This was the question everyone cared about most, and they all looked over anxiously.
After pondering for a moment, Chen Tianyang held up two fingers.
"Twenty percent?"
The surrounding crowd inwardly sighed in disappointment.
Xie Anxiang felt a slight pang of disappointment as well, but then he smiled and said, "A twenty percent chance is still better than no hope at all."
Chen Tianyang looked at him with a strange expression and said, "Who said anything about twenty percent? I said that within two weeks, I can have you completely cured."
"What? Just two weeks?" Xie Anxiang said excitedly, his fingers even trembling slightly.
It wasn't just him—the entire Xie Family erupted with excitement.
Xie Anxiang was the pillar of the Xie Family; as long as he stood, the Xie Family would never fall.
At that moment, Xie Yongguo looked at Chen Tianyang with eyes full of a burning, grateful fervor.
Chen Tianyang inwardly shook his head and muttered, "So excited over two weeks? If not for playing it safe, I could cure him in three days."
Fortunately, he spoke in a low voice, sparing the others from another shock.
After chatting for a bit longer, since Xie Anxiang had not yet fully recovered, everyone else cleared out, leaving behind only Xie Yongguo, Xie Starry Sky, Uncle Zhong, and Han Muqing with Chen Tianyang.
Xie Anxiang exchanged a glance with Xie Yongguo, who instantly understood. Xie Yongguo took out a black bank card and said to Chen Tianyang, "Mr. Chen, this card has one million on it as an upfront payment. Once my father makes a full recovery, there will be further rewards."
Chen Tianyang didn't stand on ceremony. He accepted it with a clear conscience, thinking that barely a week after coming down the mountain, he had already made one million—what a wonderful feeling.
Inside, he was blooming with joy, though on the surface he maintained an aloof and casual demeanor, saying, "In that case, I won't be modest."
Xie Anxiang praised, "Young friend Chen is not only exceptionally skilled in medicine at such a tender age, but also remarkably unperturbed by favor or disgrace. I truly wonder what kind of master nurtured someone like you."
"You flatter me, you flatter me," Chen Tianyang chuckled awkwardly.
Han Muqing was genuinely happy for Chen Tianyang.
Suddenly, Xie Anxiang continued, "Muqing spotted the pearl with a discerning eye and rendered a great service. I recall you are the manager of Guanghua Trade Building? From now on, you will be the president."
Guanghua Trade Building was the very same shopping mall Chen Tianyang had visited earlier, and it was one of the subsidiary properties of the Xie Family.
Good fortune fell upon Han Muqing out of nowhere, and she said excitedly, "Thank you, Elder and Family Head! I will certainly live up to the Family Head's trust."
Xie Anxiang smiled and said, "You should thank young friend Chen instead."
He was entirely right; Han Muqing's promotion to president was entirely due to Chen Tianyang.
"Right, right, right. The Elder's advice is spot on, I will properly repay him." Han Muqing looked gratefully at Chen Tianyang.
When she first brought Chen Tianyang along, she had simply been holding onto a slim hope, yet Chen Tianyang had truly performed a miraculous recovery and cured the Elder.
Thanks to Chen Tianyang's blessing, she had smoothly ascended to the position of CEO of Guanghua Trade Building.
Based on her original calculations, it would have taken her at least another decade to sit in the president's chair, yet now, within a single day, she had transformed from a manager into a president.
Her gratitude toward Chen Tianyang could well be imagined.
*"Could Chen Tianyang be my lucky star?"*
As Han Muqing suddenly recalled the moment she had embraced Chen Tianyang earlier, a shy blush crept into her heart.
After scheduling the next treatment session, Chen Tianyang stood up to take his leave.
"Starry Sky, you go along to see young friend Chen off as well."
Suddenly, Xie Anxiang spoke up.
Xie Starry Sky was secretly surprised, but seeing the look her grandfather gave her, she kept quiet, stood up with a smile, and went to see Chen Tianyang off.
Han Muqing was likewise utterly astonished.
Everyone in Guanghua City's upper crust knew that Xie Starry Sky was Elder Xie's absolute favorite person.
