Lin Hao's action of retrieving his needles happened to be caught by Song Ciming.
Startled for a moment, Song Ciming immediately asked Lin Hao eagerly, "Young friend, would you be willing to sell the Purple Ganoderma you bought earlier to me?"
An old man had suddenly run over and demanded the medicinal herb he had gone to such great lengths to find. Lin Hao frowned and said, "Not for sale. I have a very important use for this medicine!"
"How about a million?" Song Ciming softened his tone and continued to press.
Lin Hao glanced at Song Ciming. Seeing the old man's anxious expression, could it be that someone in his family was seriously ill?
"Two million!" Seeing that Lin Hao remained silent, Song Ciming raised the price further.
"Old mister, could it be that someone in your family is suffering from a serious illness and urgently needs treatment? As it happens, I am a traditional Chinese medicine doctor and might be able to help." Lin Hao knew that medicines like Purple Ganoderma and wild ginseng were mostly used to keep people clinging to life.
Seeing the old man's anxious expression, the situation must be critical.
It would be better to ask if he could lend a hand.
"You are actually a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, young friend?" Song Ciming asked in surprise.
"Could it be that the old mister is also one?" Lin Hao countered.
At that moment, Liu Yimin, the TCM physician standing nearby, came over and said, "Sir, this is the head of our Bencao Hall, Elder Song Ciming."
Hearing Liu Yimin's introduction, Lin Hao had a sudden realization, followed by a wry smile.
He knew Song Ciming; he was a towering figure in the traditional Chinese medicine community of Jiangbei City.
He had just bought the man's Purple Ganoderma from his very own Bencao Hall, and now the man was offering a high price to buy it back from him.
If he didn't have such urgent need for the Purple Ganoderma himself, this transaction would have been quite a bargain.
After introducing Song Ciming to Lin Hao, Liu Yimin recounted everything Lin Hao had just done, step by step, to Song Ciming.
Upon hearing the story, Song Ciming was dumbfounded, the look he gave Lin Hao filled with utter shock.
"To think that my young friend is a true master of our craft! To be able to reverse even such a condition—this old man is full of admiration!"
After recovering from his shock, Song Ciming asked excitedly, "Ah, I almost forgot to ask your esteemed name, young friend. May I know who your master is?"
The condition Lu Qiang had been in earlier was one that even he could do nothing about.
For Lin Hao to possess such superb and miraculous medical skills at such a young age—wasn't his master practically...
Song Ciming immediately felt a strong desire to befriend him.
"My name is Lin Hao. As for my master, I have no idea where she is."
Song Ciming looked somewhat disappointed, then said, "Young friend Lin, to be frank, I have obtained an ancient formula. I am only missing this hundred-year-old Purple Ganoderma to gather all the medicinal ingredients required by the formula. I am doing this to save the life of an old friend. If you are not in a rush, young friend Lin, could you part with this Purple Ganoderma out of the goodness of your heart? I will find another one for you later. It's just that my old friend's illness cannot wait."
Lin Hao said, "What kind of illness does your friend have? Perhaps I can help."
Song Ciming replied, "My old friend injured his head when he was young. A few days ago, he suddenly fell into a deep sleep and hasn't woken up since. Countless renowned doctors have been consulted, and all of them are helpless. Now, my only option is to try following this ancient formula, perhaps giving him a glimmer of hope."
"As far as I know, Purple Ganoderma has no effect on brain-related illnesses," Lin Hao said calmly. "Let me see your formula."
Song Ciming hesitated for a moment, then took the ancient formula from his pocket and handed it to Lin Hao.
Lin Hao took the ancient formula, read through it once, and frowned as he said, "Elder, not only can this ancient formula not save your friend, it will actually make him die faster!"
Chapter 11: Thirteen Ghost-Gate Needles
"What? Die faster?" Song Ciming was suddenly startled.
