The night at the Prince of Yan's manor was ablaze with lights, bustling with people, their activity chasing away half the sky's darkness, making it appear as though a brilliant pearl had been embedded into the capital's nightscape.
It could be said that tonight, the Yan Manor was livelier than any place in Kyoto, even outshining the imperial palace in terms of vibrancy.
Yang Fan and Yu Wen Xin walked together with the old steward towards the "Hall of Heroes" in the manor, accompanied by several palace guards, who ensured their protection and cleared the path ahead.
Along the way, the two drew many curious gazes. Particularly, the palace servants and stewards had a peculiar look in their eyes.
"That must be the Second Princess... she's every bit as beautiful as the rumors say. Absolutely stunning!" gasped a few newly arrived servants, their eyes wide with awe.
"Who's that walking beside her? Look at how respectful the steward is to him—he must be someone of great importance," someone speculated quietly from a distance.
"Could that be the divine healer who cured the Second Princess? Who else could receive such treatment?" another guessed aloud.
"A divine healer? That's impossible. How could there be such a young miracle doctor in this world?"
This speculation sparked a wave of murmurs and debate.
Yang Fan walked calmly, his expression unchanged as he listened to the discussions swirling around him. Though inwardly pleased, he maintained his composure. His first step in Kyoto was about to be fulfilled.
Establishing a medical clinic to treat cultivators required one thing above all—reputation. And judging by the current situation, he had already garnered some fame, at least within the medical circles of the capital.
"If I can make my name even more resounding…" Yang Fan mused to himself, his eyes suddenly brightening as a realization struck him. The banquet at the Yan Manor tonight—what better opportunity could there be?
With that thought, he began to plan his next move in secret.
As they walked further, a familiar, elderly voice called out from not far away, "Apothecary Yang!"
Yang Fan turned and smiled, "Elder Zheng, you've been invited to the banquet as well? Haha, and Xiao Yun, you're here too."
"Hehe, Brother Yang..." Cheng Yunfei beamed with delight upon seeing Yang Fan. Though they hadn't spent much time together, they got along well despite their age difference. Cheng Yunfei deeply admired this kind-hearted apothecary, holding him in high regard.
"Come, come, Apothecary Yang, let me introduce someone to you…"
Elder Zheng, smiling warmly, gestured toward an elderly man beside him. "This is your colleague, Apothecary He. Apart from Apothecary Dongfang, he's the most senior healer in the Prince's household."
"Apothecary He?"
Yang Fan raised an eyebrow slightly. Wasn't this the same apothecary he had encountered in Yu Wen Xin's chamber the other day?
At that time, Apothecary He and the others had ridiculed and questioned Yang Fan, even taking pleasure in his perceived misfortune. But in the end, they had left disappointed, utterly dejected.
The illness that even Apothecary Dongfang couldn't diagnose had been cured by a young man who could well be their grandson in age.
Apothecary He's face was now tense, filled with awkwardness. Forcing a thin smile, he greeted Yang Fan, "Apothecary... Apothecary Yang, a pleasure, truly."
"A pleasure indeed, Apothecary He," Yang Fan responded with a polite nod, though his tone lacked any genuine warmth. In truth, he had never heard of this Apothecary He before.
Sensing the tension, Elder Cheng chuckled, attempting to diffuse the situation. "Apothecary Yang, it seems you'll be one of the stars of tonight's banquet. The Prince holds you in high regard."
The old steward nodded in agreement. "Indeed, the Prince values Apothecary Yang highly."
Yang Fan smiled modestly and gestured to Yu Wen Xin beside him. "The Second Princess has just recovered from her illness; she's the true focus of tonight. I merely did my small part."
"No need for such modesty. Nonetheless, I offer my heartfelt congratulations on the Second Princess's recovery," Elder Cheng said.
"Congratulations to the Second Princess on her recovery!" echoed both Elder Cheng and Apothecary He, bowing respectfully.
"There's no need for formalities. My survival is all thanks to Apothecary Yang," Yu Wen Xin smiled gracefully, her tone polite and sincere.
The rest of their journey passed without further incident, though Yang Fan and Yu Wen Xin's presence continued to draw many admiring glances.
