The great ship was about to leave the shore, and the formation at the bottom of the ship had already begun to operate. One could clearly feel the power of water supporting the hull.
In the top cabin, Wu Wang leaned against the desk, deep in thought, motionless for a moment.
Although the Divination Master did not follow directly, the fact that he had been targeted was almost certain.
Could a proper Divination Master directly block someone's path and tell them they were facing a bloody disaster?
Wu Wang had intentionally given those monies as a test. The other party's first reaction was not to protect the coins but to hold onto the Jade Coins, subconsciously wanting to talk more with him...
Indifference to wealth deep down—could that be the behavior of a professional swindler?
Just very unprofessional.
Although disaster and fortune are not yet apparent at this moment, I must not implicate Suqing.
Taking a light breath, Wu Wang had made his decision.
Have True Man Zuo Dong take Lin Suqing and leave first. I will hide in the sea, waiting for the following ships to pass, blending in incognito to reach the Human Domain.
I've been careless; I should have made a move earlier.
He had indeed not expected that the power behind Brother Ji could detect his southward journey and find him here.
Coincidence?
While he didn't dismiss the possibility, Wu Wang could not afford to rely on mere chance.
If that Divination Master suddenly appeared outside my door and cheerfully asked, "A trial, little friend, the kind where there's a ninety-nine percent chance of death?"
I would be incredibly passive!
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...
Suddenly, the sound of a cane tapping against the deck came from outside the door.
Wu Wang could only hear that sound in his ears. The space between sky and sea grew incredibly peaceful. The hustle and bustle of the great ship had vanished without a trace.
The door to Wu Wang's cabin had somehow opened, and it was unclear when or by whom...
A figure silently, slowly floated past Wu Wang's door.
It was an elderly man.
His gray-white hair was loosely draped, his shoulders clad in a straw raincoat, his hand holding a staff. That seemingly ordinary aged face left no lasting impression, forgotten as soon as one looked away.
Just as the old man was about to float past the cabin door, he turned his head to glance at Wu Wang.
Wu Wang's heart tightened. Had his self-control not been strong, he might have nearly unleashed dozens of Crystal Balls and spread his Star Wings to flee for his life.
Just as the old man's figure had barely crossed the threshold...
"Young friend, could it be that you are Young Master Xiong Ba of the Xiong Bao clan?"
A gentle call suddenly came from behind.
Wu Wang tensed up, his arms covered in goosebumps. He turned his head slightly to see the barefoot old man, who had just floated in from outside, now bizarrely sitting beside the window table, seemingly smiling.
Moreover, Wu Wang still couldn't remember the man's appearance. He could only feel the other person smiling pleasantly.
Stay calm, don't panic.
Wu Wang immediately made a decision, putting on a stunned look. He gestured with his hands at the figure that had just passed outside, then turned his gaze to the figure sitting by the window, his mouth feeling dry.
"OH, HEH-HEH."
The straw-raincoated old man chuckled, stroking his beard, propping his wooden staff against the table, and said slowly,
"With old age, sometimes I just can't control appearing and disappearing without a trace.
"Come, come, sit down, young friend. Don't be shy, and don't be afraid. I am here this time for your strange illness."
Wu Wang pondered for a few moments and asked, "May I ask, Senior, who are you...?"
"You can think of me as an ordinary physician."
This straw-raincoated, barefoot old man stared at Wu Wang, his hands pressing down on his knees, sitting in a rather carefree manner.
He explained, "Previously, one of my disciples went to the Northern Wilderness to gather herbs and coincidentally met the Clan Leader of the Xiong Bao clan, who asked him to treat your strange illness.
"It seems that some unpleasant things happened afterward, although they are not too important.
"After leaving the Northern Wilderness, my disciple was quite distressed and nearly went mad.
"He had been practicing medicine for more than 3,600 years, saving countless lives and treating innumerable patients, yet he was completely unable to locate the root of your strange illness. He was inwardly troubled and recently came to seek me out at my place of seclusion.
