Just moments ago, Shang Yan had clearly noticed something was wrong with Jiang Yifeng. Yet now, he pretended as if nothing had happened—like he hadn’t seen a thing. He had no choice. If he admitted it, there’d be no way to smooth things over. So his act served only one purpose: to completely cut ties with Jiang Yifeng! Hearing Shang Yan’s words, Xuan Yuan Qingya instantly caught on. A faint smile curved her lips as she explained everything clearly. “Earlier, when the Dragon Lord brought Jiang Yifeng into our Xuan Yuan family’s castle, we decided not to pursue the matter further. But once inside, Jiang Yifeng tried to use the seventh and eighth techniques of the ‘Holy Nineteen Hands’—Withered Wood of Spring and Dragon-Serpent Rises from the Earth—to treat my Fourth Uncle.” Her voice turned sharp and cold. “Jiang Yifeng, do you still dare to deny it?” Thanks to Lin Tian’s inner thoughts, she had already pieced together Jiang Yifeng’s true scheme. If he had really carried out that so-called treatment, draining her uncle’s life force in the process, then there would have been no chance of turning things back! At that time, how could Xuan Yuan Qingya possibly handle herself? If Jiang Yifeng were to say that as long as she gave herself to him, he could unlock the Holy Physician’s Body and continue treating Xuan Yuan Chen, could Xuan Yuan Qingya really ignore the kindness of her Fourth Uncle and watch him die? Once such a thing happened, it would be a dead end! Thinking this through, the anger in Xuan Yuan Qingya’s heart was self-evident. Now, when she spoke out, her voice carried an icy coldness, as though it came from the depths of the Nine Netherworlds. Jiang Yifeng’s face twitched at her words. There was really nothing he could explain… “Even though I truly can’t completely cure your Fourth Uncle right now, my intentions were good! If I didn’t use this method to stimulate his life force, who knows when he might suddenly drop dead!” Jiang Yifeng argued calmly. After a pause, he sneered. “Xuan Yuan Qingya, you don’t really believe that so-called ‘miracle pill’ can save your Fourth Uncle, do you? To tell you the truth, I’ve heard of his condition before. Its name is Heartroot Disorder. With current medical methods, it is absolutely impossible to cure!” “Unless I break through to the fourth stage of the Heavenly Physician’s Sacred Body, your fourth uncle won’t live more than three months.” Now that everything had been laid bare, Jiang Yifeng couldn’t be bothered to hide anything. He spoke the truth plainly. Xuanyuan Qingya let out a cold laugh. “So what? So your plan was to use some life-draining method to trick me and my mother, is that it?” “Trick?” Jiang Yifeng’s tone was calm, almost self-righteous. “I was merely stabilizing his condition. As long as I break through to the fourth stage, I can bring him back and heal him completely.” His face showed no shame, not even a flicker of unease. Xuan Yuan Qingya was so furious she laughed outright. This was a matter of life and death! One misstep, and she might never see her fourth uncle again. Yet in Jiang Yifeng’s mouth, it had been reduced to nothing more than a casual errand, a problem to “fix later.” He hadn’t even reached the fourth stage, yet he dared to boast so shamelessly about “treating him once I’ve broken through”? At this point, arguing further was pointless. Xuan Yuan Qingya’s eyes turned cold as she shifted her gaze to Shang Yan. The Dragon Lord understood instantly—if he didn’t take a stand today, he wouldn’t be leaving this castle alive. Even under the Dragon Group’s protection, Jiang Yifeng wouldn’t die—but he would surely suffer. And frankly, he wasn’t worth that kind of suffering. Shang Yan’s expression darkened, his face like thunder as he glared at Jiang Yifeng. His voice was sharp and cold. “Jiang Yifeng, didn’t you say you were confident in treating Xuan Yuan Chen? Why is it now some nonsense about draining his life force? Were you lying to me?” Jiang Yifeng’s breath caught in his chest. He refused to believe Shang Yan couldn’t see through the situation. But since the Dragon Lord had said it aloud, he had no choice but to scramble for an excuse. “Lord Dragon, I had no choice… Xuan Yuan Qingya’s fourth uncle is already in critical condition…” “Bullshit!” Shang Yan roared, his sleeve sweeping out in anger. “Critical or not, as a physician, isn’t it your duty to explain the truth in full? You hid behind the word ‘healing’ while plotting to drain his life force. How can that be justified?” His fury was palpable, his face ashen with rage. Truly, the old fox was a masterful actor. “This is my mistake—I trusted the wrong person! Jiang Yifeng, do as you will. Hmph!” Latest content publıshed