Chapter 10

The flickering red dot was, of course, a pinhole camera. Ye Fengyun was well-versed in such matters, but why would there be a pinhole camera in Old Master Xu's room?

Upon making this discovery, Ye Fengyun didn't rush to expose it. Instead, he positioned himself with his back to the camera and began to take Old Master Xu's pulse.

As his hand rested on the old man's wrist, Ye Fengyun's brow furrowed slightly.

This was not an illness—it was poison.

Someone had poisoned Old Master Xu.

Moreover, this was no ordinary poison, but the rare Four Withered Flowers.

The Four Withered Flowers was refined from the juice of the Black Lotus of the Hidden Valley—colorless, tasteless. The only antidote required the leaves of four specific flowers. Hospitals could not detect this poison, which explained why Old Master Xu remained uncured despite spending a fortune.

Ye Fengyun's master had once saved a man poisoned by this very toxin and had even prepared a pill, which he had given to Ye Fengyun. Unexpectedly, it would prove useful now.

Ye Fengyun took out the antidote, glanced at Old Master Xu lying on the bed, then looked at the camera behind him. Suddenly, an idea took shape in his mind.

He put the antidote away instead of giving it to Old Master Xu immediately. Instead, he produced silver needles and, using the needle-passage technique, temporarily alleviated the symptoms and drew out some of the poisoned blood.

"Done."

Ye Fengyun retrieved the needles. Old Master Xu's wan face twitched, and his aged eyelids quivered gently.

Meanwhile, outside the door, Old Master Yun and Xu Dahai waited anxiously.

Xu Dahai watched the surveillance feed on his phone. When he saw his father stir on the bed, he rushed into the room without a word.

"Father! Father! You’re finally awake!"

Xu Dahai shouted, throwing himself to the bedside.

"Uh...uh..."

Although Old Master Xu was awake, the poison had not been purged. He couldn’t even speak.

He lifted a feeble hand, but it was too weak to rise, so instead he gripped Ye Fengyun’s hand by the bedside, his fingers trembling violently.

Suddenly, Old Master Xu coughed up a mouthful of black blood and fell unconscious.

"Father!"

Xu Dahai cried out, his eyes red with rage as he glared at Ye Fengyun.

"What did you do to my father?!"

Ye Fengyun curled his lip impatiently. "What kind of look is that? Can't you see I'm saving your father?"

"Saving him? Saving him until he spits blood?" Xu Dahai shouted.

Ye Fengyun grew annoyed. "Hey, are you a doctor or am I? Want to try the needles yourself?"

"You—"

Xu Dahai rolled up his sleeves to strike.

Old Master Yun quickly intervened, trying to mediate.

"Xiao Ye, just explain it to him."

Ye Fengyun cleared his throat, shot an irritated glance at Xu Dahai, and said, "Listen well. I used the needle-passage method to dissolve the stagnant blood in your father's body and let him spit it out. He’s already expelled some of it. In three days, with another treatment, he’ll be completely cured."

"Why wait three days? Why not treat him now?" Xu Dahai’s tone grated on Ye Fengyun’s nerves.

Ye Fengyun retorted, "You sure talk a lot. Are you in a hurry to lose the villa to me? Don’t I need time to gather medicinal herbs? Don’t I need to prepare the remedy? Just have ten million yuan and the villa ready for me in three days."

With that, Ye Fengyun turned to leave. Old Master Yun hurried after him.

Old Master Yun looked at Ye Fengyun in astonishment. "Xiao Ye, can he really be cured? Don’t lie to me—many renowned doctors have failed with this strange illness!"

Ye Fengyun gave Old Master Yun a knowing look and smirked. "Just trust me. But the Xu family’s situation isn’t simple. You’ll need to cooperate with my plan."

"Cooperate with your plan? What do you want to do?" Old Master Yun was puzzled.

Ye Fengyun said meaningfully, "Old Master Xu was poisoned by someone from his own family, not by some mysterious illness."

"What?!"

Old Master Yun was shocked. He and Xu Liangtian had been lifelong friends, supporting and caring for each other. The news that his old friend had been poisoned filled him with fury.

