Medical Sage

”President Xiao, actually, I have another method.” Just as Xiao Qianrang was distraught, the man with brown hair parted in the middle standing beside him suddenly spoke.

”Another method? What method?” Xiao Qianrang asked, frowning. At this moment, he could not think of any other good method, which was why he was puzzled as to what ’method’ the man spoke of.

”Didn’t you notice, President Xiao? That kid just broke the rules. People like us aren’t allowed to expose our abilities in front of ordinary people...” Although the brown-haired man’s face remained pale, he gave a meaningful and dangerous smile.

”You mean...” Upon hearing this, a sharp gleam flashed across Xiao Qianrang’s eyes.

”Heh heh,” the brown-haired man chuckled wickedly. He believed Xiao Qianrang understood his meaning.

After all, as long as Chen Fei caught the attention of that department, or was simply taken away directly, wouldn’t he be at the Xiao Family’s mercy? A few minor tricks would be all it took.

”Alright, let’s do that.” Xiao Qianrang’s anxiety finally dissipated, replaced by a cold smirk.

I, Xiao Qianrang, have dominated the business world for so many years, revered and courted wherever I go. Even political and business tycoons show me respect! But now? A mere youngster dares to refuse me! And after I had already given him ’plenty’ of face, he still doesn’t know what’s good for him! Fine. Since you, surnamed Chen, are so arrogant and oblivious to danger, don’t blame me for being merciless when I strike! Hmph!

***

In the blink of an eye, another half-week had passed. Aside from eating, walking, and practicing his punches, Chen Fei spent nearly all his time cultivating the Immortal’s Technique. It was a comfortable life.

His cultivation level had already reached the Peak of Qi Refining Third Layer. Logically, he only needed one opportunity to leap the Dragon Gate and become a true Mid Stage Qi Refining practitioner. By then, his state would be completely different from now—a complete metamorphosis.

But cultivation was not something that could be achieved overnight. This step was considered the first major hurdle on the path of cultivation, and it was not one that could be crossed easily. Chen Fei could only take his time and avoid being impatient.

Just like that, Wednesday arrived. Having just gotten out of bed, Chen Fei was leisurely reading an ancient book, a cup of tea resting on the table beside him.

As he was engrossed in his book, the former dean of the Affiliated College of Traditional Medicine in Northern Mountain City, Elder Du—a Mount Tai Beidou figure in the national medical world—was taking a patient’s pulse in a dilapidated bungalow.

The patient was skeletal, with a buzz cut and deep-set eyes, and appeared to be in his thirties or forties. He lay unconscious on a filthy, decrepit bed, his hands and feet shackled with iron chains. The skin around his wrists and ankles was particularly red and covered in scars. The bungalow itself was in complete disarray.

”Elder Du, he had another episode last night. If I hadn’t been here to give him a sedative and an anesthetic, who knows what would’ve happened,” said Dr. Xu, who was also there, shaking his head helplessly.

”Doctors, what’s wrong with my dad? Please, you have to save him,” a boy of about twelve or thirteen pleaded desperately. He stood in the small, low-ceilinged bungalow, his clothes dusty, tattered, and filthy.

He knew that the two elderly doctors before him were renowned figures in traditional Chinese medicine, famous throughout Northern Mountain City and even the entire country. He also knew they were kindly treating his father for free. Yet, seven or eight days had passed, and his father’s bizarre illness showed no sign of improvement. Apart from being in a deep sleep, he would have episodes in the middle of the night...

Thinking of his father’s strange and terrifying appearance during these episodes made the boy’s face pale. He swore he had never seen or even heard of such a terrifying illness—except in the movies.

”Your father’s condition is truly peculiar. I’ve never seen or heard of such a case in all my years of practice!” Dr. Xu said with a sigh, responding to the boy’s plea.

Dr. Xu Zhenxing considered himself, if not among the top-tier traditional Chinese medicine doctors in the country, then at least in the tier just below them, right? Yet now, he was utterly clueless about this boy’s father’s strange illness, completely at a loss. This situation was even more absurd than Elder Liu Zhou’s Fire Poison! At least with Elder Liu Zhou’s bizarre illness, he had some clue, even if he couldn’t cure it. But this... he simply couldn’t understand it. He was completely and utterly clueless!

”Perhaps... he’s been poisoned,” Elder Du, who had been silent, suddenly said.

”Poisoned? Elder Du, have you figured out what it is? Is there a cure?” Dr. Xu Zhenxing asked solemnly. Beside him, the glimmer of hope returned to the boy’s previously despairing eyes.

