Ye Fan walked to the doorway and slowly stopped.
"What? Does City Lord Li have any more instructions?"
His expression gradually turned cold, and even his gaze held a hint of anger.
Seeing Ye Fan's expression and hearing his tone, City Lord Li felt his anger ignite once more. However, for the sake of his daughter, he could only suppress his rage.
"Mr. Ye mentioned earlier that he could cure my daughter's illness. May I ask if you would be willing to see her?"
Although he was pleading with Ye Fan, his tone was still not entirely amicable.
After all, he was the City Lord of Jiangnan City. If word spread that he had to grovel, wouldn't that be a disgrace? Where would his dignity as City Lord be then?
Ye Fan frowned slightly. In the past, with City Lord Li's attitude, he would have turned and left. However, he had something to ask for himself at the moment, so he couldn't afford to strike someone down with a single blow just because he had found a weakness.
Helplessly, Ye Fan turned around and walked back, but his words still carried a hint of mockery.
"What? Is City Lord Li not afraid that I, with my limited medical skills, might worsen your beloved daughter's condition?"
In Jiangnan City, there was no one else who dared to speak to City Lord Li in such a manner, let alone with sarcasm. Even the Lord of the Heavenly King's Mansion would be respectful in front of City Lord Li.
Yet, Ye Fan was unfazed. It was he who was being sought after, giving him the upper hand.
City Lord Li's eyes flickered with displeasure, but he dared not express it.
He could only say with a hint of dejection, "It was my oversight earlier. Mr. Ye, having achieved so much in Jiangcheng at such a young age, is clearly no ordinary person. If Mr. Ye can cure my daughter, I will be eternally grateful."
This time, City Lord Li was much more sincere, and his gaze conveyed his earnestness.
Ye Fan finally smiled. "Please, City Lord Li, lead the way."
To be honest, he wasn't entirely confident in his ability to cure Li Wanying, as medicine was not his forte. However, the Divine Physician Hao had once said that there was no illness in the world that couldn't be cured. Even if it were an incurable disease, being able to prolong life would be enough to make the patient's family eternally grateful. Therefore, Divine Physician Hao was Ye Fan's greatest reliance.
City Lord Li, accompanied by Elder Lei and Ye Fan, headed directly to the backyard, the residential area for the City Lord's family. Compared to the outside, it was much quieter here.
"As my daughter is gravely ill and dislikes noise, I have dismissed all the servants."
Seeing Ye Fan's puzzled expression, City Lord Li explained.
Ye Fan nodded indifferently, his thoughts confirmed. Truly, parental love knows no bounds.
Even as a respected City Lord, he was merely a kind and loving father in front of his only daughter.
"City Lord Li is very thoughtful."
These words were not flattery, but sincere.
City Lord Li did not reply and led them to a small courtyard.
In this courtyard, servants stood guard at the entrance. Upon seeing the City Lord's arrival, they bowed respectfully.
City Lord Li waved his hand, "Has the young lady slept?"
"Reporting to the City Lord, the young lady has not slept. She came out for some air just now, but said she was in a bad mood and returned to her room. This servant just checked; the young lady is sitting alone in her room."
Since Li Wanying fell ill, she alternated between moments of lucidity and confusion. When lucid, her spirits were low, and she seemed despondent.
When confused, she became delirious. As for the rumors outside that the City Lord's eldest daughter was prone to biting and bloodlust, they were merely exaggerated tales.
City Lord Li nodded, then looked at Ye Fan and whispered, "When you see my daughter later, please, Mr. Ye, refrain from harsh words. My daughter's condition requires gentleness, not confrontation."
City Lord Li's repeated admonishments showed that his daughter was his utmost priority. For her, he was willing to sacrifice everything, even his dignity and pride.
Ye Fan nodded. "Rest assured, my examination today is merely preliminary. Before I ascertain the specific situation, I will certainly not act rashly."
Reassured by Ye Fan's affirmative reply, City Lord Li nodded in satisfaction and then opened the door.
Inside the room, Li Wanying was propped up on the table, her chin resting on her arms, her eyes brimming with tears.
Upon hearing the door open, she slowly turned her head.
"Father."
Tears threatened to fall uncontrollably.
Looking at his daughter's increasingly gaunt appearance, City Lord Li couldn't help but sigh. Despite never flinching in the face of adversity, his eyes welled up with emotion at this moment.
But just as he was about to step forward, Li Wanying seemed to have seen a ghost and pointed at Elder Lei.
"You, you're a ghost, don't come near, don't come near."
She sprang up, her face a mask of panic, and pointed at Elder Lei with a sharp voice.
This sudden change stunned Elder Lei, leaving him at a loss. City Lord Li wanted to comfort his daughter, but Li Wanying ran to the bed, grabbed a quilt, and covered her head, looking terrified.
Seeing this, City Lord Li turned to Ye Fan.
"Mr. Ye, please examine my daughter."
Every time he saw his daughter in such a frenzied state, his heart felt as if it were being torn apart.
Ye Fan's face was grim. Ever since he stepped into this room, there had been a restless sensation in his dantian.
Waves of coldness continuously emanated from his dantian.
As a martial artist, Ye Fan understood that this was abnormal.
Yet, that coldness seemed to be on the verge of erupting from his body.
Ye Fan was puzzled. What was causing such an unusual reaction within him?
At this moment, hearing City Lord Li's words, Ye Fan nodded with a grim expression and quickly stepped forward.
A silver needle was already in his hand.
Although Ye Fan was not proficient in medicine, he understood acupuncture.
Given Li Wanying's current state, she needed to be calmed down.
If it were another doctor, they might administer a sedative, but that could harm the brain. Therefore, he had to use acupuncture to induce sleep in Li Wanying.
Ye Fan strode to Li Wanying and, with a swift movement, pulled away the quilt.
But before he could grab Li Wanying, the girl suddenly seized his arm and bit down hard on his forearm.
This was her act of self-preservation. A young girl, in a state of extreme panic, could only bite to protect herself.
Blood quickly seeped from his arm, but Ye Fan ignored it. He aimed for the acupoint, then with a slight lift of his hand, the silver needle pierced Li Wanying's neck swiftly and accurately.
"Ah."
With a soft hum, Li Wanying's body went limp.
Ye Fan quickly reached out and caught her, then laid her gently on the bed.
But the moment his hands embraced Li Wanying, a strange cold energy flowed from her body towards his wrist and then into his dantian.
And the previously turbulent dantian, with the influx of this cold energy, became even more agitated.