While the two sides remained at a stalemate, a tall, slender man suddenly appeared at the entrance.

After the page boy led him inside, Qiao Mu waved her hand and the page boy withdrew.

The man looked at Qiao Mu and said with courtesy: “I am Long Yan. My master suffers from a stubborn ailment, and having heard that the remarkable Ghost Doctor Feng Jiu is an exceptionally skilled physician, I have come especially to pay a visit.”

The man had not even announced the name of his household, only mentioning that his master suffered from a stubborn ailment. This manner of opening was, rather, something of a breath of fresh air.

Qiao Mu was just about to say something when the Nanmen Manor’s steward interjected in a cold voice: “Our Duke is still waiting for Feng Jiu to call upon him for a house visit!”

The meaning was clear — no matter what ailment the newcomer had come about, at the very least he would have to wait until their Duke had been treated by Feng Jiu before anything else could be discussed.

Looking at the steward’s overbearing manner, one did not even need to think to know just how insufferably arrogant the people of the Nanmen clan truly were.

The Nanmen clan was no longer as glorious as it had once been, yet even so, a mere steward still dared to bark and bellow at anyone and everyone outside their doors. How shamelessly domineering they must have been in their days of boundless glory was easy enough to imagine.

Qiao Mu suddenly looked at Long Yan and said: “Elder Brother, please come to the inner hall first and have a cup of tea while you wait. Our Young Master is currently in consultation and we do not know when he will be finished. If Elder Brother cannot wait—”

“I can wait, I can wait!” Long Yan’s face lit up with delight at once: “As long as Physician Feng Jiu is willing to come out and see me, I am willing to wait however long is needed.”

Ghost Doctor Feng Jiu had only been in the imperial capital for a little over three months, yet having cured an old man who had been bedridden and paralyzed for many years, her fame had spread swiftly and widely.

Any number of people had come seeking a consultation, but Physician Feng Jiu was not willing to personally attend to just anyone. She had many skilled physicians under her employ, and ordinary ailments were handled by the physicians below her. Very few people were able to receive a personal audience with Physician Feng Jiu.

Long Yan looked deeply honored and was about to follow Qiao Mu inside, when unexpectedly the Nanmen steward’s expression darkened, and he swung a palm directly at him!

“Insolence! Feng Jiu is someone the Duke wishes to see — who dares to go ahead and see her first? Are you tired of living?”

Qiao Mu’s expression also grew somber. She had not expected this steward to actually dare make a move right here and now. This explosive temper of his was practically identical to that of the famously hot-headed and trigger-happy Duke Nanmen Ye himself — cut from exactly the same cloth!

This entire household — except for Nanmen Xu — truly had not a single decent person among them!

Qiao Mu was just about to step in when, unexpectedly, Long Yan raised his hand in a casual, unhurried motion, and in one effortless move, pinned the Nanmen steward’s wrist beneath his palm.

The Nanmen steward only felt a tremor shoot through the base of his thumb, followed immediately by a numbing sensation, and then half of his body went entirely beyond his control — he could not even move.

A trace of admiring amusement surfaced in the depths of Qiao Mu’s eyes. This Elder Brother was not only exceptionally refined in bearing, but his martial skill was equally superb.

He was clearly a man of considerable standing, yet when he spoke to others he was humble and courteous. Just moments ago, when he had learned that Feng Jiu was willing to receive him, the excitement and delight on his face had been genuine — he had truly felt honored.

A man of such good manners — compared to this Nanmen steward, the difference was practically that between the heavens and the earth.

“My apologies.” Long Yan released his grip, and the Nanmen steward immediately crumpled to the ground, unable even to stand.

Two attendants only then came to their senses and rushed forward to help him up. One of them was just about to draw his long sword, when his legs suddenly went numb, and the whole person collapsed to his knees.

“This is the physician’s domain. If you wish to seek a quarrel, please come find me, Long Yan, at the World’s Foremost Manor — do not disturb the physician’s peace and quiet.”

