The same clothes she wore before, yet in the river, she looked like a drowned female ghost. Here, however, she appeared like a fairy from the heavens. Her messy hair had been combed into a neat style, and her face was lightly dusted with powder. Her willow-leaf brows had been carefully defined, making her look breathtakingly beautiful.
"Daughter, my daughter..." Huang Zhonghu rushed over in excitement, embracing Huang Yimeng, deeply moved.
"Dad, I’m sorry. You’ve worked so hard all these years, and I’ve only been a burden to you."
"I’m not afraid anymore. We must find the murderer who harmed Mother, won't we?"
"I’m sorry, Dad. I’ve made you worry all these years."
"Before Mother left, she told me that I must take good care of you because you work so hard."
Hearing these words, Huang Zhonghu’s composure faltered, and he nearly broke down in tears. "It’s wonderful, you’re really alright. Don’t worry, not a single one of those people who harmed your mother will get away."
Medicine King Sun’s female disciple, filled with excitement, could no longer contain herself: "This is just too magical. How on earth is this psychological therapy achieved? It’s like it’s fake."
"The young lady is truly beautiful," Medicine King Sun’s male disciple muttered, his eyes unable to look away.
Medicine King Sun suddenly felt ashamed. He had never imagined such profound medical skills existed in this world. At that moment, he became respectful, bowed before Chen Tian, and exclaimed, "It is truly miraculous. I was blinded by my own arrogance; please forgive me, Divine Doctor Chen."
Chen Tian hadn't expected the old man to be so sensible, so he let the matter slide and said with a smile, "It’s fine, as long as you don't forget our wager."
"This psychological therapy seems like something out of a legend. I have one last question: how did you actually do it, Divine Doctor Chen?" Medicine King Sun asked with a look of genuine inquiry.
Chen Tian smiled mysteriously. "After you arrived, you never asked why the young lady went mad, but I did!"
"..." Medicine King Sun looked as if he had been struck at his weakest point.
At this, Huang Zhonghu walked up to Medicine King Sun, his expression stern. "Medicine King Sun, if Divine Doctor Chen hadn't been here, my daughter would still be suffering because of your pills. You are a renowned Medicine King—surely you wouldn't go back on your own promise? If you do, you won't be leaving this place."
"This..."
***
**Chapter 22: Chen Xi is Kidnapped**
Regardless of whether he was willing or not, his one million had been firmly taken by Chen Tian. Huang Zhonghu had wanted to pay Chen Tian more for the treatment, but Chen Tian refused to take extra. This left Huang Zhonghu very satisfied. He really liked this young man.
After the transfer, Medicine King Sun had no face left to stay and slunk away with his disciples. Medicine King Sun was, after all, a famous doctor who had treated countless VIPs without a single error. Many powerful men loved women but lacked the physical stamina to keep up with their appetites, and Medicine King Sun’s "miracle drugs"—famed as the "Overlord’s Spear"—were highly sought after by the elite.
Huang Zhonghu had only invited Medicine King Sun after others recommended him. But when he finally reached out, the man had acted arrogant, claiming he was abroad and couldn't return. Now, it seemed highly likely that Medicine King Sun had done it on purpose. He waited until the daughter’s condition became severe, knowing that by then, he could gouge this powerful man for everything he was worth.
Thinking of this, Mayor Huang gripped Chen Tian’s hand with great gratitude. "Little Brother Chen Tian, the debt of gratitude I owe you is immense. I know nothing of medicine; if you hadn't been here tonight, I might have fallen right into Medicine King Sun’s trap."
Chen Tian nodded, feeling equally indignant. "Though Medicine King Sun has skills, he deliberately dragged out the timeline to make money. Charging tens of thousands for a single pill is truly heartless."
"Exactly. If it weren't for you, had I agreed to his treatment plan, I would have been bankrupt within three to five years," Huang Zhonghu said with a growl of anger. "He had better not cross my path again."
