...and successfully pulled his grandfather back from the jaws of death.
But he never in his wildest dreams expected that person to be Chu Hao!
In his view, any truly skilled practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine had to be someone with white hair and a long beard.
What did Chu Hao count for? At most, he looked to be about thirty years old.
Seeing the middle-aged man still intent on lecturing Qin Yu, Ling Xiao said, "Qin He, focusing on the old gentleman is what matters right now. If you want to discipline your son, wait until the old gentleman's condition is dealt with!"
Qin He stared hard at Ling Xiao for a few moments.
Hearing that name, Chu Hao felt a slight trace of surprise.
He found the man vaguely familiar. Upon hearing Ling Xiao address him, he remembered seeing that name in his contact list—a man who was also based in Donghai.
However, over the years, Chu Hao had treated so many patients that he couldn't possibly remember every one of them. That was why he hadn't sought out Qin He, but rather Han Shuguang.
Looking at it now, he might have just gained another helper in Jiangcheng.
"Let's go," he said with a faint smile.
"Right!" Qin He led Chu Hao into the villa.
There were quite a few people inside. Qin He announced, "Keep it quiet, the divine doctor is here."
A man who bore a striking resemblance to Qin He sneered, "Qin He, the person you brought back is just this young man?"
Qin He arched an eyebrow. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"Hmph." The man let out another sneer. "Qin He, you’re probably just dying for Dad to pass away so you can inherit the family business, aren't you? If he actually dies, who gets to inherit the estate is still up in the air!"
Qin He glanced at him indifferently. "I don't have the time to argue with you right now! We're going up!"
With that, he moved to pull Chu Hao toward the stairs.
The man stepped forward, blocking their path. "Qin He, what are you doing? Calling just anyone a 'divine doctor'? Where did you dig up this hillbilly? What if he goes up there and messes up Dad's condition, and he actually dies because of it?"
Seeing this, Chu Hao furrowed his brow.
Internal strife was all too common in these wealthy, powerful families.
Ling Xiao quickly interjected, "Qin Shun, what are you doing? This young man is truly a divine doctor. The old gentleman’s condition is critical—don't waste any more time."
Qin Shun looked at both of them and shook his head. "I don't want my father to be tormented right before he dies."
Qin He took a deep breath, his face looking extremely grim. He looked at Qin Shun and said, "Qin Shun, isn't it the family assets you're after?"
At this, he sneered, "If... if Dad really does pass away today, without a will in place, I won't take a single cent of his shares. They will all belong to you, including all the shares held by my branch of the family—I will give them all to you!"
Upon hearing this, a flash of joy instantly crossed Qin Shun’s face. "You promised that."
"I keep my word! Everyone here can bear witness!" Qin He declared.
Everyone in the room looked toward them.
Only then did Qin Shun sneer, "Fine!"
With that, he stepped aside.
Qin He said coldly, "All of you, be quiet. Do not disturb the divine doctor’s treatment!"
He then turned to Chu Hao. "Divine Doctor Chu, please!"
Chu Hao walked upstairs, and soon they arrived at a room.
Inside, the master bedroom was thick with the scent of death. The entire room had a faint, musty odor that was quite unpleasant.
"My apologies, it’s impossible to fully cleanse the smell of an elderly person," Qin He said.
"It is no matter," Chu Hao replied.
He walked quickly to the side of the bed.
An elderly man as thin as a skeleton lay there with his eyes closed, connected to an oxygen tank; his breathing was extremely faint.
Chu Hao sat down, took the old man's hand from under the quilt, and closed his eyes to check his pulse.
A moment later, his brow furrowed slightly.
"Are you finding that, aside from the weakness, there’s nothing distinctive about the old gentleman's pulse?" Ling Xiao asked at this moment. "That was my diagnosis as well. I prescribed some tonics, but they were useless."
Chu Hao said nothing. He stood up, lifted the old man’s eyelids, and then pulled back the clothes on his chest to examine his tongue coating.
Afterward, seeming to sense something, he took out a silver needle and slowly inserted it into the position of the old man’s heart.
A few seconds later, a layer of cyan color slowly crept up the needle.
"This is..." Qin He and Ling Xiao asked in unison.
