"Alright, let's begin by identifying the cause of the illness,"thought Ha Yu Han as he stretched his hands over the frail body of the dying young girl.
Fortunately, alchemy is an art capable of healing wounds and curing illnesses that are nearly fatal. In essence, mastering it can elevate someone to the status of a highly revered physician. Yet, alchemists are exceedingly rare, burdened by endless requests pouring in from all corners of the continent…
"Sir?" a feeble voice interrupted his train of thought.
Ha Yu Han blinked, pulled back to the present, and glanced at the girl on the bed.
"Sir? I'm not that old, you know," he teased with a faint smile.
Tien Mei, the young girl, managed a weak smile before succumbing to a fit of coughing.
"Don't push yourself, alright?" Yu Han said gently.
"Are you really going to heal me?" she whispered, her wide, hopeful eyes fixed on him.
"Of course. Don't worry about a thing!" he reassured her confidently.
---
After what seemed like an eternity, Ha Yu Han's hands began to glow with a soft blue light, its radiance filling the room and dissipating the oppressive atmosphere that had lingered moments earlier.
"Tien Yuan," he called, his tone steady.
"Y-Yes, Master?" replied the young man, visibly trembling.
"From this moment on, you must remain absolutely silent. I need complete focus to heal your sister," Yu Han instructed firmly.
Hearing his words, Tien Yuan stood frozen, trying his best to suppress even his breath, his anxiety making him all the more attentive.
---
Meanwhile, back at the Ha family estate, YooXiang Jun roamed the hallways, his steps heavy with frustration.
"Damn it. I still can't believe that bastard demoted me to serve that useless Ha Yu Han…"
Memories of the old Ha Yu Han, before Zhou Chen took over his body, surfaced in YooXiang Jun's mind. He remembered him as distant and lethargic, unable to master even the Five Great Principles of the alchemy.
Unlike Jun, who had dedicated himself to relentless training, the old Yu Han had been nothing but an idler, fueling Jun's disdain to the point where he regarded him as utterly worthless, just as many others in the family did.
"Why? Why?! I've worked tirelessly, night and day, only to be discarded like trash. Am I really no better than that second-rate noble?" he thought, his simmering rage bubbling beneath the surface.
His dark musings were interrupted by a soft, familiar voice.
"Jun?"
YooXiang Jun looked up, and before him stood a young woman with silver hair cascading down her shoulders and eyes as blue as the ocean. She wore a flowing white dress adorned with delicate sky-blue patterns.
It was Yang Fang Li, his childhood friend. She was known for her kind, composed demeanor, and her striking charm. Her gaze was so mesmerizing it could almost ensnare anyone.
"YooXiang, is everything alright? I heard the news… You've been demoted?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
YooXiang Jun averted his gaze, embarrassed that the rumors had spread so quickly—and that Fang Li was now aware.
"So, you've heard as well…"
Fang Li studied him thoughtfully as he turned away. A small smile played on her lips before she spoke again.
"You shouldn't be ashamed, you know."
"How could I not be?" he snapped, frustration seeping into his tone. "We're talking about the 30th son of Ha Han Feng, and he can't even master alchemy!"
"That's precisely it," she said, her tone teasing. "I heard rumors that he's finally mastered his soul."
Jun froze, stunned by the claim. The lazy good-for-nothing had mastered alchemy? Impossible.
"Those are just rumors. They're probably exaggerated or completely untrue," he muttered skeptically.
Fang Li chuckled softly. "You never know."
Their conversation was cut short by another voice calling out from the distance.
"Big Sister Fang Li!"
It was Zhao Chen Li, searching desperately for her master. She had remained in the estate, frantically looking for Ha Yu Han.
"Zhao Chen Li?" Fang Li inquired, turning toward her.
"I've been searching for my master for hours with no trace of him!"
"I see… He's probably in the city," Fang Li speculated.
"But why would he go there?" asked Chen Li before her gaze fell on YooXiang Jun. Recognizing him, her face turned pale with fear. The intimidating figure of Jun caused her to instinctively hide behind Fang Li.
"I'm going to find him," Jun declared suddenly.
"What? Really?" Fang Li asked, surprised.
"If the rumors are true, and that second-rate noble has somehow managed to practice alchemy, I need to see it for myself," he admitted, his voice carrying an edge of curiosity and doubt.
"They're not rumors—they're the truth," Chen Li murmured from behind Fang Li's dress. Jun shot her a cold, piercing glare, making her shrink further in fear.
---
Back with Ha Yu Han, the young noble continued his efforts to heal the girl. Two hours had passed since he began.
"Damn it, this is way harder than I expected," he muttered, his eyes tightly shut to aid his perception of Tien Mei's soul vessels.
*It's only natural—it's not like I'm a professional healing alchemist. This is much tougher for me.*
Just then, a surge of light filled the room, creating strong gusts of wind that forced Tien Yuan to shield himself in the corner.
*Damn it, where is this damned illness hiding?!*
After what felt like an eternity, Ha Yu Han finally located the source—a dark-green aura mixed with black, festering around the young girl's lungs.
"I've got you now, you little pest!" he exclaimed triumphantly.
"Did you heal her, Master?"
"Not yet! Now I need to extract it," Yu Han responded, his tone resolute.
But how? The question lingered as he hesitated.
*Only trained experts can perform this kind of operation. I'm not one of them… I'll need a miracle to pull this off.*
As he pondered, a voice broke through the tension.
"Just grab it—it's as simple as that," someone said casually.
Yu Han turned toward the source and saw a figure leaning against the crumbling wall. It was YooXiang Jun, observing the scene with detached interest.
*Grab it? Of course! I was overthinking it. Instead of trying to dissolve it, I just need to suppress it directly!*
With newfound determination, Ha Yu Han reached for the malevolent substance, gripping it firmly. His hands glowed fiercely as he squeezed until the toxic aura dissipated completely.
Finally, he let go, collapsing to the ground, exhausted but victorious.
"Finally… I did it. Did you see that, Tien Yuan? I actually did it!" he exclaimed, pride shining in his voice.
Tien Yuan was speechless, tears streaming down his face as he repeatedly thanked Yu Han.
YooXiang Jun, meanwhile, watched silently, his expression indifferent. Yet, deep down, he was awestruck. Not only had Ha Yu Han mastered alchemy, but he had used it to save an innocent life.
How much has this guy changed?Jun thought to himself.
"Hey, you," Yu Han called out.
Jun turned his cold gaze toward him.
"I don't know who you are, but thank you. You really helped me out!" Yu Han said, sincerity in his voice.
A brief silence filled the room before Jun sighed deeply.
"I'm your servant, idiot," he muttered flatly.
My… what? Yu Han thought, stunned.