"Mr. Zhang! Who is your master, and where is he now? How can I find him?" Li Longhao asked anxiously.
At the same time, shock rippled through his mind. While Zhang Simin's medical skills might not be described as miraculous, he was certainly among the elite. Furthermore, Zhang Simin had been famous for years, yet no one had ever heard who his master was!
If Zhang Simin truly had a master, just how formidable must that person's medical skills be? After all, since Zhang Simin himself was so extraordinary, his master could hardly be anything less than a titan.
"My master is a true divine physician! Compared to him, my meager medical skills are not even fit to embarrass me in public! If you can manage to invite my master to make a move, I guarantee that this young lady's illness will be cured one hundred percent!"
Mentioning his master filled Zhang Simin's face with undisguised adoration!
The light shining in his eyes was just like that of starstruck young girls catching sight of their idols—grinning from ear to ear with excitement, ready to sacrifice everything for their idol at a moment's notice.
"Mr. Zhang! Please, tell me where the old gentleman is! I will send people to search for him right now! We must invite him to treat my daughter, we truly must..."
Huang Wenyin's mother, Li Qiongsi, said with agitation.
Chapter 27: Master! Why Are You Here?
Li Qiongsi was desperate to invite Zhang Simin's master to come and treat her daughter.
However, Zhang Simin wore a bitter expression as he replied, "I don't know either!"
A basin of icy water was splashed directly over Li Qiongsi's chest, chilling her through to the bone.
This couldn't really be blamed on Zhang Simin; his hands were tied. When he had wanted to take Li Daofeng as his master back then, Li Daofeng had flatly refused to accept him. Now he went around calling him master left and right, but that was entirely of his own volition—Li Daofeng had never agreed to it.
Just as Li Qiongsi and the others were plunging into despair, Zhang Simin offered them a glimmer of hope.
"Although I don't know where my master is right now, I do have his contact number. I'll give it to you, and you can find him yourselves!"
The last time Li Daofeng had gone to his pharmacy to fill a prescription, he happened to save General Su Dinglie of the Northern Expedition. When Li Daofeng parted ways with Su Dinglie, he left behind a phone number, and Zhang Simin had shamelessly copied it down for himself.
Treating it like a priceless treasure, Li Qiongsi took the phone number from Zhang Simin's hand and said gratefully,
"Thank you, Mr. Zhang! Could you tell me your master's surname? I'll have someone contact him right now and fetch the old gentleman here!"
Li Qiongsi saw hope once more. Zhang Simin's master!
How advanced must his medical skills be? He would definitely be able to save her daughter.
As long as they could find Zhang Simin's master, given the status of the Huang family, inviting him to save someone would not be difficult!
However, this old scoundrel Zhang Simin poured yet another basin of icy water straight down her neck, trickling all the way down her spine and sending a shudder through her entire body.
Zhang Simin stated, "My master's surname is Li! I only hope you have good fortune, and had best find my master within two hours. Otherwise, even if you find him, it will be of no use!"
"Mr. Zhang! What do you mean by that?!" Li Qiongsi asked in great alarm.
"This young lady has a heart-vessel condition! Some sort of frigid acupuncture technique has been used to stimulate the growth of death-qi, devouring the last remaining scrap of vitality within her heart vessels. Although I have managed to control her current condition, it has little effect—it can at most buy her three hours to hang on to life. Once those three hours pass, I'm afraid even an immortal would be unable to save her!"
Li Qiongsi was struck as if by a bolt of lightning! Her entire body trembled violently.
Three hours—this was too cruel for her daughter.
Yet the culprit who had caused all of this was none other than herself as a mother. If not for her selfish desire to marry her daughter off to her maternal family so that they could latch onto the towering tree of the Huang family, how could such a situation have ever arisen?
"No! I cannot let anything happen to my daughter! I must save her, I must find this person within three hours!" Li Qiongsi said frantically.
With that, she handed the phone number in her hand to Li Longhao.
"Quick! Quickly call the number above! Tell the divine physician that the Imperial Capital Huang family begs him to save her daughter, and that no matter the price, please have the divine physician save Yinyin's life!"
"Find out where the divine physician is, and I'll call your brother-in-law to use his private helicopter to fetch him! Hurry! Make the call! Quick..."
Not daring to delay, Li Longhao hurriedly dialed the phone number!
Just as the ringtone began to sound inside Li Longhao's mobile phone, a crisp sound rang out from inside Li Daofeng's room!
"Master! That grandson is calling again! Master! That grandson is calling again..."
The demonic ringtone made Li Longhao grind his teeth in exasperation. Just as he was about to hurl a few curses, the call connected.
"Hello! Who are you looking for?"
From within the room came two identical voices—one transmitted through Li Longhao's phone, and the other echoing out directly from Li Daofeng's room.
