He enjoyed lunch at Liu Qianqian's house, where each bite of food seemed infused with deep emotion. Chen Zheng handed some money to Liu Qianqian's parents. The afternoon sun shone down on them as they returned to the city together.

Later, they found Wei Zixuan, and the three of them sat in the garden, enjoying the food and the breeze, the air filled with laughter and warmth.

Afterward, Chen Zheng went back to the garden villa, while Liu Qianqian and Wei Zixuan returned to Dahong. The days that followed were like a quiet poem, peaceful and beautiful.

「Half a month later.」

「Mumu Village.」

A Land Rover roared into the quiet village like a wild beast. It sped down the main road, eventually stopping at the old doctor's doorstep. A bodyguard in black jumped out from the passenger seat and quickly opened the rear door. From the back seat, a woman draped in a mink coat elegantly stepped out.

"Master Zhao!" The bodyguard's voice echoed as he approached the old doctor's door, calling out loudly.

The old doctor smiled and opened the door. "You've arrived. Come in!"

The woman and her bodyguard entered the house.

"Master Zhao, how is the development of the new medicine progressing?" The woman's voice carried an air of authority, as if everything were under her control.

The old doctor shook his head. "Miss Zhuge, developing medicine is an arduous task, and I feel I have hit a bottleneck. I may no longer be able to help you."

Hearing this, the woman's body trembled slightly as she seemed to fall deep into thought. After a moment, she took a deep breath and said softly, "It's alright. Thank you, Master Zhao. We will take our leave now."

However, just then, the old doctor suddenly spoke up. "Miss Zhuge, I know someone who might be able to treat your illness!"

As if struck by lightning, the woman spun around, her eyes flashing with hope and urgency. "Master Zhao, are you serious? Can he cure it, not just... suppress it?"

The old doctor slowly shook his head. "Perhaps. I can't guarantee it. His name is Chen Zheng. He's from our Mumu Village but is now in Yun City."

"Thank you, Master Zhao!" The woman thanked him again and left swiftly, her bodyguard following close behind.

The old doctor returned to his room and immersed himself in his medical texts, studying the secret medical manuals left by Chen Zheng.

Meanwhile, the woman was already back in the car. "To the city!" she ordered her bodyguard. "Find Chen Zheng's whereabouts immediately. We must find him!"

Determination burned in her eyes. The car shot out of Mumu Village like an arrow loosed from a bow, speeding toward the city.

A little over ten minutes later, the bodyguard in the front handed her a tablet. On the screen was a record of Chen Zheng's life, but it was limited to his time in Yun City. As for information about his time in the Magic Capital and Imperial Capital, someone had already completely erased it.

The woman's eyebrows arched slightly. His background is so ordinary, yet he's young and possesses extraordinary medical skills? Can he really cure my ailment? She pondered for a moment, then said, "Let's go and see."

"Head for the garden villa."

"As you command, Miss!" the bodyguard responded, pressing harder on the accelerator.

Soon, the Land Rover left the urban district and quickly arrived at the garden villa.

Just as Chen Zheng was preparing to leave the villa for the food court, a Land Rover pulled up and stopped in front of his car. Not paying it much attention, Chen Zheng attempted to drive away. However, the Land Rover's door then opened, deliberately blocking his path.

Chen Zheng frowned but didn't think much of it, intending to drive around the vehicle. Just then, the woman stepped out of the car and gently raised her hand.

"Is there something you need?" Chen Zheng lowered his car window, his eyes full of confusion.

"Are you Chen Zheng?" The woman's cool voice contained an air of authority that displeased Chen Zheng slightly. Nevertheless, he responded with a courteous nod.

"My name is Zhuge Xiyu," she said. "Master Zhao says you are a highly skilled physician. You have such a luxurious villa and sports car, so money must not be an issue for you. I'll give you one hundred million if you can cure me."

Master Zhao? Grandpa Zhao? Chen Zheng repeated the name to himself, his brows furrowing slightly. "Actually, my medical skills are merely average."

"Is that not enough? Two hundred million!" Zhuge Xiyu raised her offer.

"Heh... Does having money really mean you can do as you please?" Chen Zheng almost laughed out loud. Two hundred million was indeed a huge sum, and honestly, he was somewhat tempted. But he hated the feeling of being manipulated by money.

"You're too greedy! Fine, if you can cure me, I'll give you one billion!" Zhuge Xiyu said angrily.

[DING! Congratulations to the Host for successfully triggering a choice mission!]

[Option One: Cure Zhuge Xiyu and receive the following reward: Remuneration x10.]

[Option Two: Refuse Zhuge Xiyu and receive the following reward: Top-Level Pharmacology Mastery.]

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Zheng immediately chose the second option.

A tenfold increase would be a staggering ten billion. For an ordinary person, that number was like a distant star, a sum that might take ten, or even a hundred generations of hard work to accumulate. However, Chen Zheng's obsession with money had faded. He now saw it as nothing more than a meaningless set of numbers.

He didn't say another word and suddenly slammed on the accelerator. His car spun on the spot like a beast unleashed, instantly whipping around and shooting forward like an arrow. The resulting gust of wind sent Zhuge Xiyu's long hair dancing.

[DING! Congratulations to the Host for successfully making a choice. You have received the following reward: Top-Level Pharmacology Mastery.]

A flood of knowledge rushed into Chen Zheng's mind—a treasure that every traditional Chinese medicine practitioner dreamed of, one they would trade a lifetime to acquire.

Zhuge Xiyu watched in astonishment. That was one billion! How could someone be indifferent to such wealth? she contemplated. Perhaps he seeks something more. Human nature is truly insatiable.

Zhuge Xiyu walked toward the Land Rover, and her bodyguard immediately opened the door for her.

Moonlight bathed the luxurious floor-to-ceiling windows of the Yun City Grand Hotel. Zhuge Xiyu stood quietly, gazing at the moon through the window. "Is it time again?" she murmured, as if speaking to it. Her voice was low and weak.

Suddenly, her body trembled like a leaf in the wind as a chill enveloped her like a specter in the night. She knelt helplessly on the floor, letting the cold invade her. But she knew this would do nothing to drive away the chill that penetrated her very bones.

This cold had been with her for more than twenty years. Three years ago, she had met the old doctor in Mumu Village, and his medical skills had helped alleviate her suffering. The time that followed had been the most peaceful she had ever known.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.