"Hehe, remember what you just said!" Ye Tiance said with a faint smile.
With that, he stopped speaking and glanced sideways at Wu Xingye, noticing that Wu Xingye's expression as he looked at Taoist Master Gongsun was quite complicated.
It faintly betrayed a hint of distrust.
Clearly, this Dean Wu also doubted Taoist Master Gongsun's talk of lost souls.
It was just that, lacking concrete evidence, he found it inconvenient to step forward and express his doubts.
Lin Jiaoyang said to Taoist Master Gongsun, "Master, please don't lower yourself to his level. I beg you to save my grandfather right away!"
Taoist Master Gongsun replied indifferently, "Naturally, I wouldn't stoop to the level of a petty clown. Rest assured, Lin Lao's life is guaranteed by me!"
Next, Taoist Master Gongsun instructed Lin Wanda on how to set up the ritual altar according to his requirements.
The so-called altar was nothing complicated.
It consisted of little more than an offering table, incense, yellow cloth, and other props.
A short while later.
Lin Wanda instructed the household servants to set up a ritual altar right inside the sickroom!
Lin Wanda cupped his fists and said, "Master, thank you for your trouble. If you can cure my father, there will be a heavy reward!"
A flicker of anticipation flashed deep within Taoist Master Gongsun's eyes.
Yet, on the surface, he feigned composure and said, "It's merely a trivial matter!"
He walked to the center of the altar, drew a peachwood sword from his shoulder bag, stepped out the constellation paces, and began to chant in a low murmur: "Soul pulled by dreams, a thousand miles to Jiangling returned in a day; frost on the temples, shadows of the Eight Trument Formations hanging in the void..."
About a minute or so later.
Taoist Master Gongsun suddenly shouted loudly, pointing the peachwood sword in his hand directly at Lin Yuanxun on the hospital bed: "Swiftly as the law and decrees command, decree!"
Yet Lin Yuanxun on the bed remained completely motionless!
Ji Boxiao couldn't help asking, "Master, could it be that it's not working?"
"Shut up!"
Taoist Master Gongsun rebuked him harshly.
He repeated the exact ritual process from the beginning, word for word, and shouted loudly: "Swiftly as the law and decrees command, decree!"
Still, absolutely nothing happened!
Taoist Master Gongsun wiped some sweat from his forehead.
Unable to help himself, he frowned and muttered, "Strange... how can this be?"
Han Ruoyun curled her lips and said, "Didn't you say it was a trivial matter? Why is there still no effect?"
Lin Wanda stepped forward and asked, "Master, is there some difficulty?"
"This..."
Taoist Master Gongsun knitted his brows in thought. Suddenly, a fierce look flashed in his eyes, and he waved his hand with a smile, "It's nothing. Perhaps your honored father has lost his soul for too long, which increases the difficulty of calling it back. But it doesn't matter, I have my own methods!"
He pulled a black pill from his bosom and introduced it: "This is the 'Rejuvenation Pill' personally refined by myself, specifically designed to be used in conjunction with soul-calling rituals. Once I have Lin Lao take it and then perform the ritual to call back his soul, it will certainly succeed!"
Lin Jiaoyang hurriedly said, "Thank you for troubling yourself, Master!"
Taoist Master Gongsun stepped forward, preparing to put the Rejuvenation Pill into Lin Yuanxun's mouth.
Snap!
Right at that moment, a large hand suddenly grabbed his wrist!
"Hold on!"
Taoist Master Gongsun turned his head to look.
To his astonishment, the person who had grabbed him was none other than Ye Tiance. His expression darkened as he demanded, "What are you doing?"
The others' expressions all changed upon seeing this scene!
Lin Jiaoyang rebuked angrily, "Let go of your dog paws! Why are you trying to stop the Master from treating my grandfather?"
Ji Boxiao cursed, "Ye, have you lost your mind? How dare you make trouble in the Lin family?"
Lin Wanda said with a solemn expression, "Young man, what is the meaning of this?"
Han Ruoyun turned pale with fright and quickly signaled Ye Tiance to let go at once!
Yet Ye Tiance turned a deaf ear.
