Not long after, Chen Nuo'en called to say she had arrived at the entrance of the residential complex.
Fang Yan told his younger sister to rest early, lock the door, and then stepped outside.
The car ride was very quiet.
Chen Nuo'en didn't even dare to turn on the music. Several times she wanted to speak, but seeing Fang Yan staring straight ahead with an icy expression, she held her tongue.
When the car approached the guard booth in front of the Chen family courtyard, Fang Yan couldn't help feeling surprised. Why were there soldiers standing guard?
He instinctively grew vigilant. "What is this place?"
"Oh, please don't take offense, Mr. Fang. My grandfather is a retired military officer, so..."
Fang Yan slowly nodded. "I see."
As the car drove into the courtyard, Fang Yan looked around with considerable interest.
Although this place couldn't compare to the scenery of the Cultivation Realm, it was still a paradise compared to the city.
Fresh and comfortable.
Walking into the pavilion, Fang Yan paused slightly. Spiritual energy?
Indeed, spiritual energy existed within the Chen Family estate, which explained why Chen Nuo'en also possessed it.
This trip was the right choice!
Chen Nuo'en led Fang Yan directly to the study of her grandfather, Chen Xingzhi.
"Grandfather, this is Mr. Fang."
In the study were an elderly man in a Tang suit and a middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit.
They were none other than Elder Chen Xingzhi and his eldest son, Chen Tianluo.
Upon seeing Fang Yan, the two couldn't help feeling surprised. Although Chen Nuo'en had said Mr. Fang was a young man, who would have thought he was... so young?
He looked like nothing more than a college student.
Chen Xingzhi nodded slightly. "Mr. Fang is truly talented at such a young age. Please, have a seat."
Fang Yan stood on ceremony, taking a seat to the side.
"Mr. Fang, I am Chen Xingzhi, and this is my unworthy son, Chen Tianluo."
Chen Tianluo? Fang Yan paused. The chairman of the Dongjiang Province Chen Group? Anyone who had ever read a newspaper knew who he was.
To think Chen Nuo'en's background was this grand...
Chen Tianluo smiled and nodded at Fang Yan. Although he harbored doubts about this young man, as the chairman of the Chen Group, he naturally couldn't neglect his manners.
Yet Fang Yan had been supreme in his past life; even these top-tier dignitaries were nothing more than mortals in his eyes.
Chen Xingzhi cupped his fists and said, "Mr. Fang, thank you so much for the matter regarding the Fire Leaf Ganoderma today, but there is still one thing I do not understand."
"Speak," Fang Yan said, lifting his chin slightly.
"That Fire Leaf Ganoderma was indeed fake, just as you said, but how did you manage to tell the real from the fake at a glance?"
Fang Yan thought for a moment. There seemed to be no way to explain this, because the fake Fire Leaf Ganoderma lacked spiritual energy. If he said that, they naturally wouldn't understand.
"When you see enough of the real thing, you naturally learn to tell them apart."
That seemed to be the most reasonable explanation.
Yet Chen Xingzhi and his son were taken aback. This young man... was somewhat arrogant.
He was clearly implying that their knowledge was superficial and they had never seen the real thing.
Even if he had some skill, in front of two elders, this was hardly an appropriate attitude.
"Is that so... Mr. Fang, does that mean you have seen many real Fire Leaf Ganodermas?"
Chen Tianluo asked, his words carrying more than a hint of retaliation.
Hearing this, Fang Yan glanced at him before turning his gaze back to Chen Xingzhi.
"That is not important. The crucial point is that I can see you are a dying man!"
Boom!
Everyone was shocked!
"Mr. Fang, how can you be so rude!" Chen Tianluo immediately snapped.
However, Chen Xingzhi widened his eyes and raised his hand, signaling him to be quiet.
"Sir, can you tell that my... time is running out?"
Fang Yan nodded. "Within three days!"
As the power within his dantian awakened, Fang Yan's physical fitness and sensory abilities had undergone a drastic transformation.
Right now, looking at the black mist shrouding Chen Xingzhi's glabella, he could be certain the man had at most three days of lifespan left.
"Mr. Fang, you..."
This time, even Chen Nuo'en found it hard to listen any longer. How could he speak with such disrespect!
Yet Chen Xingzhi suddenly stood up, stepped in front of Fang Yan, and bowed deeply!
"Sir, you must be an eminent person. I dare to ask you to save my life."
Fang Yan frowned slightly, turned around, and said, "Why? At your age, you have reached the end of your life. Wouldn't it be better to die a peaceful death?"
This question left Chen Xingzhi momentarily speechless.
Wouldn't a peaceful death be good?
No matter how good it was... who actually wanted to die?