With that, Huang Zhonghu looked at Huang Yimeng with a smile and said softly, "Yimeng, it was this Divine Doctor Chen who saved you. Hurry and thank him!"
Chen Tian quickly waved his hand. "I’ve already been paid. Mayor Huang, there's no need for formalities. The young lady needs more rest."
"Very well, very well," Huang Zhonghu smiled.
"Then if there’s nothing else, I’ll head home. Mayor Huang, if the young lady has any issues, please contact me."
Hearing this, Mayor Huang suddenly remembered something and said with a smile, "When you saved my daughter yesterday, it was all too hurried. I brought your phone back for you." He handed Chen Tian his thousand-yuan smartphone. "By the way, someone called you—said they were a leader at the hospital. They called several times and seemed very anxious, so I answered for you."
"Oh?" Chen Tian frowned. A leader at the hospital? He hadn't been to the hospital in days!
Despite Huang Zhonghu’s repeated attempts to keep him for a meal, Chen Tian left the villa. He hadn't been home in several days. Now, carrying a bank card with 1.1 million in it, Chen Tian felt as if he were dreaming. This was his first pot of gold since acquiring the *Heavenly Divine Doctor Arts*! If he hadn't heard how high the fees were for Medicine King Sun, Chen Tian would never have imagined that saving lives could be so lucrative. The hospital fees were already heartless, but these "divine doctors" became overnight tycoons.
He was overjoyed—the *Heavenly Divine Doctor Arts* was absolutely a treasure vault! His mother and sister, Chen Xi, didn't know about all this money. The first thing Chen Tian wanted to do was take them out for a grand meal. As he rushed home, he suddenly remembered the hospital leader Huang Zhonghu mentioned and checked his phone. There were seven or eight missed calls. He thought about calling back, but decided against it—it was probably just a hospital shareholder or Divine Doctor Lin wanting him back to work. Chen Tian patted the bank card in his pocket; he had no interest in working anymore.
His home was far away, in the suburbs. It was an area that didn't look prosperous, crowded with densely packed houses. The buildings were irregular, the alleys full of twists and turns, appearing incredibly messy. In this old district, housing was very cheap.
Chen Tian got out of a taxi at the alley entrance and had to walk the rest of the way. When he arrived home, he found his door wide open. He didn't think much of it and rushed inside, feeling happy. But after searching every room, he couldn't find his mother or sister. He then noticed the room was in a state of chaos, with items scattered everywhere.
Chen Tian was shocked and quickly pulled out his phone to call. Inside the house, he heard the ringtones of his sister and mother’s phones. Panic setting in, he ran out to ask the neighbors. Just then, an older neighbor woman saw him and walked over.
"Auntie, where did my mother and sister go?" Chen Tian asked.
"Xiao Tian, hurry and call the police! Yesterday a group of people came and took your sister away. Your mother followed them. I don't know what happened to them!"
"What?" Chen Tian froze, his mind going blank.
"Sigh, some said you caused trouble at the hospital. We don't have the status, and we can't afford to provoke people from inside the Third Ring Road. You need to know your place in the future," the auntie warned with good intentions before walking away.
Chen Tian’s heart began to race. He suddenly remembered the missed calls on his phone! He dialed the number immediately. The call went through, and a familiar yet alien voice came through the receiver.
"Chen Tian?"
"Guo Dafu, I’ll fuck your mother! Was it you who took my sister and my mother?" Chen Tian was boiling with rage.
"Heh, heh. My mother is in her coffin, you can go see her. But as for your sister... I can make that happen," Guo Dafu sneered on the phone.
"You dare!" Chen Tian’s hair felt like it was standing on end.
"Why wouldn't I? But don't worry, I won't touch her for the moment. I tasted your sister when you weren't looking, but it felt like something was missing. Now that you know, I’m about to start. Hahaha!" Guo Dafu laughed coldly.
