"The little monk is so frail; at a glance, he is clearly malnourished. How could he possibly withstand a slap like that? He was beaten straight to the ground, and the marks of five fingers were still clear on his face, yet she refuses to admit it."
Chu Hao looked toward the woman. She appeared to be around forty years old, and must have had some looks in her youth.
Observing the little monk's condition, Chu Hao frowned and said to Su Nian, "Wait for me here."
With that, he pushed through the crowd and came up to the little monk.
He glanced at the middle-aged woman.
"What are you looking at!" demanded the fierce-looking man standing behind the middle-aged woman.
Chu Hao gave him a cool, sideways glance. "You'd better pray that this little monk is alright, or else you won't be getting away."
"What do you mean?" the woman glared. "Do you know who I am? I'm with the Luo family!"
"Even if you were the King of Heaven himself," Chu Hao said, fixing a burning gaze upon her, "you're still responsible for hurting someone."
"You!" The woman's expression shifted.
Chu Hao didn't look at her again. He walked over to the little monk's side, intending to reach out and take his pulse!
Although the little monk's symptoms certainly resembled epilepsy, as a top-tier Divine Doctor, Chu Hao could tell at a single glance that the boy's condition was entirely different.
To Chu Hao's astonishment, however, the little monk was clutching the basin for dear life. Even while convulsing and foaming at the mouth, he refused to let go, managing to keep the contents from spilling out.
"This... this is... Master's... food," the little monk gasped out. "Master... has been hungry... for... three... days..."
As he spoke, the little monk convulsed and let out what sounded like a smile. "Following... following Master... you starve... nine meals... in three days... but I... I still... love Master!"
Chu Hao's brows furrowed. Judging by his words, this kid was already delirious. While continuing to foam at the mouth, his entire body began to flush red and grow burning hot.
Realizing he could hesitate no longer, Chu Hao forcefully grabbed the little monk's wrist.
The moment Chu Hao's fingers touched his pulse, he froze. It was a pulse condition he had never encountered before.
Just then, several staff members walked out from inside the shop and said, "Please make way!"
"I need to treat him right now!" Chu Hao took a deep breath. "Is there anyone in this temple carrying acupuncture needles?"
"Please make way!" At that moment, a floor attendant hurried over, saying, "Our manager wants this little monk removed immediately. If he dies in here, it'll be bad for our business!"
"Gasps!"
An uproar broke out at the scene!
Right then, a cold, clear voice rang out: "Go tell your manager he's fired!"
Everyone turned toward the sound and saw a breathtakingly beautiful woman slowly descending the steps.
Chu Hao stared at Su Nian in a daze.
Su Nian gave a slight smile. "I told you, I like coming to this place to drink tea and meditate... so I bought the place."
Upon hearing this, Chu Hao thought with a trace of speechlessness, *It's great to be rich!*
He raised his voice again, "Are there any acupuncture needles in this temple? If so, please—"
"Brother, I have some right here!" At that moment, a middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit and sporting a goatee stepped forward.
He was carrying a backpack, from which he produced a small box.
Placing the box on the ground, he pressed a button. The box instantly popped open, unfolding into multiple tiers. Each tier contained silver needles of varying lengths, looking thoroughly professional.
"Hey, isn't that Divine Doctor Ling from Donghai City?"
"It really is Divine Doctor Ling! Why isn't he doing anything? Young man, why don't you let Divine Doctor Ling handle it?"
Divine Doctor Ling looked somewhat shifty, yet he evidently held a strong reputation in Donghai City. He walked up to Chu Hao and said, "Young man, a doctor holds a benevolent heart. Judging by the way you took his pulse, you must have studied medicine. You can surely see that this little monk doesn't simply have epilepsy!"
Chu Hao nodded thoughtfully.
"Since you know, I'll speak plainly. I am also a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, and the reason I've been standing by without intervening is simply that I lack the certainty!" Divine Doctor Ling declared. "The moment you apply needles, if this little monk dies, you will be held responsible!"
"Furthermore, for a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, you would carry the stigma of killing a patient. Think carefully before you act," Divine Doctor Ling warned gravely.
"I... am certain!" Chu Hao let out a long breath and said, "May I borrow your needles?"
"I have said all I can. Since you insist on acting, then... please go ahead," Divine Doctor Ling said.
Chu Hao let out another long breath.
