Wang Yi was worried that Yang Wanli and the others had run into wild beasts!
He really didn't want anything horrible to happen.
Yang Qingniu didn't hesitate. He agreed, took Zhang Lengzi, and grabbed a few torches before heading out.
Seeing this, Boss Li quickly handed the basket on his back to the strong man who had followed him, saying, "Tie Qiang, take the ham the Lord rewarded us with back and divide it among everyone. Make sure to save a portion for my wife and kid!"
With that, he bowed to Wang Yi and said, "I'll go help!"
'The Roasted Chicken Immortal favors the people of Stone Village,' Boss Li mused. 'If I put on a good show, maybe the Immortal Lord will take more notice of me too. Besides, this is a good opportunity to get acquainted with Yang Qingniu and Zhang Dashan. I've heard they're influential—one is the Civilian Militia Captain, and the other is the Production Team Leader. They hold important positions. There's no harm in getting on their good side!'
Wang Yi saw right through Boss Li's intentions but simply nodded and said, "Go on."
Boss Li bowed and departed. The Huangni Village villager called Tie Qiang also quickly took his leave, hurrying away with the fifty-five pounds of ham on his back.
"You two kids just wait here quietly. Don't cry and don't make a fuss. The heavens look after good people, so don't you worry!"
After speaking to Zhang Xiaohu and Yang Xiaobao, Wang Yi called over Fenqiu, Mazha, and Dazhuang to look after them, then went to the Watchtower to prepare his bed.
He never expected that Yang Qingniu and the others wouldn't return until the latter half of the night, just as the sky was beginning to brighten. They were carrying torches and making a racket.
Wang Yi got up and saw that Yang Wanli, Yang Qinggu, and Yang Qingxiu were being carried back. They were covered in blood and riddled with wounds. Yang Wanli's right leg was even broken, the jagged bone protruding from the skin in a horrifying sight.
"Dad! Old man, you can't die! Big Sis, Little Sis, wake up! Don't scare me like this!"
The usually carefree Yang Qingniu was in a panic now, his eyes bloodshot and completely at a loss.
Zhang Dashan's face was also grim as he secretly wiped away tears.
Boss Li sighed, came to Wang Yi's side, and said in a low voice, "The three of them fell from a cliff. They're seriously injured. When we found them, they could still manage a few groans, but now they're not moving at all. Most likely, they're not going to make it."
Wang Yi narrowed his eyes. 'Three people, perfectly fine this morning, are now on the verge of death. Life is so fragile. Mortals are beset by so much suffering. This is the way of things.'
"Fine. 'Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda.' As long as this Lord is here, they will not die! I have the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles—the living shall not pass through the Ghost Gate!"
With that said, Wang Yi took out the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles and commanded, "Everyone, make way! Clear some space and lay them flat on the ground. I will bring them back!"
No one dared to disobey. They scattered at once.
"The Roasted Chicken Immortal really can heal the sick and save lives!"
"See? I told you it was right to bring them here!"
"Can they really be saved?"
"Quiet! Just watch from the side!"
"The Roasted Chicken Immortal is an Immortal. Of course he can save them."
"Immortal Master, please, you must save Tiger's Mother..."
The villagers all had different thoughts, but they watched Wang Yi with nervous anticipation.
But in their eyes, all Wang Yi did was open a strange wooden box, pinch out a few thin needles, and stick them into Yang Wanli and the others. That was all.
"Wait a little while. They will be fine."
Wang Yi stood up, his expression composed.
And the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles quickly began to take effect.
Five silver needles had been placed in Yang Wanli, and his body was the first to change. He began to convulse, foaming at the mouth. Then, miraculously, the broken bone in his leg began to mend itself.
The bodies of Yang Qingxiu and Yang Qinggu were next to change. Four silver needles had been inserted into each of them. Unlike Yang Wanli, their bodies didn't convulse, but instead seemed to inflate as if being pumped with air.