Realizing a moment later that he had lost his composure, he put on a stern face and looked at Lin Hao:
"Young friend Lin, take another good look. I had to go to great lengths to beg this ancient formula from the Ye Family in Kyoto! They said that as long as the two missing ingredients are supplemented, any brain injury can be cured completely! The Ye Family is the head of the four great families in the capital, and they started out in traditional Chinese medicine. Over thousands of years, they have saved countless lives—it is no exaggeration to say they represent Huaxia traditional Chinese medicine. A formula from their house shouldn't be wrong."
The Ye Family in Kyoto was a sacred shrine of traditional Chinese medicine in Song Ciming's heart. If his disciple Liu Yimin hadn't described Lin Hao's treatment of Lu Qiang in such a miraculous way, and given Liu Yimin's honest character—meaning he wouldn't lie—Song Ciming would have already cursed Lin Hao up and down.
"There's no need to look, Elder Song. To be completely honest with you, this formula of yours is nothing more than a poisonous prescription!" Lin Hao looked at the ancient formula that Song Ciming had just put away and said bluntly.
In the inheritance of Xianyimen, there were countless ancient medical formulas, and the one in Song Ciming's hand had indeed originated from Xianyimen. However, while it looked like a medicinal prescription, it was actually a pill formula.
"Young man, you can speak carelessly, but you cannot speak recklessly! Setting aside the fact that this formula came from the Ye Family, just looking at these ten medicinal ingredients on the formula, any single one picked at random has miraculous effects on brain disorders! You say this ancient formula is a poison prescription—if you cannot give me a proper explanation today, don't blame this old man for being impolite!" Song Ciming looked coldly at Lin Hao and said.
Lin Hao smiled faintly, unbothered. "Elder Song, I presume the last two ingredients you added were this century-old Purple Ganoderma and Fordia cauliflora?"
As soon as Lin Hao finished speaking, Song Ciming's eyes went wide. He was so startled he couldn't speak, and he no longer dared to look down on Lin Hao or show him even a fraction of disrespect.
Previously, he still harbored doubts about Lin Hao, but at this moment, he was thoroughly and completely won over.
You must know that in order to complete the final two missing ingredients on the ancient formula, he had searched through countless renowned medical experts and expended a tremendous amount of energy before finally managing it.
Yet the person before him had simply glanced at it once and accurately pointed out the two ingredients he had added. To him, this was a profound blow.
Recovering his senses, Song Ciming asked Lin Hao anxiously, "Brother Lin, could there be something wrong with these two ingredients?"
He dared not doubt the ancient formula from the Ye Family, so he suspected that the medicinal herbs he had added were mistaken.
"Elder Song, you don't need to doubt yourself. The two ingredients you added are correct, and the original eight ingredients on the ancient formula are also correct," Lin Hao said with a smile.
"Then where on earth is the problem?" Song Ciming was even more perplexed.
Lin Hao laughed heartily and explained, "The reason I said this formula is a poison prescription is because it was never meant to heal the sick or save lives. It is actually a pill formula."
"A pill formula?"
Song Ciming was completely dumbfounded. Could pills really exist in this world?
Of course he knew about pills; they were things that existed only in legends.
With the rise of modern science, pills had long been categorized as feudal superstition or charlatan tricks used by wandering sorcerers.
Hearing it mentioned so casually by Lin Hao at this moment, Song Ciming felt his worldview being shaken to its core.
Lin Hao gave a light cough, pulling the dazed Song Ciming back to reality, and continued, "Elder Song, don't you think the standards this formula sets for the medicinal ingredients are a bit too harsh? In ancient times, this formula had a name—the Lesser Calm-Spirit Pill Formula. The absolute minimum standard for the ingredients needed to refine the Lesser Calm-Spirit Pill is one hundred years of age. Elder Song, open the pill formula and see if that's true."
Song Ciming hurriedly unfolded the ancient formula. It was indeed as Lin Hao had said. Then, a look of confusion crept onto his face: "Isn't this a good thing? The higher the standards for the medicinal ingredients, wouldn't the therapeutic effect be even better?"
