Chapter 112: Feng Yuan’s Worries

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Feng Yuan’s Worries

Keira raised an eyebrow, her sharp eyes locking straight onto him.

"How is that not possible?" Keira asked, her tone dropping dangerously low.

"Wasn’t your medicine meant to make him better in the first place?"

Feng Yuan froze as realization hit him.

A wave of cold sweat broke out on his neck. He had just almost admitted out loud that his pills were designed to do the exact opposite.

Catching himself in a split second, he hurriedly spun around to face the room.

He forced a stiff, unnatural smile onto his pale face, trying desperately to smooth over his slip of the tongue.

"F-Forgive me, Lady Keira!" Feng Yuan stammered, waving his hands in quick defense.

"That is not what I meant at all!"

He gestured hastily toward the glowing projection floating in the middle of the room.

"My medicine was indeed crafted to heal the General’s channels," he rattled off, trying to make his voice sound earnest.

"However, his body showed absolutely zero reaction to the treatment for days."

"I was merely astonished that it suddenly kicked in like this."

"To see a ten percent recovery out of nowhere... I was just taken completely by surprise, that is all."

Feng Yuan cleared his throat, desperately trying to regain his composure.

He looked back at the glowing scan with a grim expression.

"In fact," Feng Yuan added quickly, "I severely doubt this sudden change came from my medicine at all."

He took a step toward the bed, putting on a grave, worried face.

"In my many years of practice, I have seen this phenomenon before," he explained, his tone dropping into a low warning.

"When a patient is near the very end of their lifespan, the body sometimes releases one final, desperate burst of energy."

"It creates a brief illusion of recovery."

He looked around at the General’s sons, trying to drive the fear back into them.

"It is a temporary spike before the entire system gives out completely."

"This is not true healing, General," Feng Yuan said, staring straight at the old man.

"It is merely the final flare of a dying candle."

Chen Feng’s face turned icy cold.

He stepped forward, glaring straight at the alchemist.

"How dare you say something like that right in front of my father?" Chen Feng asked, his voice dropping dangerously low.

Chen Weian chimed in from the side, stepping up with a dark expression.

"Master Feng Yuan, we have always respected your standing as an esteemed alchemist," Weian said, narrowing his eyes.

"But you need to watch what you say."

"Our father does not need to hear such grim predictions at this moment."

Feng Yuan quickly bowed his head, lowering his eyes to hide his agitation.

"Forgive me, Master Chen Feng and Master Chen Weian," Feng Yuan said, bowing deeply toward the sons.

"My words were careless, born only out of deep concern for the General’s life."

He turned back to General Chen, taking a slow step toward the bed.

"General, I beg you to reconsider," Feng Yuan pleaded, putting on an urgent, desperate expression.

"Even if you feel stronger now, this sudden shift in your core energy is unstable."

"If we stop the pill treatment today, your pathways could collapse without warning!"

"Allow me to refine the next batch immediately to keep your condition under control."

General Chen merely looked at him with cool, unbothered eyes.

He raised a single hand, stopping the alchemist in his tracks.

"I have made up my mind, Master Feng Yuan," the old general said, his voice flat and firm.

"My body feels better than it has in months."

"I will not be taking any more pills today."

Fine beads of cold sweat glinted on Feng Yuan’s forehead.

Still, he managed to force his voice into a calm, reasonable tone.

"How about this, General?" Feng Yuan offered, lowering his head slightly.

"Allow me to personally monitor your condition for twenty-four hours."

"If your body shows no further signs of worsening by tomorrow, I will step aside and honor your wishes without another word."

General Chen looked at him, his mind working quickly behind his calm exterior.

The Grade 2 pill Derrick gave him was guaranteed to last for forty-eight hours.

Twenty-four hours was well within his safety window.

If he agreed, he would easily pass the test, strip the alchemist of every remaining excuse, and kick the snake out of his estate for good.

A faint, subtle smirk touched the old general’s eyes.

"Fine," General Chen said, nodding slowly.

"Twenty-four hours. You may stay and monitor me until then."

After a few more quick exchanges, everyone bowed and took their leave.

The heavy double doors slid shut, leaving the room completely quiet once again.

Only Derrick, Keira, and General Chen remained inside.

Derrick stepped forward from the shadows, a faint smile on his face.

"You did great out there, General," Derrick said smoothly.

"The alchemist is completely panicking."

Keira folded her arms, her eyes fixed on the closed doors.

"His whole timeline just got thrown off track," Derrick continued, his tone dropping slightly.

"He knows he only has twenty-four hours before he loses his access completely."

"He might try to play his hand soon and do something drastic."

"And when he does, we will be right here to catch him."

General Chen leaned back against his pillows, a dangerous, ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

"Then let him try," the old general growled softly.

The old general looked at Derrick, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"So, what is your actual plan?" General Chen asked.

Derrick just gave him a light, easy smile.

"Don’t worry about it," Derrick said smoothly. "You’ll see it soon enough."

With the trap officially set, Keira and Derrick said their goodbyes and left the room.

The heavy double doors slid shut behind them, leaving the hallway quiet once again.

As they walked side by side down the corridor, Keira looked over at him.

"Since we’re here anyway," Keira said with a smirk, "I’ll let you abuse the Chen Family’s training rooms."