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Chapter 159 Favor Debt

"Wouldn't that seem too cold?" Lin Qing asked, staring at Chen Xuan's phone. "Why don't you chat with her a little more?"

Chen Xuan closed WeChat. "Our name is Capability Center, not Capability Friends. If we chat less, it'll be easier to cut ties later."

"Really? I didn't realize you were such a cold person before." Lin Qing said this, but there was no sign of displeasure on her face.

This person…could she be trying to make me say she's the special one? Chen Xuan turned his head away, deliberately avoiding her trap, “And you, are you sure you've already hacked into her phone?”

Lin Qing pouted and said, "Of course, such a primitive system can be cracked by Xiao Lü in just one minute."

In fact, that contract was just a facade.

Whether it's a covert transaction or a one-way demand for a function, it's essentially a form of capability exchange. Once something is sold, it's sold; if the other party doesn't agree, it can't be taken back. The moment Jiang Siqi signed, she essentially agreed to the covert transaction. If she tries to use the same method to make a one-way demand again, the other party might not agree so easily.

They didn't intend to use a popular online streamer as a professional spy. The plan was for her to film vlogs of her life within the organization and send them over, but in reality, it was to hack into her phone and eavesdrop on conversations within the organization. If the organization was on guard, that wouldn't be a problem; as long as she didn't suspect them, Lin Qing could easily provide her with a device that was difficult for current reconnaissance technology to detect.

Two days later, Chen Xuan received a call from an acquaintance.

It was Mr. Xu, the owner of the pharmacy, who called.

"Young friend, I would like to ask you for a favor."

Aside from receiving the medicine and making the payment, this was the first time Xu Wangxian had taken the initiative to approach him. Last time, it was thanks to him that Ajiu and Ahua's problems were quietly resolved by using his connections at the hospital, so Chen Xuan readily replied, "Tell me, anything I can help with is fine."

"It's like this... A boss's daughter fell ill, and various treatments didn't seem to help much. This boss is someone in our circle, and in the end, he went to the dean of Beitian Academy for help. The dean said that whoever can help will become a distinguished guest of Beitian Academy."

Chen Xuan was confused. What circle? The Chinese herbal medicine circle?

Which organization is Beitianyuan?
But he understood the last sentence.

"You want me to help her get treatment?"

“That’s right, young friend, you understand immediately. The medicine you sell is practically a miracle cure. Although her illness cannot be cured by blood oranges and Gan Biqing pills, I think you might have other methods.”

Chen Xuan hesitated for a moment.

Xu Wangxian had most likely already realized that he wasn't some so-called spokesperson for elixirs, and that these medicines were actually refined by him. If Chen Xuan used the excuse that he only sold medicine to refuse, the other party certainly wouldn't say much, but their relationship would definitely become strained, and the favor owed would be forever.

“If you don’t want to be famous, young friend, I can take on that fame for you. When you’re treating patients, I can just say you’re my assistant…” Seeing that he didn’t answer immediately, Xu Wangxian quickly added, “Of course… that would be a bit unfair to you. You should know that being a distinguished guest of Beitian Academy is not just a title; it’s something that no amount of money can buy. To put it another way, if you only want money, they can offer an exorbitant fee.”

"What kind of organization is the Northern Heavenly Academy? Is it a national-level institution?" Chen Xuan asked curiously. In the meantime, he searched online but found absolutely no relevant information.

"I can't say this over the phone. Let's talk about it in person."

Since the other party had already gone this far, Chen Xuan couldn't very well refuse.

"Okay, then I'll go to your pharmacy to talk to you."

After telling Lin Qing what was going on, he took a taxi to Baicaotang by himself.

The saleswoman selling medicine was still there. When she saw Chen Xuan, she glanced at him suspiciously a few more times. It wasn't until Boss Xu personally escorted him upstairs that a look of shock flashed across her face. After closing the office door, Xu Wangxian made him a cup of hot tea. "Young friend, it's not that I'm being mysterious, but Beitian Academy is indeed a secluded sect, and they don't want us to discuss it in public."