This little fellow had almost no pulse and an extremely peculiar constitution. Unable to cure him outright, Chu Hao had no choice but to adopt a conservative treatment method to stabilize his condition.
Among the medical arts left by his grandfather were thirty-six acupuncture techniques tailored for various illnesses, including methods for soothing a patient when the exact affliction remained unknown!
"Reversing Heaven and Creation, the Great Evolution Acupuncture Technique!"
"When the Great Evolution Needles emerge, King Yama must step aside!"
Chu Hao took a deep breath. Flicking his hand, he swept it across the top of the needle box, and instantly, three silver needles appeared between his fingers.
Taking half a step back, the true qi within his body solidified in an instant, and he flicked his wrist.
Unnoticed by anyone, the air around Chu Hao seemed to ripple and tremble for a fraction of a second.
"Hm?" Upon seeing this, Divine Doctor Ling's expression shifted drastically. He cried out in astonishment, "Applying needles from a distance?"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
The three silver needles shot forth simultaneously, traveling from top to bottom to land with pinpoint accuracy between the little monk's eyebrows, at his throat, and upon his lower abdomen!
A strange connection seemed to form among the three needles, and a moment later, they began to vibrate faintly.
"Hm?" Chu Hao's brows knitted slightly.
To his surprise, those three needles were turning black at a visible rate.
Yet the effect of the needles was instantaneous.
The little monk's convulsing body slowly grew still. The blazing heat of his feverish skin gradually subsided.
Witnessing this, Divine Doctor Ling stared dumbfounded at Chu Hao, his eyes filled with absolute shock.
As a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine with a considerable reputation in Donghai City and throughout the country, he possessed a deep understanding of the medical arts.
The technique of applying needles from a distance had long since been lost to traditional Chinese medicine.
And the immediate efficacy of Chu Hao's needling was something he had never even heard of.
The results came far too quickly.
In all his years of practicing medicine, he had seen many brilliant physicians, but none capable of reaching Chu Hao's level. At this moment, his heart was a tumult of shock.
The entire room had fallen silent at the sight.
After a few minutes, the little monk let out a soft moan and snapped his eyes open.
Chu Hao swiftly withdrew the three silver needles, handed the box back to Divine Doctor Ling, and said, "Mister, these three needles are probably ruined."
"To witness such miraculous medical skill, ruining three needles is nothing at all," Divine Doctor Ling shook his head hurriedly, still wishing to ask questions.
At that moment, the surrounding onlookers rushed forward.
In an instant, he was shoved aside.
"Goodness, that's miraculous! Just a few needles and the effect is this good!"
"Little monk, are you alright now?"
The little monk clambered to his feet, checked the bowl in his hands to confirm its contents were intact, and let out a long breath. Supporting the bowl with one hand while holding the other upright against his chest, he said, "The little monk is fine. Thank you..."
He looked up, only to find that Chu Hao, hemmed in by the surging crowd, had already vanished.
"You..." Behind the crowd, Chu Hao and Su Nian turned and headed upstairs together.
"You're just leaving like that?" Su Nian asked, trailing beside Chu Hao with a puzzled look.
"A doctor has a benevolent heart; I didn't save him to be thanked," Chu Hao smiled faintly. "Besides, with so many people around, showing off my medical skills like that would probably bring a crowd of people asking questions or wanting contact info, which is just a hassle. Let's go upstairs first."
He took the lead and hurried up the stairs.
Following right behind him, Su Nian gazed at Chu Hao's back. A smile bloomed across her lovely face, and she murmured, "Grandfather, you really weren't wrong. This Chu Hao is truly an extraordinary person... it's just that he's far too low-key."
***
The two returned to the private room.
Chu Hao hadn't made Su Nian any grand promises, but remembering his words and witnessing the medical feat he had just performed, her heart suddenly felt a great deal more settled.
They sat together drinking tea for a while.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door.
Standing in the doorway was a man dressed in a sharp business suit. When he caught sight of Su Nian, his expression drained of color and he said bitterly, "President... President Su!"
Su Nian turned her head, fixing a cold gaze upon him. "Didn't I tell you to resign? What are you still doing here?"
"President Su, give... give me another chance. What I did earlier was for the sake of the shop!" the man pleaded pitifully.
