Rebirth of the Fallen Master

Slander at the Herbal Tower

"What's wrong?" Li Tianyuan asked as he tapped his fingers lightly on the table, noticing that Li Ye had remained silent for quite some time.

Li Ye shook his head and immediately cupped his fists in salute. "I understand. I will go meet Master Ma Yuan at once and explain everything to the Patriarch," he said in agreement.

Li Tianyuan nodded. "For now, clean yourself up and get some rest. You may leave."

"Thank you, Patriarch," Li Ye replied before leaving.

Li Xiang could only remain silent, unable to voice any further objections.

As Li Ye stepped out of the study, his footsteps paused for a moment. He turned toward one of the guards standing nearby.

"I've been missing for three days. Did Bai Lian come looking for me?" he asked curiously.

"She did, Young Master. However, since she couldn't find you, Miss Bai returned shortly afterward," one of the guards answered.

"What am I thinking? Why did I ask about that girl?" Li Ye thought, confused by his own behavior.

"I understand," he said before leaving immediately, unwilling to think about Bai Lian any further.

***

When Li Ye arrived at the Herbal Tower, people could be seen bustling about, busy with their own affairs.

He glanced around briefly, admiring the grand building before walking toward a female attendant stationed at the information desk.

"How may I assist you?" the attendant asked with a friendly smile as Li Ye approached.

Li Ye immediately took out the identity token Ma Yuan had once given him.

"I wish to see Master Ma Yuan," Li Ye said.

The attendant was startled when she saw the token in his hand. Several bystanders who happened to notice it began whispering while looking at him, making Li Ye feel slightly awkward.

Before the attendant could examine the token, a voice suddenly interrupted them.

"Yo, who do we have here? I thought I'd seen a ghost, but it's really you."

Li Ye narrowed his eyes as he saw a young man arrogantly walking toward him.

"Dong Su?" Li Ye thought, recognizing him as one of the people who had beaten him together with Gong Cu.

The burly young man stared at the identity token in Li Ye's hand and let out a contemptuous snort.

"How did you get that token? Did you steal it?" Dong Su accused loudly, drawing everyone's attention.

The female attendant, who had been about to inspect the token, also looked surprised by the accusation.

Li Ye observed the suspicious gazes around him. Not wanting to waste time, he turned back to the attendant.

"So? May I meet Master Ma Yuan?" he asked again, holding out the token for inspection. Seeing this, Dong Su clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Keep dreaming. Do you think just anyone can casually meet my master?" Dong Su shouted as he shoved Li Ye roughly, forcing him to stagger backward.

"Young Masters, please don't fight here," the attendant pleaded nervously.

Dong Su ignored her warning. He looked at Li Ye with a sneer and stretched his muscles like a predator eyeing its prey.

"It seems my last beating wasn't enough. In that case, take a few more punches from me!" Dong Su hissed as he threw a punch.

Swish! Bang!

Li Ye easily dodged the attack before kicking Dong Su, sending the burly young man stumbling backward into a wooden cabinet, causing several ceramic ornaments to crash to the floor.

People nearby quickly gathered to watch the commotion. Dong Su gritted his teeth in humiliation as he struggled to his feet.

He immediately grabbed a decorative staff and swung it wildly at Li Ye.

Whoosh! Crash!

Several objects shattered as Dong Su's attack missed once again, while Li Ye calmly dodged it.

"Young Masters, stop! Please don't fight anymore!" several security guards shouted as they rushed over to stop Dong Su.

"Hmph! Stop? Get out of my way! I'll punish this thief on behalf of my master!"

Dong Su roared stubbornly. He swung the staff again without caring about his surroundings. Several people screamed in fright, while the guards hurriedly dodged the sweeping strikes, just as Li Ye did.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

A furious shout suddenly interrupted Dong Su. With an angry expression, Dong Su turned toward the source of the voice.

"M-Master?" he gasped in shock.

Li Ye narrowed his eyes when he saw Ma Yuan standing there with an angry expression.

"Master?" Li Ye murmured in disbelief. He was surprised to hear Dong Su address Ma Yuan that way.

