Luo Xiu looked at Du Gang, a smile touching his lips as he shook his head. There were far too many self-righteous idiots in this city, and he had long since grown used to facing them with a smile.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," he said. "My prescription is no great treasure, so there's no need to trouble your master's eyes with it."

With that, he turned to leave.

Even though he couldn't get the Golden Iris Orchid at Wan Yao Hall, Luo Xiu already had another path in mind: Boss Huang. The list he'd given to Boss Huang also included the Golden Iris Orchid. With Boss Huang's connections and resources, Luo Xiu estimated he would most likely be able to acquire it.

"Hold on!"

Du Gang suddenly took a few steps forward to block Luo Xiu's path. Frowning, he said, "I'm a man, not a lady!"

Luo Xiu feigned surprise. "Oh, my apologies. I saw your little mouth flapping away, and you have such a strange, passive-aggressive tone… I just assumed you were a woman."

"My apologies. Truly."

Hearing this, Du Gang's frown deepened. It was obvious that Luo Xiu was being deliberately insulting!

In fact, Luo Xiu was doing it on purpose. He didn't know why, but he always felt a flicker of hostility toward Du Gang.

Perhaps he knew the reason but just didn't want to admit it to himself. It was because of Lin Xiyue.

At that moment, Zhou Hai, who was standing nearby, seemed to recall something. His expression changed dramatically as he hurriedly pulled Luo Xiu aside.

"Mister Luo, I just remembered! That elderly gentleman is He Dang Gui, the branch president of the Medical Association."

Luo Xiu shook his head, indicating he'd never heard of the man.

Zhou Hai glanced furtively in their direction and lowered his voice. "This Elder He is extremely well-renowned throughout the entire medical community of Henghai Province. Furthermore, he and Teacher Li are close friends. I remember he visited once about a year ago, and I saw him from a distance."

"As for the young man, that's likely Du Gang, the acting chief of Sea City Central Hospital. This Du Gang is Elder He's personal disciple. He's achieved so much at such a young age because he received Elder He's direct teachings."

Luo Xiu's face remained impassive as he let out a soft "Oh."

Afterward, Zhou Hai put on a beaming smile and approached He Dang Gui, saying respectfully, "Elder He, my apologies for the poor welcome. Please forgive me. May I ask if there's anything you need?"

He Dang Gui stroked his beard and replied amiably, "Nothing in particular. I came specifically to see my old friend Brother Li and catch up."

Zhou Hai smiled. "Then if you wouldn't mind waiting a moment, Elder He, I will contact Teacher Li right away."

"It's no trouble at all. I'll just have a casual look around in the meantime."

"Please, Elder He, as you wish."

Leaning on his walking stick, He Dang Gui walked with somewhat faltering steps. As he passed by Luo Xiu, he paused and asked with a smile, "Young man, will you reconsider?"

This time, however, Luo Xiu said nothing. Without the slightest hesitation, he simply handed the prescription to He Dang Gui.

"Sir, please have a look."

Considering the old gentleman was a close friend of Li Jiuzhen, Luo Xiu figured there was no harm in letting him see it. Luo Xiu also felt bad for taking so many herbs from Wan Yao Hall for free, so he decided to do Li Jiuzhen a favor. Besides, this prescription wasn't some invaluable secret to him.

Standing to the side, Du Gang watched Luo Xiu with disdain in his eyes. "Weren't you just refusing a moment ago?" he sneered.

In Du Gang's mind, Luo Xiu only changed his attitude because Zhou Hai told him who He Dang Gui was. The most powerful Divine Doctor in all of Henghai Province—who wouldn't want to curry favor with him?

Luo Xiu shrugged and smiled. "I changed my mind. Why don't you take it back so your master can't see it?"

"Heh."

Du Gang gave a dismissive laugh, disdaining to engage in a war of words. Looking at He Dang Gui, he said, "Master, there's no point in looking at a minor folk remedy like this. It's just a waste of time. Just give him a pointer or two, and that'll be enough."

"Your legs aren't steady; let's go sit over there."

However, the kind smile on He Dang Gui's face was already beginning to freeze. From within the wrinkles, his old eyes shone with a sharp light, and his expression grew more and more serious. The further down the prescription he read, the more extraordinary he realized it was.