"When right beside the Buddha, you stood by and watched someone die without lifting a finger!" Su Nian watched him calmly. "Your heart is far too cold. My enterprise has no need for someone like you."
Hearing the icy tone in Su Nian's voice, the man could only manage a bitter laugh before retreating crestfallen.
No sooner had he left than the door was pushed open once more.
"I..." Su Nian readied herself to use an even harsher tone, but catching sight of the person at the door, her expression turned slightly surprised.
It was none other than the goatee-sporting Divine Doctor Ling!
"I hope I'm not interrupting the two of you!" Divine Doctor Ling said cheerfully.
Chu Hao shook his head. "Not at all. Is there something we can help you with?"
Divine Doctor Ling gave a dry cough. "That heaven-defying medical skill the young brother displayed just now left my hands itching with curiosity. I've come to seek your guidance! Would young brother be willing to teach me that distance-needling technique, as well as the method you just used? I will pay any price you ask. If you wish to take a disciple, I am willing to apprentice under you."
Chu Hao looked at Divine Doctor Ling in mild surprise, then shook his head. "I'm sorry, but my medical skills are not taught to outsiders."
Divine Doctor Ling gave a dry laugh. "True enough; such profound medical skills naturally wouldn't be passed on lightly. However, I have one more favor to ask!"
With that, he cupped his hands toward Chu Hao. "I have a patient in Donghai City whose illness has baffled every major hospital. After examining them for a while, I couldn't determine what ails them either. That person is a very close friend of mine. Would young brother be willing to make a trip to Donghai to treat them?"
Chu Hao pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "I have no plans to visit Donghai City at the moment!"
"I can have him come to Jiangcheng!" Divine Doctor Ling offered.
Chu Hao nodded. "In that case, I don't mind lending a hand."
"As for the treatment fees..." Divine Doctor Ling hesitated.
"I practice medicine without accepting any compensation," Chu Hao replied calmly.
This was the rule his grandfather had laid down for him: never take payment for healing. According to his grandfather, things obtained for free were the most expensive things in the world.
His grandfather had once told him that in all his years of healing countless people, no matter where he dropped his trousers to relieve himself, someone would always be there to hand him toilet paper.
Of course, Chu Hao always suspected his grandfather was exaggerating. After all, during the years he spent wandering as a traveling physician with the old man, they had been dirt poor, and he had never seen anyone come to their aid.
Still, it was his grandfather's rule, and Chu Hao never disobeyed it!
Overjoyed, Divine Doctor Ling hastily said, "Splendid! Let me exchange contact information with you!"
Chu Hao nodded, took out his phone, and dialed Divine Doctor Ling's number.
Once the call went through, Divine Doctor Ling beamed with delight. "Then I won't disturb the two of you any further. Once I bring the patient here, I shall contact you."
With that, he bowed deeply to Chu Hao and Su Nian, then quietly backed out of the room.
"Let's go. It's about time we head back. I still have several projects in Jiangcheng that caught my eye, and plenty of matters to attend to," Su Nian said.
"Is your mood better?" Chu Hao asked with a curious glance.
"Mm!" Su Nian nodded. "You were right. We're married now; whatever comes, we'll face it together. After seeing your medical skills just now, my confidence has soared!"
Chu Hao looked Su Nian up and down, gave a dry cough, and said, "Since we're married, when are we going to... share a room?"
Su Nian was slightly stunned for a second, a flash of shyness immediately blooming across her face!
That bashfulness swiftly transformed into allure. She looked at Chu Hao and said, "Tonight... if you like."
Chu Hao: "..."
He had merely intended to tease Su Nian, but hadn't expected to get turned around and teased right back. For a moment, he found himself somewhat at a loss for how to respond.
He opened his mouth, wearing an expression of pure awkwardness.
Seeing Chu Hao like this, Su Nian couldn't help laughing. "Come on, let's head down the mountain!"
Only then did Chu Hao stand up.
Yet he found that his state of mind had been thoroughly disrupted. His head was filled entirely with Su Nian's words, and his eyes kept drifting toward her figure.
A short while later, the two boarded the cable car. Because there weren't many people heading down the mountain yet, they had a car entirely to themselves.
Sitting opposite each other, Su Nian seemed to notice Chu Hao's gaze and gave a slight smile. "Well? Are they big?"
"What's big..." Chu Hao guiltily shifted his gaze out the window.