The word "sect" stirred something within Chen Xuan.

"The legendary kind?"

“Yes.” Xu Wangxian nodded. “The legendary kind. It is said to have been established by the Medicine King Sun Simiao and has been passed down from ancient times to the present. Anyone with a bit of influence in the Chinese medicine circle knows about its existence to some extent. Of course, I am referring to ordinary people. People with money and power know a lot more about it. After all, some rare and precious medicines on the market come from the Beitian Academy.”

Chen Xuan had never heard of this before. "So powerful? If even the Medicine Sect can't cure a patient, is it really useful to seek help from outsiders?"

"I thought so at first, but after thinking about it carefully, I realized that they were placing their hopes on people with superpowers," Xu Wangxian said with emotion. "Aren't people talking about superpowers everywhere lately? Who knows if there is a power that can cure those stubborn diseases that neither traditional Chinese medicine nor Western medicine can cure? That's why the Beitian Academy released the news—those big shots may not be good at other things, but their connections are definitely top-notch."

I see. It seems that ability users have become an additional option besides all the conventional answers. Chen Xuan then asked, "Then why don't they just contact the Dimensional Limit Agency directly?"

"Hmm... I don't quite understand it either. Perhaps their millennia-old pride prevents them from doing this?" Boss Xu speculated. "It's easier to repay a favor owed to an individual than to an organization."

Chen Xuan took a sip of tea. "Do you know anything else specific, like what disease that person has?"

“I’m not too sure about that, since it involves patient privacy.” He shook his head. “I only know that the boss’s surname is Gu, and Dingsheng Pharmaceuticals is their company.”

Dingsheng Pharmaceuticals… Even Chen Xuan had heard of this name. From toothpaste to vaccines, this company's products were all-encompassing, demonstrating its formidable strength. Given their resources, they certainly had unlimited access to top-tier medical resources. If even that was ineffective, the severity of the disease was evident.

"Well, young friend, are you willing to give it a try?" Xu Wangxian asked expectantly.

Chen Xuan thought for a moment and replied, "Since Boss Xu has asked for it, I have no choice but to agree. However, going to check on the situation is one thing, and whether I can cure it is another. I will not prescribe a medicine unless I am absolutely certain."

He doesn't understand medicine at all. Talking about medication would be tantamount to giving himself away. So it's impossible for him to prescribe a medicine. So many people can't be cured, so it's normal that he can't cure himself. As long as he goes, the favor will be repaid.

"Of course, of course!" Xu Wangxian stroked his beard with delight. "But I believe in your abilities, young friend. If you succeed, my Hundred Herbs Hall will benefit greatly!"

This was probably the reason why the other party tried so hard to get him to treat his illness. Chen Xuan thought to himself that Boss Xu obviously wanted to integrate into this circle, and he just happened to know a capable person who could make "elixirs". This is how the so-called network of interests was formed little by little.

Chen Xuan hesitated at first simply because he found it troublesome. After all, the patient might not be in Jiangcheng, and the exact time of the "important intrusion point" mentioned by Lin Qing was unknown, only speculated to be around Christmas. He didn't want to delay important matters because of this.

But Mr. Xu was, after all, his client's savior, so simply making a trip for him wouldn't cost him anything. Anyway, he wasn't asking for a cure, and if the patient was in China, the plane could usually arrive on the same day.

"So...where is the patient now?"

“It’s right on Mount Lu!” Xu Wangxian said.

Chen Xuan was taken aback. "Lushan Mountain in Jiangcheng?"

Isn't that right behind my rented apartment complex?

“Otherwise, which other mountain is there? Oh, I forgot to tell you, young friend, the Northern Heaven Academy is located in Jiangcheng.” Xu Wangxian chuckled. “If you have no other plans, I will inform you tonight, and we can go and visit you first thing tomorrow morning.”

(End of this chapter)