Now that Elder Xie had specifically named Xie Starry Sky to send Chen Tianyang off, it was clear how much importance the Xie Family attached to him.
Chen Tianyang smiled; having a beauty escort him made him happy as well.
However, just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned back, looked Uncle Zhong up and down, and said, "You've been injured and harbor chronic internal ailments. Am I right?"
A sharp, brilliant light instantly flashed in Uncle Zhong's eyes before he reined it in. Surprised, he asked, "How did you know?"
Three years ago, a rival faction sent an assassin to take out Xie Anxiang. He had fought to the death to kill the assailant, but sustained injuries in the process that had never fully healed. Every time it rained, his body would ache dully. He had never told a single soul about this, yet Chen Tianyang had seen right through it.
Chen Tianyang smiled. "Don't forget, I am a doctor. No matter how well you hide it, you can't fool my eyes. Don't worry, your chronic ailment is curable by me. The conditions aren't quite right at the moment, but when the time is right, I'll treat you."
Overjoyed, Uncle Zhong stood up and said excitedly, "In that case, many thanks!"
Chen Tianyang smiled and nodded.
Suddenly, Xie Yongguo also asked expectantly, "Lately I've felt my body flagging a bit as well. Why don't you check me over and see if I have any chronic illnesses?"
Having witnessed what happened with Xie Anxiang and Uncle Zhong, Xie Yongguo now had complete faith in Chen Tianyang's medical skills.
Chen Tianyang looked him over, a bizarre expression suddenly dawning on his face, and blurted out, "You have a weak kidney."
Everyone wore a strange expression in unison.
Han Muqing and Xie Starry Sky flushed, quietly spitting out a mental curse.
Xie Yongguo, the current head of the Xie Family, turned awkward and nearly petrified on the spot.
"This..." Xie Yongguo's expression was awkward as his old face flushed a rare red.
Chen Tianyang was spot on. Over the past few years, he had noticed a clear decline in his physical stamina and staying power, to the point where even his visits to his mistress on the side had decreased.
Thinking of his plump and alluring mistress's reproachful gaze, Xie Yongguo felt a mix of rising heat and helplessness.
Yet having such matters blurted out in public was terribly awkward.
Chen Tianyang smiled. "No worries. I have a formulation called the Gujing Pill that guarantees you'll be as vigorous as a dragon and a tiger afterward—one pill lasts for three years. However, I don't have the herbs on hand right now, so I can't whip it up immediately."
Overjoyed and casting all awkwardness aside, Xie Yongguo hurriedly said, "The herbs are no problem at all! Just tell me what you need, and our Xie Family will procure all of them, guaranteed to be top-quality ingredients."
After pondering for a moment, Chen Tianyang grabbed brush and paper and wrote down all the herbs he needed.
Naturally, it wasn't just for the Gujing Pill; there were plenty of other medicinal herbs for various purposes. Since the Xie Family was willing to play the fool and foot the bill, Chen Tianyang naturally had no objections.
"Rest assured, Mr. Chen. The next time you come to treat the Elder, I guarantee every single one of these herbs will be gathered and placed right before your eyes," Xie Yongguo promised repeatedly.
Being able to guarantee a man's prowess was something countless people dreamed of; now that Chen Tianyang could help him achieve that dream, Xie Yongguo was beside himself with excitement.
Xie Starry Sky blushed, feeling that having such a father was truly embarrassing.
Han Muqing turned her head away in utter awkwardness.
After saying their goodbyes, Xie Anxiang sat on his hospital bed, looking in high spirits as he said, "Yongguo, young friend Chen is an extraordinary individual. We must find a way to get on his good side."
Xie Yongguo first acknowledged the order, then asked doubtfully, "Dad, even if Chen Tianyang really possesses miraculous medical skills, given our Xie Family's power and status, is there really any need to value him to this extent?"
Xie Anxiang sighed and said, "Yongguo, you're great at everything—you have power, you understand methods, you make waves in the business world with very few rivals, and coupled with your second brother being a major general in the military, the two of you cover both commerce and the military. With the two of you holding down the fort, the Xie Family can be considered secure.
