The outcome of the confrontation between the Color-Restraining Monk and Li Yue Shuang, both battered and bruised, filled Yang Fan with delight. At long last, as a healer, he found himself presented with a genuine opportunity to save lives and mend wounds.
Disregarding the incessant clamor of the Color-Restraining Monk, Yang Fan stepped forward with a smile, saying, "Fear not, my friend. Such injuries are trivial; I have treated nearly a hundred similar cases in recent days. All I require is your cooperation."
"A hundred cases? Hmm, by the sounds of it, your medical skills are rather commendable," the monk mused, a flicker of interest igniting in his gaze. "Pray tell, how must I assist you?"
"Simply remain still in this very spot; that shall be your finest contribution," Yang Fan replied, his voice as soothing as a gentle breeze, charming the female cultivators present.
"Ah, very well then. I shall trust you this once. Should you prove effective, a generous reward shall follow," the monk nodded, ceasing his movements.
Yang Fan approached closely, extending his hand to hover just above the monk's injured right arm. After a few breaths, he withdrew his hand to reveal that the frostbite had vanished without a trace.
Such exceptional skill!
Gasps of awe filled the hall as the gathered cultivators marveled at Yang Fan's talent.
"I never anticipated such a young individual could possess such remarkable medical expertise! This is undoubtedly a boon for our cultivation community."
"Indeed, we could use more healers like him."
"Moreover, he appears to be in the prime of his youth, so dashing and charming…"
One of the middle-aged women who had earlier cast flirtatious glances at Yang Fan piped up, "I simply wish to shower him with affection."
"Pfft!" The surrounding cultivators regarded her with scornful glances.
Meanwhile, Xing Second Brother and Li Yue Shuang exchanged glances laden with regret. They had not foreseen Yang Fan's level of proficiency in healing. Their previous skeptical expressions were likely to have left a negative impression on the young healer.
Li Yue Shuang's regret deepened; she felt a burgeoning fondness for this talented healer. The mere thought of leaving an imperfect impression in his eyes added to her dismay.
"Ha! You truly have some talent, young man," the Color-Restraining Monk exclaimed, experiencing a refreshing coolness where the pain had once been, and marveling at his newfound comfort.
"Your skill is nothing short of divine," Yang Fan smiled gently. "Please, allow me to attend to your other wounds."
"Indeed, I shall remain still," the monk readily agreed, his perception of Yang Fan shifting positively.
As Yang Fan proceeded with his treatment, he focused intently, applying the right amount of effort. Even with this careful consideration, the results were nothing short of extraordinary.
"Treating cultivators truly amplifies the healing effect…" Yang Fan thought, feeling the life force within him swell and solidify. A stream of refreshing energy poured from the healed wounds, washing over his body and nurturing his spirit, strengthening his power.
Moments later, he had healed all of the monk's injuries.
With a deep breath, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to digest the effects of his healing.
Through treating the Color-Restraining Monk, Yang Fan sensed his own cultivation deepening. He felt firmly anchored at the initial stage of Qi Refinement, with a tantalizing push towards greater heights.
If this momentum continued, treating a few more individuals of similar caliber could see him leap into the mid-stage of Qi Refinement. Such rapid advancement thrilled him, comparable to what would normally take a typical cultivator months in seclusion to achieve.
After a brief period of absorbing the newfound energy, Yang Fan opened his eyes to find everyone in the hall staring at him.
"Little healer, your skills are indeed impressive. Here are ten spirit stones, as payment for your services," the Color-Restraining Monk declared, producing a handful of precious stones.
Yang Fan chuckled lightly, "As a healer, my duty is to aid and save lives. I used no medicinal materials in your treatment, only a modest amount of my own energy. Therefore, I shall not accept payment."
"What? No charge?" The crowd erupted in disbelief.
"Indeed, free treatment!" Yang Fan affirmed with a warm smile.
In truth, he had already devised a plan: to establish a name for himself in the cultivation world, inviting a steady stream of patients seeking his aid. By forgoing fees, he would attract numerous individuals in need of healing.
Spirit stones and treasures, while valuable, paled in comparison to his burgeoning cultivation.
Afterward, Yang Fan approached Xing Second Brother and Li Yue Shuang with a friendly smile. "Might I assist Miss Li with her injuries as well?"
"Of course, healer, please proceed," Xing Second Brother urged, welcoming Yang Fan forward.
"Miss Li, I apologize for any prior offense. I hope you can overlook it," Li Yue Shuang said, a hint of shyness betraying her typically icy demeanor.
Xing Second Brother observed their exchange, a contemplative expression crossing his face.
"You're too kind…" Yang Fan replied with a gentle smile. "If you would cooperate with me, Miss, it's best to treat those wounds on your face as soon as possible to prevent any lasting marks."
"Ah! Healer, please proceed; I will cooperate fully," Li Yue Shuang implored, her greatest concern being the injury marring her flawless visage.
With that, she stood still, signaling her willingness for Yang Fan to begin.
This scene was undeniably peculiar: a delicate woman, her attire slightly disheveled, standing before him, urging, "Please, go ahead; I shall cooperate."
"Fear not, Miss," Yang Fan thought to himself, amused. Even if her wound were to be delayed momentarily, he could restore her beauty to perfection.
In the realm of cultivation, those above the Foundation Establishment stage possessed significant self-healing capabilities; minor injuries often healed within moments through focused energy.
However, injuries inflicted by combat among cultivators of equal rank required more than just time to mend.
For instance, if a high-ranking Golden Core cultivator were struck by a lower-ranking cultivator's artifact, they could heal with relative ease through meditation in less than half a day. Yet, if they were wounded by a fellow Golden Core cultivator's magic or artifact, without the assistance of a healer or a healing elixir, the scars might linger for years.
Yang Fan approached Li Yue Shuang, inhaling the delicate scent of her presence, and quickly steeled himself as he observed the injury upon her flawless visage. He extended his hand, preparing to assist her.
In that moment, Li Yue Shuang's cheeks flushed crimson, and she closed her eyes, appearing to yield completely to his touch.
At that instant, all the male cultivators in the hall fixated their gaze upon Yang Fan's hand.
Many of them exhibited expressions of envy and jealousy: how fortunate he was to have such an exquisite opportunity to claim a woman's attention while displaying his medical prowess.
Yang Fan felt a twinge of nervousness; this was his first time engaging so closely with a female cultivator.
Currently, he lacked the means for distant healing; even if he did possess such abilities, they consumed a considerable amount of energy and often yielded subpar results. Unless in extraordinary circumstances, he would typically refrain from employing distant healing techniques.
Finally, Yang Fan's hand came to rest against Li Yue Shuang's flawless cheek, gliding gently across her skin.
All around them, the cultivators' eyes widened in astonishment.
Were it anyone else treating Li Yue Shuang so intimately, she would likely have retaliated with a resounding slap.
Yet, Yang Fan was a healer—an exceptionally skilled healer.