Chen Xingzhi wore an awkward smile. "Sir, I have done nothing in my life to damage my accumulated virtue, and I simply feel that everything in this world is wonderful. If I were to pass away... I cannot bear to leave this world behind."
Fang Yan shook his head and smiled. "For mortal beings, after living out a lifetime, death is simply a natural destination."
As he spoke, he felt a pang of emotion within. If he and his loved ones had been able to die peaceful deaths in his past life, how could he have suffered a millennium of heartbreak?
"A natural destination? There is no such thing as a natural destination. When people do good deeds and nurture their health, which of them isn't doing it to live a few more years?"
Chen Nuo'en chimed in anxiously.
Old Chen nodded repeatedly. "Indeed, Sir. If I could live a long life, I would gladly remain a mortal."
Fang Yan ignored them, instead sensing the spiritual energy in the hall. Finally, his gaze fell upon a potted plant in the corner.
Luoxian Bamboo!
It was a common immortal herb in the Cultivation Realm, but Fang Yan hadn't expected to encounter it in this world.
Luoxian Bamboo grew in constant-temperature environments, feeding by absorbing the spiritual energy in the air.
Consequently, plants growing alongside Luoxian Bamboo found it very difficult to absorb spiritual energy.
However, once it matured, the Luoxian Bamboo would emit a massive amount of spiritual energy, causing the surrounding vegetation to thrive and flourish.
If he could use it to assist in his cultivation, reaching Foundation Establishment would happen in a flash!
He turned around and asked, "Elder Chen, where did you get this bamboo?"
"I won it at an herbal medicine auction. Because my body has an excessive amount of internal fire, I hoped to use this item to counteract the heat."
Fang Yan smiled faintly upon hearing this. It seemed Chen Xingzhi understood a bit of traditional Chinese medicine.
Only... a little knowledge was a dangerous thing.
"Your root illness lies right here. The Luoxian Bamboo has a strong fiery nature, but it differs from the liver fire within your body. Even if you use fire to fight fire, this new fire poison will only cause further damage to your lifespan."
Hearing this, Chen Xingzhi was startled.
"I beg the master for guidance!"
Fang Yan pondered for a moment. "Would you be willing to gift this item to me?"
"If you can save me, let alone this bamboo, I am willing to pay a hefty consultation fee!"
Fang Yan slowly nodded. Perhaps he and the Chen Family were meant to have this affinity.
"Your illness is deep-seated and incurable, beyond the help of immortals. But since you have met me, it is your fortune. In two days, I will cure you completely!"
"This... Mr. Fang, you just said it was beyond the help of immortals, yet you also said that in two days..."
Chen Tianluo interjected. He cared about his father's health, but he also remained skeptical of Fang Yan. After all, these words... defied logic.
Fang Yan narrowed his eyes. "Immortals? What are they in my eyes!"
At these words, the room fell silent for a moment.
This imposing aura sent a deep shock through everyone present.
Especially Chen Xingzhi.
Having spent his life on the battlefield, he had seen too many formidable experts, but the aura Fang Yan displayed right now convinced him this wasn't just young people boasting!
Young though he was, he truly was an eminent expert!
"I am willing to wait two days for you, Sir!"
Afterward, Chen Nuo'en escorted Fang Yan out.
Before parting, Chen Xingzhi slipped a bank card into his pocket.
Fang Yan did not refuse.
"Dad, this young man might be unusual, but shouldn't you still go to the hospital to have your health checked?"
Chen Tianluo asked.
Chen Xingzhi glanced at him. "You are busy with the group's affairs all day, so naturally you don't know. I was diagnosed long ago; even Elder Ling said he was helpless against it..."
Hearing this, Chen Tianluo was stunned. "What? Dad, you knew all along?"
"Naturally. I know my own body better than anyone. Being able to meet Mr. Fang... perhaps it is my fortune."
Chen Tianluo wore a complicated expression. "Still... whether he can cure you remains uncertain. Isn't it a bit rash to pay him his fee already?"
Chen Xingzhi chuckled. "You, ah. Some things cannot be measured by business rules. If you want a cure, you pay the bill after recovery, but if you want to build a connection... you naturally have to show your sincerity!"
Chen Tianluo felt a jolt in his heart.
Given Chen Xingzhi's status, countless people across Dongjiang were scrambling to curry favor with him, yet the old master had proactively said he wanted to befriend someone.
This was an absolute first!
"An eminent expert is someone who reveals an extraordinary temperament in every gesture and movement... and martial artists are even more so."
"What? You think he is a martial artist?"
Chen Tianluo drew a sharp breath. He had some understanding of martial artists.
Those were beings that major families fought fiercely to recruit and revered as supreme masters!
Yet those people were universally middle-aged at the youngest, with some being in their thirties.
Fang Yan was barely over twenty... That was terrifying.