Chapter 74: Shen Ying’s Request

It took Shen Wanshan quite some time to regain his composure. He stepped forward, his expression conflicted as he looked at Ye Tianci. “Mr. Ye, how... how do you know all this so well? It’s as if you’ve been living by my father’s side this whole year!”

Ye Tianci gestured toward Shen Cangyun and said calmly, “Go feel the back of your father’s head and see if there’s a faint ridge there.”

Without hesitation, Shen Wanshan hurried over and felt the back of his father’s head.

“Aiya!”

Shen Wanshan let out a startled cry, recoiling as if jolted by electricity, his face drastically changed.

Not only did he feel a faint ridge at the back of his father’s head, but that ridge was pulsing like a heartbeat.

“Dad, what’s wrong?” Shen Ying asked in surprise.

Shen Wanshan ignored his daughter and looked gravely at Ye Tianci. “You’re absolutely right, Mr. Ye. May I ask, what does this mean for my father?”

A slight smile touched Ye Tianci’s lips as he pointed at Lu Zhanyuan. “You may have this Divine Physician Lu explain it to you.”

“Oh, and there are two things I forgot to mention earlier. Your father originally had only a few hours left to live. But after this Divine Physician Lu administered his needles, within five minutes your father will develop bruises across his face and his whole body will convulse.”

“In ten minutes, his breathing and heartbeat will cease.”

“And when blue blood begins to flow from his eyes, he will be beyond all hope.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Shen Ying burst out indignantly, “That’s outrageous! Are you still cursing my grandfather to die?”

“Dad, hurry up and throw him out!”

Shen Wanshan’s brow was deeply furrowed, unsure what to do.

But just then, Shen Cangyun, who had been unconscious on the bed, suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood without warning and sat up straight.

The Shen family rushed forward.

“Grandpa, how do you feel?” Shen Ying asked with concern.

Shen Cangyun took a deep breath. “Ying’er, did I pass out just now? I feel much better now.”

“I’m hungry. I want some meat.”

At his words, everyone in the Shen family breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Ying shot a glance at Ye Tianci and snorted, “Did you hear that? My grandfather is hungry and wants to eat. That means he’s getting better.”

“That’s right. Since Old Master Shen has an appetite, it’s a sign of recovery.”

“It was my Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles that cured him. Young man, your words just now were nothing but fearmongering!” Lu Zhanyuan stared at Ye Tianci with a triumphant look.

“It’s only a final flare before death. Can’t you see that?” Ye Tianci replied coolly.

Shen Ying was about to flare up, but Shen Cangyun suddenly cried out, his arm shooting straight out as he gasped in pain. “Wanshan, Wanshan…”

Shen Wanshan rushed to the bedside. “Dad!”

“Wanshan, I... I have a few last words for you—Ah!”

Shen Cangyun tried to speak his last wishes, but never had the chance. With a loud cry, he fell back on the bed, rigid and straight.

His aged body began to convulse as if shocked by electricity, his face turning dark with bruises in the blink of an eye.

Exactly as Ye Tianci had foretold.

“Dad! Dad, what’s wrong?”

“Grandpa!”

“Old Master!”

The Shen family cried out in alarm, crowding around the bed.

Shen Cangyun soon stopped convulsing and lay still, neither breathing nor showing a heartbeat.

“Grandpa!” Shen Ying broke into loud, heartbreaking sobs.

The rest of the Shen family dropped to their knees, wailing in grief.

Shen Wanshan was struck as if by lightning.

The cries of his family brought him back to his senses. He glared coldly at Lu Zhanyuan. “Lu Zhanyuan, didn’t you claim over and over that you’d cured my father? What is the meaning of this?”

Lu Zhanyuan’s face turned deathly pale, panic overtaking him. “President Shen, I... I have no idea what happened! How could this happen all of a sudden?”

Though the Shen family was not one of the Four Great Families of Shu City, Shen Wanshan was the God of Wealth in the southern part of the city, a man of great influence. If Old Master Shen died at his hands, he’d be ruined for life!

