Chapter Fifty-Two: Is This Considered Critical?

Huang Yuanshan glared fiercely at the monkey-faced man and barked, “Get over here!” The monkey-faced man shuddered, terrified, and scurried to Huang Yuanshan's side, looking utterly disheveled. After recounting what had just happened, Huang Yuanshan felt an urge to smack this fool to death. Bullying others and flaunting power was one thing, but this idiot had even made decisions with the Fire God Corps—clearly fearless, but so utterly foolish that it made Huang Yuanshan want to cough up blood.

“Guan Ming, you little rascal, do you not even understand the simplest observation of people's moods and circumstances? If I hadn’t arrived just in time, you would have been beaten half to death by those killers for nothing! Where is your uncle? Didn’t he say no one would come here just now?” Huang Yuanshan’s face was dark and frightening, his eagle-like gaze causing Guan Ming to tremble.

“Grandpa Huang, uncle couldn’t stand the stench, so he left early. Cousin Huang Kun sent everyone away; the smell was too unbearable and had already knocked out a dozen servants since morning. I only came to see if that fellow was dead, but then I ran into that spoiled heir. I was confused and did something stupid, Grandpa Huang, I—”

“Enough, I understand,” Huang Yuanshan interrupted, his tone deepening.

“Guan Ming, hurry to the palace and invite Imperial Physician Yang and Imperial Physician Ma, as well as Master Huang from the Hundred Herbs Hall and Master Su from the Medicine King Hall. Go quickly and return swiftly!” Huang Yuanshan spoke in a low voice, as if wary of something.

“Grandpa Huang, you want to save that fellow? Didn’t you say to let him live or die as he pleased?” Guan Ming asked, perplexed. Anyone overhearing would be shocked—a grandfather who didn’t care whether his own grandson lived or died, and even hoped he would die sooner. Such a person could only be described as truly extraordinary.

“Foolish boy, what do you know? If this matter doesn’t get out, there’s no need for so much trouble. But now that the boy from the Hu family is involved and so many are watching, if word spreads that I ignored my own grandson’s life, the reputation of our Huang family would be utterly ruined! Go, and make sure you return before that boy dies!” Huang Yuanshan lowered his voice, heavy with emotion. For some reason, he felt a cold, deadly presence in the room locking onto him, making him distinctly uneasy.

Inside the room, Hu Mo let out a long breath. In his left hand, a black flame danced, radiating intense heat. In his right hand, a fist-sized ice crystal floated, emanating extreme cold.

The black blood was either burned to nothingness by the chaotic fire or frozen solid by the chaotic water, completely stripped from Huang Sheng’s body. Huang Sheng’s breath was calm, his once pale face now flushed with vitality—this was a true rebirth.

Hu Mo gently laid Huang Sheng down; thanks to the chaotic water and fire, the bed hadn’t been contaminated at all.

Hu Mo dismissed the chaotic fire and collected all the congealed black blood into a large bottle. This was the most concentrated toxin accumulated in Huang Sheng’s body over more than ten years, and with the refinement of the chaotic water and fire, its toxicity had increased severalfold. Hu Mo estimated that a single drop could kill many people.

Such a valuable substance would never be wasted by Hu Mo. He chuckled coldly, stowed the bottle away, and jumped down from the bed.

Outside, it was eerily quiet, as if everyone had died. The monkey-faced man’s shouting and the old, heartless man’s yelling were gone, making Hu Mo feel much more at ease.

He calmly lifted the restriction on his sense of smell, and his smile grew even brighter. All he could smell now was the fragrance of flowers in the room, none of the previous stench.

Outside the room, the guards and Fire God Corps soldiers wore strange expressions. They too noticed that the unbearable stench had completely vanished, replaced by a faint floral scent—the fragrance of the garden itself.

Huang Yuanshan’s expression grew even stranger; he’d nearly left because he could no longer bear it, but suddenly caught the sweet aroma. He thought to himself, “Could that wretch already be dead? If so, that’s actually a good thing.”

“Let go of me! Let me through!” A furious shout echoed from nearby, drawing everyone’s attention.

Huang Yuanshan followed the voice and saw, by the fake mountain at the courtyard gate, a young man in his twenties sitting on a wisteria chair. He was furious, nearly losing control as several guards blocked his way.

“Zong’er, what are you doing?” Huang Yuanshan snorted and walked over.

