CHAPTER 159: 159- DOCTOR MU’S PLACE.

Inside the Thatched Hut:

The thick wooden door muffled the outside world, leaving only the faint scent of herbs and the crackle of a small brazier.

Fang Yuan sat cross-legged directly on the well-swept packed earth floor while his expression was a mixture of exasperation and weary patience.

Before him, was Fang Lian, prostrated so low that her forehead literally just touched the ground.

Her short, practical hair fanned out slightly, and her shoulders trembled with the fervor of her apology.

"Master! This unworthy disciple begs forgiveness! To raise a hand, to throw weapons at you... it’s utterly unforgivable! Please punish this foolish, impulsive disciple of yours!" Her voice was thick with remorse.

Fang Yuan sighed, the sound soft in the quiet hut. He waved a dismissive hand.

"Get up, Lian. Enough groveling. It was my fault barging in without warning. Anyone would react poorly to an intruder during a middle of taking a bath."

He offered a small, wry smile. "It was my mistake, not yours so you shouldn’t be the one apologising here."

Fang Lian lifted her head slightly, her eyes wide and earnest.

"No, Master! It doesn’t matter! A master is like a father for life! You can’t be replaced! I should have my full faith in you, recognized your presence instantly! My failure was in doubt, even for a second!" Her voice cracked with conviction.

Fang Yuan shook his head again, a fond yet slightly tired gesture. "Lian. If your master tells you to stand up, then stand up. Right now."

Instantly, like a released spring, Fang Lian shot to her feet.

She stood ramrod straight, hands clasped tightly behind her back, chin slightly lifted, though her eyes remained downcast respectfully.

"See?" Fang Yuan said, his tone softening. "Not that hard, is it?"

Fang Lian gave a quick, sharp nod. "No, Master."

A brief silence settled, filled only by the brazier’s pops.

Fang Yuan’s gaze, sharp and observant despite his relaxed posture, scanned her. His eyes lingered almost imperceptibly near her midsection.

"So," he asked, his voice deceptively casual, "how’s your injuries? Does it still hurts?"

"I’m doing much better now, Master! Thank you!" Fang Lian replied promptly, her voice bright. "Truly! The pain is minimal."

Fang Yuan hummed, noncommittally. "If you say so."

Another beat of silence stretched, thicker this time.

Fang Yuan leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper that still carried clearly in the small space. "It still hurts, doesn’t it?"

Fang Lian flinched.

"No! No, Master! I’m all fine! You can trust me! Here," she insisted, her hands flying to the neat bandages visible beneath the simple tunic tied at her waist.

Fingers fumbled to untie the knot. "You can see for yourself, it’s healing cleanly–"

Thwack!

Fang Yuan’s knuckles rapped quickly but not harshly against the top of her head.

"Stop that, you little witch!" he chided, though the worry was clear beneath the gruffness.

He lowered his hand. "Where’s Doctor Mu, anyway? Is he also taking a bath?"

Fang Lian rubbed her head sheepishly. "Ah, no, Master. After tending to my wounds this morning, he... he said he had a strong feeling you’d be paying a visit today. So he packed a small bag, said he was going outside the estate walls to ’eat and enjoy the sunshine’... and that he’d stay there for the day." She winced slightly, anticipating his reaction.

Fang Yuan blinked.

Once. Twice.

His mouth opened... then shut again.

"...He’s avoiding me?"

"What... what?" The words slipped out before he could stop them, pure disbelief robbing him of anything more coherent.

And oh, the nerve of it, he wasn’t even subtle about it!

Fang Yuan could only stare, struck dumb by the sheer pettiness of this old man.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze shifting to Xiao Pei, who had been standing rigidly near the doorway like a particularly handsome, nervous statue throughout the entire exchange.

Fang Yuan took in the man’s wide, panicked eyes fixed on him.

A slow, deliberate smile spread across Fang Yuan’s face.

"Well, Brother Da Pang," Fang Yuan sighed dramatically, spreading his hands.

"Guess you get to stay strikingly, muscle-boundly, fangirl-magnet handsome for your lifetime now. Doctor Mu’s officially on a Holiday."

Xiao Pei jolted as if electrocuted. "Wha–? What do you mean?!"

The statue came to life, hands clenching at his sides. "Brother Fang! Don’t jest! What’s gonna happen to me?!"

Fang Yuan leaned back, enjoying the performance.

"It’s the curse!" he declared gravely, though a spark of humor danced in his eyes.

"Once the Curse of Phasa takes hold, unless you undo it within the next twelve hours... well..."

He gestured expansively at Xiao Pei’s entire form. "...You’d be stuck like that. Forever."

"Curse?!" Xiao Pei’s voice cracked. Panic radiated off him in waves. He took a step forward, eyes wild. "Brother Fang! What... what is this ’Curse of Fasa’?! How do we break it?! It hasn’t been twelve hours yet, right?! RIGHT?!"

Fang Yuan realized he had pushed things a bit too far but somehow, explaining himself felt even more troublesome.

So, with the smoothness of a practiced liar, he spun another thread of nonsense.

"Alright, alright, Brother Da Pang. Sorry not, the cure for the curse exists. It’s rare to achieve, sure, but not impossible. Once you reach the Hollow Spirit Realm, you can change your appearance at will even if the curse has taken root deep inside. Don’t panic, you’ll be back to normal in no time."

Xiao Pei’s knees gave out, and he slumped to the floor.

"In no time? Brother Fang, have you ever met someone who reached the Hollow Spirit Realm? Forget meeting, have you even read about them in a book? No right? I’m stuck like this until I die!"

Fang Yuan’s gaze drifted to Fang Lian. He was... baffled.

Back in his old world, people were desperate to be taller, fitter, more handsome yet here, he’d stumbled into the exact opposite.

And strangely enough... a part of him thought he could understand why. Which only made the whole thing more puzzling.

Fang Lian, feeling the weight of his stare but having no idea what ran through his mind, blinked in confusion.

"Master?" she asked softly.