Chapter 22: This Is Ridiculous!

Li Mingyuan was stunned on the spot. Xu Banxia and the onlookers gathered outside the door were equally bewildered. What was happening? It was clearly Qin Feng who had struck the Dean’s son, yet instead of backing his son, Dean Li had actually slapped him in public.

"Dad, you... why are you hitting me? What did I do wrong?" Li Mingyuan clutched his burning cheek, feeling deeply aggrieved.

At this moment, Dean Li Hongliang was already breaking out in a cold sweat. Others might not know, but he was acutely aware that Qin Feng’s identity was far from ordinary. Despite his youth, he was actually the master of the Hades Kingdom, an incredibly mysterious organization that gathered the world's elite. If Qin Feng were to fly into a rage, the entire Yunhai Hospital would be wiped out. Furthermore, his own life had been saved by Qin Feng years ago, and Xu Banxia was Qin Feng’s fiancée. Yet his own son, Li Mingyuan, had dared to provoke him—was he trying to lead his father to his doom?

"You beast!" In front of the crowd, Li Hongliang dared not reveal Qin Feng’s true identity. He scolded his son, "How dare you! You laid your hands on Director Xu; is that not a fault?"

"Qin Feng hitting you was well-deserved. You deserve to be beaten to death, you good-for-nothing!"

"Apologize to Director Xu, immediately!"

"I..." A slap combined with a fierce dressing-down left Li Mingyuan completely dazed. Seeing his father so enraged, he was terrified. With no other choice, he meekly apologized. "I’m sorry, Banxia... I was impulsive just now. Please, don’t take it to heart."

Xu Banxia was stunned. She knew how arrogant Li Mingyuan had been over the past few days, emboldened by his father’s position. She never imagined she would receive an apology from him.

"It’s fine... it’s in the past." Although she was angry, since he had apologized, she didn't want to make a scene. After all, she had to show some respect to the Dean.

"Stop making a fool of yourself here, get out!" Li Hongliang barked. Li Mingyuan didn't dare utter a word. Soon, he slunk away, looking utterly defeated and humiliated.

"Qin... Qin Feng, I am truly sorry about this. If not for you, this beast would have committed a grave mistake."

"You did well to strike him!" Fearing Qin Feng’s wrath, Li Hongliang quickly added. Though it wasn't apparent to outsiders, in reality, he was drenched in sweat while facing Qin Feng.

"It’s in the past," Qin Feng said with a faint smile. "Dean Li handled it appropriately. I believe he will learn his lesson."

"That is good. I shall take my leave!" Li Hongliang felt as if he had been granted an amnesty. He wiped his cold sweat and hurried away.

***

Before long, the crowd of onlookers dispersed.

"Phew..." Xu Banxia let out a sigh of relief. She had been secretly sweating for Qin Feng. Still, she couldn't help but remind him, "Qin Feng, you were lucky today. Dean Li is magnanimous and wanted to avoid a scandal, which is why he disciplined his son. However, you should go and thank him, and..."

"From now on, don't be so reckless!"

Qin Feng walked straight to her desk, sat down, and crossed his legs. "I really didn't expect you to intercede for me against a scumbag like Li Mingyuan. I’m actually quite touched!"

Hearing this, Xu Banxia glared at him. "Don't misunderstand. I am the Director, your superior. I simply don't want someone under my command to ruin their career. If you stop causing trouble for me, I’ll be grateful enough!"

"Understood." Qin Feng nodded, then changed the subject. "However, I came here today to ask for a few days of leave." He stood up, handed her a leave request form, and waited for her approval with a grin.

Xu Banxia’s pretty face turned cold. She took the form and, without a second thought, tore it to shreds.

"Hey... why did you tear it up?" Qin Feng asked.

"Hmph." Xu Banxia wrinkled her nose, looking unexpectedly charming even in her anger. "What do you think this hospital is? A place you can come and go as you please? Besides, you’ve already been absent for two days, and you're still not planning to work? I’m not approving this leave!" She was quite displeased. Did Qin Feng think that just because he saved Song Yuting, he could act so entitled?

Seeing that she not only refused but also destroyed his request, Qin Feng felt a wave of helplessness. At that moment, a commotion broke out in the emergency hall, followed by the sound of a woman weeping. A nurse rushed over.

"Director! Mayor Gu has fallen ill and was brought in by his family. His condition is quite serious; please come and take a look!"

What! Xu Banxia was shocked upon hearing this. The Mayor was a person of high status; nothing could happen to him. She had to go see for herself.

Qin Feng, however, was not at all surprised. He had already issued a warning. Unfortunately, it seemed Mayor Gu had been sabotaged by his own "filial" daughter. Thinking for a moment, he followed them out to see the situation.

In the hallway, Mayor Gu’s condition was critical, and he had been rushed into the ICU. Xu Banxia immediately changed into her scrubs to take charge. Outside the door, a young woman was crying hysterically. It was none other than Gu Qing, the Mayor's daughter, whom he had encountered on the street the other day.

She was curled up on the floor, weeping and repeating, "It’s all my fault... it’s all my fault..."

Qin Feng walked up to her and asked in a low voice, "Did you give that golden Buddha to Mayor Gu?"

"It’s you!?" Gu Qing immediately recognized him. He was the young man who had saved her from Tiger's men on the street. She hadn't expected him to be here.

"Wuwuwu..." Gu Qing cried even harder. "It’s my fault. I didn't listen to you at the time. I brought that golden Buddha home and gave it to my father, intending for it to bring him blessings. But I never imagined... ever since he wore it, his condition has deteriorated day by day. Today, he vomited so much blood and is now on the brink of death..."

Qin Feng shook his head. He had seen that there was something wrong with the golden Buddha, but unfortunately, this young lady hadn't believed him.

After a long time, the doors to the emergency room finally opened. Xu Banxia walked out with her assistants, looking exhausted. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Miss Gu. We... we have done all we could."

"Is the Mayor dead?" Qin Feng asked.

"No," Xu Banxia explained, "but the Mayor’s condition is complex and bizarre. We are at a loss. At this rate... I’m afraid he doesn't have much time left."

"Wuwuwu..." Hearing this, Gu Qing suffered a complete breakdown. "It’s me... I killed my father. What do I do..."

"Let me try," Qin Feng suddenly spoke up.

"You?" Xu Banxia looked at him with complex eyes. "Are you sure? Besides, you are an intern; you don't have a medical license..."

"It's simple," Qin Feng smiled. "You can vouch for me, can't you?"

Xu Banxia hesitated. Even she couldn't understand the Mayor's condition, let alone treat it. But Qin Feng did have some tricks up his sleeve. Last time, the President of the Song Group, Song Yuting, had been saved thanks to him. Given the current situation, she had no choice but to let him try.

"Fine. I will vouch for you. If something goes wrong... I will take the blame!" she agreed.

Following this, Qin Feng changed into his scrubs and entered the operating room. A middle-aged man with a square face lay amidst a pile of cold instruments, his heartbeat on the monitor extremely weak, almost fading away. It was Mayor Gu.

Qin Feng stepped forward to examine him. "So that's how it is. Mayor Gu was already cursed by a malicious poison, draining his vitality. Coupled with that golden Buddha of unknown origin, which contains evil energy, the evil has now entered his body. Even the gods would find it hard to cure!"

"However... meeting me can be considered your stroke of fortune!"