clad Gang fighters, focusing especially on their remaining top-tier master.

Agonized screams echoed through the courtyard as the Gray-Clad Gang was decimated. In the end, Wan Gusheng was slain by Feng Ling herself. Da Niu and Yang Huzi joined forces to kill another top-tier foe, and the rest of the second-tier fighters were dispatched by Zhou Zhihua and the bandits from both stockades.

Once the carnage ended, the two allied groups met and Feng Xia made introductions. Only then did Fang Xian learn that Feng Ling—the alluring, formidable woman—was Feng Xia’s elder sister, and one of the top three core disciples of Hundred Flowers Abyss.

“We killed one of their top fighters last time, and now two more. This will severely cripple the Gray-Clad Gang. But we must be cautious of their retaliation. Divine Healer Fang, do you have any plans?” Feng Ling asked, her gaze lingering curiously on Fang Xian.

“We wander without a fixed home. We plan to visit a few places next,” Fang Xian replied, keeping his true identity as a Green Cloud Stockade member secret.

“Divine Healer Fang, I have a request. Please, help me,” Feng Ling suddenly stepped forward and bowed deeply, her expression pitiful.

“Please speak, there’s no need for this formality.” Fang Xian hurried forward to help her up, inadvertently catching a glimpse of her pale skin and the swell of her bosom.

“To be honest, I am the chief of Flying Phoenix Ridge,” Feng Ling confessed. “My husband died at the hands of government troops three years ago, leaving me with a child not yet six months old. He’s nearly four now. Half a year ago, I brought a tiger cub back to the fortress. My son was frightened, fell, and struck his head. He’s been unconscious ever since—barely clinging to life thanks to medicine. Divine Healer Fang, I beg you to save my child. I am willing to pay any price.”

Tears streaked down Feng Ling’s face. No matter how strong a woman, a child would always be her softest spot.

“Flying Phoenix Ridge? The one in the Daba Mountains?” Fang Xian asked. There were dozens of strongholds in those mountains, though he didn’t know them all. Da Niu and the others from Green Cloud Stockade had at least heard the name.

“Yes, but ours is only a small stronghold among many,” Feng Ling replied.

“We’ll go with you to Flying Phoenix Ridge and see your child,” Fang Xian agreed. When the city garrison arrived, he left them to deal with the bodies of the Gray-Clad Gang. The group quickly gathered their things and departed.

What Fang Xian hadn’t expected was the outpouring of gratitude from the people as he left Qingyang City. Along the way, countless citizens came to greet and see him off. By the city gates, over a thousand gathered, escorting him all the way out of the city with tearful farewells.

Fang Xian glanced at his own status: System host Fang Xian, styled Mingda, skills in Medicine, Poison, Archery, Ten Thousand Stars Technique, Star-Fist, Starlight Sword, Starstep, Star-Gaze; pet: young falcon; items: Life-Extending Pill (1), Hundred Poisons Pill (0), Small Hundred Poisons Pill (12), Small Life-Extending Pill (10), Detox Pill (50), Blood-Stopping and Healing Pill (100), Fallen Star Sword; Fame Points: 5,450.

Three hours later, the party entered the Daba Mountains, arriving at Flying Phoenix Ridge. The second-in-command, Liu Wu, led the welcome. Everyone treated Fang Xian with utmost respect—not only because he was accompanied by two top-tier fighters and six peak second-tier warriors, but because he was a divine healer, a beacon of hope for the stronghold.

“This child indeed suffered a head injury; his brain has already begun to atrophy. Without my intervention, he might have only half a year left, but he’s fortunate—his destiny is strong. I can treat him and restore him to health,” Fang Xian said after carefully examining Feng Jiutian.

Feng Jiutian was Feng Ling’s son. Her late husband had insisted the boy take her surname, intending for their second child to carry his. But fate had robbed them of that chance.

“Really? Divine Healer Fang, if you can save my son, I will do anything—anything at all,” Feng Ling said, emotion tightening her voice. For her son, there truly was nothing she would not give.

“Let’s discuss everything after your child is healed,” Fang Xian said with a gentle smile. He asked Feng Ling to lead him to the stronghold’s pharmacy, where he selected a mix of common and precious herbs before preparing for treatment.

Outside the window, the distant roar of a young tiger could be heard—the very cub Feng Ling had brought back half a year ago, the one that had frightened Feng Jiutian and caused his injury. Liu Wu, Zhou Zhihua, and the others had wanted to kill the animal, but Feng Ling had not allowed it to be harmed, instead keeping it as a pet. When Fang Xian returned from the pharmacy, he paid the cub a visit and used a Blood-Bonding Pill to begin taming it as his own companion.

The next day, Fang Xian began treating Feng Jiutian. He first used acupuncture to smooth the child’s meridians, then protected his heart and brain with mysterious energy, and finally administered a Life-Extending Pill.

Yet, Feng Jiutian’s condition was so severe that recovery would not come quickly, especially given his young age and the slow absorption of medicine. Daily, Fang Xian channeled his mysterious energy to aid the boy’s healing.

To care for Feng Jiutian, Fang Xian stayed by his side day and night, monitoring his condition and tending to him with utmost dedication. Witnessing this, Feng Ling’s heart began to stir with unfamiliar emotions, as if Fang Xian were truly the child’s father.