Volume 1, Chapter 23: The Library Pavilion-Fui rebaixado a Bei Liang e criei a invencível Cavalaria Dragão da Grande Neve!(O pequeno dragão que desenha insetos)

Ye Xuan stepped out of Liu Yuexue’s boudoir and exhaled a long, heavy breath. Even with the temperament of someone who had lived two lifetimes, the unexpected scene that had just transpired left his heart somewhat unsettled. More importantly, in order to accelerate the dissipation of the cold poison within Liu Yuexue’s body, he had secretly channeled his already depleted internal energy. At this moment, his dantian was completely empty, and a wave of exhaustion washed over him.

As he leaned against the doorframe, preparing to return to the main hall to recover his breath, the sound of rapid footsteps approached from afar.

"Divine Doctor Ye! Divine Doctor Ye!"

The voice arrived before the person did. Liu Chengye rushed over at a near-sprint, his face etched with anxiety and anticipation—a stark contrast to his usual composed image as the head of the house.

"Divine Doctor, my daughter... how is she?" He hurried to Ye Xuan’s side, wringing his hands nervously and firing questions like a barrage.

Seeing this, Ye Xuan understood the situation. He suppressed the feeling of weakness within him, regained his calm and detached demeanor as a healer, and offered a faint smile.

"Master Liu, there is no need to worry. The cold marrow affliction in your daughter’s body has been cleared by seven or eight parts. After today’s acupuncture and treatment to stabilize her foundation and nourish her essence, she is no longer in any grave danger. She will only require two more follow-up sessions to be completely cured, after which she will be no different from any ordinary person."

Ye Xuan’s voice was steady and firm, as if it carried a power capable of soothing the soul. Upon hearing this, Liu Chengye froze for a long moment, and then a wave of immense, overwhelming joy swept across his face.

"Cured... completely cured?!" His voice trembled, and his eyes reddened instantly. For the sake of his daughter’s illness, he had sought out every renowned physician and exhausted his family’s wealth, only to be met with disappointment time and again. Yet now, this seemingly young "Divine Doctor Ye" had given him a promise he had never dared to dream of.

*Thump!*

Without a moment’s hesitation, Liu Chengye’s knees buckled, and he prepared to kneel before Ye Xuan. "The Divine Doctor’s immense kindness is something I, Liu, will never forget as long as I live!"

Ye Xuan’s eyes were sharp and his movements swift; he stepped forward and firmly supported Liu Chengye’s arms, preventing him from kneeling. "Master Liu, this must not be. It is merely a physician’s duty; there is no need for such a grand gesture."

Supported by Ye Xuan, Liu Chengye wept with joy, babbling incoherently, "No, no, it is different! You have given Yuexue a second life; you have bestowed upon the Liu family the greatest grace imaginable!"

He struggled to kneel again, only to find that Ye Xuan’s arms, while seemingly slender, contained a subtle, immovable strength. Liu Chengye was even more shocked, feeling all the more that the man before him was unfathomable. He gave up and reached into his robes, pulling out a thick stack of banknotes and an antique wooden box.

"Divine Doctor Ye, please accept this meager gift as a token of my appreciation! These are the property deeds to the three best estates in Yun’an City, along with one hundred thousand taels in banknotes. I implore you to accept them! As long as you speak the word, even if it meant exhausting the Liu family’s entire fortune, we would fulfill any request you might have!"

Liu Chengye’s tone was resolute and filled with sincerity. Ye Xuan’s gaze swept over the wealth that would drive anyone else to madness, yet his eyes remained as still as an ancient well. Money? Estates? While important to him, they were not what he needed most. What he sought was the foundation to truly establish himself in this world of wolves and tigers.

He smiled faintly and pushed back Liu Chengye’s hand. "Master Liu, I appreciate the sentiment, but I cannot accept these."

Liu Chengye grew anxious. "Divine Doctor, is it too little? I..."

Ye Xuan waved his hand, interrupting him. He looked toward the depths of the courtyard and asked, seemingly at random, "I saved your daughter, firstly, out of the benevolence of a healer, and secondly, because it was fate. If Master Liu truly wishes to repay me, I do indeed have a modest request."

Liu Chengye brightened, quickly saying, "Please speak, Divine Doctor! As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse!"

A subtle curve appeared at the corner of Ye Xuan’s mouth; his plan was progressing steadily. "I have always enjoyed reading miscellaneous books. I hear the Liu family possesses a vast collection—would it be possible to borrow some for a few days of reading?"

When these words were spoken, Liu Chengye was stunned. He had imagined countless possibilities, but he never expected that the "request" Ye Xuan would make would be so simple, so... refined. He didn’t want money or power—only to read books? This Divine Doctor Ye was truly a master detached from the mundane world!

Once he realized this, the respect Liu Chengye held for Ye Xuan climbed to a new peak. He laughed heartily, his excitement plain to see. "Of course! Of course! Why, that is no request at all! To be honest with you, Divine Doctor, while I wouldn't dare say our library is the best in Yun’an, it is the culmination of three generations of the Liu family’s dedication."

As he spoke, Liu Chengye enthusiastically led the way. "My daughter, Yuexue, has been frail since childhood and could not go out to play like other children. Her greatest joy has always been reading in that library. Over the years, to treat her illness, I have collected medical texts and ancient books from all over the world; half the library is filled with them. It is a pity that we, as mere mortals, cannot grasp the mysteries within—I hope you will forgive our ignorance, Divine Doctor."

His words carried both a father’s love and a trace of helplessness. Ye Xuan followed behind, listening quietly. He knew this was exactly the opportunity he had been waiting for. A family’s library, especially one passed down through generations, often became a special check-in location identified by the system.

The two passed through several corridors and arrived at a secluded courtyard. The yard was filled with green bamboo; as the breeze rustled through, the leaves whispered, creating a serene and elegant environment. A classic, two-story pavilion stood quietly in the center of the yard, with the words "Library Pavilion" written in bold, sweeping calligraphy on the plaque. A rich scent of books, mingled with the faint fragrance of ink, greeted them.

Liu Chengye took a ring of keys from his waist and opened the heavy wooden door of the pavilion. "Divine Doctor Ye, please. This is the Liu family library. Please feel free to browse; there are no restrictions."

Ye Xuan nodded. His gaze swept over the endless rows of bookshelves inside, and his heart stirred. He turned to Liu Chengye and said, "Master Liu, I would like to stay inside alone for a while."

Liu Chengye was a perceptive man and understood immediately. Great masters always had their own unique quirks. "Understood, understood! Then I shall not disturb your scholarly pursuits."

He retreated a few steps, quite tactfully, and added, "Divine Doctor, I have prepared a family feast for noon. Although it is but simple fare, it is a token of the Liu family’s gratitude. I truly hope you will grace us with your presence so that my wife and I may have the opportunity to toast you in person."

"Very well, I shall be there," Ye Xuan agreed with a nod.

Only then did Liu Chengye bow and turn to leave, feeling reassured. Listening to the sound of his footsteps fading away, Ye Xuan turned to face the pavilion, which was filled with the weight of accumulated knowledge.