Chapter 47

"The day before yesterday, Ghost Doctor’s Divine Hand Ye Mingluo went to see Great-uncle. He suspects that the symptoms don’t seem like an illness or possession, but rather an unknown parasite. However, he has no clue how to expel it."

It turns out Ye Mingluo has been busy dealing with this matter recently.

Xu Xingguang chuckled lightly, teasing Xiahou Zuiyue, "Do I look like someone who can expel parasites?"

To be honest, Xiahou Zuiyue didn’t think so either, but he said seriously, "But Miss Xu doesn’t seem like someone who could successfully cultivate Ice Crystal Grass and produce the likes of Pink Widow and Crimson Ghost."

Stealing a glance at Xu Xingguang, Xiahou Zuiyue whispered like a mosquito, "To be honest, it’s a bit mystical. My intuition always tells me Miss Xu will be the benefactor of my fate."

Xiahou Zuiyue wasn’t flattering Xu Xingguang; he was being sincere.

Ever since discovering that the Medicine Farmer Star is Xu Xingguang, Xiahou Zuiyue felt she was extraordinary, and elevated her from a junior seller to an intermediate seller to express his sincerity.

Sure enough, his sincerity paid off. After that, Xu Xingguang successively brought legendary herbs, Pink Widow and Crimson Ghost, to the auction house, only seen in fantasy medical books.

Thanks to her, the Yujiang City branch’s Medicinal Material Pavilion’s performance soared to the top of the Lanzhong Auction Group, unusually surpassing the headquarters.

If all goes well, he might get promoted to the headquarters next year.

Indeed, she was his benefactor in his career.

"I can’t bear the title of Shennong; I’m just a small medicinal farmer," Xu Xingguang dared not call herself Shennong.

Seeing Xu Xingguang so humble, Xiahou Zuiyue just smiled lips tightly.

He continued, "If anyone I know has the best chance of curing Great-uncle, it would be none other than Miss Xu."

Xu Xingguang looked out the window and pondered, "I roughly know what the symptoms of Xiahou Huai Gui are about, but I need to see Mr. Xiahou first and discuss my conditions with him."

Hearing this, Xiahou Zuiyue’s heart filled with joy. He quickly glanced back at Xu Xingguang, seeing she wasn’t speaking empty words. He then turned to stare at the road ahead, nervously and excitedly asking, "Are you really confident?"

Xu Xingguang said, "Eighty percent." In fact, it was one hundred percent, but she always left herself a little leeway.

Xiahou Zuiyue sought Xu Xingguang, betting his career prospects on her. There’s no turning back, and he chose to believe in Xu Xingguang.

"Alright, I’ll convey your conditions to the old Master."

Whether or not Miss Xu can cure Xiahou Huai Gui, the old Master would agree to meet her just based on those three magical herbs she produced.

The journey was long, and Xiahou Zuiyue feared Xu Xingguang might get bored, so he picked a topic to chat with her.

Most of the time, it was Xiahou Zuiyue talking, while Xu Xingguang listened as if dozing.

Xiahou Zuiyue told Xu Xingguang, "Great-uncle’s condition worsens, and recently he can hardly walk. People from the main family say he locks himself in the room, imitating crawling insects." Feeling it might get too bizarre if he continued, Xiahou Zuiyue stopped appropriately.

He also added, "The old Master issued a reward, promising if anyone cures Great-uncle, they’d receive a tenth of the family’s wealth and two conditions from the family. Today, the main family’s place should be bustling as all the invited renowned doctors and talents have gathered."

Xu Xingguang clicked her tongue at this.

A tenth of the Xiahou Family’s wealth was astronomical. She asked Xiahou Zuiyue, "Does the old Master love this child so much?"

"Miss Xu may not know, but Great-uncle is different from the other elders; he was given to the old lady’s life and death struggle."

Through Xiahou Zuiyue’s description, Xu Xingguang finally understood why Xiahou Huai Gui was so cherished by Mr. Xiahou.

It all started with Mr. Xiahou’s youth.

Mr. Xiahou, when young, was a super influential figure who could easily shake Yujiang City. Despite his high status and power, he was notoriously devoted in love.

He believed in love, adhering to the principle of rather lacking than settling.

