Wait- what is this...

"Mr. Doc... are you okay?"

"Ah yes yes. I am Anik. Nice to meet you."

"Your name, you are not from here right? Let's talk inside."

Xie showed them the way inside walking upright. There is no way someone can deduce his almost-dead internals from his way of presenting himself.

It was a cave as earlier mentioned by Miss Fei. Walls were the hard rocks present here for longer than a few centuries. The entrance was wide and there were many beautifully used holes and openings. A hole was used as a window while another was used as a sitting. The entire cave was well decorated as if someone has been living here their entire life. Chinese hand fans lying around looked graceful even when they were placed there carelessly after use. This place is way smaller than their palace but far more home-like. If archaeologists were to find out about this place in the 21st century, it'd make a good morning feed to read.

"A'Fei I'd like to talk to you alone for a minute if our guests don't mind." It was an old man with a long white beard. His head was deprived of any hair while his eyebrow hair was longer than normal. He looked sickly but his voice carried great strength, his presence alone brought along a lot of pressure.

"Yes, Master."

He smiled at us and left with her.

"Mr. Doc, I'd like to have a chat with you as well." As soon as Fei left, Xie looked noticeably weak. His voice contained a tiny hint of shiver while he had trouble holding his cup of water in his hands.

"Yes, sure I am quite interested in your way of survival as well."

"Hmm, come with me."

As he finished speaking he walked in front of me with small and light steps as if he might fall any second from now. Gayatri sat down on a stone, craved into a cylindrical chair. This stone was laid with cushions and sheets. Given the richness in these things, these people should be pretty well doing... then why live in a cave?

"Here take a seat."

It was an inner room with a single entrance to it. No windows or anything. It looked like a bedroom and it was clear whose room it was given the temperature of the room made me remove my outer piece of clothing. Oh yeah, By the way, our clothing changed as soon as we entered this place. It looks like any historical Chinese clothing.

"You can take an examination and give your answer before A'Fei comes back."

"Soo you made her go with that master for the sake of buying some time?"

"Yes.."

"Why are you so desperate?"

"A'Fei came back without the herbs means that she was unable to get them. I know her. She don't want me die like that and will keep getting disappointed by the faliures she'll come across... I don't want that to happen. So just tell me that you can't do it, and I'll find a way to hide this from her."

"Why are you so sure I won't be able to treat you?"

"You don't know how bad it is. We have already yried everything. I am 24 this year and since I was 16 master has been trying everything so just so you know I am well aware of my condition."

"Well That's true it sure is pretty bad and I wonder how you are still alive. That wouldn't have been the case if not for these two energies inside your body."

"Umm... that should be mine and my uncle's."

"Nah. yours is too faint to be seen. it is your uncle's and wind masters"

"HUH," He stood up reflexively and continued after calming himself down. "How do you know about wind master??"

"I would know... I am the legendary Doc after all. Well, you should not move around, the faint energy of yours is flickering already."

"WHAT Do You MeAn??" It was a female voice, Fei looked through their plan and came here. Behind him was the 'Master Of Wind' who most probably heard our conversation given he should be able to control sounds using wind to some extent.

"Mr. Master I came here for you." I looked at his reactions while telling the real motive. I was glad to have met him so easily.

"YOU Liar-' Fie unsheathed her sword as she held it near my face.

"Miss Fei I didn't lie. Don't accuse me like that."

"You tricked me! You said you'll cure him."

"I will, I will-'

"You can't" It was Mr. Xie. "Sorry master your location got leaked we'll take care of it."

"What are you guys talk-"

"Let him speak you two." It was Master of Wind. He said these words in such a tone as if he had seen through me since the beginning. Smiling softly while brushing his left hand through his beard he continued "This child has the ability to cure, let's see if he can use his ability well."

"You caught me, sir. I can't do that alone. I need some Qi. I use Qi to transfer the medicine."

"Qi to transfer the medicine makes sense. Why don't you use other ways?"

"Most of the problems I've come across start with injuries to the core or through transfusion by another means. These are hard to track in normal ways leave alone treat. That's the reason we need to look for rare herbs in these cases if we try normal methods."

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"And why's that?"

"These herbs grow where there is enough Qi, these places are also home to other rare species and sometimes even cultivators. If any cultivator finds these they'll try to use the herbs to increase their efficiency and another species unaware of the use destroy them because their instincts tell them to as these herbs are quick to gather Qi and thus result in competition-"

"What does this have to do with-"

"Lemme finish lady. As I said these herbs are quick to gather Qi from the surrounding, when dead these herbs can work as a source of Qi transfer, mixing medicines with these herbs will work well to treat someone with these problems. Since his body already has your essence means you knew about it very well."

"Well said. I'll have to request you to treat my student here then."

"One condition"

"Say"

"I'll tell later... alone."

"Okay, make sure this kid lives till his teeth start falling off with age."

"Think it's done, sir. When should I get started?"

"Tomorrow morning will work well. Feng Shui in this place is good but with the rising sun it'll help your treatment a lot."

"Yes, sir."

"Then you can place your conditions now."

"Sure sir."

Wind master nodded at the couple and gave me the way. He walked with steady steps, every step visibly changed the course of the wind around him. It looked outer worldly. Aura around his body was visible to the naked eye irrespective of my low rank in the strength hierarchy of the system. He must have been hiding this all on purpose all this while given his students looked worried when I called him by his real pseudonym here... but that's not what worries me, since he is showing this to me he might be trying to scare me away...

