Chapter 72: A Heavy Gift of Gratitude

The little fox seemed to realize her words were a bit unfair. Her face flushed red and she hurriedly added, “Or… or I’ll repay you in my next life!” After thinking for a moment, she quickly added, “I’ll repay you with lots and lots of chickens!”

“……”

Get lost—what the hell!

“Doctor Yun…”

“Alright, alright!” Yun Jiao interrupted before they could continue. If this went on, she’d turn from a physician into a chicken vendor. “Let’s set the chicken matter aside. And stop acting out some tragic soap opera in front of me. What I said was that we need to find something that can replace the inner core—I didn’t say you should give up your own core.” Honestly, could they not read between the lines?

“You mean… it can be replaced with something else?” Ji Chen’s eyes lit up, a glimmer of hope returning to his face.

“Yes.” Yun Jiao nodded. “As long as you can find a magical artifact or spiritual item with energy levels close to your sister’s—and, importantly, with the same spiritual attribute—it should be able to merge with her body.”

Ji Chen pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked resolute. “Father! Father will definitely have a way. Doctor Yun, please wait here—I’ll bring him right away.”

He darted off like a gust of wind. Within moments, two figures appeared again inside the room—the Demon King himself, whom Yun Jiao had briefly met earlier. He had changed out of his regal robes, now wearing a simple green outfit, his face full of paternal worry.

“You truly have a way to save my daughter Li’er?!” the Demon King asked urgently, his tone carrying disbelief. All the best demon physicians had already examined her—he’d even swallowed his pride to beg his old rivals for help—but none had a solution. Some had even told him to prepare for her funeral.

When Ji Chen mentioned this mortal doctor’s skills, he hadn’t taken it seriously and had only agreed to let Hu Ji fetch her out of desperation. But now Ji Chen claimed that she could not only save Li’er’s life—but even restore her human form!

“Is… is what you said true?” The Demon King’s voice trembled slightly, his gaze intense.

Yun Jiao nodded. “I’d say there’s about a seventy to eighty percent chance of success.” She had never performed such an operation before, after all.

The Demon King stepped closer to his daughter’s bedside, studying her carefully. To his astonishment, in less than half an hour, her breathing had steadied, her once-turbulent soul had calmed, and even that ghastly wound seemed to be slowly healing.

“This… how is this possible?” The Demon King was dumbfounded. When he turned to look at Yun Jiao again, his gaze had completely changed—no longer filled with disdain, but with respect.

“I’ve just reconnected her meridians,” Yun Jiao explained evenly. “She’s alive now, but without her inner core, her cultivation will gradually dissipate, and her consciousness will eventually regress into chaos. She’ll have to start cultivating from scratch. To stabilize her condition, we’ll need to find a spiritual item with properties similar to her original core.”

“Good! Good! Excellent!” The Demon King’s excitement was overflowing. He had only hoped to preserve his daughter’s life—never had he dared to dream she might retain her cultivation too.

Even the little fox stood there stunned. “Doctor Yun, you mean… the princess is no longer in danger?”

“Of course,” Yun Jiao said matter-of-factly. “Once the meridians are reconnected, she won’t die. Didn’t I tell you that already?”

“Then when you said ‘to completely solve the problem,’ you meant…”

“Obviously, restoring her to her former state,” Yun Jiao replied. “You can’t call it a cure unless she’s fully healed.”

Ji Chen: “……”

Hu Ji: “……”

Both suddenly felt rather foolish for having seriously discussed digging out someone’s inner core earlier.

“Doctor Yun, you truly are a miracle worker,” the Demon King said, ignoring his dumbfounded son. “What kind of spiritual item would be suitable as a replacement?”

“It just needs to have energy compatible with hers,” Yun Jiao replied, “and not exceed what her body can withstand. Otherwise, it could cause her body to explode.”

The Demon King thought for a moment, then took out a translucent pearl. “This is the Soul-Stabilizing Pearl. It calms the mind and anchors the soul. It’s of a yin attribute, which matches my daughter’s perfectly. Doctor Yun, would this work?”

Yun Jiao examined it carefully. After arranging a small testing formation with her needles, she nodded. “Yes, this should work.”

Without wasting any time, she approached the bed. “There’s no time to lose. Let’s begin now—you’ll need to assist me.”

The Demon King followed her immediately, watching as Yun Jiao’s hands moved in a blur, arranging needles and formations at astonishing speed. Soon, several arrays glowed faintly on Li’er’s body. Neither Ji Chen nor Hu Ji could make sense of what they were seeing. Even the Demon King felt dizzy just trying to understand the patterns. Occasionally, Yun Jiao would issue short commands—telling them when to channel spiritual energy or perform a minor spell.

After about an hour of intense work, the Soul-Stabilizing Pearl slowly descended into Li’er’s body, settling in her dantian and beginning to rotate like a genuine inner core.

“Cast a Rejuvenation Spell,” Yun Jiao instructed.