Chu Hao moved slightly and said, "The old gentleman has been poisoned!"
"What?" Qin He’s expression shifted. "Poisoned? How is that possible? My father has been at home all these years, eating and wearing only what is provided by the household..."
"And..." Chu Hao pulled a wry face, "this isn't ordinary poison. It's called 'Smiling Powder'."
A look of confusion appeared on Qin He’s face, while Ling Xiao’s complexion changed drastically. "Young man, are you certain?"
*Chapter 37: The Purification Needles Appear, All Toxins Cleared*
"What is that?" Qin He asked hurriedly.
"It is a lost, ancient poison once used to assassinate high-ranking officials. It is colorless and odorless, often used in food and drink because it can even stimulate the appetite. After consumption, the body’s functions gradually decay, yet the patient feels no pain and dies with a smile on their face. Even a healthy, strong adult couldn't survive it for a month." Ling Xiao said, "And given the old gentleman’s advanced age..."
Qin He’s face paled. "No wonder. The old gentleman had been quite robust until about half a month ago when he started feeling unwell. We checked him into the hospital, but they couldn't find anything. The person responsible for his meals during this time has been the family chef, and the old gentleman has always been very kind to him..."
"Can it be cured?" After saying this, he looked at Chu Hao.
Ling Xiao, however, gave a bitter laugh. "This poison... is incurable."
Qin He’s face changed wildly. He took several steps back, then gritted his teeth and snarled, "No, the family chef has no reason to poison my father. My father is strong and hasn't made a will yet. He holds many shares and is still the nominal Chairman of the Board!"
"Before this, he mentioned more than once that he would leave his shares to me. If he dies, the one who gains the most is..." A twitch crossed Qin He’s face. "Qin Shun, that bastard Qin Shun!"
He was furious and turned to storm out of the room.
"Uh... I never said I couldn't cure it," Chu Hao coughed awkwardly.
Qin He froze, then whipped his head back to look at Chu Hao. "Divine Doctor Chu, are you serious?"
Ling Xiao also looked at Chu Hao with suspicion. "Young man, this... this is Smiling Powder."
Chu Hao smiled faintly. "I would appreciate it if you both could step outside and give me a quiet environment."
Qin He was overjoyed. He quickly replied, "Divine Doctor Chu, then... I’ll leave it to you. As long as you can save my father, the Qin family will follow you through hell or high water from this day on."
Chu Hao nodded. "Rest assured."
The two hurried out, and Qin He, looking grim, started to rush downstairs.
Ling Xiao quickly grabbed him. "President Qin, don't be hasty!"
"How can I not be?" Qin He exclaimed. "Aside from that bastard Qin Shun, I can't think of anyone else. This is his own father, and he could actually do this! I knew there was a reason he invited the family chef to dinner recently."
"Do you have evidence right now?" Ling Xiao asked. "Without evidence, if you go down there and confront him, he won't admit it; he'll just make a scene and alert the culprit. For now, act as if you know nothing. When we get back, we'll deal with the chef first!"
Hearing Ling Xiao's words, Qin He gradually calmed down. He walked over to the railing and cast his gaze downward.
On the sofa, Qin Shun was sitting there. The others looked worried, but he was playing on his phone, a faint smile on his lips.
...
Inside the room, Chu Hao let out a long breath. He looked at the old gentleman and said, "Old man, you’re certainly unlucky. I wonder what you’ll think if I save you and you see the state of your family."
With that, he slowly unrolled his needle pouch!
Inside, the silver needles emitted faint wisps of spiritual energy.
Yes, this was Chu Hao’s needle pouch. Although it wasn't as exquisite as Ling Xiao’s—merely a simple cloth and cotton bag—the quality of the needles within was clearly superior to anything Ling Xiao possessed.
The needles varied in length. After opening the pouch, Chu Hao didn't immediately begin. A burst of true elemental force shimmered over his right hand, covering his entire palm.
In that moment, his hand turned as white as jade.
"White Hands of Purity!"
Immediately after, his hands began to move with incredible speed, massaging the old man's body.
This was a specialized massage technique capable of making all of a person’s meridians and blood flow rapidly.
Every strike Chu Hao landed was precisely on an acupuncture point.