"Bastard! What is this asshole trying to pull? Is this supposed to be funny?" Li Longhao cursed inwardly, not thinking too much of it and assuming it was just a coincidence.
"Hello, I'm a friend of the divine physician Zhang Simin. May I ask if you are Zhang Simin's master?" Li Longhao asked in a very mild and extremely polite tone.
"Who are you? I know Zhang Simin!" Came the two voices again.
At this, everyone's gaze snapped toward Li Daofeng's room.
Unable to contain the excitement in his heart any longer, Zhang Simin disregarded everyone's shock and rushed forward to push open the door to Li Daofeng's room.
As the door swung open, everyone saw Li Daofeng standing there holding his phone to his ear!
Catching sight of Li Daofeng, Zhang Simin beamed with pleasant surprise and said, "Master! Why are you here?"
Zhang Simin's address of "Master" caused the phone in Li Longhao's hand to drop straight to the ground. He stared at Zhang Simin with wide eyes, completely flabbergasted as he blurted out:
"Mr. Zhang, you... what did you just call him?"
Li Longhao simply could not believe his ears and eyes; the whole scene was overwhelmingly shocking.
The bumpkin he had looked down upon turned out to be Zhang Simin's master?!
Wasn't this utter nonsense?
Even if he had imagined every single possibility, this still felt like something that could never happen.
"Li Longhao! Show some respect to my master! If you dare yell at my master again, don't blame me for being unpolite to you!" Zhang Simin warned in a cold voice.
"Mr. Zhang, you... you must have lost your mind. He is your master?! Do you know who he is?"
"Mr. Zhang, let me tell you—eight years ago he was a live-in son-in-law of the Jiang family, and eight years later he is just this—"
"Just this good-for-nothing! Mr. Zhang, did you mistake the wrong person?"
It wasn't just Li Longhao who refused to believe it; everyone present, apart from Li Xuemei who could still swallow a bit of it, felt the whole affair was entirely absurd.
What kind of person was Zhang Simin? How could he possibly take a destitute son-in-law like Li Daofeng as his master? Had he no shame left?
"Insolent! I warn you one more time! If your mouth stays filthy, this old man will make you live the rest of your life in misery!" Zhang Simin sternly rebuked.
With that, he turned back to Li Daofeng with a fawning expression and said, "Master! Why is your esteemed self here?"
Too lazy to bicker with him, Li Daofeng replied indifferently, "This is my home! Of course I'm here."
"Didn't I tell you before not to call me master? Otherwise, you'll be in great danger!"
"Yes! Master! I'm not afraid of danger!" Zhang Simin said respectfully.
"Tch..." Li Daofeng was left utterly speechless.
How could this dignified grand divine physician act just like an unrepentant rogue?
The dialogue between the two and Zhang Simin's attitude toward Li Daofeng stunned everyone present.
They now believed that what Zhang Simin had said was true—Li Daofeng really was his master.
Taking a long time to accept the reality, Li Qiongsi looked at her daughter, who was hovering on the brink of death in her arms, and finally lowered her pride to beg Li Daofeng to treat her daughter, despite her mind screaming a hundred and eighty objections.
Yet for the sake of her daughter, she cast aside her so-called dignity.
"Mr. Li? I... I beg you... please save my daughter!"
She was as overbearing just a moment ago as she was pathetic now.
Chapter 28: Get Lost with Your Daughter
"Heh! A live-in son-in-law who lives off a woman like me—how could I possibly be qualified to treat the daughter of the Imperial Capital Huang family? Aren't you afraid I'll end up killing your Huang family?" Li Daofeng sneered.
"Mr... Mr. Li... I was just talking nonsense earlier, please don't take offense! For the sake of Shang Wanqiu, I beg you to save my Yinyin. As long as you can save her, you can kill or carve me up however you please—just as long as Mr. Li's anger is vented!"
Weeping as she watched Huang Wenyin's breathing grow weaker and weaker, Li Qiongsi threw aside all notions of face and dignity, dropping to her knees and kowtowing in continuous supplication.
"Humph! You say save her, and I'm supposed to just save her? What makes you think I have to listen to you? Who do you think you are! Do I, Li Daofeng, need to care about anyone's face? Even if I don't save her, my Eighth Senior Sister won't say a word!" Li Daofeng said coldly.
Toward a woman like Li Qiongsi, who looked down on people and thought herself superior just because she had a bit of money, walking around with her nose in the air, he would not spare a single pleasant expression.
He wanted her to know that having money didn't mean you could accomplish everything!
In the presence of absolute existence, she was nothing more than an ant.
Permitting them to stay here was already out of regard for Shang Wanqiu; otherwise, for the insults Li Qiongsi had just hurled at him, anyone else would already be a corpse.
"I... I beg you, Mr. Li... I was wrong... I had eyes but failed to recognize a true master, but Yinyin is innocent! Please, save her... she's only in her twenties..."
