Li Wu Hua himself couldn't quite grasp this physician. Was he a true doctor or a fraud? Only an idiot would come here to deceive them. Why would one simply seek trouble for themselves?
Yet, this man didn't claim to be a disciple of the Devil Doctor. He had been found by chance in Qingzhou and brought here. But he refused to admit that he was a disciple of the Devil Doctor.
Or perhaps he hoped that if he didn't display any tricks, he could then claim he wasn't a disciple of the Devil Doctor, and thus hadn't truly deceived them?
"Mr. Ming, over here."
Hai Ru Yue pointed to Xiao Tian Cheng, who was sitting on the bed.
Xiao Tian Cheng sat motionless. He had long grown accustomed to examinations.
Mr. Ming opened his basket. Zhu Shun placed a stool by the bed and offered Mr. Ming to sit there.
Mr. Ming stroked his beard, sat down, and extending his hand, said to Xiao Tian Cheng:
"Give me your hand."
Xiao Tian Cheng remained indifferent, as if the words weren't meant for him. He had already lost all hope.
Zhu Shun approached and, supporting Xiao Tian Cheng's arm, exposed his wrist.
Mr. Ming felt his pulse and, shaking his head and stroking his beard, closed his eyes. After a long time, he narrowed his eyes and muttered to himself:
"Indeed, the sluggish Cloud Sky Pulse..."
Li Wu Hua scoffed inwardly, "Xiao Tian Cheng's illness is hardly a secret. Many have examined him, and Hai Ru Yue always holds onto hope. No matter where the physicians come from, she always looks at them with such anticipation, hoping for a miracle to suddenly occur."
But this physician was unlike the others. He felt the pulse for an unusually long time. One might even have thought Mr. Ming had fallen asleep. He sat perfectly still.
Even Xiao Tian Cheng turned his head to look at this peculiar physician.
Everyone watched, waiting.
Half an hour later, Mr. Ming finally opened his eyes, removed his hand from Xiao Tian Cheng's pulse, and stood up.
Hai Ru Yue asked, "Mr. Ming, how is he?"
Mr. Ming paid her no mind and said to Xiao Tian Cheng:
"Open your mouth."
Zhu Shun stepped forward and urged, "Young Master, please open your mouth."
Xiao Tian Cheng parted his lips slightly.
"Is that all the wider you can open your mouth? Were you nursed your whole life? Open wider." Mr. Ming didn't mince words with him.
Xiao Tian Cheng rolled his eyes and opened his mouth wider. But who could have known that at that very moment, Mr. Ming would quickly grab Xiao Tian Cheng's tongue with two fingers and begin to examine it.
Xiao Tian Cheng's eyes widened as he stared at Mr. Ming.
When Mr. Ming released his tongue, he began to pat Xiao Tian Cheng's cheeks. Later, he approached the edge of the bed and, pointing at Xiao Tian Cheng's feet, said:
"Take off his shoes."
Zhu Shun, of course, quickly stepped forward and began to do as he was told. He immediately bared Xiao Tian Cheng's feet.
Mr. Ming approached and began to examine Xiao Tian Cheng's feet. It was immediately apparent that Xiao Tian Cheng's feet were not like those of ordinary people. The veins on his feet were visibly bulging.
In truth, Hai Ru Yue herself hadn't noticed her son's feet over the years. Usually, it was the servants who attended to her son's bathing.
But now, as she drew closer, she noticed that her son's feet were indeed unusual.
Everyone intently watched Mr. Ming's reaction. Even Li Wu Hua kept a close eye on him. After all, Mr. Ming was not acting like a typical physician.
It was precisely because of his extraordinary methods that hope blossomed in Hai Ru Yue.
After examining the feet, Mr. Ming began to scrutinize the toes. As he observed them, he sighed as well. Indeed, these toes were not ordinary.
When he lowered the feet, he took Xiao Tian Cheng's palms and began to examine his fingers.
Only when he released the fingers did Mr. Ming begin to stroke his beard, as if he had already deduced something.
"Mr. Ming, what do you think?" Hai Ru Yue asked again.
Mr. Ming turned, "I don't treat for free. First, let's discuss the price, and then we'll talk about the treatment."
Hai Ru Yue couldn't help but look at Li Wu Hua. This indeed resembled the legendary Devil Doctor.
When it came to the Devil Doctor, his method was such: if he wished to treat, he would first negotiate the price. If an agreement was reached, he would treat; if not, he wouldn't.
Furthermore, the Devil Doctor usually assessed whether he liked the client or not. If he didn't, he wouldn't treat them, and he couldn't be forced. It was said that one of the Nine Esteemed Masters had sought the Devil Doctor's services, but he refused to help. Whether one found favor with him didn't depend on how much money they had. Sometimes he would treat for a mere copper coin, and other times he would demand an exorbitant price. It all depended on the physician's mood.
It was even said that he demanded the lives of other people for his services!
Therefore, very few dared to contradict the Devil Doctor. For if you offended him, who knew, perhaps he might later demand your life from someone else? And "bam," some high-level cultivator would come find you!
Hai Ru Yue asked, "I wonder, Mr. Ming, what price do you demand?"
Mr. Ming extended a finger from his left hand:
"What I treat, you must not speak of to anyone. Otherwise, just as I can cure, I can also harm twofold!"
