Zhao Linger begged for mercy faster than a rabbit, her face a mask of snot and tears; she was mere inches away from kowtowing to Su Hao.
"Uncle Su, she’s just a young girl, she doesn't know any better. Please, give her a chance to turn over a new leaf," Feng Zhongyi said, stepping forward cautiously to put in a good word for her.
Su Hao had only intended to teach Zhao Linger a small lesson; now that Feng Zhongyi had provided him with a way to step down, he naturally wasn't going to remain rigid. He flicked his finger, and the silver needles drifted back to him of their own accord—a display of technique so mystical it stunned everyone watching.
"Manipulating needles through the air? That’s the kind of stuff you only see in ancient medical texts!"
"Bullshit, that’s clearly a magic trick. I don’t buy it."
"Do you think these people are just staging a performance? Probably just doing it for clicks and clout."
"The Zhao family is a multi-billion dollar conglomerate; why would they resort to such nonsense? Is your brain broken?"
Amidst the cacophony of voices, Zhao Linger had already returned to normal, but the miserable, disheveled state she had been in was there for all to see.
"What are you laughing at? If anyone dares to breathe a word of what happened today, I’ll kill you!" Zhao Linger glared at a bystander who was trying to suppress a laugh, issuing a sharp threat. She had never been so humiliated in her life, and to be shamed by a man she looked down upon—the mixture of rage, humiliation, and grievance was almost too much to bear.
"Instead of wasting time talking, you’d be better off figuring out how to finish those five bowls of large intestines," Su Hao said out of the blue, making Zhao Linger’s face turn green.
"I’ll eat them! See if I care!" Zhao Linger retorted, her pride holding firm even as she suppressed her nausea, picking up her chopsticks and stuffing the intestines into her mouth. To her surprise, they were actually quite delicious.
"Who would have thought that such dirty things could taste this good? It’s unbelievable."
Seeing Zhao Linger eating bite after bite, Zhao Chenggong breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that she would vomit or throw a tantrum, angering Su Hao once again. Fortunately, the shop owner’s cooking had saved her from disaster. Even so, finishing five bowls was a tall order. After the meal, while Su Hao was in the restroom, Zhao Chenggong helped her out, dragging the owner and the staff into the fray to polish off the rest.
By the time Su Hao returned, the dishes were spotless, save for a few scraps of grease. He saw right through the ruse, but chose not to call it out, opting to turn a blind eye as he got into the car to follow Zhao Chenggong to the Zhao residence.
At this moment, the Zhao family had already gathered. They had received word that Zhao Chenggong had invited a world-class miracle doctor to treat his wife, and everyone had been ordered to attend to pay their respects and commit the doctor’s face to memory, lest they accidentally offend him in the future.
"The old lady’s illness is incurable; we’ve all seen it for years. Why does the family head have to go through all this trouble?"
"Don’t say that. As long as there’s hope, you have to try. It’s like treating a dead horse as if it were still alive."
"This doctor is extraordinary. Our family head paid a full 400 million in consultation fees just to convince him to come."
The crowd buzzed with gossip; the atmosphere felt less like a prestigious family gathering and more like a rowdy farmers' market.
*Screech!*
As the car brakes squealed, everyone fell silent. Under the gaze of the crowd, Zhao Chenggong invited Su Hao and Feng Zhongyi out of the car, introducing them to his relatives. The reaction was immediate—everyone felt their heads spinning. A youth in his early twenties was the miracle doctor Zhao Chenggong had spoken of? It was too preposterous.
Although they were bursting with questions, they dared not offend Zhao Chenggong, so they put on forced smiles to welcome the guests. Only Zhao Tai remained cold and indifferent, not moving an inch.
"What are you doing? Greet Mr. Su!" Zhao Chenggong noticed the display and shot him a warning look. Zhao Tai acted as if he hadn’t heard him, standing there like a statue.
"My apologies, Mr. Su. My grandson is just too difficult to manage..."
"It’s fine. I’ll discipline him for you."
Su Hao waved his hand and, to the gasps of the crowd, kicked Zhao Tai to the ground.
***
Chapter 34: Maggots inside the Lady of the Zhao Family?
