Xie Liyun led Xuan Zhi through the grand halls of Xie Mansion, the once-proud residence now eerily silent, its occupants pgued by the slow and insidious poison that had stolen their vitality. They arrived at the innermost courtyard, where Xie Yuanbao, the old general and patriarch of the Xie family, y in a state of deep coma.

  Xuan Zhi stepped forward, his sharp crimson eyes scanning the frail figure on the bed. Xie Yuanbao had once been a legendary warrior, but now, he was a mere shadow of his former self. His face was sallow, his breathing weak and uneven. His once muscur frame had withered, reduced to mere skin and bones. The sight made Xuan Zhi frown deeply.

  He reached out, his warm fingers pressing gently against the old man's wrist. The pulse was barely detectable, flickering like a dying candle. Xuan Zhi sighed heavily. "Forty medical sessions," he announced grimly. "Even after that, he will require continuous therapy to regain proper function."

  Xie Liyun exhaled sharply, relief washing over his stern features. Even Yan Rui, who had been standing rigidly beside him, let out an uncharacteristic breath of emotion. The old general had been in a coma for seven years. To hear that he could recover, even with difficulty, was nothing short of a miracle.

  Xie Liyun turned to Xuan Zhi and bowed slightly. "I understand. If you are willing to proceed, the Xie family will owe you a great debt."

  Xuan Zhi merely nodded before following Xie Liyun to the next courtyard, where Xie Liyun's parents resided. As they stepped inside, the air was heavy with the scent of medicinal herbs. Xuan Zhi motioned for the servants to leave before he approached the bed where Xie Huai, the general’s father, y. He checked the pulse, his brows knitting together.

  "Thirty treatments should be sufficient," he decred.

  Moving to the other side of the room, Xuan Zhi took Lady Ji’s pulse. His frown deepened. Unlike Xie Huai, Lady Ji’s condition was far worse. Her breathing was uneven, and her skin was ice-cold despite the yers of bnkets covering her.

  "Forty treatments," he murmured. "She has been affected severely. More than the others. For an unknown reason, the poison seems to have infiltrated her deeper than anyone else."

  Xie Liyun clenched his fists before forcing them to rex. The severity of his mother’s condition was expected, yet hearing it confirmed brought a fresh wave of frustration and helplessness.

  After a brief moment of silence, he turned to Xuan Zhi. "If you can heal them, the Xie family will follow you."

  Xuan Zhi was about to shake his head, unwilling to accept such an offer. But then, something flickered in his mind—an old memory, a strategy forming in the depths of his thoughts. He paused, then finally said, "I will call upon your help when the time comes."

  Xie Liyun met Xuan Zhi’s eyes and nodded solemnly.

  Next, they proceeded to Xie Liyun’s uncle’s courtyard. Xie Zhao, the younger brother of Xie Huai, was a man of striking beauty despite his frailty. His long bck hair was neatly tied, his facial features refined, but the poison had left his body weak and feeble. He y in bed with little movement, his breath slow and bored. Xuan Zhi checked his pulse and sighed. "He will need thirty treatments. His case is not as severe as the old general’s, but he will still require extensive care."

  Xie Liyun nodded, his sharp gaze unwavering. "As long as there is a chance for recovery, I will make sure he gets the care he needs."

  Finally, they arrived at the courtyard, where Xie Liyun’s aunt, Xie Ning, resided. Xuan Zhi paused as he gazed at her. Half of her face was covered in scars—burns that had disfigured her beauty. Despite this, there was a certain dignified grace in her demeanor, even as she y unconscious.

  As Xuan Zhi pressed her pulse, he remained silent for a moment before speaking. "She can be healed in thirty treatments. The poison has affected her, but I can also attempt scar removal therapy."

  Xie Liyun bowed deeply. "For all that you are doing, the Xie family will always remember your kindness."

  Yan Rui, for the first time, also bowed in gratitude. "Young Master Xuan, we are in your debt."

  Xuan Zhi merely shook his head. "No need for such formalities. This is a medical treatment, nothing more."

  Xie Liyun led Xuan Zhi to his younger brother’s courtyard. The room was simple but carried an air of quiet dignity. The young man lying on the bed was Xie Lixue, the twenty-year-old younger brother of Xie Liyun. He was unconscious, his tall frame appearing deceptively healthy despite his pale skin. Xuan Zhi frowned as he took his pulse, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than usual.

  “The poison has deeply affected his organs,” Xuan Zhi stated gravely. “His lungs and liver are significantly weakened, and if not treated properly, he might develop chronic illnesses even after the poison is purged. He requires at least 35 treatments to fully recover.”

  Xie Liyun’s gaze darkened, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. Yan Rui, standing beside him, exhaled sharply. It was one thing for the Xie elders to be gravely affected, but for someone so young, with his whole life ahead of him, to be in such a dire state—this was difficult to accept.

