Volume One, Chapter 3: Not Poisoned

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The Bai family’s residence occupied an enormous area, at least ten times larger than the Tan family’s villa. It was a true grand estate.

Its architecture was classical and imposing, with every detail radiating the authority of a powerful clan.

Xu Qing and Bai Yulan passed through a large courtyard filled with potted plants, then crossed an artificial lake before finally reaching the living room.

“Miss, you’re back.” The maid hurried over to greet Bai Yulan.

“Mm.”

Bai Yulan nodded and asked, “How is my grandfather?”

Before the maid could answer, a sharply dressed young man approached with a strange-looking old man and a young girl.

The young man sized up Xu Qing before turning to Bai Yulan. “Yulan, who is this?”

Bai Yulan introduced them. “This is Divine Physician Xu, Brother Xu. And this is my cousin, Bai Yutang.”

Xu Qing gave Bai Yutang an indifferent glance and nodded.

“Divine Physician Xu?”

Bai Yutang looked at Bai Yulan and sneered. “Yulan, you invited someone this young to treat Grandfather? That decision seems rather childish.”

Bai Yulan frowned slightly. “Brother, Divine Physician Xu is truly remarkable. He cured my strange illness three years ago.”

Bai Yutang gave a derisive laugh. “Yulan, treating Grandfather requires a genuine miracle doctor, not a fraud.”

Bai Yulan’s expression immediately darkened. “Brother, you may refuse to believe me, but you have no right to disrespect my friend!”

“Respect?” Bai Yutang snorted. “That depends on who we’re talking about. In my entire life, I have respected only those with genuine knowledge and ability. A fraud like him is not worthy of my respect.”

With that, he pointed proudly toward the old man beside him. “This is Divine Physician Zhu Qingshan of Western River, along with his granddaughter, Zhu Xiaoshu. They are the true miracle doctors whom I respect.”

Xu Qing looked over. The pair, one old and one young, did indeed look like grandfather and granddaughter.

Their attire, however, was somewhat unusual.

The old man was over sixty and wore a long blue-green robe. A pair of reading glasses rested on his nose, and a long white beard hung from his chin. His eyes were bright and his bearing vigorous; he was clearly a highly accomplished martial artist.

The girl beside him appeared to be eighteen or nineteen. She wore a loose student uniform and had short hair with straight bangs brushing her ears. Her eyes were bright, her teeth pearly white, and her entire person emanated a cold, striking beauty with an almost archaic air.

Xu Qing found himself looking at her several times.

Bai Yulan was already a peerless beauty, yet the girl’s looks were in no way inferior to hers.

Moreover, compared with Bai Yulan, the capable businesswoman, the girl’s gaze was even sharper and her manner even prouder. She seemed particularly difficult to approach.

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When Xu Qing sensed fluctuations of inner force from the grandfather and granddaughter, he was slightly surprised.

But he did not take it to heart.

When Zhu Qingshan noticed Xu Qing looking at them, he gave a slight nod. Zhu Xiaoshu, however, did not even spare Xu Qing a glance. She was cold and haughty.

At that moment, Bai Yutang glanced at Xu Qing and continued, “Little Sister Yulan, the man you invited looks no more than twenty-four or twenty-five.

“He probably hasn’t even memorized all the theories concerning the Five Elements, the Eight Trigrams, yin and yang, and hot and cold.

“Yet he dares to call himself a miracle doctor. If word gets out that our family invited a fraud to treat Grandfather, the entire upper society of Bright City will laugh at the Bai family.

“In their eyes, the people of the Bai family will be nothing but blind fools, making a laughingstock of themselves.”

Every word he spoke was barbed, and his accusations were aimed directly at Xu Qing. Xu Qing could not help frowning slightly.

Bai Yulan’s face flushed with anger, and she was about to lash out.

Bai Yutang pretended not to notice her fury and turned to Zhu Qingshan. “Divine Physician Zhu, please excuse my cousin. She’s young and doesn’t know any better. I hope you won’t take offense.”