With a swift move, he snatched the Rejuvenation Pill right out of Taoist Master Gongsun's hand.
Wearing a grave expression, Ye Tiance said, "Stinky old Taoist, you've got some nerve! You even dare to give this kind of pill to people—do you have any conscience left?"
The latter shook his head and retorted, "I don't understand what you're talking about. Give my pill back to me right now!"
Not only did Ye Tiance have no intention of returning it, but he also pressed down slightly with force in the palm of his hand.
With a snap!
He instantly crushed the medicinal pill to pieces!
Taoist Master Gongsun's eyes bulged: "Scoundrel! This was a 'Rejuvenation Pill' that I spent years of painstaking effort to refine, and you've just destroyed it like that—what a monstrous waste of heaven's gifts!"
Then, turning to the others, he complained, "You all saw it for yourselves. It's not that I didn't want to save him; it's that this brat is deliberately trying to sabotage it!"
Lin Jiaoyang flew into a rage. "Scoundrel! You swindler, how dare you destroy the pill that could save my grandfather! Someone come here, give him a severe beating today!"
Lin Wanda immediately raised his hand and said, "Wait!"
With a seasoned gaze fixed on Ye Tiance, his eyes lowered as he said, "Young man, it seems you owe the Lin family an explanation for this!"
Anyone familiar with Lin Wanda knew that he was truly furious!
Once he erupted, the consequences would be unimaginable!
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room grew oppressively heavy.
Han Ruoyun felt as though her heart was leaping into her throat.
Had she known Ye Tiance would pull a stunt like this, nothing could have persuaded her to bring him along!
Faced with such an atmosphere.
Ye Tiance remained unyielding and calm. "My explanation is that this pill won't save Old Master Lin at all—on the contrary, it will cost him his life!"
Chapter 35: Calling back souls? I can do that too!
Ye Tiance's words were no different from a heavy bombshell.
It caused the expressions of everyone present to shift, and they all looked toward Taoist Master Gongsun!
A flash of panic flickered in the depths of Taoist Master Gongsun's eyes.
He shouted angrily, "You... you're talking nonsense! My pill was refined using precious medicinal materials like ginseng and snow lotus, and it has powerful restorative effects. How could it possibly harm Lin Lao's life?"
"Hah! Playing dumb, are you?"
Ye Tiance sneered, presenting the pulverized pill before everyone's eyes.
"The medicinal ingredients refined by this old Taoist total eighteen kinds. Indeed, every single one of them has restorative properties, but as the saying goes, too much of a good thing turns into its opposite! With such potent restorative medicine, let alone a frail and sick person, even if you gave it to a healthy, robust man, it would cause him to overheat, bleed, and even collapse into shock! You are actually well aware of this principle, but you figured that if Old Master Lin swallowed it, it would forcibly stimulate his body to react or even wake up. While such an outcome is possible, the reality is that this is purely overdrafting the old master's remaining vitality. Once it is exhausted, death is certain!"
Ye Tiance's explanation made Lin Wanda's eyelids twitch!
His expression darkened. "Master, is what he says true?"
Putting on a bold front, Taoist Master Gongsun defended himself, "Mayor Lin, don't listen to his nonsense! What does a wet-behind-the-ears brat know about traditional medicine or the properties of drugs?"
Lin Jiaoyang angrily scolded, "Ye, I think you're deliberately trying to sabotage my grandfather's treatment and are now resorting to sophistry!"
Ye Tiance smiled. "You can call it sophistry, but Dean Wu won't, right?"
He turned to Wu Xingye and said, "Dean Wu, please do me the favor of verifying whether I'm talking nonsense!"
Wu Xingye walked over.
He pinched a small amount of the powdered pill from the palm of Ye Tiance's hand and brought it to his nose to sniff.
A few seconds later, his pupils shrank violently.
He couldn't help but say in shock, "This pill contains over ten traditional Chinese medicine ingredients, all of which are strongly restorative. If Lin Lao were to take this, it would indeed lead to unimaginable consequences, exactly as this little brother described..."
As he spoke,
the look he directed at Ye Tiance could not conceal his profound shock!
As a practitioner of traditional medicine, distinguishing the medicinal ingredients in a drug was a basic ability, and it also represented a physician's level of skill!
