Chapter 114: Old Master Luo's Request

As Hong Chen’s words fell, the room descended into absolute silence. Luo Jiangong and Jiang Ying stared in shock, while the maid stood petrified, her face as pale as a sheet of paper, as if all the blood had been drained from her in an instant.

The silence did not last long before the maid screamed, “You’re lying! It was clearly you who caused the old master’s death, yet you want to blame the old mistress and Second Young Master. Master, this man’s heart is wicked beyond measure. He must not be spared.”

Luo Jiangong’s expression darkened like still water, his gaze icy to the extreme. Regardless of how plausible Hong Chen’s words might be, merely making such an accusation meant there was no way he would let Hong Chen leave alive.

If this were to spread, and the old master’s death was believed to be a murder committed by the Luo family, the family’s reputation would be utterly destroyed. They would no longer have any standing in their social circle!

In matters like this, truth is often less important than the consequences it brings—a reality cherished by powerful families.

Hong Chen had crossed the Luo family’s bottom line, and Jiang Ying’s influence was no longer enough to protect him.

“Niece, I hope you won’t spread such irresponsible slander. I will speak with your uncle by phone later. For now, you should leave,” Luo Jiangong said coldly and sharply, leaving no room for argument. Had Jiang Ying not been the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, Luo Jiangong might not have let her leave after hearing Hong Chen’s words.

Jiang Ying’s expression shifted, then she suddenly looked at Hong Chen as if reaching a grave decision. In a clear voice, she asked, “Divine Doctor Hong, do you have any proof?”

“Niece, I will handle this matter. You should leave now,” Luo Jiangong said, his patience worn thin, his tone stern.

Jiang Ying gritted her teeth, “Uncle Luo, Divine Doctor Hong is my—”

“Do you want the old master to live or not?” A light, floating voice cut through, causing Jiang Ying to fall silent and even shaking Luo Jiangong’s composure. Hong Chen met their gazes calmly, gesturing toward the old man on the bed, his voice indifferent: “I said it is a strong presumption, not absolute certainty. The truth, no one knows better than the old master himself.”

Luo Jiangong spoke slowly and pointedly, “You, you can save the old master?”

Hong Chen nodded calmly. “Yes. When Luo Song came to the Health Hall seeking treatment, he was very clear—the one million yuan advance was merely for my travel expenses. Healing the old master would require separate terms.”

Luo Jiangong did not hesitate, “As long as you can cure the old master, you may set any terms you wish.”

Jiang Ying looked dazed and nervously asked, “Divine Doctor Hong, are you sure you can save Grandfather Luo?”

Hong Chen retorted, “Do you doubt me too?”

Jiang Ying was momentarily stunned. Meeting Hong Chen’s half-smiling, half-serious gaze, her face inexplicably flushed. Turning her head slightly, she met his gaze again, her eyes filled with determination as she nodded slightly, “I believe you.”

Hong Chen smiled and turned to Luo Jiangong. “The Health Hall is open for business. I was invited by Luo Song. Please call him in; the terms I offer must be confirmed by him in person.”

---

Luo Jiangong hesitated. Suddenly, Jiang Ying spoke up, “Uncle Luo, you know better than anyone the importance of Grandfather Luo to the family. He’s also your biological father. Are you really willing to give up this last hope? If you don’t trust Divine Doctor Hong, then trust me. If you don’t trust me, then trust the Jiang family. I can vouch for him on behalf of my family.”

Her words carried weight and had an obvious effect. Luo Jiangong nodded and instructed the maid to watch over the old master, then turned and left the room.

Hong Chen glanced at the old mistress, curled up in the corner like a dead dog, and sighed. Such was the coldness of great families. He had deliberately not mentioned it, but Luo Jiangong had chosen to selectively forget. Clearly, the old mistress’s condition—whether she lived or died—was not important to the heir of the Luo family.

Hong Chen even maliciously guessed that Luo Jiangong might secretly wish for the old mistress to die, so there would be one less elder in the family who, despite bringing no tangible benefit, could suppress him by seniority.

