TRWSB – Chapter 178 Is it a favor or a grudge?

“Ah Heng, what’s going on between you and Zuo Yunfei?” Qi Shaorong asked with wide eyes, looking at Qi Heng curiously.

Zhuang Hao, who was standing beside him, also had wide eyes, looking just as eager for information, his expression mirroring that of Qi Shaorong.

Qi Heng, glancing at the two people “eyeing” him, felt speechless.

“I treated him for an illness,” Qi Heng said.

“He said that you two have slept together?” Zhuang Hao couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

Qi Shaorong paused, thinking: From Qi Heng’s expression, it seems there’s more to it than just nonsense! Could it be that Ah Heng really got taken advantage of by this scoundrel?

Zhuang Hao, still confused, said, “If you treated him, he shouldn’t be looking like this.”

Qi Heng squinted his eyes and said, “When I found him, he was on the brink of death. I used some methods to keep him alive. I found out his body is quite strong, and he’s a good experimental subject. My medical skills weren’t great, so I used a lot of not-so-good treatments. Maybe he has some grievances.”

“What bad methods did you use?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Qi Heng thought for a moment and said, “A lot. I can’t remember all of them.”

“Could you name a few?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“I stripped him naked and left him outside to sunbathe,” Qi Heng said.

Qi Shaorong frowned and asked, “Why did you strip him and leave him in the sun?”

“Young master, didn’t you once mention that there’s a condition called rickets that can be cured just by sunbathing? At the time, his symptoms seemed a bit like the rickets you mentioned,” Qi Heng explained.

Qi Shaorong: “…”

“Did sunbathing help?” Zhuang Hao asked.

Qi Heng shook his head. “No, it didn’t.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

“Was that all?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“Later, I caught a tank full of poisonous snakes, scorpions, and insects and soaked them all together. Then I threw him in,” Qi Heng said.

Zhuang Hao: “That doesn’t sound very good…”

“He was poisoned, and there was no cure, so I tried using poison to fight poison,” Qi Heng explained.

“Aren’t you afraid you might kill him?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Qi Heng furrowed his brow. “He was already beyond saving.”

“Did it work?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Qi Heng shook his head. “It seemed to have no effect. Later, I used the thunder technique you taught me, called down lightning to strike him.”

Zhuang Hao’s heart tightened. How did he not know that Qi Heng was so capable? It seemed that, all this time, he should be thanking Qi Heng for being lenient with him.

“Why did you think of using lightning?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“Because he’s a thunder-element cultivator, a dual-cultivator of magic and martial arts. He seems to have a special constitution. I thought that using lightning might stimulate his potential and transform him,” Qi Heng said.

Qi Shaorong stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I never thought of that as a treatment method!”

“Did it work?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Qi Heng nodded. “It worked. Originally, the poison-for-poison method caused his body to be covered with strange lumps. But after being struck by lightning, they all disappeared, and his skin instantly improved.”

“Not bad! Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?” Qi Shaorong said, his eyes shining.

Zhuang Hao looked at Qi Shaorong, who seemed eager to try it himself. “Someone like Zuo Shao, with such a strong constitution, is rare. Not everyone can survive all that and still come out alive.”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “True. Zuo Shao really is tough. He’s quite a good experimental subject.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

“Did you manage to cure him?” Zhuang Hao asked.

Qi Heng nodded. “Sort of. But because I used so many methods, I’m not sure which one actually worked. It might have been a coincidence, or maybe several methods worked together. Honestly, I don’t know how he got better, it just happened.”

Zhuang Hao furrowed his brow, thinking, “From what Qi Heng said, it seems Zuo Yunfei must have gone through a lot of suffering at his hands! No wonder he looked that way when they first met.”

Qi Shaorong looked at Qi Heng and said, “Why didn’t you bring him back to show me?”

“It’s too far,” Qi Heng said.

Qi Shaorong nodded understandingly. “True.”

“Anyway, he wasn’t going to survive. If I killed him, it would be his bad luck…” Qi Heng said nonchalantly.

Qi Shaorong: “…”

Zhuang Hao, looking at Qi Heng, asked in confusion, “Zuo Yunfei’s strength… you shouldn’t be his match, right? How did you manage to handle him?”

Qi Heng glanced at Zhuang Hao and said, “If his strength was at its peak, I wouldn’t be a match. But at the time, he was heavily poisoned and couldn’t even exert 10% of his strength.”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “No wonder!”

Qi Shaorong looked at Qi Heng and smiled. “Ah Heng, so you can treat illnesses too! Why didn’t you tell me earlier? If you had, I…”

Qi Heng shook his head. “I can’t really treat illnesses. What happened back then was just by chance. I saw that he had no chance of survival, so I used him as an experimental subject. But it seems the treatment didn’t work that well…”

Zhuang Hao blinked and said, “Ah Heng, you’re too modest. Look at Zuo Yunfei now, jumping around and full of life. That’s proof that your treatment worked great.”