Without the aid of tools, relying on sight or smell to distinguish three ingredients made one a novice.
Exceeding five ingredients counted as average.
Exceeding eight made one a first-rate physician.
Exceeding ten meant an absolute master-level existence!
He, Wu Xingye, had just barely crossed that threshold, and that was only after prolonged observation on his part!
Yet this young man named Ye Tiance had identified eighteen ingredients with just a single glance!
Such an ability was simply unheard of!
Wu Xingye's testimony made the expressions of everyone present turn deeply unsightly!
Lin Wanda narrowed his eyes and asked Taoist Master Gongsun, "Master, Lin requires an explanation!"
"Ah? This..."
Taoist Master Gongsun swallowed nervously.
Famous and prestigious as he was,
he absolutely did not dare to offend the Lin family!
The only reason he had produced the Rejuvenation Pill was in the hope that if he could just wake Lin Yuanxun up, that would suffice. As for his life being overdrawn and dying later, that would happen days from now, and by then no one could blame him—they could only blame the old master's bad luck!
He had never expected that Ye Tiance would come in and spoil it all!
However, he was an old schemer after all.
With a roll of his eyes, he blurted out, "Mayor Lin, please don't be hasty. Although the 'Rejuvenation Pill' has such side effects, if it is used in conjunction with soul-calling rituals, those side effects will be neutralized and there will be no harm at all!"
Saying this, he abruptly pointed at Ye Tiance.
Shifting the blame, he accused, "When all is said and fathom, it's all this brat's fault for disrupting the soul-calling process; otherwise, Lin Lao would already have been cured!"
Faced with Taoist Master Gongsun's offensive move,
Ye Tiance couldn't help sneering, "You? With the nerve to claim you know how to call souls? Don't make people laugh their heads off!"
Taoist Master Gongsun shouted loudly, "Arrogant brat! If I don't know how to call souls, could it be that you do?"
Ye Tiance said with a relaxed expression, "Calling souls, what's so difficult about it?"
Hearing this, Taoist Master Gongsun's heart leaped with joy!
He thought to himself: This kid still lacks worldly experience and is actually rushing to shift the attention onto himself. That way, I can give them the slip and make my escape.
Thus, he added fuel to the fire, "Then show us! If you can't do it, you'll have to take the blame for failing to cure Lin Lao today!"
Ji Boxiao's eyes darted around, guessing Taoist Master Gongsun's intentions.
He also chimed in, "Ye, you talk big enough to shake the heavens. If you've got the ability, try calling a soul! Don't make a fool of yourself here!"
A trace of worry flashed in Han Ruoyun's eyes, and she reminded him, "Ye Tiance, why don't you forget it? They actually..."
Ye Tiance raised a hand to cut her off. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!"
With that, he stamped his right foot fiercely on the ground, formed hand seals with his left hand, and silently recited the incantation in his heart.
Taoist Master Gongsun said dismissively, "Heh, attempting to call souls directly without even setting up an altar—anyone can tell he knows nothing about it!"
Hearing this, Lin Jiaoyang and Ji Boxiao also let out cold laughs.
Both were waiting to see Ye Tiance make a fool of himself!
Right at that moment, Ye Tiance snapped his eyes open and gave a light shout: "Come!"
The very next second.
A chilling wind inexplicably swept through the sickroom!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The indoor temperature dropped by several degrees in an instant, making goosebumps break out all over everyone's skin!
This scene caused the expressions of everyone present to change drastically.
Taoist Master Gongsun couldn't help asking in astonishment, "What... what is happening?"
Ye Tiance smiled. "You'll know in a second!"
With a sharp snap, he clicked his fingers.
The moment Taoist Master Gongsun and Ji Boxiao heard the snap, their vision suddenly blurred.
Instinctively rubbing their eyes, they forced them open and looked up.
Their eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets!
Because right before their eyes, the brightly lit sickroom had turned pitch-dark and freezing cold, populated by numerous pale-faced vengeful spirits bleeding from all seven orifices!
These vengeful spirits slowly drifted toward them with their mouths agape, emitting various shrill and terrifying sounds from their horrible jaws:
"Come down and keep me company! I'm so freezing cold!"
