Volume 1 Chapter 19: Ruan Yunlong’s Promise

Even when faced with those hollow gun barrels, Li Ya stood his ground, his expression unchanging. This display of courage actually earned him some admiration from Ruan Yunlong.

"Divine Physician Xu, thank you so much this time. The Ruan family owes you a great debt!" Ruan Shanhe said, looking at Xu Ruoyun with gratitude.

Xu Ruoyun simply waved his hand dismissively, his demeanor calm and detached. "No need for thanks. Brother Yunlong and I are old acquaintances. Saving you today wasn't entirely certain, but you have a strong constitution."

"Once I remove this final silver needle and prescribe a few courses of medicine for your recovery, you will be back to your old self before long." As he spoke, Xu Ruoyun prepared to pull the last silver needle from Ruan Shanhe's heart.

"I advise you not to do that," Li Ya sneered from the side. "That needle is the final straw holding back the Gu parasite. Once it is removed, his heart pulse will be completely devoured by the parasite!"

If Li Ya remembered correctly, the Ruan family still had some trade relations with his own family. Most importantly, the Ruan family was one of the top families in the Dragon Kingdom. Since the mystery of his mother's murder remained unsolved, Li Ya did not want to see major instability among the powerful families of the nation.

"You brat! You are courting death, remaining so obstinate!"

"The head of the Ruan family has already woken up, yet you are still here spouting your fraudulent nonsense!" Before Xu Ruoyun or Ruan Shanhe could speak, the medical staff, unable to restrain themselves any longer, pointed at Li Ya and began to berate him.

"You brat, daring to plot against the Ruan family—I will make sure you pay for this!" Ruan Shanhe, lying on the hospital bed, glared with cold hostility. Although Ruan Yunlong felt a flicker of doubt, he merely frowned and said nothing, as it was a fact that his son’s complexion was rosy and he had regained consciousness.

Xu Ruoyun reached forward and pulled out the last silver needle. Ruan Shanhe exhaled a breath of stale air at that moment, feeling his strength return.

*Puff!*

But just then, everyone saw Ruan Shanhe, who had just tried to sit up, vomit a mouthful of black blood and collapse onto the bed, unconscious.

*Beep! Beep! Beep!*

The medical equipment nearby began to emit an urgent alarm. Everyone in the room froze; the turn of events was so sudden that they were completely caught off guard.

"How is this possible?! His pulse is chaotic and his vitality is fading rapidly. This shouldn't be happening!" Xu Ruoyun’s forehead broke out in cold sweat. He hurriedly tried to apply acupuncture again, but no matter how he stimulated the pressure points, it was to no avail!

Seeing Ruan Shanhe gasping for air, his life force slipping away, the people in the room could not help but turn their gaze toward Li Ya. A thought crossed everyone's mind: Could it be... that what he said was true?

"Divine Physician Xu, what is happening?!" Ruan Yunlong’s face was filled with anxiety; he only had this one son.

"This... I don't know, Brother Yunlong. The toxins were clearly purged, but for some reason, there is still so much congestion in his body! Furthermore, his pressure points seem to have lost all sensation; the needles have no effect!" Xu Ruoyun was at a loss, having never encountered such a situation.

"Mr... Mr. Li, do you have any way to save him?" Ruan Yunlong finally realized that Li Ya might not have been lying, and his voice trembled.

"This is none of my concern. I warned you several times, but you insisted on calling me a fraud. There is nothing I can do." Li Ya added, "I stayed behind just to see how you would finish off Ruan Shanhe. Congratulations, you’ve succeeded."

With that, Li Ya turned to leave. Ruan Yunlong was filled with regret. Li Ya had indeed tried to stop them multiple times, but they had refused to listen, leading to this tragedy.

Ruan Mei was struck as if by lightning. She never imagined that the traveling charlatan she had mocked and threatened with prison had been telling the truth all along! Watching her father, who was already half-stepped into the grave, she turned pale as a sheet.

*Thump!*

As Li Ya reached the door, he paused. Ruan Mei had knelt before him, her face full of desperation. "I am sorry. Everything was my fault. I misjudged you, I misunderstood you. Please, I beg you, save my father's life!" Tears streamed down her face; the arrogance she had shown earlier was completely gone.

Li Ya merely sneered. "I have already tried to save him many times. He is dying by your own hands; it has nothing to do with me."

Hearing this, Ruan Mei’s heart felt as if it were being pierced by knives. Just as Li Ya said, they had ignored his warnings and mocked him throughout the process. She felt she could die from the weight of her regret.

Ruan Mei continued to beg in a lowly tone, but Li Ya ignored her and prepared to leave.

"Mr. Li, please stay!" Ruan Yunlong stepped in front of Li Ya, his expression filled with guilt. "Mr. Li, it is all my fault. I had the opportunity to trust you, but I chose to doubt you instead!"

"I implore you, for my sake, save my son. I swear by the Ruan family—if you ever have a need in the future, the Ruan family will provide all our support!" He bowed deeply to Li Ya.

Li Ya looked at him calmly, still silent. Seeing this, Ruan Yunlong looked at Li Ya, then at his son, and gritted his teeth. "Mr. Li, I swear on my honor as Ruan Yunlong: if you save him today, I, Ruan Yunlong, will support you with all my might, regardless of the danger to my own life!"

Finally, a faint smile curved on Li Ya's lips. Although Ruan Yunlong, a war hero of the Dragon Kingdom, deserved respect, Li Ya was no saint; the Ruan family had insulted him repeatedly.

Ruan Yunlong’s two oaths sounded similar but were entirely different. The Ruan family was a top-tier family, but Ruan Yunlong himself was one of the three great war heroes of the Northern Frontier. Even in retirement, his status, influence, and connections were beyond what any ordinary power could match. This was the status Li Ya truly cared about, and Ruan Yunlong understood this.

Li Ya knew that the people behind his mother’s tragedy were likely powerful enough to command the shadows of the entire Dragon Kingdom. Otherwise, with the Li family's resources, they wouldn't have been left without a single clue for so many years. Pulling a legendary war hero and the Ruan family to his side would be a massive advantage.

"Old Master Ruan, I hope you keep your word. I will act this once for your sake, but I cannot guarantee success."