Chapter 34: Our True Reward
The heavy thud of City Lord Guan kneeling echoed through the silent hall! His loud proclamation that Wang Cheng was a "God," a "Saint who had come to bless them," froze the royal doctors and servants who had just rushed in, leaving them stiff with shock!
"City Lord! Please rise!" Wang Cheng rushed to support the powerful figure with a frantic demeanor. "Doing this will shorten this old man's lifespan! I am but a simple country doctor; how can I accept such a grand gesture of respect?"
His ultimate humility only made everyone present feel a sense of admiration that bordered on worship!
"No! You are the benefactor of the Guan clan!" The City Lord said with a trembling voice, tears of joy streaming down his formidable face. "You not only saved my only son but also preserved the sole heir of this city! This debt of gratitude... I will repay you generously!"
He immediately turned to order the butler. "Go! Open the family treasury! Bring out ten thousand gold taels! One thousand bolts of fine silk! And all the precious pills we possess! Bring them to Master Wang!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Cheng hurried to shake his head and waved his hands in refusal. "Slow down, City Lord! Slow down! Wealth is merely a worldly possession. For a doctor... nothing is more valuable than the smile of a recovered patient."
He spoke while glancing at Liu Yuexin, who still lay unconscious on the chair, with a face full of "concern."
"Moreover, for this treatment, my disciple had to expend every drop of her Pure Yin energy to serve as a 'medium.' If I were to accept these rewards, my heart as a teacher could never find peace."
His actions and words were incomparably noble and filled with benevolence!
At that moment, Guan Yun, having fully regained his senses, struggled to prop himself up from the bed. He walked straight to Wang Cheng before kneeling on one knee like a true warrior!
"Benefactor! This grace of saving my life... Guan Yun will remember it for as long as I live!"
Then, he turned to look at the sleeping form of Liu Yuexin with eyes filled with extreme complexity... full of gratitude, guilt, and indescribable reverence.
"And this young lady... She... sacrificed herself for me... If the chance arises, I, Guan Yun, swear to repay her kindness to the utmost!"
Wang Cheng supported Guan Yun to stand. "The Young Master has just recovered; do not overexert yourself... Let us not speak of repayment," he said decisively, before turning to the City Lord. "However... if the City Lord insists on returning the favor... I ask for only two 'small things'."
"You need only ask! Even if it is ten or a hundred things, I will find them for you!"
"First... I am but a country doctor," Wang Cheng said. "Sometimes, traveling to gather herbs in dangerous places or going to treat poor patients is met with obstruction... If the City Lord has a small 'command token' that could serve as identification to facilitate travel... that would be a great kindness."
"And... one more thing," he said, looking at his beloved disciple with gentle eyes. "My disciple here... she is still young, yet she had to suffer and sacrifice for this treatment... If you would be so kind... just some pretty things for her would suffice... After all, she is a girl; they don't need to be valuable... Just your kindness in this regard... and I will be satisfied."
His request... was incredibly humble and noble! He asked for nothing for himself but the convenience to help others, and what he asked for his disciple were merely small trinkets for a young girl!
City Lord Guan was so moved he nearly cried out again!
"Master Wang! You are... truly noble!"
He immediately unhooked the "Golden Tiger Token" hanging at his waist!
"This is my personal token! Whoever holds this is as if I am present myself! You may enter and exit the city gates at any hour, commandeer up to one hundred soldiers! And every official who sees this must cooperate! Please, accept it!"
He stuffed the heavy, authority-laden golden token into Wang Cheng's hand without hesitation!
Then he turned to order the butler with a booming voice!
"Go! Open the Madame's private treasury! The best jewelry, jade hairpins, and finest silks! Bring them for the little lady to choose from as she pleases once she wakes up!"
After giving a few more instructions on how to care for the Young Master, Wang Cheng asked to take his leave. He insisted on carrying the "unconscious" Liu Yuexin in his own arms. The image of the kind, elderly doctor carrying his sacrificing, beloved disciple moved everyone present to tears.
City Lord Guan personally walked him to the carriage, held the curtain open, and bowed until the carriage disappeared from sight... leaving the entire manor's servants in shock!
Inside the carriage, moving quietly back toward the shop... Wang Cheng gently placed Liu Yuexin on the soft cushions.
'System... use 10 Moral Points. Create a Mid-grade 'Yin Recovery Pill' for Yuexin.'
A small pill emitting a faint silver glow appeared in his hand. He gently fed it into her mouth.
Not long after... her eyelids began to flutter. "Mmm... Master... What... happened?"
Wang Cheng smiled gently. "You fell asleep... You did very well, Yuexin... Very well indeed."
His simple praise filled her with pride and happiness like never before.
"Is everything settled?"
"Everything is settled," he said. "I refused all the rewards... but I asked for a small gift for you instead. The City Lord promised to let you choose the best jewelry and silks to your heart's content."
Liu Yuexin blushed immediately with a mix of joy and shyness. "M... Master... Why go to such trouble for me..."
Wang Cheng patted her head lightly before holding up the Golden Tiger Token for her to see. A cunning glint flashed in his eyes for a brief moment.
"As for this... this is our true reward."