He was actually from the World’s Foremost Manor! Long Yan… now that she thought about it, she seemed to have truly heard this name before somewhere.

The most capable and trusted aide by the side of the World’s Foremost Manor’s manor lord, Master Lanyue — it seemed that person was called Long Yan.

“You… just you wait!” The Nanmen steward managed to crawl back to his feet with great difficulty and hastily departed.

A person from the World’s Foremost Manor was someone he could not afford to provoke for the time being. This matter still had to be reported back to the Duke.

Long Yan cupped his fists toward Qiao Mu, looking apologetic: “I apologize, I have caused a disturbance.”

“This way, please.” Qiao Mu said nothing further and escorted him to the inner hall, had someone bring tea, then said: “I apologize — our Young Master is still in consultation…”

“I understand, I can wait — it is no trouble at all. As long as the Young Master is willing to receive me, I can wait no matter how late it gets!” Long Yan said earnestly, with an expression of such sincerity that it was truly difficult to refuse.

In truth, the Young Master had once said that she much preferred treating ordinary common folk — as for those great and powerful figures, she had little interest in them.

The World’s Foremost Manor — as the name implied, the greatest household in all the jianghu. Though they were not affiliated with the imperial court, the influence they commanded was absolutely immense.

Their disciples were spread across all five lakes and four seas, throughout every corner of the land and even in neighboring kingdoms. The total number of disciples, added together, was absolutely no fewer than a hundred thousand.

Such a vast and powerful force — even the people of the imperial court did not dare act lightly against them.

One hundred thousand was only an estimate of their numbers. In truth, just how many disciples they actually had, no one could say for certain except those who held power within the manor itself.

There were rumors that the World’s Foremost Manor’s master, Master Lanyue, was a peerless martial expert, but he appeared to suffer from a strange affliction and had for many years been unwilling to show himself before outsiders.

Whether he truly had a stubborn ailment or simply did not wish to meet with people — the minds of such extraordinary figures were naturally beyond the understanding of ordinary people.

But today, Long Yan had come to seek medical treatment, so perhaps Master Lanyue truly did have a strange affliction.

Someone afflicted with a strange ailment who had nonetheless managed to build a manor from nothing into the World’s Foremost Manor in less than ten years — that was truly remarkable.

However, the reputation of the World’s Foremost Manor was truly immense, and Qiao Mu was uncertain whether Feng Jiu would be willing to receive them.

She was silent for a moment, then said: “Physician Long…”

“No, no, no — you had better just call me Elder Brother. ‘Physician’ and all that sounds so distant and formal. I reckon that if you keep calling me that, your Young Master might genuinely refuse to see me.”

Qiao Mu was momentarily stunned, and found herself completely at a loss for words.

Fortunately, she currently presented herself as a man, and even her face was unmistakably that of a man — a face that Feng Jiu had gone to great lengths to craft for each of them, one that could not be compared to any ordinary human-skin mask. As long as it was maintained with the medicinal solution at regular intervals, it would appear just as natural as one’s real face.

So with this Elder Brother Long Yan speaking in such a manner to a man, it did not come across as flippant at all.

Still, Long Yan’s way of “reckoning” people’s hearts — was he not just a little too good at reading people?

That “Physician” a moment ago had indeed sounded more distant than the informal address used outside.

Qiao Mu had no choice but to tell him honestly: “Our Young Master has always disliked dealing with powerful figures, so whether she is willing to receive you — I cannot say for certain either.”

“As long as little brother is willing to make an introduction on my behalf, I am already deeply grateful beyond measure. If Physician Feng Jiu is not willing to meet with me, I… I will think of another way.”

Meaning that even if the Young Master was unwilling to meet with him, he would still find a way to seek an audience — he simply would not make things difficult for her in the process.

Such a reasonable and understanding disposition was not often seen. Qiao Mu’s favorable impression of their manor rose considerably on the spot.