Evening... During Sun Set...

Lily is walking towards her residence in silence. Tony followed her with carefree look and said nothing for a long stretch of path. The evening light was hitting the peaks at a low angle, turning the snow on the upper slopes orange and gold.

"Did anything important happen while I was in there?!" Tony asked slowly while matching her pace.

"It was actually peaceful," Lily said. "The Healing Tower issued a formal clarification about the ICU room incident. Your name has been cleared officially."

"Oh. Good."

"It is not good," Lily said. "It’s Hikaru. She pushed for that clarification because she wants you back in the tower." She turned her head to look at him sideways. "She is clearly infatuated with you, Tony, and I am telling you directly— whatever happens, don’t fall for it. Do whatever else you want. Make enemies, cause trouble, break formation chambers with pocket bombs— I can manage all of that." She looked back at the path. "But don’t fall in love with her. I am warning you."

Tony looked at her profile— the evening light on her face, the complete seriousness in her expression, the way she was delivering a warning about love with the same composed intensity she brought to everything else.

He nodded... Slowly... Repeatedly... Like a chicken.

Lily glanced at him. "Why are you nodding like that?!"

"I’m agreeing," Tony said.

"You look ridiculous."

"I’m agreeing with my beautiful wife..." Tony said.

Lily looked at him for a moment longer. Then she turned back to the path and said nothing more.

The snow leopard was waiting at the entrance, tied to its pine tree, chewing the rope again.

"Stop that," Tony said.

The leopard let go of the rope.

Lily watched the exchange, then looked at Tony, then at the leopard, then back at Tony with the expression of someone who has decided not to comment on something they have just witnessed.

***

Next Day Morning...

As Tony stepped out from Lily’s residence to hunt for heaven blessed people, his thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a Hikaru Luna waiting for him at the entrance.

"Tony," the Hikaru greeted him hurriedly as Tony approached. "Peak master Natasha is waiting for you at the healing tower. She sent me to fetch you."

Tony turned back to see Lily. She nodded, acknowledging the message with a sigh of resignation.

Without a word, Tony followed Hikaru, his mind already racing with thoughts of what awaited him.

Upon reaching the entrance of the healing tower, Tony found himself face-to-face with Peak Master Natasha. She stood tall and imposing, her demeanor commanding respect and authority.

Tony bowed his head respectfully, greeting her in a manner befitting her status. "Good morning... Master Natasha."

Natasha returned the greeting with a nod, her gaze piercing as she studied him. "Tony, answer me straight. Did you really cure that cancer girl?." She asked directly without beating around the bush.

"Yes, Peak Master. It was a surface cancer. That’s why I was able to cure her." Tony straightened, meeting her gaze straight.

"Good, I will see that myself" Natasha replied briskly, her tone leaving no room for further discussion. "Now, follow me."

With that, she turned and began to descend the stairs. Tony followed closely behind, his heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

As they reached the bottom floor of the healing tower, Tony sighed as they again came back to the corpse preservation room. Rows of preserved skeletons and dead bodies lay before him, a stark reminder of the gravity of their work.

As he stared at the central table, Tony remembered how he treated Hikaru. Thankfully, she didn’t follow him downstairs. Otherwise, her face might have turned red with shame.

"Before testing your talent on patients, I want to see whether you really have healing ability or not. Show me the basics of needle handling, finding acupoints, needle insertions, and withdrawal." Natasha asked, as she pointed at the perfect human corpse on the table.

Tony nodded solemnly, as he placed the needle set in position and put on gloves. He wasted no time in beginning his demonstration, his hands deftly manoeuvring the hollow needles with precision and skill.

While holding a needle in between his fingers, Tony began showcasing his pleasure needle technique.

Natasha watched with a confused look. Because Tony’s way of needle movement is very unique and strange. She never saw such falling needle techniques... It’s like a bird losing a feather. No sound, no piercing marks, not even a small scar. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Stop It..." Natasha said in a serious tone and walked out. Tony followed her with a confused look.

"Did I do anything wrong?!" Tony muttered while following her.

Surprised by Tony’s speed, peak master Natasha brought Tony to the 5th floor of Healing Tower.

The 5th floor contains SSS rank patients. As Lily put on a condition... Natasha brought him here to treat SSS rank patients inside the Healing Tower.

Hikaru followed closely as she already expected this outcome.

As peak master Natasha approached, the disciples who were serving the disease bowed their heads and waited for her command.

"Tony, analyze this lady’s condition and tell me what you find." Peak Master Natasha asked while pointing at the laying middle-aged woman. The disciple who was treating her took a backstep.

After one careful glance, Tony placed his palm on the lady’s stomach and closed his eyes. His eyes twitched for a moment as he opened his eyes and turned towards Peak Master.

"Master, this lady is suffering from swelling around her yin-seed. If not treated, she might suffer severe stomach pain." Tony replied in a confident tone.

The disciple who was treating the lady, startles after hearing Tony reply. It took him two hours and vigorous testing to find out the cause of the lady’s stomach pain. But Tony found it in a single moment.

"Hmmm, it seems you really studied the Complete Canon of Traditional Healing Arts. Very well... Now try to treat her condition by using only 6 needles." Peak Master Natasha spoke while observing Tony with a bit of curiosity.

All disciples and Healing nurses leaned to see what was happening. Nobody expected the Peak Master to hand over a patient to Tony who promised to kill 100 patients a day.