Within half a minute, Luo Jiangong returned, accompanied by Luo Jianping and Luo Song. Without wasting words, Hong Chen addressed Luo Song directly: “The old master has many hidden illnesses from past fights. The critical point for them to flare up is still three to four years away. What I can do now is give him back those three to four years of life. The condition is that your family gives me five hundred million yuan worth of shares from your holdings in Nanshi.”

The Luo family’s assets exceeded tens of billions, with over eighty percent in Nanshi. Five hundred million was less than ten percent—no comparison to the importance of the old master to the family.

Luo Song hesitated, but Luo Jiangong quickly agreed on his behalf, laying out the terms bluntly: “Divine Doctor Hong, if you can heal the old master, you will be a savior to the Luo family. If not, we will settle the scores for previous issues. I am just a petty man before I am a gentleman.”

He then turned to Jiang Ying, “Niece, if it fails, please do not interfere further.”

Jiang Ying looked conflicted, but Hong Chen replied immediately, “Agreed.” Then he moved to work, pulling back the blanket and unbuttoning the old man’s nightshirt.

“A few days ago, the old master ingested a certain medicine. By itself, it wasn’t fatal, but it lowered his immune system to the lowest point, triggering his hidden illnesses. The vital energy in his organs rapidly dissipated. Normally, he should have lived a few more days, but I discovered that someone had injected destructive true qi into his heart meridian. It should have killed him within half an hour. Otherwise, he would have died before I arrived. Only a martial artist could do this, but they would not know how to control the timing. Whoever injected that true qi must understand medicine…”

Hong Chen’s hand moved irregularly over the old man’s bare body, speaking as he worked. Invisible currents of energy flowed from his palm into the old man’s body. Sweat began to bead on his forehead.

The others listened intently, their minds stirred but no time to dwell on it. All eyes were fixed on Hong Chen’s hands.

Five minutes passed. They noticed the old man’s skin, once pale and wan, now took on a healthy flush. At that moment, Hong Chen withdrew his hand, exhaled deeply, his face showing signs of exhaustion.

To pull a man whose vital energy had completely drained in his organs back from the brink of death cost Hong Chen greatly. His internal energy reserve was now less than half.

With a flick of his right hand, a three-inch silver needle appeared between his fingers. He pierced the old man’s brow, withdrew it, then inserted it into the philtrum point before withdrawing the needle again. He nodded, “Done.”

In the stunned silence, the old master slowly opened his eyes. His face flushed deeply as he spat out a mouthful of black blood, then coughed violently.

The sight of the black blood did not frighten the onlookers. Instead, their faces lit with excitement. Only the maid trembled, her forced joy and excitement seeming unnatural.

“Father, Grandfather, Old Master Luo!” they all exclaimed.

---

After the coughing subsided, the old master took two deep breaths. His gaze swept over everyone’s faces before nodding slightly to Jiang Ying, finally resting on Hong Chen with a mixture of gratitude and shame: “Thank you, Divine Doctor Hong, for enduring hardship on my behalf.”

Others might not understand the meaning behind his words, but Hong Chen did. When he first took the old man’s pulse, he had injected a sliver of true qi to lock the old master’s life force. The old man had been in a state resembling death, a vegetative state. His eyes could not see, his mouth could not speak—not because he lacked hearing, but because he lacked strength to open his eyes or mouth.

He had overheard every word spoken in this room. As the victim, he held the true measure of Hong Chen’s accusation.

“No need for thanks. I’m not aggrieved. Originally, healing you would have cost two hundred million, but your family’s affairs involved me and made me a scapegoat, almost causing my unjust death. An additional three hundred million is reasonable, don’t you think?” Hong Chen spoke plainly, showing no greater respect due to the old master’s status or seniority.

The old master was not displeased by his frankness, nodding, “It is fitting.”

“Help the old mistress to the next room first.” The old master glanced at the old lady curled in the corner, his eyes flickering with complexity. He then instructed the maid, who hurried to obey.

“Jian Gong, Jian Ping, Xiao Song, you three should leave now. I wantI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.