After dealing with Liu Yue, Lin Xiao Tian prepared to leave the forest.
He lowered his presence to the barest minimum, his figure completely swallowed by the darkness.
Not long after, a lion-like monster stood where he had just been.
"Nascent Soul?"
"This aura is unfamiliar. Who could this be?"
The next day, Lin Xiao Tian resumed normal business. Because Liu Yue's clinic was closed, no one yet knew what had happened to her.
Of course, few people cared.
Lin Xiao Tian now offered fair prices and was more responsible, so naturally, no one paid attention to Liu Yue.
It wasn't until a week later that the news of Liu Yue's disappearance spread through the city.
Since no remains were found, it was unknown if Liu Yue was dead.
Rumors began to circulate among the populace.
The Empire was furious about the sudden loss of a physician and dispatched numerous search parties, but they found nothing.
The Zhao family only sent someone over once, but they left soon after, as if Luo Hou's disappearance was an insignificant matter. And that had been half a month ago.
At the clinic, Lin Xiao Tian, Wan Hao, and Zhu Kai were drinking wine.
"Serves her right," Zhu Kai said, slamming the table. "Liu Yue deserved it. Who told her to offend so many people? She was definitely retaliated against."
"Let's wait for the Empire's findings. We can't be careless; we must always be prepared in case Liu Yue is plotting something!" Wan Hao was more cautious.
"Heh heh, Boss, you're right. But after so long without appearing, I think she's not coming back," Zhu Kai happily downed a large bowl. "It's just that we don't know what happened to Luo Hou. Did he elope with Liu Yue?"
As they chatted, it was clear that without Liu Yue's presence, the pressure on them had significantly decreased.
Lin Xiao Tian, finding sign language troublesome, mostly listened to them speak.
Just as they thought, with Liu Yue gone and Lin Xiao Tian's sense of responsibility, the clinic grew and grew. In just half a month, it had replaced Liu Yue's clinic's former position.
Lin Xiao Tian took over Liu Yue's shop. With too much business, he had to expand his staff and slightly increased his usual fees.
Of course, people didn't complain much. They had seen Lin Xiao Tian's actions and knew he was far more conscientious than Liu Yue.
With the clinic successfully managed, Lin Xiao Tian planned to practice medicine and cultivate simultaneously. With the help of the Divine Farmer's Heart Sutra, he could reach the Nascent Soul stage before his lifespan ended by merely drawing on the surrounding spiritual energy.
Once his lifespan increased, he could continue cultivating.
Lin Xiao Tian remembered the black forest that appeared when he first arrived in this world.
The spiritual energy there was incredibly dense, and precious medicinal herbs were innumerable. If only he had the chance to cultivate there.
Unfortunately, the black forest was not accessible to just anyone. It required sponsorship from a major power. In the Xu Kingdom, one could only enter with the recognition of the Empire, the Merchant Guild, and the Academy, and the protection fee was prohibitively expensive, something Lin Xiao Tian's current finances could not afford.
However, Lin Xiao Tian was not in a hurry. The key was to establish himself here first. He could take his time with future matters. As long as he had the status of a Nascent Soul cultivator, he wouldn't worry about those powers not trying to recruit him.
But before that, Lin Xiao Tian had to minimize the risks.
The people here were too eager for humans from other worlds. If he couldn't completely conceal his identity, Lin Xiao Tian would never easily expose himself to the public eye.
Thus, a month passed. During this time, everything was calm. The people of Black Rock City had long forgotten the missing Luo Hou and Liu Yue, and the Empire no longer investigated their whereabouts. Everything was proceeding in the direction Lin Xiao Tian had anticipated.
Until one day, a group of people approached Lin Xiao Tian.
"Physician Lin, my master requests your presence."
This familiar opening reminded Lin Xiao Tian of the old servant by Luo Hou's side. The person before him was also an elder, but much stronger, already at the Foundation Establishment stage.
"May I ask who your master is?" Wan Hao, standing beside him, stepped forward to ask.
"You will know when you get there. No need to ask," the old servant replied coldly.
"Who are you? Our Xu Hao is very busy!" Zhu Kai immediately became displeased and stepped forward, wanting to intervene.
Lin Xiao Tian, however, blocked Zhu Kai's path.
"Xu Hao?"
Lin Xiao Tian gave him a meaningful look.
Although impulsive, Zhu Kai was not foolish. He didn't know why Lin Xiao Tian was doing this, but he obediently stepped aside.
"I'll go with them. You two help me look after the shop's business for now," Lin Xiao Tian signed to Zhu Kai and Wan Hao.
Then, without regard for what they said, Lin Xiao Tian followed the elder away.
The elder let out a cold snort and finally walked ahead to lead the way.
Lin Xiao Tian also wanted to explain things properly to Zhu Kai, but just then, he clearly felt a killing intent.
It emanated from the elder, but Zhu Kai, with his strength, could not detect it at all.
They walked in silence.
The elder led the way, accompanied by two retinues on either side, with Lin Xiao Tian surrounded in the middle.
Before long, they stopped in front of a restaurant.
This was the largest restaurant in the area, but it was now deserted. With a slight sensing, Lin Xiao Tian discovered that the guests inside had been cleared out.
Soon, under the elder's guidance, Lin Xiao Tian entered the restaurant.
In a private room on the second floor, a young man holding a folding fan was already waiting for Lin Xiao Tian.
"Is it this person?" The youth waved his fan, his gaze sweeping over Lin Xiao Tian.
The elder beside Lin Xiao Tian nodded.
Lin Xiao Tian was shocked.
It seemed they had come specifically for him.
Could it be that they had discovered his identity?
Thinking of this, Lin Xiao Tian's gaze gradually turned cold.
If that were the case, he would have no choice but to act.
However, outwardly, Lin Xiao Tian still showed little hostility, as it hadn't reached that point yet.
"Kid, I'll ask you one question. Did Luo Hou look for you two months ago?"
As the youth spoke, someone beside him began signing the words with practiced ease.
Two months ago.
Lin Xiao Tian immediately thought of Luo Hou.
It seemed it wasn't about his identity after all.
Lin Xiao Tian felt a lot more at ease. If it were just about Luo Hou, Lin Xiao Tian already had a plan to deal with it.
Lin Xiao Tian nodded.
"And then? Did you meet?" the youth continued to ask.
Lin Xiao Tian shook his head again.
"Didn't meet? I heard from the servants that they even sent someone to pick you up. You couldn't have not met. Luo Hou specifically instructed that day that he would see no one but you."
Lin Xiao Tian put on a helpless expression and hastily explained.
"You mean the place where the sedan chair took you, Luo Hou wasn't there?"
Hearing Lin Xiao Tian's explanation, the youth began to ponder.
This was Lin Xiao Tian's response strategy.
Luo Hou had been very discreet in his actions that night to harm Lin Xiao Tian. Only three people knew the entire process. The sedan chair bearers were meant to take the blame, so they only took Lin Xiao Tian to a place near the forest and left, having no idea what had happened inside.
"You're not lying to me, are you?" the youth asked thoughtfully.
Lin Xiao Tian immediately shook his head, indicating it was impossible.
Seeing Lin Xiao Tian like this, the youth suddenly wore a troubled expression.
"What should we do? We need some kind of conclusion, right? It's hard for me to report back if you're like this."
The next moment, his gaze towards Lin Xiao Tian suddenly turned sinister.