The Demon King obeyed immediately. Before their eyes, the gaping wound on the cat demon’s abdomen began to heal rapidly. This time, her spiritual energy didn’t rampage or tear her body apart—it flowed smoothly, docile and stable.

The silver needles Yun Jiao had first implanted gradually surfaced from her meridians, and she removed them one by one. When the last needle was withdrawn, the black cat’s form began to shimmer and change—her body lengthened, limbs taking shape—until a young girl of fifteen or sixteen lay on the bed, her round doll-like face soft and adorable.

“She should wake up in a few hours,” Yun Jiao instructed. “Just make sure she doesn’t use any magic for now.”

For a long moment, the three onlookers could only stare in joy and disbelief. The Demon King finally stepped forward, bowing deeply. “Doctor Yun, your divine hands have brought my daughter back from death. From this day forth, you are a benefactor of the Wolf Clan. Whatever you ask of us, we will never refuse.”

“There’s no need for all that,” Yun Jiao waved her hand casually. “Just settle the consultation fee first.” Gratitude was nice and all, but it didn’t pay the bills.

The Demon King froze for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. Clearly, he thought Yun Jiao was being modest—afraid of making things awkward by bringing up money. What a humble and practical doctor! He’d misjudged mortals—this one was truly respectable.

“Hahaha… Doctor Yun jests.”

“…” No, she was being dead serious. Did this man plan to skip the bill?

“Rest assured, Divine Doctor,” the Demon King continued earnestly. “For saving my daughter, the Demon Realm shall present you with a grand gift of gratitude.”

Yun Jiao let out a silent sigh of relief. As long as he didn’t plan to stiff her.

“However…” The Demon King’s tone suddenly turned hesitant. “Ordinary worldly treasures must surely seem trivial to you. Perhaps you could give us some guidance on what would be… suitable?”

Yun Jiao blinked. Wait—a client asking her to name the price? Finally, a sensible ruler.

She remembered her mistake last time—letting Shao Xian slip away without collecting his full payment. Determined not to repeat that, she said frankly, “Well, you know, I normally don’t make house calls. I only came this time as a favor to the little fox. Naturally, that means the consultation fee is… a bit higher than usual.”

“Of course, of course,” the Demon King nodded enthusiastically.

Yun Jiao glanced at the polished jade floor beneath her feet, thinking over a reasonable figure. “Gold, silver, jewels, gemstones—anything of value works. The more precious, the better.” Preferably enough to make the entire Qingyang Temple rich overnight.

“Precious?” The Demon King studied her carefully, then asked, “Does the Divine Doctor mean… you wish to have the most precious thing in my palace?”

“Not necessarily the most precious,” Yun Jiao said quickly. “But if you insist, I wouldn’t refuse.” Negotiation was always flexible.

The Demon King thought for a moment, then something flickered in his eyes. He looked at Yun Jiao meaningfully. “Doctor Yun is right. With your skill, you indeed deserve the most valuable treasure of our realm.” His tone carried strange determination.

Ji Chen’s expression changed slightly, as though realizing something. “Father—you’re not thinking of—”

But the Demon King ignored her. Turning back to Yun Jiao, he asked solemnly, “To be honest, the greatest treasure of my palace is still in my possession. Doctor Yun, are you truly willing?”

Why wouldn’t she be? She had to make a living too. She couldn’t keep treating demons in exchange for a few chickens!

“If it’s too difficult, we can always… negotiate the amount—maybe a twenty percent discount…”

“Excellent!” Before she could finish, the Demon King nodded firmly, smiling with great satisfaction. “This is my honor, truly my fortune.”

“…” Huh?

Before Yun Jiao could ask what he meant, the Demon King smiled even wider. “Please wait here, Doctor Yun. I’ll fetch it at once.” He turned and strode off—dragging along the bewildered Ji Chen and little fox. At the doorway, he paused, glanced back at Yun Jiao, and gave her a smile that was… oddly warm, oddly appraising… and oddly shy.

A chill ran down Yun Jiao’s spine, but she brushed it off.

She waited patiently for the promised “payment,” checking Li’er’s condition as she did.

After nearly twenty minutes, Ji Chen and the little fox finally returned—with a young female attendant carrying a tray. The Demon King was nowhere in sight. Both looked uncomfortable—especially Ji Chen, whose previous enthusiasm had been replaced with a strange… resentment?

Before Yun Jiao could ask, the attendant knelt before her, raising the tray. “Doctor Yun, this is what my king ordered me to deliver to you.”

Curious, Yun Jiao lifted the red cloth covering it. But instead of the gold and silver she had imagined, there lay a single red booklet.

A gift list, perhaps?

Ah, the Demon King really was thoughtful.

Satisfied, Yun Jiao opened the booklet casually—only for two gilded characters to burn into her eyes.

—Marriage Contract!

Yun Jiao: “……”

What the hell?!

(╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻

(End of Chapter)