Su Hao had been annoyed with Zhao Tai for a while now. The kid had sabotaged the collaboration between Shangxue Company and President Wu, and meddled in the affairs between Dazzling Group and Shangxue Company, leaving Xue Rou and Shen Yue worried sick for the better part of the day. Today, here he was to treat Zhao Tai’s grandmother, and this punk still had the nerve to put on airs. If he didn't teach him a lesson, the kid would start thinking he was untouchable.
"Su Hao, how dare you lay a hand on me? I'll kill you!" Zhao Tai gritted his teeth and threw a punch. Between losing face at the Xue family this morning and now at his own home, his rage had reached a boiling point.
*Slap!*
Su Hao backhanded him, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"Zhao Tai, don't think I’ll tolerate you just because you’re a young master of the Zhao family. I simply don't find you worth the effort of competing with, but that doesn't mean I’ll stand by while you target the people around me. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson on your grandfather’s behalf: to forge iron, one must be strong oneself. Without actual ability, no matter how powerful your background is, you’re nothing but a blank sheet of paper."
Su Hao glanced at Zhao Chenggong and asked calmly, "Do you agree with this principle?"
"Mr. Su is absolutely right. Thank you for teaching my grandson." Zhao Chenggong didn't feel like Su Hao was slapping his face; on the contrary, he felt immense gratitude. He had always wanted Zhao Tai to understand the rules of the world, but out of guilt for the past, he had never been able to be truly harsh with him. Having Su Hao do it for him was the best possible outcome.
"Take me to the patient."
Su Hao stood with his hands behind his back, exuding authority. Zhao Chenggong didn't hesitate, leading Su Hao and Feng Zhongyi to his wife’s bedroom.
Lying on the bed was an elderly woman with a sallow complexion; her flesh was withered, and her sunken eye sockets were chilling to behold. Nearby, two doctors were checking the equipment and recording the patient’s vitals. Zhao Chenggong’s eyes were red as he introduced her: "Mr. Su, this is my wife, Chunli. I leave her in your hands."
Su Hao gave a slight nod. He first checked her pulse, then listened to her heartbeat, and finally closed his eyes for five seconds before reaching a verdict.
"So that's it."
"Uncle Su," Feng Zhongyi asked curiously, "what is the Lady of the Zhao family suffering from?"
"I'll tell you later." Su Hao kept him in suspense, then raised a hand. "Bring me a knife!"
The female doctor hesitated, unsure whether to follow Su Hao’s order.
"What are you standing there for? Get Mr. Su a knife!" Zhao Chenggong barked, his face stern. The doctor was just an employee doing her job; she didn't dare defy the boss.
Su Hao took the knife and made a clean incision into Chunli’s abdomen. The sight shocked everyone present.
"What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"
"He’s a murderer! Stop him! He’s trying to kill the old lady!"
"Damn it, you beat up Zhao Tai and now you’re trying to kill the old lady? You’re pushing your luck!"
People began to rush forward to pull Su Hao away.
"Shut up, all of you!" Zhao Chenggong blocked their path, his voice roaring with authority. "No matter what Mr. Su is doing, he is the only one who can treat her. No one is to interfere, or don't blame me for what happens next."
Despite his words, Zhao Chenggong was burning with anxiety, terrified that Su Hao might accidentally kill his wife. But the arrow was on the string; there was no turning back now, and he had no choice but to trust Su Hao.
*Splish!*
As Su Hao’s knife went deeper, there was a visible movement inside Chunli’s stomach, followed by a splash of blood. One person noticed something and blurted out in horror, "There are maggots inside the old lady!"
As soon as he said it, everyone looked closer. Sure enough, there were maggots wriggling inside.
"Dr. Feng, what is this?" Zhao Chenggong asked, forcing himself to suppress his shock.
"An evil parasitic insect. It looks like a maggot, but it’s actually a cursed creature!" Feng Zhongyi took a deep breath. "These insects are incredibly malicious. They drain a person’s life force until they wither away. Standard medical equipment can’t detect them because they merge completely with the flesh. Even if one knows they exist, most doctors can’t treat it because they can't locate them in the body. Only a master of Traditional Chinese Medicine like Uncle Su can find them with such precision."