Lin Hao said, "Elder Song, think about it. When some critically ill patients take century-old wild ginseng just to cling to life, they only dare to slice off a tiny piece to keep in their mouths. All ten ingredients on this formula are over a century old. If you cram them all into a single person—and you said this is to treat your old friend—let me ask you, can an elderly person withstand such a violent medicinal effect? Your old friend would likely burst and die the moment he drank the medicine you brewed. If this isn't a poison prescription, what is?"
"This... this......"
Song Ciming trembled all over. His disciple Liu Yimin quickly stepped forward to steady him, brought over a chair, and helped him sit down, only then letting out a sigh of relief.
To save his old friend, Song Ciming had placed all his hopes on this ancient formula from the Ye Family.
Now discovering that even the Ye Family's ancient formula couldn't save his friend, Song Ciming looked as though he had been drained of all spirit and vitality. He stared blankly at the ancient formula in his hand, his mouth opening and closing without being able to utter a word.
Liu Yimin, tending to him at his side, felt a pang of heartache seeing Song Ciming in this state. But suddenly, his eyes lit up.
He jumped to his feet, grabbed Lu Qiang—who had already pulled up his pants and was obediently standing in the corner—and dragged him over.
Then, he abruptly yanked Lu Qiang's pants down, pointed at Lu Qiang's lower region, and looked excitedly at Lin Hao.
"Divine Doctor Lin, you cured this kid's near-engorgement and explosion with just two or three needles! Surely my master's friend's brain illness will be a piece of cake for you!"
Lu Qiang, who had been whispering furtively to his young girlfriend, suddenly felt a chill down there after being dragged over.
In a panic, he quickly pulled up his pants, muttered that he would come back in the future to thank them for their boundless grace, and bolted out the door like a wisp of smoke.
He didn't dare stay any longer. Being inspected by three old men was bad enough; if he stayed any longer and the entire traditional Chinese medicine clinic came to take a look, he would lose all his face when it turned into news.
Watching Lu Qiang flee with a blushing face, Lin Hao couldn't help but chuckle.
"That's right, I really am getting senile!" Song Ciming slapped his thigh, stood up, his eyes brightening. "I implore Brother Lin to save my old friend's life!"
With that, he gave a detailed account of his old friend's condition.
After listening, Lin Hao nodded. "I can do it."
Song Ciming was so excited he almost jumped. "I have already gathered all the other nine century-old medicinal ingredients on the ancient formula. As long as young friend Lin cures my old friend's illness, I am willing to gift all of them to you."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony!" Lin Hao laughed heartily.
"Splendid! Please come with me to my old friend's house, young friend."
Song Ciming was immensely excited. He had worked so hard for his old friend for so long, and seeing Lin Hao agree to accept his gift meant Lin Hao had absolute confidence in curing his friend.
In this day and age, it was rare to see someone go to such painstaking lengths for a friend's illness. Lin Hao found himself feeling a bit curious about the old friend Song Ciming spoke of.
Having decided to lend a hand, he was soon pulled out of Bencao Hall by the excited Song Ciming.
Getting into the Audi A6 driven by Song Ciming, the two headed toward a luxury villa district in Jiangbei City—Yunding Lakeside.
Just as they got on the highway, Song Ciming suddenly cried out, "Oh no! In my eagerness to take you to my friend's house, I completely forgot to prepare the medicinal ingredients!"
Lin Hao said calmly, "No need to worry. When I treat illnesses, I only use needles, not medicine."
Song Ciming asked in puzzlement, "Acupuncture?"
Lin Hao replied, "That's right, acupuncture! I wonder if Elder Song has ever heard of the Thirteen Ghost-Gate Needles?"
"What? The Thirteen Ghost-Gate Needles!"
Hearing the mention of the Thirteen Ghost-Gate Needles so abruptly, Song Ciming violently turned his head to look at Lin Hao, his eyes filled with shock.
"What the fuck! Can you drive or not? If you want to die, drive your own car into the river, you son of a bitch!"
"......"
