"You’ve got quite a sharp tongue for a punk. You’ve killed so many people, I’m sure you’ll meet your end soon enough. I suggest you keep a low profile; being a coward is better than being dead."
Ning Guangsheng said this coldly.
"How I conduct my life is my own business. If you have nothing else to say, you can leave."
Di Longxuan reached out to take Di Xiaoguo’s wrist, beginning to check her pulse. Everything was stable, and he felt a weight lift from his heart.
"If you dare speak to me like that again, don't blame me for being impolite! I’m not someone you can just push around!"
Ning Shengzhi exploded with anger.
"And do you think I’m soft? Or perhaps, that I wouldn’t dare kill you?"
Di Longxuan’s voice turned frigid in an instant. The temperature in the room plummeted, chilling the very air. Ning Shengzhi wanted to retort, but the words died in her throat; she didn't dare say another thing. Ning Guangsheng hurriedly signaled her to be quiet—Di Longxuan’s reputation for brutality was well-known, and it was best not to provoke him.
"Di Longxuan, while my younger brother and sister are speaking harshly, you aren't exactly being polite either. Let’s just turn the page and stop the bickering."
Ning Jiuchuan stepped forward to act as a peacemaker. However, Di Longxuan shut him down immediately: "If I’m speaking harshly, I’m not forcing you to listen. If you don't like it, you can leave."
"You… you really are ungrateful! I even paid to help bury your family!" Ning Jiuchuan’s eyes burned with fury.
"Dad, please don't be angry! Di Longxuan, just stop talking, will you?! You'll wake Xiaoguo!" Ning Tianqi urged anxiously.
The murderous intent that had just surged in Di Longxuan’s eyes was forced back; he did not want to disturb Xiaoguo, who was finally getting a decent night’s sleep. Inside the backpack beside him lay the hand specimen of his sister, Di Yingying, and he didn't want her to witness any bloodshed.
"Big brother, let’s go. There are relatives at home who have found a divine doctor; they say he can arrive today to save the old man." Ning Guangsheng pulled on Ning Jiuchuan’s sleeve, ready to leave. Ning Tianqi wanted to urge them to stay, but she dared not speak; Di Longxuan’s attitude had already infuriated her father, uncle, and aunt.
Just as Ning Jiuchuan was about to depart, the hospital door was suddenly pushed open. A group of people walked in. Leading them was none other than Zhuang Zhongxing, the Xuanyi Sect elder who had just been beaten and chased away by Di Longxuan!
As the saying goes, enemies are especially red-eyed when they meet. The moment Zhuang Zhongxing entered, he gritted his teeth and pointed fiercely at Di Longxuan: "Sect Master, this is the bastard who severed the limbs of Protector Zhang Meng and several of our disciples! He even struck cold energy into my body!"
Behind him, fifteen elite members of the Xuanyi Sect rushed in and surrounded Di Longxuan with blades drawn.
Walking in last was a tall, slender old man wearing a white robe with a long, snow-white beard. He exuded an ethereal, sage-like air. The old man fixed a cold, icy stare on Di Longxuan.
"I am the Master of the Xuanyi Sect, known in the martial world as Medical Saint Songhe. My elder came here simply to discuss purchasing a Nine-Foot Grass Ginseng, yet you sinisterly beat him into critical condition. Do you think the Xuanyi Sect is easy to bully?"
"And you severed the limbs of several disciples. Do you think the Xuanyi Sect doesn't dare to sever yours?"
Medical Saint Songhe’s voice was icy, his aura spreading throughout the room!
Zhuang Zhongxing coughed a few times, shivering uncontrollably from the cold toxins. Although Di Longxuan had given him a deadline of tomorrow to gather the herbs, he had desperately called his Sect Master to come tonight. He could no longer bear it! The cold poison was agonizing, causing his bones and flesh to scream in pain, and he felt as if his internal energy was being rapidly drained.