"Yet your sole flaw lies in your ability to recognize and employ talent—you are lacking by no small margin. Zeng Guofan once said that those who are bad at employing talent are mediocre. That is also what worries me the most."
*Those who are bad at employing talent are mediocre!*
This was already a severe reprimand.
Xie Yongguo looked ashamed as he said, "Dad's lesson is well-taken."
Xie Anxiang continued, "Chen Tianyang is young, yet his medical skills are profound enough to cure even terminal illnesses. What does that signify? It signifies that his future growth is boundless, and he may even become a divine physician comparable to Bian Que.
"If we in the Xie Family fail to befriend such a talent, it's tantamount to pushing him into the arms of other families. Just think—if another major family gains a divine physician like Chen Tianyang, those old fellows can be brought back from death's door as long as they aren't dead yet. How terrifying is that kind of prospect? And what kind of threat would it pose to the Xie Family? Can you seriously not even see something this basic?"
By the end, Xie Anxiang's tone had gradually grown stern.
Even though the Xie Family had been riding high in recent years, both father and son knew that in Guanghua City alone, there were at least three or four major families who had long looked at the Xie Family with resentment. Undercurrents were surging everywhere; one misstep, and the mighty Xie Family would capsize overnight.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Xie Yongguo broke out in a cold sweat and said earnestly, "Dad, don't worry. I will definitely befriend Chen Tianyang."
Xie Anxiang nodded in satisfaction.
Suddenly, Uncle Zhong spoke up. "Chen Tianyang goes far beyond simply being a divine physician. If I'm not mistaken, Chen Tianyang is also a martial artist, and his cultivation is by no means low."
"What?"
This time, not just Xie Yongguo, but even Xie Anxiang was utterly shocked.
Xie Anxiang jerked his upper body straight and immediately asked, "Brother Zhong, is this true?"
"Absolute truth." Uncle Zhong nodded, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he recounted how Qi Weidong had provoked Chen Tianyang and subsequently gotten heavily beaten up by him. Finally, he said, "When Chen Tianyang appeared in front of Qi Weidong, even I couldn't catch his movements clearly. Therefore, I can guarantee that Chen Tianyang is a martial artist, and his cultivation is definitely not below mine."
A look of utter disbelief surfaced in the eyes of Xie Anxiang and his son.
As members of the upper crust, they naturally knew much more than ordinary citizens.
The Ancient Martial lineage consisted of martial arts cultivation methods passed down from antiquity. Huaxia had numerous sects; once mastered, one could break through human physical limits and become a match for ten thousand men.
Even in modern society, the utility of martial artists remained immense.
Among them, the Ancient Martial realms were classified as: Foundation Establishment, Body Tempering, Qi Combination, Nether Penetration, Grandmaster, Legend Realm, and Xiantian Realm.
To reach the Nether Penetration realm was already to be a top-tier expert capable of taking on a hundred opponents single-handedly.
A Grandmaster was a rare existence that appeared perhaps once among thousands or tens of thousands of people.
Regardless of where a Grandmaster went, they commanded a revered status, and even the state treated them with courtesy.
As for the Legend Realm, it was already a transcendent existence, and no news of Legend practitioners had been heard in the world for nearly a century.
As for the Xiantian Realm, it was a legendary immortal realm, and to this day, no one had ever been heard to cultivate to Xiantian.
Uncle Zhong was a mid-stage Nether Penetration expert. Over the years, he had single-handedly fended off wave after wave of assassinations for the Xie Family, saving them from the brink of collapse on more than one occasion.
If what Uncle Zhong said was true, and Chen Tianyang was already a mid-stage Nether Penetration expert at such a young age, his future achievements would truly be boundless. He might even reach the Legend Realm—to say nothing of his identity as a divine physician!
Such a young man was destined to soar into the heavens like a dragon!
A mixture of shock and excitement washed over Xie Anxiang as he burst out laughing, his aged heart deeply comforted. "Chen Tianyang is unquestionably a heaven-defying talent. Fortunately, our Xie Family was the first to make contact with him, securing the best spot by the water first. Truly, Heaven blesses the Xie Family!