"Return my life! Return my life!"
"Hand over your heart and liver, I want to suck your bone marrow dry, heh heh heh heh!"
"..."
How could Taoist Master Gongsun and Ji Boxiao have ever witnessed such a scene?
Terrified out of their wits, they immediately turned tail and fled in panic!
Ji Boxiao cried out to his mother, "Mommy! Don't kill me! Taoist Master Gongsun, didn't you say you know how to call souls? Hurry up and drive these things away!"
Taoist Master Gongsun was so panicked his voice cracked with a sob, "I don't know shit about calling souls! You actually believed my boasting—oh dear! This old man is scared to death!"
Ji Boxiao cursed furiously, "Fuck! You swindling old dog, I've been completely ruined by you!"
In fact, apart from the two of them, Lin Wanda and the rest did not see any of this!
Although they didn't know what Ji Boxiao and the other guy were seeing,
nor what Ye Tiance had actually done,
the conversation between those two fellows on the floor had already made it clear that this Taoist Master Gongsun didn't know the first thing about calling souls, and all his previous talk was pure nonsense!
Snap!
As Ye Tiance snapped his fingers once more, everything that Taoist Master Gongsun and Ji Boxiao had seen vanished completely.
Yet, due to excessive fright,
the two of them had long since collapsed onto the floor, trembling all over with terror in their eyes!
The crotches of their trousers had even wet through unheroically, reeking heavily of urine!
Where was any trace of their earlier holier-than-thou attitude?
At this moment, Lin Wanda's expression was exceptionally grim!
These two bastards not only put on a pretentious show, but they had also nearly killed the old master!
Unforgivable!
He snorted coldly, "Men, give these two things a beating, then throw them out. They are never allowed to step foot into the Lin family residence again!"
"Understood!"
Two bodyguards stepped forward and dragged Ji Boxiao and Taoist Master Gongsun out!
Following that, sounds of punches and kicks echoed from outside, accompanied by endless wailing.
Until finally, they were tossed out ignominiously...
After this brief interlude.
Lin Wanda's expression toward Ye Tiance shifted to one of genuine respect for the first time!
He cupped his fists and said, "It was my eyes that failed to recognize true talent earlier, and I showed discourtesy to Divine Doctor Ye. I beg you to step in and cure my father!"
To Lin Wanda's surprise,
Ye Tiance replied indifferently, "What if I refuse?"
Chapter 36: Divine Doctor Ye, I'm sorry!
Ye Tiance's retort caught everyone completely off guard!
What kind of status did Lin Wanda hold?
In Jiangnan City, a single word from him was practically no different from an imperial decree.
And yet his request had just been refused by Ye Tiance?
Lin Jiaoyang was the first to express her dissatisfaction, demanding, "You won't even listen to my father's words—do you have any idea what the consequences will be?"
Ye Tiance said with a look of utter indifference, "I don't care!"
"You..."
Lin Jiaoyang was so enraged she gnashed her teeth; she really wanted to walk over and slap Ye Tiance twice!
Seeing that the atmosphere was turning sour.
Han Ruoyun whispered a reminder to Ye Tiance, "I beg you, say less! Didn't you promise me you'd cure Grandpa Lin? Why are you refusing again? Hurry up and apologize to Uncle Lin!"
Ye Tiance calmly replied, "I haven't done anything wrong, why should I apologize?"
Han Ruoyun instantly felt the urge to cry without tears!
She thought to herself that this guy had offended a bunch of Jiangnan City bigwigs at the bidding chamber, and she had already thought that was bold enough!
She hadn't expected his behavior at the Lin household today to be even bolder!
Did he not know what fear was?
Or was he deliberately trying to play the hero in front of her?
Hopeless!
Thus, Han Ruoyun could only plead with Lin Wanda, "Uncle Lin, please... please don't take it to heart. Ye Tiance didn't mean it, he..."
Lin Wanda raised a hand to cut her off. "Yunyun, your uncle has no intention of taking offense. Let me exchange a few words with Divine Doctor Ye first!"
