Chapter 583: An Unfathomable Illness?

Jiang Feng's fingers rested on Zang Zijian's wrist, eyes closed, fully focused on feeling that faint pulse.

One second, two seconds, three seconds…

After a full two minutes, Jiang Feng finally opened his eyes and released his hand.

His complexion was very unpleasant.

Zang Zijian stood opposite, watching his expression, the corners of his mouth slightly lifting, revealing a carefree smile.

"How is it? Can't you see through it?"

Jiang Feng remained silent for a moment, then spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"Senior brother, your condition…… I can't see through it."

His fingers slightly curled, clenched into fists, knuckles turning white.

"I detect no abnormality in your pulse. It's steady, strong, regular, exactly like a healthy person's. But beneath this steadiness, I sense a deathly qi."

He lifted his head, looking into Zang Zijian's eyes.

"A strong deathly qi. Your vitality is gradually fading, not because of illness, not because of poison, but……" He paused, as if searching for the right word.

"But because your very life is heading toward its end."

Zang Zijian smiled, that smile calm, without a hint of surprise or panic.

"I know. I understand my condition better than you. Don't forget, back then Master Xuan Yuan also taught me medical dao. Although not as skilled as you, I can also see that my situation cannot be resolved by medical dao."

His voice was very calm, as if speaking about something he had long accepted, neither painful nor itchy.

Jiang Feng's brows furrowed even tighter.

"Senior brother, how long has this been going on? What caused it?"

Zang Zijian's gaze was deep, looking at the distant night sky, he remained silent for a moment.

His gaze seemed to pierce through time, seeing something from long ago.

"Perhaps it's related to my cultivation inheritance. You should know, I still bear the heavy burden of the Saint Sect……"

Saying this, Jiang Feng fell silent.

He certainly knew.

Senior Brother Zang's origins are far deeper than his current identity.

He is not only a registered disciple of Kunlun Mountain, not only the Imperial Grandmaster, but also the heir of the Saint Sect.

The Saint Sect, an existence older and more mysterious than Kunlun, with a ten-thousand-year inheritance, its foundations unfathomable. Yet the Saint Sect's inheritance comes with a great cost; each generation of heirs has faced a tumultuous fate, rarely meeting a good end.

Even Master Xuan Yuan initially did not tell him the full truth, merely taking Senior Brother Zang under his wing.

The old man only said one sentence.

"This child's origins are extraordinary; you will know in the future."

It is precisely because of this origin that Jiang Feng now feels especially helpless.

It's not that he cannot cure Zang Zijian's illness; rather, this is not an illness at all.

This is a backlash from deep within the inheritance, a calamity of fate.

Jiang Feng couldn't help but speak.

"Perhaps we could ask Senior Heavenly Mountain Medical Venerable to intervene? He has old ties with Kunlun and might be willing to help."

Heavenly Mountain Medical Venerable, the foremost medical dao expert of the present age, with unfathomable cultivation, his medical art reaches divine communication.

It is said he can revive the dead, heal white bones, bring the dead back to life.

The old man had once been acquainted with the Medical Venerable, and Jiang Feng, while on Kunlun Mountain, had also heard the old man mention him.

Zang Zijian shook his head, a bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"A month ago, I already met the Medical Venerable. He said he would not intervene, and could not intervene."

Jiang Feng's heart sank.

"Why?"

Zang Zijian said lightly.

"Because the Medical Venerable said, this is not an illness, it is fate. Fate is decreed by heaven, beyond human power to change."

His voice was very calm, as if speaking about something long since predetermined.

"He said, unless one can find the legendary primordial treasure that reverses life and death, no one can save me."

Jiang Feng's pupils constricted slightly.

"A primordial treasure? What primordial treasure?"

Zang Zijian shook his head.

"The Medical Venerable didn't say. He said that thing has been lost for thousands of years; even he doesn't know where it is."

Jiang Feng fell silent for a moment, then asked.

"Did the Medical Venerable say how long you can still hold on?"

Zang Zijian looked at him, smiled, that smile carrying a sense of relief.

"At most a year, at least half a year."

Jiang Feng's hand unconsciously clenched, knuckles turning white.

His throat felt as if blocked by something, unable to speak.

One year, half a year—for a cultivator, is merely a snap of the fingers.

But is that his senior brother's ultimate fate?

Zang Zijian patted his shoulder, smiling.

"Don't make that face. I'm not dead yet, and you're already mourning? Come on, let's go eat roast duck. If we don't go now, they'll really close shop. That place is so popular you can't get in even after waiting a month; I managed to reserve a table three days in advance."

His tone was very relaxed, like he was coaxing an unhappy child.

But Jiang Feng knew, he was deliberately changing the subject.

Jiang Feng looked at him, fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

The two walked side by side toward the outside of the alley.