If someone were here to observe, they would see that Chu Hao’s movements were like afterimages.
This was exactly why he had asked the other two to leave.
After all, it would seem far too incredible to the average person.
After a bout of massage, Chu Hao exhaled deeply and slapped his hand down.
The quilt on the bed was instantly whipped away. As his true elemental force pulsed, the clothes on Chu Hao’s body rustled violently.
Under the influence of his true elemental force, one silver needle after another began to float into the air. A total of thirteen needles of varying lengths hovered there!
"Purification Acupuncture Technique!"
This was a method of needlework designed to dispel toxins.
Chu Hao drew a deep breath. "The Purification Needles appear, all toxins are cleared!"
He waved his hand!
In an instant, the thirteen silver needles scattered.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
One after another, the needles landed rapidly on various parts of the old gentleman's body.
The old gentleman’s body began to twitch slightly, and a flush of blood color followed.
Chu Hao stepped forward and removed the oxygen mask from the old man’s face.
The moment the oxygen was removed, the old man’s body began to twitch even more violently. A split second later, he suddenly turned his head to the side and vomited a large mouthful of black blood.
"Ugh!"
"Ugh!"
A strange sound emanated from the old man’s throat, and his breathing began to steady.
The sound drew attention from outside, and Qin He hurried to the door.
Chu Hao pulled out the needles one by one and said, "You may come in now."
Qin He rushed to open the door. The moment he entered, he was met with a foul stench. He saw the large pool of black blood on the pillowcase and watched as the old man let out pained groans. He asked hurriedly, "This is..."
"The toxins have been expelled," Chu Hao said. "Bring some water for him to rinse his mouth. Also, the old gentleman is advanced in years and has endured quite an ordeal; he will need to rest quietly for a while."
Ling Xiao quickly grabbed some water and fed it to the old man.
The old man rinsed his mouth several times, spitting the water into a waste bin.
The stench in the room grew even stronger.
After a long while, the old gentleman slowly recovered. He looked at Qin He and then at Chu Hao standing to the side. "Young Divine Doctor Chu, it is you... who has saved me again!"
Chu Hao smiled. "It proves that fate has brought us together twice."
"Ah!" The old man let out a long sigh. "You refuse any reward, and I don't even know how to thank you!"
"A physician’s heart is one of benevolence," Chu Hao shook his head. "I am merely doing what is expected of me."
The old man grasped Qin He’s hand and sighed again. "Eldest..."
"Dad!" Qin He replied quickly.
"Young Divine Doctor Chu should not be married yet, how about...!" The old man said, "How about we marry Shanshan off to him!"
*Chapter 38: What Are You Doing?*
Hearing this, Qin He’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he quickly turned to look at Chu Hao.
Chu Hao coughed awkwardly. "Well, actually, I am already married."
"Ah!" Qin He said with a look of regret. "That is truly a pity."
The old gentleman’s brow furrowed. "But you have saved my life twice. I must show my gratitude. You wouldn't take money before, and you wouldn't accept gifts. As a man on the verge of death, I’d hate to leave this world with regrets, feeling I owe you a debt."
Chu Hao pondered for a moment and said, "Actually, there is a matter that I might need your help with."
"Oh?" Qin He asked immediately. "What is it? As long as it is within our power, even if the Qin family has to go bankrupt, we will help you!"
"It won't come to bankruptcy," Chu Hao replied. "The specifics aren't set yet. If I truly need your help, I will give you a call when the time comes. I have your number—you haven't changed it, have you?"
"I haven't!" Qin He replied quickly. "Whatever it is, just give the order."
Chu Hao nodded. "Having your word is enough. It should be within the next few days."
To deal with Zuo Cheng, someone like Han Shuguang might already be enough.
But Chu Hao was becoming inclined to take action against the Lin family as well.
Judging by what Bailing said this morning, the Lins might be colluding with Luo Qing to take him out. Luo Qing... was a man who wanted his life.
Chu Hao hadn't originally intended to hold a grudge against the Lin family.
Even regarding the broken engagement and the beating he received, he had only held Zuo Cheng responsible.
But!
His forbearance had only caused the Lin family to push further and further.
Now, they were actually threatening his life.
