The next day, Xuan Zhi woke up early, stretching out his sore limbs as he recalled the previous day’s exhausting treatments.

  He sighed and decided to start from today onwards, On Monday it will be that little boy in their courtyard who will get the treatment, On Tuesdays, Half members of Xie family and on Wednesdays, other half members. And for the rest of the week, he will focus on starting his business.

  Also, his brother's are also coming here, he needs to get everything prepared for them too.

  Xuan Zhi tightened his robes and called for Fan Yi. His voice was calm, but his eyes carried an unusual sharpness.

  "Fan Yi, keep a close eye on Xuan Yan. She’s too reckless, and I don't want her getting into trouble," Xuan Zhi instructed.

  Fan Yi sighed but nodded. "Understood, Young Master. But you know how she is. Keeping her in one pce is like trying to hold onto the wind."

  Xuan Zhi waved his hand dismissively and turned to the two guards he had selected for the day. Without wasting another word, he set out toward the marketpce to procure all necessary medicinal herbs, acupuncture needles, and moxibustion materials. His steps were firm as he moved through the bustling streets, collecting each item with precision. Every purchase had been carefully calcuted; this treatment was going to be grueling, both physically and financially. Once he was satisfied, he departed directly for the Xie Manor.

  Upon arriving, he was immediately led to Xie Liyun's chambers, where the general was waiting with his usual unreadable expression. Yan Rui stood beside him, arms crossed, but there was an unmistakable flicker of concern in his gaze.

  Before they could begin, Xie Liyun spoke in his cold, low voice. "My treatment cost was not included in the previous calcutions."

  Xuan Zhi smirked, his red eyes gleaming with amusement. "Consider it a discount, General."

  Xie Liyun’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t argue further.

  Xuan Zhi began the treatment by preparing two types of medicinal soups: one to be taken before acupuncture to strengthen the body and one to be consumed afterward to accelerate recovery. As Xie Liyun drank the first bowl, Xuan Zhi set up the acupuncture needles with expert hands. His fingers moved with absolute confidence as he inserted them into specific meridian points, targeting the poison that had taken root in the general’s body.

  The pain was immediate and searing.

  For three long hours, Xie Liyun endured the torture. His body trembled, sweat dripped down his temples, but he did not make a single sound. His dark eyes never left Xuan Zhi’s face, as though sheer willpower alone could carry him through the agony.

  Xuan Zhi, thoroughly impressed, chuckled softly. "You really can endure pain, General."

  Xie Liyun didn’t respond, merely continued to stare at Xuan Zhi until his vision blurred. The moment Xuan Zhi finished the acupuncture, he moved on to the moxibustion, applying heated herbal compresses to key pressure points. The pain intensified further, and yet, Xie Liyun remained silent.

  By the end of the session, his body finally gave in, and he colpsed into unconsciousness. Yan Rui rushed forward and helped y him onto the bed.

  Xuan Zhi wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed. "His endurance is remarkable, but his body is not made of steel. He will need rest."

  Yan Rui exhaled and muttered, "If the general had been born a normal man, he would have likely died years ago with how much he overworks himself."

  Xuan Zhi said nothing but moved toward the next challenge—treating Xie Yuanbao, the Xie family’s revered grandfather. The old general had been in a coma for seven years, his body frail, his breath shallow. Unlike Xie Liyun, his condition required extreme care and precision.

  Xuan Zhi spent five grueling hours in the room. His sleeves were rolled up, his forehead was drenched in sweat, and his hands trembled slightly from exhaustion. Every move he made had to be measured. He used acupuncture to stimute his blood flow, medicinal baths to detoxify, and a special breathing technique to assist in internal energy circution.

  Finally, when the treatment was complete, Xuan Zhi staggered out of the room, his usually sharp eyes clouded with fatigue.

  Yan Rui, waiting outside, immediately noticed his exhaustion. "You look like you’re going to colpse next."

  Xuan Zhi forced a smirk. "Not yet. But I need an hour’s rest before I move on to the next patients."

  Yan Rui didn’t argue. He led Xuan Zhi to a quiet chamber where he could rest. Xuan Zhi closed his eyes, but his mind didn’t allow him peace. He was calcuting, pnning, ensuring he had enough energy to complete the treatments. The Xie family was relying on him, and he would not fail them.

  After exactly one hour, Xuan Zhi forced himself up and walked to the courtyard where Xie Liyun’s parents were waiting for their turn. General Xie Huai and Lady Ji had already been informed about the treatment’s intensity, but even they were unprepared for the excruciating pain that followed.

  For five more hours, Xuan Zhi worked tirelessly. His fingers were steady as he pced the acupuncture needles, his face expressionless as he watched them struggle through the pain. The poison had embedded itself deeply in their meridians, and it took everything in Xuan Zhi’s power to force it out.

  By the time he exited their room, the sky had turned golden with the setting sun.

  Yan Rui stood at the door, watching him closely. "Are you sure you can handle treating five more people tomorrow?"

  Xuan Zhi exhaled, his entire body aching. "I have no choice. This treatment is the only way they will recover. I will endure it."

  Yan Rui shook his head, clearly unconvinced but unwilling to argue. "Then at least eat something before you colpse."

  Xuan Zhi gave a tired chuckle. "I suppose that’s fair."

  That night, as he sat at the dinner table within the Xie Manor, exhaustion finally seeped into his bones. But even as his limbs ached, he couldn’t help but smirk to himself.

  This was only the beginning.

  Tomorrow, he would continue.