...
"I'm truly honored you came. Really, there is no need for gifts."
Within the abyss pit,
Chen Fan looked at the King of Medicine Valley group and said with a smile, "Come inside, come inside."
"..."
Standing to the side, Qi Feng's mouth twitched. He was grateful that his father had the foresight to send a batch of gifts with him.
Nearby, Wang Kui had already laid the chests open sent by the Valley and the Gongyangs in an open area. Each pile was marked with a sign bearing the forces' name.
At a glance, the Gongyang Clan's held about 5,000 Eerie Stones.
As for the chests from the Valley,
They contained...
A full 10,000 Eerie Stones, 5 unappraised white-grade Extraordinary Treasures, 1 unappraised green-grade Extraordinary Treasure, 50 bottles of pills, and 2 Natural Treasures.
Clearly overshadowing the Gongyang Clan's gifts.
"Here, have some tea."
At the table, Chen Fan had never smiled so sincerely as he poured tea for anyone. From time to time, he glanced at what the Shadow Recording Formation had beamed back on the Panel, checking if any new guests had arrived.
He suddenly realized fame had its perks.
Gifts came along, anyway.
He naturally knew these forces must have learned about him slaying the Eerie King through the celestial phenomenon and had come specifically to visit and establish a good rapport. After all, with a rising force, even if you couldn't strike up a friendship, you shouldn't offend them either.
But...
That was exactly what he wanted.
Just in Eerie Stones alone, he had received 15,000 now—equivalent to several of Heyhey's dung pits. How could he not be happy?
...
Though still somewhat uncomfortable, Qi Yue managed much better at the gathering than at the start and had barely settled into a conversation with Chen Fan.
As for Gongyang Yiyue,
He felt more ill at ease; every so often, he would peek at the gifts piled outside the door. When they came, they had no plans to visit the Fan Sect at all. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision after arriving at Riversouth Water City.
That's why their gifts fell short. Those 5,000 Eerie Stones were actually part of the caravan's contingency reserve.
Originally, this would have been quite decent.
But compared to the King of Medicine Valley's, it looks rather paltry. Qi Yue might not care, but he was the one truly representing the Gongyangs... this had mortified him.
"By the way—"
After quite a good chat, Chen Fan suddenly thought of something and fixed his gaze on Qi Feng. "Is everyone in your King of Medicine Valley an Alchemist?"
"No, but we have many Alchemists, and they have superior skills."
"You Southerners are well-traveled and knowledgeable. Do you know of a type of beast—not an Eerie Creature, but much larger and stronger than ordinary beasts, and quite intelligent?"
"Is the Sect Leader referring to... Mystical Beasts?" Qi Feng ventured.
"Mystical Beasts..."
Chen Fan repeated the term to himself, then nodded. "Exactly, Mystical Beasts. Do you know if Holy Water from an Altar can heal the wounds of Mystical Beasts?"
"Yes."
Qi Feng cleared his throat. Finally, something within his professional expertise. He spoke earnestly, "Naturally, it can. Holy Water isn't very effective against things like toxins, but it works exceptionally well for external injuries."
"It leaves no aftereffects, and it takes only a short time."
"However, it consumes a lot, so most forces use a combination of Holy Water and pills for healing. This applies to both Mystical Beasts and humans. It consumes fewer Eerie Stones, and the recovery is still fast."
"Sect Leader... have you tamed a Mystical Beast?"
Hardly surprising that Mystical Beasts were little known in Rivernorth; Mystical Beasts sought favorable habitats. Rivernorth was all wasteland without a single proper city. Mystical Beasts also feared Eerie Tides.
In Riversouth, there were quite a few Mystical Beasts.
The King of Medicine Valley itself had one—
A Gold-Devouring Toad, guarding the valley's entrance.
"Indeed."
Chen Fan nodded, without weaseling the slightest bit. "During the battle with the Eerie King the night before last, it suffered some injuries. I put it in an Altar for a full day and night, but the wounds showed no signs of healing. Would you... like to come with me to take a look?"
"It would be my honor."
...
Chen Fan brought Qi Feng to the entrance of Cave No. 1. Heyhey lay beneath the cliff, bathing in a continuous stream of Holy Water from the wall-inset copper pipes.
Heyhey gazed at Chen Fan miserably. Beside it was a new porcelain vat. In its scalp was a large bloody hole. Although it no longer bled, flesh and bone were still visible within. Holy Water kept falling on Heyhey, yet there was no sign of healing.
Upon seeing Qi Feng, Heyhey instinctively rose, backed away, and let out a low, threatening growl.
"It's alright, Heyhey."
Chen Fan patted Heyhey's head. "This is a physician I found for you. Let him see what's wrong."
With a whimper, Heyhey obediently lay down again.
"Hhh..."
Qi Feng took a deep breath, then stepped forward to examine the injury. However... his brows knitted, growing tighter and tighter...
"Stop frowning and tell me what's going on."
Chen Fan sighed softly. Whether in the previous or this life, he always dreaded seeing a doctor frown—it felt like a sign of some incurable disease.
"It is awfully strange."
Qi Feng fell silent for a long time before speaking huskily. "I don't recognize this type of Mystical Beast. I don't make sense of the wound either. Logically, with such a large supply of Holy Water, an injury like this should have healed long ago."
"My knowledge is limited. I may need to have my father take a look personally."
"I have a method to let my father remotely assess the beast's injury, but it might give away the nearby buildings..."
He dithered.