Dashing Student

Several days later, Chen Nan returned to Moon Tower Dong Village. This time, Shama followed him back.

Originally, Chen Nan had no particular feelings about Shama, but for some reason, after he saved the people of Luoxi Village, Shama insisted on staying by his side no matter what.

He said he wanted to learn from him and even wanted to apprentice under Chen Nan.

The change was too drastic, and Chen Nan found it hard to accept for a while.

However, facing Shama’s sincere gaze, Chen Nan could only agree, even though he always felt something was off about Shama.

"Elder, the medical theories you shared with me on the way really opened my eyes!"

Using the King of Ten Thousand Gu to treat the Immortal Epidemic naturally couldn’t be taught to Shama, but Chen Nan’s own medical skills were exceptionally advanced, so even casually imparting a few pointers greatly benefited Shama.

Chen Nan genuinely wished for the medical practices of Heavenly Border and the outside world to merge, as this would allow for treating more people.

"Hmm, it’s good you understand, but what I shared might not necessarily suit Heavenly Border; you need to integrate the experiences of Medical Witches as well."

"Understood, I will undoubtedly strive hard."

Shama appeared as humble as though he were truly Chen Nan’s apprentice; after seeking advice for a while longer, he finally left.

However, the moment he stepped out of the room, his humility vanished, instantly replaced by a sinister expression, akin to a venomous snake.

"Utterly hypocritical! I am a Medical Witch; you think you can teach me medical skills?

"Just wait, I will surely trample you beneath my feet!"

After Shama left, Ah Yin and Chang Qing arrived at Chen Nan’s room.

"Senior, Shama looks a bit odd; I always see him hiding and saying something odd."

Ah Yin cautiously reminded.

Chang Qing nodded in agreement, "Exactly, that person doesn’t seem right; he must be plotting something bad!"

"Gossiping about others is not a good habit."

Chen Nan chuckled, and then remarked, "Relax, I’m aware; he can’t stir up any trouble in front of me."

Once the two women left, Chen Nan furrowed his brows slightly.

If he alone feels something amiss, it might be his own bias.

But now Ah Yin and Chang Qing also sense something’s wrong with Shama, so it surely is an issue with Shama.

"Did he truly follow me back to learn medical skills, or is there another motive?"

Chen Nan’s whispers quickly dissipated into the wind.

Because the black-robed men could return at any time, the village was filled with an atmosphere of tension, with all cultivators diligently practicing.

Xiu Yun Village managed to become a medium-sized village because their cultivation mental method and magic for controlling Gu Insects had high quality, so all the people Chen Nan brought switched to cultivating Xiu Yun Village’s mental method.

The Gu Insects obtained from killing the black-robed men were also distributed among them.

This made the cultivators in the village increasingly powerful.

Two days later, a Gu Master from Moon Tower Dong Village hurriedly returned, claiming a village had invited Chen Nan to treat the Immortal Epidemic.

Even though it was just a small village, with only about two or three hundred people, Chen Nan still decided to leave immediately.

But Shama stood up at this moment to persuade, "Elder, it’s already late, and traveling at night is very dangerous; why not wait until tomorrow morning to depart?"

Nobody stood up to oppose this suggestion, as demon beasts are highly active in Heavenly Border at night.

After contemplating for a moment, Chen Nan agreed.

In the late night, the cool moonlight fell like a veil over the village.

In the quiet village, only the footsteps of patrols could be heard, while outside, the chirping of insects rose and fell, occasionally accompanied by the roar of demon beasts.

As the moon descended from the branches, the sun appeared on the horizon, and a new day began.

Chang Qing silently entered Chen Nan’s room as the first ray of sunlight fell.

"No issues, he didn’t leave all night."

Chen Nan nodded, "Then it seems we misunderstood him."

Originally, Shama’s advice to Chen Nan to stay put last night raised his suspicions, prompting him to secretly have Chang Qing watch Shama.

But unexpectedly, Shama didn’t exhibit any strange behavior all night; it seemed indeed they were overthinking it.

"I’ll go with you; I just have a bad feeling something might happen," said Chang Qing.

Chen Nan, however, shook his head with a smile, "No need; you should stay and safeguard the village since the black-robed men might return, and the villagers rely on you to protect them."

"I’ll be back soon, and might even bring the people from that little village back."

Afterward, Chen Nan left the village with Shama and a cultivator to guide them.

The journey to the small village was not short, at least two days, and Chen Nan didn’t stop along the way, but just as they traveled for a day, Shama suddenly stopped.

"What’s wrong?"

Chen Nan furrowed his brows.

Shama’s face displayed a smile, but there was something crazed about it.

"We’ve arrived."

The guiding cultivator looked puzzled, "No, there’s still a day’s journey left."

"No, I said we’ve arrived."

Shama curled his finger, and suddenly the guiding cultivator grunted, looked down to see a Gu Insect tearing its way out of his chest.

"When...?"

The guiding cultivator couldn’t finish a single sentence before collapsing heavily.

Chen Nan’s heart suddenly sank, and his internal mana surged wildly, his sharp gaze like knives directed at Shama.

This old man was indeed up to something!

"Chen Nan, is it not surprising?" Shama laughed, "Did you really think I wanted to learn medical skills from you? What is someone like you worth?"

"And that foolish woman Chang Qing, did she think I didn’t know she was watching me? Delivering messages doesn’t have to be done in person; it’s possible with Gu Insects."

From the surrounding woods, there came a rustling sound, and soon three figures emerged, all clad in black robes, their Golden Core Stage cultivation openly displayed, each one’s cultivation around the fifth layer.

What was even more shocking was that these three individuals were followed by several demon beasts, all approximately the Golden Core Third Layer, bearing the inherent ferocity of demon beasts.

Three Golden Core cultivators were all Beast Tamers!

This was a trap aimed at Chen Nan!

Yet Chen Nan, apart from his initial surprise, had already calmed down by now.

Since it was a conspiracy against him, no matter how vile, it would be futile; only by staying calm could there be a slim chance of survival.

Seeing Chen Nan unfazed, Shama grew anxious.

"How can you remain so calm? You should be terrified, begging for mercy, kneeling before me, and pleading for your life!"

"You must be pretending, aren’t you? Beg me, plead with me quickly!"

He shouted the last part.

Chen Nan’s expression remained unchanged, yet his eyes were filled with disdain.

"What a pity."

"A pity? You’re the pathetic one; today you’ll have no escape!" Shama’s face twisted with rage.

Chen Nan chuckled twice, with an even stronger mocking look in his eyes.

"Do you know who they are? They’re the ones who spread the Immortal Epidemic."

"You’ve betrayed your own people to collude with them; isn’t that pathetic?"