”I can’t tell what it is, I have no idea. It’s just a feeling that it might be poison,” Elder Du replied.

”A feeling?”

A look of disappointment flickered in Dr. Xu Zhenxing’s weary eyes, but he quickly accepted it. If this strange illness were so easy to diagnose, he wouldn’t be so completely stumped. As for Elder Du’s suspicion of poison, that was a possibility. He recalled ancient medical texts describing certain rare poisons that caused similar symptoms.

However, during the patient’s nighttime episodes, his skin would inexplicably grow patches of something like snake scales, which emitted a faint, greyish-black, eerie glow… Just thinking about what he had personally witnessed last night and the nights before sent a chill down his spine, even for an old man of his age. How could a person’s skin grow something so revolting? What in the world was going on?

”Then... then is my dad hopeless?” the boy asked, his eyes turning red as his voice cracked with tears.

”Young friend, let’s not jump to conclusions. I know a Doctor Chen who is very skilled at treating such bizarre conditions. I’ll give him a call,” Elder Du said slowly, comforting the boy.

”Elder Du, you’re calling Doctor Chen?” Dr. Xu was startled for a moment before it dawned on him. Damn, how could I have forgotten about Doctor Chen?

”Elder Xu, you keep an eye on things here. I’m going to step outside and call Doctor Chen,” Elder Du said with a slight nod. He took out his mobile phone and dialed as he walked toward the door.

”Grandpa Xu, can... can my dad really be saved?” The boy was clearly in despair, his voice breaking into a sob as he looked at Xu Zhenxing. Tears streamed from his young eyes, a heart-wrenching sight.

”Little Ling, don’t worry,” Dr. Xu said, his heart aching for the tear-streaked boy. Ignoring the grime on his clothes, he reached out and hugged him tightly. ”That Doctor Chen is truly amazing. As long as he’s willing to help, I believe your dad will be saved.”

Meanwhile, Chen Fei was surprised to receive a call from Elder Du. He answered with a smile, ”Elder Du, it’s been a long time. How have you been? Oh, by the way, Elder Dong is fine now. It happened just a few days ago.”

”I already received a call from Old Dong. Doctor Chen, thank you so much,” Elder Du said from the other end, his voice full of gratitude. He was clearly aware of the news. After all, if not for Chen Fei’s help, his old friend might have already passed on.

”It was nothing. But Elder Du, why are you calling? From your tone, it sounds like something is wrong...” Chen Fei asked.

”Well, Mr. Chen, I was wondering if you’re free right now? I have a very, very special patient here,” Elder Du said, his tone immediately turning serious.

”Very, very special!?” Chen Fei was taken aback. For him to describe it with two ’verys’, the situation must be truly extraordinary.

At this thought, Chen Fei’s expression grew grim. ”Tell me,” he said seriously, ”what are the patient’s symptoms?”

”Prepare yourself, you might be shocked when you hear this...”

On the other end of the line, Elder Du took a deep breath and began to explain the situation in full.

Before Elder Du was even halfway through, Chen Fei’s expression had already turned grave. ”Elder Du,” he interrupted in a strange tone, ”are you saying that when the patient has an episode, his skin inexplicably grows a layer of something resembling snake scales, and he becomes abnormally agitated, frenzied, and violent? He just destroys things randomly?”

”Exactly! To be honest, this is the strangest case I’ve encountered in all my years of practice. The patient regained consciousness once, but only for a moment. He only managed to say one thing,” Elder Du confirmed, a peculiar look on his face.

”One thing? What was it?”

Elder Du hesitated for a moment before replying, ”He said, ’Run! The... the devil!’”

”The devil?” At this, Chen Fei’s brow furrowed even deeper. ”Elder Du,” he said slowly, ”where is the patient? I’m on my way.”

”You’re coming now, Doctor Chen? That’s wonderful! The address is xxxx...” Elder Du couldn’t hide his joy when he heard Chen Fei’s reply, and he quickly gave him the address of a remote town on the outskirts of the city.

”Elder Du, how did it go? Did Doctor Chen agree?” Just then, Dr. Xu’s voice came from behind him.

Elder Du turned to see Dr. Xu had come out of the bungalow. He nodded, relieved. ”Doctor Chen agreed. He should be on his way now.”

”That’s truly wonderful. Little Ling, did you hear that? Doctor Chen promised to come, so you can rest easy now,” Dr. Xu said, also breathing a sigh of relief as he smiled at the timid figure peeking from behind the broken doorway.

Little did they know, from the roof of a nearby three-story old building, a pair of ice-cold, emotionless eyes was watching them. So cold. So very cold.