Li Qiongsi knocked her head against the floor repeatedly, crying out in desperate entreaty. Gone was her previous cold, arrogant, and overbearing demeanor.
"Humph!" Li Daofeng snorted coldly, unwilling to say more.
It wasn't that he didn't want to save her, but rather that he wanted this woman to understand that his, Li Daofeng's, medical skills were not so cheap.
"Elder Brother Li! Please, save President Huang! I beg you, I know you're angry inside, but President Huang is innocent! President Huang has always been waiting for you to treat her, Elder Brother Li... I'm begging you, President Huang is not going to make it... please..."
With a heavy thud, Li Xuemei dropped to her knees before Li Daofeng as well.
"Humph! Madam Li, remember this! I am saving your daughter not because of how much wealth your Huang family holds! If we are talking about money, my assets as Li Daofeng outstrip ten Huang families combined!"
"I am saving your daughter out of no greed for her beauty either. To say something you might not believe—what kind of beauty is there that I, Li Daofeng, cannot have!" Li Daofeng said with a touch of boastfulness.
"Remember! Never look down on anyone! You think you are standing high above the clouds, but in the eyes of some people, you are no different from ants! What do you have besides a little money? What else is there for you to flaunt? Ridiculous!"
Li Daofeng's tone of disdain filled Li Qiongsi with boiling fury, and she muttered scornfully in her heart: *A mere live-in son-in-law, a freeloader living off a woman—what qualifications do you have to say such things!*
Yet she dared not show it now, vowing inwardly to make Li Daofeng pay dearly for this in the future.
Sensing the shift in Li Qiongsi's aura, the subtle changes in her expression and eyes could not escape Li Daofeng's notice.
"Humph! Don't you dare harbor defiance in your heart! And don't think about taking revenge on me later! To be frank, your Huang family isn't even qualified to seek revenge on me!"
"If not for the pleas of my Eighth Senior Sister and Li Xuemei, you could just sit back and wait for your daughter to die!" Li Daofeng said indifferently.
Having vented the foul air from his chest, Li Daofeng wasted no more words. He walked up to Huang Wenyin and began administering acupuncture.
With a wave of his hand, eighteen Crane Divine Needles flashed through the air, six golden needles sinking precisely into the major acupoints on Huang Wenyin's body under the startled and uncanny gazes of the onlookers.
Everything happened with such blistering speed that none of them had even seen how Li Daofeng applied the needles; they only saw the golden needles planted in Huang Wenyin vibrating continuously.
Witnessing this scene, Zhang Simin trembled with mounting excitement.
He had lived for the greater part of a lifetime and practiced medicine for many years, but this was the first time he had ever laid eyes on such miraculous needlework.
It was truly an eye-opener.
When he reflected that these divine needles were being wielded by his master, his excitement morphed into sheer pride.
If he could ever master this technique in the future, he would have something to brag about even down in the netherworld.
Li Longhao's medical skills were also considered top-tier among the younger generation.
Though he refused to admit it aloud, this single display of needlework by Li Daofeng was truly transcendent.
Within minutes of the needles being set, Huang Wenyin's breathing visibly stabilized, her complexion lost its deathly pallor, and her breaths began to regain strength.
This sight left everyone present dumbfounded!
Undoubtedly, this was a miracle—or rather, a divine manifestation.
A person on the verge of death had shown such a drastic turnaround from just a few simple needles.
A few more minutes passed!
The paleness on Huang Wenyin's face vanished, replaced by a returning rosy flush. Her breathing completely stabilized, though she remained unconscious, looking as if she had simply fallen asleep.
"Mr. Li! Is Yinyin alright? Is she completely healed now?" Li Qiongsi couldn't help asking.
"Madam, please do not question my master's medical expertise! The divine needles my master just displayed are your good fortune!" Zhang Simin said with displeasure.
Although he didn't know what specific technique Li Daofeng was using, he could deeply feel the miraculous properties of those needles.
Without a word, Li Daofeng turned and walked back into his room! When he emerged a moment later, he was holding a package of herbs, which he handed to Li Xuemei as he said:
"Miss Li, over the next ten days, brew one dose of the medicine inside here for President Huang every day. Ten days from now, President Huang should be completely fine."
"Of course, if you don't trust me, you are entirely free to throw the medicine away!"
"Also, Miss Huang will wake up shortly. Once she regains consciousness, pack your things and move out! Don't live here anymore."
Li Daofeng had no desire to entertain these tedious nuisances any longer, lest people start gossiping that he was trying to sponge off wealthy women again.
"Elder Brother Li..."
Trapped in a dilemma, Li Xuemei was about to speak when Li Qiongsi abruptly cut her off.
"Rest assured, we will leave immediately!" Li Qiongsi stated.
