Chapter 109: Chapter 108: Wrong Treatment
Wen Qingye’s brow twitched, a cold glint appearing in his eyes. Before he could even speak, Zuo Yu at his side erupted in fury.
"You bastard!" Zuo Yu took a step forward and roared, "Who do you think you are, daring to shout at Master Wen? You have no manners, no sense of your place! Apologize to Master Wen this instant!"
Wen Qingye understood Zuo Yu’s intention. He smiled to himself and stood silently to the side, saying nothing.
Gao Li froze. He hadn’t expected his simple rebuke of Wen Qingye to make Zuo Yu fly into a rage. The man looked absolutely furious, and he was even demanding an apology.
"Brother, I’m the one who invited Qingye!" Gao Yuerou said, pulling Wen Qingye behind her protectively.
Gao Li scowled. "Let me tell you, this kid must have fed you some kind of bewitching potion. Him? A doctor?"
Zuo Yu’s expression turned frigid. "Hmph," he snorted. "If you refuse to apologize to Master Wen, then from this day forward, my Jishi Hall will have no choice but to sever all ties with your Gao Family."
The words landed like a bombshell.
Zuo Yu’s threat struck like a bolt from the blue.
Why?!
The Gao Family was one of the four great families of Phoenix City; their demand for pills was immense. Yet, for Wen Qingye’s sake, Zuo Yu was actually threatening to sever all business ties with them. Why on earth would he do that?
In that moment, confusion and astonishment flooded the hearts of everyone present.
Seeing the look on Zuo Yu’s face, Gao Ming knew he wasn’t bluffing. It wasn’t a huge deal if Gao Li offended Jishi Hall itself, but offending its Pill Master... that would be a catastrophe.
With this in mind, Gao Ming made his decision instantly. "Gao Li, what are you waiting for? Apologize to Wen... Qingye!"
"I..." Gao Li froze, a profound sense of humiliation welling up inside him.
"Now!" Gao Ming’s eyes flashed with cold anger as he barked.
Gritting his teeth, Gao Li lowered his head and mumbled, "Wen Qingye, I was out of line just now. Please forgive me."
Wen Qingye waved a dismissive hand, saying nothing. He knew Gao Li’s apology was anything but sincere.
Jie Jiachun slowly came back to his senses. He took a deep breath and stared at Wen Qingye. He had almost been utterly humiliated in front of everyone because of this boy. ’Thinking of that, his heart filled with a mix of confusion, surprise, and a trace of resentment. And judging by Zuo Yu’s reaction, this Wen Qingye must be more than he seems.’
Just then, a maidservant walked over, carrying a bowl of freshly brewed medicine. The concoction was a purplish-black liquid that emitted a peculiar fragrance.
Gao Ming, who was standing by, quickly said, "You may leave."
Gao Ming took the medicinal broth and quickly supported Gao Yuerou’s mother. He lifted her chin, preparing to feed her the medicine.
"Wait!"
Suddenly, Wen Qingye spoke out.
Gao Ming looked up, frowning at Wen Qingye. "What do you want?"
He didn’t know why Zuo Yu was so protective of Wen Qingye, but intimidated by Zuo Yu’s influence, Gao Ming didn’t dare berate the boy. Still, this interruption left a sour taste in his mouth.
Wen Qingye pointed at the bowl and said with a frown, "There’s something wrong with this medicine. It’s not suitable for your wife to drink."
Hearing Wen Qingye’s challenge, Jie Jiachun, who was standing nearby, practically leaped up. "Not suitable? Boy, what are you talking about? Are you implying that *I* prescribed the wrong medicine?"
Without a trace of mercy, Wen Qingye nodded and said flatly, "You did."
Jie Jiachun was so furious he began to laugh. "You’re infuriating this old master! A snot-nosed brat like you dares to accuse me? How utterly absurd!"
Wen Qingye said, "If you misuse medicinal herbs, you won’t just fail to save a life—you’ll take one. I’m warning you, don’t be the cause of someone’s death."
Jie Jiachun snorted coldly. "I began studying the Alchemy Dao at eleven and researching medicine at thirteen. I have saved thousands upon thousands of lives. And you’re telling me *I* would make a misdiagnosis?"
Jie Jiachun then turned to Gao Ming. "See for yourself. Are you going to believe him, or are you going to believe me?"
Upon hearing this, Gao Ming immediately forced a smile. "Of course I believe you, Master Jie. How could you possibly prescribe the wrong medicine?"
Zuo Yu was completely baffled by the situation. His gut told him that Wen Qingye was right, but Jie Jiachun was, after all, a renowned Alchemy Master. He couldn’t just step in and take Wen Qingye’s side, as that would be a direct challenge to Master Jie’s authority.
Gao Yuerou said anxiously, "Father, Qingye’s words might have some merit. Why don’t we at least hear him out?"
"Enough. Step aside," Gao Ming said, his face darkening. "If you let Wen Qingye continue this nonsense, I’ll have him thrown out."
Seeing her father’s expression, Gao Yuerou had no choice but to step back. She gave Wen Qingye an apologetic look and whispered, "Qingye, is there really something wrong with the medicine?"