When the Ning family heard that this old man was Medical Saint Songhe, they were shocked! In the Hengjiang Region, who hadn't heard of the Xuanyi Sect’s reputation for bringing the dead back to life and the Medical Saint’s ability to regrow flesh on bones?
Ning Jiuchuan lowered his head, too nervous to make a sound, having previously scolded Zhuang Zhongxing himself. Ning Tianqi also dared not speak. However, Ning Guangsheng and Ning Shengzhi’s eyes lit up with excitement! Medical Saint Songhe was a rare figure to encounter; if they could just get on familiar terms with him, it would be a major connection.
To everyone's surprise, Di Longxuan sneered. "Your subordinate here, Zhuang Zhongxing, wanted to take the Nine-Foot Grass Ginseng without paying a cent, and even tried to force Ning Tianqi to become his concubine. Performing such filthy deeds—don't you think he deserved a beating?"
"Nonsense! I... I never said that, nor did I do it! I was only trying to find Ning Jiuchuan to make a fair trade for the Nine-Foot Grass Ginseng!" Zhuang Zhongxing stared at him and argued.
"If you wish to die, just say so; there’s no need to lie," Di Longxuan said coldly.
At these words, Zhuang Zhongxing turned pale with fright and dared not talk back. But Ning Guangsheng unexpectedly stepped forward, twisting the facts: "Sect Master Songhe, Elder Zhuang is right. Everything is the fault of this man named Di Longxuan. He beat Elder Zhuang, who was only trying to trade fairly, and wounded your disciples!"
"I can also testify that Elder Zhuang never mentioned trying to take Tianqi as a concubine. That is completely baseless," Ning Shengzhi insisted, eyes wide.
Ning Tianqi and Ning Jiuchuan looked on in astonishment, wanting to explain but fearing they would offend the Xuanyi Sect. They had no choice but to lower their heads and stay out of it.
"Sect Master, please uphold justice for me! Now the truth is clear—this bastard is slandering me and flipping black and white!" Zhuang Zhongxing said with indignation.
Medical Saint Songhe’s expression grew as dark as death! His eyes were like nine-foot-thick ice as he glared at Di Longxuan.
"Do you really think my Xuanyi Sect has no one left!"
A thick, murderous aura engulfed the entire room!
***
The Xuanyi Sect was not just a medical sect; it was a martial arts school as well. It possessed many true martial legacies, and it was said they even had a Martial Venerable presiding over them.
Ning Tianqi looked at Di Longxuan with worry, feeling immense guilt. She knew for a fact that Di Longxuan hadn't been wrong about Zhuang Zhongxing. Ning Jiuchuan sighed, feeling that Di Longxuan was just too young and had underestimated the strength of the Xuanyi Sect. Who could he blame for this? He had warned Di Longxuan not to be impulsive, but Di Longxuan had been ruthless, and now he was in deep trouble. Ning Guangsheng and Ning Shengzhi, meanwhile, waited with schadenfreude to see the show.
Yet, under this chilling murderous aura, Di Longxuan looked up at Medical Saint Songhe and slowly nodded.
"That's right, I do think your Xuanyi Sect has no one. What are you going to do about it?!"
Arrogant. Absolutely insane!!
The Ning family was left speechless in shock, and the members of the Xuanyi Sect stared with wide, frozen eyes! No one could have imagined that, facing the threat of the Xuanyi Sect’s Master, Di Longxuan would still dare to provoke him.
Immediately after, a powerful aura erupted from Di Longxuan! The surrounding wind whipped like horses, piercing everyone’s bodies and chilling them to the bone! The floor, the window glass, and the walls were all trembling!
Caught in the epicenter of this pressure, Medical Saint Songhe was drenched in cold sweat within a single breath! In two breaths, his legs turned to jelly; unable to stand, he collapsed to his knees with a thud! In three breaths, his face turned paper-white, and he vomited blood!!