The Zhao family members looked at Su Hao with newfound respect, all traces of contempt vanishing. Zhao Chenggong was equally impressed. In under five minutes, Su Hao had diagnosed the cause and effect; his medical skills were truly profound.
"Feng Zhongyi, which acupuncture techniques has Senior Brother Baili taught you?" Su Hao asked while taking out his silver needles.
"Uncle Su," Feng Zhongyi said awkwardly, "Master knows too much; I haven't been able to learn it all. I’ve only mastered the basics. The only one I can perform is the Thunder-Fire Divine Needle. But even then, I only know the Thunder Needle, which uses electric shocks to create the 'thunder' effect. The Fire Needle is hard to control; if you aren't careful, you could burn the patient to death."
Su Hao smiled faintly. "The Fire Needle requires sufficient Internal Force to command the inner flame. At your age, to cultivate enough Internal Force, you’d probably have to go into seclusion for five years."
"Indeed. Whether I’ll live that long is a question in itself," Feng Zhongyi sighed.
"Your merit is decent enough; you’ll live past a hundred no problem. But seclusion is hard. I’ll teach you a method to supplement your lack of Internal Force." Su Hao inserted a silver needle into his own acupoint to demonstrate. "This is an internal point. You need to needle the intersection of three points for it to manifest. After insertion, it will boost your Internal Force for about five minutes—long enough for you to control the Fire Needle. But remember, you must stop at the four-minute mark. If you can't finish, stop immediately to avoid irreparable damage."
"Thank you, Uncle Su!" Feng Zhongyi was ecstatic, as if he had received a priceless treasure.
***
Chapter 35: Harm Others, Harm Yourself
In under three minutes, Chunli’s sallow face began to improve at a visible rate. Her pale lips regained their color, and her breathing steadied significantly. Su Hao retrieved the needles, sterilized them, and put them away.
"The evil insects are dead. She’ll wake up in an hour at most."
"Mr. Su, is that really true?!" Zhao Chenggong’s eyes were red, his excitement boundless.
"Let’s wait together and see."
Su Hao didn't feel the need to say more; the results would speak for themselves.
"Yes, yes, of course! Someone, bring the best tea!" Zhao Chenggong pushed down his excitement, asked the doctor to look after his wife, and invited Su Hao and Feng Zhongyi to the parlor to rest.
"Mr. Su, if I may ask, an 'evil insect' sounds like an omen. How did it end up in my wife’s body?"
"Two possibilities: either it was the work of your enemies, or there’s a traitor in your house," Su Hao said bluntly. "These insects have to be artificially raised; they don't grow in the wild."
A sharp glint flashed in Zhao Chenggong’s eyes. He had suspected as much, but hearing the confirmation from Su Hao still made him furious.
"Be more vigilant during this time. Once I finish curing your wife, the mastermind is likely to strike again." Zhao Chenggong nodded and bowed to Su Hao. "Thank you for the warning, Mr. Su. I will tighten security."
Su Hao nodded, not pressing the topic further. As he walked through the house with Zhao Chenggong, he noticed several elite martial artists, some even at the rank of Grandmaster—the Zhao family’s strength was not to be underestimated.
"Grandfather, how is Grandmother doing?" Zhao Tai walked over, his face swollen on one side, his eyes filled with hostility toward Su Hao.
"Mr. Su has already cured her. She’ll wake up in about fifty minutes," Zhao Chenggong said, his mood quite good.
"Is that so?" Zhao Tai’s expression softened slightly, then hardened again. "Su Hao, you’d better make sure she’s actually cured, or I’ll risk my life to make you pay."
Zhao Linger, who had changed into new clothes, stood by without a word, but her expression matched Zhao Tai’s.
"Stop bickering with Mr. Su! Go get an ice pack for that face; you’re a disgrace." Zhao Chenggong scolded Zhao Tai, though he was really worried about him angering Su Hao and was also concerned about his injuries. Zhao Tai was dull, but he wasn't stupid; he knew what his grandfather was thinking and held his tongue.
"Sir, the invitation from the Shi family has arrived," the butler reported. Zhao Chenggong took the invitation, glanced at it, and handed it to Zhao Tai. "Tomorrow is the Shi family patriarch’s birthday. The elite will be there; the Zhao family must maintain proper etiquette. Go prepare."