"Old Xu was poisoned by his own kin? Which bastard did it?!"

Ye Fengyun replied, "I don’t know yet. But the poisoner didn’t intend to kill him outright—just to gradually rob him of his mobility. If they wanted him dead, they wouldn’t have used a slow-acting poison."

Old Master Yun gradually calmed down, sighed, and looked up at the sky, speaking with deep meaning: "Such are the struggles of great families. As the saying goes, there are no true blood ties in royal households, and it's the same for the wealthy. I left the Yun family and founded the Hall of National Medicine because I wanted no part in the battles for fame and fortune."

He sighed again, but this time his eyes showed longing and hope. "Though I was born into a prominent family, I never wanted to be an heir or a business tycoon. All I wish is to be a doctor who saves lives, to spare the suffering, to give hope to those with terminal illnesses."

Hearing these words, Ye Fengyun felt a deepened respect for Old Master Yun. "You have the hearts of all patients, and they are fortunate to have you."

Old Master Yun smiled, patted Ye Fengyun on the shoulder, and said, "Xiao Ye, you are a truly gifted child. In time, you will accomplish great things. As the saying goes, a minor physician saves one, a great physician saves the world. I can only be a humble healer, but you will be a great healer!"

"If I am a coat, are you a vest, then?" Ye Fengyun quipped.

Old Master Yun laughed heartily, and together they descended the mountain.

On the way, Ye Fengyun wore a smile, but the scene in Old Master Xu’s room replayed in his mind.

Half an hour earlier, Old Master Xu’s room.

"Old Master Xu, you can’t speak?" Ye Fengyun asked.

The old man on the bed nodded painfully. His mouth opened, but only "uh uh" sounds emerged.

Ye Fengyun leaned close and whispered, "Do you know who did this to you? Can you give me a hint?"

Suddenly, Xu Dahai burst in, shouting for his father.

Old Master Xu tried to open his mouth but could not make a sound. He wanted to lift his hand but found he had no strength.

Desperate, he grabbed Ye Fengyun’s hand, his fingers trembling and tracing stiff, shaky strokes in Ye Fengyun’s palm.

Feeling the pattern traced in his palm, Ye Fengyun’s eyes grew inscrutable.

Because Old Master Xu had written the character for "Xu."

Tang Group, Tang Shihan’s office.

Tang Shihan sat in her chair, frowning at a tablet displaying the company’s performance.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

Lin Lei entered.

Tang Shihan’s brow furrowed involuntarily.

She had long noticed the way Lin Lei looked at her, like a hungry wolf eyeing a helpless rabbit, filled with greed and desire. As a result, she had no fondness for him.

But he was, after all, her brother-in-law, Tang Yilin’s husband. Since he had come, she couldn’t afford to be too hostile.

Lin Lei walked in with a smirk, glanced around, and asked, "Shihan, busy?"

"Mm." Tang Shihan responded coldly. "What do you want, brother-in-law?"

Lin Lei reached for her hand. "Shihan, calling me brother-in-law is too formal. We’re family now. Just call me Lin Lei, or Lei, or even brother."

Tang Shihan brushed his hand away, her tone icy. "You’re a married man. Please behave yourself."

Rubbing the back of his hand, reddened by her slap, Lin Lei adjusted his glasses and smiled. "I just wanted to shake your hand, nothing more. Oh, and I brought good news."

"What news?" Tang Shihan asked.

Lin Lei pulled her hand, trying to seat her beside him on the sofa. "Come, let me tell you slowly."

Tang Shihan frowned with irritation, shook off his hand, and said coldly, "Just say it, brother-in-law."

Lin Lei grinned. "I can help you secure the cooperation project with Longhai Group."

"Oh." Outwardly, Tang Shihan kept her composure, but inside she was thrilled.

She knew very well how powerful Longhai Group was. Securing their cooperation would not only resolve the company’s financial crisis, it could even revive a bankrupt company.

But she also knew Lin Lei would not help her for nothing, so she asked, "And your terms?"