Hai Ru Yue nodded. Throughout these years, she had constantly learned about the legendary Devil Doctor and understood that he operated by rules. But she hadn't thought that a disciple of the Devil Doctor would also adhere to the same rules.
These rules, one could say, were the Devil Doctor's self-preservation.
Once, someone blabbed about the Devil Doctor, and in the end, the Devil Doctor annihilated that person's entire family.
"A gentleman who treats will, of course, have his own rules," Hai Ru Yue nodded.
Mr. Ming extended another finger:
"One hundred thousand gold coins. Then I will treat. If you don't agree, then so be it."
Hai Ru Yue let out a sigh of relief. He wanted money, which was fine. If a disciple of the Devil Doctor agreed to treat her son, that was already a miracle.
But Li Wu Hua grew wary:
"One hundred thousand gold coins is no small sum! What if you fail to cure him?"
Mr. Ming said, "There is no guaranteed cure in this world. If I take the money and fail to cure him, I will remain here and continue treatment until the end. I don't go back on my words. Is it a deal or not? If not, there's no need to waste our time."
"Very well!" Hai Ru Yue agreed and said to Zhu Shun, "Bring the money."
"At once!" Zhu Shun quickly departed.
When he returned, he handed 10 banknotes of 10,000 each to Mr. Ming.
Li Wu Hua furrowed his brows. Because when Mr. Ming saw the money, a joyous gleam appeared in his eyes. How could a disciple of the Devil Doctor lack money? This was suspicious!
Putting away the money, Mr. Ming wasted no further words and immediately took out several small bottles from his basket.
He arranged several jars on the stool beside him, and last, he took out a small silver pot. When he opened the stopper of the pot, an astonishing aroma immediately wafted from it, causing many to wrinkle their noses.
He took powder from all the jars, sprinkled a little into the silver pot, then mixed the contents with a silver needle.
The peculiar aroma grew denser. Mr. Ming sat by the bed and said to Xiao Tian Cheng:
"Open your mouth."
Xiao Tian Cheng looked at this eccentric man with surprise and opened his mouth.
Mr. Ming was about to pour the contents of the silver pot into Xiao Tian Cheng's mouth when Li Wu Hua suddenly spoke:
"Wait!"
Everyone turned their heads, and Li Wu Hua said gravely:
"How can we be sure you're not administering poison?"
This was indeed a difficult question.
Xiao Tian Cheng was already looking at this physician with hope. Many doctors had come to him, but few had ever offered him medicine.
"I am right here," Mr. Ming replied in a cold tone. He gradually began to pour out a liquid paste from the pot. It was of various colors.
Li Wu Hua and the others were astonished. For in this liquid paste, a shimmer would appear and then vanish. A strange medicine indeed!
The moment this liquid began to enter Xiao Tian Cheng's mouth, he furrowed his brows. For this liquid had a strange taste. It was sweet, sour, and bitter all at once, making it difficult to bear. He was just about to close his mouth when Mr. Ming already used a magical force and began pouring all the liquid into him.
"Good medicine tastes bitter in the mouth. Swallow!" As Mr. Ming withdrew the pot from his mouth, Xiao Tian Cheng began to swallow the medicine.
Then, the frowning Xiao Tian Cheng cried out:
"Water!"
Zhu Shun asked, "Mr. Ming, may he have some water?"
Mr. Ming nodded. He himself stood up and began to gather his belongings back into his woven basket.
He seemed to be finished, so Hai Ru Yue asked:
"Mr. Ming, is that all?"
Mr. Ming looked at the frowning Xiao Tian Cheng and said:
"You'll need two more doses of this medicine tomorrow or the day after. I am weary; please provide me with a room to rest."
"Very well!" Seeing that Mr. Ming was not yet leaving, Hai Ru Yue immediately sent Zhu Shun to personally arrange for the physician.
As they watched them leave, Li Wu Hua said to his disciples:
"Keep an eye on him, don't let him out of your sight. Make sure he doesn't escape."
"Understood!" One disciple went to follow him.
Hai Ru Yue asked Li Wu Hua, "Elder, what do you think?"
Li Wu Hua spoke gravely, "It's unclear, but this medicine is certainly not simple."
Zhu Shun led the honored guest to a quiet room. He repeatedly told him to ask if he needed anything.
Mr. Ming waved his hand, telling him not to be disturbed. And when Zhu Shun left, Mr. Ming immediately closed the door and patted his chest, "You scared me, you scared me, just don't harm me!"
Then he took the money from his bosom, counted it, and delightedly tucked it into his belt....
"Madam, something is wrong with the young master!"
As Hai Ru Yue was strolling in the garden with Li Wu Hua, a servant suddenly brought them news.
The two immediately rushed to Xiao Tian Cheng's room. Zhu Shun was already there. All the servants had surrounded Xiao Tian Cheng.
The two burst in and saw Xiao Tian Cheng constantly flailing his arms and legs, clutching at his chest. All his clothes were torn, and his face was flushed red. He repeatedly cried out:
"Hot, so hot...!" And when he saw Hai Ru Yue, he agonizingly cried out:
"Mother, I'm hot!!!"
Li Wu Hua felt his arm and began to check his pulse. Then he slowly released his hand.
Hai Ru Yue asked:
"What is it?"
Li Wu Hua shook his head, "There's no poison in his system; this is the effect of the medicine!"