"Yongguo, pass down the order later—no, pass it down right now: from now on, Chen Tianyang is an honored guest of the Xie Family. Everyone in the Xie Family must treat him with utmost courtesy and must never offend him. Anyone who violates this order will be punished by family law!
"Furthermore, Han Muqing has a relatively close relationship with Chen Tianyang. From now on, upgrade Han Muqing's status, allow her to participate in the Xie Family's core interest policy meetings, and have her specifically responsible for hosting Chen Tianyang."
"Dad, rest assured, I'll pass down the order right away." Xie Yongguo was inwardly stunned. From now on, Chen Tianyang would probably be able to walk sideways across Guanghua City without a care in the world.
Putting aside Xie Anxiang's excitement and thrill, Chen Tianyang was currently seated inside Xie Starry Sky's Bugatti Veyron. With Xie Starry Sky personally driving and Han Muqing accompanying them, if word of this got out, it would be enough to make every man in Guanghua City green with envy and jealousy.
In less than a day, she had become the president of Guanghua Trade Building. Han Muqing felt as though she were living in a dream, and all of it was thanks to Chen Tianyang.
At this thought, her heart filled with gratitude, and even the way she looked at Chen Tianyang became different.
Of course, she still didn't know that Xie Anxiang had already made the decision to let her participate in the Xie Family's core decision-making in the future, elevating her status to an even higher tier. If she had known, her gratitude toward Chen Tianyang would undoubtedly have been even greater.
While driving, Xie Starry Sky cast surreptitious glances at Chen Tianyang.
So young, yet possessing unfathomable medical skills and profound knowledge. Facing a formidable regional bigwig like Xie Anxiang, he remained unflaggingly poised and extraordinary in his demeanor.
All of this filled Xie Starry Sky with curiosity and doubt.
With her gaze rippling, she parted her rosy lips and asked, "Mr. Chen, with medical skills as brilliant as yours, where are you currently employed? The Guanghua Central Hospital?"
Chen Tianyang shook his head. "No."
"A provincial Grade 3 A hospital?"
"Also no."
Xie Starry Sky felt a trace of surprise, then her expression cleared as she smiled, "I know—it must be the Capital Central Hospital. With medical skills as exceptional as yours, only the Capital Central Hospital would match your status."
"No, neither of those." Chen Tianyang continued to shake his head.
Xie Starry Sky became even more curious, secretly guessing whether he worked at some major foreign hospital.
Chen Tianyang smiled. "I'm a waiter, working at a snack bar."
Xie Starry Sky froze for a second, then burst into a giggle. Giving him a sideways, annoyed look, she said, "Mr. Chen, you really know how to joke. With medical skills as formidable as yours, how could you possibly be a waiter?"
Chen Tianyang was speechless. The guy tells the absolute truth, so why won't this young miss believe it?
Han Muqing said awkwardly, "Ms. Xie, what he said is true; he really is a waiter at a snack shop."
Xie Starry Sky was dumbfounded, as if she had heard a fantasy tale from the heavens.
Chen Tianyang—who possessed mystical medical skills and a boundless future—was actually a waiter?
Her grandfather's late-stage brain cancer, a terminal illness that had stumped even the nation's top specialists, was actually cured by a snack shop waiter?
Had the world truly gone this mad?
Eventually, after watching Chen Tianyang get out of the car outside the snack shop, Xie Starry Sky finally managed to accept this harsh reality.
Xie Starry Sky and Han Muqing got out of the car to see him off.
The two young women were top-tier goddesses by nature, possessed of elegant and noble bearing—one bewitching and alluring, the other bright and captivating—resembling a pair of twin lotus flowers on a single stalk, each shining in her own unique way.
Instantly, they drew the gazes of everyone passing by.
Naturally, the onlookers were all curious about who on earth could be keeping company with two beauties. When they saw Chen Tianyang, they subconsciously assumed he was a kept man, their eyes filling with envy and disdain.
Han Muqing said with sincere gratitude, "Tianyang, thank you."
If not for Chen Tianyang, she would never have received Xie Anxiang's exceptional promotion.