Above a Sixth-Level Martial Master were the Heaven, Earth, and Human-rank Martial Venerables, who cultivated powerful innate energy. The "Martial Venerable" presiding over the Xuanyi Sect was none other than Medical Saint Songhe himself. He was a Human-rank Martial Venerable, and in all of Zhangtai City, there was likely no one capable of defeating him.
But now, he couldn't even withstand three breaths of Di Longxuan’s pressure! What kind of power was this?!!
Zhuang Zhongxing shook violently, dropping to his knees, feeling as if his head no longer belonged to him. He had never dreamed that the Sect Master he worshipped so deeply would be so pathetic in front of Di Longxuan. The other disciples, seeing this, collapsed mentally; they all scrambled to their knees, holding their breath and trembling in terror!
The Ning family was shocked beyond words. Having previously judged that Di Longxuan was doomed to suffer for his own actions, the situation had reversed in the blink of an eye. Once again, Di Longxuan was in total control.
"Now, tell me, who else in the Xuanyi Sect can come and teach me a lesson?" Di Longxuan’s voice was like a needle piercing Medical Saint Songhe’s ears.
"I... I was wrong... please, spare my life! I will have the medicinal herbs you need delivered to you immediately! I won’t break my promise!" Medical Saint Songhe conceded, bowing his fists and begging for mercy. Reaching his level, he knew that one realm of power could crush another; he had no way of gauging just how strong Di Longxuan actually was. No wonder he dared to slaughter the Li family, destroy the Gu family, wipe out the Savage Wolf Association, and dismantle the Jue Tian Martial Alliance the moment he returned!
Was he a Heaven-rank Martial Venerable, or a Martial Saint?!
"Good. I’ll give you fifteen minutes. If the herbs are here, I’ll spare you. If not, we can all go on the road together."
After speaking, Di Longxuan waved his hand, and a burst of energy flew out! It zipped through the bodies of the fifteen disciples, who instantly collapsed into unconsciousness. Seeing this, Medical Saint Songhe turned even paler and scrambled to pull out his phone. In Zhangtai City, the Xuanyi Sect had a warehouse stocked with rare herbs; it wasn't difficult to gather what Di Longxuan needed. Zhuang Zhongxing, meanwhile, was paralyzed on the ground, unable to even straighten his body.
Just then, a bespectacled doctor walked in. Seeing the floor covered in unconscious men in black, he turned into a statue.
"Something?" Di Longxuan asked coldly.
"Yes... Mr. Di, the director would like you to come over to discuss the follow-up treatment for Miss Di. We hope you will cooperate," the doctor said nervously.
Di Longxuan nodded. "Let's go. You lot wait here. If anyone dares to touch Xiaoguo, I will wipe out your entire sect."
His tone was sharp and filled with murderous intent! Who would dare have any other ideas? Seeing Di Longxuan leave, everyone felt their nerves relax slightly. Zhuang Zhongxing, still lying on the floor, finally dared to gasp for air. "Sect Master, are we really going to be bullied by Di Longxuan like this!"
"Sect Master Songhe, if you can't deal with Di Longxuan, how will the Xuanyi Sect ever stand in this city?" Ning Guangsheng provoked.
Medical Saint Songhe’s expression was chillingly sinister! He gritted his teeth and whispered, "Do you think I’m an idiot? I’ve seen the list of herbs he wanted; three of them are highly toxic, and very few in this world know how to prepare them properly. Once his daughter is poisoned, let’s see him beg me for help! Let’s see him break down in despair!"
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Zhongxing became excited. "Sect Master is brilliant!! Wonderful! Di Longxuan will be a coward soon enough!"
"He should have to smash his head in and slap his own face to shreds! Otherwise, Sect Master, don't help him save that little mongrel. He’s so arrogant, let’s make him taste what arrogance really costs!" Ning Guangsheng said coldly.
The group, previously trembling in terror, were now feeling spirited and excited again. Only Ning Tianqi was conflicted, wondering if she should secretly warn Di Longxuan, and if so, how? As for her father, Ning Jiuchuan, he chose neutrality. He didn't want to help the powerful Xuanyi Sect, nor did he want to help the arrogant Di Longxuan; it was as if he were merely watching two dogs tear each other apart.
