Chapter 20: Boasting of a Cure for an Incurable Disease

But then, he strode directly into his own "auspicious place"! At that moment, Master Zeng was still coughing, and even he himself felt something strange in his heart—why was his coughing so severe this time, as if he were about to die?

The followers surnamed Wang and Zhou seemed panicked; despite all their efforts, nothing helped. Zhang Pu watched, knowing any further delay would be disastrous. Suddenly, he darted forward and, without a word, pressed his hand on Master Zeng’s back!

During his thousand years in the Immortal Realm, whether he focused on wood elemental energy, or on light and water healing energies, Zhang Pu had learned life-saving skills from others. That was why he could immediately discern the root of Master Zeng’s symptoms. Moreover, he had recently harnessed some true energy using the Eight Directions and Six Harmonies technique, so he wasted no time, pouring a surge of true energy into Master Zeng to bring him back from the brink of death.

Zhang Pu even thought: if Master Zeng had not met him today, sudden death would have been highly likely!

Though Master Zeng appeared healthy in daily life, this illness had likely lingered for decades, never truly resolved. Its sudden, explosive onset was not unexpected.

The two robust men, Wang and Zhou, who were already wary of Zhang Pu due to previous incidents, saw him rush forward and press his palm against Master Zeng’s back at such a critical moment. Both were about to react, but then, to their astonishment, Master Zeng’s complexion improved and his coughing ceased instantly!

Zhang Pu withdrew his hand, feeling a significant depletion of his true energy, but deep inside, he felt no regret.

Master Zeng and his two followers were both shocked—especially Master Zeng, who, for a moment, felt as if his illness had been cured!

They had already sensed that this young man was extraordinary, but never imagined his abilities could be so miraculous.

Master Zeng now believed even more firmly that Zhang Pu must be the direct disciple of a martial arts grandmaster, though his subordinates had yet to uncover Zhang Pu’s true background.

“Master, yours is a chronic affliction!” Zhang Pu spoke not like a student from Earth, but as the mighty Emperor Zhang of the Immortal Realm, viewing Master Zeng’s illness through those eyes and perceiving its depths!

Master Zeng and his followers felt another jolt in their hearts, for Zhang Pu spoke the truth—Master Zeng knew it, and his two loyal followers, who had served him for so long, knew it as well. Master Zeng nodded in acknowledgment.

With the spirit of Emperor Zhang suddenly residing within him, Zhang Pu could not hold back, and began to explain to Master Zeng and his followers the causes and symptoms of the illness in detail, even though he hadn’t witnessed Master Zeng’s past firsthand. What he said about the disease’s origins and specifics made Master Zeng nod repeatedly.

Even Wang and Zhou, who didn’t know all the details, could guess from Master Zeng’s reactions that Zhang Pu’s analysis was accurate.

They were secretly alarmed.

When Zhang Pu remarked that, had he not happened upon them today, Master Zeng might have died, Wang and Zhou suddenly felt the urge to show anger. But Master Zeng subtly signaled them to restrain themselves.

Heavens! Master Zeng’s gesture all but confirmed that Zhang Pu was not exaggerating. Wang and Zhou were no fools.

For a moment, they nearly regarded Zhang Pu as a divine being.

Zhang Pu then told Master Zeng clearly that he had merely pulled him back from the gates of death temporarily, not cured him completely.

Master Zeng had anticipated this, but his heart still skipped a beat. At first, he had entertained the wild hope that this mysterious disciple might have fully cured him. It turned out to be nothing more than wishful thinking.

Yet with a master present, even someone of Master Zeng’s exalted status felt powerless in the face of death.

Humbly, Master Zeng sought advice from Zhang Pu, for if there was any hope, no one wished to die. Over the decades, Master Zeng had tirelessly sought medical help, but none had ever managed to cure him.

In response to Master Zeng’s plea, Zhang Pu did not hesitate.

This disease, considered incurable on Earth, was not without remedy for Zhang Pu, who hailed from the miraculous Immortal Realm. Indeed, for those of the Immortal Realm, treating such a condition was not difficult.

When Zhang Pu confidently claimed he could help, Master Zeng confirmed in his heart that Zhang Pu must truly be the disciple of some hidden martial arts grandmaster.

Master Zeng thought of the person behind Zhang Pu—for it was easier to believe Zhang Pu was a disciple than the master himself. After all, all the martial arts grandmasters Master Zeng had ever met were of similar age to himself, or at least fifty. Even if Zhang Pu were extraordinary, he would need to be over thirty to fit the logic, yet Zhang Pu looked not even twenty!

Wang and Zhou were equally astonished to hear Zhang Pu declare he could cure Master Zeng’s illness. Though Zhang Pu’s earlier actions had reassured them, his youth was still a cause for doubt.

Yet they dared not object, for Master Zeng had sought medical help everywhere to no avail. Even attempting a desperate remedy was preferable to waiting for death.

To Master Zeng’s request for guidance, Zhang Pu responded lightly: he would prepare some medicinal pills and teach Master Zeng a healing technique; if Master Zeng followed his instructions, the root of his illness could be eradicated in no time.

Master Zeng agreed without hesitation.

He then naturally inquired about the price of the pills.

“These pills are very expensive—each one costs more than a hundred thousand yuan,” Zhang Pu replied.

Wang and Zhou’s expressions changed again. To them, Zhang Pu now seemed to fit the mold of a wandering charlatan seeking fortune. True, Master Zeng was wealthy, but they had never heard of a single pill costing so much. Moreover, who knew how many would be needed for a cure—what if the treatment lasted forty-nine days or longer?