Lin Hao's perception of him changed instantly. He reached out to help Tang Long up, accepting his gesture of respect, and decided not to pursue his previous rudeness any further.
Lin Hao’s action brought a surge of relief to Tang Wei and the others; it was a promising start to gaining Lin Hao’s friendship.
"Divine Doctor Lin, thank you for saving my life. I was in the wrong before. I know I was mistaken, and I hope you can forgive me just this once!"
Having learned her lesson, Tang Xueyan climbed down from the bed and walked straight to Lin Hao to apologize.
Before Lin Hao could respond, Tang Xueyan continued, "Divine Doctor Lin, do you have any way to completely cure this illness of mine?"
Hearing this, Lin Hao answered with a single, calm word: "Yes." He then cast a playful, lingering glance at Tang Xueyan's chest.
Tang Xueyan had been staring at Lin Hao nervously. Upon receiving his affirmative answer, her breathing grew rapid with excitement, causing her chest to heave in a way that was rather dazzling. However, when she caught the strange look Lin Hao was giving her chest, her ears turned deep red with shame.
It was clear that Lin Hao knew about the asymmetry of her chest—the left side being an 'A' cup and the right a 'D' cup.
Tang Long and the others were completely baffled by Tang Xueyan’s question. Wasn't she already cured by Lin Hao?
Tang Shengshi hurriedly asked Tang Xueyan what was going on, but how could she bring herself to explain the embarrassing details? Seeing her silence, Tang Shengshi stopped asking and could only plead with Lin Hao once more.
Yet, after saying "Yes," Lin Hao remained unresponsive, even when Elder Tang and Song Ciming tried to intercede.
Tang Xueyan grew desperate. This strange illness had not only plagued her for years but had left her chest in its current distorted state. As a woman, this was something she absolutely could not endure.
"Divine Doctor Lin, I was wrong, I really was. Please give me a chance. If you cure my strange illness, from now on, I will be your servant and do whatever you command!"
For years, Tang Xueyan had been tormented by the cold energy within her body. Lin Hao’s miraculous, heaven-defying medical skills had completely conquered her. In her desperation, she decided to go all in.
"Little Xue, what is wrong with you?" Tang Long was shocked by her words and shouted urgently. Tang Xueyan glanced at Tang Long, but shook her head without speaking.
Seeing that Lin Hao still wouldn't reply, Tang Xueyan’s face turned pale. Gritting her teeth, she sank to her knees before Lin Hao and bowed her head, whispering, "Master!"
Even Song Ciming realized something was wrong. He stepped forward to take her pulse, then looked at Lin Hao and said, "Brother Lin..."
Before Song Ciming could finish, the shrewd Elder Tang, patriarch of the Tang Family, stepped forward and grabbed Lin Hao. "Brother Lin, Little Xue has been spoiled since childhood and has never suffered; she has developed quite a temper. That is my fault. Please, do me this favor—take her by your side, have her wash your clothes, cook for you, and fold your blankets... Treat her like a housemaid, and when you have time, help her with her treatment. What do you think?"
Lin Hao considered it. Having such a beautiful little maid wouldn't be bad. Although her first impression today was poor, with some training, perhaps...
Since Tang Shengshi himself had asked, Lin Hao accepted with a smirk. After agreeing, he helped Tang Xueyan up and said, "From now on, I will treat you once a week. In about half a year, it will be completely cured."
Hearing that she could continue to be "touched" by Lin Hao every week just like before, and experience that warm, comfortable sensation, Tang Xueyan’s face turned red.
"Thank you, Master!" She cast a grateful look at Lin Hao and stood behind him, falling silent. Tang Long wanted to say something, but after being glared at by Tang Shengshi, he kept his mouth shut.
When Tang Wei and Tang Hu had briefed him on how they invited Lin Hao, they had mentioned his suspected identity as an Ancient Martial Artist. He had been wondering how to build a connection with Lin Hao; he never expected Tang Xueyan to secure it this way.
Song Ciming didn't know the full story, but seeing the Tang family go as far as to have their eldest granddaughter serve as a maid to win Lin Hao over, he had a sudden inspiration. He stepped forward and said, "Please, Divine Doctor Lin, take me as your disciple!"
Lin Hao not only knew the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles but also possessed medical skills that could bring the dead back to life. Song Ciming had long admired him to the point of worship. As he spoke, he prepared to kneel.