With a stern face, Ma Yuan strode straight toward them, parting the crowd that had gathered.

"I haven't even accepted you as my disciple, yet you've already caused trouble in my place?" Ma Yuan asked coldly.

Dong Su immediately dropped the staff. His body trembled in panic.

"I-It was him!" Dong Su blurted out, pointing at Li Ye.

"He's the one who caused all this trouble!" he accused.

Li Ye narrowed his eyes in disbelief while folding his arms across his chest.

"I haven't even bothered to retaliate, yet you're claiming I'm the one causing trouble?" Li Ye sneered.

"This is all your fault! If you hadn't stolen Master's token, I wouldn't have gotten this angry!" Dong Su shouted.

"What do you mean by stolen?" Ma Yuan asked in confusion.

"Master, he has your identity token. If he didn't steal it..." Dong Su hesitated briefly. "Then it's fake! He actually forged your identity token!"

Whispers immediately spread through the crowd once again.

Ma Yuan's eyes widened in disbelief at the accusation. He swept his gaze across the crowd before clearing his throat softly.

"I'll make this clear so there won't be any misunderstandings."

Ma Yuan looked at everyone with a serious expression.

"The identity token Young Master Li Ye is carrying is genuine, and I personally gave it to him as a gift."

His words instantly threw the crowd into an uproar.

"Isn't he the disgrace of the Li family?"

"Why does Master Ma hold him in such high regard?"

Several people whispered in astonishment.

Dong Su froze where he stood.

Ma Yuan then turned to him with a sharp gaze.

"I will show no mercy to anyone who dares spread false accusations."

Dong Su immediately began trembling in fear.

"M-Master... please forgive me. I-I truly didn't know. Please forgive me."

Ma Yuan brushed Dong Su's hand aside.

"I've already told you—I am not your master. Starting today, the Herbal Tower will no longer welcome you."

Dong Su collapsed to his knees.

"Master, didn't you promise that you would at least evaluate my abilities first? That's why I came here to see you," he pleaded desperately.

"And I already have!" Ma Yuan shouted.

"Enough. Leave this place. As for everything you damaged and all the losses incurred here, the bill will be sent to the Dong family."

"The Dong family is going to be furious," several people whispered.

Ma Yuan's order made Dong Su's face turn pale. Secretly, he clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"Li Ye, this is all your fault!" Dong Su thought, suppressing his rage.

Ma Yuan then turned to Li Ye with a friendly smile.

"Young Master Li, let us go somewhere more comfortable."

Li Ye simply nodded and followed Ma Yuan away from the crowd.

***

They eventually arrived at a quiet white room, with one side completely open to reveal the clear blue sky.

The place was peaceful and comfortable, perfect for a conversation. Several snacks and a freshly brewed pot of tea had already been prepared on the table.

Li Ye sat down after Ma Yuan gestured for him to do so.

"My apologies, Young Master Li. You came all this way, only for such an incident to occur," Ma Yuan said apologetically as he poured Li Ye a cup of tea.

Li Ye accepted it politely. "It's no problem. Just call me Li Ye," he said.

"I heard you came to the Li family's residence. Why were you looking for me? Was there a problem with the prescription?" Li Ye asked without beating around the bush.

"Not at all," Ma Yuan replied as he sat across from Li Ye. Li Ye remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"After taking that medicinal formula for only a few days, my body already feels much more refreshed," Ma Yuan continued, showing just how much healthier he had become.

Li Ye nodded with satisfaction.

"That's good to hear. If you continue taking it regularly for a month, the poison in your body will be completely eliminated," Li Ye said.

Ma Yuan laughed with delight.

"Thank goodness."

"Then, if there's nothing wrong with the prescription I gave you..." Li Ye said, still unable to understand why someone as important as Ma Yuan had personally gone to the Li family residence to look for him.

"The truth is, I came to see you because of the Qi and Blood Recovery Elixir."

Li Ye raised an eyebrow. It was a common medicinal elixir and not difficult to make. There shouldn't have been any problem with the one he had prepared.

"What happened to that elixir?" Li Ye asked in confusion.