After walking for the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, a grand hall loomed ahead, its majesty undeniable. Two golden dragons coiled atop its roof, and the hall's entrance was adorned with jade steps stretching downward, creating a sense of awe. Above the entrance, a plaque bore three bold characters: "Hall of Heroes."
"The Hall of Heroes?" Yang Fan murmured with a slight smirk, thinking to himself that the Prince must indeed value talented individuals.
"Apothecary Yang, Second Princess, this way, please," the old steward said cheerfully, leading them toward a side hall.
"See you later," Elder Cheng chuckled knowingly, fully aware that Yang Fan was to enjoy special privileges and would not be immediately seated in the main hall.
Yang Fan, too, sensed the subtle nuances at play and followed the steward into the side hall.
Inside, the side hall was elegantly furnished, and only a handful of people were seated.
At the head of the room sat a young man clad in a purple robe embroidered with jade dragons. His gaze was sharp, exuding a commanding and domineering presence that filled the space around him.
It was none other than the Prince of Yan, Yu Wen Lie.
"Apothecary Yang has arrived," Yu Wen Lie greeted with a slight smile, gesturing for Yang Fan to take a seat.
"Greetings, Your Highness," Yang Fan offered a respectful bow before seating himself steadily, his gaze sweeping over the other occupants of the room.
Suddenly, his eyes locked onto a withered, hawk-nosed old man seated across from him.
At that same moment, the old man's gaze met his, and their eyes collided in the air, sparking an unspoken clash of wills.
"Hehe, Apothecary Yang, let me introduce you. This is one of Kyoto's three divine healers, Divine Healer Lu," Yu Wen Lie said, standing and courteously making the introduction.
One of the three divine healers!
Yang Fan's heart stirred. No wonder his attention had been immediately drawn to this man upon entering the hall.
Among apothecaries, once one's skills reached a certain level, it became easy to sense others of the same craft. It reminded Yang Fan of the mysterious elder he had once encountered in Yihe Village who possessed a similar aura.
"Divine Healer Lu, a pleasure," Yang Fan rose and offered a respectful bow. After all, this was a man of considerable skill and repute, one of the renowned healers of Kyoto. As a junior in the field, it was only fitting that Yang Fan show respect.
"Apothecary Yang?" Divine Healer Lu barely glanced at him, not even bothering to rise. Instead, he took a leisurely sip of tea, clearly intent on embarrassing Yang Fan.
The other esteemed guests in the room showed no surprise at Divine Healer Lu's behavior, some even smirking at the spectacle.
All eyes were now on Yang Fan, waiting to see how he would handle the situation.
Yang Fan felt a flicker of irritation, though his expression remained calm. His eyes narrowed slightly as he focused on Divine Healer Lu, and in the blink of an eye, he began circulating the power of the *Xianhong Jue* technique within him in a strange and unseen way.
When the technique flowed in its normal direction, it healed wounds and cured illnesses. But when reversed, it became a poison art that could silently extinguish life!
Divine Healer Lu, feeling Yang Fan's gaze, suddenly stiffened. His soul trembled, and for a brief moment, he sensed the chilling breath of death.
*Mid-stage Condensed Spirit cultivation?*
Yang Fan saw through Lu's cultivation with a single glance. He posed no threat to him. Calmly, Yang Fan sat back down and took a leisurely sip of tea.
"You... you…" Divine Healer Lu stammered, his face flushing with fury as he pointed a trembling finger at Yang Fan.
Yang Fan ignored him, merely savoring his tea with a serene expression.
The others in the room were puzzled by what had just transpired. Only the Prince of Yan, Yu Wen Lie, had a glimmer of something else in his sharp gaze.
"I must take my leave briefly. I'll return shortly," Divine Healer Lu muttered, face red with anger as he left the side hall hastily.
Once outside, a trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth. He opened his palm, revealing a patch of dark purple-black skin.
With a sudden movement, he darted into a nearby bamboo grove, where he sat cross-legged, focusing all his strength on expelling the poison.
"What kind of terrifying poison technique is this?"
Divine Healer Lu's heart was filled with shock, but soon his eyes flashed with cold determination.
"That brat dared to use poison against me. Does he not know I am a master of poison myself?"
Meanwhile, back in the side hall, Yang Fan sat with an air of ease, leisurely sipping his tea. Yet
beneath the surface, he was quietly observing everything.