Chapter 16: Provocation with Words

"I never expected that Brother Ye, with such a family background, could reach such a level of attainment in the Dao of Alchemy. Tang Yu believed in rumors and thus slighted Brother Ye—I am truly ashamed." With this single display, Tang Yu knew that Ye Yuan was by no means undeserving of his reputation, so he quickly apologized.

Ye Yuan silently praised him. This Tang Yu, though born poor, was an upright and honorable man, worthy of friendship.

On the way here, Tang Yu had introduced himself, and Ye Yuan learned that Tang Yu was also a student of the Danwu Academy, which explained why he called himself the bottom of the barrel.

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Brother Tang need not be so polite. My reputation was indeed poor before, so I don't blame you. As for my alchemy skills, they are hardly exceptional; I was just forced by my father as a child to learn to identify some medicinal herbs, so I can recognize a few."

Tang Yu no longer dared to underestimate Ye Yuan and quickly said, "Brother Ye is too modest. Please."

Tang Yu led Ye Yuan into the inner room, where a bout of coughing came from the bed, sounding weak and feeble. Needless to say, the one lying on the bed was Tang Yu's father, Tang Zonghuai.

"Yu'er... cough... is it... cough... you who's back?" Tang Zonghuai seemed to be in a bad state, coughing heavily whenever he spoke, and he struggled to sit up.

Seeing this, Tang Yu quickly went up to support Tang Zonghuai: "Father, I told you not to move recklessly."

"Heh... cough... this time... Father is afraid... cough... he won't make it. In the future... you must... cough... take good care of yourself." Tang Zonghuai had clearly resigned himself to death.

Tears streamed down Tang Yu's face as he choked out, "Father, don't speak. I... I will definitely cure you! I've brought back the Six-Leaf Grass, and I'll refine the Great Return Pill for you right away."

Tang Yu was about to get up when Tang Zonghuai grabbed him: "No... no need... cough... it's useless."

It wasn't that Tang Zonghuai thought the Great Return Pill was useless, but he knew his son couldn't possibly refine it. Wasting the herbs would be better left for his son.

"Cough... Yu'er, so... cough... there's a guest. Why... not invite him in to sit?" Tang Zonghuai only then noticed someone standing at the door.

Mentioning Ye Yuan, Tang Yu perked up and said to him, "Brother Ye, I beg you to save my father! As long as you can cure him, I'll be your servant for life!"

It was clear that Tang Yu, despite his humble origins, was a proud man. For him to say such words showed the deep bond between father and son. Putting himself in Tang Yu's shoes, Ye Yuan felt the softest chord in his heart touched.

"We brothers are fated to get along; why speak of being a servant? Let Uncle lie down, and I'll diagnose him." Ye Yuan didn't stand on ceremony and sat directly by the bed, with Tang Yu making room for him.

Ye Yuan was about to take Tang Zonghuai's wrist, but the latter pulled it away: "No need... young friend... thank you."

"Father!" Seeing his father like this, Tang Yu grew anxious.

Ye Yuan knew that Tang Zonghuai was determined to die to avoid burdening his son. Of course, part of the reason was that Ye Yuan was too young, and he didn't believe Ye Yuan could do anything.

Ye Yuan wasn't annoyed. He gestured for Tang Yu to stop and said, "Uncle, if I'm not mistaken, you were injured by a Giant Wind Rhinoceros, weren't you?"

Tang Yu grew excited upon hearing this: "Brother Ye has excellent eyesight! You guessed it with just one look."

Tang Zonghuai remained unmoved, coughing a few times and said haltingly, "It was... Yu'er who told you, wasn't it? Don't bother."

"Father, I really didn't tell Brother Ye! He figured it out himself!" Seeing his father resigned to death, Tang Yu was frantic.

Seeing this, Ye Yuan frowned. To heal a person, one must first heal the heart. If Tang Zonghuai didn't want to live, even giving him miraculous medicine might not save him.

With Ye Yuan's eyesight, he could tell that Tang Zonghuai was indeed severely injured and likely wouldn't survive past tomorrow. If they delayed any longer, even if he returned to being the Alchemy Emperor, he couldn't save Tang Zonghuai. Even as it was, a single Great Return Pill wouldn't be enough.

Ye Yuan decided to use strong medicine: "Enough, Brother Tang. Why save such a heartless and ungrateful man? Since he wants to die, let him die."

Tang Yu didn't understand and, hearing Ye Yuan belittle his father, angrily said, "Ye Yuan, what are you saying? My father was injured like this for my sake! How can you call him heartless and ungrateful?"

"Hmph... such childish... provocation... won't work." Tang Yu couldn't tell, but Tang Zonghuai, being an old hand, could certainly see through it.

Ye Yuan naturally hadn't expected to succeed so easily. He sneered, "Is that so? Take it as provocation if you like. When Brother Tang ends up dead in the streets one day, he'll go to the underworld to blame you. We'll see how you handle that."

Tang Zonghuai's calm heart finally stirred. He turned over and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"Didn't you say it was provocation? Then why ask so much? I agreed to save you only out of respect for Brother Tang's filial piety. I never expected such a filial man to be so unworthy. If you won't be saved, I'll take my leave. Farewell." With that, Ye Yuan really turned to leave.

"Wait!" Tang Zonghuai and Tang Yu said in unison.

"Uncle, is there something else?" Ye Yuan ignored Tang Yu and said coldly.

"I want to know... young friend... what you meant just now?" The mention of Tang Yu dying in the streets had truly struck a nerve.

"You're a dying man; why do you need to know so much? You don't care whether your own son lives or dies, only seeking death yourself. If that's not heartless and ungrateful, what is?" Ye Yuan sneered.

"If... if... young friend explains clearly... I... am willing to be treated." Perhaps because he had spoken too much, Tang Zonghuai's coughing grew worse.

Yet Ye Yuan still looked contemptuous and sneered, "Do you think that just because Tang Yu entered the Danwu Academy, his future will be bright?"

"Is... isn't it?" Tang Zonghuai asked doubtfully.

"Of course not! The Danwu Academy is not the sacred place you imagine; on the contrary, it's an exceptionally cruel place. Of course, I believe Brother Tang has never mentioned these things to you, has he?" Ye Yuan said, looking at Tang Yu.

Tang Yu looked embarrassed but still nodded, which was as good as confirmation. Tang Zonghuai knew his son best and could tell he wasn't lying, which made his heart tighten.

Ye Yuan continued, "The Danwu Academy is indeed a gathering place for geniuses, but it's also the most fiercely competitive place, even more brutal than the outside world! The birth of a genius often requires stepping on the bones of other geniuses. Brother Tang's talent is decent, but not top-notch. Moreover, he's just a commoner without resources to support him; he's destined to be a stepping stone for others! When he is eliminated one day, even if he survives, he'll only make a living as a beast hunter. There are many such people in the Danwu Academy. Do you think many beast hunters live out their lives in peace?"

Tang Zonghuai himself was a beast hunter, so he naturally understood their plight. Thinking that his son might follow in his footsteps, Tang Zonghuai felt he couldn't die in peace.

"Young... young friend, just now... cough... I was wrong. Please... heal my injuries. I... am willing to pay any price." Tang Zonghuai had originally not wanted to burden his son, but now he realized that his death might bring even more trouble to his son, so he absolutely could not die.