"Speak your mind directly, don't act like a thief."
Du Fei couldn't stand Fang Chao's behavior anymore.
Every now and then, he would furtively glance at him, and the moment Du Fei turned to look, he would quickly avert his gaze.
After this happened several times, Du Fei had to take the initiative to ask.
"Uh, uh, Du Fei, when will Tie Nan wake up?"
Fang Chao realized his actions were a bit inappropriate, a hint of awkwardness on his face.
Du Fei sighed and said, "I've already made it very clear. On one hand, he's severely injured. On the other, there are signs of poisoning. So, even though I've used golden needles to prolong his life, unless there's a powerful tonic, his chances of survival are slim."
Tie Nan's injuries were too severe. Furthermore, during Du Fei's treatment, he discovered that Tie Nan had also been poisoned.
With both factors combined, Tie Nan should have died long ago.
However, Du Fei's medical skills were unparalleled, and he managed to pull half of Tie Nan back from the gates of hell.
But this alone wasn't enough. For Tie Nan to wake up and fully recover, external assistance was necessary – what Du Fei referred to as a powerful tonic.
Although Du Fei had many medicinal recipes in mind, he lacked any aged medicinal ingredients. He was like a skilled cook unable to prepare a meal without ingredients.
"A powerful tonic?"
Fang Chao murmured the words.
Then his eyes lit up. He quickly fumbled in his pocket, pulled out a brocade pouch, and from it, retrieved a round object the size of a thumb. He broke it in half, revealing a milky white pill.
A rich medicinal fragrance emanated from the broken pill.
Du Fei, smelling the aroma, couldn't help but twitch his eyebrows.
"Du Fei, does this pill count as a powerful tonic?"
Fang Chao held the pill out to Du Fei.
Du Fei took the pill, surprised, "Xiao Huan Dan. Where did you get this pill?"
From the memories inherited from his ancestors, Du Fei quickly recognized the pill Fang Chao had presented as a Xiao Huan Dan.
The method for refining Xiao Huan Dan was incredibly difficult, and the required ingredients were extremely rare, making it a very precious elixir.
"My mother secretly gave this to me. She was afraid I'd get hurt outside," Fang Chao asked urgently, "Can this pill save Tie Nan?"
No wonder. So Fang Chao's Xiao Huan Dan was a gift from his family.
For an ordinary person, even a billionaire might not be able to obtain such an item.
Indeed, only a martial arts family like Fang Chao's could refine it.
"It's enough. And with half of this precious item, I can save your friend."
Du Fei gently squeezed the Xiao Huan Dan, sealing the remaining half back into the pill for preservation.
The outer shell of the Xiao Huan Dan was specially made to protect it, ensuring maximum retention of its medicinal properties.
Hearing Du Fei say that the Xiao Huan Dan could save Tie Nan, Fang Chao's face broke into a happy smile.
Du Fei held the Xiao Huan Dan in one hand and gently pried open Tie Nan's mouth with the other.
After placing the Xiao Huan Dan into Tie Nan's mouth, he immediately circulated the Wan Xiang Jue true qi within his body.
The true qi was continuously channeled into Tie Nan's mouth, guiding the medicinal power of the Xiao Huan Dan to repair the damaged areas of Tie Nan's body.
Before long, Tie Nan's previously pale complexion began to regain some color.
"Hiss."
After a while longer, Tie Nan slowly opened his eyes.
Seeing Tie Nan wake up, Fang Chao, who was standing by, exclaimed excitedly, "Tie Nan, you're finally awake!"
"I'm still alive? I can't believe even the King of Hell didn't take my life. Heh, my life is truly tenacious."
Before losing consciousness, Tie Nan thought he would never wake up again. But now, to be alive was simply incredible.
Afterward, Tie Nan, knowing Du Fei had saved him, quickly thanked him.
Du Fei didn't take all the credit. He also mentioned Fang Chao's contribution of the Xiao Huan Dan.
"Don't thank me. We're good friends," Fang Chao waved his hand as Tie Nan was about to express his gratitude. "By the way, Tie Nan, why did you leave my home back then? I was sad for a long time, and my parents tried arranging for many people to find you, but they couldn't."
Reunited with his childhood friend, Fang Chao was in a good mood.
When Fang Chao asked, Tie Nan didn't answer immediately.
Finally, under Fang Chao's persistent questioning, he slowly explained why he had left the Fang family years ago.
It turned out that after Tie Nan was adopted by Fang Chao's parents, Fang Chao's second uncle and others felt that Tie Nan would eventually share in the Fang family's assets.
Consequently, these individuals secretly ostracized Tie Nan, making his life very unhappy.
However, Tie Nan was a person with strong self-esteem and was unwilling to complain to Fang Chao and his parents.
Thus, over time, Tie Nan's life became increasingly difficult.
In the end, he simply chose to leave. But even when he left, Tie Nan didn't reveal the fact that he had been ostracized. He didn't want to make Fang Chao and his parents feel awkward.
"So you endured so much injustice back then. I'm sorry, Tie Nan. I didn't notice anything. I..."
Fang Chao was a kind-hearted person. After hearing Tie Nan's story, his first thought was his lack of care for his friend, which led to Tie Nan suffering so much at home.
However, Tie Nan interrupted him, smiling, "Xiao Chao, you mustn't say that. During those years at your home, your aunt and uncle were very kind to me, and you genuinely treated me as a friend. I understand all of this. If I have time another day, I must visit personally to thank your aunt and uncle for their kindness in adopting me."
"Speaking of which, I never expected to run into you during this outing. But if you were to come back with me, I'm sure my parents would be very happy. They haven't seen you in over twenty years."
Tie Nan's injuries had largely healed. Now, he could slowly sit up by himself without assistance.
He looked at Fang Chao with a smile and said, "Yes, twenty years have flown by. Now that you mention it, I remember you crying. You were often bullied back then, and I was the one who stood up for you, hahaha."
As Tie Nan recounted childhood memories, Fang Chao's face was filled with embarrassment.
Especially when Du Fei looked at him, Fang Chao wished he could dig a hole in the ground and disappear into it.
Because not long ago, when Tie Nan was fighting in the arena, he had boasted that he used to beat Tie Nan until he cried as a child.
But unexpectedly, his past was revealed so quickly.
However, Fang Chao's embarrassment didn't last long.
"Du Fei, what is it?"
He saw Du Fei, who had been staring at him, suddenly stand up from the sofa and quickly walk to the window.
Fang Chao's intuition told him that Du Fei had discovered something.