“Grandfather, why didn’t you tell me my third brother was gravely ill? He’s my real brother! Please, let me in, let me see him…” Huang Zong’s voice was desperate. He wasn’t a fool; he could easily discern the truth—this was hardly different from murder!

“Zong’er, you don’t need to concern yourself with this. Go back and rest. Sheng’er’s deadly illness has flared up, and I’ve sent for doctors. Don’t worry.” Huang Yuanshan was fond of Huang Zong; though his body was ruined, he possessed the unyielding spirit Huang Yuanshan admired, having forced his cultivation up to the first rank of Furious Warrior while confined to a chair—a feat few could match.

But how could Huang Zong rest now? Since his mother died, he and his brother had relied on each other. In such a powerful family, one suffered a deadly disease, the other was crippled—truly brothers in hardship.

Huang Zong understood Huang Sheng better than anyone in the Huang household; he knew his brother was far from the useless figure others believed. Everything was for survival—who could blame him?

“Grandfather, please let me see my brother. I’m not afraid of the smell. Grandfather, Sheng’er has always worked hard; he’s not what you think. Please, don’t let him die without help!”

“Nonsense! Zong’er, what are you saying? Sheng’er is my grandson; how could I not save him? Didn’t I say the doctors are on their way? What use is it for you to go inside now? Sheng’er’s illness has affected the whole Hu family—you know this. Many maids and guards have been sickened, even Zhuo Rong was carried out unconscious and still hasn’t woken up. Your health has finally improved, and if something happens again, could you endure it? Could I bear it?” Huang Yuanshan spoke harshly, making it clear: the room was forbidden, and Zong’er should abandon any thought of entering.

Huang Zong was left speechless by the reprimand; he desperately wished to see his brother, even if only for the last time. But would this heartless family allow it? Despite Huang Yuanshan’s emotional words, Huang Zong saw through it all. Huang Sheng was being killed by these self-righteous hypocrites!

“Master Huang, we can do nothing for your grandson’s illness; why have you summoned us again?” an irritable voice sounded nearby. Soon, three old men hurried before Huang Yuanshan.

“Ah, Imperial Physician Yang, Master Huang, Master Su, you finally came. Hm? Where is Imperial Physician Ma…”

“He heard it was your grandson and didn’t want to come. You know after last time, when he was poisoned by the stench, he had trouble eating for three months. How could he dare return?” Imperial Physician Yang replied irritably. Truth be told, he’d have preferred not to come himself, but couldn’t refuse for the sake of appearances.

“Ah, forgive me, gentlemen. Sheng’er’s illness has always weighed on my heart; now that it has flared up, I rely on your expertise,” Huang Yuanshan’s tone was sincere, giving the impression of a loving elder.

Huang Zong was beside himself with anxiety—why were they chatting instead of saving his brother?

“Master Huang is benevolent; we admire him greatly. Since that’s so, we’ll risk our lives to save him once more,” Master Huang said solemnly, taking a difficult step forward. He knew the place ahead was worse than a latrine in stench.

The others braced themselves and followed, but before they reached the door, two squads of Fire God Corps blocked their way.

“Why are the Fire God Corps here?” Imperial Physician Yang asked in shock, staring at them.

“You may withdraw. I’ve brought doctors for my grandson, and you lot have no reason to stand in the way. Do you intend to harm my grandson?” Huang Yuanshan’s voice was low and furious.

The Fire God Corps soldiers were uneasy; they’d obeyed orders, but if treatment were delayed, the blame would fall on them, which they could not bear.

And the little ancestor inside showed no sign of coming out, leaving them at a loss for what to do. For a moment, everyone remained motionless, still blocking the entrance.

Seeing this, Huang Yuanshan’s anger flared, and he shouted, “What are you doing? Can’t I save my own grandson? Move aside, now!”

He was genuinely enraged; these men knew how important face was to him, yet they were still undermining him here—how could he tolerate it?

The physicians were equally indignant; they were respected figures, unaccustomed to such treatment.

Huang Zong had reached his limit; if not for his crippled legs, he would have rushed forward already.

“Ha ha, apologies, apologies. Old Master Huang, please forgive me. I lost track of time chatting with my brothers and made you and the esteemed physicians wait—my fault entirely. Fire God Corps, let them in.” Hu Mo’s voice echoed through the courtyard. The soldiers, relieved, answered and stepped aside.

At that moment, Huang Yuanshan and the physicians stared in astonishment. They saw Hu Mo sitting by the bed, chatting and laughing with Huang Sheng. Was this what they called a critical illness?