Volume One, Chapter 26: Master? When Did I Ever Have a Master?

The moment Ye Xuan appeared outside the entrance of the great hall, Liu Chengye, who had been bustling about arranging the banquet, immediately dropped everything he was doing. His face was wreathed in eager smiles as he hurried forward, his posture exceedingly humble.

"Mr. Ye, you have arrived!"

"Just some simple, coarse food; it is hardly worthy of you, but I hope you will not find it lacking."

Liu Chengye’s demeanor was nearly fawning. Beside him, Madam Liu frowned at the sight, yet she dared not speak. She simply rose and offered Ye Xuan a gentle, decorous smile. "Mr. Ye, please, take your seat."

Ye Xuan’s expression remained indifferent, as if the table full of rare delicacies and the fervor of his host were beneath his notice. His gaze was as calm as a deep pool; he merely offered a slight nod. "You are too kind, Patriarch Liu. This is already quite sumptuous."

This tranquility, in Liu Chengye’s eyes, only made him feel more awestruck. Such composure was surely not something possessed by an ordinary person.

The three of them took their seats, and the meal progressed. Though the atmosphere at the banquet appeared lively, undercurrents flowed beneath the surface. Liu Chengye raised his glass frequently, probing with his words in an unobtrusive manner.

"I wonder where your ancestral home might be, Mr. Ye? To possess such heaven-defying medical skills at such a young age, your lineage must surely be extraordinary, no?" His eyes held a sharp, inquisitive glint, like a seasoned hunter trying to track his prey.

Ye Xuan picked up a piece of stir-fried bamboo shoot, his movements unhurried. He did not even look up at Liu Chengye. "I drift where the winds take me; is not the entire world my home? As for my master, he is but a recluse, long removed from the affairs of the world. It is better not to mention his name."

With a single sentence, he blocked all of Liu Chengye’s inquiries. Though rebuffed, the smile on Liu Chengye’s face did not falter in the slightest, as if he were merely making casual conversation. He shifted his approach: "Then, might I ask your honorable age?"

This, at least, was a question that could be answered. "Twenty."

Ye Xuan was concise this time. He did not mind revealing such an innocuous detail.

Liu Chengye was inwardly shocked. Twenty! To possess such miraculous medical skills at twenty was beyond the description of a mere genius; it was monstrous! His resolve to keep Ye Xuan within the Liu family grew firmer. If such a marvel could become an honored guest of the Liu clan, the family’s foundation for the next century would be as stable as Mount Tai.

With his probing yielding no results, Liu Chengye stopped beating around the bush. He set down his wine glass, his expression turning solemn as never before. "Mr. Ye!" He stood and bowed deeply to Ye Xuan. "I have a request that may be deemed presumptuous!"

Ye Xuan raised his eyes, his gaze landing on him as he said calmly, "Speak your mind, Patriarch Liu."

Liu Chengye took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I sincerely wish to invite you to stay with our Liu family and serve as an honored guest! Have no fear, sir! Once you agree, you will be the most distinguished guest of our house, with a status equal to my own! All the resources of this estate will be at your disposal!"

He paused, a burning light in his eyes, as he offered an even more tempting condition. "Furthermore, I am willing to mobilize all of the Liu family’s influence and wealth in Yun'an City to build your reputation! I guarantee that within a month, the name of 'Miracle Doctor Ye Qianyuan' will resound throughout Yun'an! And within a year, your name shall be known across the entire Great Qian Dynasty!"

His words were heavy and forceful. This was no longer a simple invitation; it was a promise that would drive any wandering traveler to madness! Fame and fortune were within reach.

Madam Liu chimed in softly, "Indeed, Mr. Ye. You saved Yuexue; you are a great benefactor to our family. Staying with us would also make it easier for us to repay you."

Yet, facing such immense temptation, Ye Xuan’s expression remained devoid of ripples. He did not even shift his posture, simply setting down his jade chopsticks. "My thanks for your kindness, Patriarch Liu." His voice was soft, yet exceptionally clear. "However, I cannot stay."

What? The smile on Liu Chengye’s face instantly froze; he thought he had misheard. Madam Liu was equally stunned. He refused? He actually refused? How could anyone in this world turn down such a path to success?

Liu Chengye asked hurriedly, "Why? Are you unsatisfied with my offer? Name your terms! As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse!"

Ye Xuan shook his head. He stood up and walked to the window, his gaze fixed on the distant north, his eyes profound. "It has nothing to do with the conditions. Once matters here are concluded, I shall depart for Beiliang."

"Beiliang?!" Liu Chengye gasped, his shock turning into bewilderment and horror. "Sir, are you... are you joking? What kind of place is Beiliang?! It is a cursed, bitter land! Freezing cold, barren, and plagued by northern barbarians who raid the borders every year, killing without mercy! The imperial court has long since discarded it; those who go there are either death-row inmates or hardened criminals! Why would you willingly go to such a place of near-certain death? Wouldn't it be better to stay in Yun'an City and live as a revered miracle doctor?"

Liu Chengye truly could not understand. Leaving the path to paradise to storm the gates of hell—why?

Ye Xuan did not turn back. He could feel the surging power of the *Human Emperor’s Prison-Suppressing Sutra* within his body, a power that filled him with absolute confidence in his future. How could a mere city like Yun'an contain him? His battlefield lay much further away.

He spoke slowly, his voice carrying an unfathomable quality. "My master once said that a healer must grow through the presence of death. He said that in a land of comfort, one cannot cultivate a true national treasure. Only in the most brutal and desperate places can one witness the ultimate manifestations of illness and hone the most supreme medical arts. Going to Beiliang is a trial set by my master."

These words were half-truth and half-fabrication, but to Liu Chengye, they felt like a thunderclap, leaving his mind reeling. So that was it! He had previously thought Ye Xuan’s medical skills were already at their peak, but he realized now that in the eyes of this Mr. Ye and his master, it was only the beginning! They did not pursue worldly fame or wealth, but the supreme path of healing!

What noble sentiments! What a grand spirit!

In an instant, all of Liu Chengye’s confusion and suspicion dissolved into immense admiration and reverence. He looked at Ye Xuan’s back as if gazing up at a towering mountain. "So... it is a trial for a master. It was my own shallowness, my shallowness!"

Liu Chengye, filled with shame, bowed deeply to Ye Xuan once more. "Since it is the decree of your master, I dare not hold you back any longer. However, the road to Beiliang is long and fraught with danger. I am truly uneasy about you traveling alone."

He pondered for a moment before continuing, "In that case, I shall prepare ample funds and rare medicinal herbs for you. Furthermore, I will write letters of introduction; I have business acquaintances in Beiliang who may be able to offer you some convenience. Once you arrive in Beiliang, should you have any needs, you need only send word back. My Liu family will provide all the support I can from the rear, if only... if only as a small token of my respect for your noble character."

This was a true investment—expecting no immediate return, but seeking to forge a bond of goodwill.

Ye Xuan slowly turned around, a faint smile finally appearing on his face. This was the result he had wanted all along: a stable, reliable logistical base that would not become a burden to him.

"In that case, I thank you, Patriarch Liu." He cupped his hands, openly accepting the gesture.

The banquet, once filled with hidden currents, had reached its conclusion. Ye Xuan had emerged unscathed, and not only had he departed successfully, but he had also planted a crucial piece on the board for his future journey to Beiliang.

Deep in his heart, a much grander plan was beginning to unfold.

Beiliang...

Ye Tian, do you believe that exiling me to that barren land is the end?

No.

That is merely the true beginning of the game between us.