Lin Hao was startled and quickly held him up. "Old Song, what are you doing?"
Song Ciming was a man who had dedicated his entire life to the traditional medicine of Huaxia, and Lin Hao had great respect for his character and spirit. To have such a respected elder as his own disciple? Was he joking?
But Song Ciming seemed determined. Taking advantage of a moment of distraction, he knelt down. "If you don't agree, I won't get up!"
As Song Ciming remained firmly on the ground, Lin Hao had no choice but to say, "Old Song, don't do this, I can't bear it. How about this? Whatever you want to learn, I will teach you!"
"That won't do! The inheritance of traditional medicine demands legitimacy. If you don't take me as a disciple but teach me, it is a desecration of the tradition!" Song Ciming argued. "Besides, the sages said that the capable are teachers. Please, just take me!"
Lin Hao could only offer a bitter smile. "Fine! But Old Song, according to the tradition, I can only accept you as a nominal disciple. Don't worry, though; I will not hold back on what I teach you!"
For a man like Song Ciming, who had spent his life obsessed with medicine, as long as he could learn more advanced techniques, being a nominal disciple was more than enough.
Song Ciming immediately bowed. "Master is above, please accept your disciple's respects!"
As a veteran practitioner, the tradition of respecting one's master was deeply ingrained in Song Ciming’s bones. Seeing Lin Hao accept his bow, Song Ciming was flushed with excitement. He respectfully invited Lin Hao to the Tang family’s reception hall, and after Lin Hao took the seat of honor, he served him a cup of hot tea. The ceremony was complete; Song Ciming had successfully entered the Xianyimen as a nominal disciple.
Watching the gray-haired Song Ciming kneel to serve him tea, Lin Hao felt a bit strange.
After the ceremony, Tang Shengshi walked over with a laugh. "Song Erwa, you’re now Brother Lin’s disciple, but I call him brother. Hehe, doesn't that make me your martial uncle? Hurry up and call me uncle!"
Before Tang Shengshi could even finish, Song Ciming snapped. "Tang Ergou, are you itching for a beating?" Seeing Tang Shengshi still trying to tease him, Song Ciming attacked him toward his lower regions. Soon, the two old men were brawling in the Tang family's reception hall.
Just then, Lin Hao’s phone rang. He pulled it out and saw it was a call from Xu Wei.
"Lin Hao, are you free tomorrow night?" Having witnessed Lin Hao’s miracles twice, Xu Wei had specifically asked for his contact info before leaving.
Lin Hao asked, "I should be free tomorrow night. What’s the matter?"
"A new five-star hotel recently opened in Jiangbei Bay. The food is decent, and I’ve booked a private room. We agreed today that I’d treat you to dinner. I’ve sent the time and address to your phone. You must come!" Fearing Lin Hao would refuse, Xu Wei hung up immediately after speaking.
Seeing that the Tang family business was mostly resolved, and that he had herbs waiting to be processed, Lin Hao didn't want to linger. He declined the Tang family's invitation to dinner, gave Song Ciming a few instructions, and left the Tang estate, personally driven by his newly acquired, stunning little maid, Tang Xueyan.
Halfway there, Tang Xueyan’s stomach suddenly gave a growl. Lin Hao checked the time—it was 10:00 PM. He realized that with his Eighth Layer Body Tempering cultivation, he didn't need to eat, but Tang Xueyan was just an ordinary person who hadn't eaten all day.
Seeing her embarrassment, Lin Hao said considerately, "There’s a food court when we turn right up ahead. Let’s go grab something to eat."
"Okay." Tang Xueyan nodded, stealing a glance at Lin Hao, feeling a warmth in her heart.
They arrived at the food court, and while Tang Xueyan went to park, Lin Hao went to a relatively quiet roadside open-air stall. Just as he sat down, a youth with purple hair was acting suspiciously nearby, making a phone call.
"Brother Dansan, I see the kid Young Master Lü mentioned. He’s at the Yu's food stall."
The person on the other end asked, "How many people are with him? Is the eldest miss of the Xu family there?"
The purple-haired youth replied, "Just him for now, but he ordered a table full of food, so he must be waiting for someone."
"As long as she isn't there, I don't care who he’s waiting for. Keep an eye on him. I’m bringing men over right now."
After the call ended, the youth ducked into a corner, his eyes glued to Lin Hao.