"You... you, don't do anything reckless! Let's talk this out!" Chen Tian panicked, his phone creaking under his grip.
Guo Dafu scoffed disdainfully, a muffled sound coming through his nose. "Nothing to talk about. I can spare your sister's life, but only if you come alone."
"Fine, I’m coming. This is between you and me; don't hurt my sister. I’ll be there right now!" Chen Tian roared.
"Not far from your house, the unfinished building on the outskirts!"
*Beep... beep... beep...*
Hanging up, Chen Tian rushed toward the location. He had no car, and there were no taxis here. Just then, he saw an electric scooter passing by; he lunged at it, pulled the person off, and roared away on the bike.
Inside the unfinished building, many people were hiding. These were the men Guo Dafu had hired to take Chen Tian’s life. Guo Dafu hadn't initially wanted Chen Tian dead—he’d hoped to force a confession and be done with it. But things had spiraled; first, the Su Family had stepped in to support him. He had thought Chen Tian would be abandoned by them and rot in prison. Instead, Chen Tian was completely fine, and Guo Dafu had seen with his own eyes that Chen Tian was remarkably skilled.
Guo Dafu could no longer stay calm. Because Chen Tian wasn't finished—he was becoming stronger. If he didn't crush him now, Chen Tian would eventually come to destroy him. Strike first to gain the advantage!
***
On the top floor of the unfinished building, Guo Dafu looked at his nephew, Guo Yingjie, with an apologetic expression. "My good nephew, I never thought the crackdown from above would implicate you. Don't worry, I’ll avenge you."
"Losing your job is fine. Fortunately, you greased Chief Wang's palms enough to keep your freedom. Later, I’ll find you a more lucrative position."
Guo Yingjie waved him off. "As long as Chen Tian comes, that’s enough. I can't vent my anger until this debt is settled. If Chief Wang hadn't been colluding with me for so long, I’d be in prison right now, not just fired."
"Fine. Kill Chen Tian first, then we can talk about the aftermath," Guo Dafu said, waving his hand.
Guo Yingjie said triumphantly, "I never expected Chen Tian’s sister to be so beautiful. She doesn't look like him at all—looks more like a person of mixed race. Truly strange."
"That’s for sure. If you like her, I’ll toss her to you to play with later," Guo Dafu said.
Guo Yingjie looked around and lowered his voice. "Uncle, these people are the Dragon King’s men. You must prepare enough money, or you’ll burn yourself."
"I know, don't worry. I don't even care about that kind of money. It’s just a million, can't it wipe out Chen Tian?" Guo Dafu replied.
"Alright, Uncle, I’m leaving." Guo Yingjie thought Chen Tian would be arriving soon, so he quickly left the building. This was Guo Dafu’s plan; there was no need for him to show his face. Besides, Guo Dafu didn't know that Chen Tian had been picked up by Mayor Huang Zhonghu. But Yingjie knew, so if something went wrong, he needed to protect himself.
Just as he descended the building, he saw Chen Tian arriving on the electric scooter. His mouth twitched, and he quickly slipped away from the back.
***
**Chapter 23: I Want Both Mother and Daughter**
Guo Yingjie wanted to see Chen Tian die, of course, but he had to keep his wits about him. He hated Chen Tian; his inner rage remained unvented. It was fine if Guo Dafu took the risk to kill Chen Tian and clear his grudge. Even if something went wrong, it would be Guo Dafu’s problem—what did it have to do with him?
Watching Chen Tian stop the scooter, another man walked toward the building’s entrance. He was one of the Dragon King’s men, a professional killer. The underworld called him Brother Snake, because from head to toe, he was covered in cobra tattoos.
After Guo Yingjie left, he approached Guo Dafu and said with disdain, "Isn't this like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken? You hired us for such a weakling?"
"If it weren't for Captain Guo’s favor, we wouldn't have come at all."
