After walking inward for about a mile, a few thatched cottages could already be seen ahead. The young man in green was just about to go over when, suddenly, an old man in white emerged from the nearby reeds. His gaze was as sharp as a hawk’s, and he barked coldly, “Where did this wild brat come from? How dare you trespass into the Sword Cottage—do you have a death wish? Before my master discovers you, get out at once, or I’ll have your head separated from your body!”

This young man in green, of course, was none other than the long-awaited Henry CarterYoung Master Carter whom the Meng family had been waiting for.

He smiled and said, “Is this how the Sword Cottage treats its guests?”

The old man in white replied coldly, “What kind of guest do you think you are? If you don’t want to die, get out now!”

Henry Carter frowned and said, “You really have a nasty way of speaking, old man. I won’t bother with you—go report to your master that the doctor has arrived!”

“Doctor?”

The old man in white was taken aback, then sneered, “Are you making fun of me, boy?”

Henry Carter said, “You’re not some beauty who could topple cities, so why would I tease you? I saw from afar that there’s illness here, so I came to save someone. Stop rambling and go report to your master—let him invite me in!”

Although the old man in white was cold in both face and heart, he actually wanted to save this young man’s life. But he hadn’t expected the youth to be so stubborn, and couldn’t help but feel annoyed.

He was just about to speak when, suddenly, a cold and aged voice came from the direction of the Sword Cottage: “Jack Grant, let him in!”

The old man in white sighed and said, “The master has noticed. Come with me.”

Henry Carter smiled and followed behind him. After entering the thatched cottage, he saw an emaciated old man sitting on a grand armchair, occasionally bowing his head to cough. His figure was hunched, his vitality depleted—clearly someone gravely ill. Hearing someone enter, the old man looked up, and in that instant, a sharp light shot from his eyes, like two swords piercing straight into one’s heart.

“Whose family are you from, boy?” the old man asked coldly.

Henry Carter smiled and said, “Why do you care whose family I’m from? Just know that I’m a doctor, and I’ve come especially to see your illness!”

Master Grant was a bit surprised that the youth could act so at ease before him. After all, there were countless outstanding youths in Four Symbols City, but few could speak so calmly and confidently in his presence.

After a while, he slowly said, “I’ve been ill for ten years, sought countless doctors and medicines, taken who knows how many elixirs and treasures, but nothing has worked. Even the divine physician Mr. Xue has examined me and concluded that my illness is beyond the help of medicine. Today you come knocking on my door, speaking so rudely—if you really are a doctor, fine. But if you’re just spouting nonsense and know nothing of medicine, don’t blame me for being merciless with my sword!”

Henry Carter frowned and said, “I’m just here to check your illness—why so much nonsense? But don’t worry, my medical skills are different from those so-called divine physicians. Your illness can’t be cured by medicine, but I can cure it! However, before I treat you, I have a condition. If you agree, I guarantee I’ll cure you. If not, Young Master will turn around and leave!”

“Hmph!”

Master Grant gave a cold laugh. “What condition?”

William Clark smiled and said, “When I treat someone, I don’t want money or any precious items, but there are three rules and one command you must follow. First rule: after I cure you, you must never mention me to anyone. If someone asks, you can’t say a word. And if someone else lets it slip, you’re responsible for silencing them. For example, this old man… Jack Grant, right? If he tells anyone, you must kill him and anyone else who knows about this!”

“Nonsense!”

The old man in white was furious that the youth had dragged him into this.

Master Grant, on the other hand, was taken aback, thinking the youth might really be something unusual, and asked, “What’s the second rule?”

Henry Carter said, “The second rule is: for every three you kill, spare one. After I cure you, I won’t forbid you from killing in the future, but every time you kill a third person, you must remember that I saved your life and spare the fourth person you would have killed, as a good deed for me. The third rule is: after I save you, you can’t ask my name or background, nor can you try to find out in private. Even if we meet on the road, if I don’t greet you, you must pretend not to know me, so as not to reveal my identity… Can you do that?”

Doctors in this world either seek fame or profit, but this youth had such strange rules—it was puzzling.

Master Grant couldn’t help but grow curious. He nodded and said, “These rules are easy enough to follow. What about the command?”

Henry Carter grew solemn, took out a small black token from his robe—it was hard to tell what it was made of, and its shape resembled a sword hilt, with an ancient-looking character for “illness” carved in the center. He held the token up before Master Grant and said, “I’ll treat your illness for free and don’t want your secret skills, but for as long as you live, if you ever see the Great Illness Token, no matter how important the matter at hand, you must immediately drop everything and unconditionally do one thing for me!”

“This…”

Both Master Grant and Jack Grant were stunned.

Henry Carter said nothing, his gaze calm as he looked at them.

After a while, Master Grant slowly nodded and said, “Fine, I’ll abide by your three rules and one command. But if you’re just talking nonsense, my sword…”

“Enough, what’s the point of all this talk?”

Henry Carter cut him off, set the gourd in his hand down on the ground, and took a deep breath.