Seeing that Xu Qing remained composed throughout, Zhu Qingshan gave him another thoughtful look and said, “Youth does not mean a lack of ability. My granddaughter is only eighteen, yet she has already mastered seventy to eighty percent of my medical skills. Given time, she will surely surpass her teacher.

“Therefore, I feel Young Master Bai has no need to doubt this young man.”

His words caused everyone present, including Xu Qing, to look at him with renewed respect.

Since Zhu Qingshan himself had spoken that way, Bai Yutang could not continue arguing.

Just then, someone appeared at the top of the staircase. It was Bai Yulan’s father, Bai Xingbang.

The moment he saw Xu Qing, delight spread across his face, and he immediately hurried downstairs to welcome him.

“Divine Physician Xu, you’ve arrived! This way, please!”

Bai Yutang froze, a look of disbelief flashing through his eyes.

He had never expected that this young man, who was even younger than himself, truly was a miracle doctor—and that his second uncle had invited him.

Bai Yutang narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. “Second Uncle, I specifically invited Divine Physician Zhu Qingshan of Western River to treat Grandfather. This is Divine Physician Zhu.”

Bai Xingbang paused. He had heard of Zhu Qingshan, the foremost miracle doctor of Western River, but he did not believe Zhu Qingshan’s medical skills could compare with Xu Qing’s.

He had witnessed Xu Qing’s abilities with his own eyes. Even someone pronounced dead by a hospital could be pulled back from the gates of hell by Xu Qing. Such skill was nothing short of divine.

He cast Bai Yutang a knowing glance.

“Divine Physician Xu, why don’t you rest for a while first?” Bai Xingbang asked with an ingratiating smile.

Only because he understood Xu Qing fairly well did he dare treat him in this manner. Otherwise, he would never have risked slighting him.

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Xu Qing nodded indifferently. He was curious to see what kind of medical skills Divine Physician Zhu possessed.

Seeing this, Bai Xingbang smiled at Zhu Qingshan. “Divine Physician Zhu, I’ll trouble you.”

Zhu Qingshan nodded, and the group went upstairs into Old Master Bai’s room.

At that moment, Old Master Bai lay unconscious on the bed, his face dark and livid.

Xu Qing took only one look before his brows drew together slightly.

With Bai Xingbang guiding him, Zhu Qingshan stepped forward to examine the old man. Before long, he said, “Old Master Bai has been poisoned. His condition is serious, and treatment must begin immediately.”

Bai Yutang hurriedly said, “Elder Zhu, please begin.”

Xu Qing frowned and could not help speaking up. “Divine Physician Zhu, I don’t believe Old Master Bai has been poisoned. He has been afflicted by an evil presence. If you treat him by attempting to purge poison, the consequences will be severe.”

“Nonsense!”

“Utter rubbish!”

Zhu Qingshan and his granddaughter immediately rebuked him.

Bai Yutang burst into loud laughter and said contemptuously, “Now you’re bringing superstition into this? And you still dare claim you’re not a fraud?

“Divine Physician Zhu, don’t pay any attention to this fraud. Please hurry and purge the poison from my grandfather.”

Seeing that they refused to believe him, Xu Qing merely lifted the corner of his mouth and said nothing more.

Bai Xingbang’s expression tightened slightly. Both Xu Qing and Zhu Qingshan were genuine miracle doctors, yet they had arrived at entirely different diagnoses. Whom should he believe?

While he hesitated, Zhu Qingshan had already instructed his granddaughter to begin acupuncture.

Zhu Xiaoshu took a set of silver needles from her medical case, sterilized them, and then inserted them into the acupoints her grandfather indicated.

Everyone from the Bai family fell silent as they watched Zhu Xiaoshu administer the treatment.

Xu Qing also studied her with interest. Her technique surprised him somewhat.

Her handling of the needles was extremely mature—indeed, more seasoned and precise than that of many veteran physicians who had practiced traditional medicine for twenty or thirty years. No wonder the Bai family trusted someone so young to treat the old master.

As Xu Qing continued watching, his brows gradually furrowed. He kindly warned her, “If you insert that needle, Old Master Bai will be in danger.”