Soon, Tang Xueyan returned from parking and jogged over. Seeing that Lin Hao had already ordered a feast for her, she felt delighted. Though she grew up in luxury and this was her first time eating at such a place, she found she loved the street food instantly.
"Vroom—screech!"
Suddenly, a Wuling van swerved to a halt beside them. A dozen thugs brandishing steel pipes, baseball bats, and machetes jumped out and surrounded them.
The leader was a thin man with a vicious scar on his face, wearing a floral shirt and chewing on a cheap cigarette. He walked up to Lin Hao, checked a photo on his phone, and shouted, "That’s him, alright!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the thugs began smashing the table. In the blink of an eye, it was reduced to rubble.
Tang Xueyan was stunned. As the eldest miss of the Tang family, someone actually dared to smash her table? Even though she had pledged herself to be Lin Hao's servant, this was an insult to Lin Hao! She was furious. Pointing at the scar-faced man, she shouted, "What do you think you're doing!"
Lin Hao traced recent events in his mind and quickly pinned the blame on Lü Liang. Lü Liang must have been harboring a grudge since the morning.
Seeing Tang Xueyan speak up, Lin Hao decided to give these people a memory they wouldn't forget. However, as he prepared to move, he realized he was being ignored. The thugs had only just noticed Tang Xueyan.
"Damn, such a beautiful woman. I’d lose ten years of my life just to sleep with her once!"
"So gorgeous! I’m in love! If I could sleep with her, I’d pull out my own ribs to boil a soup for her!"
Accustomed to mediocrity, Tang Xueyan’s stunning beauty and noble temperament were like a dimensional strike to their aesthetics. They stood there, drooling.
The scar-faced leader snapped back to reality. He let his lewd gaze wander over Tang Xueyan and said with a leer, "My late father used to say that when your left eye twitches, a romantic encounter is coming. I wondered why mine wouldn't stop twitching tonight—turns out my luck was here!"
The purple-haired youth chimed in, "Brother Dansan, this woman is a goddess. Why not take her back for the brothers to have some fun?"
"Smart kid," the leader said, patting his shoulder. "Boys, break the kid's legs and take this little lady to my room!"
"Got it, Brother Dansan!"
The purple-haired youth lunged toward Tang Xueyan.
"You're courting death!"
Although she was spoiled, Tang Xueyan had been trained in Taekwondo and Jeet Kune Do since childhood. Seeing the youth’s lewd gaze and his attempt to touch her, she snapped. She delivered a sharp kick, her high heel landing squarely in the youth’s crotch.
With a horrifying scream, the youth collapsed, his face deathly pale.
"Too brutal!" The other thugs flinched.
"The sting in the scorpion's tail—a woman's heart is the most poisonous. My father was right!" Seeing that the beauty was a rose with thorns, the leader dropped his guard and ordered, "All of you, together! Let’s see how well she can fight!"
He still ignored Lin Hao, seeing him as nothing more than a soft-skinned boy.
But they underestimated Tang Xueyan. Within two minutes, the thugs were wailing on the ground.
Lin Hao watched with a sparkle in his eyes. He thought Tang Xueyan had changed, but she still had her wild streak. This was the effect he wanted; a rose with thorns that would only be gentle for him—the thought was thrilling.
In a nearby SUV, Lü Liang and a bald man known as "Brother Dabi," the boss of this area, were watching.
"Brother Dabi, this woman is trouble," Lü Liang said anxiously. "Should we call more men?"
Brother Dabi puffed on his cigarette slowly. "Dansan hasn't even moved yet. He’s a former Sanda champion. Don't worry, he’s about to strike."
Lü Liang felt reassured and handed over a briefcase. "Brother Dabi, here’s the 500,000. I just want that kid's hands."
Brother Dabi took it, but frowned as he looked at Tang Xueyan. "Where have I seen her before?"
Being a boss, he knew who he could provoke and who he couldn't. The Tang family was an untouchable titan. Though she looked familiar, he didn't realize who she was.
"I investigated that kid," Lü Liang said. "He’s a loser. The woman with him can't be anything special."
Brother Dabi agreed. It was impossible for a woman from a top-tier family to be eating at a street stall.
"Useless trash!" the leader spat at his men before walking toward Tang Xueyan. "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're pretty. I'm hot-blooded right now—stay and help me cool down tonight!"
"You are asking for it!" Tang Xueyan threw a punch at him.
The leader didn't dodge; he puffed out his chest, stepping forward to meet her fist head-on.