Guo Dafu quickly explained politely, "Brother Snake, isn't this just to ensure there are no mishaps? This kid used to be a weakling, but in prison, he managed to tame many madmen. I dare not underestimate him."
"Heh, are you scared? Since he’s a weakling, we don't need to be on guard." Brother Snake asked, tilting his head, "What about that woman inside? We aren't killing her?"
Guo Dafu’s mouth twitched, and he gave a dry laugh without answering. Chen Tian’s sister definitely had to be dealt with, but they didn't need to do the dirty work. Since they were the Dragon King’s men, their fees were sky-high; paying a million to kill Chen Tian was already painful enough. He couldn't afford to pay to kill another person!
"I can do it for free," Brother Snake suddenly said.
Guo Dafu was confused. "Brother Snake, what... what do you mean?"
"Have you ever killed someone?" Brother Snake asked impatiently.
Guo Dafu shook his head.
"Exactly. So we’ll help you, on the condition that you hand her over to me, so the brothers can relax a bit." Brother Snake continued, "Don't worry, cutting weeds and pulling up roots—I understand. I won't leave a trace."
Guo Dafu felt a pang of reluctance. Chen Xi was beautiful, and he liked her quite a bit. If not for his schemes, he wouldn't have fallen this far. He was furious that he hadn't even touched her yet and now had to give her to these men. But he dared not defy Brother Snake.
"Brother Snake, of course that’s no problem. After dealing with Chen Tian, could you give me a few minutes?" Guo Dafu asked.
Brother Snake laughed dismissively. "Old man, take care of your health. Since you’re the employer, I’ll grant you that favor."
"Good, good, thank you, Brother Snake." Guo Dafu was satisfied.
With those words, Brother Snake signaled his dozen or so brothers to come out. There was no need for an ambush; he didn't think much of Chen Tian at all. He was just an ordinary, unremarkable, bookish weakling; one brother would be enough to handle him.
At that moment, Chen Tian ran to the roof, panting heavily. This was the thirteenth floor.
"Guo Dafu, I’m here! Release my sister now!" Chen Tian glared at Guo Dafu, still gasping for air.
Guo Dafu laughed heartily. "You actually dared to come! Who gave you the courage, a nobody like you, to act so arrogant?"
"It wouldn't happen to be Liang Jingru, would it?"
Hearing this, Brother Snake’s men roared with laughter. Chen Tian’s expression remained cold.
"Hmph, you were just lucky in prison. Today, you will definitely die!" Guo Dafu said with a cruel grin.
Chen Tian frowned. "You were the one orchestrating all this from the shadows?" Thinking of his time in prison, his fists tightened until they cracked. "Where is my sister? Release her."
Chen Tian had no time for his games and roared, his voice filled with a frigid chill.
"Sorry, I lied. I’m not releasing your sister. And what’s more, your mother is actually in our hands too," Guo Dafu said, shrugging.
"Guo Dafu, don't force my hand! You are courting death!" Chen Tian’s gaze darkened, his teeth bared.
"Hahaha, hahahaha!" Guo Dafu laughed maniacally, pointing at Chen Tian. "Did you hear that? Such a tone, acting like he’s tougher than the Dragon King himself?"
Brother Snake studied Chen Tian carefully and shook his head. "No good. Your anger isn't enough yet. I love watching people get furious while being utterly powerless."
Guo Dafu crossed his arms. "Brother Snake, enjoy yourself!"
Brother Snake nodded and waved his hand. His brothers stepped forward, surrounding Chen Tian. Guo Dafu looked at Brother Snake and asked, "Brother Snake, I wonder if you have any interest in older women?"
"What do you mean?" Brother Snake was puzzled.
"Originally, I didn't plan to catch Chen Tian’s mother, as she doesn't know what’s happened and certainly wouldn't know her son’s death is linked to me. But for safety’s sake, I caught her too. She’s locked up in another place," Guo Dafu explained.
"And then?" Brother Snake asked with a playful look.