on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⟡𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵 With a final cold snort, Shang Yan waved his hand dismissively and strode back into the inner chamber, washing his hands of the matter. In the next room, Lin Tian watched the Dragon Lord’s flawless performance, his own expression twisted into something caught between awe and amusement. “Wait a second… this old man’s Shang Chan’s grandfather? Damn, he’s slyer than a monkey!” “A Dragon Lord, and yet when it comes to passing the blame, he’s smooth as butter…” While Lin Tian was busy grumbling to himself, Xuan Yuan Qingya had already dismissed the Dragon Lord from her thoughts. In the end, Shang Yan would still have to account for rescuing Jiang Yifeng at the auction. But here and now, as long as his original intention hadn’t been to target the Xuan Yuan family, there was no need for them to go to war with the Dragon Group outright. The Star Group and Dragon Group might be forces on the same level, but this was still within Huaxia’s borders—ultimately, Dragon Group’s territory. Once the Dragon Group left the ward, only Xuan Yuan Xing, Xuan Yuan Qingya, the mother-daughter pair, Elder Lei, and Jiang Yifeng—still hiding under the alias Qi Yun—remained. Around them, Star Group members stood watch with sharp, predatory gazes. Beyond the villa, the entire castle was fortified and on edge, waiting for Xuan Yuan Xing to give the word. With just a single order, they would storm inside and seize Jiang Yifeng alive. At this point, Jiang Yifeng knew the game was over. Nothing he said would change a thing. To powers like Xuan Yuan Xing, it didn’t even matter what he had or hadn’t done—just their suspicion alone was enough to seal his fate. And besides… Jiang Yifeng himself knew his actions couldn’t withstand scrutiny under the light of day. “Since that’s the case, I won’t bother wasting more words with you.” Jiang Yifeng let out a faint smile, then turned slightly to the side and bowed respectfully toward Elder Lei. “Elder Lei, this matter is indeed my fault. I only hope that, for the sake of my master and senior sister, you can step in and mediate.” The moment those words fell, both Xuan Yuan Xing and Xuan Yuan Qingya’s expressions changed drastically! Xuan Yuan Xing’s eyes snapped toward Elder Lei, her voice heavy and sharp. “Elder Lei… this man?” The white-bearded Elder Lei gave a bitter smile, shaking his head with a long sigh. “Xing girl, Qingya… this matter… give this old man some face. Let’s put it to rest.” Xuan Yuan Xing’s heart sank. She pressed her voice with force. “Elder Lei, you know better than anyone—this isn’t just about me, it’s about my fourth brother! I cannot forget what he did for me. If not for Qingya, I don’t even dare imagine what he would have become!” “And now, in this situation, you ask me to let off a scoundrel like Jiang Yifeng?” Elder Lei’s expression darkened as well, clearly troubled. But with certain powers already involved, he had no choice but to step in. “Xing girl, listen to me. This time… someone higher up has already spoken. That senior sister of his—she is now the Jiang family’s little princess. If your Xuan Yuan clan truly pushes Jiang Yifeng into a corner, and the Jiang family steps forward… your house may not be able to withstand the storm.” Elder Lei paused, his tone growing even more solemn. “This matter—the Jiang family will make amends to the Xuan Yuan clan. Three days from now, at the Grand Elder’s birthday banquet, that little princess herself will come to deliver the apology… Xing girl, Qingya, as the one mediating here, will you heed my words or not?” Xuan Yuan Qingya and Xuan Yuan Xing exchanged a long look. At their level, things were rarely so simple as personal grudges. More often than not, matters tied into interests, alliances, and the pride of great houses. To draw a sword in rage and cut down foes left and right, ten steps a man, a thousand miles unstoppable—that was the stuff of legends, not the reality of great clans balancing on the edge of power. Qingya understood this well. After a brief silence, she gave a small nod. “First, out of respect for Elder Lei.” “Second, because Jiang Yifeng had not yet done anything irreversible.” “And third… because of the Jiang family that Elder Lei had named.” Her voice was still icy, her tone cutting through the air. “Grandpa Lei, I can agree to this. I can accept the Jiang family’s apology. But—I have one condition.” Elder Lei inclined his head gently, answering in a low voice. “Qingya, speak freely. Whatever it is, I’ll see to it the Jiang family accepts.” Xuan Yuan Qingya’s expression hardened to steel. Her voice rang out, firm and cold. “Jiang Yifeng is forbidden to set foot in Licheng for the next ten years!”