Cheng Xiaofan had already noticed that Luo Shu commanded a formidable hidden force, ready to fight to the death at his bidding. This powerful, unseen force was loyal to another self.
"Good, with your word, Elder Luo, I am reassured!" Cheng Xiaofan said with a smile.
As they were engrossed in conversation, Gan Xiaotang emerged from the kitchen, bringing the prepared dishes to the table one by one.
"Xiaotang, thank you for your hard work. Sit down and join us for the meal!" Luo Shu beckoned to Xiaotang.
Gan Xiaotang smiled and said, "Elder Luo, it's already a great honor for me to have you dine at my humble inn. There's no hard work involved!"
She brought out a bottle of wine and poured a cup for both Luo Shu and Cheng Xiaofan.
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "Elder Luo, you might not know, but Xiaotang is the only female disciple of Jiang Tian from back then!"
"Really? That's wonderful!" Luo Shu exclaimed with pleasant surprise. "Xiaotang, pour yourself a cup of wine, and I'll toast you!"
Gan Xiaotang quickly replied, "Elder Luo, I am junior. How can I accept your toast!"
"Besides, I still have business to attend to this afternoon and cannot drink!"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "Xiaotang, starting this afternoon, you don't need to open for business. Close early."
"Also, you'll stay at Elder Luo's place tonight. Don't stay at the inn!"
Gan Xiaotang looked surprised and asked, "Husband, why?"
Cheng Xiaofan replied, "As for why, I can't explain it to you yet. Just listen to me, and you'll understand everything tomorrow."
Hearing him say this, Gan Xiaotang didn't press further.
She poured herself a cup of wine and smiled at Luo Shu, saying, "Elder Luo, I'll toast you!"
Luo Shu no longer refused, raised his cup, and smiled, "Alright, thank you, Xiaotang!"
After lunch, Luo Shu chatted for a while before getting up to leave.
Gan Xiaotang closed the inn in the afternoon and hung a small sign on the door that read: Temporarily Closed!
Cheng Xiaofan also removed the awning and advertising board from the entrance.
Returning to the inn, Cheng Xiaofan closed the door behind him.
He swept Gan Xiaotang into his arms and smiled, "Since we have nothing to do this afternoon, let's go to the bedroom. I'll help you consolidate your internal energy again!"
"Ah, during the day too?" Gan Xiaotang blushed and shrunk her face.
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled, "What's wrong with during the day? It can be anytime!"
With that, they entered the bedroom.
By the time they emerged from the bedroom, it was already late.
Just then, Cheng Xiaofan received a call from Luo Shu: "Mr. Cheng, when you bring Xiaotang, don't have dinner at home. Come to my place to eat!"
"I've already prepared meals for both of you!"
Cheng Xiaofan did not stand on ceremony and replied, "Okay, Elder Luo, Xiaotang and I will be right over!"
After hanging up, he said to Gan Xiaotang, "Xiaotang, pack up. I'll take you to stay at Elder Luo's place for the night!"
"Okay!"
Gan Xiaotang packed a few things and followed Cheng Xiaofan to Luo Shu's house.
To welcome Gan Xiaotang, Luo Shu had spent the entire afternoon cleaning his house until it was spotless.
Luo Shu had also specially picked a few bouquets of wildflowers from the outdoors and placed them in a vase in the bedroom prepared for Gan Xiaotang.
The quilt and mosquito net in the bedroom were brand new.
"Elder Luo, this quilt and these items, you bought them this afternoon, didn't you?" Cheng Xiaofan asked with a smile as he surveyed the bedroom.
Luo Shu smiled and replied, "Yes, the quilts at home were all worn out. How could I let Xiaotang use them!"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled, "You've gone to great expense!"
Luo Shu chuckled, "Mr. Cheng, you jest. Xiaotang is Jiang Tian's disciple, which makes her like my own daughter. What does it matter if I spend a little?"
There was also a young woman in the room. She was about Gan Xiaotang's age, tall, with long hair cascading down her shoulders, and a strikingly beautiful face.
Cheng Xiaofan glanced at her and immediately recognized her as a master among cultivators. In terms of skill, she should be comparable to Gan Xiaotang.
Luo Shu pointed to the young woman and introduced her to Cheng Xiaofan: "Mr. Cheng, this is a daughter of a friend of mine, named Yue Jia. I asked her to come over today to keep Xiaotang company!"
Cheng Xiaofan knew very well that Luo Shu had invited her to avoid any impropriety. Although Luo Shu was an old man, he was still a man, and living under the same roof as a young, beautiful woman might still be perceived as awkward.
"Hello, Mr. Cheng, Sister Xiaotang!" Yue Jia immediately bowed to Cheng Xiaofan and Gan Xiaotang, greeting them with a smile.
"Hello, Sister Yue Jia!" Gan Xiaotang returned the bow.
Cheng Xiaofan smiled at Yue Jia and said, "Miss Yue Jia, if I'm not mistaken, you must be from a military family!"
Yue Jia chuckled, "Mr. Cheng, how did you figure that out?"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled, "I could tell from your aura."
Yue Jia smiled, "Mr. Cheng, I heard Uncle Luo say you are a divine physician. I didn't expect you could also discern someone's background from their aura!"
Cheng Xiaofan replied, "Yes, I can also see that your father is no longer alive, and you are his only daughter."
Upon hearing this, Luo Shu sighed, "Alas, Yue Jia's father was also a loyal hero most admired by the former Star Lord. He sacrificed himself over a decade ago fighting desert beasts."
"Let's not dwell on the past. Let's eat!"
Yue Jia said, "You all chat. I'll go to the kitchen to bring the dishes."
Gan Xiaotang smiled, "Sister Yue Jia, let's go serve the dishes together."
Soon, more than ten dishes were laid out on the not-so-large table.
Luo Shu smiled, "All these dishes today were made by Yue Jia. I couldn't have cooked this many dishes myself."
Cheng Xiaofan took out two bottles of Qianri Zui wine from his backpack.
He said, "Let's drink the wine I brought today!"
Luo Shu smiled, "I have wine here. Why should I drink yours!"
Cheng Xiaofan laughed heartily, "Elder Luo, we are not outsiders. Whose wine we drink is the same!"
By the time the meal ended, it was completely dark outside.
Yue Jia brewed tea for everyone. They chatted while drinking tea.
Around eleven o'clock, Cheng Xiaofan's phone rang. He took out his phone and saw it was Chen Xi calling.
Upon answering, Chen Xi's seductive voice came through: "Divine Physician Cheng, I apologize for disturbing your rest again."
"I'll send someone to pick you up immediately, alright?"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "Okay, I'll get up right away."
After hanging up, he said to Luo Shu, "Elder Luo, they will send someone to pick me up shortly. I need to return to the inn."
"Wait for my news tomorrow!"
"Alright, I'll wait for your news tomorrow!" Luo Shu said with a serious expression.
Cheng Xiaofan walked outside, and Luo Shu followed.
Reaching a secluded spot, Luo Shu knelt before Cheng Xiaofan, choked with emotion, and said, "Divine Physician Cheng, I entrust everything to you!"