A few hours later...
"I'm afraid I'm powerless to help with Daoist Ning Yuan's injuries."
One doctor after another shook their heads, stating they couldn't treat him. This made the old Daoist frantic, as if he were an ant on a hot pan. He wished he could swap bodies with his senior brother, for it was his senior brother who was injured while saving him.
"Junior brother, remember, do not resent Mr. Ning. In the end, you were the one who provoked him first. It's already generous of him to spare your life."
"There's no need to trouble yourself with treating my injuries. I know my own condition. In this world, perhaps only that Mr. Ning can save my life. I have lived for a hundred years, which is enough. Remember not to seek revenge for me."
"Senior brother, I... I understand. You should rest well first."
The old Daoist walked out of the room, tears streaming down his face. He pondered for a moment, then instructed people to take good care of his senior brother before leaving.
He planned to find Ning Beichen, not for revenge, but to implore Ning Beichen to save his senior brother. Even if Ning Beichen demanded his own life in exchange, he would not hesitate.
However, when he arrived at their previous location, Ning Beichen was nowhere to be found. He then began searching for Ning Beichen everywhere.
Meanwhile, Ning Beichen was walking along a path on another deserted peak of Wudang Mountain. He was searching for a special place similar to the one on Longhu Mountain.
However, such places were hard to find, and finding them involved a great deal of luck.
Firstly, no one knew where these places were.
Secondly, it required Ning Beichen to search and test them meticulously.
Moreover, these places were usually very secluded, with no direct paths, akin to finding a needle in a haystack.
Ning Beichen had already explored one deserted peak without any success, though the scenery was beautiful.
The surrounding peaks overlapped, and mist coiled around them, resembling an immortal realm.
However, Ning Beichen was not here to admire the scenery. Fortunately, he had plenty of time and was not in a hurry to return, so he could search slowly. It would be best if he could find such a place, but he wouldn't be annoyed if he couldn't.
A few days later, Ning Beichen emerged from a deserted peak. He still hadn't found the place he was looking for, but he hadn't given up, as he had many other places to explore.
He had come out this time to resupply and then continue his exploration.
Although there was no shortage of food in the mountains, it wasn't always easy to find, so stocking up on food and daily necessities was essential. Ning Beichen did not wish to live like a wild man in there.
Just as Ning Beichen appeared in a shop near Wudang Mountain to replenish his supplies, the old Daoist suddenly appeared before him and knelt down.
"Mr. Ning, it's all my fault, every mistake was mine. Punish me if you must. I beg you, save my senior brother."
The old Daoist knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing, admitting his mistakes to Ning Beichen while desperately pleading with him to save his senior brother.
However, Ning Beichen didn't even glance at him, picking up his items and leaving.
The old Daoist quickly followed and, disregarding his dignity, immediately knelt before Ning Beichen, repeatedly apologizing.
With a clang.
Ning Beichen put down his items and looked at him coldly. After a long moment, he spoke.
"It's not impossible for me to save your senior brother, but you need to be at my disposal for a month, without any complaints. You will do whatever I tell you to do. If you agree, I will save him. If you refuse, do not appear before me again."
"I agree, I agree to everything."
The old Daoist kowtowed like he was pounding garlic, responding with great excitement.
"Remember your promise, or you will know the consequences."
Ning Beichen said to him coldly.
The old Daoist nodded repeatedly, assuring him. Only then did Ning Beichen leave with him.
This time, the old Daoist showed no resentment or arrogance. He voluntarily carried Ning Beichen's belongings and led the way.
Before long, Ning Beichen followed him to a scenic Daoist temple and saw the dying Daoist lying on the bed.
Ning Beichen placed a palm on him, withdrawing the power within his body. This saved the Daoist's life.
However, the Daoist had suffered severe injuries. Without several years of recuperation and healing, he would not be able to recover.
Furthermore, this Daoist was over a hundred years old. Whether he could live long enough for that was still uncertain.
But regardless, Ning Beichen had withdrawn the power from his body, preventing his internal organs from feeling like they were being boiled like shrimp. At least he was no longer in so much pain.
Ning Beichen had no intention of conversing with them.
If they could have taken that step themselves, why would they have sought out Ning Beichen? Therefore, Ning Beichen didn't believe they could have any shared experiences.
Two days later.
The old Daoist's senior brother finally got out of bed and personally came to thank Ning Beichen.
"You don't need to thank me. I have my rules. I agreed to save your junior brother under certain conditions. Did he tell you about them?" Ning Beichen asked him.
"He did, he did. Mr. Ning, please rest assured. I will definitely instruct him to serve you wholeheartedly. I only hope that you will not ask my junior brother to do anything that violates our precepts," Daoist Ning Yuan said respectfully to Ning Beichen.
"In your eyes, am I that kind of person?" Ning Beichen said dismissively. While Ning Beichen wasn't a great hero, he wasn't a despicable person either.
Daoist Ning Yuan quickly apologized, fearing Ning Beichen's wrath.
"Alright, I am not unreasonable, nor am I a great devil. You don't need to be so afraid of me. As long as you don't provoke me first, I won't bother with you."
"The reason I need your junior brother's service is that I need to search for some special places within the Wudang Mountain area. I won't do anything to him, so you can rest assured." Ning Beichen said.
"Mr. Ning is looking for special places? I happen to know of a few. I'll tell my junior brother later, so he can take you there," Daoist Ning Yuan said immediately.
"That's good. If the places you mention are what I'm looking for, some matters might be open to negotiation."
Ning Beichen had disciplined him, then offered him a sweet reward.
If these Daoists had had such an attitude from the beginning, Ning Beichen would not have been unable to communicate with them.
They had to be arrogant and try to offend him, only to get beaten up and also incur his displeasure. Why bother?
Upon receiving Ning Beichen's promise, Daoist Ning Yuan was greatly overjoyed.
He hurried to find his junior brother and give him instructions, telling him never to offend Ning Beichen again and to remember the locations firmly, ensuring he helped Ning Beichen find them.
If not for his injuries not yet having healed, he would have personally taken Ning Beichen to find those places. Now, he could only repeatedly instruct his junior brother.