And during this process, their wounds began to heal at a rate visible to the naked eye!
"This is... a miracle!"
Boss Li's eyes widened in disbelief.
The scene before him was simply too incredible.
Yang Wanli's leg—the bone had been sticking right out, yet it was mending itself!
And the wounds were closing so quickly they didn't even leave a scar.
'No one would ever believe this if you told them. What could it be, if not a miracle?'
As Boss Li watched, his heart pounded with excitement. Suddenly, with a THUD, he fell to his knees before Wang Yi.
At this point, Yang Qingniu, Zhang Dashan, Zhang Lengzi, and several other villagers could no longer remain calm either. They all fell to their knees and began to kowtow, shouting, "An Immortal has revealed himself!" and "May the Immortal protect us!"
Their awe for Wang Yi deepened. As for Yang Qingniu and Zhang Dashan, they were filled with boundless gratitude. Not knowing how else to express it, the two of them simply kowtowed with all their might.
Wang Yi felt a great sense of accomplishment at that moment.
'Saving people feels pretty good!'
'And revealing my power in front of everyone, reaping their worship and gratitude, feels even better.'
Seeing Zhang Xiaohu, Zhang Dashan, Yang Qingniu, Yang Xiaobao, and the others turn from sorrow to joy made him feel warm inside as well.
About half an hour later, Wang Yi retrieved the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles.
The silver needles were truly magical. As soon as they entered the wooden box, they flashed with light, cleaned themselves, and returned to their cool state.
Yang Wanli and the two others soon awoke. After a moment of stunned confusion, they were wiping away tears and kowtowing in gratitude. They could run and jump; aside from some slight weakness, they felt no discomfort at all.
Everyone at the scene was overjoyed.
Of course, Yang Wanli and his daughters were also in shock.
Yang Wanli himself was a local Physician who knew a thing or two about healing. No one was more shocked than he was.
'He knew his own condition best. With any other treatment, there was a ninety-nine percent chance he would have died. Even if by some miracle he had survived, that broken leg would have certainly been amputated. But now, he was fine. The bone had grown solid on its own. If this wasn't the work of an Immortal, what was?'
"My Lord!"
Yang Wanli suddenly knelt before Wang Yi again. The moment he knelt, Yang Qinggu, Yang Qingxiu, Yang Qingniu, Yang Xiaobao, Zhang Dashan, Zhang Xiaohu, and all the others knelt as well.
"I have no way to repay this life-saving grace. From this day forward, I will serve you to the death! Even if you were to order me to kill and burn, I would not so much as blink an eye!"
Yang Wanli spoke with absolute conviction, then kowtowed.
"Me too!"
"And me!"
Yang Qingniu and the others followed suit, kowtowing with solemn expressions.
"Why would I ever ask you to kill and burn? Get up, quickly!" Wang Yi said, helping Yang Wanli to his feet. "I heard what happened. You fell from a cliff while gathering medicinal herbs. You were lucky to escape with your lives this time. You can't be so careless in the future."
Looking at Yang Qingxiu, Yang Qinggu, and the others, Wang Yi added, "You all must remember this: being alive is more important than anything. No matter what you do, safety comes first! You'll probably be weak for a while, so go home and rest. You don't need to come to work for the next few days. And the rest of you, you can all disperse. Go home and get some proper rest!"
"Yes!"
The crowd kowtowed one after another.
Wang Yi shook his head and said, "All of you, from now on, don't be so quick to kneel. And don't call me Master, Immortal, or anything like that. You can call me 'Boss'! Now, scatter, scatter, scatter! All of you, disperse!"
Hearing this, the crowd respectfully withdrew. But then, Boss Li suddenly knelt before Wang Yi again.
This leader from Huangni Village, the manager of the Giant Scorpion Sandfield, now pleaded aloud, "Immortal Master—oh, no, Boss! You can even bring back those at death's door. I'm begging you, please save my wife!"