Ye Bufan and Yan Yuzhu first moved their hiding place. It wasn't until dawn, when Yan Yuzhu's condition slightly improved, that they set off towards the main camp.
Upon their return to the main camp, everyone had already come back. However, this expedition had resulted in heavy losses.
The remaining six people had suffered ambushes, much like Ye Bufan and Yan Yuzhu. Huangfu Zheng was severely injured, and Tao Liangce had to sever his own arm to escape the ambush.
Song Mingqin and Qu Fei, both at the Core Formation stage, only sustained minor injuries when facing the enemy's siege. Lastly, Shangguan Lun and Lu Zhiying, from the cultivation families, both suffered internal injuries.
Shangguan Chengtian frowned as he looked at the severely depleted ranks of the cultivation families.
Amidst the crowd, whispers began to circulate about the cultivation sects having betrayed the cultivation families, causing quite a stir.
"All of you, shut up!" Shangguan Chengtian roared. "When we were selecting scouts, no one volunteered. In the end, the sect members proposed accompanying us for reconnaissance, and you refused. Now that our side is injured due to our own lack of strength, you shift the blame to them. If this continues, how can our cultivation families ever rise and prosper?"
Huangfu Zheng struggled to stand up and said, "That's right. We should look for reasons within ourselves, not always blame external factors."
Seeing Huangfu Zheng stand up, Shangguan Chengtian quickly stepped forward to support him.
"Elder Huangfu, you have the longest seniority among us. Please do not get angry and harm your health. Leave the rest to me," Shangguan Chengtian said.
Huangfu Zheng looked at Shangguan Chengtian with satisfaction. Huangfu Yun, standing beside him, had tears welling up in his eyes.
"Good grandson, a man doesn't shed tears easily. For cultivators, injuries are commonplace. Hold back your tears, don't disgrace our Huangfu family," Huangfu Zheng took a deep breath and gently patted Huangfu Yun's shoulder.
Huangfu Yun struggled to control his breathing. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and turned to look at Ye Bufan.
"Mr. Ye, I've long heard from my sister about your excellent medical skills. I wonder if you could please help save my grandfather." Huangfu Yun walked up to Ye Bufan, bowed apologetically, and was about to kneel.
Seeing this, Ye Bufan quickly helped Huangfu Yun up and said, "A man's knees are made of gold. I believe your grandfather would not want you to kneel to me."
"But what can I do?" Huangfu Yun asked. "In the past, I was stubborn and unlearned. These days, after starting to study diligently because of Sister Qingcheng, I've realized how difficult things are for grandfather. I only hate myself for knowing so little now and being unable to contribute to the Huangfu family."
Ye Bufan smiled slightly and said, "You are Huangfu Yujia's elder brother, and Huangfu Yujia is a member of the Huangfu family. For both emotional and logical reasons, I will help. Rest assured."
Huangfu Yun looked at Ye Bufan and said excitedly, "Really? Thank you!"
Ye Bufan waved his hand, and a Yangxin Pill appeared in his palm.
"Give this pill to your grandfather first. After we've finished handling things here, I'll go to your camp and perform acupuncture for your grandfather to clear the blood stasis," Ye Bufan said.
"Thank you!" Huangfu Yun nodded heavily, took Ye Bufan's Yangxin Pill, and returned to Huangfu Zheng's side.
"Grandfather, please take this Yangxin Pill quickly." Huangfu Yun placed the Yangxin Pill into Huangfu Zheng's hand. Without hesitation, Huangfu Zheng swallowed the pill and began to circulate his internal energy to heal his injuries.
Shangguan Chengtian watched this scene and then turned his gaze to Ye Bufan.
"Mr. Ye, could your medical skills help treat the other family heads as well?" Shangguan Chengtian asked very politely.
Ye Bufan nodded and said, "For some internal injuries, I can use acupuncture to treat them. However, for severed limbs, I am powerless."
"Then we will trouble Mr. Ye," Shangguan Chengtian said with a sigh of relief as Ye Bufan agreed. It was better to have someone willing to help than no one at all.
"Alright, alright. From what we can see, we have significant internal problems," Bai Zizhen said. "Patriarch Shangguan, I believe there are some matters that require our private discussion."
Shangguan Chengtian and Bai Zizhen exchanged glances, understanding Bai Zizhen's meaning.
"Everyone, please return to your camps to rest. After Patriarch Shangguan and I have discussed, we will hold another general meeting," Bai Zizhen said to the leaders of the sects.
Shangguan Chengtian also instructed the leaders of the various families to return to their respective camps.
Then, the two walked deeper into the forest, seemingly not wishing for anyone to overhear their conversation.
Ye Bufan followed Huangfu Yun to the Huangfu family's camp. After taking the Yangxin Pill and circulating his energy, Huangfu Zheng's complexion had clearly improved, but his breathing was still unstable.
After an examination, Ye Bufan found that Huangfu Zheng's internal organs had sustained some damage, but fortunately, it wasn't severe.
Ye Bufan performed the Thirteen Needles of Zhuyou, inserting each needle into a critical acupoint on Huangfu Zheng. Those watching were terrified, as Ye Bufan had inserted two needles into vital points.
Seeing Ye Bufan insert needles into vital points, everyone rushed forward to stop him, but Huangfu Yun held them back.
"No one moves. If you disrupt my grandfather's treatment, I will hold you responsible," Huangfu Yun shouted. The others could only watch from the side anxiously.
After about an hour, Ye Bufan enveloped the thirteen silver needles with his mental energy and true qi.
"Hmph!" Ye Bufan grunted, and the thirteen silver needles flew up in a pattern. Huangfu Zheng coughed out a mouthful of black, clotted blood with a "poof," and then opened his eyes.
In the next second, Ye Bufan went to Huangfu Zheng's side and took out a herb for treating internal injuries from the Taiyi Divine Sect's inheritance ring, swiftly stuffing it into Huangfu Zheng's mouth.
Huangfu Zheng was stunned for a moment, then chewed and swallowed the herb.
As the herb entered his lungs, it formed a warm current that spread throughout his body. Huangfu Zheng immediately felt a comfortable warmth, and his internal organ injuries were being repaired bit by bit with the help of this warm current.
Huangfu Zheng's complexion became ruddy. Ye Bufan took a deep breath and said, "This medicinal power will likely take a few days to refine. Once it's almost fully refined, your injuries should be mostly healed."
"Whoosh~"
Huangfu Zheng exhaled a long breath and said gratefully, "Ye Bufan, our Huangfu family owes you another favor."