The mother thanked Elder Neal a few more times before checking up on her son. The little boy had stopped crying after seeing the treatment being done and instead just sniffling right now.
"Say thank you to the doctor, son," the mother said.
"Thank you, doctor," the little boy said.
"It's okay, I am just doing my job. Just make sure not to walk on that foot a lot okay, young man?" Elder Neal said.
The boy nodded for a while.
"Alright, let's talk about the price," Elder Neal said.
"Yes, Doctor. I have about 7 silver coins. Will that be enough?" she asked.
Elder Neal's face changed a little. "Miss, you should know that our ingredients cost a lot right? This treatment actually costs you 5 gold coins," he said.
The color drained from the mother's face. "Heavens… i— I don't have that kind of money doctor. I— I brought all that I had with me. These 7 silver coins are what I made from my work in the restaurant. Please doctor, can you not do anything?" she asked.
"I'm afraid that's not possible. While we are here to serve the everyday people, it's not a charity. We still need money to keep doing what we are going, " Elder Neal said.
"But… I don't have that kind of money. I— what should I do doctor?" the mother asked.
"That is no concern of mine. I only require you to pay 5 gold coins, that's it," Elder Neal said.
"I— where do I find such money from a doctor. Please have mercy on this poor woman," the mother started crying. The boy didn't know what was going on so he started crying too.
Elder Neal's face grew very cold and he said," if you can't bring me my money then I will let the authority deal with you. Samod, call the soldiers."
"N—No, please. I will slave away if I have to. Please don't call the soldiers. I— I can't leave my son. My husband is already gone, if I am taken away too, my son will be orphaned," the woman cried.
"I don't see how that is my problem," Elder Neal said.
Ning was simply stunned looking at the scene. A mother groveling on the ground due to not being able to pay her son's medical fee. Why was such a thing even present in such a world of cultivation.
They should have been able to cure the son without asking for more money, however, they were absolutely not letting the woman go.
Ning understood that letting a single person go away without payments would create precedence where one could get treated without paying a single coin. However,
'It shouldn't cost 5 gold coins. That bastard is clearly taking advantage. It should cost 3 coins at best, and with how many visitors he gets every day, he shouldn't care about such measly money,' Ning thought.
Samod was about to leave the room to call the soldiers when Ning spoke, "wait brother Samod."
Samod stopped in his track and asked, 'What is it, brother Ning? Do you want to come to the soldier's barracks with me? It's not very far from here."
"No, actually," Ning said as he took out 5 gold coins from his storage and handed it to the mother. "Please stand up and use this," he said.
The mother looked dumbfounded for a few seconds, not knowing what was happening, but soon realized what transpired in front of her. She quickly took the gold coins from Ning's hand and started thanking him profusely, blessing him for what he was doing.
The woman gave the gold coins to the elder and walked out of the room. Ning and Samod followed behind her until she walked out of the Physician's guild.
Then they went back to Elder Neal's room. Samod walked up to the Elder and took the stone slab and the rock to wash it.
Elder Neal looked at him with weird eyes and asked, "you like playing a savior, huh? Fancy yourself a hero?"
"Sorry?" Ning asked.
"Don't be. I saw how you wanted to look good in front of the old woman. Do you like her?" Elder Neal asked. "She said she doesn't have a husband, and she only has a single child so she's not that old either," Elder Neal said.
"Please don't insult me, Elder Neal. I only helped a mother who cared about her son, that's all. I just didn't want her to drop unnecessary tears," he said.
"I see, I see, You are quite righteous, aren't you," Elder Neal said and nodded. After that, he said nothing. Soon, another customer arrived, so Samod and Ning rushed off to see this new patient.
The patient had a bloody red arm. Although, it was quite unnoticeable thanks to the red robe the man was wearing.
"What happened to your arm?" Samod asked.
"I broke it while I was learning how to fly. I didn't get very far into the lesson and fell to the ground from the sky. So, my arm broke. It will be easy to fix right, right?" he asked.
"Don't worry. Our Elder can heal any injuries. You've come to the best place," Samod said. Soon, they were in the Elder's room and Elder Neal had started to make the pastes.
In a few minutes, just as Ning was guessing, Elder Neal picked and mixed together ingredients from his guess and applied the new paste on the would.
Soon enough, the casting was done too and it was time for the man to pay his due.
He pulled out 7 gold coins and asked, "Is this enough?"
"No," Elder Neal suddenly said. "It will cost you 10 gold coins."
"10 gold coins? That's a lot of coins doctor. Can't it be lowered? A little discount? He asked.
"I am sorry, but I can do no such thing. However, you are in quite a bit of trouble, so why don't you ask attendant Ning here. He seems to be fond of helping others with financial needs."