"What did you do to yourself, getting into this state?"
Mu Jinyu couldn't help complaining when he saw the sorry state of Xiang Mantang.
With a pale face, Xiang Mantang lightly chuckled upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words, saying, "The task was a bit tricky, I was a little careless, and this happened. But you're here, aren't you? So, it doesn't really matter."
Xiang Mantang didn't intend to reveal the truth to Mu Jinyu—that he specifically went out of his way to deal with Chen Wudao first because he feared that Chen Wudao would cause trouble once he resurfaced.
If Mu Jinyu knew this, he would certainly feel guilty and troubled.
There was no need for that, considering that the decision to annihilate the Chen Family was his own. So, he would suffer the consequences quietly by himself.
"Sigh, why must you be so reckless? I'm truly afraid that one day, I'll receive news that I have to retrieve your corpse!"
Mu Jinyu shook his head helplessly as he watched Xiang Mantang's indifferent demeanor, and spoke with a bit of blame.
Xiang Mantang just smiled and didn't say anything more.
People are like this after all, prone to making presumptions without fully understanding the situation based on their own judgments.
They never consider that the person they blame could actually be bringing trouble upon themselves for your sake.
"Come in, let me take a look at your injuries."
Seeing Xiang Mantang's continued indifferent expression, Mu Jinyu gave up trying to argue and stepped aside to let Xiang Mantang hurry into the house.
Once Xiang Mantang entered, he glanced around the room and hearing noises from the kitchen, couldn't help but smile and say, "Is sister-in-law cooking? She's really virtuous."
Mu Jinyu nodded, "Yes, it's your other sister-in-law. Stay for dinner later, I'll introduce you to her."
"Mmm," Xiang Mantang nodded.
Afterward, he followed Mu Jinyu into his room.
Mu Jinyu dared not treat Xiang Mantang's injuries in the living room—what if he scared Wen Rou who just came out?
So, it was better to take Xiang Mantang into the room for treatment; it was quiet and wouldn't startle anyone.
"Take off your clothes first."
Once they were in the room, Mu Jinyu had Xiang Mantang sit on a chair and instructed him.
Xiang Mantang then took off his upper garment.
Mu Jinyu immediately saw Xiang Mantang's body covered in scars, including a blood hole pierced through his shoulder joint. Although medicine had temporarily stopped the bleeding, the damaged tendons and bones were not so easily healed.
Seeing Xiang Mantang's scars, which spoke of both glory and a struggle for survival, Mu Jinyu could guess how miserable and desperate Xiang Mantang's past years had been!
With a soft sigh, Mu Jinyu understood why Xiang Mantang could be so indifferent about having one arm disabled.
After all, he had multiple wounds on his body, many of which could have been fatal. The fact that he was still alive was very fortunate.
And this time, his task only resulted in a disabled arm without too many fatal injuries. Compared to before, it indeed seemed insignificant.
Mu Jinyu gently placed his hands on Xiang Mantang's shoulder and pressed several times, squeezing out a mouthful of clotted blood, causing the somewhat scabbed wound to flow with fresh, scarlet blood again.
Taking a clean towel, Mu Jinyu wiped off the fresh blood from Xiang Mantang's arm, then took out a packet of medicine. He selected a pill, crushed it into powder, and sprinkled it evenly over Xiang Mantang's wound.
"Hmph!"
As the medicine powder sprinkled on the wound, it turned Xiang Mantang's face deathly pale, and he couldn't help but let out a stifled groan.
Even with Xiang Mantang's tenacious will, he couldn't help but make a sound under the application of the medicine powder, indicating just how potent and forceful the medicinal effect was.
In fact, Mu Jinyu did have a painless and equally effective medicine powder at his disposal. However, he wanted Xiang Mantang to experience more pain, to teach him a lesson so that he would not handle tasks so recklessly in the future.
"Sss..."
Unable to bear it, Xiang Mantang involuntarily inhaled sharply, his voice trembling as he said, "Your medicine... it's getting... stronger and... more intense now!"
Having known Mu Jinyu for many years, Xiang Mantang was well aware of Mu Jinyu's cunning thoughts.
Back when they were on Yinlong Mountain, every time he returned injured and dared not ask their master for help with his healing, he would turn to Mu Jinyu instead. At first, Mu Jinyu would treat him painlessly. Later, each treatment became a life-and-death ordeal, truly a pain beyond endurance.
Xiang Mantang had developed a bit of a psychological shadow because of this. If it hadn't been for the truly effective healing results from Mu Jinyu, he probably would have stopped asking him for treatment long ago.
This time was no exception. If Xiang Mantang had sought treatment from his own personal physician, he wouldn't have suffered nearly as much. But he would likely have needed to recuperate for some time.
Therefore, he would rather endure some torment if it meant that Mu Jinyu could heal his useless arm sooner.
Soon, Xiang Mantang's forehead began to bead with cold sweat.
Mu Jinyu glanced at him and started to massage several acupoints on his arm, accompanied by the cracking sound of bones.
Mu Jinyu promptly set Xiang Mantang's dislocated and broken bones back into place.
As Mu Jinyu continued the massage, Xiang Mantang's severely damaged meridians were also realigned and repaired, and the healing process was accelerated by the medicine powder's effect.
Xiang Mantang no longer felt unbearable pain. The area of his injured shoulder began to emit countless warm flows, making him feel warm all over.
Mu Jinyu continued to press on Xiang Mantang's arm for a while longer, then stopped once he was sure he should be fine, picking up another clean towel to wipe his hands. "There, try moving it," he said.
"Mhm." Languidly reclining in the chair, Xiang Mantang tentatively moved his right arm and discovered that it had returned to normal from its previous limp state.
However, he could still feel a bit of stiffness and pain as he moved his arm, telling him that he should not engage in vigorous activities just yet.
Instantly forgetting the pain he had just endured, Xiang Mantang laughed heartily and said, "Indeed, there's no faster healer than you. With any other physician, I'd probably need a longer period of convalescence."
Mu Jinyu extended his palm, speaking indifferently, "There, the treatment costs a million, time to pay up."
Xiang Mantang laughed it off and said, "The usual rules, let's put it on the tab for now. I will pay you back once I have the money, brother."
Mu Jinyu looked at him in disbelief. "Pay back when you have the money? You already owe me hundreds of billions! When will I ever see you with money?!"
After a pause, he continued, "Besides, didn't you return to your hometown in glorious triumph? You bought a luxury house on the day you returned, and you're saying you're short on my money? It seems to me that you just want to default on your debt!"
"Dare not, dare not," Xiang Mantang shook his head and said. "How could I dare to skip out on your debt? That luxury house wasn't bought by me; it was bought by Liu Mei. I really am poor, brother. Once I have the money, I will surely repay it, surely repay it."
Mu Jinyu sighed. "It seems, I will never see that day."
Xiang Mantang laughed and said, "Don't worry, it won't be too long. On the day you get married, I will surely pay off my debt to you as a wedding gift."
Mu Jinyu responded discontentedly, "Paying off a debt as a wedding gift? That's really shameless of you!"