The Great Elder’s face also bore a smile, saying, "This indeed has a refreshing and invigorating effect. Young girl, could you give me some petals?"

"No way!" Nao Nao bluntly refused, "You sneaky old man, this is a treasure of the Xu Family, how could we just give it away?"

The Great Elder then turned his gaze to Xu Miaoqiu. Xu Miaoqiu also shook her head, such things could absolutely not be given away. It posed a significant threat to the Xu Family. Not to mention the Charming Skill, many of the large formations around the Xu Family Stream had the power to enchant minds. With this, the Xu Family would be left unprotected.

The Great Elder sighed helplessly. At this time, Nao Nao spoke up again, "Hey, old man, I advise you not to harbor any ill intentions toward this tree. The things of the Xu Family are not so easy to mess with."

Xu Miaoqiu looked at Nao Nao’s fearless demeanor and felt genuinely troubled. If this bad-tempered old man got angry, it would indeed be troublesome.

The Great Elder snorted heavily, shaking his sleeves, and said in a lofty tone, "My Martial Sect walks upright and sits properly. Do you think I would engage in such sneaky and disruptive activities?"

"Hmph, hope so."

Miaoqiu frowned and said displeased, "Nao Nao, don’t be rude."

Nao Nao, not afraid of the Great Elder, was somewhat intimidated by her own young lady. If she performed the etiquette, her bottom would suffer again.

"Lin Tian, let’s go see my father first. As for the Bodhi Plum, we can discuss it later," Miaoqiu said.

Clearly, with the Great Elder and Nan Qiu, these two outsiders present, she didn’t want the topic to involve the Bodhi Plum further.

How could Lin Tian not understand her thoughts? He immediately nodded and agreed.

...

Lin Tian followed Miaoqiu to her father’s room. Along the way, they saw several young disciples greeting the young lady, and some cast glances at Mei Ruyan, scrutinizing her closely.

Apparently, many people recognized her as the second young lady of the Xu Family, but out of respect, they said nothing.

Mei Ruyan acted as if she did not notice the strange glances from these disciples, looking straight ahead, with her pretty face as cold as frost, walking on her own.

Soon, they arrived at Xu Miaoqiu’s father’s ward.

Before even entering the room, Lin Tian smelled a very strong medicinal scent. It was a mixture of bitterness and fishiness, which was extremely unpleasant.

"Five years ago, when my mother fell ill, regular medicine couldn’t save her. To treat my mother’s illness, my father searched through ancient texts and finally found a secret remedy. However, that remedy was quite sinister, requiring one to expend all their inner strength and vitality to possibly save a dying person," Miaoqiu said.

The Great Elder pulled a sarcastic smile and said, "There’s such an absurd method, did your father try it?"

Miaoqiu nodded, "He did. His lifetime’s inner strength was exhausted in twenty minutes, and he later sacrificed his vitality, but ultimately, his body could not bear it, and he fell ill too."

"And your mother?" Lin Tian asked.

"My mother... she recuperated for two years, and only then did her health gradually recover. That remedy indeed worked," Miaoqiu replied.

The Great Elder rolled his eyes disdainfully, thinking Xu Shaohui was a fool to easily try a secret remedy with no assurance. It risked his entire life’s inner strength and even his life.

Vitality is the fundamental substance that maintains human activity. Essence generates blood, and blood nourishes essence. Thus, there is the saying ’essence and blood are of the same source.’

Giving up this is like exchanging one life for another!

Even if Xu Shaohui wakes up, he probably won’t have many years left to live.

After cursing the fool, the Great Elder couldn’t help but admire Xu Shaohui for being a true man.

The history of Ancient Martial the Xu Family can be traced back to the Han and Tang Dynasties, and later due to some changes, they moved to South City and established the Xu Family Stream.

As for the founder of the Charming Skill, it is rumored to be a man.

Not all men who practice the Charming Skill are effeminate, for example, Xu Shoujiang and Xu Shaohui were bold and upright men.

The Charming Skill of the Xu Family doesn’t necessarily refer to a fox spirit but is a form of inner strength cultivation focusing on self-restoration and maintenance. When fully mastered, it can enchant the mind and somewhat resembles psychic attacks.

"What kind of medicine has your father been taking all these years?" Lin Tian asked.

"Medicines that stabilize the foundation and nourish vitality, tonics to invigorate blood and essence, along with a fair amount of mutton. However, the effects aren’t very substantial, just barely keeping him alive," Miaoqiu said. "When my father found that secret remedy, there was another prescription below it for replenishing vitality. The main ingredients are Phoenix Tail Feather and Dragon Scale Powder."

Upon careful thought, Lin Tian realized that records about these two medicines are pitifully scarce, but they truly can replenish vitality. It seems the remedy is indeed reliable.

"The prescription must be correct, but the medicine is intense; without a strong body, it might be too much to bear. Let me examine your father first," Lin Tian said.

In fact, while they were talking, they had already arrived at the door of Xu Shaohui’s room. Miaoqiu opened the door and led everyone in.

The medicinal smell inside the room was even stronger. At first glance, they saw a very plain-dressed middle-aged woman, her head down, working on embroidery.

Her figure was very lean, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

Lin Tian could tell that her leanness was due to poor eating and restless nights.

The middle-aged woman, hearing the door open, put down her needlework and looked up.

As she raised her head, Lin Tian happened to see her face.

She was a great beauty, and Miaoqiu’s brows and eyes resembled hers by seventy to eighty percent. However, Miaoqiu exuded an alluring aura, while the middle-aged woman appeared very elegant and ladylike.

"Miaoqiu, why did you come back?" Xv Baiping asked her daughter in surprise, "Who are these friends of yours?"

Miaoqiu smiled and said, "Mom, I’ve brought back the medicine to treat Dad!"

"What? Are you serious?" Xv Baiping exclaimed in surprise. She took a closer look at the people behind Miaoqiu and asked, "Are you saying you’ve also brought that miracle doctor named Lin Tian?"

Xv Baiping wasn’t keen on going online, so she only heard about Lin Tian’s name and deeds, but hadn’t seen his photo. Among the group, there were only two men, one old and one young, and the old one was naturally impossible, so Xv Baiping focused on Lin Tian.

Lin Tian immediately felt a pang of anxiety, considering he had intimately engaged with her precious daughter; he should show some respect, right?

Without waiting for Miaoqiu to introduce him, Lin Tian took the initiative to step forward and said with a smile, "Hello, Auntie, I’m Lin Tian. I’ve also brought the medicine Uncle needs."

"Good, good, good," Xv Baiping said, smiling joyfully. After speaking, she suddenly thought of something, and tears streamed down her fair face.

She had been waiting for this day for five years; seeing hope again, she couldn’t hold back her emotions.