Gu Ruoyun smiled, her clear, bright eyes filled with a light of confidence.
Elder Yu laughed, "Even I couldn’t cure myself of this injury. Such power you have at such a young age, miss! You are truly worthy of the old man's admiration!"
Even an idiot would be able to pick up the patronizing tone in Elder Yu’s voice.
Initially, he thought of letting her win the competition but following the girl's arrogance, he took it as his personal responsibility to teach her a lesson. After all, if he ignored this, it would be detrimental to her personal growth in the future.
Gu Ruoyun barely seemed to take him seriously. Instead, she smiled and said, "If you don’t believe me, I can cure you now. All I need is a specific type of medicine, and your throat will be cured within half an hour. Of course, if I am successful in treating a wound that you have been unable to, then that clearly proves that you’ve lost, and Hundred Herb Hall will belong to me."
"Very well!" Elder Yu laughed, "Since you want to gamble, I’ll humor you. Take whatever herbs you need from Hundred Herb Hall — at no charge. No medicine could possibly work within a day - I don't believe it. This clearly violates the laws of common sense."
Gu Ruoyun merely smiled. She gave Shopkeeper Zhao a piece of paper filled with more than ten types of herbs and said, "Please take these herbs and boil them in a pot, then serve the medicine to Elder Yu. I give you my word that he will be completely cured within half an hour."
While Gu Ruoyun had no experience with medicine in her past life, she did manage to pick it up from a famous doctor, who was well-known all throughout the East Peak Mainland, far surpassing any doctor in the West Spirit Mainland.
She was his favorite disciple and naturally understood all his teachings in medicinal expertise.
Shopkeeper Zhao took the prescription and glanced at Elder Yu, who nodded in response. He then started working on gathering all the herbs listed in the prescription.
"Miss," Elder Yu furrowed his brows and paused, going deep into thought, then continued, "Your arrogant nature may not sit well with me, but I feel I must caution you to remember something."
"What is it?"
"Beware of the Gu family!"
Noticing Elder Yu’s straight face for the first time, Gu Ruoyun began to feel uncomfortable.
"Why would you ask me to be wary of the Gu family?"
"The Gu family is not as simple as you may think," Elder Yu replied, raising his head to face Gu Ruoyun. "If the rumors about you were true, then I probably wouldn’t have bothered to mention anything to you. However, based on my observation, you’re certainly not a cowardly or a useless good-for-nothing! While you may be arrogant, but you’re indeed a bright girl! Your father, Gu Tian's death, may have had something to do with the Gu family..."
Gu Ruoyun’s heart trembled, her hands slowly clenched into fists. She took a deep breath and only then was able to relax.
"Elder Yu, you knew my father?"
"No," Elder Yu shook his head, "I was not acquainted with your father; I only admired him. He was a real man who was willing to protect his woman at any cost! Unfortunately, the heavens were jealous of his outstanding talent, and geniuses like him will always invite resentment. That is all I can tell you, little girl. Whether you want to believe me or not, the choice is yours."
Actually, Elder Yu was itching to tell Gu Ruoyun about her true identity, but he knew that it was not his place to.
The Dongfang family held great power, and the talented warriors in the family were as numerous as the hairs on a cow. It was not some random household where just anyone could be part of. The reason why Gu Tian had received recognition by the Dongfang family was his remarkable talent.
Unless Gu Ruoyun's talents on par with her father’s, the Dongfang family would never accept her...
"Well, regardless of the connection between you and my father, I would like to say... thank you for the warning, Elder Yu. But... let's just say that I have plans for certain matters."
The Gu family was a snobbish family and that was why they valued the abilities of their family members so highly. If what Elder Yu said was really true, then why would the Gu family do such at thing? But if Elder Yu was trying to deceive her, what was his motive? She wondered.