Chapter 106: The Feigned Death State

"If you have anything to say, you may say it to him. His subconscious hasn't completely faded yet, and he can still hear some sounds from the outside world."

"In a moment, I will have the nurse come in to disconnect the equipment and see to the final arrangements."

As soon as these words were spoken—

A plump young woman standing by the bed had her eyes turn completely red. She sank to the floor right then and there, collapsed against the side of Zhou Hanlin’s bed, and while sobbing uncontrollably, she stammered, "Father, if you leave us, who will preside over the Zhou family's affairs? Father, please wake up. Your daughter begs you, please wake up..."

The wailing continued for nearly two minutes.

The attending physician sighed and nodded toward the two nurses standing at the door.

The two nurses stepped forward, began to remove the tubes inserted into Zhou Hanlin, and proceeded to switch off the life-support monitors one by one.

Just then—

Xie Huaiyan, accompanied by Ye Fei and Xie Yaxuan, walked in. Seeing that the nurses had already covered Zhou Hanlin’s face with a white sheet, Xie Huaiyan’s expression darkened instantly. He reprimanded the two nurses in the room, "What are you doing? Who gave you permission to shut off the machines? Stop what you are doing immediately!"

The reprimand was jarring. The two nurses were startled, and one of them instinctively replied, "This... the patient has already... already... already passed away..."

Upon hearing this, Xie Huaiyan’s face turned even darker. He turned his gaze toward the attending physician standing in the room and said, "Get your people out."

"Xie... Divine Doctor Xie..."

"Mr. Zhou has... indeed passed on. All vital functions have ceased. We have done everything we could..."

Cold sweat broke out on the attending physician’s forehead as he hurriedly tried to explain.

Xie Huaiyan’s presence was formidable, and given his immense reputation, he was a giant whom every hospital naturally deferred to with respect. The physician dared not be negligent.

"I said get out!"

Xie Huaiyan snorted coldly, "Enough nonsense. I know what I am doing!"

Only then did the attending physician wave his hands repeatedly, signaling the nurses to stop their work and ushering them out of the room.

Afterward, Xie Huaiyan turned to Ye Fei and said respectfully, "Mr. Ye, what do you think of the situation? Is there any hope of saving him?"

Ye Fei did not speak. He merely walked to the bedside and took one look at Zhou Hanlin lying there. With that single glance, he saw his current state clearly. The dark spots on his face and his rigid body made it clear that he was on the very brink of death.

However, thanks to the medical equipment, he was still holding onto a faint, flickering thread of life.

It was a thread only Ye Fei could perceive clearly.

"He is in a state of suspended animation."

"There is still a glimmer of hope."

"Go and prepare 120 silver needles for me. They must all be sterilized. Quickly!"

Ye Fei’s expression was stern as he turned and barked the order.

The attending physician was stunned. Although he recognized Xie Huaiyan, he did not know who Ye Fei was. Hearing this request, he did not act on it immediately but hesitated instead, saying, "Old Master Xie... what is this for... the patient has already..."

"Do as you are told!"

"This is the divine doctor I have brought here!"

"If you ruin the hope of Old Master Zhou’s survival, I will hold you personally responsible!"

Xie Huaiyan’s expression was icy as his reprimand grew sharper.

"Yes, yes, I’ll go at once. I’ll go right now."

Having said this, he rushed out of the hospital room.

At this moment, the young woman who had been weeping by the bedside looked up. She glanced at Ye Fei, then at Xie Huaiyan, failing to understand what was happening. However, she quickly composed herself, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly as she asked Xie Huaiyan, "Old Master Xie, what is this..."

"Miss Zhou, this is Mr. Ye Fei. He and I share the same master, and he has inherited our master’s true teachings. By letting him treat your father, there may yet be a glimmer of hope for his recovery," Xie Huaiyan said with a faint smile, not hiding Ye Fei’s identity.

In times like these, there was no room for ambiguity.

When Zhou Baitao heard this, her delicate frame trembled. She looked at Ye Fei in disbelief, and without a moment’s hesitation, she knelt before him. Regardless of how young he appeared, she said respectfully, "I implore you, sir, please save my father. Zhou Baitao will surely reward you handsomely!"

"It is nothing. Please, stand up."

Ye Fei nodded. Initially, he hadn't noticed the woman’s presence, but now that he looked, he couldn't help but feel quite surprised.

The woman possessed a face of peerless beauty, and her aura was even more charming and alluring than that of Chen Yu.

At this moment, even though she was a mess of tears, that subtle, captivating charm still radiated from her.

"What a bewitching woman," Ye Fei muttered to himself.

Zhou Baitao quickly stood up, cleared a space for Ye Fei, and said, "Mr. Ye, if you need anything else, please do not hesitate to let me know!"

"That won't be necessary."

Ye Fei walked to the bedside, looked at the old man, and placed his fingers on his pulse. Immediately, spiritual energy flowed slowly along the blood vessels into his lungs.

Less than five seconds later.

Ye Fei withdrew his hand.

His expression was somewhat grim.

Just as Xie Huaiyan had said, the old man’s lungs were essentially failing.

But the cause was not some rare condition.

It was... Gu worms!

Indeed.

These Gu worms bore a striking resemblance to those Ye Fei had seen in Chen Bozhong and Chen Yu, which was why he could identify them at a glance.

Furthermore, the old man was not truly dead.

To put it simply, his will to live was incredibly strong; he was teetering on the edge of the gates of hell, playing tug-of-war with the King of the Underworld.

Whether he could be saved depended on whether Ye Fei was willing to use his most powerful methods to rescue him.

"Mr. Ye, how is the situation?"

Seeing Ye Fei’s expression, Xie Huaiyan felt a sense of foreboding. His breathing grew rapid, and he couldn't help but ask.

Beside him, Zhou Baitao also held her breath. Her beautiful, alluring face, still streaked with tears, remained fixed on Ye Fei, waiting for his answer.

"It is neither good nor bad."

Ye Fei was silent for a few seconds before he pursed his lips and said, "Miss Zhou, I have two questions for you. Before the old master fell ill, did he come into contact with any strange people?"

"Strange people?"

Zhou Baitao was clearly taken aback. She furrowed her beautiful brows and lowered her head to think. After half a minute, she shook her head and said, "No, not that I’m aware of. When the old master held his birthday banquet, the guests were all well-known acquaintances from Jiangnan Province."

"Then—"

Ye Fei narrowed his eyes and asked, "Who was the person who gave the old master that birthday gift?"

"Or rather, that antique that caused the old master to be hospitalized..."

"Do you... do you have it with you?"