Gan Quan's face lit up with joy, and he hurried to ask, "General, is this true?"
"I have no reason to lie to you, and it's common knowledge that Hua Tuo is currently under the command of the King of Chu!" Tang Er quickly helped Gan Quan up, realizing this was the perfect opportunity to gain favor.
The Jin Yi Wei guards helped Wang Kuang onto his horse. Tang Er spoke softly, "Go quickly!" He then hung his token around the horse's neck and patted it, "Good horse, today is your moment. Go!"
As the horse bolted, the Jin Yi Wei guards rushed ahead to clear the path. They understood Ye Feng's intentions perfectly; he wanted to plant a seed of influence among the feudal lords, and this was the best chance!
"Good lad!" Tang Er watched Gan Quan disappear into the distance, his gaze fixed on the setting sun. "There will be no problems here. You all go and escort him. Your rewards will be substantial!"
With that, everyone scattered. Tang Er, leading a few personal guards, slowly followed behind a group of soldiers, occasionally shouting, "Move it! Your general is waiting ahead."
The remaining retainers looked at Tang Er, thinking of the elusive Jin Yi Wei and the token. They fawned, "General, we ask for your continued care in the future!"
"Naturally, naturally!" Tang Er replied with a smile. "This general will certainly take care of you!"
Gan Quan and Wang Kuang arrived at the army camp entrance in no time. Seeing the token on the horse's neck, no one dared to stop them. They quickly reached Ye Feng's tent and shouted, "Envoy Gan Quan seeks an audience with the King of Chu! I request the King of Chu to come out and meet me!"
Ye Feng heard him clearly. He sat on his cushion, remaining silent. The Jin Yi Wei had already delivered the news. He would not be manipulated like this.
"In what capacity has the envoy come? Are you a subject of mine, Ye Feng, or a subject of Wang Kuang? If it's for Wang Kuang, why would I agree to your request?" Ye Feng's cold voice sent a chill through Gan Quan.
"Your Majesty, Gan Quan has agreed to pledge allegiance and is thus your subject!" Gan Quan knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face. "If Your Majesty agrees to save him, I will dedicate my life to your service, until death!"
"Do not speak such words. I see your deep affection for Wang Kuang. I fear you would not serve me wholeheartedly even if you followed me!" Ye Feng shook his head coldly. "I will not make things difficult for you. You should know where your true loyalty lies, whether it is with me or with him!"
Gan Quan immediately kowtowed on the ground, saying hurriedly, "I beg Your Majesty to lend a helping hand and save my lord's life! My lord's gratitude to Your Majesty will be remembered forever!"
"Can you speak for him?" Ye Feng asked slowly. In an instant, the tent flap was thrown open, and Ye Feng, his face ashen, emerged. "How will you deal with the over a dozen feudal lords? Will they listen to you?"
"Your Majesty!" Gan Quan, disregarding everything else, shouted, his eyes tear-filled as he stared at Ye Feng. "Why must Your Majesty be so heartless? For the divine physician Hua Tuo, it is but a simple matter!"
A rustling sound accompanied by rain and snow began to fall. Gan Quan knelt in the mud, sweat and tears mingling on his face, quietly awaiting Ye Feng's words, unflinching.
Ye Feng sighed heavily. If he hadn't truly valued Gan Quan's talent, he would never have tolerated this situation.
"If my lord wishes to sow discord among the feudal lords, why go through such trouble? I can be a nail driven into their ranks, relaying all their messages to my lord. With the Third Army, surely they cannot be defeated!" Gan Quan wiped the rain from his face, speaking with a hint of bitterness.
"But will he agree?" Ye Feng's heart had softened. He glanced sideways at Wang Kuang.
Gan Quan answered without hesitation, "What Your Majesty brings back is not a living Gan Quan, but a dead Gan Quan and his sworn brother, along with a valuable offering. What is Your Majesty worried about?"
"Well said, Gan Quan. You see things so clearly. I will ask you one last question. If one day I and Wang Kuang are at odds, whom will you help?" Ye Feng asked coldly. "Are you going to help him fight against me?"
"Your Majesty, the past Gan Quan is already dead. I have shown utmost loyalty to Wang Kuang. What does Your Majesty fear?" Gan Quan responded without hesitation. "If Your Majesty does not believe me, Gan Quan is willing to swear an oath here and now to follow Your Majesty's command from this day forward!"
"Good, enter the tent!" Ye Feng turned and entered the tent without further ado. Wang Kuang was also carried in. After Ye Feng's deliberation, Gan Quan was filled with immense gratitude. Hua Tuo had made preparations and, after taking Wang Kuang's pulse, his expression changed instantly. Gan Quan's lips twitched, and he asked with impatience, "How is it?"
"Grave danger!" Hua Tuo said gravely. "If it were even a moment later, even the mightiest immortal could not save him. Now, with my needlework, I can only preserve him for a short while."
"Please, esteemed sir, commence the treatment quickly!" Gan Quan urged. Hua Tuo nodded heavily, slowly taking out a packet of silver needles, which he heated before plunging them into Wang Kuang.
As the needles were inserted one by one, Wang Kuang's lips twitched, and Gan Quan felt a pang of pain as he watched his expression.
"Esteemed sir!" Gan Quan was about to speak but realized something was wrong and quickly covered his mouth. Soon, Hua Tuo was sweating profusely. After a while, he tremblingly withdrew the needles and bowed slightly.
"I have fulfilled my mission. Within five days, his life will be out of danger," Hua Tuo assured Ye Feng, patting his chest. "If it exceeds five days, alas!"
A sigh clearly conveyed the gravity of the situation. Gan Quan's face turned ashen, and he grabbed Hua Tuo's sleeve, asking urgently, "Divine physician, divine physician, is there no other way? The governor cannot die!"
"Save him, please save him!" Gan Quan's tears and snot flowed together. Hua Tuo remained silent, turning his gaze to Ye Feng.
Gan Quan immediately understood. He scrambled to Ye Feng's feet. "My lord, he, he saved my life. He cannot die. Please save him, save him!"
"Alas," Ye Feng sighed heavily, looking at Hua Tuo. Hua Tuo unfurled a medicinal herb chart. "Follow the diagram. If this herb can be found on the snow-capped mountain, there is still a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, he will surely die!"
"Thank you, my lord, thank you, my lord!" Gan Quan picked up the chart from the ground and kowtowed repeatedly. "Thank you, sir, thank you, sir!"
Gan Quan turned and rushed out of the tent. Ye Feng did not try to stop him. "Let him go. If his inner turmoil cannot be resolved, all efforts are in vain."
"But the heavy snow has sealed the mountain. Finding it will be incredibly difficult. I fear he may lose his life out there!" Hua Tuo gazed at the distant snow-capped mountains, knowing how much Ye Feng had done for Gan Quan.