Treatment isn’t difficult, Li Yifei only took half an hour to cure the various ailments in Li Manli’s mother’s body. These illnesses weren’t terminal, but they weren’t benign either, and a severe case could be life-threatening, especially when they surfaced together. After Dual Cultivation awakened, Li Yifei made a leap in his ability to control the finer details of the body. Although he still hadn’t completely figured out his changes, he clearly felt his control ability strengthened, understanding the minute aspects of the human body more thoroughly and vividly.Seeing Li Manli’s mother slowly wake up, Li Yifei stepped aside, and Li Manli barely had time to thank him before rushing to hug her mother. The mother and daughter cried bitterly together. Amidst sobbing, Li Manli explained the situation before and after, using the Fresh ethnic group language. Although Li Yifei understood many languages, he couldn’t comprehend much of it. However, there was no need to listen since Li Manli wouldn’t say anything bad about him.
After they cried enough, Li Manli helped her mother, who was already recovering. As soon as she got off the bed, she wanted to kneel in gratitude to Li Yifei, but he waved his hand to stop her, saying, "You don’t need to do this, it’s your fate to meet me, and I just helped."
"Thank you, I still have to thank you!" Li Manli’s mother stayed bent, and Li Manli followed suit, suddenly kneeling down and saying, "Uncle, thank you, even in the next life as an ox or a horse, I will repay you!"
Seeing them persistently wanting to kneel, Li Yifei slightly tilted his body to accept their gesture, saying afterward, "It’s your good fortune, if the timing wasn’t right, I wouldn’t have been able to save you."
In his heart, he recalled a joke he saw online about ancient heroes rescuing women. If the woman liked the hero, she would say she wanted to repay him; if she didn’t like him, she would say she would repay him as an ox or a horse in the next life. Unexpectedly, he heard such a line himself.
Li Yifei didn’t think about any repayment nor did he have any intention about Li Manli. Although she was a budding beauty, she was far from being a true beauty. Besides, Li Yifei had long since reformed and wouldn’t develop any thoughts about Li Manli because of this.
Receiving the gratitude from the mother and daughter, Li Yifei discussed the punishment for Wang Feng and Wu Gang. Li Manli’s mother cried after listening, continuously apologizing to her daughter. Li Yifei then asked, "Do you want to live independently with your daughter or continue staying here?"
This question put Li Manli’s mother in a dilemma, leading her to deep thought and even some distress. She was in great pain over what happened to her daughter, but leaving Wu Gang... she was unprepared. Truth be told, Wu Gang wasn’t a good man, but this was one of the better families she had stayed with, and hard work provided a better life.
Seeing her hesitate, Li Yifei understood, so he said, "If you want to stay here, I can ensure that Wu Gang won’t dare treat you as before or go after Li Manli, and he will work diligently and reform his ways."
"Really?" Li Manli’s mother asked with surprise in her eyes, looking at Li Yifei, who nodded back saying, "I can make it happen!"
Li Manli showed a sense of realization; she saw how frightened Wu Gang and Wang Feng were of Li Yifei, and she believed that this uncle could indeed keep his word.
"Then... daughter, you decide, I don’t want any trouble anymore but don’t want you to be harmed." Li Manli’s mother handed the decision to her daughter. Li Manli understood her mother’s thoughts, sighed inwardly, and resolved to work hard to give her mother a better life. She said, "Mom, if you want to stay, then we’ll stay. As long as he treats you well, it doesn’t matter to me. Moreover, I’ve already started working outside, so I can take care of myself without you worrying."
"Lili!" The mother and daughter cried together again. Li Yifei scratched his head and stepped outside, having chased Wu Gang and Wang Feng out earlier, and neither dared stay inside the house, waiting outside in the cold. Seeing Li Yifei emerge, they still looked scared given they had tested and found the pain in their chest unbearable, further believing Li Yifei’s words.
"Li Manli’s mother is awake and cured, Wu Gang, I have to ask you something," Li Yifei directly said. Wu Gang saw Li Yifei addressing him and quickly responded, "Please, go ahead."
Li Yifei nodded slightly and calmly asked, "How will you treat Li Manli’s mother and daughter in the future?"
"Me? I will treat them well and dare not think otherwise; you must believe me!" Wu Gang quickly replied.
"How can I trust what you say?"
"Um... I promise, I swear I won’t behave like before."
"Will you keep being idle every day?"
