The man in purple smiled broadly and said, "I am Percy Peng, Chairman of the Tianhuang United Council. I have long admired the legendary Dr. Joe Di, and meeting you today proves your reputation is well-deserved."
After Percy Peng finished speaking, he was already stunned by Cassie Cao's beauty. He had seen countless beautiful women before, but never anyone like Cassie. However, judging from the eyes of the onlookers outside, he knew it wasn’t just him who was amazed.
As a powerful cultivator, Percy Peng immediately sensed that Joe Di’s strength was at least equal to his own. He didn’t linger on Cassie Cao for long—any longer, and it would have damaged his reputation.
Seeing that the others wanted to come forward and introduce themselves, Joe Di blocked their way and said, "My friend has been hung outside Tianhuang City and is seriously injured. I need to rescue my friend now. Anything else can wait until later."
Upon hearing Joe Di’s words, Percy Peng’s face immediately darkened. Joe Di was certainly famous, but Percy Peng was no unknown. With just a simple 'later', Joe Di had dismissed all the courtesy Percy Peng had shown.
Before Percy Peng could say anything more, Joe Di had already bypassed him and entered Tianhuang City directly.
Percy Peng frowned and was about to speak when Joe Di suddenly turned around. "By the way, Chairman Peng, may I ask who hung my friend outside the Tianhuang City archway?"
Percy Peng was so annoyed he almost laughed. He didn’t answer Joe Di’s question and instead chuckled, "Dr. Joe, although your medical skills are remarkable, the archway outside Tianhuang City symbolizes our dignity. Now that you’ve destroyed it, I’m afraid the consequences will be serious."
"Oh? Then I’ll wait in Tianhuang City and see just how serious the consequences are. It seems Chairman Peng doesn’t intend to answer me? That’s fine. After I save my friend, I’ll come back to get a clear answer." Joe Di replied disdainfully.
"Chairman, this man shattered four ironwood pillars with a single slash and easily rescued Luna Cui," a young martial artist whispered in Percy Peng’s ear.
Percy Peng was still puzzled about how Joe Di had managed to rescue Luna Cui and why the four ironwood pillars of the archway had turned to rubble. Now that someone had given him the answer, his heart skipped a beat. Could he shatter four ironwood pillars with a single strike?
Regardless of whether he could do it or not, Percy Peng made up his mind in that instant. He laughed heartily, his face no longer gloomy. "Dr. Joe, it’s not that I can’t tell you—everyone knows. Luna Cui offended the Grandwild Alliance and was hung on the archway by their leader, Martin Grandwild, to force out your whereabouts."
After speaking, Percy Peng sighed, "Brother Martin may have gone a bit too far with this. Isn’t there a better way to handle things?"
Joe Di couldn’t be bothered with Percy Peng’s sigh and asked coldly, "Where is Martin Grandwild?"
"Oh." Percy Peng replied, looking completely open, "I heard that Henry Zeng’s daughter, Yvonne Zeng, suddenly recovered. Martin Grandwild’s son has the same illness, so he immediately went to Jinhai City. The director of Tianhuang Martial Hospital, the mayor of Tianhuang City, and others went with him. I’m a bit more laid-back, so I didn’t join the crowd."
Joe Di glanced at Percy Peng and smiled slightly. "Chairman Peng, we’ll be seeing each other again soon."
With those words, Joe Di no longer bothered with Percy Peng and the others, quickening his pace into Tianhuang City.
"Chairman." After Joe Di entered Tianhuang City, the woman beside Percy Peng whispered, "Should we take action?"
Percy Peng sneered, "Take action? Why should we? What grudge do I have with Joe Di that requires it?"
"He destroyed the archway. I’m worried that if we don’t act, when Mayor Simon Cai and Martin Grandwild return, they’ll cause trouble for us," the woman said worriedly.
Percy Peng didn’t answer the woman. Instead, he walked over to the pile of ironwood debris, bent down, picked up a few pieces, and examined them before handing them to her. "Do you think that even if I acted, I could definitely defeat someone this strong? Besides, guarding the Tianhuang City archway isn’t just my responsibility."
There was one thing Percy Peng didn’t say: Joe Di was a miraculous healer. If he could easily cure Martin Grandwild’s son, he and Martin might end up on the same side. Offending Joe Di now would be pure foolishness.
"That woman—her name’s Cassie Cao, right? She’s incredibly beautiful. What’s her background?" Percy Peng frowned as he watched Joe Di and the others disappear into the depths of Tianhuang City. He was certain that even if Joe Di weren’t a healer, Cassie’s presence would stir up trouble. With a woman like Cassie around, if Martin Grandwild didn’t try to win her over, Percy Peng might as well be blind.
......
The Leopard Hotel in Tianhuang City isn’t particularly upscale, but it’s the most prominent building—visible as soon as you enter the city.
Joe Di needed to save someone. Upon seeing the Leopard Hotel, he immediately called Cassie Cao and Andy Hou, who was carrying Luna Cui, to enter the hotel.
No matter what happens to Joe Di in the future, he is sought by top experts like Martin Grandwild, Mayor Simon Cai, and Dr. Eugene Yu, not to mention personally greeted by Chairman Percy Peng—who Joe Di simply ignored. When someone like him checks in, even if the hotel is full, they’ll make sure to clear out the best suite for him.
The three quickly booked a top-tier suite: four bedrooms and a large living room.
"A-Jiu, go in and save Luna Cui. No matter what she’s done, I want to hear her explain it herself—why?" As soon as they entered the room, Cassie Cao couldn’t help but speak.
Over the years, Luna Cui, Marlon Mao, Andy Hou, and Cassie Cao had been through so much together—life-and-death bonds. Marlon’s accident and Luna Cui’s betrayal were both hard for her to accept.
Joe Di brought Luna Cui into the room, took out his golden needles, and with his current cultivation, a single sweep of the needles immediately cleared the blocked energy in Luna Cui’s body. Even her wounded internal organs rapidly healed under Joe Di’s care. Now at the Soul Ancestor Stage, Joe Di didn’t need any medicinal herbs—he took only half an hour to fully restore Luna Cui.
"Are you A-Jiu?" Luna Cui opened her eyes and exclaimed in shock upon seeing Joe Di.
Upon hearing Luna Cui’s voice, Cassie Cao and Andy Hou couldn’t wait any longer and rushed into the room.
"Cassie, Andy, you’re both safe—that’s wonderful..." Luna Cui’s emotions overflowed, her eyes reddening as she spoke.
Andy Hou snorted, "I was lucky—you didn’t finish me off with that strike. Poor Marlon—he must have been killed by you long ago. Luna Cui, if you wanted those things, you could’ve just said so. Marlon and I would never have fought you for them. But why did you have to be so ruthless? Why kill Marlon?"
Andy Hou, recalling how Marlon Mao died saving him, couldn’t hold back his tears.
"I’m sorry, I’m so sorry..." Luna Cui’s eyes were full of deep remorse. She kept apologizing, but even she couldn’t forgive herself for what she’d done.
Cassie Cao took a deep breath and asked slowly, "Yuehe, the four of us are like siblings—why did you do it?"
After a moment, Luna Cui finally calmed down. Looking at Cassie Cao, she said, "Cassie, I really never meant to do this. But when I touched that shrine, my body stopped obeying me. It was like a second soul entered me—controlling my actions, my thoughts, everything. I struggled desperately to regain control, but I couldn’t. I ambushed Andy Hou and Marlon Mao, but it wasn’t my true intent..."
Andy Hou let out a bitter laugh, "You could make it sound even more mysterious—maybe then I’d believe you."