"Yes, Divine Healer Joe, rest assured. I will make sure this matter is handled properly." Mayor Simon Cai replied without hesitation.
At this moment, even Chairman Percy Peng felt a chill deep in his heart. Joe Di's strength was so overwhelming that his hope of befriending him seemed nothing more than wishful thinking. Even Martin Grandwild wasn't on the same level as Joe Di, and Percy Peng was weaker still—so the possibility was even slimmer.
"Divine Healer Joe..." Seeing Joe Di about to leave, Professor Peck hesitated, then stepped forward to greet him.
Joe Di looked at Professor Peck and said sincerely, "Professor Peck, my medical and detoxification techniques are linked to my cultivation. I truly can't teach them to you in a short time."
Though Professor Peck was earnest, Joe Di had no reason to spend time teaching him his medical skills. There were many diligent learners, but if Joe Di tried to appreciate every one of them, it would be impossible to keep up.
......
Five days later, Joe Di, Cassie, Luna Cui, and Andy Hou arrived at Eve Village—the place where Cassie and her aunt once lived. Cassie's aunt had left long ago, and no one knew where she had gone.
The group decided to stay. After Joe Di taught Andy Hou and Luna Cui the Starspace Technique, he made another trip to the Tianhuang District. But even after searching nearly the whole district, he found no trace of Marlon Mao, and finally had to return to Eve Village.
Though Tianhuang District had some valuable resources, they were of little use to Joe Di given his current cultivation. He brought them back for Luna Cui and Andy Hou. As for Cassie, she stopped cultivating after becoming pregnant.
Without better cultivation resources, Joe Di's progress stalled completely, leaving him at the Soul Ancestor Stage. Though he sensed a vast treasure hidden deep in his sea of consciousness—something like his own world space—with his current strength, he couldn't open it.
Joe Di didn't mind his cultivation stagnating; every day spent with Cassie was full of joy.
Andy Hou and Luna Cui, on the other hand, advanced quickly. With Joe Di's guidance and the herbs from Tianhuang District, Andy Hou reached the sixth level of Essence Training in just eight or nine months, while Luna Cui advanced to the seventh. With their cultivation and attack techniques, both now possessed strength equivalent to the Sky Stage.
Once Andy Hou and Luna Cui entered a stable cultivation rhythm, Joe Di no longer had the heart to continue teaching them.
As Cassie neared childbirth, she grew increasingly thin and sallow, burning Joe Di's heart with worry. Despite his extraordinary medical skill, he was powerless to help her. He found no illness—only watched helplessly as she grew weaker each day.
Now, even Luna Cui had paused her cultivation to care for Cassie.
That day, as Joe Di agonized over how to restore Cassie's health, a piercing cry of a newborn rang out. Startled, he sprang up and rushed into Cassie's room.
By his calculations, Cassie still had five or six days before her due date. Why had it come so suddenly?
"Joe, Cassie just gave birth to a chubby boy..." When Joe Di entered, Luna Cui was already holding the newborn in her arms.
Joe Di, overcome with emotion, was about to step forward when Cassie, pale-faced, said, "Joe, please step outside for a moment. Come back soon—I have something to tell you."
At the moment their child was born, a part of Cassie's memories finally unlocked. In that instant, she understood everything.
Joe Di could not bear to go against Cassie's wishes, even a little. Though he longed to know her condition, he stepped out and waited anxiously outside.
Half an hour felt like half a year to Joe Di. At last, Luna Cui emerged with the baby. "Joe, I'll hold the child for now. Cassie asked for you to come in."
Though the baby's features were still unclear, there was already a hint of Cassie's spirit in him. The feeling of life's continuation surged in Joe Di's heart—a sudden sense of responsibility and love.
Just as Joe Di reached for the child, Cassie's weak voice called out, "Joe, come in for a moment."
"Luna, please hold my son for a moment. I need to check on Senior Sister." Joe Di hurriedly said, then strode quickly into the room.
Cassie's face was even paler, her hair brittle and dry. In his anxiety, Joe Di was about to take out his Gold Needle to transfer energy again.
Cassie struggled to lift her hand. "Joe, close the door. I have something I need to tell you."
Joe Di sighed inwardly. He knew Cassie's illness was beyond his ability to cure. Despite his mastery of medicine, he couldn't find any cause for her suffering.
In that moment, Joe Di deeply understood what Henry Zeng once felt—perhaps this was despair. He had saved Henry's daughter, but who would save his own wife?
"Joe, when our son was born, I felt a new life bloom within me—and at the same time, I understood so much of the past. I have no regrets." Cassie's voice was hoarse.
Joe Di hurried to her bedside, holding Cassie's frail hand tightly, his heart twisting with pain. Why could he heal others, but not his own wife?
Cassie saw the guilt and anxiety in Joe Di's eyes. She gently squeezed his hand. "Joe, don't be sad. Not now, not even when you were at your peak—you still couldn't save me."
He didn't even know what his peak was, but Joe Di quickly interrupted Cassie, "Senior Sister, even if I have to go to the ends of the earth, I will save you."
Even though Joe Di had no idea how to save Cassie, his heart was set—no matter what happened, no matter how hard it was, he would save her.
Cassie sighed. "Joe, when our son was born, I suddenly understood so many things—or rather, remembered them. I shouldn't be here at all; I came because I chose to..."
"Senior Sister..." Joe Di couldn't understand Cassie's words and hurriedly called out, not wanting her to dwell on such thoughts.
Cassie waved her hand, took out the jade from her chest, and solemnly placed it in Joe's hand. "Joe, this jade belonged to me in my previous life. I gave it to you then so that we could be together in this life. I succeeded. These past few years with you have been the happiest since I arrived in this world."
Cassie stopped Joe from speaking and continued gently, "It was because of me that you ended up in the Shaman Realm and faced life-and-death danger..."
"Senior Sister, what are you saying..." Joe Di frowned.
Cassie squeezed his hand. "Joe, you don't understand now because your memory and strength haven't recovered yet. When you do, you'll know. When I went to the Shaman River for the blood sacrifice in your place, I knew your Dao Heart would crack because of me. Even if it hadn't, you might not be Dominic Du's match. But once it cracks, meeting Dominic Du means certain death.
I gave you this jade to help you restore your Dao Heart. You're a man of deep feeling, and you might think I died in your place. But that's not true—whether I took your place or not, I was doomed in the Shaman Realm. Now that we're husband and wife, there's no more 'yours' or 'mine,' so don't dwell on these things. As I've said, my happiest days were these years with you. When I'm gone, don't grieve. Our son carries my legacy..."
"Senior Sister, I can't let you go." For the first time, Joe Di felt utterly powerless and small.
Cassie reached out her frail hand and gently caressed Joe Di's face. "Fool, it's not illness—I'm bound by the Heavenly Dao. To keep some memories and come here to be with you is already my greatest gift. Unless you surpass the Heavenly Dao of the Five Elements Universe, there's nothing we can do."