Shangguan Ling'er glanced at Old Doctor Wu and Zhong Hao, humming in her heart. She thought they were getting what they deserved, why didn't they believe her earlier?
Then, her eyes lit up as she looked at Lin Chen. Such an outstanding man, and Qin Wanru had abandoned him for some rich young master. How foolish!
Just then, Lin Chen let out a low cry and raised his right hand.
Seven silver needles of varying lengths immediately detached from Shangguan Xiong's body, falling into the rosewood box with soft clinks.
The next moment.
Lin Chen lunged forward, placing his right palm on Shangguan Xiong's head and injecting a steady stream of spiritual energy.
"Ah!"
Shangguan Xiong couldn't help but cry out. He clearly felt something stirring and wriggling within his body.
Lin Chen's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he began chanting the "Vajra Divine Mantra."
Less than a minute later.
Shangguan Xiong's mouth opened wide with a "wah," and a strange golden insect flew out.
"Golden Winged Silkworm Gu!"
Lin Chen lunged forward, swiftly and accurately grabbing the "Golden Winged Silkworm Gu." Without any delay, he immediately destroyed it using a secret technique taught by his master.
Seeing this, Shangguan Ling'er, Old Doctor Wu, and Zhong Hao, who were standing by the door, were all stunned.
Although they already knew Shangguan Xiong had been poisoned by a Gu, witnessing the "Golden Winged Silkworm Gu" fly out of his body was another matter entirely.
"Old sir, put on your clothes. The Gu poison has been removed, and you are out of danger."
Shangguan Xiong nodded vigorously, put on his clothes, walked up to Lin Chen, and bowed respectfully, "Divine Doctor Lin, thank you. If it weren't for you, this old man would not have passed this hurdle."
Lin Chen waved his hand, "Healing people is a doctor's duty. If you want to thank someone, thank your granddaughter for inviting me."
Shangguan Xiong beckoned to Shangguan Ling'er.
Shangguan Ling'er ran over obediently and said with a sweet smile, "Grandpa, your complexion is much better than before."
"Ling'er! I owe you a lot this time. Tell me, what reward do you want? Grandpa will agree to anything, ha ha!"
"Grandpa, I want the stars in the sky, can I?" Shangguan Ling'er asked with a mischievous wink.
"Uh! This..."
Shangguan Xiong was speechless, half-amused, half-annoyed.
At this moment, Old Doctor Wu seemed to have made a momentous decision. He strode forward and knelt at Lin Chen's feet with a thud, kowtowing three times. "Divine Doctor Lin, I was blind and offended you earlier. Please forgive me. Your medical skills are earth-shattering and god-like. I wish to become your disciple. Please accept me."
Zhong Hao was once again dumbfounded. Damn it, this was a renowned divine doctor in the capital, a guest of countless influential figures, and now he was kneeling at Lin Chen's feet wanting to become a disciple. Even seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn't believe it for a moment.
Shangguan Xiong and Shangguan Ling'er were also shocked, but as it was Lin Chen's personal matter, they didn't say much.
Lin Chen looked at Old Doctor Wu for a moment, then said lightly, "Get up. I won't hold what happened earlier against you, but the Dao cannot be easily passed on. I will not take you as a disciple."
Upon hearing this, Old Doctor Wu's body trembled. He wanted to say more, but upon meeting Lin Chen's gaze, he swallowed his words.
"Alas! Alas! I was foolishly dreaming of becoming a disciple of a master with ancient medical skills. I am not worthy!"
Old Doctor Wu rose with difficulty, his eyes vacant, as if he had lost his soul, and walked forward.
Seeing that Lin Chen wouldn't even give Old Doctor Wu face, Zhong Hao became terrified and turned to slip away unnoticed.
"Stop!"
Zhong Hao's body stiffened, and he turned to look at Lin Chen, forcing a smile. "Divine Doctor Lin, do you... do you need anything else?"
Lin Chen's lips curled slightly, and he said calmly, "Weren't you just calling me a liar? Why have you changed your tune now?"
Zhong Hao's face changed several times. He took a deep breath. "Divine Doctor Lin, don't go too far."
"You said if I cured Old Master Shangguan's strange illness, you would walk on your head for me. A man of honor must keep his word. That is what you owe me."
Zhong Hao gritted his teeth, glared at Lin Chen, and shouted, "Lin, don't think you're so great just because you cured Grandpa Shangguan's illness. My Zhong family is not to be trifled with in this Hangcheng. Don't push your luck. Think carefully about the consequences of doing this."
Shangguan Xiong was furious and was about to speak, but Shangguan Ling'er tugged his sleeve to stop him.
Ultimately, this was a personal matter between Lin Chen and Zhong Hao. It was best for Lin Chen to handle it himself.
"Pushing my luck?"
Lin Chen sneered and slowly walked forward. "If I couldn't cure Old Master Shangguan's strange illness today, would you have let me go?"
Hearing this question, Zhong Hao's face changed drastically. He wanted to say "yes," but the words wouldn't come out.
His strong pride wouldn't allow it. He had already decided that if Lin Chen couldn't cure Shangguan Xiong's illness, he would torment him in the most cruel way.
"I am a person who distinguishes between kindness and enmity. If others respect me a foot, I will repay them a yard. What you owe me must be repaid."
Zhong Hao's eyes widened, and he shouted, "You're dreaming! I won't repay it. See what you can do to me!"
Lin Chen smiled sinisterly and said faintly, "I didn't introduce myself earlier. I not only know how to dissolve Gu, but I also know how to cast it. Anyone who is infected by my Gu cannot be cured. They will suffer immense pain, bleed from their orifices, and die."