He never had early romances as a youth, nor did he consent to marry noble family’s ladies as arranged by his parents after coming of age. It wasn’t until he was 30 that he met the love of his life, Luo Xiangyue.

Luo Xiangyue neither had stunning looks nor a strong family background, yet she captured the true heart of the Xiahou heir.

Luo Xiangyue was a female officer in the technical department of Xia Country’s Army Corps A. She didn’t possess the overpowering forcefulness of most soldiers but had a tender resilience.

Perhaps her unique personality charm struck the old Master’s heart. He loved her wholeheartedly and married her against family opposition.

They were soulmates, and after marriage, their love only grew stronger.

In the three years following their marriage, Luo Xiangyue gave birth to a pair of children. The eldest son was named Xiahou Huaicai, and the daughter was named Xiahou Huaiyu.

After two to three years as a homemaker, Luo Xiangyue decided to return to the army to continue serving the country, a decision the old Master fully supported. Thus the couple lived a life of reunions and separations.

Not until Luo Xiangyue retired at 55 did they start living like an ordinary couple. Perhaps the longing endured for too long, the couple, not holding back, found themselves pregnant again!

It’s rare but not unheard of for men in their fifties or sixties to father children. But for a woman to conceive at 55, that’s incredibly rare.

Upon learning of Luo Xiangyue’s pregnancy, the entire Xiahou Family was shocked.

Their twin grandsons were already seven at that time!

After much deliberation, the couple decided to have the child. Mr. Xiahou hired a medical team to reside at Xiahou Family, ready at a moment’s notice to assist in the childbirth safely.

The old lady was robust and, with doctors’ help, eventually bore the child successfully and safely.

This late-born youngest was Xiahou Huai Gui.

Xiahou Zuiyue sighed, "This truly is a child born late in life, cherished like a precious gem by both the old Master and his wife, and undoubtedly loved differently."

"But offering a tenth of the Xiahou family’s wealth just to save a child might displease the clan," she remarked. The Xiahou Family isn’t the sole property of the old Master; this shares everyone’s pie.

"Of course, there’s more to it," Xiahou Zuiyue informed Xu Xingguang, "Years ago, there was a rumor implying that Great-uncle wouldn’t live past 21. Seeing him now at 20 with worsening health, the old lady and old Master are restless, and the old lady has taken ill."

"The old lady, having spent her life in the military, facing life and death and devoted to serving the nation and protecting its people, holds significant esteem among the alliance military and former civilians. She is also the pride of our Xiahou Family."

"The old lady’s time is running out, and she just hopes for the youngest to be safe and healthy. Thus, even if the old Master decided to offer a tenth of the family wealth to save Great-uncle, the clan wouldn’t object."

Understanding the situation, Xu Xingguang remarked, "The old lady, having devoted her life to the country, will not be forsaken by heavens."

As they spoke, Xiahou Zuiyue finally drove the car off the highway onto the ramp.

This road led directly to Tuo Ling Peak. After a seven-minute drive, they reached a fork.

The left path led to the National Forest Park at the foot of Tuo Ling Peak, whereas the right path was blocked by an iron gate, accessible only to vehicles with a pass.

Beyond the gate lay the Xiahou Family’s private territory.

Xiahou Zuiyue never had the privilege to access Tuo Ling Peak freely until three years ago when he became the general manager of a Lanzhong Auction Branch, earning remarkable results, and only then received a pass.

Xiahou Zuiyue stopped the car, approached the iron gate, swiped the pass, removed his glasses, and after an iris scan, the gate slowly opened.

Xu Xingguang watched the gate, slightly frowning.

Though under the same sky, the world inside and outside the gate were different worlds.

The car drove up the mountain road of Tuo Ling Peak, stopping midway for Xiahou Zuiyue to turn off the engine.

"Miss Xu, only cars from the main family’s direct lineage are allowed to the top. My car must be parked here. I’ll have to trouble Miss Xu to walk a short distance with me to take the sightseeing elevator to the top."

Xu Xingguang raised an eyebrow; as expected of the profound Xiahou Family, there were many rules.

No wonder her senior sister said visiting Xiahou Family for gatherings was akin to attending an imperial palace pilgrimage. The car was parked at the mid-mountain pavilion’s parking lot.