He looked at Ye Tiance and asked with a smile, "I wonder why Divine Doctor Ye made such a statement? If there are any conditions required for you to take action, please feel free to name them. No matter how troublesome, as long as Lin can manage it, I will do my utmost to resolve it!"
Ye Tiance narrowed his eyes slightly.
This Lin Wanda truly lived up to his reputation as a mayor; his state of mind was indeed seasoned and steady!
If it had been someone narrower-minded, based purely on his earlier attitude of refusal, the other party would have already flown into a rage!
Without hiding anything, Ye Tiance simply stated, "My condition is very simple, not troublesome at all."
As he spoke, he pointed straight at Lin Jiaoyang!
Her expression shifted, and she said with disgust, "You surnamed Ye, you wouldn't happen to be after me, would you? I advise you to dismiss that thought—a man like you is someone this young lady could never fancy!"
Ye Tiance rolled his eyes. "You misunderstood, I have no interest in a woman like you. I simply want you to apologize for your previous words and attitude toward me. That shouldn't be too difficult, right?"
Hearing this, Han Ruoyun secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Just moments before, she had actually thought Ye Tiance wanted to become the mayor's son-in-law.
As for asking Lin Jiaoyang to apologize, that was also understandable; after all, her prior attitude toward Ye Tiance had indeed been excessive!
However, this simple condition was coldly rejected by Lin Jiaoyang: "Hmph! Just who do you think you are, expecting me to apologize? Look at your own status—are you even worthy?"
Her attitude was arrogant and overbearing!
Ye Tiance said indifferently, "Since that's the case, forget it then. Farewell!"
"Divine Doctor Ye, please stay!"
Lin Wanda suddenly spoke up to block him.
Turning around, he commanded Lin Jiaoyang in a stern voice, "Still not going to apologize to Divine Doctor Ye?"
Lin Jiaoyang looked unconvinced. "Why should I apologize? Besides, what makes him a 'Divine Doctor'? Who knows if he was just putting on a pretense earlier!"
Slap!
Suddenly, Lin Wanda landed a fierce slap across Lin Jiaoyang's face!
The room fell instantly silent!
A cold gleam flickered in Lin Wanda's eyes as he said, "I told you to apologize to Divine Doctor Ye. Did you not understand my words?"
Lin Jiaoyang's body involuntarily trembled, her eyes widening in shock.
This was the first time Lin Wanda had ever raised a hand against her since she was born.
She had to know that previously, he had never even raised his voice at her!
And today, he had actually struck her in public for the sake of an outsider?
A wave of aggrieved tears instantly streamed down uncontrollably!
Of course, arrogant as she might be, she did not dare to talk back to her father while he was in a rage.
In the end, she could only bite her lip in resentment, clenching her fists tightly.
She muttered to Ye Tiance, "I... I'm sorry, please forgive me!"
Following that, Lin Wanda also said helplessly, "Divine Doctor Ye, my wife passed away early, and because I've been extremely busy with work, I may have been a bit too indulgent in raising my daughter, leading to her willful and overbearing temperament. Please don't take it to heart!"
Since Ye Tiance wasn't the type to push his luck,
he nodded and said, "Since Miss Lin has apologized, this matter ends here. I will proceed to treat Old Master Lin right away!"
A wave of joy washed over Lin Wanda's heart, and he hurriedly asked, "What do we need to prepare?"
Ye Tiance replied, "Sterilized silver needles, a washbasin, and a bottle of high-proof white liquor will do!"
Lin Wanda was momentarily stunned. "That... that's all?"
Ye Tiance nodded affirmatively.
Not finding it appropriate to press further with questions, Lin Wanda immediately instructed the servants to make the preparations at once!
Not far away, Wu Xingye frowned slightly.
With just these three items, could Ye Tiance really cure Elder Lin?
As for Lin Jiaoyang, she stood a short distance away, still staring at Ye Tiance with lingering resentment.
You swindler!
I want to see just how you plan to cure my grandfather. If you can't pull it off, I'll definitely make you pay the price for your behavior just now!
While waiting for the items to be prepared,
Han Ruoyun asked Ye Tiance out of curiosity, "Right, did you really use some soul-calling technique just now to scare Taoist Master Gongsun and the others like that?"