Liang Feng gazed at Feng Jiao Xue with hope but she could only shake her head.
"For me to be able to cure you, I need to know what caused your ailments to begin with." Feng Jiao Xue replied and seeing the prince turned into a droopy pouting puppy despite trying to act mature and sophisticated, her lips quirked up a little.
"But if you give me sufficient information, I'll see what I can do about it" She amended.
Liang Feng perked up and blew a silver whistle.
"You- young master" A white robed old man greeted. He has a very long white beard but only a single strand at the top of his head, the lone silver hair stood up right, shifting as if as an antenna.
"Phu-! Bwahahaha" Huang Jin De laughed in the space ring, falling on the ground and hitting it with his fist.
Feng Jiao Xue remained expressionless and observed the old man instead. Despite looking old, very few wrinkles marked his face. He stood hunched over and yet had a mighty air on him, as if age itself did not diminish his youthful spirit. His eyes carried a wise gaze as if doorways towards a vast realm of knowledge.
It was a sharp contrast. The old man looks ridiculous and yet wise at the same time.
"Feng Xue, this is Zang Shi and Xu Bo. They are my most trusted physicians and healers as well as respectable magicians" Liang Feng introduced while Zang Shi simply drew an array formation in the air before the atmosphere felt lighter around them.
Huang Jin De whistled as he watched what was going on outside the space ring. "This old man is actually impressive for someone belonging to this small realm. Needless to say, to a place as remote as this" He commented.
"Is he powerful?" Feng Jiao Xue asked in their mindlink.
"His hiding his true level but his too weak to hide from my perception he is near breakthrough to elemental master. Amongst those in his level, none can compare to him and not to mention that voiceless casting. It takes a high level of mastery over magic to even reach that level." Huang Jin De revealed making Feng Jiao Xue look at the old man even more seriously.
"And the other beside him?" She asked as well.
"Try to guess, Xiao Xue" Huang Jin de encouraged and she tried to discreetly gauge the other's level.
Unlike the old man, Xu Bo is a young man, appearing to be a teen. Black short hair that appears unkept and yet styled as it puffs up softly in the air. Black eyes framed by thin glasses make him look scholarly and aloof but she can see a hint of disdain in his eyes. Proud. He has the pride around him that geniuses carry in their bearing unlike the humble presence of the old man.
"Magic Practitioner, around the mid strength?" She asked Huang Jin De for confirmation.
"Yeah, not that impressive but not that bad either." Huang Jin De replied.
As Feng Jiao Xue and Huang Jin De talked in their mind link, Liang Feng already informed the new arrivals with what happened.
Xu Bo looked at Feng Jiao Xue with scorn and disdain while Zang Shi observed her.
"Young master must be joking" Xu Bo scoffed at Feng Jiao Xue. "Not everyone can practice medicine just because they say so. Needless to say delusional and conniving fox" he coldly remarked but Zang Shi held him back by the shoulder.
"I apologize for my reckless disciple" Zang Shi bowed while Feng Jiao Xue glared coldly at Xu Bo making the young man feel as if he is under the gaze of a beast big as a mountain, towering over him, breathing biting cold air into his skin before Feng Jiao Xue glanced at the old man and nodded.
"Master-" Xu Bo immediately shaked the feeling, thinking that it must have been an illusion and feeling indignant for his master to apologize to someone unworthy.
"Are you questioning my judgment, Xu Bo?" Liang Feng asked with a gentle smile yet cold eyes.
"No, master" Xu Bo replied, bowing to Liang Feng despite his fists clenching underneath his clothing.
"Miss Feng" Zang Shi called out to change the topic.
He offered some books and hand written parchments. "These contain all that I know about young master's ailment. Please take the books as my apology for failing to properly teach my disciple. I shall remedy that immediately" Zang Shi bowed once more but Feng Jiao Xue stopped him this time.
"No need to bow for the ignorance of others" She replied while Liang Feng nodded and dismissed the two.
Zang Shi immediately flashed Xu Bo away.
"Master, how could you just trust the words of that vixen fraud?! There's no way that she could have what it takes to heal the master" Xu Bo asked immediately.
"Yet, she managed to see what others far more aged than she had failed to do" The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully, the single hair on his head twirling.
"But that doesn't mean much. What if she is planted by those against his highness? She could be a spy. That must be why she knows what to say" Xu Bo huffed crossing his arms.
"Question as you wish, Xu Bo but never the judgment and decision of his highness." He advised calmly. "His will is ours as his lead is for us to follow"
"But master-" Xu Bo wanted to argue more but Zang Shi held his palm.
"What we cannot reach, doesnt mean others cannot as well. There are mountains beyond mountains, child. And even if she fails, she has managed what others had not." He smiled kindly. "That young girl managed to ignite the flames of hope in our master's heart. That is enough for me to commend her"
"...Understood, master" Xu Bo acquaised.
As the two left, Liang Feng smiled at Feng Jiao Xue apologetically. "Please don't take what my servant has said to heart. He's still young"
Feng Jiao Xue waved her hand. "I will not lower myself to mind the baseless view of a stranger." She replied calm and cold.
"Ah, I suppose that is for the best" Liang Feng sighed in relief before feeling faint again.
"The miasma is affecting the poison inside you badly. It is best for you to retreat back inside the carriage." She reminded making the prince nod his head obediently.
"I know, I wish to accompany you more but I'm afraid I have to do so another time then." He sighed. "Take care, Xiao Xue" He smiled once more, as warm as the rey of the sun in a december morning and as gentle as the summer breeze and for a brief moment, as his palm touched her head, his image overlapped of that of a certain bespeckled mad scientists that had the same expression directed towards her, his name coming to the forefront of her mind before she suppressed it.
"Take a good rest" She simply reminded before hastily striding away.