Wen Qingye’s brow was tightly furrowed. "There is. Let’s just watch for now. After all, I haven’t even had a chance to check your mother’s pulse."
Gao Yuerou nodded, her worried gaze shifting to Gao Ming, who was now feeding the medicine to her mother.
After carefully blowing on the spoon a few times to cool it, Gao Ming brought it to the lips of Gao Yuerou’s mother. As she slowly drank the medicine, color began to return to her cheeks, her complexion growing rosy.
Seeing this, Gao Ming was overjoyed. "It seems Master Jie’s medicine is truly effective! It’s only been a moment, and my wife’s complexion already looks so much better."
"Yes, Master Jie is truly amazing!"
"Such brilliant medical skill!"
Although Jie Jiachun was a bit puzzled himself—’How could my medicine work so quickly?’—the praise from the crowd sent him into a state of blissful ecstasy.
Standing to the side, Gao Yuerou’s Fourth Madam gritted her teeth. ’Damn it,’ she fumed internally. ’That Jie Jiachun actually cured her! How infuriating! Wasn’t the Han Gong Poison supposed to be incurable?’
Jie Jiachun turned to look at Wen Qingye, a smug look on his face. "Did you see that? When it comes to medical skill and the Alchemy Dao, you still have a long way to—"
"SPURT!"
Just then, Gao Yuerou’s mother violently spat out a mouthful of crimson blood, as vibrant as a blooming flower.
Crimson blood! That was a person’s Essence Blood! The very source of one’s life force!
Gao Ming immediately panicked. "Master Jie, what’s happening? Why is my wife coughing up Essence Blood?"
Jie Jiachun turned his head. His heart dropped, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.
"I... I’ll take a look!" Jie Jiachun stammered, rushing to the side of Gao Yuerou’s mother.
As Jie Jiachun placed his hand on the woman’s wrist, his face grew progressively paler. Sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled down his face.
Gao Yuerou asked anxiously, "Master Jie, what’s wrong with my mother?"
"Yes, why would my wife cough up Essence Blood?" Gao Ming demanded.
"This... this is..." Jie Jiachun felt like his head was about to explode.
"Get up. Let me see," Wen Qingye said, walking up to Jie Jiachun’s side.
Jie Jiachun subconsciously stood up and gave his spot to Wen Qingye.
The moment Wen Qingye’s hand touched the woman’s wrist, he instantly understood. Her pulse wasn’t chaotic, but it was faint, devoid of vitality. It was clear she didn’t have long to live.
Wen Qingye quickly channeled his Primordial Qi into her. Upon receiving the infusion of Wen Qingye’s energy, the woman’s body shuddered violently, and the dark medicinal broth she had just swallowed began to trickle from the corner of her mouth.
After a moment, Wen Qingye slowly rose.
"How is she?" Gao Yuerou asked hastily.
Wen Qingye said slowly, "It’s a good thing I forced the medicine out of her system in time, or her life would have been forfeit. Your mother has been afflicted with a type of insect venom. There are thirty-seven pills that can cure this venom, but there are only six whose ingredients you should be able to gather. I will list the herbs. Bring them to me, and I will refine the pill now."
’Dozens of types?!’ Everyone exchanged uncertain glances, wondering if he was telling the truth.
Hearing Wen Qingye speak with such authority, Gao Ming’s heart leaped into his throat. He couldn’t help but ask, "What herbs do you need? I’ll have them brought to you at once!"
At this point, Gao Ming had no other options. Since Wen Qingye had said this, he had no choice but to comply.
Wen Qingye said slowly, "One Sophora root, three Ling Xiao flowers, three qian of pomegranate rind..."
"Yes, yes, I’ll have them purchased for you right away," Gao Ming said hurriedly. With Master Jie standing by, pale and silent, Gao Ming naturally latched onto Wen Qingye as his last and only hope.
Gao Ming immediately ordered a servant to rush to the apothecary. Meanwhile, he went into the courtyard and had someone bring out a huge Pill Furnace.
"This is a Fourth-Grade Pill Furnace," Gao Ming said slowly. "It’s the best one the Gao Family possesses."
Wen Qingye nodded. "This will do."
Gao Li, standing nearby, couldn’t help but frown. "Father, you can’t be serious. You actually believe Wen Qingye?"
Gao Ming remained silent. Beside him, Master Jie’s expression shifted between various shades of dismay before he finally let out a breath. "This matter is my fault. I gave your esteemed wife the wrong prescription. If this Wen Qingye fails to cure her, I am willing to make another attempt."
Gao Ming could only offer a strained nod. "Then I must thank you, Master Jie."
After a long moment, Gao Ming was still frowning. He looked at Wen Qingye and sighed. ’Ah, I suppose we have to treat a dead horse like a live one. It’s a desperate measure. If he can’t cure her... we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.’
Gao Yuerou’s Fourth Madam couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. ’Even Jie Jiachun was helpless against the Han Gong Poison. And this Wen Qingye thinks he can cure it? What a fool’s dream.’
A faint, triumphant smile slowly curled the corners of the Fourth Madam’s lips.