Before today, out of respect for the deep friendship between his grandfather and Lin Kefu, he could have let it slide. But... when it came to his own life, he no longer intended to be patient!
The reason he hadn't moved against them yet was, first, although the incident happened at the Lin villa, he wasn't yet certain if it was related to Lin Kefu. After all, Zuo Cheng could have been misleading him in the middle.
Second, he didn't know if Lin Kefu was aware of it. If Lin Kefu knew and still wanted him dead, Chu Hao would have no need to show any courtesy.
It just so happened that he could also let Lin Qinyi and the rest of the Lin family see!
He, the person they despised so much, could wipe them out with a simple turn of his hand.
Qin He nodded. "Good, be sure to contact me when the time comes. I will stay in Jiangcheng for the time being, just waiting for your news."
Chu Hao smiled. "I am deeply grateful."
At this moment, Qin He looked at his father. "Dad, this time..."
The old gentleman shook his head. "I heard everything you said just now. Eldest..."
He let out a long sigh. "Let it be. Just pretend we don't know anything. And don't go investigating it!"
"But!" Qin He’s expression changed. "Second brother, he..."
"Second brother is still my child," the old gentleman laughed bitterly. "Since he was young, he felt I favored you, which bred resentment. I know his character, which is why I didn't give the company to him. When your mother passed away, she was also worried that he would turn against you..."
Standing to the side, Chu Hao sighed inwardly at this sight.
This was parenthood, he supposed!
He felt that things were most likely exactly as Qin He had suspected, evident from Qin Shun’s earlier obstruction and his demand for the shares.
Born to the same parents, Qin He was incomparably filial, even willing to give up everything for his dying father.
And the other one...
Chu Hao mused that if he ever had two children and one of them turned out like Qin Shun, he would break his legs.
But these were other people’s domestic affairs. He didn't care to involve himself too deeply in the infighting of the wealthy.
Qin He said with a sullen face, "Dad, you all spoiled him since he was a child, which is why he is so lawless."
"Forget it!" The old man sighed deeply again.
Chu Hao coughed. "Now that the old gentleman’s condition has mostly recovered, I have some other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave?"
Qin He’s expression shifted. "Divine Doctor Chu, you must stay for a meal. I..."
Chu Hao cut him off. "I truly have urgent matters to attend to. Otherwise, I would be happy to stay."
Qin He looked at Chu Hao’s demeanor and said, "Very well. I will see you out. Divine Doctor Ling, I must trouble you to look after my father here."
Ling Xiao nodded, looking at Chu Hao with admiration. "You two go ahead, I will look after things here."
The two walked downstairs. Seeing them descend, Qin Shun stood up. "Where is the old man? How is he? You didn't..."
Halfway through, his voice trailed off. He noticed Qin He’s eyes were fixed on him, a glare so intense it felt as if he wanted to kill him.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Qin Shun said, his eyes darting around. "If something happened to the old man, it’s because this quack you brought is incompetent."
Qin He said indifferently, "The old man has recovered somewhat, but he needs quiet. If you want to go up and see him, go one by one, and keep it quiet. Also, have two people go up to clean."
"The old man is better?"
"Is that true?"
Sounds of joy and relief erupted in the room.
Qin Shun’s gaze faltered, but then a smile appeared on his face. "That’s great!"
Qin He gave him a long, deep look. "I’m going to see the Divine Doctor out!"
Chu Hao did not linger!
Being stared at by everyone made him feel a bit uncomfortable.
He followed Qin He out of the villa and said, "President Qin, there is no need to see me out further. I can head out on my own."
"Where are you going? Let me have someone drive you!" Qin He said.
Chu Hao shook his head. "There is no need!"
"Very well, then!" Qin He replied. "I repeat: if you need any help, just one phone call. No matter where you are, I will give everything I have to assist you!"
Chu Hao smiled, waved his hand, and walked toward the entrance of the residential complex. Calculating the time, he was almost due to meet Jiang Shan.
He hadn't walked many steps when he heard footsteps behind him.
He didn't think much of it and kept walking. Just then, someone tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Hey!"
Chu Hao turned around and saw a tall girl wearing a short skirt, showing off a pair of long, slender legs, standing behind him.