"No, no, I’ll work, I’ll get a job, I’ll earn to provide for the family!" Wu Gang agreed hastily.
Li Yifei then looked at Wang Feng, whose body tensed as he listened to Li Yifei ask, "You won’t hassle them in the future, will you?"
"No, no, definitely not, I’m convinced, really convinced, you’re too incredible, we’re not from the same world, and I made the initial mistake, getting hit is normal." Wang Feng said hurriedly.
"Good, I’m giving you a task, you’ll oversee this Wu Gang. If he doesn’t keep his word, you can handle him however you want." Li Yifei pointed at Wu Gang, whose face dropped instantly, realizing that although Li Yifei might be leaving eventually, he assigned Wang Feng to supervise him, making Wu Gang feel as if struck by lightning.
For Li Yifei, Wang Feng was a minor character, but for Wu Gang, he was a top figure he couldn’t afford to irritate. With someone like him watching, Wu Gang wondered whether he’d have any good days left.
Relieved, Wang Feng quickly accepted the task, assuring, "Don’t worry, I promise to monitor him. If he dares act like before, I’ll break his leg."
"Very well, your performance makes me believe in you. Wang Feng, one must have principles; even in the underworld, you need ethics, otherwise you’ll end your own game sooner or later!" Li Yifei casually advised. Wang Feng nodded firmly, showing he absorbed the advice.
As for what happens later, Li Yifei wasn’t concerned. Although Wang Feng could choose to retaliate against Li Manli’s mother and daughter, he’d better not let Li Yifei know, or Wang Feng wouldn’t survive. The manner in which Li Yifei displayed his capabilities had already intimidated him.
Wu Gang couldn’t laugh but attempted to force a smile, while Wang Feng discreetly wiped his sweat, occasionally glancing at the kitchen knife embedded in the wall. Both standing outside could see its tip piercing through the wall, gleaming coldly, chilling them to the core.
"End your own game sooner or later..." Wang Feng shivered, dropping to his knees, repeatedly admitting his mistakes, "I was wrong, I’ll never act this way again, I..."
"Alright, I need you to keep an eye on Wu Gang. If he neglects work and earning for the family, or harasses this mother and daughter again, and I learn of it, your fate will be worse than this steel pipe." As he spoke, Li Yifei raised his hand, a flash of white light passing by, and a clothesline pipe in the yard snapped unexpectedly. Both of them gasped as they looked over, Li Yifei wasn’t anywhere near the pipe, yet with a mere gesture, it broke. Was this even human?
By this point, both men were petrified, no longer having any other thoughts. Especially Wang Feng, he even planned that if Wu Gang skipped work and didn’t earn money, he’d get him tied to a worksite. Although other jobs might be hard to find, laboring on a site wouldn’t be.
Li Yifei had genuine business to attend to, thus didn’t linger much longer. Meeting Li Manli was coincidental, and helping her wasn’t a troublesome matter. His casual aid could potentially change Li Manli’s life.
Now it seemed the word ’potentially’ could be omitted; he had indeed altered Li Manli’s life, given she faced two major crises today, without Li Yifei, she wouldn’t have resisted the first kidnapping incident.
As for whether Wu Gang would truly change, Li Yifei didn’t know, but Wang Feng would monitor him. The power Li Yifei displayed let Wang Feng understand that he wasn’t someone this world could challenge, meaning he had to follow whatever was instructed.
Preparing to leave, Li Manli, with teary eyes, was bursting with gratitude towards this uncle she’d met only hours ago, though she struggled to express it. Li Yifei, however, didn’t mind, saying, "Take care, work hard, the future can only be changed by oneself."
"Mm-hmm, uncle, I will remember your words!" Li Manli escorted Li Yifei to the gate; he urged her to return, yet she refused, asking one final question, "Will I not see you again after this?"
"Well... I’m here in Dan City for business, then going back to Mile City."
"Really?" Li Manli’s eyes lit up and promptly asked, "Uncle, if you’re returning, could you take me along if convenient? Mom is okay now; I must get back to work too—could I join your ride?"
Li Yifei paused then nodded, saying, "Sure, but I’m not sure when I’ll finish my business. Maybe you need to return tomorrow or the day after. If I finalize everything within these days, I’ll inform you, otherwise, head back yourself and once we’re in Mile City, let me treat you to a meal."
"I’ll treat you!" Li Manli eagerly nodded, adding, "Once I get my salary next month, I can afford something better."
Li Yifei smiled, ruffling her hair before turning away.