Di Longxuan returned five or six minutes later. Time passed quietly. Thankfully, at the twelve-minute mark, the manager of the Xuanyi Sect’s warehouse arrived in a hurry, holding a wooden box.
"Sect Master, the herbs you requested are all here, not one is missing!" the manager, Li Yun, said. Seeing the elite members of the sect lying on the ground, he was stunned; he couldn't comprehend who would dare to humiliate the Xuanyi Sect like this.
Sect Master Songhe waved him away. "You may go; there is nothing for you here." Li Yun dared not say another word and scurried away.
Di Longxuan walked over and opened the box. After inspecting it, he nodded with satisfaction. "You have indeed gathered them all. Although you provoked me, in consideration of these herbs, I will spare your life. This matter is over."
Zhuang Zhongxing and Medical Saint Songhe nearly vomited blood in rage! This box of herbs was worth forty or fifty million! There were over a dozen kinds, each one comparable in value to the Nine-Foot Grass Ginseng, none costing less than millions. Di Longxuan had basically robbed them, yet he was acting magnanimous—it was infuriating!
"I see your prescription; you’re likely trying to refine the White Jade Rejoining Paste to mend your daughter’s bones, aren't you? Since the herbs were provided by me, could you allow me to witness the process of you refining the paste?" Medical Saint Songhe asked, feigning a tone of request. In his heart, he was sneering, waiting to watch Di Longxuan make a fool of himself when Di Xiaoguo was poisoned.
"You know quite a bit. Very well, I’ll give you this opportunity. After all, even if you watch, you won’t be able to learn it." Di Longxuan said coldly, playing the part of a master.
Zhuang Zhongxing and Medical Saint Songhe nearly choked on their own anger again! The hatred in their eyes grew colder, and they looked forward even more to seeing Di Longxuan make a fool of himself and kneel to beg for an antidote. As for the Ning family, they stayed, eager to see the show.
***
Soon, Di Longxuan had a nurse bring over a medicine furnace and began to boil the herbs in silence.
"These are such precious herbs. Are you sure you don't need to treat them carefully first? Just boiling them directly—aren't you worried about toxic side effects?" Ning Tianqi couldn't help but offer a reminder. Her intention was to hint that the herbs might be poisoned and that he should check them.
No sooner had she spoken than Ning Guangsheng and Ning Shengzhi glared at her coldly! Medical Saint Songhe and Zhuang Zhongxing’s eyes were filled with murderous intent!
Ning Jiuchuan coughed hurriedly. "Does the young master know less than you? Stop talking!"
Ning Tianqi felt unwilling; after all, Di Longxuan had saved her life once, and she wanted to warn him again. But at that moment, Di Longxuan looked at her coldly and said, "I don't like being interrupted when I refine medicine. Whoever speaks again can leave themselves; I don't want to have to do it for you."
Ning Tianqi was so angry her eyes turned red, and she felt a deep sense of grievance. She had meant well, only to be threatened. The others, hearing this, smiled sinisterly inside, continuing to wait for Di Longxuan to disgrace himself.
Inside the hospital room, a strange, peculiar fragrance began to emerge. Di Longxuan placed the dozen or so precious herbs into the earthen pot in an orderly fashion; he hadn't performed any detoxifying procedures at all.
Medical Saint Songhe’s eyes grew colder. The White Jade Rejoining Paste refined this way would certainly be highly toxic. No matter how it was used, the girl would be poisoned.
"Mr. Di’s technique for boiling medicine is truly skillful. I admire it." He praised him intentionally.
"If you talk nonsense again, get out," Di Longxuan said, his eyes frigid.
"How dare you speak to my Sect Master like that! You’d better not regret this—you’d better not come begging for the Sect Master’s help later..." Zhuang Zhongxing couldn't suppress his rage and glared at him.