Slap!

Shen Wanshan, beside himself with rage, struck Lu Zhanyuan hard across the face, knocking him to the ground.

“If anything happens to my father, your entire family will pay with their lives!”

Lu Zhanyuan sat on the floor, clutching his face, his legs so weak with fear he couldn’t stand.

Shen Wanshan turned to Ye Tianci and bowed deeply. “Mr. Ye, I, Shen Wanshan, was truly blind and foolish before. Please forgive my ignorance.”

“Dad, why are you begging him? He knew Grandpa was unwell, but instead of saving him, he just gloated and made all these terrible predictions!”

“He has no medical ethics at all!” Shen Ying said tearfully, her tone still willful.

“Second Miss Shen, you’d do well to use your brain before you speak. Didn’t Mr. Ye already warn you all yesterday? And now you turn around and blame him? You may be spoiled, but you shouldn’t be so unreasonable!” Xue Huaisu couldn’t help but scold her.

Lei Hong added coldly, “Old Shen, spoiling your daughter is the same as harming her. You ought to discipline her.”

Shen Wanshan shot a dark glare at his daughter. “Be quiet!”

“If it weren’t for your unreasonable behavior and slander against Mr. Ye, would I have been so easily swayed by your words and offended him, bringing your grandfather to this state?”

Qi Xian chimed in, “Uncle Shen, Yingying is both beautiful and sweet. How can you scold her in front of everyone?”

“Qi Xian, disciplining my own daughter is none of your business!” Shen Wanshan snapped.

“I think you lack all sense of propriety, bringing a quack to harm my father. As for your engagement to Shen Ying, don’t even think about it for now!” Shen Wanshan waved his hand coldly.

“Uncle Shen, you—”

“Say another word and I’ll throw you out, never mind the Qi family’s face!” Shen Wanshan’s voice cut him off.

Qi Xian fell silent, his face clouded with embarrassment.

Seeing her father’s true anger, Shen Ying dared not say another word.

Shen Wanshan bowed deeply to Ye Tianci. “Mr. Ye, all this was my daughter’s fault. Please find it in your heart to forgive us.”

Ye Tianci stood with his hands behind his back, expression serene. “I came at the invitation of Tiger and Divine Physician Xue. You judge by appearances and cannot distinguish right from wrong. Why should I humble myself and obey your orders?”

“This…” Shen Wanshan was left speechless, his face burning with embarrassment.

He was the God of Wealth in southern Shu City, always the one others begged for favors. He had never begged anyone before, and the contrast left him flustered and at a loss.

“Grandpa! There seems to be blood congealing at the corner of Grandpa’s eye, and it’s blue!”

“Brother, everything Mr. Ye predicted is coming true. Father isn’t breathing, his heart’s stopped, and now blue blood is congealing at his eye.”

“If that blue blood flows out, he’ll really be gone!”

The Shen family cried out in alarm.

Shen Wanshan glanced at his father lying on the bed, then, without further hesitation, dropped to his knees before Ye Tianci.

“Mr. Ye, I truly realize my mistake! I beg you, have mercy and save my father!”

“We beg you to have mercy, Mr. Ye!” The entire Shen family knelt together.

Shen Ying stood stunned for a moment, then, weeping, walked to Ye Tianci, lowering her proud head and speaking in a soft, trembling voice. “Ye Tianci, I... I was wrong.”

“I apologize. Please, I beg you, save my grandfather.”

She wept like a pear blossom bathed in rain, her fragile beauty enough to rouse any man’s protective instinct.

Yet Ye Tianci regarded her with a calm, impassive gaze. “Why should I accept your apology?”

“I…” Shen Ying was at a loss for words.

Seeing the worry etched on her family’s faces, she bit her lip and said, “It’s all my fault. If Grandpa dies, I’ll never be at peace for the rest of my life. I truly know I was wrong. I beg you!”

“As long as you save my grandfather, I... I’ll agree to any condition you set. Even if you want me to be your servant, your maid, or your girlfriend…”

“I’ll do anything!”