  Xuan Zhi, noting the tension in the room, softened his voice. “The good news is that since he’s young, his body has a higher chance of full recovery. But the treatments must be followed rigorously.”

  Xie Liyun nodded, his expression unreadable. “Let’s proceed to the twins’ quarters.”

  First, they entered Xie Xiaoran’s room. Unlike Lixue, Xiaoran was not unconscious, but he y weakly on his bed, his sharp yet striking features simir to Xie Liyun’s. His eyes fluttered open at their arrival, a faint smile forming on his lips.

  “Brother…” Xiaoran’s voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

  Xie Liyun’s cold expression softened momentarily, and he stepped closer to his younger sibling. “Save your strength. This is Physician Xuan Zhi.”

  Xuan Zhi sat beside the bed and pced his fingers against Xiaoran’s wrist. After a few moments of silence, he withdrew his hand and sighed. “Your condition is better than the others, though not by much. You require 30 treatments. The poison has weakened your qi circution, but your core remains retively stable. As long as the treatments proceed properly, you should regain full strength.”

  Xiaoran chuckled weakly. “I knew my willpower was strong.”

  Xie Liyun shot him a warning gnce, and Xiaoran fell silent. Xuan Zhi merely nodded before rising. “Let’s see your sister.”

  They moved to Xie Xiaoyue’s quarters. The moment they entered, Xuan Zhi noticed the difference in her condition. Unlike the others, her face was paler, her breath shallower, and her body noticeably frail. Xie Xiaoyue had once been known for her lively personality, but now she y motionless, barely able to move her fingers.

  Xuan Zhi pced his fingers against her pulse, his brows furrowing. Minutes passed, and his frown deepened. Finally, he removed his hand, a grave expression on his face.

  “She needs 50 treatments,” Xuan Zhi decred, his voice heavier than before.

  Xie Liyun’s face darkened. “Why so many?”

  Xuan Zhi took a deep breath before expining. “The poison has severely affected her meridians, particurly those reted to fertility and overall hormonal bance. If left untreated or treated improperly, she may never be able to bear children in the future. The yang energy in her body has been almost entirely depleted, and the yin energy is taking over. If this is not corrected, her body will slowly deteriorate beyond repair.”

  Xie Liyun’s hands clenched into fists. Yan Rui, who had been silent, inhaled sharply. This was more than just an issue of survival—it was about Xiaoyue’s future as a woman, as a person who might wish for a family one day.

  Xuan Zhi exhaled and looked at Xie Liyun. “There is a way to reverse this, but she will require the most meticulous care. The treatments will be painful, but if she perseveres, she will make a full recovery.”

  Xie Liyun closed his eyes for a brief moment before nodding. “Understood.”

  After concluding the evaluations, Xie Liyun personally accompanied Xuan Zhi back to Xing Manor. As they stepped inside, Xie Liyun turned to him and stated firmly, “The Xie family will cover all costs for the treatments.”

  Xuan Zhi, who had expected as much, nodded. “The cost per five treatments is 20 gold coins. Considering the total number of treatments required…” He paused and mentally calcuted. “For your grandfather, 40 sessions. For your father, 30. Your mother, 40. Your uncle, 30. Your aunt, 30. Lixue, 35. Xiaoran, 30. And Xiaoyue, 50. That totals 285 treatments.”

  Yan Rui's mouth fell open in shock.

  Xuan Zhi continued calmly, “At 20 gold coins per five treatments, the total cost will be 1,140 gold coins.”

  Yan Rui nearly choked. Xie Liyun, though calm, had a visible flicker of disturbance in his otherwise impassive face. Even for a family as powerful as the Xies, such an amount was no small matter.

  Xie Liyun finally spoke. “Would you be willing to accept payment in installments?”

  Xuan Zhi tilted his head thoughtfully, studying the imposing general before him. Finally, he nodded. “Yes. You can pay in 10 installments. However, the first payment must be made before the first treatment begins.”

  Xie Liyun’s sharp gaze locked onto Xuan Zhi’s red eyes, as though trying to gauge his intentions. “Very well. We will draft a contract.”

  A formal document was prepared, detailing the terms of payment and treatment. Xie Liyun signed without hesitation, followed by Xuan Zhi. Yan Rui, still somewhat stunned by the cost, merely watched in silence.

  With the agreement settled, Xie Liyun exhaled lightly. “Then we shall begin as soon as possible.”

  Xuan Zhi smirked slightly. “Prepare yourself, General. The treatment is not easy.”

  Xie Liyun met his gaze unwaveringly. “I can endure anything if it means saving my family.”

  By the time they parted ways, dawn had already broken, the first light of morning casting long shadows across the courtyard. The deal was set. Now, all that remained was to begin the arduous path toward recovery.