But before he could finish, Di Longxuan grabbed him by the neck and *boom!* threw him out of the room! A scream echoed from the hallway, and the rest of the people held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
Medical Saint Songhe, the noble master of the Xuanyi Sect, had been scolded like this by Di Longxuan, and his face was livid. But he was gritting his teeth and enduring it! He was waiting—waiting for Di Xiaoguo to be poisoned, waiting to see Di Longxuan come crawling to him!
About forty minutes later, Di Longxuan produced a pot of grayish-white paste. It looked sticky and gooey, and the medicinal fragrance in the air had turned into an overpowering, pungent stench. Everyone felt that Di Longxuan had completely failed! He had wasted tens of millions worth of rare herbs; he was nothing but a super spendthrift. To think this stuff could mend broken bones? Only a ghost would believe that!
Medical Saint Songhe no longer considered Di Longxuan a human being, viewing him entirely as a brainless brute with well-developed limbs. If this paste were used on anyone, he was certain they would be poisoned to death within ten minutes!
Ning Tianqi’s fair forehead was covered in sweat from tension, but she didn't dare say another word. She could only prepare to call the doctors for emergency help the moment Di Xiaoguo was poisoned.
"Next, I am going to apply the medicine to my daughter. Whoever dares to make a sound and disturb me will be killed without mercy!" Di Longxuan turned his head to look at them coldly.
"N-no, we won't," Medical Saint Songhe nodded hurriedly. The others followed suit. Everyone was waiting to see him fail, to see Di Xiaoguo poisoned; who would want to interrupt that? Even Zhuang Zhongxing, who had been thrown out and was now black and blue, gritted his teeth and carefully crept back in to watch. If he missed this grand drama, he’d feel like he’d lived this day for nothing!
In the deathly silence, Di Longxuan walked to the hospital bed, and a scene of cruelty unfolded. He tapped Di Xiaoguo’s forehead, putting her into a deep hypnotic sleep, and then grabbed her right arm. *Snap, crack!* He crushed it inch by inch... then her left arm, her left leg, and her right leg!
Everyone’s hair stood on end! They were shocked to the core!! This was Di Longxuan’s adopted daughter, the existence he had sworn no one was allowed to harm—and yet, he had crushed her limbs himself.
But no one could see that Di Longxuan’s eyes were red, tears swirling in his sockets! Xiaoguo had suffered years of inhuman torture; her limbs had been broken multiple times and left untreated, leading to stunted, deformed growth. If he didn't break them and set them properly, she would only grow more deformed in the future.
With tears in his eyes, Di Longxuan laid Xiaoguo’s limbs flat and used his fingers to carefully apply the White Jade Rejoining Paste. The entire process was very slow. The people around them felt a sense of heartbreak and horror, but also a sense of schadenfreude!
Once the paste was fully applied, Di Longxuan used the splints sent by the nurse to firmly secure her limbs. A cold, frigid arc slowly curled the corners of Medical Saint Songhe’s mouth! He had originally wanted to see the girl’s poison take effect and then humiliate Di Longxuan, but at this moment, his medical conscience flickered—he didn't have the heart to watch her suffer yet another ordeal after the poison hit. After all, the child was covered in scars; she was a pitiful sight.
"Di Longxuan, if you kneel before me now and kowtow three times, your daughter’s life can still be saved. Otherwise! She will soon suffer the effects of the poison; not only will her limbs be completely destroyed, but her heart and lungs will also be damaged. She will be a total cripple for the rest of her life!" Medical Saint Songhe broke the silence in the room, his voice cold, carrying an immense sense of power and arrogance.
Zhuang Zhongxing also sneered coldly: "Di Longxuan, you fool, you didn't know that three of those ingredients were highly toxic, did you? Hahaha! Kneel and kowtow now, and there’s still hope! Hurry up!"
"That’s too easy on him. He should be made to cripple his own martial cultivation, too, so he can be a useless waste and stop strutting around like a rabid dog!" Ning Shengzhi said coldly.