Chapter 26: The Divine Physician Explores Mysterious Forces

Niu Yichen pulled Zhan Qingxue along, moving with the speed of lightning as they dashed toward the source of the mysterious energy fluctuations.

"Brother Chen, what exactly is going on? You’re making this so tense—don’t tell me this is another stunt pulled by our business rivals?" Zhan Qingxue asked, breathless from their sprint, her tone laced with a hint of teasing.

Niu Yichen’s expression was grave. He shook his head slightly. "This time it’s different. This power... it’s ancient, immensely powerful, and it even..." He paused, a look of disbelief flashing in his eyes. "It even carries a trace of... celestial energy?"

"Celestial energy? Brother Chen, are you serious?" Zhan Qingxue thought he was joking. "We’re in the 21st century now! Cultivation and that sort of thing are long outdated. You need to believe in science!"

Niu Yichen didn't explain; he simply picked up the pace.

The two raced across mountains and rivers, eventually arriving at a primeval forest shrouded in thick, swirling fog.

"Good grief, what is this place? It’s like Silent Hill!" Zhan Qingxue complained, peering into the impenetrable mist.

The fog was bizarrely dense, not only obscuring their vision but severely interfering with Niu Yichen’s senses. Normally, he could easily perceive changes in his surroundings, but within this fog, his range of perception was compressed to the limit, as if blocked by an invisible barrier.

"Be careful. This fog is not right," Niu Yichen whispered, slowing his steps to observe the environment cautiously.

Silence reigned in the mist, broken only by the sound of their soft breathing and footsteps. This eerie quiet only added to the sense of oppression and unease.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew from the depths of the fog, carrying a bone-chilling frost.

"Brr... what kind of place is this? It’s freezing!" Zhan Qingxue rubbed her arms, feeling goosebumps rise.

Niu Yichen frowned. He sensed that this cold wind carried a peculiar energy fluctuation—similar to, yet distinct from, the power he had felt earlier.

"Wait..." Niu Yichen stopped, his gaze fixed on the depths of the fog, a glint of intensity in his eyes.

He slowly crouched down, picked up a withered, yellowed leaf from the ground, and sniffed it gently.

"Brother Chen, did you find something?" Zhan Qingxue asked hurriedly.

Niu Yichen didn't answer; he simply held the leaf out for her to smell. Zhan Qingxue took it and brought it to her nose. A faint, refreshing fragrance greeted her—a scent that made her feel invigorated, and her body, stiff from the cold, seemed to warm up instantly.

"This... this is..." She looked at the leaf, then back at Niu Yichen, her eyes full of confusion.

Niu Yichen stood up, gazing into the depths of the fog with profound eyes. A meaningful smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "It seems our luck is quite good..." He extended his hand and gently parted the mist.

As his hand moved, the thick fog seemed to loosen. Zhan Qingxue followed close behind as they ventured deeper, noting that the air was filled with a faint, unmistakable scent of herbs. This fragrance seemed to guide them, and the determination in Niu Yichen’s eyes deepened.

*Celestial herbs?* Niu Yichen whispered to himself, a sense of certainty washing over him. His intuition as a physician took hold. He walked toward an unremarkable cluster of bushes, parted them, and discovered rare herbs hidden within. These plants seemed to have survived despite the suppression of the natural order, growing lush and vibrant due to the mystery of this land, like a flickering flame of vitality.

This was a real windfall! Seeing him carefully harvesting the herbs, Zhan Qingxue was filled with excitement; if this were posted online, it would go viral!

Niu Yichen smiled faintly and carefully stored the herbs. The light in his eyes grew deeper—these plants would not only advance his medical skills but also help Zhan Qingxue face the trials ahead.

"Let’s go. There are even greater secrets waiting for us to uncover." He looked beyond the fog, as if seeing new hope.

However, behind every secret, unknown dangers usually lurk.

As they left the herb patch and continued forward, the pressure of the fog began to dissipate, but strange sounds drifted from the bamboo forest. Zhan Qingxue looked suspicious: "Did you hear that?"

Niu Yichen nodded, scanning his surroundings vigilantly. Not far away, several figures appeared and disappeared, gradually closing in on them. They wore primitive clothing, their faces twisted with undisguised hostility. An old man who appeared to be the chieftain shouted in a strange, guttural tone; while the language was unintelligible, the aggression was palpable.

