As long as he was willing, he’d be guaranteed to get in?

Xuanyuan Lige had no idea what to make of that, and simply took it as the old man boasting, sneering coldly.

But Fifth Elder Meng laughed. “Young man, what’s with that attitude? Do you really think I can’t save you?”

He could indeed save him.

Back then, Nanny Qin had searched all of Longyuan for the finest physicians, even sought treatment overseas, but none could cure him — only the medicine his master had left behind could barely keep him alive.

This old man didn’t look like a physician at all, more like a wanderer from the martial world, and with only third-rate internal skill at best — how could he possibly save him?

Xuanyuan Lige had long since given up hope. He tossed down a gold ingot as payment for their trouble and got up to leave.

“What do you mean by that!” Fifth Elder Meng, provoked, threw an arm across the bed to block him.

“Old man, I have urgent matters to attend to. If you really mean to save people, please step aside.” Xuanyuan Lige said, trying to keep his patience.

Fifth Elder Meng was about to speak when Meng Duo’er cut in first, “Assassin sir, my father really can save you! My father knows the Five Elements Seal — he can seal your vital energy and life essence, and keep you alive!”

At these words, Xuanyuan Lige’s heart skipped, and his whole body went rigid. “You… you’re from the Meng Clan?”

Seals — only the people of the Meng Clan understood such things, only they even knew of them.

Seeing Xuanyuan Lige’s reaction, Fifth Elder Meng grew smug. “Heh heh, young man, so you do have some knowledge after all. Believe this old man now, don’t you?”

“What exactly is a Five Elements Seal?”

Despite all he’d seen in his life, Xuanyuan Lige knew nothing at all about seals.

Unfortunately, Yingzi and the others had only told him that Jun Beiyue was somehow connected to the Meng Clan, without telling him the specifics of Jun Beiyue’s heart-pulse condition — otherwise, Xuanyuan Lige would already understand what Fifth Elder Meng meant.

Seeing Xuanyuan Lige’s interest, Meng Duo’er brightened immediately. “The Five Elements Seal is a secret technique of our Meng Clan — hardly any elders know it. You’re lucky to have run into my father!”

It had to be admitted, calm as Xuanyuan Lige usually was, he couldn’t help feeling a stir of excitement. For so many years he’d been utterly hopeless about his own body, never once catching even the faintest glimmer of hope.

Even as a lie, no one had ever told him his illness could be cured!

And yet now, someone was telling him, firmly and without hesitation, that there was hope?

Did this mean he could be like any normal person — that he could have grand ambitions, goals to strive toward for decades to come?

That he could do things without always having to weigh them against that ever-looming, ever-so-near eternity?

Looking at Fifth Elder Meng, Xuanyuan Lige said nothing, but in his long-frozen heart, a small flame had begun to spark, gradually catching fire.

It was impossible to tell whether he was calm, tense, or excited — he simply stared unblinking at Fifth Elder Meng, waiting for him to go on.

But Fifth Elder Meng, closest to him, could see that glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Though somewhat unreliable at times, as an elder himself, Fifth Elder Meng could recognize this young man’s yearning to live — a longing held so carefully, so fearful of being shattered, of ending in disappointment.

In that moment, the usually careless Fifth Elder Meng seemed genuinely moved. He slowly sat down beside Xuanyuan Lige and said quietly, “Child, don’t be afraid. I really can save you. I’m not lying.”

Xuanyuan Lige started slightly, then his gaze flickered away.

“There’s a condition to your saving me?”

Fifth Elder Meng cleared his throat a few times and grinned slyly. “Heh heh, just a small request, that’s all.”

Xuanyuan Lige grew suspicious. This old man was likely an elder of the Meng Clan, yet he didn’t seem to be here for the death barrier. The Meng Clan had strict rules against leaving the clan at will — so why had they come to the Da Zhou capital, and why did they need to get into the palace?

“Young man, this small request isn’t excessive at all. All you need to do is take us into the palace once, and bring us safely back out.”

“What are you going in there to do?” Xuanyuan Lige asked.

“Don’t worry, no stealing, no robbing, no killing, no arson — just to take a look, that’s all.” Fifth Elder Meng chuckled.

“A look at what?”

Xuanyuan Lige pressed on. Though eager to learn how the Five Elements Barrier could save his life, he remained cautious.

The one who holds the power to save you is often also the one best positioned to control you.

Fifth Elder Meng hesitated a moment, then decided that since this young man wasn’t from the Meng Clan, knowing a little wouldn’t threaten them in any real way, and simply told him straight.

“Young man, there are two people from our Meng Clan in the palace. This old man just wants to go take a look at what they’re doing there. Heh, the Meng Clan’s rules are quite strict — we’re not supposed to leave the island freely, so I just want to find out who dared to leave the island without permission.”

The nerve of Fifth Elder Meng, lying without missing a beat — it was he himself who had left the island without permission!

Hearing this, Xuanyuan Lige understood the situation somewhat.

Whether this old man was here for the death barrier or something else entirely, it made no difference to him — it was all pure benefit, no harm at all, so of course he could agree.

“If you can truly cure my illness, I’ll agree,” Xuanyuan Lige said cautiously.

But Fifth Elder Meng shook his head. “Young man, I’m no physician — I don’t understand your illness, and I can’t cure it. But I can lay a Five Elements Seal on your body, sealing away what little vital energy and life essence you have left. As long as the Five Elements Seal remains unbroken, you’ll be able to live forever relying on its power. Of course, the Five Elements Seal is formed according to the body’s five elements, following the natural cycle of life and death, so it can only sustain you until you’re sixty or seventy.”

These words confirmed, without question, the hope Xuanyuan Lige had been so carefully guarding in his eyes!

Sixty or seventy years — that meant a normal lifespan! He was more than content with that!

“Why would the Five Elements Seal break?” Xuanyuan Lige asked quickly — this had become the very condition of his survival!

“There are only two ways the Five Elements Seal can break. One is your own strength gathering and erupting — but your vital energy and life essence are both far too weak for that, so you needn’t worry about that at all. The other way, you don’t need to worry about either…”

Fifth Elder Meng paused there, and Xuanyuan Lige listened intently, not interrupting.

“The second is external force — if a barrier master breaks your Five Elements Seal, then… well, that would mean certain death. Of course, as long as you don’t tell, and we don’t tell, no one will ever know!”

Xuanyuan Lige nodded earnestly. Though this was an exchange of conditions, he still forced his weak body upright and gave Fifth Elder Meng a proper bow. “I’m in your debt, elder.”

Fifth Elder Meng liked such a polite young man, stroking his beard and smiling. “Each barrier technique can only be used to form one Five Elements Barrier in a lifetime — some practitioners aren’t skilled enough to even manage that. Young man, sit down. Seems we’re fated to meet. Since we’ve crossed paths, why don’t you leave us your name?”

At this, Xuanyuan Lige was overjoyed and quickly said, “This junior is Xuanyuan Lige, a zither master from the continent of Longyuan.”

“Heh heh, this old man is the Fifth Elder of the Nanzhao Meng Clan, and this is my daughter, Meng Duo’er.”

Meng Duo’er leaned in cheerfully, laughing. “Young Master Xuanyuan, sneaking into the palace — you’re not really planning to be an assassin, are you?”