"Master?" Du Gang prompted gently.

"Xiao Gang, be quiet."

Du Gang was stunned.

With his master's experience, why would he be so interested in a prescription like this? Why was he studying it so seriously? Could there be something unusual about it?

While Du Gang was lost in thought, He Dang Gui suddenly strode over to Luo Xiu. Looking at him with excitement, he said in a trembling voice, "Young man, this isn't a prescription... strictly speaking, it's a formula! Dare I ask… is this the long-lost Profound Meridian Opening Pill?!"

Luo Xiu smiled faintly. "Elder, you truly live up to your title of Divine Doctor. You're more knowledgeable than I expected, to be able to identify the Profound Meridian Opening Pill from an incomplete formula."

Hearing this, Du Gang's face stiffened. Luo Xiu's words sounded as if he were looking down on his master, carrying the tone of a senior addressing a junior. In his heart, his master was the greatest Divine Doctor in the world!

"Sir, watch your tone! The man standing before you is Doctor He!"

"Xiao Gang, shut up!" He Dang Gui shot Du Gang a glance and scolded.

"But Master…"

"I told you to shut up! You have no say in this!"

"Yes, Master."

Not daring to anger his master, Du Gang glared at Luo Xiu and reluctantly retreated to the side, his heart filled with indignation.

Luo Xiu shot Du Gang a faint, mocking smile, his eyes glinting with provocation. Du Gang gritted his teeth and clenched his fists in anger.

Luo Xiu then said to He Dang Gui, "As I said, this isn't the complete formula. The person who will take this medicine has no need to open their meridians, so I left out eight of the ingredients. As it is, it only has the effect of stabilizing the meridians."

Hearing this, He Dang Gui looked at Luo Xiu with a face full of disbelief, his eyes shining with anticipation. "Young man…" he said, his voice trembling, "listening to you, does this mean… you know the complete formula?"

Luo Xiu nodded. He had been able to recite such formulas backward and forward since he was a teenager.

He Dang Gui adopted a humble expression and said with a smile, "It's rather embarrassing to admit, but I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a fragment of this formula in an ancient text many years ago. It has been an obsession ever since. I've spent years painstakingly researching it and have tried to recreate it thousands of times, all to no avail."

As he spoke, he grew excited once more. "I thought I would go to my grave without seeing it completed. To think I would meet you here today… it must be fate! Young man, could you possibly enlighten me and provide me with the complete formula? I will be sure to reward you handsomely afterward!"

At these words, both Du Gang and Zhou Hai stared with wide-eyed disbelief. If it hadn't happened right before their eyes, who could have imagined it? The most skilled Divine Doctor in Henghai Province, the branch president of the Medical Association, was actually humbly begging a young man for guidance.

Zhou Hai beamed with pride as he looked at Luo Xiu. So this was why Teacher Li treated him as an honored guest and why he had Wan Yao Hall's Purple Gold Card! It was all down to his incredible skill!

Du Gang's expression, however, was ugly. Thinking of his earlier mockery and disdain, then seeing his own respected master's humble attitude toward Luo Xiu, he felt his face burn with shame.

They were both young men. Why was he so inferior?

Without hesitation, Luo Xiu shook his head in refusal. He had already shown He Dang Gui the formula as a favor to Li Jiuzhen; he felt no need to provide the complete version.

"I'm sorry, Elder, but I have other matters to attend to."

With that, he turned and walked away without a backward glance.

"Young friend, please wait!"

He Dang Gui hurried after him and grabbed Luo Xiu's sleeve. The old man's face was flushed, and his aged body trembled. By the looks of it, he was prepared to force Luo Xiu to stay!

But the elder had lived for many years. Though he had been engrossed in the path of medicine his entire life and rarely interacted with people, he still understood basic human relations. For two strangers to become friends, there must be a shared interest to connect them—either one of mutual benefit to the spirit, or one of practical, material gain.

"Young friend, I'll be frank. I have a Golden Iris Orchid in my personal collection. If you need it, it is yours! I only ask to see the complete formula!"

Luo Xiu was taken aback. He'd never expected the Golden Iris Orchid to practically fall into his lap like this.

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