"Here we are, kid." It was near the seashore where he stopped. He walked into the pavilion there and sat on a chair nearby as he gestured for me to enter. This pavilion was about 200 meters from the original housing.

"So what do you want?"

"Key..."

"Key?"

"Do you remember the demon whose incarnation body is with you guys?"

"We guys, huh! you are a well-informed young man. Who told you all this?" He smirked while he said. We were doomed if not for Gayatri with us as the only other person who can tell this is the demon himself. I don't know how is Gayatri related to them but she was the main chess piece in capturing the queen.

"It was the one who informed you about her whereabouts."

"Gayatri?"

"Yes."

"But she was dead"

"I can't tell about all this now but I need the key to free the queen."

"And why do you need to do that?"

"Gayatri mentioned about the original queen of our kingdom was in your confinement, that's-"

"Kid, a piece of advice as your elder, don't trust her too much. All she wants is fun, it doesn't matter who dies or whatever is sacrificed for it."

"Then why did you listen to her?"

"That was one of the few times when she ended up helpful, we were informed that a demon escaped the depths of hell and infiltrated the newcomer's area. We had a hard time looking for him for several years until Gayatri did it."

"Why do you need the demon that much?"

"What a silly question, but that was expected from someone who's trying to find a former king and queen to replace him. Or are you unaware of the fact that they'll replace you?"

"How do you know I am the king?"

"Gayatri has a rule, she never associates herself with commoners."

"Well I am not the one who wants to look for the queen it's the princess-"

"Why so?"

"She said she'll hand over the kingdom to the former rulers and travel this world."

"Haha so people like my silly student do exist"

"What do you mean."

"You see the person you are here to treat is supposed to be king of this empire. But he keeps running away from the palace giving a hard time to his general and the eunches."

"Ohh" Master of Wind was now relaxed, unlike the moment we started our conversation. He is good at hiding his internals but nerve signals are hard to hide. Everything is working smoothly in his body as he seems to have lowered his guard.

"Do you know what his name means?"

"I don't but it sounds like a girlish name.."

"You are right, that's how he introduced himself to Fei."

"He must be embarrassed..."

"He made this name up on purpose, his thought process isn't like normal people."

"But why though?"

"His real name is Xie Yun, unlike other kings or princes he travels alone all the time and if he finds himself near an enemy he disguises himself as an old sickly man..."

"Why..."

"I don't know either. Whenever he needs favor he never brags about his identity, instead, he wins hearts with his genuine and carefree behavior. You know what, he never took money for personal use from the national treasury, instead, he sells his writings. His real self is the reason why I don't want him dead no matter what..."

Master was silent for a few seconds before starting again.

"Besides Xie Yun, do you know why I agreed to help you?"

"Because of a princess?" That's when he lowered his guard down so I know what impressed him.

"And the fact that you are with her even in her silly wish."

"..." That caught me off guard. I can catch the bodily responses but I can't see the thought process. So he lowered his guard because I am helping Ashleen?? That was unthought of.

"What about you Kid? Do you want to leave your title?"

"That's why I am here sir, I am willing."

"You need Qi right?"

"Yes sir"

"How long is this going to take?"

"His body is in a critical condition, his heart is freezing. It will be a tiresome process of about a few hours."

"Very well, I'll be the one to help you with the Qi, so you don't need to worry about that."

"...And about the key?"

"I am the key piece every Master is a key piece, except the void."

"Why not void?"

"Didn't Gayatri tell you this?"

"No"

"Do you know where is the Master Of Void?"

"No."

"How did you find me?"

"Your presence is very strong."

"Very well, I am half impressed kiddo."

"Thanks, sir."

"Xie Mei Mei can die any minute now-"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN Sir..."

"-That's what I have been thinking for years now, you youngsters never let the person finish."

"Oh sorry, I got nervous"

"Why?"

"I won't be able to give my best till tomorrow, your female student is pretty interested in dying so I had to use tons of Qi on her and another friend of hers."

"I can't blame her, It's a wonder how she can still keep herself together..."

"..."

"It's nothing, kid, try to keep your loved ones near, don't let them die."

"Of course sir. I've finally got the opportunity to do so..."

"Where is the princess?"

"She's looking for other Masters."

"Well good."

"I want to find her as soon as possible."

"MASTER!! Mei Mei is-" It was Miss Fei's voice from near the cave, she was shouting at the top of her lungs as the screeches from her throat were well audible."

"Quick young boy," he said as he dashed towards the cave.

"Yes." I followed behind. It's gonna be difficult man...

In a matter of few seconds, we reached where he was, lying subconsciously with almost zero pulse.

"His heart is almost frozen master...my Qi can't unfreeze his heart-"

"I've got this one." The Wind Master used his mana to generate heat in the air surrounding his palms and slowly and steadily passed toward his heart. The ease in his nervous system was obvious as the blood flow to the brain continued.

His pale skin looked normal in a few seconds. If we were even a single minute late he would have died.

"It's enough for me to continue sir. Can you guys make him sit?"

"Yes." The atmosphere was intense and everybody was subconsciously holding their breaths to see how this situation unfolds.

"I will pass Qi and when you feel like it's going out of my control I wish you to pass it to me."

"Hmm."

Without further delay, I quickly sat down behind him and collected all my Qi near my core as it started flowing towards my hand through the shoulders and then arms to hands. I touched his back near his heart and was ready to pass the Qi like back then, but his body was so deprived of the normal working mana that it would have sucked all the mana in a single go if not for the forceful limit I made after this realization. Passing mana was already hard enough and this mana barrier made it physically difficult as well. It's going to be harder than expected...