Chapter 385: Chess Piece

In the suburbs of Nanzhuo County, where birds sang and flowers bloomed, three thatched huts stood nestled by a winding stream. This was the home of Guan Zhi.

Moss grew green on the steps, and the grass was lush. The scenery was elegant, but the household furnishings were quite plain.

“This place is a bit too shabby. Tomorrow, I’ll find a better place for Brother Guan!” Lu Fei snorted.

“Brother Lu, there’s no need for that.”

Guan Zhi stroked his beard and said, “This may be a humble dwelling, but it calms the mind. My family passed down a single volume on military strategy, and as long as I can study it, I am content.”

It seemed to be fated. Over the course of their journey, Guan Zhi and Lu Fei had already begun to call each other brother.

“A mountain needn’t be high; its fame comes from the Immortal within. A river needn’t be deep; its magic comes from the dragon within. There is a great drought this year, Guan Zhi, yet the scenery around your home has not faded. This must be what they call a place of remarkable people and fine Earth Spirit!”

As he spoke, Fang Rui entered the house. After examining a white-haired old woman—Guan Zhi’s mother—he gave Guan Zhi a look, signaling for him to step outside.

“I have three methods to cure your mother: a lower, a middle, and an upper one.”

“Oh?!”

Though Guan Zhi rarely betrayed his emotions, he was visibly moved. “Daoist, I wish to hear the details!”

At the same time.

He marveled to himself. ‘The Daoist is truly a miraculous physician. I’ve consulted other Physicians before, but every last one said she couldn’t be cured.’

“The lower method treats the symptoms. A dose of medicine, and the illness is gone. The middle method fortifies her constitution and replenishes her vitality, nourishing her body and extending her years. As for the upper method?”

Fang Rui flicked his sleeve and smiled proudly. “I possess a Great Divine Technique that can keep your mother free from all illness and misfortune until the very end of her natural lifespan…”

“Benefactor, why beat around the bush? What’s there to even discuss? Of course we’ll use the upper method!” Lu Fei declared in his booming voice, looking like he’d made a brilliant deduction.

“Brother Lu, the Daoist must have a reason for offering three different methods. I imagine each one comes at a different cost.”

Guan Zhi understood. He looked at Fang Rui with a solemn expression. “Daoist, what must I pay for each of these three methods?”

“For the lower method, a single prescription is all that’s needed. There is no real cost. If you choose it, consider it a simple act of goodwill between us.”

“The middle method requires me to exert my full effort, supplemented by various rare and precious medicines. The cost is not insignificant. If you choose it, you will owe me a favor.”

“As for the upper method,”

Fang Rui looked directly into Guan Zhi’s eyes. “This method comes at a great cost to me as well. If you choose the upper method, you must pledge your loyalty to me.”

Just that direct.

He was no do-gooder who performed favors without expecting repayment. Nor would he, for the sake of appearances, wait for the other party to voluntarily offer their allegiance.

That was not Fang Rui’s style.

Of course, he also disdained using underhanded tricks or setting traps. He laid everything out clearly from the start, operating on the principle of mutual consent.

“Benefactor, how could you stoop to taking advantage of someone’s crisis? That’s just…”

Lu Fei, ever blunt, grumbled.

“Brother Lu!”

Guan Zhi cut Lu Fei off. “The Daoist has been generous with me and has explained everything clearly. How could this be considered taking advantage of my situation?”

He thought for a moment before looking at Fang Rui. “If I pledge my loyalty to you, Daoist, may I refuse to carry out acts that violate my conscience?”

“Haha! Guan Zhi, you are a man of loyalty and honor. I would never ask you to do something so difficult.”

“In that case… I choose the upper method.”

“Excellent!”

Fang Rui gave a slight nod and strode inside.

Guan Zhi and Lu Fei exchanged a glance and followed him in.

And then, they saw it.

“Now!”

Fang Rui let out a sharp cry, activating the Divine Technique ‘Withered Wood Evergreen.’ Strands of green light surged in his palm, and the mere aura escaping it was enough to make a withered yellow flower by the window burst with new life.

“What is this?!”

Guan Zhi and Lu Fei were both Martial Artists with keen senses. They could clearly feel a powerful pull from the green energy and knew it had to be something incredibly precious.

A moment later, Mrs. Guan’s ashen complexion turned rosy, and her breathing grew steady, deep, and strong.

Even to laymen like Guan Zhi and Lu Fei, it was clear that Mrs. Guan had recovered her health.

Fang Rui, however, suddenly staggered. His face went pale, and Guan Zhi had to catch him to keep him steady.

—The Divine Technique ‘Withered Wood Evergreen’ only consumed Tribulation Points; it wouldn’t have actually affected him.

But if he had appeared completely untroubled and shown no signs of exertion, Guan Zhi and Lu Fei would have subconsciously felt cheated. In the real world, small, well-intentioned deceptions can often prevent a lot of unnecessary trouble.

“Daoist?!” Sure enough, Guan Zhi’s eyes were filled with concern.

“Let’s go. We’ll talk outside.”

“Are you all right? And my mother…”

“I’m fine, and so is your mother. When she wakes up, she’ll probably be able to get out of bed and walk.”

Fang Rui said with a smile.

“Is that so?”

Guan Zhi let out a long, slow breath, then suddenly dropped to one knee and clasped his fist. “I pay my respects, My Lord.”

“Hahaha! Excellent!”

With a flash of Spiritual Light in his hand, Fang Rui produced Yuan Da’s Treasure Saber. “A fine saber for a true hero. This blade is my gift to you.”

“This…”

“Since you now call me your lord, how could I not have a gift for you? This is it,” Fang Rui said with a smile.

Only then did Guan Zhi accept it.

“What about me? Benefactor… no, My Lord!” Lu Fei piped up from the side, his eyes filled with envy.

“You are willing to call me ‘Lord’ as well?”

“Of course I am! I want to stick with Brother Guan. Besides, you’ve already given me a new lease on life…”

“You won’t regret it?”

“Never!”

“Very well. Go back and prepare the materials. I will forge a custom weapon for you later.”

Fang Rui watched Lu Fei depart gleefully. Then, with another flash of Spiritual Light, he produced some gold and silver and offered it to Guan Zhi. “Don’t refuse. A general can’t have his soldiers go hungry. Consider it a reward in advance.”

“Besides, even if you don’t need it, doesn’t your mother? Take it. Buy her something nice to eat.”

“Cherish those who are with you now. Don’t wait until you wish to care for your parents, only to find they are gone.”

“My Lord!”

Even Guan Zhi, a man who rarely showed his emotions, felt his eyes redden at the rims.

First his mother was cured, then he was gifted a divine weapon, and now he was given gold and silver. For such profound generosity, he could only repay it with his life in service.

—It was as the poem said: To repay the grace shown upon the Golden Terrace, I will raise my jade-white sword and die for my lord!