Moonlight shone on them, casting two long shadows on the ground.

Zang Zijian led the way ahead, walking quickly, still muttering about how to eat roast duck.

Jiang Feng followed behind him, but his mind kept thinking about what he had just said.

He recalled a saying the old man had uttered back then.

"Zi Jian, that child has an ill fate; if you have the ability, help him."

Back then he was still young and didn't understand why the old man suddenly said that.

Now thinking about it, the old man might have already known something back then.

He silently resolved that, no matter what means, he must find that ancient supreme treasure and save his senior brother's life.

The two walked for about ten minutes and arrived at a bustling street.

Shops lined both sides of the street, lights blazing, completely a different world from the quiet alley just before.

Zang Zijian, familiar with the place, entered a small shop, greeted the boss, then brought Jiang Feng up to the second floor and into the innermost private room.

The private room wasn't large, but it was tastefully decorated.

A landscape painting hung on the wall, a set of blue-and-white porcelain tableware sat on the table. The window was half-open, allowing a view of the outside street.

Zang Zijian ordered the dishes, and shortly thereafter, plate after plate of refined dishes were served.

Zang Zijian picked up a lotus-leaf pancake, placed a piece of duck skin on it, dipped it in white sugar, and handed it to Jiang Feng.

"Try it, this is the most authentic way to eat."

Jiang Feng took it, put it in his mouth. The duck skin was crisp, the white sugar melted on his tongue, sweet but not cloying, indeed delicious.

Zang Zijian also rolled one for himself, took a big bite, and seemed in good spirits.

"How is it? Senior brother didn't lie to you, right? This flavor, you won't find a second place like it in all of Kyoto."

Jiang Feng looked at him, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Zang Zijian seemed to know what he was thinking, put down his chopsticks, wiped his hands, and looked at him seriously.

"Junior Brother, listen to me. My own affairs, I know them myself. You don't need to worry about me; your current task is to safely bring the Mountain River Seal back to Jiangnan and protect Meng Rou. Other matters we can discuss later."

Jiang Feng fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Good."

Zang Zijian smiled, picked up his chopsticks again, and continued eating.

They ate for over an hour, full of food and drink.

Zang Zijian paid the bill and brought Jiang Feng out of the shop.

The night had grown deep, there were far fewer pedestrians on the street, only a few streetlights still lit.

Zang Zijian checked the time and said.

"It's about time, we should head back. Yun Lao and Meng Rou should have finished their chat."

The two returned along the original route, arriving back at that courtyard house.

In the main hall, Yun Lao and Yun Mengrou were still seated.

Seeing Jiang Feng enter, she stood up.

"Jiang Feng, are you ready?"

Jiang Feng nodded.

"Let's go."

Yun Lao sat in his wheelchair, looking at Jiang Feng, his eyes full of gratitude.

"Divine Doctor Jiang, I entrust Meng Rou to you."

Jiang Feng nodded solemnly.

"Yun Lao, rest assured, I will protect her well."

Yun Mengrou walked to her grandfather's front, squatted down, and lightly hugged him.

"Grandfather, take good care of your wounds. When you recover, I'll take you to Jiangnan to relax…"

Yun Lao patted her back, his voice hoarse.

"Good, grandfather will wait for you."

Yun Mengrou stood up, wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, and walked to Jiang Feng's side.

Zang Zijian took out a set of car keys from his pocket and handed them to Jiang Feng.

"The car is parked at the alley entrance, the black one. You go first to the Military Department General Hospital, stay awhile there, then head straight to the airport. The tickets have already been bought."

Jiang Feng took the keys and looked at him.

"Senior brother, take care."

Zang Zijian smiled.

"Take care. When you reach Jiangnan, send me word that you're safe."

Jiang Feng made an affirmative sound, took Yun Mengrou, turned and walked out of the main hall.

The two passed through the courtyard and exited the gate of the courtyard house.

Jiang Feng opened the car door, let Yun Mengrou get in first, then himself sat in the driver's seat.

The car started and slowly drove out of the alley.

Yun Mengrou sat in the passenger seat, hands placed on her knees, fingers intertwined.

Her complexion was somewhat pale, but her eyes were very firm.

Jiang Feng glanced at her.

"Are you afraid?"

Yun Mengrou shook her head.

"Not afraid."

Jiang Feng didn't say anything else, focusing on driving.

The car drove along Kyoto's streets for about twenty minutes, arriving at the Military Department General Hospital.

The hospital entrance remained heavily guarded, with armed soldiers everywhere.

The two entered the hospital building and waited in the corridor for about half an hour.

However, Jiang Feng continually felt that a few pairs of eyes were watching them, as if present yet absent.

Half an hour later, the two left the hospital, got into the car, and headed toward the airport.