At that exact moment, amidst the screeching blare of a car horn, a rich second-generation heir poked his head out from a Lamborghini Veneno and cursed furiously at the two of them.
As it turned out, the Audi A6, speeding along the fast lane of the highway, had drifted sharply to the right the instant Song Ciming turned his head.
If not for Lin Hao's sharp spiritual sense and his quick reflexes in turning the steering wheel, the car would have crashed right into the guardrail on the side of the road.
After hurling a couple of curses, the rich heir drove off in his Lamborghini Veneno. Lin Hao quickly said, "Elder Song, keep your eyes on the road."
With lingering fear, Song Ciming took a deep breath, gripped the steering wheel firmly, and asked again, "Young friend, do you really know the Thirteen Ghost-Gate Needles?"
Lin Hao said, "Do I have any reason to lie to you?"
"That's wonderful! To think it's the legendary Thirteen Ghost-Gate Needles—Old Tang really is blessed with great fortune."
Unable to suppress his inner excitement any longer, Song Ciming suddenly felt decades younger and slammed his foot down hard on the accelerator.
VROOM!!!
The engine roar of the Audi A6 was driven by his foot to sound like a roaring beast.
The car shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.
At this moment, Song Ciming drove the Audi A6 as if it were a super sports car like a Ferrari.
The rich heir who had previously been driving the Lamborghini Veneno was speeding along the highway.
The next second, however, a flash crossed his vision as a black Audi streaked past his car, leaving him in the dust.
"What the hell! What's going on? Was that an Audi that just passed me?"
The dumbfounded rich heir began to question his entire existence.
The Jiangbei Tang Family was one of the top families in Jiangbei City.
The current head of the Tang Family, Tang Shengshi—whose childhood nickname was Er Gou—had once served as a bodyguard for the top leader. When he shielded the leader from a bullet back then, he had nearly been shot in the head, and his brain injury stemmed from that very incident.
After peace was restored, the top leader gave him the name Tang Shengshi and sent him back to his hometown in Jiangbei.
Leveraging his connection with the top leader, Tang Shengshi quickly established the Tang Family upon returning to Jiangbei, growing and developing it until his three sons entered the military, political, and business spheres, carving out formidable reputations for themselves.
In no time at all, the Jiangbei Tang Family became a presence that countless dignitaries in Jiangbei dared not provoke.
The Audi A6 soon arrived at Yunding Lakeside.
This area was entirely filled with villas built against the mountain, each spanning over three thousand square meters, surrounded by fresh air.
Familiar with the route, Song Ciming stopped in front of a palace-like courtyard.
A bodyguard in a work uniform standing at the gate immediately stepped forward to open the gate upon seeing Song Ciming's car.
After exchanging a few words with the bodyguard, Song Ciming led Lin Hao inside.
"Uncle Song, you're finally here."
Tang Wei, the third son of Tang Shengshi, came out to greet them. Seeing Song Ciming, a deep look of sorrow still lingered on his face.
"Uncle Song, have you found a way to save my father? A couple of days ago, he would still wake up once or twice a day, but for the past two days, he hasn't woken up even once. Please take a look quickly."
"Today I've brought a divine doctor with me, so you can rest easy. Old Tang is saved!"
With that, Song Ciming introduced Lin Hao to Tang Wei: "This is Divine Doctor Lin Hao!"
"Hello, Divine Doctor Lin." Tang Wei was momentarily stunned, but still politely shook hands with Lin Hao.
In his impression, anyone called a divine doctor was either advanced in years or elderly and decrepit.
However, he had no time to dwell on it now. After exchanging polite pleasantries, he led the two men inside.
Passing through a long corridor led directly to the inner hall.
The two sides of the corridor were adorned with mutton-fat-jade-like porcelain vessels of various sizes, exquisitely carved and lifelike.
The golden-nanmu furniture scattered throughout the inner hall gave the place an antique and elegant charm.
Entering the bedroom, Lin Hao saw an elderly man with a weak aura and a withered face lying on a thick-mattressed Luohan bed.