With that, she pulled a bank card out of her handbag and said, "There are one hundred thousand yuan in here! Consider it your consultation fee, and from now on, we are even!"
The moment Li Qiongsi heard that Huang Wenyin was out of danger, her attitude instantly flipped. She stopped calling him "Mr. Li" and reverted to "you," bringing back her haughty, towering, and overbearing airs in full force.
"Take your filthy money and get lost with your daughter! Don't taint this place of mine!" Li Daofeng snapped angrily.
This woman was simply too much!
She really knew how to push people's buttons.
"Bastard! Punk, what kind of attitude is that? How dare you speak to my aunt like that? Have you grown tired of living?!"
Seeing a prime opportunity to perform, Li Longhao stepped forward and rebuked Li Daofeng.
"Bang!"
Before the words had even fully left his mouth, a sharp, stabbing pain surged through his chest, and his entire body went flying backward.
Chapter 29: Divine Eagle Sacred Sovereign
"Boom!"
With a resounding crash, Li Longhao let out a miserable scream as he slammed onto the ground.
"Wretch! I'll spare you today, but if there's a next time, I won't mind sending you to meet the King of Hell!"
"Someone come! Throw him out!"
Li Daofeng didn't want to stir up trouble, but that didn't mean he would tolerate everything indefinitely. Killing someone? He really didn't mind.
"You... how could you resort to violence! You..." Seeing her nephew struck down, Li Qiongsi glared furiously at Li Daofeng!
Before she could finish, however, a single glance from Li Daofeng frightened the rest of her words back down her throat.
That gaze carried killing intent!
It made Li Qiongsi's very soul tremble. For that fleeting second, she felt chilled to the bone.
Li Daofeng's look felt like that of the Grim Reaper, striking terror straight into the depths of her soul.
"You had best keep quiet. My patience is limited! If you spout any more nonsense, don't blame me for being unpolite!"
Having delivered his cold warning, Li Daofeng ignored them completely and retreated into his room alone.
Watching Li Daofeng's retreating figure, Li Qiongsi's face turned as dark as ink.
This man had completely humiliated her.
"Let's go! Li Xuemei, call that side and book plane tickets back to the Imperial Capital!" Li Qiongsi said through clenched teeth.
Before long, the entire estate was left with only Li Daofeng and a dozen female servants dressed in maid uniforms.
Even Zhang Simin had been dismissed by Li Daofeng; he was in no mood to deal with anyone right now.
...
Yanjing!
In a certain secluded estate, a middle-aged man in a Tang suit was answering a phone call, radiating an air of supreme authority!
As the news filtered through the phone, his resolute face twitched repeatedly, and a sharp glint flashed across his piercing eyes.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Good! I understand!"
Hanging up, the middle-aged man spoke again: "Yingyang has failed."
"Cangying and Laojiu were repelled by Shang Wanqiu. Shang Wanqiu has already reached the Grandmaster-grade Realm, injuring Cangying in a single move! This indicates that this woman's strength is likely already at the Grandmaster-grade Peak!"
"For a woman in her early thirties to reach the Grandmaster-grade Peak—I can hardly believe it! Is she trying to defy the heavens?" an elderly man opposite him asked.
"I might not believe it if it were anyone else, but that woman claims to belong to the Taixu Mountain lineage. Taixu! That is a miraculous place; anything can happen to someone who comes out of there."
"Taixu Mountain! How is that possible?" The old man asked in shock, hearing these words.
"Taixu Mountain is far too bizarre! The events of back then are still vividly etched in my mind, and thinking about it now still makes my heart race. Taixu Mountain! That place, and the people from there, are simply too terrifying!"
"Old Eagle, with your current strength, can you still be wary of Taixu Mountain?"
The middle-aged man was none other than the figure standing behind the Northwest Marquis—the very person Shang Wanqiu guarded against, the Divine Eagle Sacred Sovereign!
The Divine Eagle Sacred Sovereign!
A legendary figure across Yan Country. Whether in terms of personal martial might or political influence, he stood at the absolute ceiling of the entire nation—an existence that no one dared to provoke.
Hearing the old man's words, the Divine Eagle Sacred Sovereign let out a bitter laugh: "Taixu Mountain is a taboo! Back then, several powerhouses who had surpassed the Grandmaster-grade Peak led an army of five hundred thousand into Taixu Mountain to search for the key to enter the Kunlun Void! Yet those powerhouses and the half-million soldiers never emerged once they went in; whether they lived or died remains entirely unknown!"
"With my meager strength, how could I not be wary of Taixu Mountain? That place is far too bizarre, especially the people within it..."
After a brief silence, the Divine Eagle Sacred Sovereign continued: "Shang Wanqiu belongs to the Taixu lineage, meaning she is a disciple of someone inside Taixu Mountain. And as for that brat who killed the Northwest Marquis—Li Daofeng!"