Chapter 60: The Overbearing Shadow Blood Fiend
Xue Haisu’s disciple, Yang Ming, the manager of Huairen Hall, was surrounded by people.
“Doctor Yang, please, I beg you, take another look at my father,” pleaded a middle-aged man in a gray robe, clutching Yang Ming’s hand desperately.
“Yes, Doctor Yang, my father-in-law was always in excellent health. In just seven short days, he went from fine to gone. Please, examine him thoroughly once more,”
“If you really can’t do anything, at least help us invite Master Xue, the miraculous doctor,”
The other two middle-aged men joined in, imploring Yang Ming. Their fine clothes hinted at distinguished status.
Yang Ming, carrying his medicine box, spoke as if it were only natural, “It’s not that I, Yang Ming, refuse to save a dying man, but your father has already passed on.”
“Even if I did invite my master, he would be helpless too. Trust me.”
“Mr. Dong, Mr. Yu, you should accept your loss and move on.”
At his words, the men sighed deeply, faces clouded with grief.
“Yang Ming, your mistakes are endless! You are the worst quack under heaven!” came a cold voice, shattering the calm.
Yang Ming’s anger flared as he glared at Ye Tianci.
“You again!”
“You humiliated me, cost me money, injured my son, and those accounts are still unsettled. Now you’re here to slander me!”
Yang Ming stared at Ye Tianci with hatred.
The others turned their gazes toward Ye Tianci.
Ye Tianci stepped forward, ignoring Yang Ming, and addressed the man in the robe, “Is there an elder in your family who’s ill?”
The robed man was startled, “Who are you? Do we know each other?”
“No. We’re strangers,” Ye Tianci replied calmly.
“Then how do you know?”
“I know not only that your elder is ill, but that he just stopped breathing. Before he lost his breath, his face turned blue; among all the orifices, only his eye sockets bled, and at this moment, his eyes remain open.”
The robed man’s eyes widened in terror, “Are you some kind of sage who can divine the future?”
“Nonsense!” Yang Ming snorted from the side. “He obviously overheard our conversation. What’s so surprising about him knowing these things? This Ye fellow loves to play tricks and pretend to have powers.”
The man in traditional attire who’d just pleaded with Yang Ming stepped forward, his tone serious, “No one mentioned my father-in-law’s condition just now. This young man didn’t even see the patient, yet got it all right. He clearly has some real skill!”
---
The robed man nodded, his expression solemn as he looked at Ye Tianci, “Young man, your surname is Ye?”
“Ye Tianci.”
“Brother Ye, I am Dong Yuan, manager of Tonggu Study. Since you can divine my father’s condition without seeing him, dare I ask—is there hope for him?”
Dong Yuan bowed respectfully to Ye Tianci.
Ye Tianci replied coolly, “Have someone feel your father’s soles. If they’re still warm, even a little, there is a thread of hope.”
“Jiacheng! Go check your grandfather’s feet!” Dong Yuan barked urgently. A young man spun around and ran off.
“Dad! Grandfather’s soles are still a bit warm!” came an excited shout from the inner hall.
Dong Yuan’s eyes lit up with hope as he bowed to Ye Tianci, “My father’s soles are still warm. Brother Ye, can you save him?”
“If there’s still a glimmer of hope, then he can be saved,” Ye Tianci answered calmly.
“Tch!” Yang Ming snorted disdainfully, rolling his eyes. “His breath and heartbeat are gone, and you think you can save him? Ye Tianci, are you pretending to be a sage?”
Dong Yuan’s face darkened, “Doctor Yang, are you saying my father has no choice but death?”
The man in traditional attire, Yu Feihu, also spoke coldly, “Yang Ming, by your reasoning, my father-in-law is doomed?”
Both men were angered.
Yang Ming shrank back and quickly corrected himself, “Mr. Dong, Mr. Yu, I didn’t mean that.”
“Your father has already passed on. Don’t torment him further—let him go in peace.”
“This Ye fellow loves to play tricks, but he has no real skills. Compared to my medical expertise, he’s leagues behind!”
Ye Tianci spoke quietly, “Yang Ming, the difference between us is simple—I can save lives, you cannot.”
Yang Ming was infuriated by his demeanor and tone, blurting out, “If you revive Mr. Dong’s father, I’ll eat dung in public!”
Ye Tianci looked at him, a slight smile on his lips. “I hope you keep your word.”
“If you fail, you’ll eat dung! And kneel to me, apologizing! Also, you’ll return that old ginseng you fleeced from me, and pay five million for my son’s medical bills! Dare you wager?”
Yang Ming, full of confidence, glared at Ye Tianci.
---
“I accept,” Ye Tianci replied with a serene smile, waving to Dong Yuan, “Take me to see the patient.”
“Brother Ye, please!” Dong Yuan led the way courteously.
They entered a bedroom.
As soon as he stepped in, Ye Tianci felt a chilling cold, the sinister aura thickening to an almost tangible degree.
On the bed lay an elderly man in plain clothing.
He had stopped breathing, his eyes wide open, refusing to close even in death.
Blood seeped from his eye sockets, still wet.
Ye Tianci examined him closely, pressing his fingers to the old man’s neck.
Immediately, a needle-like cold surged up his hand, as if a sentient force, hostile and powerful.
“What a fierce evil blood aura!” Ye Tianci thought, withdrawing his hand. He said to Dong Yuan, “He can still be saved.”
Before Dong Yuan could speak, Yang Ming scoffed, “You’re just bluffing. Can’t you see Mr. Dong’s breath and heartbeat are gone? The warmth in his soles is just lingering energy, nothing more.”
His words drew angry glares from everyone in the room.
Yu Feihu, dressed in traditional attire, even flashed murderous intent, his voice menacing, “Yang Ming, if you dare to hinder Brother Ye from saving him, or curse my father-in-law again, I’ll break your mouth!”
Yang Ming shrank back, not daring another word.
Ye Tianci continued, “Mr. Dong, your father’s illness struck suddenly, lasting no more than seven days.”
“During this time, he would have had fits of madness—violent, eyes bloodshot, as if he didn’t recognize anyone.”
Dong Yuan was even more astounded, looking at Ye Tianci with reverence, “Brother Ye, you’ve described everything exactly!”
“Please, I beg you to save my father. If you can save his life, the Dong family will be forever grateful!”
Yu Feihu bowed to Ye Tianci, “Brother, I am Yu Feihu. If you can bring my father-in-law back from the gates of death, I will reward you handsomely!”
Ye Tianci replied calmly, “I can save him, but I have one small condition.”
“Brother Ye, speak freely. One condition, a hundred conditions—we will all agree!” Dong Yuan said, his expression urgent.