"He said your illness is very peculiar—not of the heart, not of the body, not of the divine soul being afflicted. He was truly unable to determine the cause of the disease."
Wu Wang blinked, and bubbles started to form behind his head, within which the silhouette of a black-and-white scene appeared.
That was when he was eleven years old, on a clear afternoon.
His father descended from the sky on a flying bear, bringing with him an old Daoist clothed in a blue silk robe, full of an immortal-like confidence. The surrounding clan members looked at him with great reverence.
Soon after, a few strong men carried this old Daoist out of the Royal Court and gently placed him on the grass.
The old Daoist lay there, his eyes devoid of spirit, unresponsive even when his medicine chest was tossed onto him...
After a while, the old Daoist, with tears streaming down his face, got up, looked at the heavens, uttered a cry, and then departed on a cloud under the astonished gazes of the clan members.
Wu Wang remembered that cry to this day; it was filled with such unwillingness and pain, and it also left him with a touch of guilt.
"No—this disease is too difficult!"
Later, this led to the teasing remark his father, Xiong Han, would often make for several years:
'Eating grass can cure diseases? And replenish vitality? Ridiculous!'
Whenever Wu Wang thought of this, he could only shake his head secretly, lamenting that his old father didn't know what he had missed.
"Senior!"
Wu Wang's voice trembled, and two flames ignited in his eyes as he asked softly, "Could it be Physician Yuan's master?"
"Indeed," the old man squinted and chuckled, stroking his beard and mused, "I was originally going to the Northern Wilderness to find you, but unexpectedly encountered you here. Is that strange illness cured now? May I examine it for you?"
Wu Wang asked with concern, "Is Physician Yuan alright?"
"He's fine, just a bit too confident before. Where in this world is there a divine physician who can cure all ailments?"
The old man spoke kindly, "Little Yuan is just adept at treating men's private ailments, and in theory, your strange illness should've been a perfect match for his skills. His failure to discern the cause dealt him a heavy blow.
"But fortunately, he has now recovered and continues to travel the world, healing both immortals and common folk.
"What's wrong? Do you perhaps mistrust my medical skills?"
Wu Wang rolled up his sleeves and approached swiftly, saying repeatedly, "Thank you, Senior. Thank you, Senior."
The old man nodded while stroking his beard, waiting for Wu Wang to sit beside him before extending his arm. The old man smiled and pressed his fingers onto Wu Wang's pulse, saying,
"So you trust me just like that, young friend?"
Here it comes. This is definitely a test, a probing trial.
Wu Wang smiled back without retracting his arm, and said earnestly,
"Firstly, if you, Senior, had any intention of harming me, a single finger would be enough to destroy my divine soul.
"In front of a distinguished person like yourself, any cunning I might have is useless; it's better to be sincere.
"Secondly, not many know of my strange illness, and even fewer know my identity in this place.
"Apart from being Physician Yuan's mentor, you must also have learned about me through other channels, such as Brother Ji, Fairy Ling, or their True Immortal Realm teacher at their side.
"Thirdly, the conditions you proposed are difficult for me to refuse.
"This strange disease has tormented me for nearly ten years, constantly undermining my confidence as a man.
"If there is a chance for a cure, even if it involves some risk, I'm willing to take it!
"Please, Senior, proceed!"
"HAHAHA, worthy of being the Young Master of the Large Family Clan from the Northern Wilderness, to have such insight and courage at the age of eighteen—impressive."
The old man chuckled and gently pressed two fingers onto Wu Wang's wrist.
In that instant, Wu Wang could finally see the old man's face clearly, features that now etched themselves into his memory.
The old man must have been dashing and bright in his youth. Now, one could only describe him as having a kind and benevolent appearance.
His lean face, though showing signs of age, bore few wrinkles. His cheeks had a healthy, rosy color, yet they conveyed a sense of declining vitality.
Before long, the old man's brow furrowed slightly as he pondered deeply.
Wu Wang's heart rose to his throat. His eyes were fixed on this influential figure, his mind a mix of curiosity about the old man's identity and an eagerness to know if his strange illness could finally be cured.