"Man, what kind of sect is this?" Zhan Qingxue muttered, though she didn't dare lower her guard.

Niu Yichen knew this fog-covered forest was far more than just a source of herbs. Seeing the tribesmen raise their ancient weapons, he realized that words would not lead to peace, yet he never abandoned his pursuit of opportunity. He stepped forward, walking slowly toward the chieftain.

The tribe’s eyes were drawn to him, growing tense with his every step. Niu Yichen stopped, surveyed the crowd, and offered a smile that left both Zhan Qingxue and the tribesmen stunned: "The story here is even more fascinating than I imagined."

The tribesmen’s assault was more ferocious than expected. They moved with the agility of leopards, their weapons whistling through the air as they slashed downward.

"Whoa, they’re playing for real!" Zhan Qingxue cried out, pulling out her defensive stun baton and nimbly dodging an attack.

Niu Yichen remained calm. Golden light flickered at his fingertips as golden needles shot out like arrows, hitting the enemies' acupoints with precision and pinning them in place.

"Brother Chen, that’s 666! Your acupuncture skills are like a cheat code!" Zhan Qingxue cheered while dodging.

However, the tribesmen were no pushovers. They quickly changed tactics, ceasing their head-on attacks and surrounding the pair from all sides, tightening like an inescapable net. Niu Yichen’s needles were powerful, but he struggled to handle so many enemies at once.

"This is getting tricky..." Niu Yichen frowned, quickly calculating a strategy.

Zhan Qingxue felt the pressure too, but she remained composed, observing the surroundings. Suddenly, her eyes landed on the thick mist, and a bold idea surfaced.

"Brother Chen, I have an idea!" she shouted. "Use your medical arts to blow this fog away!"

Niu Yichen paused, then immediately understood her intent. He took a deep breath, channeled his internal energy, and thrust his palms forward. A powerful gust of wind swept out, clearing the fog completely.

Exposed without the cover of the mist, the tribesmen’s movements were laid bare. Niu Yichen seized the opportunity, his golden needles raining down and hitting the enemies' vital points with surgical precision. In an instant, the warriors collapsed, incapacitated.

As the battle ended, a white-haired elder slowly emerged. He stared at Niu Yichen with profound eyes, filled with surprise and awe. "I never expected you to possess such immense power..." the elder said slowly, his tone laced with disbelief. "Who, exactly, are you?"

Niu Yichen smiled, about to speak, when he suddenly sensed an strange aura...

Zhan Qingxue stumbled, nearly falling. Niu Yichen reached out to steady her with lightning speed. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice tinged with a rare, hidden tenderness.

"It’s nothing, just a scratch," she said, waving it off, though she couldn't hide the pain in her eyes.

Niu Yichen said nothing more. He pulled some herbs from his pouch, crushed them with practiced ease, and applied them to her wound.

"Brother Chen, your medical skills are divine. Can you really heal wounds with just a few leaves?" Zhan Qingxue looked at his focused expression, a warmth spreading through her chest. She felt that at this moment, Niu Yichen was not just a master physician, but a harbor she could rely on.

Niu Yichen smiled without speaking, gently bandaging her wound. Zhan Qingxue’s gaze remained fixed on his face, filled with admiration and affection. Niu Yichen felt her warmth and felt his heart stir.

After tending to the wound, they continued forward. Upon exiting the forest, the scene before them left them both stunned.

An ancient castle stood not far away, radiating a powerful, restrictive aura. It felt like a sleeping beast, exuding a suffocating sense of pressure.

"Whoa, this is too intense! Brother Chen, have we stumbled into a game dungeon?" Zhan Qingxue marveled at the sight.

Niu Yichen didn't answer. He felt that this castle hid a massive secret—and an equally massive danger. He took a deep breath and looked at the castle with firm eyes. "Let’s go. Let’s take a look."

As they carefully approached, a powerful force of containment surged toward them, as if trying to push them back.

"This barrier... this is interesting," Niu Yichen said, a confident smile touching his lips. "It seems we’re going to be playing for high stakes tonight."

He reached out to touch the barrier, and a dazzling light instantly erupted...

"Holy cow!" Zhan Qingxue exclaimed.