Su Nian smiled softly. "They're... D's, you know."
Chu Hao: "......"
Seeing that Chu Hao was once again rendered speechless, Su Nian's lips curved into a mischievous expression.
She was beginning to discover that she rather enjoyed watching Chu Hao stumble.
A few minutes later, the cable car reached the bottom of the mountain. They walked over to the roadside near Baiya Tower, where Su Nian pulled out her new phone to summon a ride through a ride-hailing app.
Just as they were waiting, a voice rang out from behind Chu Hao: "Will the benefactor please pause."
Chu Hao turned around and saw the man dressed in the filthy kasaya standing before him with his palms pressed together in a greeting!
"Does the Master have business with me?" Chu Hao asked.
"Thank you, benefactor, for saving my disciple's life," the old monk said with a smile.
Beside him, the little monk was also bowing.
Chu Hao shook his head. "It was merely a matter of raising a hand."
"I have nothing of value to offer in thanks, but allow me to present you with a talisman. It will ensure your safety and good fortune!" With that, the old monk handed a triangular-folded talisman to Chu Hao.
Chu Hao didn't refuse. In his heart, however, he figured the old monk was just a swindler, and didn't take the matter too seriously.
The old monk bowed slightly. "Until we meet again."
With that, the two turned and walked away. As they went, the little monk asked, "Master, didn't you say the benefactor was destined for bloodshed?"
"Indeed," the old monk replied. "That is why I gave him a talisman!"
"Then what about the woman who hit me?" the little monk asked again.
"Everyone has their own fate," the old monk said, gazing up at the sky with a devout expression. "My Buddha is merciful. Since that woman sought your life, her fate shall be... death!"
***
The two conversed as they walked away directly behind Chu Hao!
Yet Chu Hao, whose ear apertures had long since been opened and whose hearing had vastly improved, heard none of their conversation.
Su Nian hailed a taxi and dropped Chu Hao off at his guesthouse. She had originally intended for him to stay with her at the villa, but Chu Hao insisted on staying at the guesthouse.
He still had his own affairs to attend to, and with various other people residing at Su Nian's place, living together wouldn't be very convenient.
Just as he reached the guesthouse, Chu Hao noticed two black sedans parked outside the entrance.
A few people were standing right there by the doorway.
Aside from a bearded man, there were several others dressed like bodyguards. Furthermore, a handsome young man in a sharp suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses stood among them!
Yes, he was genuinely handsome—even to another man's eyes, this fellow appeared exceptionally striking.
The moment Su Nian laid eyes on him, her expression shifted drastically. She stepped out of the car, walked up to the man, lowered her head, and murmured, "Brother!"
Indeed, this man was Su Nian's older brother, Su Zhe, the eldest legitimate son of the Beijing Su family.
Chu Hao didn't approach, merely watching from a distance.
"Is he the one Grandfather told you to find?" Su Zhe asked, his brows locked in a deep frown as he looked at Chu Hao. "You've already registered your marriage with him?"
Su Nian nodded. "Brother, this was my only way to save myself!"
Su Zhe looked at her coldly. "Because of your actions, even my position as heir has been shaken."
Su Nian bit her lip slightly. "The shares remain in our hands. At worst, our branch can cash out and leave, then build ourselves back up from scratch."
"Build back up? How? The eight great families of Beijing already hold a tight grip on every industry in the capital!" Su Zhe said indifferently. "Grandfather is getting senile."
Su Nian opened her mouth to speak, but then glanced past him toward Chu Hao in the distance. She walked over and said, "Your name is Chu Hao, right?"
Chu Hao nodded. "Should I call you my brother-in-law?"
"If you dare call me that, I'll tear your mouth apart," Su Zhe said, a trace of icy chill in his tone. "I know your background all too well. You grew up in the countryside, and people in your village say you used to be deaf, mute, and blind!"
"Now it seems you might have some special skills, and you look like a normal person," Su Zhe continued coldly. "But I hope you understand your place. Su Nian is the daughter of a top-tier domestic elite family; she is not someone you are worthy of."
He stared at Chu Hao coldly. "Moreover, Su Nian is the goddess of many men in Beijing. The moment news of you two being together goes public, it will bring you endless trouble."
"Beneath this tranquil world lies a hidden undercurrent capable of drowning an ordinary person in an instant. When an ordinary person dies, no one ever knows."