Qi Heng looked at Zhuang Hao. “His recovery actually has little to do with me. It’s mostly because he’s tough and lucky. No matter how much he’s tortured, he doesn’t end up in any real trouble.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

……

“I think there’s something unusual between Zuo Yunfei and Qi Heng. It seems Zuo Yunfei really holds a grudge against Qi Heng,” Zhuang Hao said.

“Zuo Yunfei is too petty. Even if Qi Heng’s methods were a bit extreme, it wasn’t like there was any other choice. He really doesn’t need to hold a grudge over it,” Qi Shaorong said.

Zhuang Hao shook his head. “I don’t think it’s that simple. Zuo Yunfei said he and Qi Heng slept together, so I suspect… maybe Qi Heng raped him!”

Qi Shaorong: “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Zhuang Hao said confidently, “Back then, Zuo Yunfei was practically powerless. And he’s not even bad-looking. Qi Heng stripped him and left him out in the sun. Maybe Qi Heng thought his body looked good…”

Qi Shaorong looked at Zhuang Hao and said, “Now that you mention it, it does seem somewhat plausible.”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “Yeah! I think this is the truth.”

Zhuang Hao shook his head and sighed. “I always thought the most twisted person around you was Yi Fan, but it turns out Qi Heng… you really have some hidden talents by your side. Qi Heng is amazing. Even I’d be cautious around Zuo Yunfei, but Qi Heng managed to get him.”

Qi Shaorong glared at Zhuang Hao and said, “The matter hasn’t been confirmed. Don’t spread nonsense.”

“Where is Qi Heng from, anyway?” Zhuang Hao asked.

“Ah Heng rarely talks about his background. I only know that his luck wasn’t great. His father was a concubine’s son and had no inheritance rights. He was forced to work hard while his father’s wealth went to his uncle,” Qi Shaorong explained.

“Later, Ah Heng’s father died in battle for the family. After his death, only Ah Heng and his brother were left. All their father’s property was taken by his uncle. His brother got sick and had no money for treatment, so he died.”

“Afterwards, Ah Heng was accused by his uncle of doing shady things and was cast out of the family. He fell into the hands of human traffickers. Ah Heng is stubborn and unruly, so he was often abandoned, passed between several masters, and eventually, I bought him.”

Zhuang Hao’s eyes widened. “I didn’t expect that!”

Qi Shaorong smiled faintly. “Over the years, his temperament has improved a lot. When I first met him, he was very quiet, like a lone wolf, unable to get close to anyone.”

“Everyone around you is hiding their true potential. You really know how to pick people,” Zhuang Hao said.

Qi Shaorong smiled. “It’s not that I know how to pick people. It’s Ting Xuan. Ting Xuan can see a person’s potential. I’m not a great person who does things without expecting anything in return. I only invest in people who are worth investing in.”

……

Qi Heng was stopped halfway by Tang Tianying.

“Fourth Prince, is there something?” Qi Heng asked.

Tang Tianying smiled and said, “Yes. Can we talk alone?”

Qi Heng nodded. “Of course.”

Qi Heng looked at Tang Tianying, feeling a little uneasy. Lately, every time Qi Shaorong looked at him, his eyes would sparkle, clearly interested in the personal matters between him and Zuo Yunfei. Qi Heng was starting to feel like he was developing a psychological barrier. He wondered if Tang Tianying also wanted to discuss his private matters.

“I wonder if the Fourth Prince has any advice,” Qi Heng asked.

“I think, as the person in charge, you should know that Princess Yue Ting can allow three attendants,” Tang Tianying said.

Qi Heng nodded. “I know. Zhuang Shao and Young Master already occupy the spots.”

“I’d like to invite you to accompany me to the Lader Mountains. Would you be willing to join me?” Tang Tianying asked.

Qi Heng, puzzled, looked at Tang Tianying. “Why me? As far as I know, the Fourth Prince brought a lot of guards.”

Tang Tianying looked at Qi Heng and said, “Yes, I brought quite a few guards, but they’re too weak. Their strength is so poor, they can’t even beat me. At that time, I’ll have to protect them instead of them protecting me.”

Qi Heng looked at Tang Tianying and said, “Fourth Prince, you’re actually quite strong. I’m not your match.”

Tang Tianying smiled at Qi Heng. “Don’t joke, everyone knows that the Evil Doctor’s subordinates are all extraordinary. Just look at Yi Fan and Mo Tingxuan to see your level. After thinking about it, I feel much more at ease if you’re with me.”

“Since the Fourth Prince says so, I won’t refuse,” Qi Heng said.

Tang Tianying smiled. “I’m glad you agreed. I’ll be counting on you.”