After about a moment, the old man uttered two words:
"Strange."
Wu Wang sighed inwardly but immediately perked up and smiled, "Senior, I've troubled you. My peculiar condition probably isn't an illness at all."
"Young friend," the old man spoke seriously, "can you tell me when you first fell ill?"
"When I was seven or eight," Wu Wang said, thinking for a moment but not directly mentioning the Dream Realm. "This strange illness suddenly struck, but I have no recollection of how it occurred."
The old man slowly nodded, first bowing his head in deep thought for a while before he couldn't help standing up, barefoot, pacing back and forth in the cabin.
Wu Wang sat quietly beside, also somewhat inwardly restless. He hadn't experienced such anxiety for many years.
The great ship swayed slightly, already traveling at full speed on the sea surface.
"Young Master? Is there a visitor?"
Lin Suqing's voice came from outside the door, and she peeked into the room, only to be stopped by Wu Wang's silencing gesture.
Lin Suqing stared at the old man for a few moments, a series of questions arising in her heart. Before she could say much more, she was pulled away by Daoist Zuo Dong's whisk.
「In the adjacent cabin, Daoist Zuo Dong hastily activated a Soundproofing array and glared at Lin Suqing,」
"Reckless! What are you staring at!"
"Master, there is a visitor over there. I was going to serve tea... That Senior, why can't I remember what he looks like?"
"That's known as one beyond the mortal world, also called the Formless Noble! How can you just casually see the face of a great being?"
Daoist Zuo Dong wiped the sweat from his forehead and scolded sternly,
"Stay put and don't cause any trouble!"
Meanwhile, Wu Wang had an epiphany, feeling a slight regret inwardly for Lin Suqing missing a great opportunity.
The cabin was quiet, and the old man paced continuously for an hour until finally turning to look at Wu Wang, his eyes shining with a glint:
"Young friend, would you accompany me on a trip? Let's first see how this peculiar illness of yours manifests."
Wu Wang pondered for a moment, nodded solemnly, and began to pack up his Storage Magic Treasure in front of the old man. He then went to the room next door and said softly,
"Suqing, I'm going to leave with this Senior for a bit. He has come to help me with my illness.
"If I don't return shortly, Suqing, you should follow Senior Zuo Dong back to the Sect. As soon as I am free, I will come to find you."
After a pause, Wu Wang added with a smile,
"If the Senior bestows any benefits on me, I will make sure to leave a share for you."
"Young man, being too slick is not good. What kind of benefits could an old man like me give you?"
The barefooted old man chuckled lightly. A Treasure Elixir flew from his sleeve, transforming into a stream of light that snuck through the crack of the door and window and directly entered Lin Suqing's mouth.
Lin Suqing, who was about to rush out, staggered and then fell backward, and fainted.
Wu Wang turned to look at the old man, who smiled and said, "That was an Elixir to enhance her affinity with the Great Dao. Let's go. We should head to shore first, find a few women, and test it out."
"Thank you, Senior."
Wu Wang sensed Lin Suqing's condition, felt somewhat relieved, and bowed towards the wooden partition, saying, "Senior Zuo Dong, please take care."
At that moment, the right hand of the old man in the straw raincoat landed on his shoulder.
Before Wu Wang could react, the world spun around him, the surrounding lights and shadows infinitely elongating and then rapidly contracting.
In virtually the blink of an eye, he had left the great ship and appeared in a valley.
In front of him was a riverbed paved with pebbles. Towering cliffs stood on both sides, and smoke curled up from a few thatched cottages in the distance.
This?
Instant teleportation? Heaven and Earth Transposition? Or an Illusionary Realm?
Wu Wang felt the gentle breeze and listened to the distant roars and bird calls from the forest. He was momentarily stunned.
He knew the old man's strength was unfathomable but hadn't expected him to be comparable to his own mother. His mother relied on the Divine Power of the Star God to achieve long-distance instant transmission. Yet, this Senior had brought him here without a trace, and Wu Wang had only sensed a slight fluctuation of Spiritual Energy.