"Uncle Song, please take a look and see if my father can still be cured!" As soon as they entered the bedroom, Tang Wei's eyes reddened as he pleaded with Song Ciming.
Song Ciming nodded, stepped forward to take the old man's pulse, and then turned his gaze to Lin Hao.
"Stop right there!"
Just as Lin Hao stepped forward to check the old man's condition, a woman's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting his movement.
Chapter 12: Doctors Do Not Knock on Doors Uninvited
"Take your filthy hands away! Don't you dare touch my grandfather!"
The moment Lin Hao turned his head back, a wave of fragrant wind washed over him, followed immediately by a woman's figure flinging herself toward the Luohan bed.
"Grandfather, Xiaoxue is back! Xiaoxue has brought the best brain specialists in the country for you. Grandfather, you will definitely get better. Once you're well, Xiaoxue will stay with you all the time and never make you angry again!"
Kneeling by the bed and grasping the old man's hand, the woman's eye rims were red.
A moment later, the woman stood up and glared angrily at Lin Hao. "Who are you? Who gave you permission to touch my grandfather?"
Lin Hao said nothing, instead beginning to size up the woman before him.
She wore a pristine, elegant, and loose-fitting women's business suit, her hair coiled into a dignified and graceful bun.
A pair of bright, large eyes, devoid of any superfluous makeup, shone like stars in the night sky.
The lips beneath her delicate nose carried not a trace of lipstick, yet exuded a sensual and alluring charm.
Beneath her swan-like white neck were delicate collarbones, and the figure wrapped in her business suit was full and curvaceous...
"Xiaoxue, you're back." At that moment, Tang Wei stepped in to introduce her: "This is Divine Doctor Lin Hao, invited by Elder Song to treat your grandfather."
The woman was named Tang Xueyan, Tang Shengshi's eldest granddaughter and the daughter of Tang Wei's eldest brother, Tang Long.
She had just returned from studying abroad this year and, under family arrangements, served as the deputy general manager of the Tang Family's group company.
"Divine Doctor?" Tang Xueyan froze, then snapped, "What kind of bullshit divine doctor! Third Uncle, didn't I tell you not to let anyone touch Grandfather until I brought back the best brain specialists in the country?! Grandfather could still wake up a few times a day before, but it's precisely because of these quacks you three brothers brought in that he's fallen into this endless sleep! Thank goodness I came back early today—if this bullshit divine doctor kills my grandfather, I'll hate you all for the rest of my life!"
Tang Wei was left standing there in a daze, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
It was true; Tang Xueyan was right. The Tang Family still relied on the old man to hold down the fort. If the old man were truly gone, then the Tang Family...
Despite being severely scolded by a junior like Tang Xueyan, Tang Wei felt not a shred of resentment in his heart.
Tang Xueyan had lost her mother at a young age and had been raised entirely by Elder Tang himself, making the bond between grandfather and granddaughter exceptionally deep.
After Tang Shengshi fell ill, his eldest brother Tang Long and second brother Tang Hu fought tooth and nail searching everywhere for medical help, leaving Tang Wei alone at home to care for the old man. In his anxiety, he had inevitably resorted to desperate measures.
Yelled at by Tang Xueyan just now, he finally snapped back to his senses and could not help but re-evaluate Lin Hao.
Had it not been for the fact that Song Ciming had grown up with Elder Tang since childhood, he probably would have driven Lin Hao out long ago.
After all, Lin Hao was simply too young, and Elder Tang's condition could no longer afford a single mistake.
Seeing that Tang Wei remained silent, Tang Xueyan cast a contemptuous look at Lin Hao. "Besides, has our Tang Family really fallen so low that any stray cat or dog can just walk in?"
Lin Hao's initial impression of Tang Xueyan had been quite favorable. Even when she began with extremely impolite remarks, considering her filial piety, Lin Hao felt it was only human nature.
Yet now, seeing this woman put on the airs of a wealthy aristocratic family and resort to veiled insults, his expression turned cold.