Chen Tianyang looked her up and down, then suddenly rolled his eyes and teased, "Oh? Sister Qing, how do you plan to thank me?"
Han Muqing's pretty face flushed slightly. Suddenly casting a reproachful, playful glance at him, she stepped forward and, in full view of the public, wrapped her arms around Chen Tianyang. At the same time, her breath puffed like orchids near his ear as she whispered with a sweet chuckle, "Bad little brother, does Sister's way of thanking you make your heart beat fast and leave you quite intoxicated?"
More than a few onlookers felt their hearts shatter, each glaring at Chen Tianyang with wide eyes. If looks could kill, Chen Tianyang probably would have been hacked to pieces.
With such an alluring beauty held in his arms and a lingering fragrance drifting into his nose, Chen Tianyang couldn't help his heart from fluttering, and a mischievous smile bloomed at the corners of his mouth.
He was hardly a pure and innocent man to begin with—otherwise, he wouldn't have teased the police belle Liu Shuangshuang about becoming his minor wife the very first time they met.
Now that a beauty was in his arms, Chen Tianyang didn't stand on ceremony. He prepared to wrap his arms around Han Muqing in return and take advantage of the situation first.
To his surprise, Han Muqing seemed to have anticipated his intent. Before Chen Tianyang could loop his arms around her waist, she had already stepped back, letting out a tinkling, melodic laugh. "Bad little brother, you're not playing nice. See you next time."
With those words, blushing fiercely, she dove back into the car, her face burning hot.
Xie Starry Sky stood to the side, completely dumbfounded.
Her understanding of Han Muqing was profound. Although Han Muqing appeared mature and open on the outside, she was actually exceptionally conservative, having never had intimate contact with any male. Even her own older brother's persistent pursuits had been repeatedly rejected.
Never had she imagined that Han Muqing would take the initiative to throw herself into a man's arms. If her brother ever found out, he would probably commit murder!
Suddenly, Chen Tianyang's gaze shifted to Xie Starry Sky, and a playful smile crept across his face.
"Y-you... what are you looking at me for?" For reasons unknown to herself, Xie Starry Sky—who could remain calm and collected even when facing government officials—suddenly grew somewhat nervous.
Chen Tianyang closed the distance toward Xie Starry Sky and teased, "I cured your grandfather. How do you plan to repay me?"
"Didn't I already give you one million?" Xie Starry Sky's breathing turned slightly rapid.
Chen Tianyang suddenly reached out, pulled Xie Starry Sky into his embrace, and feeling the slight tremor of the delicate body in his arms, smiled lightly, "One million—do you really think that's enough?"
The surrounding crowd's hearts shattered all over again. This guy was openly playing the field with two boats at once! Shameless, utterly shameless! Why did such wonderful things never fall into their own laps?
Even Han Muqing was stunned. Chen Tianyang was far too daring, actually taking advantage of the Xie Family's princess in broad daylight.
Xie Starry Sky instantly went blank, her mind turning to pure white. By the time she snapped back to her senses, Chen Tianyang had already let go of her and turned to walk toward the snack shop.
"Hooligan!" Xie Starry Sky stamped her foot in vexation, let out a huff, and climbed back into the car. With a cold voice, she said, "Sister Qing, I don't want anyone else to find out about this."
Han Muqing said awkwardly, "Don't worry, I know what to do."
"Hmph! Next time I see him, I'll make him pay!" Xie Starry Sky slammed her foot on the gas pedal and drove away.
At that exact moment, inside the president's office at the Starry Sky Group building.
Su Muyu was dressed in a white pantsuit, looking elegant and coldly stunning.
At that moment, as she looked at the investigative report resting on her desk, she couldn't help furrowing her brows slightly.
Days ago, after Chen Tianyang's resolute departure, Su Muyu had instead developed a sliver of interest and sent people to investigate his whereabouts.
Yet the results of the investigation had left her deeply disappointed.
*"Back then, you stood before me with such unyielding pride, and I took you for someone harboring hidden depths who could bring me a stunning performance. To think you actually went and became a waiter at a snack shop. You truly wasted my expectations."*