He is undoubtedly a grandmaster of the Human Domain.
"I heard from Little Yuan that your peculiar illness causes you to faint whenever you touch a woman?" the old man asked gently.
Wu Wang hurriedly replied, "To be precise, it's when I experience tactile sensation from a woman that I faint."
"Don't move. I'll go over there and invite a few women to come here."
The old man whispered, then instructed, "Remove that layer of Ice Crystal covering you for now."
Wu Wang nodded obediently.
Soon, the old man came back, grinning, leading a few people from a distant hut: a young girl with the spirit and grace of a mountain, a middle-aged woman, an old granny, and a muscular man.
A control group for an experiment?
The corners of Wu Wang's mouth twitched slightly. He admired the old Senior's meticulousness while also feeling like a frog on a dissection table from a past life's science class.
What followed was another ordeal for Wu Wang.
At first, Wu Wang sat cross-legged on the ground, reaching out to touch each person in turn, only to faint each time.
Eventually, the old man couldn't help but sit behind Wu Wang, supporting him with his hands, his eyes filled with complex emotions...
The last time he touched the muscular man, there was no reaction at all.
The muscular man's face turned red, and he stared at Wu Wang, while Wu Wang forced an ugly smile.
"Brother, let go of my hand."
Snapping back to reality, the muscular man quickly withdrew his rough hand, gave Wu Wang a sheepish smile, and blinked gently.
Wu Wang shuddered, barely resisting the urge to hit someone.
"Thank you all for your trouble,"
The old man in the straw raincoat thanked them. As they said it was nothing, they observed Wu Wang while heading back to the hut.
The young girl asked in a soft voice, "Can this brother not touch women?"
Wu Wang smiled weakly and said, "I might be waiting for a woman who can make contact with me to appear."
Instantly, two little stars appeared in the girl's eyes, and the muscular man... blinked at Wu Wang again...
Wu Wang: ...
After they left, Wu Wang, no longer feeling dizzy, sat up straight.
The barefoot old man sat cross-legged in front of Wu Wang, laid his staff flat across his lap, and wore a slightly serious expression.
"Senior, are you also at a loss?"
"No, I have a way to help you," the old man said slowly. "I've roughly figured out the source of your illness. It's not a problem with the Divine Soul, nor a physical or mental issue. In the Great Wilderness World, yours must be unique.
"Ah, so Little Yuan's tears weren't shed for nothing."
Wu Wang was stunned for a moment, then stood up excitedly, his eyes wide, asking, "Did you just say that you have a way to help me?"
"Indeed, I have a way to help you."
Wu Wang asked with a trembling voice, "Really?"
"What, you still don't trust me?"
The barefoot old man snorted, rummaged through his sleeve, and quickly pulled out a cloth that resembled the tablecloth of a Divination stall. He shook it open to reveal four large characters—
Woman, Illness, No, Worry!
Wu Wang couldn't help tilting his head. The old man looked down, calmly pulled the cloth back, and changed to another one:
Man, Illness, Sacred, Hands!
The old man said with a smile, "Reproduction is a top priority for a race, and there are at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, men who have regained their confidence thanks to me. It can be said that, for your illness, only I in this world can cure it."
"May I ask who you are, Senior?"
"You may call me the Old Man of Lianshan."
"PHEW..."
Wu Wang sighed in relief and said with a smile, "I almost thought you were the famous Human Emperor Shen Nong, the Senior known for tasting all herbs and founding the medical path. Fortunately, you're not. How could a Human Emperor appear so casually before a junior like myself?"
The old man's mouth twitched slightly, and he said indifferently, "Ah, I am also called Shen Nong. In the Human Domain, apart from treating people, I have indeed been serving as the Human Emperor for some seven or eight thousand years."
Wu Wang's neck stiffened, and his expression became somewhat rigid.
"Sit down, don't be formal," the old man said with a laugh. "I am a physician, and you are seeking a cure. Let me consider whether to lend you a hand.
"After all, I am not just any casual Senior."