He then turned to Zhao Linger. "Go see if the tea is ready and bring it for Mr. Su."
"Oh..."
Zhao Linger went to the tea room, looking reluctant. As she prepared to bring the tea out, a wicked idea crossed her mind. *Since you made me lose face, I’ll make you lose face too.* She took a packet of powder from a cabinet and dumped it all into the cup. "Have a nice, explosive time," she smirked, setting the cup down and bringing it to the parlor.
"Grandfather, the tea is here." She smiled. "Mr. Su, Elder Feng, this is Mother-Tree Da Hong Pao. The flavor is excellent."
Zhao Chenggong laughed heartily, motioning for her to serve the tea. Su Hao caught the scent instantly; he knew the tea in front of him had been tampered with.
"Mr. Su, drink it while it’s hot; it won't taste as good if it gets cold," Zhao Linger urged. Her urgency only confirmed Su Hao’s suspicions.
"I prefer drinking tea once it’s cooled down. Let's wait a bit," Su Hao said, redirecting the conversation. "By the way, how does the Shi family rank in Jinling?"
"They are a top-tier powerhouse, even stronger than the Zhao family," Zhao Chenggong boasted. "The Old Master Shi is the former commander of the Northern War Department. Though he’s retired, his status is immense. There will be many important figures at his eightieth birthday celebration."
"I see," Su Hao nodded slightly. He released a bit of Internal Force, causing a book nearby to fall. As everyone’s attention was drawn to the noise, he swiftly swapped his tea cup with Zhao Linger’s. The movement was so fluid that no one noticed.
After chatting for another half hour, Su Hao finished his tea. Zhao Linger, seeing this, was overjoyed and took a happy sip of her own tea to celebrate.
"It’s about time; the Lady of the Zhao family should be waking up." Su Hao checked his watch. No sooner had he finished speaking than the butler’s excited voice echoed from the stairs. "Sir, come quickly! The Old Mistress, she... she..."
Perhaps too excited, the butler couldn't get the word "woke up" out. Zhao Chenggong didn't need to be told twice; he rushed upstairs. Zhao Linger followed, but suddenly felt a strange discomfort in her stomach and had to dash toward the restroom instead.
"You're a bit too young to play games with me," Su Hao thought, watching her back with a smirk.
Five minutes later, Zhao Chenggong returned to the parlor with misty eyes. "Mr. Su, I will always be indebted to you for this great kindness." He pulled out a check. "This is an additional 500 million for your trouble."
Feng Zhongyi gasped. Five hundred million just as a tip? That was extravagant! Su Hao knew that because his grandchildren had repeatedly opposed him, Zhao Chenggong was trying to use money to smooth things over.
"I’ll accept the money, but you must teach your family well. If there is a next time, I won't be so merciful."
"Don't worry, Mr. Su. I will ensure they learn from your example," Zhao Chenggong promised.
"I’m going to stay with my wife now, so I won't keep you two," Zhao Chenggong said. Feng Zhongyi had seen enough and didn't want to overstay his welcome.
Before heading out, Su Hao dropped a parting line: "Mr. Zhao, tell your granddaughter: those who try to harm others only end up harming themselves."
With that, he and Feng Zhongyi left. Zhao Chenggong stood there, completely confused, not understanding what Su Hao meant. It wasn't until Zhao Linger came limping back, clutching her stomach, her legs trembling, that he began to piece it together.
"Damn it! That bastard Su Hao swapped the cups when I wasn't looking! Damn him!"
Zhao Chenggong gave her a strange look. "Linger, did you put something in the tea?"
Zhao Linger, letting out a series of foul-smelling farts, tearfully confessed. Zhao Chenggong pinched his nose, speechless.
"No wonder Mr. Su said you reap what you sow. You brought this on yourself."
"I..."
Before she could argue, her stomach let out a thunderous rumble, as if a war was being fought inside.
"It’s coming again!"
Clenching her teeth, she sprinted toward the restroom as fast as she could. Even through the door, Zhao Chenggong could hear the thunderous sound of a total intestinal catastrophe.