"Ah!"
Zhong Hao cried out in terror. Meeting Lin Chen's icy gaze, he involuntarily retreated a few steps before stabilizing himself. "Lin, are you threatening me?"
"Whether it's a threat or not, you can try."
Zhong Hao gritted his teeth and fell silent. Although he believed Lin Chen wouldn't dare to do it, he couldn't risk his own life.
Thinking of the "Golden Winged Silkworm Gu" that had flown out of Shangguan Xiong's body earlier, he was filled with dread.
The more he thought about it, the more guilty he felt. Zhong Hao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He decided to repay what he owed Lin Chen and then find a way to take revenge.
"Lin, you're ruthless."
Zhong Hao shouted at Lin Chen, then inverted himself and began to painfully walk on his head with great difficulty.
Watching this, Shangguan Ling'er felt a sense of satisfaction. This Zhong Hao was like a persistent fly, always pestering her, and she couldn't shake him off. Now that he was being punished, it was self-inflicted and he deserved no sympathy.
Shangguan Xiong knew Zhong Hao's character. After this incident, he would never let it go. He was a little worried. The Zhong family's strength was not much weaker than the Shangguan family. Retaliation against Lin Chen in the future would be very troublesome.
Two minutes later.
Zhong Hao's head was already bleeding. He struggled to stand up and stared at Lin Chen, asking word by word, "I've repaid what I owe you. Can I leave now?"
"Please do."
Zhong Hao gave Lin Chen a murderous glare, turned, and left.
"Divine Doctor Lin, Zhong Hao is a vindictive scoundrel. You have made a great enemy of him today. You must be careful in the future." Shangguan Xiong reminded him kindly.
Lin Chen waved his hand, "It's fine. We'll deal with things as they come."
Shangguan Ling'er watched, her eyes suddenly brightening. Thinking of something, two blushes quickly appeared on her pretty face.
Shangguan Xiong saw all this. He called the butler and ordered him to have the chef prepare a sumptuous breakfast. He wanted to thank Lin Chen, his savior.
"Divine Doctor Lin, I don't have many hobbies, I just like drinking tea. I've collected quite a bit of good tea over the years. Please join me for tea in the garden pavilion."
"Alright."
An hour later.
Shangguan Xiong, Shangguan Ling'er, and Lin Chen sat around a round table laden with various delicious dishes.
"Divine Doctor Lin, come, I'll toast you. Thank you for saving my life."
Lin Chen raised his cup, clinked it with Shangguan Xiong's, and drank it down.
"Divine Doctor Lin, you have a good capacity for alcohol. Come, eat, let's eat and chat."
"Mhm."
After some eating and drinking.
Shangguan Xiong took out a card and a key and handed them to Lin Chen. He smiled, "Divine Doctor Lin, there are fifty million in the card, and the key is to my villa in 'Shanshui Jiayuan.' This is my token of appreciation. Please accept it no matter what, otherwise, I will feel uneasy."
Lin Chen was slightly taken aback, then accepted it without a word. He had saved Shangguan Xiong's life, and there was nothing wrong with accepting these precious gifts.
"Divine Doctor Lin is truly straightforward. Come, I'll toast you again." Shangguan Xiong laughed heartily. If Lin Chen had been overly polite and then accepted, he wouldn't have said anything, but he would have had reservations.
"Old sir, you are also a man of character, and you suit my temperament. Ha ha!"
"..."
After lunch.
Lin Chen left. He wanted to take his elderly mother to the villa on the mountaintop to enjoy herself and recuperate.
Shangguan Xiong and his beloved granddaughter Shangguan Ling'er were drinking tea in the living room.
"Grandpa, I just received a call from Dad. He's on his way back."
"Tell him later to call me. My illness is cured, so there's no need to rush back. Handle your business abroad and then return."
"Okay, Grandpa."
After a while of drinking tea.
Shangguan Ling'er thought of something and looked at Shangguan Xiong. "Grandpa, there's something I'd like to ask, I don't know if I should."
Shangguan Xiong smiled slightly and gently flicked Shangguan Ling'er's nose. "You are Grandpa's little warm cotton-padded jacket, and you saved Grandpa's life again this time. What can't you ask? Ask away!"
"Grandpa, Divine Doctor Lin saved your life, and you gave him fifty million as thanks. I understand that, but the villa on Yunwu Mountain is your favorite. Why did you also give it to Divine Doctor Lin?"
Shangguan Xiong laughed heartily, patted Shangguan Ling'er's shoulder, and said earnestly, "Ling'er, although you are naturally intelligent, you are still too young and haven't thought deeply enough. First, Divine Doctor Lin is a rare individual with ancient medical skills. Building a good relationship with him is like gaining an extra life. Second, although my Gu poison has been resolved, the person who poisoned me has not been found. I will definitely need Divine Doctor Lin's help then."
After listening, Shangguan Ling'er was stunned for a full two minutes before recovering and sighing with emotion, "The older the ginger, the spicier it is!"
This flattery pleased Shangguan Xiong greatly, and his laughter could be heard far away.
"Ling'er, I see you have a good impression of Divine Doctor Lin. You should interact more with him in the future. If you two get together, Grandpa will wholeheartedly approve."
Shangguan Ling'er never expected her grandfather to say that. Her face immediately turned crimson. She got up, gave him a glare, and pouted, "Grandpa, you're disrespectful in your old age. I'm not talking to you anymore..."